My imaginary crush is easily bored.

  “Boop.”

  I totally get it, since I’m like that myself, but I can’t figure out why she decided to entertain herself by booping my nose while I was sleeping.

  “W-why?”

  “I’m trying, boop, to make you sneeze.”

  That is no way to treat a sick person. I’m somewhat glad that she isn’t an imaginary germaphobe, but this game of hers is too risky for my liking. If I end up sneezing at her, I would never be able to live down the shame, and her being so cute right in front of my face when I wake up is definitely bad for my heart.

  “Are you feeling any better?”

  No, everything hurts and that medicine is making me feel so sleepy. Even my thoughts somehow feel heavy. I never noticed they had weight before.

  “N-no.”

  “Then go back to sleep, boop, why did you wake up anyway?”

  My head hurts, my nose is runny and an imaginary person that looks like a super model is touching my face and making cute sound effects, it’s only natural I’ll wake up.

  “M-my h-head hurts.”

  “Maybe you should take another pill then.”

  Getting up is too hard, all my muscles are sore.

  “You g-get i-it for m-me.”

  “I can’t, I’m busy right now. Boooop.”

  That plan went as well as I expected, but at least I won’t have to miss out on all the booping action because the pills put me to sleep. Prolonging the sound effect might not make it suddenly work, but it sure makes it cuter so I’m even more reluctant to miss it.

  “I-i d-don’t want to g-get up.”

  “You don’t have to, the pills are on your nightstand. You brought them over here last time when you said you will never get out of bed again. Don’t you remember?”

  Not even one bit. I’m slightly sad about missing Ami being cute, but I no longer have an excuse not to take the pills if they are right here.

  “Mai, either sneeze already or stop being sick. I’m so bored here.”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  I wish I could just stop being…

  “Achoo.”

  I barely managed to avoid sneezing on her face, I knew this game was too risky. My body seems to be obediently following her orders so she should just tell me to get better again without the other option

  “So this button has a delayed activation huh?”

  I think I just respond better to voice commands since my imagination seems to struggle with the sense of touch.

  “I pressed it so many times too… Sorry, Mai. Anyway, since I helped you clear your nose now I’ll check your temperature. Open your mouth.."

  I don’t care how bored she is, I’m not letting her shove her finger in my mouth. I’ll just let her read the numbers off the normal thermometer that is somehow also on my nightstand. I don’t remember it at all but it seems I really was planning to not leave this bed again with all the stuff I brought here.

  “H-here.”

  “I think mine is more professional but fine. I’ll just check your temperature through your forehead. Boop. Five hundred degrees, you don’t seem to have a fever anymore.”

  It sounds like I might be on fire, and her finger didn’t even start beeping yet so maybe it will go even higher. Luckily, I also have a smoke detector function in my lungs, and since I’m not coughing excessively right now I think one of us might be malfunctioning. We should use the less professional; thermometer to verify the results.

  “Just forty degrees? This little stick is underestimating you Mai. You can go much higher than that.”

  “I-i’ll die i-if I do.”

  “That will be a problem, I don’t think booping your heart will be enough to help if it stops.”

  “I-i believe in you.”

  Messing with my heart is her speciality at this point, I can’t see a single reason why this wouldn’t work. Just her being near my bed is enough for it to beat so wildly after all.

  “I’m already bored of poking you, can’t we watch some TV if you are awake anyway?”

  Booping sounded much cuter, poking sounds like she is going for my eyes. I guess I’ll let her watch some TV until I fall asleep so she doesn’t actually start doing that.

  “J-just a little.”

  “You’re the best Mai.”

  The TV makes my headache worse, but I don’t think she will forgive me if I turn it off so quickly.

  “Don’t fall asleep already, the episode barely started.”

  I can’t help it, my thoughts feel even heavier than before, it’s hard to think or keep my eyes open. This medicine must be how people train neck muscles.

  “Come on Mai, just a little more. I know I promised to stay next to you until you feel better, but it’s so boring just sitting here so let me have this.”

  “I-i don’t remember that.”

  “You were super chatty and needy after you took those pills this morning and made me promise I won't leave you, it was adorable.”

  So that’s how the booping started. I got to admit, those pills were actually useful.

  “Wait, if you don’t remember the promise then can I get up now?”

  “No. Stay there forever.”

  “It’s cute when you’re needy like this, but forever is a long time to be sitting on the floor.”

  I didn’t mean to say that out loud. My head feels so weird.

  “Look at the TV Mai, not at me. Just a few more minutes on this episode.”

  I’m too sleepy.

  “I’d rather look at you.”

  “That would have been romantic if your eyes weren’t already closed. Fine, just go to sleep and feel better, we can finish this tomorrow. Good night Mai.”