Chapter 48

Cedric noticed Noelle didn't look well. She seemed dazed, her lips pale. He reached out to touch her forehead, but it wasn't hot. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Feeling his cool palm, Noelle replied weakly, "I have a stomach ache. It's probably from eating too much spicy food earlier."

It had been a long time since she'd eaten that much; her stomach was probably unaccustomed to it.

Cedric retrieved his hand and got some digestive pills and water for her. She weakly swallowed the medicine.

Then, Cedric took her pencil. "Stop studying," he said. "You should rest today."

She felt uncomfortable and suspected her period had started. Standing up, she felt something flow and her expression tensed.

She knew this would happen!

Noelle rushed into the bathroom and saw blood; her period had arrived. She wondered what to do.

She remembered she was in her apartment, not at the Liddell residence, and had forgotten to buy pads. She'd planned to buy some after school, but Justin's confession and the fiasco with Lucas had made her forget.

Cedric waited outside the bathroom. Seeing how long she was taking, he knocked worriedly. "Is everything alright in there?"

Noelle hesitated before asking, "Could you help me buy something?"

"Sure, but tell me about it once you're out."

"I can't come out right now," Noelle replied anxiously.

Cedric frowned. "Be honest. What's wrong?"

"I'm on my period," Noelle said, her face flushing. She'd been around her brothers since she was young; they were men and didn't understand many things about women. A housekeeper had helped her during her first period.

Cedric stood by the door. "Your period?"

"That's right," she said softly, embarrassed. It was a private matter.

Cedric sighed in relief. "I'll go buy some pads. Wait a while."

Noelle sat on the toilet, waiting for him, inexplicably feeling comforted.

Cedric went to the nearest convenience store and stood before the sanitary products aisle, contemplating silently.

The store clerk, a young woman, perked up seeing the handsome man. But when she saw him in the sanitary products aisle, her heart sank. She assumed he was buying them for his girlfriend.

She approached him. "Hello, are you buying pads for your girlfriend? Day-use or night-use? We also have flex foam pads, great for summer, but a bit more expensive."

Cedric pointed. "Wrap all of them up."

"All of them?"

He nodded coldly. "Yes."

"She won't use that many in a month," the clerk said. "How about one pack of each type?"

Cedric said coldly, "Alright then."

The clerk quickly wrapped them up and asked, "Does your girlfriend need comfort food for her period pain?"

Cedric paused. "She does."

The clerk added chocolates and sweets. She envied his girlfriend, wondering how she'd found such a handsome, considerate man.

Cedric carried the bag back to the apartment.

Alfred appeared. "Ced, what did you buy? Why so many items?"

His eyes twitched, seeing the sanitary pads. "If I'm not mistaken, those are for women? Ced, is this a new hobby?" Alfred wondered when his friend had become so considerate of a woman. Something didn't feel right; Cedric's relationship with Noelle wouldn't explain this.

Chapter 49