Where my Heart Lies

Hallow

Jessica woke up the next morning with a wet cloth over her forehead. The fever from last night had subsided and she felt weak, yet better now. She heard some utensils collide in the kitchen and immediately tried to get up and check it out. But her head went dizzy the moment she tried to get off the bed.

"It's me."

"..."

"You called me last night, but did not say anything." He chuckled nervously. "I was kind of worried... so I came to check it out..."

Jessica nodded. Now, her head hurt even worse.

She did not remember calling him, or even touching her phone. Then again, she did not remember a lot of things from last night. As she was contemplating on what and how and why, what happened did happen- he brought Jessica breakfast in bed.

Her appetite had returned, but not so much. She had half of what was on the plate, then fell asleep. Even though she slept the whole night yesterday, her body was tired like she did not have even a minute of rest.

Also, when she woke up this time, hopefully this man would be gone.

Deja vu- this time, when Jessica woke up, she was served some snacks in bed along with hot coffee. She felt so much better not just from the hospitality, but of course she would feel so much worse without it. She thanked the universe internally for actually sending someone to take care of her while she was sick, but also blamed the same universe for making her sick in the first place.

The universe, however, had its own plan.

"You didn't go back...?"

The head shook in no. Somehow, the face held a guilty demeanor.

"Well.." Jessica smiled, "Now you should head back, I'm truly better now." She assured him. "Besides there's a lot of work-"

"Jessica." His breath hitched.

She raised an eyebrow.

"I..."

"What is it?" Now, she was truly concerned. After what had happened days ago...

"I... I am gonna have to say this to you..."

"..."

"Last night... " He calmed himself, took a deep breath and continued. It was as if he were handing in a confession to the police officer who could condemn him to death for the acts he had comittefd. 

"You were burning with fever and I had the silliest idea.
You were shivering, face all red, leaning closer and closer against me.. and in the heat of the moment, I did what I shouldn't have.
I kissed you, I loved you again." He whispered, and all she could do was look in his eyes, search them for the truth. For she knew, she had loved him too.

Amongst the chaos in all that he said to her, he realized his side of events were no better than at her side.

He recalled the instant when she had called him, desperate and sick last night. He was sure she could barely be conscious enough to even be sure of what she was saying, perhaps she was dreaming, or maybe the fever was just too much.

He recalled laying next to Portia right then. She was trying to spoon feed him a warm tomato soup she had just cooked, with a genuine warm smile on her face. No matter how hateful the woman was to Jessica, she truly liked Ryan.

But before he could get a sip of it, his phone rang. Portia's face turned shades darker when she saw the name that flashed on screen. She put down the bowl and stated firmly, "No." She knew, she was on the losing end of things, somewhere inside her mind she knew. And it hurt.