Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 181: 181-A Mental Block

Read chapter 181 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

“Hello, Nikolai,” Nurse Su-Yung began, her singsong voice falling into the room ahead of her as she pushed in a trolley of Nikolai’s lunch. “How are you doing this afternoon?” Nikolai turned to her, prying his dull eyes away from the fight ongoing on the TV screen hanging from the wall. She was wearing the same bright smile she always had when she paid him a visit, along with a white gown that clung to her body tightly, and her black hair was packed up into a pigtail. Then his gaze shifted to the food she had on a platter for him. It was of a rather luxurious combination. Shrimps, crabs, vegetables, and berries. They fed him well in this place, but he was honestly tired of being cogged up in the center of white walls for months now. “Can I speak to the headmaster?” Nikolai asked as he turned back to the fight on the screen. It featured a girl with the same Hex as him, having the ability to shift into a cheetah, and a boy with an easygoing face dotted by freckles, wearing round glasses. He had watched every single fight of the ongoing tournament, but for some reason this one felt a little bit too personal to him. “He’ll be here soon,” Nurse Su-Yung replied. “Have a bit of patience, okay?” Nikolai pressed his lips together at that statement, curling his fists beneath the blanket draped over his lower body. “I’ve had enough patience,” he argued. “I want to speak to him. Now!” For half a second his eyes glowed gold, changing into the slitted pupil of a predator, but he immediately held himself back from losing his cool. When he glanced to his side, Nurse Su-Yung had stumbled backwards, shivering slightly. He took a breath. “I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I-I didn’t mean to.” She didn’t give him a reply. “It’s just that my head keeps itching. And whenever I try to sleep, the itching just gets even worse. This room is suffocating too. I need to leave. I want to leave. My mother. My brother. I need to see them. Why can’t I leave? Why can’t I see them?” Nurse Su-Yung took a deep breath, calming herself as she stood straight with great effort. “You’re undergoing rehabilitation, Nikolai,” she said. “It’ll be unwise for you to leave. And since this is a secured facility, we cannot let your family in at this point in time. But they know you’re here, and they know you’re fine.” “Fine?” Nikolai scoffed. “Do I look fine to you?” Nurse Su-Yung took a breath. “If you keep up with your rehabilitation, you will be fine.” “How long?” he asked after a few seconds of silent introspection. “How long is it supposed to take?” Nurse Su-Yung paused. “As long as it takes to get you back to full strength.” Nikolai glanced down at his legs and his fists tightened even further. “I can’t feel anything from my waist down,” he said with a low voice. “What’s the point of rehabilitation if I’ll never be able to walk again?” Nurse Su-Yung discarded the fear that had plagued her a second ago, crossed the length of the room, and cupped Nikolai’s hands. “Hey. Listen. You can’t think like that. Your medical records state that there’s the possibility of you walking again. As long as you put your mind to it, it can happen. Do you understand me?” Nikolai winced. “It sure doesn’t feel like it.” “I understand how you feel.” Nikolai dragged his hands away from hers. “No, you don’t!” Nurse Su-Yung reached for them again. “I’ve been your personal nurse for the past three months, even though I’m not going through the pain with you, I’ve been here with you through every episode. I do understand how you feel, even if it’s in my own way.” She took a moment. “I’m not going to say I’m a hundred percent certain of anything—medicine is that fickle—but what I can say I’m certain of is that you, Nikolai, are a strong lad. If there’s anyone who can achieve the impossible, you can.” Nikolai pressed his lips together. “This is annoying.” “I know.” “Why is it so hard to remember anything? Anything at all.” “I understand.” “I hate this so much.” Nurse Su-Yung leaned in and pulled him int