A hand stroked her head and Stacey opened her eyes to peer at her husband.
"You should have waited to watch those videos with me," he told her. "Are you alright?"
"Head hurts," Stacey groaned, sitting up.
"Yes," he agreed. "You have a fever. Have some water and then go back to sleep."
"Sorry," Stacey said, feeling guilty that he was always going out of his way to do things for her and to make sure she was comfortable. She hadn't done anything for him.
"You'll be alright soon. Then you can join the last week of the program to help the finalist trainees with their rehearsals. They heard about you writing a song with Ken, Flail and your dorm mates. They want to use it during the finale to say goodbye and pick your brain for their performances."
"Those videos…" Stacey's voice drifted off. She was unsure whether she should say anything about them or not.
"Forget them," Thieren patted her head. "At least we can tell the Bureau that you've seen them and had a bad reaction to them as is expected. Don't worry. The strong are able to overcome."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Stacey wrinkled her nose and drank the water she was given.
"Once you've gotten over this bump," Thieren said, ignoring her question, "we can make preparations for your discharge. I've already organised your wheelchair for long distance travel and gotten the disabled access in the building checked. All the former trainees who want to and are able to return will be in the building intermittently through the week for rehearsals. You just need to figure out how to say goodbye in the best way to the fans of the program and the other trainees. During this time, we'll also finalise our plans for your future in the entertainment industry."
"Stop," Stacey put down her cup and grasped his arm. "My head. Too much info."
Thieren gave a crooked smile.
"Sorry. I forgot," he apologised. "We'll do things slowly. One step at a time. You are already established as a musical artist and composer anyway. When you're better, I will arrange more work for you. I only ask that you keep up your video channel as much as you're able. It's quite popular. Try and allow Loafer to film you more often?"
"It's troublesome," Stacey grunted, "and tiring."
"At least one video per week," Thieren said, holding up one finger. "Loafer's team need to actually have work to earn the money I pay them."
"Fine," Stacey replied after a long moment.
"But once you're back in the program, you'll be filmed most of the time. You know the drill," Thieren reminded her. "If it's too much, let Anna and Elsa know. Don't let things get to the point where you can't take it again. It scares me when you lose your control and it sets your health back."
"Got it. I've got it," Stacey mumbled, rubbing her head and feeling embarrassed when she remembered the last time she lost her temper. She thought about how she had been told that he had broken down as well and how Ning had been beaten up by him in his frustration. "You have to take care of yourself too."
"My wife is starting to learn to care for her husband?" Thieren's voice perked up and he hugged her.
Stacey struggled out of his tight embrace.
"Shut up," she told him, but couldn't stop the blush from spreading across her face.
"She cares," Thieren nodded to himself and spoke in a pleased voice. "My wife cares about me. Maybe she'll start taking care of me soon."
"Be serious or get out."
Stacey pointed at the door before Thieren went further down his shameless, 'cutesy' path. His voice had already made all her goosebumps rise.
"I am serious," Thieren blinked at her.
"Sure you are," Stacey retorted. "As serious as a child asking for candy."
"That's right," Thieren agreed and Stacey rolled her eyes at his shamelessness. "We both have to be serious and work hard together if we want our marriage to work out. There are many eyes on us. We can't let anyone have a cause to point fingers or feel like they can watch us like a television drama. We've already been yoked together. We will rise and fall together. Understand? So while I know you still have your concerns, there are certain things we have to do and have to show in public, even if we're only pretending. I believe that one day, it won't just be a pretense and our deep relationship will become real."
"Deep relationship," Stacey scoffed and then saw he looked offended. She reconfigured her facial expression into sincere earnestness. "Alright," she sighed. "I'll try. I can't promise you anything except that I'll try."
"That's all I ask," Thieren smiled. "You're a woman of your word, so I trust you will definitely give it your all."
"Of course," Stacey sat up and allowed him to wipe her face with a warm, moist face towel. "It's not like I really want our relationship to fail either. I have no one else to rely on, after all."
Thieren raised an eyebrow at her and was silent for a moment.
"Wife, why don't you take off your clothes so that I can help you wipe your body down?"
He was using that voice again to try and take advantage of her. Stacey shuddered at how wrong it sounded when he spoke in this way. How did he make his deep, manly voice suddenly become that of a cute young child's? What was wrong with him?
Besides, all that info had made her head seriously hurt.
"Get out!"