(cleaning injury)
Both eyes widened and stared at themselves for some seconds, Julian's heart thumped faster than he could explain.
Same as that of Astrid, he cleared his throat getting Astrid's attention as he gasped and stood from him in a hurry but she fell to the ground again.
Julian helped her seat, still shocked at what had just happened, "I.. I am sorry.." Astrid apologized even though she wasn't at fault.
"It's fine," he responded and stood up, but then she sneezed again.
"You caught a cold," he stated and then helped her up to the bed.
"Hey…" he called while sitting beside her and then noticed that she kept playing with her hands on her head sniffing.
"How come you see before?" he asked and she sighed tirelessly.
"I used contact but now I have run out of it when I fell into the pool." Julian squinted his gaze.
"Fell,"
"Never mind," she whispered, "Are you saying without your contact you can't see at all?"
She bobbed her head gently and covered her body, "Thanks for today.." she whispered and Julian could only give a slight nod.
"You can leave," she whispered, seeing she meant her word and he didn't want to press further as he left.
He walked into his room only to see Mattie slept off already, he had kept wondering why she hadn't come up to him.
He sighed and went into the bathroom, to have a fresh bath and changed.
He left to get drunk and trusted his friend to drive them back. But when he got there he suddenly lost interest in drinking.
The moment his friend kept drinking. He didn't come with a guard so he decided to be sober so he could drive home.
He was still deep in his thoughts when his mind went back to Astrid. Not able to take it, he walked back into her room.
The light was still on and Astrid lay on the bed, her body shivering beneath the blankets. Her hair was damp and tangled, and her skin had a pale, clammy sheen to it.
She clutched her pillow tightly to her chest, her eyes closed as she tried to warm herself up.
Julian sprinted toward her in concern, "Why?…" he rolled his eyes, recalling it must have been because of the pool.
Julian sat beside her, looking worried and unsure of what to do. "Astrid," he said, his voice soft and concerned. "What can I do?"
Astrid opened her eyes, which were sunken and tired-looking. "I'm fine," she whispered, her voice hoarse from the cold. "Just cold, I will be fine in the morning."
Julian nodded, getting up to grab another blanket from the closet. He wrapped it around her, trying to warm her up.
"I will get you some soup," he said, heading for the door.
Astrid nodded, her eyes closing again as she snuggled deeper into the blankets.
He was about to leave when he met Sophie outside of Astrid's room with a bowl of hot soup in her hands.
"Julian, what are you still doing here?" She asked, surprised but he didn't have a response to give.
"You can make her take the soup, it will help," Sophie suggested seeing this as an opportunity to help them get closer.
Without a word, Julian collected the bowl and went back to Astrid's bed.
"Hey… you should take this, it will help." Astrid was too weak to sit and just lay there.
"I will drink it later," she replied, Julian exhaled sharply and dropped the soup in the nightstand now helping her up to sit.
"You need this. I can't let you sleep without it," he asserted.
"No, I wanna sleep," she mumbled, refusing to sit right.
Julian cracked at this it was the first time seeing her act this freely around him.
"I promise I will let you sleep after taking this," he helped her sit right after much trouble.
Then he fed her the soup. It was hard for him but she took after so much confrontation with him.
"Sorry," Julian said again, feeling helpless.
He helped her lay back, and then he noticed a bruise on her hand,
"How did you get this? Why hasn't it been treated?" Astrid snatched her hands from him too weak to banter words.
He went to his room to get his box, seeing she wasn't taking it seriously.
He sat back on her bed pulling back her hands, "You are lady for damn sake, take care of your skin." he murmured as he helped treat her wound. She hissed in pain but still didn't let him free her until he was done.
He rested her hand back and then checked her temperature. It was 39 degrees.
"You should get better in the morning," he said. When he was sure she was well taken in her bed, he turned off the lamp by the nightstand and was about to leave when her grip pulled him back.
"Stay… don't leave…" Julian stared at her hands not knowing what to do or how to feel.
He smiled a bit and then pulled a small stool closer so he could sit.
"It's crazy you are making me do this, I should be mad at you for making me take care of you," he muttered.
"I am sorry, for ruining your life.." he heard Astrid mutter and for weird reasons, he felt sad for her.
As Julian gazed at her sleeping form, he was struck by her loveliness.
Her long, brown hair cascaded down her pillow like a rich, velvety waterfall.
Her round face was serene and peaceful in sleep, her full lips curled into a gentle, inviting smile.
Julian's eyes lingered on her lips, surprised by their softness and allure.
Julian felt a pang of surprise at this, he had never admired any lady aside from Mattie.
She pulled him closer snuggling around his arm and this brought a smile to Julian's face.
But they ceased when he felt a spark of attraction that he had never felt before.
For a moment, he forgot about their accidental marriage, as he gazed deep into her face.
All he saw was the beautiful, sleeping woman before him, and he felt a sense of wonder and awe that he had never experienced before.
"Get yourself together Julian, you have someone you love already," he reminded himself as he shook his head like he was trying to get back to his senses.
So lost in his admiration he didn't know when he suddenly lay his head on the bed and before he could process his next action he allowed himself into the land of dreams.
Sophie, who had been outside of the room for a while, decided to come in to check on the couple.
A wide smile played on her lips as she saw the both of them already fast asleep.
"Ma'am Becky is sure going to like this," she whispered and then brought out her phone capturing various pictures and sending them immediately.
"Might be an Accidental marriage but I have a great feeling about this union," she said with a big smile spreading on her face.
She turned off the room light and then shut the door behind her.