"Do you need anything else?"
I inquired, walking around the room, inspecting. I replaced the bed linens and stored some additional clothing and towels in the wardrobe. They were all mine, but those will have to suffice for the time being. Eugene contacted his roommate and told him he was staying at a friend's house given that he didn't want to pass around the virus, and while his colleague argued that it was alright, Eugene insisted he didn't want to cause trouble. Finally, everyone agreed that staying away was the best option right now. He had also requested a couple of days off from his supervisor, which he readily granted after seeing how ill he was this morning.
"No, you've already done more than enough. I owe you a lot for this one."
Eugene stated, his words being broken by coughs and sneezes.
"Yeah, you owe me for your damn flu as well. If it hadn't been for my drunken arse."
I grumbled the last line, but because the room was quiet, we both heard it loud and clear.
"I made that choice willingly, River. Besides, if it's a fever that will keep you from pushing me away, I'd do it all over again."
The amount of earnestness in those words was overwhelming for my non-committal mind to digest. I muttered something about preparing dinner and literally raced out of the room. Eugene obviously meant it as a friend, but it was too much for my heart, which carried an entirely different feeling for him, one I have yet to put a name to.
I was fidgeting around the kitchen while I poured steaming hot water into the thermal container. Despite my best efforts, being so near Eugene provoked me to have some very wild thoughts. Perhaps it would be safer if he locked the door from inside.
I shook my head in disbelief, mortified that I was even having such perverted ideas. It's time I stopped reading all those smutty novels. For the love of Christ, I wasn't an animal, but I was sure acting like one. I removed the pan from the burner and set the warm porridge in a serving bowl. I tamed my hair a little before arranging everything on a platter and heading towards the room he was in.
The door was half open, and the only light coming through was from the bed lamp. I knocked twice before entering and found Eugene seated on the bed, his upper half reclining on the head rest. He was on a call, and upon seeing me, he straightened and placed his index finger on his lips, signaling for me not to say anything. I nodded at him, smiling, and walked over to the right side. The familiarity of having him in my cottage was scaring the shit out of me and I was having an internal panic attack while he was oblivious to it, and continued talking on his phone.
"Yes, mom. I am not a child."
I set the serving tray down on the dressing table and flicked on the lights.
"How is your knee? You know, you should probably take care of yourself before giving me lectures. You were rearranging the furniture again, weren't you?"
I grinned as I fumbled with the tablets, turning my back to him. I was witnessing another face of Eugene, something that I found appealing. It elevated him above the status of production assistant. It made him a son, someone who has a family, and a different human being. It was weird, yet fascinating.
"Don't lie to me, Mom. Sofia sent me the pictures."
He talked to his mother with tenderness and genuine affection. He was quite close to his mother, that much was certain. Perhaps that's why women like him. Any man who values his mother knows how to respect other women. And, more than anything else, respect is what a woman seeks after reaching a certain age.
I turned around and indicated for him to take the meal, then began to walk away when he gestured for me not to.
"Mom, my friend is calling me for dinner. I will FaceTime you tomorrow, alright?"
He was silent as his mother replied before ending the call with, "I love you too." That was so sweet.
Eugene began coughing violently right after the phone call finished, and I offered him a glass of warm water to drink.
"Oh God, I had been holding it in for a very long time. She'd be concerned if she heard me cough."
I smiled at him, unsure what to say. His mother raised him well.
"How do you feel?"
I asked, passing him the soup bowl. Since it was hot, I folded a towel and laid it on his lap, followed by setting the bowl on top of it.
"My entire body hurts. I feel like I've been hit by a truck."
And he still refused to go to the hospital. I silently watched him blow on the spoonful of gooey substance before he swallowed a small portion. He closed his eyes and flinched a little, owing to the sore throat, but a slow smile crept to his lips.
"This is delicious. Even though my taste receptors are dull right now, it tastes refreshing."
"I know. I'm a fantastic cook."
I shrugged sassily, leading him to laugh, but it of course resulted with him coughing. He really wasn't doing well.
"I feel like a burden."
He said after finishing the entire bowl and I reassured him it was fine. In fact, I was more than fine with him staying at my house. It was almost as if I had won a jackpot. But he doesn't have to know that.
"Here, take this."
I handed him the medications, and he consumed them all in one swallow. I also gave him the nasal spray and made sure that he was covered under the blanket before turning off the main light and just putting on the bed lamp.
"Keep the phone nearby. Call me whenever you need me, okay?"
I said it firmly, and he gave me a thumbs up. He might have replied something, but I had trouble comprehending it since his words were muffled and his eyelids were already drooping, suggesting that he was probably half asleep.
"Goodnight."
I whispered before leaving the room, slightly closing the door.
....
The weariness of the day caught up with me, and I effortlessly fell into sleep. I had been naive if I thought Eugene's presence was going to keep me awake at night. I even had wonderful dreams in which I was standing on a swinging bridge beneath a stunning neon pink sky. Red Dolphins were gliding above me, and as I waved in their direction, one of them gave me the middle finger. They were undoubtedly taught etiquette from an early age. I was beaming as they vanished into the black hole, but the tranquility was broken when someone coughed next to me. I glanced around, but all I saw were the never-ending bridge and fairies playing in the ocean of cereal below.
"Are you the one coughing?"
I demanded of the fairy, but she shook her head and pointed to the Giraffe paddling by her.
"Are you the guy who coughed?"
I asked him, and he nodded, coughing again. The Giraffe's face then began to alter, much to my amazement. Soon, the long-necked animal shrank and faded away. Instead, Eugene lay in the water, coughing like hell.
My eyes popped open, and I blinked a few times in order to gather my thoughts. Right, I was dreaming.
I jumped out of the bed, feeling a little disoriented, and dashed to Eugene's room. I could hear his ferocious coughing more clearly now and as I glanced at the clock, it showed two a.m.
I knocked a few times on the door, but all I received was another fit of coughing.
"I am coming in."
I announced and barged into the room. Eugene was curled up on the bed like a shrimp. He was either still asleep or hadn't got enough strength to get up, as he kept on coughing.
"Eugene, do you need some water?"
I approached him, but he was still not getting up.
I knelt alongside the mattress and pulled the cover down slightly. His eyes remained closed, but he was visibly shivering. I grabbed the thermometer to check his temperature and cursed aloud. His high fever was confirmed by the little screen, which read 103° F.
The doctor has already warned that since he wasn't given the shot, his temperature could go up. But I didn't expect it to rise to this extent. I made my way to the kitchen and fetched a cotton cloth and a basin with warm water. I was the one who mostly looked after April while our parents left for work, as I was a lot older than her.
April always referred to herself as my first child, and she was right. Because of my experience with her, I learned how to treat and care for others. And right now, that knowledge is really coming in handy. I had my worries for Eugene, but I wasn't in a state of panic. I knew what would help the fever go down, and I felt at ease knowing that I wasn't completely unaware of what was wrong. I can handle it.
I arranged everything on the bedside table that I had brought closer to his bed and removed the blanket from him. I turned up the heat, but he was still trembling.
"I am going to remove your shirt, alright?"
I said it as a formality, despite the fact that I suspected he was powerless to stop me. I swiftly took off his shirt, and for a brief moment, I found myself drawn to his tattoo, which was now entirely exposed to my hungry eyes, but his cough pulled me back to reality. Oh dear, I was turning into a hentai monster.
I ripped a rectangular piece of cotton fabric and moistened it before laying it on his forehead. Then I grabbed the balance of material and soaked it prior to rubbing it throughout his body, underarms, neck, and back. Moving him was challenging, but I wasn't that delicate. I should be impressed with myself.
I also applied eucalyptus oil to his throat and the back of his ears upon reading somewhere that it was effective. For an hour or so, I continued scrubbing him down; the towel drying quickly due to his high fever. I forced him to drink water at regular intervals and his coughing subsided a little after consuming some syrup.
By three fifteen, his eyes fluttered open, focusing the pupils on me. He was attempting to say something, but I did not fully understand it. So I leaned in closer, practically putting my ear close to his lips. His breath felt so hot as it tickled my skin, and his voice was barely audible.
"Bathroom."
He managed to croak out, and I got up in understanding. I gave him plenty of water as the doctor advised that the only way for the temperature to break down was through perspiration and human excrement. I assisted him to stand since his legs were too weak to raise himself properly, and he put all of his body weight on me. I helped him stand next to the WC whilst making sure he held on to the wall hanger.
"Are you sure I shouldn't stay? I can just close my eyes."
He shook his head weakly, and I just walked away. I know he would feel humiliated even for letting me help him to the bathroom once he is okay, but I can't help it. I was also the one who took April to the lavatory. I didn't entirely shut the door while I waited for him outside, and when I heard the flush, I announced my presence and aided him out.
He slid down onto the mattress, falling into another slumber almost immediately, and I continued wiping his body. I think it was around four o'clock when I noticed his temperature was lowering. His cough had also calmed down, and he was finally breathing soundly. After that, I wrapped two blankets around him and sat on the solo couch adjacent to the bed.
That day, I slept while staring at him.
....