An Unexpected Connection

Bonus 30 - sick

It was the middle of winter, and Alejandro had been feeling under the weather for a few days. At first, he tried to ignore it and carry on with his work, but soon he realized that he was getting worse. He had a high fever and a persistent cough, and he could barely get out of bed.

He didn't want to be a burden to Raihan, so he tried to hide his illness from him. But Raihan could tell that something was wrong.

"Are you feeling okay?" Raihan asked, looking at Alejandro with concern.

Alejandro tried to brush it off. "I'm fine, just a little cold," he said, his voice hoarse.
But Raihan wasn't convinced. "You don't look fine. You're burning up. Let me take your temperature."
Reluctantly, Alejandro let Raihan check his temperature. It was much higher than it should have been.

"You need to rest," Raihan said firmly. "You can't keep pushing yourself like this."

Alejandro wanted to protest, but he was feeling so weak that he couldn't argue. He lay down in bed, shivering despite the blankets that Raihan had piled on top of him.

For the next few days, Raihan took care of Alejandro. He brought him soup and medicine, and he made sure that he stayed warm and comfortable. Alejandro felt useless lying in bed, unable to work or even take care of himself. But Raihan didn't seem to mind. He sat with Alejandro, talking to him and making him laugh, and he never once made him feel like a burden.

As the days went by, Alejandro's health slowly improved. He still felt weak, but he was no longer feverish and his cough had lessened. He was grateful to Raihan for taking care of him, but he felt embarrassed that he had been so vulnerable in front of him.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like this," he said to Raihan one day.

Raihan just smiled at him. "Don't be sorry. I'm just glad that you're feeling better."

Alejandro felt a surge of warmth in his chest at Raihan's words. He realized how much Raihan had come to mean to him, and he knew that he never wanted to lose him.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Raihan leaned in and kissed him gently. "You don't have to thank me. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Alejandro smiled and closed his eyes, feeling safe and loved in Raihan's arms. Despite the challenges they had faced and the ones that lay ahead, he knew that as long as Raihan was by his side, he could face anything.