It Should Have Been Like This (The Revised Version)

Chapter 110: When One Falls, the Others Follow

The sky was a perfect shade of blue, a vast canvas unmarred by even a single cloud. The sun shone brightly, its warmth brushing against my skin, and the faint scent of chlorine and freshly cut grass wafted through the air. Despite the lively scene around me, I found myself staring up at the sky, smiling faintly. It wasn't because I felt at peace—I wasn't. Inside, I was a tangled mess of emotions, but I smiled anyway, if only to keep myself together.

I sighed heavily, the weight in my chest pressing harder as my mind drifted to the scandalous headlines that had erupted online just days ago. The rumors of an affair between Apollo and me had spread like wildfire, and the storm they caused had been brutal. Thankfully, Apollo going public about his love for Rominic had turned the tide in our favor. Watching Rominic and Phineas look as if they'd turned to stone when they found out had been oddly satisfying. That, combined with the widely known fact that Apollo and I used to hate each other's guts, had helped dissolve the scandal quickly.

The sounds of the crowd around me slowly seeped back into focus—the cheering, the splashes of water, the hum of excited chatter. A gentle tug at the hem of my skirt pulled me fully from my thoughts, and I lowered my gaze to see Zayne standing there, looking up at me with wide, teary eyes.

"Zayne?" I asked softly, crouching down to his level. His pale face was enough to make my stomach twist with worry.

"Serenity's match is starting," he said quietly, his voice trembling just a little.

I rested a hand lightly on his shoulder. "Thank you for letting me know, sweetie. Are you feeling okay?"

He nodded quickly, but the pale flush of his cheeks and the subtle trembling in his small frame told me otherwise. Still, I let it go for now and stood, turning my attention toward the pool.

The announcer's voice boomed over the speakers, signaling the start of the next race. The swimmers lined up, their bodies taut with focus as they prepared to dive. Serenity stood among them, her petite frame balanced and poised, a quiet determination radiating from her. The air buzzed with anticipation, the sounds of the crowd growing louder with every second that passed.

And then, the whistle blew.

Serenity launched herself into the water with breathtaking precision, cutting through the surface like a blade. She swam with a fluidity that seemed almost unnatural, her strokes powerful and graceful. Her speed left the other competitors struggling to keep up, their splashes frantic and uneven compared to her effortless glide. Watching her was mesmerizing—she moved as if she were born for the water, as if the pool was her domain.

I couldn't help but smile. Of course, she excelled at this. Rominic was an incredible swimmer, and Serenity had inherited both his love for water and his natural talent. It felt almost inevitable that she would outshine the others.

But my smile faltered as the sound of labored breathing pulled my attention back to my side. I glanced down at Zayne, my chest tightening when I saw him. His pale face had grown paler still, beads of sweat trickling down his temple. His small body trembled visibly now, and my heart dropped.

"Zayne," I said urgently, kneeling and pulling him into my lap. His body felt unnaturally warm as I pressed the back of my hand to his forehead. My heart hammered against my ribs, panic creeping in. "You're burning up. What's wrong?"

He shook his head, his breathing shallow but determined. "I… I won't leave until I see Serene win," he whispered, his voice hoarse and strained.

I hesitated, torn between carrying him somewhere safe and staying put as he wished. My gaze flickered back to the pool just as Serenity surged forward, her final strokes cutting through the water with incredible speed. The crowd erupted into cheers as she touched the edge of the pool first, securing her victory.

Relief washed over me for the briefest of moments before I caught sight of Serenity climbing out of the pool. Even from this distance, I could see something was wrong. Her movements were sluggish, and her usually vibrant face was pale and drawn. Her arms trembled as she pulled herself up, and my stomach twisted with dread.

"She looks…" I whispered, my voice trailing off. No. It couldn't be. I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay calm, to not jump to conclusions. But just as I was trying to convince myself that it was nothing, a soft whimper from behind me shattered that hope.

I turned my head sharply to see Zyaire, his hand clutching his temple as tears welled in his eyes. "It hurts," he murmured, his voice thick with pain.

Panic hit me like a tidal wave. My mind raced as I pieced it together. Among the quintuplets, Serenity and Zayne had always been tightly connected, their bond deeper than I could fully comprehend. When one was in pain, the other felt it too, a fraction of their suffering bleeding into their twin. And when that pain grew too intense, it would ripple outward, reaching Zyaire before affecting the rest.

I had convinced myself years ago that they would outgrow it, that it wouldn't endanger them like I once feared. The doctors had assured me it would be fine. But now, as I looked at Serenity and Zayne—both pale and trembling—I felt that same old fear claw its way back into my chest.

Zayne slumped weakly in my arms, his breathing ragged, and I rose to my feet, clutching him tightly. My gaze darted around the pool until I spotted Rominic nearby. I rushed to him, carefully passing Zayne into his arms. Rominic's confused expression barely registered as I turned and pushed my way through the crowd, my heart pounding with every step.

"Serenity!" I called, my voice sharp and trembling. The noise of the crowd seemed deafening, but all I could focus on was getting to her.

I was only a few feet away when she turned toward me, her wide eyes meeting mine briefly before they rolled back into her head. Her body slumped forward, and time seemed to slow as I watched her collapse.

"Serene!" I screamed, shoving past the last few people between us. My legs moved before I could think, my arms reaching out as the world blurred around me.