Melody of Hope

Chapter - 6

Ana's POV -

I stepped out of his room, shutting the door behind me, and recalled his earlier words: "Eat your breakfast." A smile crept onto my face as I reflected on this. This wasn't the man I had been told to care for-wasn't he supposed to be cold and grumpy? Yet, he was nothing like that. Sure, he had his moments of grumpiness, but he was far from being cold. Perhaps certain experiences had shaped his behavior. With a sigh, I made my way to the kitchen for breakfast. However, as I sat at the table, I found my appetite had vanished, and memories of Maria Aunty flooded back to me, reminding me of our shared meal yesterday. I let out a soft sigh, forced myself to eat, and then returned to my room.

Time skipped to the evening.

I found myself pacing outside his room, unsure of what to do, when I heard him call my name. I quickly entered his room.

"Yes? Do you need something?"

"I need to use the bathroom... but I can't quite get there on my own,"
he admitted, a hint of embarrassment in his voice.

"That's alright. I'll help you,"
I replied, carefully assisting him into the wheelchair and guiding him to the bathroom.

"Thank you. I really dislike having to depend on someone for simple things like this. It's frustrating," he confessed.

"It's perfectly fine to ask for help sometimes. Don't hesitate to reach out to me, alright?"

"I know, but it's always been tough for me to admit I need assistance. I guess I have no choice now, do I? I might as well make the most of it and let you help me,"
he said, attempting to sound nonchalant, though his vulnerability was clear.

"I'm here for you, no worries," I assured him with a smile as we arrived at the bathroom.

"I'll wait outside, okay? You'll be fine, right?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just give me a few minutes," he replied.

I nodded and stepped outside, closing the door behind me to give him the privacy he needed. As I stood there, I couldn't help but wonder how he managed all these small tasks alone in the past. A wave of sadness washed over me as I realized he must have often faced these challenges without anyone to support him when he needed it most.

After a little while, I heard his voice coming from the bathroom.

"Ana? I'm finished. Could you help me back to the bed?"

"Yeah, I'm coming," I replied as I stepped into the bathroom.

"Thanks. I know I can be a bit of a hassle at times, but I truly appreciate your assistance."

I chuckled slightly at his words.
"No, you're not a hassle. I'm here to take care of you, so please don't say that."

And I helped him back to the bedroom.

"Oh, come on. You don't have to worry about my feelings. I realize I must be a bother, always needing help with everything. But I suppose I have no choice but to accept your support for now."

"Mr. Min, can you please stop saying that? You've been saying it since I arrived. I'm here to help you, so just accept it, okay?"

"Alright, alright. I'll stop saying it. But only because you're so stubborn and determined to help me. Plus, I can't really turn down your assistance," he replied, a faint smile appearing on his face.

I smiled and nodded slightly.

"Good. I know you're not used to receiving help, but I assure you, you don't need to hesitate to ask me. So, what do you want to do now?"