/////

After 2 days spent in hell, Minho can finally leave the Med-hut. He's putting himself in his own shoes while listening to what Jeff said.

"If you feel something wrong again, please tell us right away. Don't force yourself to work," Jeff said, and he let out a sigh.

"You can't blame me just because I'm dedicated to my work." The Med-jack rolled his eyes. Jeff was about to speak when someone suddenly entered the hut, so they both looked to see who had come.

"Nonsense, nothing will happen if you neglect yourself," Alby said, crossing his arms while looking at Minho. The latter just scoffed.

"What do you want me to do? It's my job to find a way out of here."

"Exactly; we lose a lot when the Keeper of Runners himself is gone. Think about it; there's a chance that the Glade will never be the same anymore when you're not with us, Minho." The man was unable to speak immediately after what Alby said. He took a deep breath and just looked away.

"Stay here for a day. If I find out that you ran through the Maze today, I myself will lock you in the Pit for a week," Alby said before he leaves. Minho just caress the back of his neck before standing up and tapping Jeff's shoulder, who's still standing and listening to them.

"Thanks for taking care of me," he said, leaving the hut. After Minho came out, the sun's rays greeted him.

"Great, Minho. Just think of it that you have a long day off," he said to himself and started to walk wherever his feet wanted to go.

This is the first time that happened to him; he didn't run inside the Maze for several days. He felt that when he was inside the Glade, nothing would happen if he did nothing.

What should I do? Should I volunteer to help them? Watch them? Sleep in my room? Or maybe-

His thoughts were interrupted when someone called his name and that person came to his side.

"So you're finally out on the hut. I thought you're forever in there," Newt said and let out a chuckle.

"I thought so too. It's really hard just lying on the bed while waiting for my fever to disappear. The whole 2 days is so boring."

"Yeah right, just say it that the one who's taking care of you is not that person." Minho looks at his friend, confused, while Newt is smiling.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean." He took a pause to look at the Glade just to find what he's looking for. When he saw it, Newt's smile grew even wider. "That person."

Minho followed his gaze and just scoffed when he saw who the latter was talking about. Zelia is talking with Kendrix on the table while eating their lunch. The girl noticed that someone was looking at her, so she looked to see who it was, and she and Minho looked at each other. The man immediately looked away.

"Seriously? Her? How can you say so?" He asked and crossed his arms while looking at Newt. His friend did not hesitate to stare at him.

"Come on, Minho. Ben told us how you two banter that night. You enjoy it, don't you? For sure, it's your fault why Jeff is the one who's taking care of you the whole 2 days." Minho shook his head and started to walk again. Newt follow him.

"Definitely not enjoying that moment; she's getting on my nerves, though."

"Why do you hate her so much?" Minho stopped walking when he heard the latter question and looked at him.

"I don't hate her."

"Oh, really? You've been ignoring her since day 1. She just wanted to make friends, but you're the one who's walking away when she's still approaching you."

"And? What do you want me to do? She won't be hurt if I'm the only one who isn't her friend." Newt let out a sigh and caressed the back of his neck.

"You're acting weird since she's arrived. Do you know her?" Minho just shook his head and continued to walk. Newt didn't follow him anymore and just watched him walk away.

You are too obvious, Minho.

-----

Zelia is now on her way to the Med-hut — she finished talking to Kendrix; they even had a long conversation — since she found out that he had already left the hut. She feels like 2 days is too long, and she's been avoiding him. She also pestered Zart for almost several hours to allow him to help on the Track-hoes.

In the middle of her walk, Zelia did not know why her own vision wandered —she's finding a certain person. Huh. Where did that person go?

As far as she remembers, Alby told her earlier in the morning, after Minho woke up, he told him to take a rest the whole day. Maybe he will catch a fever again if Alby let him back on the Maze; that Keeper guy is super stubborn.

She's too late to realize she's walking through where the Deadheads are. She wants to go back to the Glade, but there's a part of her wanting to make sure that she finds him.

What are you doing, Zelia? You can still go back. You don't need to see him if he's okay.

Zelia keeps saying to herself that she can still go back until she can't because it's too late. She saw him lying on a dead leaves, not minding the dirt on him, eyes closed, his arms folded behind his head.

His usual tense expression was gone, replaced by a calm that Zelia had rarely seen. The slight rise and fall of his chest showed he wasn’t asleep, just enjoying the break from the constant pressure of being a Runner.

She wants to walk away, but she's mesmerized by how calm he is right now. Zelia stood there for a moment, observing him from a distance. It was rare to see Minho so still. She hates to admit it, but it was comforting to see him like this—peaceful, relaxed.

"I know you have a nice view, but stop being a Shank." Zelia slightly jolted her body when she heard him speak. She cleared her throat before rolling her eyes.

"Just making sure you're still alive, Mr. Runner," Minho snorted and glanced at her.

"No one could kill me, even the Grievers." Zelia raised an eyebrow to him and walked towards him while crossing her arms.

"Full of confidence, huh? I just hope you would not trap in the Maze and have sleepover with the Grievers." Minho looked up at her for a moment before he closed his eyes.

"Good idea, though. Just testing myself if I really deserve the title of the Keeper." Zelia scoffed, trying to calm herself down.

"You are really stupid if you did that."

"Maybe I am; you're the doctor here."

"You know, I can't heal the disease of your stupidity." Minho sits up slightly and props himself up using his elbow.

"Why are you here anyway? If you want to lecture me, Alby and Jeff are enough. Don't tell me, you're really the type of person who's begging, forcing yourself to become friends with me." Zelia didn't know why she got offended by what he said.

"Excuse me? Do I look like a weak person to you?" She took a pause and scoffed before she continued. "Wow, Minho. I thought you're really smartest person on the Glade, but it turns out I'm wrong. I hope you really didn't get trapped at the Maze."

Zelia left him on the Deadheads and didn't wait for him to respond. It was a very wrong move that I even came here.

Minho just looked at the girl's while walking back to the Glade and went back to lying down on the dead leaves before taking a deep breath.

You really messed up this time, Minho. I hope you didn't really speak because she will leave in the first place.