Fifteen minutes had passed and his temperature did not abate. "Meng," Alden begged. "Meng, I don't feel so good." He slowly rose from the bed and attempted to stand. "Banyo," he muttered. He placed his arm around her for support as they made their way to the bathroom. "Almost there, Alden," she assured, when he suddenly heard him lurch. She felt a warm liquid spill over her white dress. She turned to see that Alden had vomited all over her dress.
"Sorry Meng," he whispered weakly.
"It's OK," she assured, trying not to remember how expensive the dress was and how she bought it exclusively for him. "Tara, malapit na tayo sa banyo."
Once in the bathroom, he knelt down the toilet and continued to heave. Maine sat in the tub beside the toilet, stroking his back. He seemed to have thrown up everything he had eaten at dinner earlier. Maybe it was food poisoning? She checked his forehead again. His skin was still very hot.
"Alden, I need to put you on a cold bath. Di na to kaya ng tubig lang. I need to lower your temperature, OK? Now if that doesn't work, I swear I will call the hospital."
He nodded weakly.
"Dito ka sa tub," she gestured. He climbed over the large, white tub obediently. If it was painful for him, it didn't show. "Alden, masakit ito, but bear it lang," she said as she turned on the faucet, letting the tub fill with cold water.
"Join me," he whispered with a weak smile.
"Tingnan mo 'tong batang 'to, kaya pang humarot," Maine grumbled.
"Just kidding, Meng. You should go now. It's really late. I'll be OK," he said.
"No way. Bababa na ang fever in a while. Let's just wait."
"Sige na, I'll be fine," he insisted.
"Alden, wag matigas ulo," she admonished. She ran her hand over his back where she saw splotches of red. Jellyfish stings? She grew more concerned. The tub had begun to fill, soaking his boxers and making some parts quite obvious. She cleared her throat. Goodness, so this was what Twitter was raving about. She looked around, hoping to distract herself, but to no avail. She finally decided to stand up and get his clothes, leaving her imagination in the bathroom.
She rummaged through his bag and finally found a pair of board shorts and a clean white shirt. "Alden, let me know lang kung puno na ang tub, ok?" She turned on the TV and sat on a lounge chair. There was no way she was getting back into the bathroom with him sopping wet in it. Even when he was sick and vomiting, he still was so damn attractive to her. It wasn't fair.
After a few minutes, he called out. "OK na."
She went in and sure enough, Alden was submerged neck-dep in the water, head thrown back against the tub's lip, eyes closed. Good luck, Meng, she told herself. This was her worst nightmare and her hottest fantasy rolled into one. At this rate, Maine thought, I will need a cold shower for myself.
Alden's eyes drifted open. "Sorry, Meng."
"Sssssh, Alden. Don't think about it. Kaya pa ba? I'll call an ambulance now if you want. I don't care what people will say."
With considerable effort, he squeezed her hand. "Don't get us into trouble, Meng. The big bosses are here," he mumbled. "I'll be fine." He closed his eyes and drifted off again. Maine sat on the bathroom floor and leaned against the door, looking at her ruined dress. She reached for a towel and dipped it in the tub water. Then she rubbed the damp towel on her dress, trying to scrub out the smell and the stains. It was useless. Her lovely white dress was good as gone.
She leaned back, exhausted. She nearly drifted to sleep when she heard Alden stir. "Meng, bed na tayo," he asked. She placed his hand over her shoulder and helped him stand up from the tub. Now both of them were sopping wet. She reached for the bathrobe and gently helped him wear it.
"Alden, I hung some dry shirts and shorts on the door. I'll just be outside."
"No, it's OK, Meng. I'll just use this robe," he muttered as he removed his boxers from underneath his robe and left them on the bathroom floor. Maine gasped and looked away. He was naked under the robe. Naked and sick, she kept telling herself. Naked, and very very sick. Good luck, Meng.
He whimpered as his he lay down on the bed and curled up in a fetal position. She checked his forehead again. Much better. The bath had helped. In a minute he was asleep. She looked at him on the bed, so peaceful and serene while she was completely dishevelled, with a stained white dress and eyebags that threatened to consume her entire face. "I must really love you, you know that?" She remarked before scavenging some crackers from his mini-bar. She then proceeded to down half his mouthwash before rummaging his bag for another shirt and a pair of boxers. Might as well wear these, she thought.
After she had changed into his clothes, she lay beside him on the bed and watched him sleep. She reached out and traced a finger over his lips. "Yes, Father, I do take this man, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, till death do us part," she whispered. "I love you so much Alden, you have no idea," she said as she dozed off.
Her phone's alarm went off. She turned toward the window and saw that it was still dark outside. She had been asleep for only three hours and she was still exhausted. However, Pat would be looking for her in an hour. She had to return to her bungalow now.
She glanced to see that Alden's side of the bed was empty. "Morning," he chirped.She turned to find him seated at the edge of the bed, freshly dressed and looking fully recovered. He was wearing a fresh polo shirt, a new pair of shorts, and loafers.
"Do you feel better?" She sat and scootched over to his side, placing her hand over his forehead. Normal. As if everything that happened last night was just a bad dream.
He grasped her hand and kissed it. "Meng, salamat for taking care of me last night."
"It's OK, Alden, what are friends for?" She replied with a smile.
"Friends?"
"BFF's," she replied.
He ran his fingers through her dishevelled hair. "Did you like what you saw last night?" he teased.
Maine laughed. "Don't flatter yourself, Alden. May fever ka pa ata. Anyway, I have to go." She stood up from the bed.
"For richer and for poorer?"
Maine paused. He had heard what she said to him last night. He had heard everything. She blushed furiously.
"In sickness and in health?" Alden continued with a big grin. He traced a finger on her lips, intently gazing into her big brown eyes. "You love me, Meng. Just admit it. You been in love with me as long as I've been in love with you. Sagutin mo ako ngayon, and we'll have a full hour to ourselves before anyone wakes up," he winked.
"And why would I want to do that, Mr Richards?"
"Because, Miss Mendoza," he murmured as he began to kiss her neck. "I need you. Now. Please."
