yuanfen (completed)

tissue

Dei's fever rose slightly overnight. Chuck took care of her the whole night as she had slight chills. During times when Dei was resting or asleep, Chuck settled himself on the sofa outside his bedroom, trying not to sleep, just in case Dei needed him.

This "sudden" change in his regular routine caused Chuck's immune system to suffer also. At the end of the second day of Dei's "confinement" in his condo, Chuck had come down with a cold as well.  So, even if Dei wanted to go home already, she decided to stay on to take care of Chuck.

It was a good thing, though, that the storm had passed. Dei was able to shop for some extra clothes, food and other supplies at the mall next door to Chuck's condo.

"Dei?.....Babe?" Chuck woke up from his nap. He sat up in bed, wondering how he got there when he'd been sleeping on the couch outside while Dei slept on his bed.

There was no reply.

"Dei?" Chuck called out again. He was feeling woozy from the cold medicine he had to take. He stood up and went to the toilet.

Chuck was about to return to bed when he heard voices from the living room outside.

".......are you sure you're okay na?" A guy's voice.

"....yes, thanks for carrying some of these...." Dei spoke.

"...sure, no problem...sige, mauna na ako...." Chuck stopped in his tracks and walked closer to the door. He hid behind it and tried to see who the person was. The voice sounded familiar.

"...thanks again..." Dei said.

"....call me...." The guy suggested.

"....bye..." Dei closed the door after.

Chuck heard the front door being locked and Dei humming afterwards. She liked humming mostly Coldplay songs. This song didn't sound like a Coldplay song.

"Dei?" Chuck called out (again).

"....you're awake....I went down lang to buy some things....how are you feeling?" Dei said as she approached the bedroom. Chuck had gone back to bed, pulling the comforter over him. "Do you have a temperature?" Dei said as she put her hand on his forehead.

".....wala naman....ata.....HAAA---CHOOOOO!" Chuck sneezed and blew his nose.

"You don't feel too warm to touch naman....here, drink some warm water nalang...." Dei offered him some water from water bottle she left by the bedside.

"....wait...why am I here on the bed? I remember telling you to stay here and I'd sleep on the couch..."

"....we were cuddling kanina....you fell asleep....but, now that I'm better, you're going to sleep on your bed na...."

"...you're going home na?"

"Who said anything about that?"

"....."

"I went down to the mall next door to buy supplies...food....I also bought some clothes and underwear....since you took care of me....I'm going to take care of you naman...."

"....just like old times..."

"....yup..." Dei said as she stroked Chuck's head which was on her lap.

After a long while, Chuck asked, "....whose was the voice I heard you with?"

"Voice?" Dei stopped stroking Chuck's head.

"...yes...kanina, when you arrived, may narinig akong boses ng lalake na kausap mo....and he didn't sound like the lobby guard or maintenance crew...."

"....Javy...."