We left the event with only Axel's prize because the washing machine will get delivered to my home address at least next week. The night was getting colder as Axel drove us back through the dimly lit streets, the hum of the engine the only sound between us. I leaned my head back against the seat, feeling the toll of the day's events in my aching stomach.
Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me, sharp and sudden. I sat up, gripping my stomach. "Oh no…"
Axel noticed the change in my expression immediately. "You okay?"
I swallowed hard, trying to keep the nausea down. The last thing I wanted to do was ruin the interior of his expensive car. "I... I'm not feeling well. Can you pull over? Quickly!"
Axel's expression shifted from playful to concerned in an instant. He sped up slightly, searching for a place to stop. "Hold on, Cora. Just hang in there."
The nausea intensified, and I clenched my fists, doing everything I could to keep from throwing up inside the car. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I tried to focus on anything but the overwhelming sickness.
Finally, Axel found a spot on the side of the road and pulled over. I barely had time to unbuckle my seatbelt before I stumbled out of the car, rushing to the side of the street.
I bent over, feeling the bile rise in my throat, and couldn't hold it back any longer. My stomach rebelled, and I vomited on the side of the road, gasping for air between bouts of retching. The taste of food mixed with the exhaustion from the day made the whole experience feel even worse.
Axel stood nearby, leaning against the car with his arms crossed, but his teasing grin was gone. He watched me with a mixture of concern and awkwardness, clearly unsure of how to help. "You good?" he asked after a moment, his voice surprisingly gentle.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, still catching my breath. "Yeah… I'll be fine." My voice was shaky, and my legs felt weak, but I managed to straighten up, taking slow, deep breaths.
Axel reached into his car and handed me a water bottle. "Here. Rinse your mouth out."
I took it gratefully, feeling embarrassed but too tired to care. "Thanks." I rinsed my mouth, then spat the water on the ground. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to…"
Axel waved me off, smiling lightly. "Don't worry about it, your face is really pale."
He opened the passenger door for me. "Come on, let's get you home before you pass out."
I nodded, still feeling a bit shaky but relieved that the worst was over. As I climbed back into the car, Axel adjusted the seatbelt for me and glanced over. "Next time, maybe skip the food competition."
I managed a small smile, leaning back in my seat. "You might be right about that." He turned on the car, but he still facing me,
"It's still far from home, I think you better get some sleep, Cora." After he said that, he leaned closer, reaching down to adjust something under my seat, his body hovering inches above mine. I could feel his warmth as he worked to recline my seat, our faces got super close. I can smell his cologne and strangely, I don't get dizzy at all.
"Let me make you comfortable." My seat got lower, and I was almost laying down right now.
"Let me make you comfortable," he said, his voice soft. The seat adjusted until I was almost lying down.
"Better?"
"Much better, thank you." I let my eyes drift shut, the quiet ambiance of the car lulling me to sleep.
The next thing I knew, a gentle voice was calling my name. "Cora…"
I opened my eyes and realized that I had been sleeping like a baby in Axel's car.
Startled, I sat down in my seat, "Have we arrived?" I looked at the window and realized that we were still in places that I don't know. We stopped at a pharmacy.
"Not yet, but you need to drink this first before we go home." He gave me a white little paper bag, "Medicine for your stomach." He opened the lid of a new water bottle.
I opened the paper bag, and took a pill from the package and put it in my mouth. He gave me the water bottle that he had been holding, and immediately I drank the medicine with the water.
"How about you? You don't feel sick?" I asked him curiously, Earlier he saw I was vomiting in his full stomach. It won't be a surprise if he got sick too.
He started to drive again, "I'm the strongest man alive, of course I'm okay." I rolled my eyes, can't think of any teasing as I am still feeling weak.
He shot me a look, then said, "Why don't you get some more sleep?"
"No, I'm okay now after that sleep." After a few moments of silence, I looked around. "Where are we, by the way?"
He checked the Gmaps on his car screen monitor, "Honestly I don't know either, but your home takes about 15 minutes more."
"Thank you, Axel." I said that while looking at him,
"For what?" Axel glanced over at me, brow raised.
"For going to the food contest with me, for giving me that washing machine, for this medi–"
"It's alright, Cora." He cut my words before I could finish it.
"And can I ask you a question?" There is something on my mind for these past days,
"It Depends" He said jokingly,
"What do you want to do other than working in your family company?" His smile dropped, maybe I brought out the wrong question.
"Hey, remember that today's my challenge day?" He gave me a quick sidelong glance, his tone lighter. "I don't want us to talk about work."
"Why not?'
He rolled his eyes playfully. "My wish day, remember?"
"Fine, will you answer it on another day, then?"
"Maybe one day." He smirked, and I let it go, realizing he might answer someday, just not today.
He turned on the radio, and we rode in silence, watching the quiet streets. This softer side of Axel always seemed to come out when I was getting hurt. Eventually, he dropped me off, and after a final thank-you, he drove away..
Friday.
Today is the last weekday in this week, as usual Axel hasn't arrived at the office yet.
When I checked his schedule, I noticed an entry for Sunday – "Suma's dinner." It must've been recently added. I also learned we had a big business meeting in two weeks, where each department would present next year's project proposals, including scores from the President and Vice President – which meant Axel and I needed to come up with something impressive to avoid embarrassing ourselves.
As I was going through my emails, one caught my eye. It was from Axel's grandfather's secretary, and my heart thumped as I opened it.
"Invitation to Suma's dinner party."
Sunday, July 15, 2024
Suma's House
6 PM - Finish
Dear Cora, I hope you will be able to attend Suma's dinner party. It's been a while since we met so I hope I can see you there and don't tell Axel about your comings, It will be a pleasant surprise for him.
- Grandfather
"What did you read that made you that serious?" Axel came suddenly from the back, I was so surprised and closed my email tab.
"You're arrived? It's nothing, just some work." Hearing that Axel just nodded, pouting his lips, and walking towards his office.