YOUR DEMEANOUR

Chapter 28: Feverish Encounter

Rowan couldn't help but wear a faint smirk as he asked, "Colonel, how did you manage to faint? I didn't know a fever could knock down a tough guy like you." Despite the hint of amusement in his voice, there was genuine concern underlying his words.

Calliax shot Rowan a sharp glare, but couldn't help but respond, "I guess even tough guys have their weak moments, Rowan." His voice carried a hint of irritation, but also a touch of self-awareness.

Calliax's gaze softened slightly, his usual stoic facade slipping for a moment as he admitted, "I don't know, Rowan... Maybe I pushed myself too hard lately." There was a rare vulnerability in his tone, a glimpse of the man beneath the armour of authority.

Rowan chuckled softly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Who would've thought, sir? The infamous barista girl, of all people, coming to your rescue." He paused, a playful glint in his eyes. "You're quite lucky, you know. Not everyone gets to be cared for by the most loved barista in the city."

Calliax let out a scoff, dismissing Rowan's remark with a shake of his head. "Luck has nothing to do with it, Rowan," he replied, his tone firm and unyielding. "It was merely a coincidence."

Rowan couldn't help but notice the familiarity between Calliax and Averyn, prompting him to voice his curiosity. "Colonel, forgive me for asking, but do you and Miss Averyn know each other well?" he inquired, his tone laced with genuine interest and a hint of surprise.

"It seems like you two are quite acquainted," Rowan remarked, his brows raised in curiosity. "I mean, she seemed pretty comfortable around you, sir. Have you known each other for long?"

Calliax's expression remained impassive as he responded, "No, Sergeant. We're not acquainted. She just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time." His tone was firm, leaving no room for further inquiry.

"Besides," Calliax continued, "I don't see how a simple interaction during a fever-induced moment warrants any further speculation." His voice was clipped, signaling the end of the conversation on the matter.

"I appreciate her assistance, but that's all there is to it," Calliax added firmly, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.

Rowan nodded in understanding, sensing that Calliax didn't wish to delve further into the matter. "Of course, sir. I understand," he replied respectfully, dropping the subject.

Averyn's steps were heavy with the weight of uncertainty as she left Calliax's apartment building. Despite her best efforts to push aside her concern for him, she couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that lingered in the back of her mind. He may be a difficult person, but seeing him in such a vulnerable state had stirred something within her.

As she made her way down the corridor, her thoughts swirled with questions. Why did she feel compelled to help him, even though he had often been nothing but rude to her? Was it simply her innate sense of compassion, or was there something more to it?

"I must be losing my mind," she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "What was I thinking, getting involved like that? He's just another arrogant military man... But still, no one deserves to be left alone when they're sick."

She sighed heavily, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. Despite her attempts to rationalize her actions, a small part of her couldn't help but wonder what might have caused Calliax to faint so suddenly. Was it just a simple case of fever, or was there something more serious going on?

Shaking her head to clear away the tumult of thoughts, Averyn focused on the task at hand. She had made a promise to deliver the order, and she intended to keep it. But as she stepped out into the cool evening air, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her encounter with Calliax was far from over.

Averyn couldn't help but recall the times when her father would exaggerate every sniffle and cough whenever he fell ill. It was almost comical how he would dramatically declare himself bedridden at the slightest sign of a cold, while her mother would soldier on with her daily chores, hardly skipping a beat.

"Men really are the worst patients," she thought with a wry smile, her steps quickening as she made her way down the street. "Always acting like they're on death's door when all they have is a minor fever or a headache."

But despite her amusement at the thought, she couldn't shake off the nagging worry that had settled in the pit of her stomach. Calliax may have seemed fine when she left him with Rowan, but there was something about his demeanor that didn't sit right with her.

"He's probably just milking it for all it's worth," she mused, trying to convince herself that her concern was unfounded. "But what if there's more to it than just a simple fever? What if he's really sick?"

The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she quickened her pace, eager to distract herself from the unsettling possibility. But no matter how hard she tried to push the thought aside, it lingered in the back of her mind, refusing to be ignored.

With a determined shake of her head, Averyn pushed aside her worries and resolved to focus on the present moment. There was no use dwelling on hypotheticals and what-ifs when there were tasks at hand that demanded her attention.

As she walked, she took in the sights and sounds of the bustling city around her, allowing herself to be enveloped in the familiar rhythm of life. The honking of cars, the chatter of passersby, the tantalizing aroma wafting from nearby food stalls—all served as welcome distractions from the unsettling thoughts that had plagued her earlier.

With each step, Averyn felt a sense of calm wash over her, grounding her in the here and now. She reminded herself that worrying about things beyond her control would only serve to sap her energy and dampen her spirits. Instead, she chose to focus on the tasks ahead of her, tackling them one at a time with renewed determination.

And so, with a clear mind and a steadfast resolve, Averyn forged ahead, leaving behind the shadows of uncertainty that had threatened to overshadow her day. Whatever the future held, she was determined to face it head-on, armed with the strength and resilience that had carried her through countless challenges before.

Averyn sighed heavily, frustration evident in her voice as she muttered to herself, "Ugh, that Calliax. Of course, he had to be the reason I got scolded for delivering the order late."

She scrunched up her face in annoyance, replaying the events of earlier in her mind. "I mean, who just faints like that out of the blue? Couldn't he have waited until after I delivered the order?"

With a shake of her head, she continued her one-sided conversation, "Now I have to deal with angry customers because of him. Just great."

Despite her irritation, Averyn knew there was no use dwelling on the situation any longer. With a resigned sigh, she forced herself to let it go and focus on the tasks ahead. After all, there were still plenty of orders to fulfill and customers to serve, and she couldn't afford to let one mishap ruin her entire day.

Despite her frustration with Calliax's unexpected fainting spell, Averyn couldn't shake off her lingering concern for him.

As she busied herself with her work at the cafe, her thoughts kept drifting back to the image of him lying unconscious on the couch. Despite their rocky encounters in the past, she couldn't deny the pang of worry that gnawed at her heart.

"He looked so vulnerable," she admitted to herself, her brows furrowing with concern. "Even if he can be insufferable at times, no one deserves to be alone when they're sick."

Averyn sighed, torn between her annoyance at the inconvenience Calliax had caused and her genuine concern for his well-being. Deep down, she knew that despite their differences, she couldn't simply ignore his plight.

"I hope he's feeling better now," she murmured quietly, a small flicker of empathy softening her features. "Even if he won't admit it, he's still human, after all."

With that, she resolved to check in on him later, if only to ensure that he was recovering well. After all, as much as she tried to deny it, a part of her couldn't help but care about the enigmatic colonel's welfare.