"Nothing, I just miss home all of a sudden." Leena sniffed. Her voice was husky. Her words didn't sound all that convincing to Kevin.
"Really? You're just homesick? Leena, don't lie to me, that doesn't sound like you." Kevin got out of bed and walked to the terrace. He wanted the cold breeze to wake him up more.
"I really just want to be home with --" Before Leena finished talking, the cough betrayed her and exposed her true condition. There was no hiding that she had a cold.
"You're sick. Is it serious? Have you taken anything for it?" He fired a battery of questions at her, with a look of worry on his handsome face.
I'm okay, I will feel better after a good night's sleep." Hearing his worried voice, Leena felt warmer, and less sad in her heart.
Weren't you alright this morning? Why did you suddenly get sick?" Kevin frowned. He was not with her so he didn't know whether it was serious or not.
"Because I got wet." Leena took some tissue to wipe her runny nose. She felt her body becoming hot and her head dizzy. She even didn't have any strength to speak now. The cold was trying to have its way with her.
"Wet? How?" From the rain? Or did you go for a swim?" Hearing her trailing voice, Kevin paced to and fro anxiously.
"No, I accidentally fell into the Seine. Nothing serious." Leena coughed. She didn't know how to lie, so she just frankly told him the truth.
What? Are you alright? Have you seen the doctor?" Leena's words worried Kevin even more. He felt helpless. She was so far away, and he was unable to reach her, to hold her, and be with her. He was agitated like an ant in a hot pan. When he heard she fell into the river, he could imagine how frightened she was at the moment. His heart trembled at the thought. But he thought it had something to do with the fact that he felt guilty as well.
"Not yet. Kevin, I miss you. But I can barely keep my eyes open. I want to sleep. Talk to you when I get up, okay?" Leena became more dizzy, she couldn't think clearly now. Her hand which held the phone started drooping, as she was too weak to hold it to her ear.
"Leena, don't sleep now. Take some medicine before you nod off, okay? Leena..." Kevin constantly called her name, but he heard only silence in return. Although she didn't hang up, she didn't speak either. He listened carefully, and could hear loud breathing through a clogged nose.
Kevin had never felt so scared before. It was the first time that Leena had said she missed him. But she was having a miserable time right now. Should he feel sad or touched?
The annoying ringtones pulled Duke from his dreams. He reached out his hand to fumble for his cellphone on the bedside table, eyes still closed. When his fumbling finally produced the cellphone, he put it to his ear and said hello. The phone still rang in his ear, which confounded him. Then he realized what he'd done. He frowned and accepted the call.
Hi..." Duke was still in a daze. The call also woke up Belinda. She opened his sleepy eyes and asked, "Who is calling?"
Duke, it's me, Kevin. I'm so sorry to call you so late." This was the best way Kevin could think of to deal with Leena. Kevin wasn't very familiar with Paris, nor did he have any friends there. But Duke was different. He was a businessman, so Kevin assumed that he must know a lot of people around the world.
What happened?" Duke patted Belinda's back and leaned on the back of the bed.
Here's the thing. Leena just called me. She is sick, and she passed out during the call. I think you might be familiar with Paris. Could you find someone you know in Paris and ask him or her to check whether Leena is okay?" Clad in a casual suit, Kevin no longer felt sleepy after he got Leena's call.
"What, didn't she see the doctor? She should be more careful." At the news, Duke immediately rolled out of bed and rooted around in the wardrobe for some clothes to wear.
"No, she said she was all wet because she fell into the Seine River during the day. She caught a cold because of this. She didn't take anything for it." Kevin sighed. If he weren't a soldier he'd be at the airport right now. But he had an obligation to stick around. The country was his boss, and he didn't get time off to deal with family emergencies.
"Okay, I get it. I'll ask someone to check on her immediately. We'll talk later." Finished with the call, Duke hung up immediately. Then he dialed a familiar number. When the person on the other end picked up, he explained why he called in fluent French, and threw the phone on the bed. He began to throw some clothes on. Belinda stirred.
Where are you going?" She asked Duke doubtfully when she saw Duke put on his clothes. She was confused, disoriented from being jarred awake.
Leena is sick, I have to fly to Paris now. I'm pretty worried about her, being there alone." Duke walked back to the bedside and planted a gentle kiss on Belinda's lips.
"What? Is it serious? I can drive you to the airport." Belinda suddenly got very anxious because of Duke's remarks. She was ready to leave the bed.
"You don't have to go. I asked the driver to take me there. Have a good rest. I'll be back soon." Duke stopped her from getting up. Although he had asked his friend who was also a doctor in Paris to check on Leena, he wouldn't rest easy if he didn't see her safe and sound himself.
"Okay, I'll pack you an overnight bag. Get a shower before you go." Belinda jumped off the bed immediately. She took out his suitcase and put some necessities into it for Duke.
"Okay, don't pack too much. I can get almost everything I need in Paris." Duke glanced at Belinda's anxious face and walked towards the washroom. When he came out of the washroom, he looked tidy and refreshed. Belinda had already packed the suitcase.
You really don't need me to go to the airport with you?" Belinda raised her head and gazed at Duke. Her eyes were full of affection and anxiousness.
"Stay here. I'm leaving now. If I miss this flight, I have to wait another 8 hours to catch the next flight." Duke embraced her with love. He gave her an affectionate kiss before he took up his suitcase and walked out of the bedroom. He never procrastinated, but always acted in the moment. When it was time to go, he left.
"Duke, take care! Call me when you arrive." Reluctant to part with him, Belinda followed him to the gate and asked him to be careful.
It'll be okay. I'll take care of everything." Duke turned around and gave her an reassuring smile, then left without hesitation.
Totally ignorant of what was happening at Duke's place, Kevin was still circling around in his house anxiously. He wanted to call Duke to ask how things were going. But he felt it was not cool to call him again in such a short time. It would take time for Duke to find someone to check on Leena, so the only thing he could do now was wait.
He was absorbed deeply in his thoughts when he thought of what Leena said to him. She said she missed him. It was not difficult for him to figure out what she was trying to say. Probably she had unwittingly fallen in love with him. But the problem was how much love could he repay her with?
Time ticked by and there was still no word. Kevin now had the urge to call the commander to ask for a leave. But when thinking of the parade which would take place on National Day two days later, he had to give up on that idea. Fortunately, he received a text message from Duke, saying that he was at the international airport now, and he would take the earliest and fastest flight to Paris and asked him to wait for more news.
After reading the text, Kevin felt even more guilty. Leena was his wife, and the person who was supposed to save her should be Kevin, not her brother Duke. Unlike other common people who could leave as they wanted, he was a soldier and he must obey the rules. He couldn't do anything about it. But no matter what, Duke's message made him worry less. He also realized how much Duke cared for his only sister.
It was not the first time Duke ended up in Paris. He was very familiar with the city. And it was not very difficult for him to find Leena. He bought the house himself, the house which Leena was now living in. But to his surprise, he saw another man in the house when he arrived.