bittersweet ➺ benny rodriguez

36. Sick

C H A P T E R 36
— Sick
•°. *࿐

November 21, 1964

E l a r a

I walk up to the store swinging the door open as I sing to myself loudly.

Henry jumps hearing me sing, he turns around quickly. "Christ, Elara, I thought someone was run over!"

"No, no it's just me" I laugh, walking in.

I set down his usual on top his desk, watching as he sighs and continues to dust around.

"So, where's that loser nephew of yours?" I ask, fiddling with all the little items he placed on his desk.

"I don't know" He shrugs, waving. "Somewhere around"

I nod, resting my elbow up against the counter as I look around. Immediately I start to a shelf of books I see.

As I'm gazing through, I notice Benny who passes by, I slowly put my book back watching him sneeze into his arm.

"Bless you" I call.

He pauses and looks over at me quickly, "I didn't know you were here?"

"Awe, it's good to see you too" I sarcastically slap a hand over my heart.

He just shakes his head at me. I look at him seriously, still worried about what happened with Samuel the other day, "So.. are you okay, you know..."

He rolls his eyes, "I'm fine, I told you"

"Sure, sure" I nod along, "I'm just making sure"

"Samuels always been like that" he shrugs, "I'm used to it"

Although he says he's fine, I really don't believe that. I peck his cheek feeling bad about the whole thing.

I freeze noticing something off about him. I quickly slap a hand to his forehead, "Benjamin, you're hot?"

He starts to smirk a little, "You think so?"

"I mean temperature hot!" I start to freak out just a tad, "Are you sick?"

"No" he sniffles.

I furrow my eyebrows, "Yes, you are"

"No, I'm not" He attempts to hold in his cough, clearing his throat.

"Benny, don't move" I step back. "We need to disinfect this whole place"

"But you don't, because I'm not sick" he swivels around about to walk off.

I snatch his arm, "You also need to go home"

"No, I don't!" He scoffs.

"Come on" I walk around him, placing my hands on his back as I start to lead him away.