Maya sat in the infirmary wincing in pain as the antiseptic came in contact with her wound. Never again would she underestimate how hard Lilly could throw a person. Maya gritted her teeth, feeling the sting of the antiseptic on her wound.
"Sorry," Ray mumbled, looking up for a second before returning his attention to Maya's knee.
Lilly stood in the corner of the room, her face etched with concern. "Are you sure you're okay? I really didn't mean to hurt you."
"I'm fine, really. Now stop worrying about me and go find Libber, I'm going to make her pay for daring me to fight you," Maya said, her smile seeming more sinister than friendly.
Maya's knee throbbed as Ray continued to clean and dress the wound. The sterile smell of the infirmary surrounded them, mixing with the tension in the air. Ray stole another glance at Maya, concern etched on his face.
"It's not that bad, right?" he asked, attempting to reassure her.
Maya managed a tight smile. "I'll survive. Just need some time off my feet, and maybe a word or two with Libber."
Ray nodded, pulling out the bandages and begging to wrap up the wound. As he worked Maya felt her face heating up. She had liked him for a while now and here he was touching her leg. She tried to focus on something else but the way he was so gentle and diligent sent shivers down her spine.
Maya's mind raced as Ray continued to tend to her wound. The infirmary's sterile atmosphere seemed to fade away, replaced by a subtle warmth that radiated from Ray's touch. She stole glances at him, noticing the genuine concern in his eyes.
"Thanks for helping me out, Ray," Maya said, trying to keep the conversation light despite the pain in her knee.
Ray looked up, a small smile playing on his lips. "Of course, It's the least I can do. Besides we're friends are we not?"
Unable to handle her feelings Maya pulled her hair in front of her face to hide the blush and kicked Ray in his.
Ray winced in surprise as Maya's foot connected with his face. "Ouch! What was that for?" he asked, rubbing his nose.
Maya kept her face hidden behind her hair, the blush deepening. "Uh, sorry. Just... felt like doing it." She avoided eye contact, feeling a mix of embarrassment and awkwardness.
Ray chuckled, his friendly demeanor unwavering. "Alright, if kicking me helps you feel better, then go ahead."
Lilly, who had been observing the exchange, couldn't help but laugh. "You're hopeless."
Maya peeked out from behind her hair, shooting Ray a sheepish grin. "Sorry again. Thanks for taking care of my knee."
Ray smiled back, the playful atmosphere returning. "No problem. Just let me know if you need anything else."
As Ray finished wrapping up Maya's knee, Lilly approached them. "I'll go find Libber and make sure she knows what she's in for."
Maya nodded, her mood shifting from embarrassment to determination. "Yeah, tell her she's got two minutes to prepare."
Ray raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you should be getting into another fight so soon?"
Maya smirked, the mischievous glint in her eyes returning. "Oh, I'm sure. This time, it's personal."
With that, Maya carefully stood up, testing her newly bandaged knee. Ray offered her a supportive arm, and together they made their way out of the infirmary, ready to confront the challenges that awaited them outside.
