Chapter 40 The potion

Days turned into a week, and Tina's friendly gestures toward me gradually dissolved my initial reservations. Our budding friendship blossomed with each passing day as we shared meals and enjoyed breaks together. As we chatted more and more, I gradually began to trust her.

One afternoon, we decided to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. As we sat down and began eating, an inexplicable aversion to the smell of fried chicken washed over me, causing my stomach to churn unpleasantly.

"Excuse me," I murmured hastily, rising from my seat and hurrying towards the restroom, my hand pressed over my mouth.

"Adel?" Tina's concerned voice trailed after me, but I couldn't stop to respond. I needed to escape the overwhelming sensation of nausea.

Once inside the restroom, I barely made it to the nearest stall before the waves of sickness overtook me. I doubled over, retching into the toilet until there was nothing left but the dry heaves.

As the ordeal subsided, I leaned against the cool wall, feeling