Kaizer's POV
"Why are you all in my room?"
I didn't realize how tense I had been until I heard her speak. Something inside me eased instantly.
"Ma'am, you are literally burning with a fever!!" Anya rebuked.
"I... I was.. sleeping."
She said, still drifting in and out of consciousness.
"You are... overreacting."
Still caught somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, Iris attempted to sit up. The movement was slow and clumsy, her body swaying slightly as if she hadn't fully remembered how to stay upright yet.
"Iris." I said.
She stirred faintly at the sound of her name.
"Let Lux take your temperature."
"But...." She looked towards me.
"No buts."
She finally lay down on her bed as Lux quietly checked the thermometer.
"It's 103°F. She really has a high fever." He looked at me. "Do you have any medicines at home?"
"I should have..." I said as I attempted to stand up but felt something clutching my hand.
Her slightly warm palm was wrapped around my index finger as she curled up in her blanket.
Before I could say anything, Lux himself went out and brought some water with medicines.
He then paused and took out his phone.
"Let me confirm..."
He dialed a number.
"Mom, can we give acetaminophen to someone with a fever? Her temperature is 103°F."
He nodded twice before hanging up and with the help of Anya, gave her the medicine.
Her brows furrowed slightly, maybe from the bitter taste of the medicine.
"Sister Iris, you can sleep now."
She made an irritated face before her breathing became even again.
Soon Anya came with a basin of tepid water. She wiped down her neck, head and wrists. The wet cloth turned instantly warm against her burning skin, forcing Anya to rinse and wring them out constantly.
It was strange. Just yesterday, she'd been perfectly fine. She didn't even have any symptoms of a cold. How the hell did she get such a high fever overnight?
I looked towards her wrist.
She was still wearing that silver bracelet. Its shine contrasted with the black rubber band on my wrist.
My gaze drifted to her face. She was sleeping soundly, peacefully.
A knot I hadn't realized I was carrying loosened.
The moon was still there. It just needed some rest.
So just rest today.
Iris's POV
I could hear them. Children laughing and running around. Close enough to touch them.
But I couldn't see anybody.
It was pitch dark. I tried to stop them but no one responded.
Suddenly I heard a voice.
"This is for you."
I turned around and the next moment, I was in his living room. He slid a pouch in front of me. I looked around but he was nowhere to be seen.
A silver bracelet slipped out from the pouch. As soon as I touched it, it disappeared and the TV switched on.
A news channel was playing.
The female reporter stood near a narrow alley blocked by police tape while emergency lights flashed faintly behind her.
> "A man reportedly disappeared mysteriously late last night from an alley located behind his office building…"
The camera shifted briefly toward a photograph of a strangely familiar middle-aged man.
"This man.." I murmured.
And out of a sudden,
My eyes opened into the familiar surroundings of my room. The first thing that appeared in my view was–
Kaizer.
My eyes remained wide open.
His eyes were closed, his drooping head was supported by one of his hands while his other hand...
I looked down. His other hand was in my palm. That basically means, I was holding his hand all this while.
I instantly pulled my hand back. A usual warmth surged up to my cheeks.
He slightly flinched sensing the movement and opened his eyes.
We looked at each other for a moment and then moved at the same time.
He tried to stand up.
I tried to sit up.
And then,
"Ouch.." We both said at the same time as my head collided straight into his.
Why was his head like a stone?
No that was not the first concern. The first concern was that I just continued my streak to embarass myself in front of him.
The moment our eyes met, we froze.
"Sorry..." Again at the same time.
I looked down.
"Uhm.." He said faintly. "We need to knock our foreheads again."
"Huh?" I stared at him.
"My mom used to say it brings bad luck."
"Oh..." That was the only thing that came out of my mouth. "Okk."
I leaned forward a little. He also came closer.
My heart was pounding so hard that it might just jump out of my body anytime.
Our foreheads brushed before colliding lightly. For a brief moment, our eyes met.
We paused.
Neither pulled away.
I could hear his faint breath.
For a moment, it felt like everything paused.
And then suddenly–
His phone rang.
We both simultaneously pulled back. What the hell was just about to happen??
I quickly turned towards the other side while he picked up the phone and marched outside my room.
Were we just about to...
The moment that thought came in my mind, I dig my face straight into my blanket.
A small smile still somehow left my mouth.
Wait.
What was he even doing in my room?
Memories rushed through my head. Ohh yes, I... I had a fever. But where is Anya? It's all her fault. If she had been here, I would not have embarassed myself!!!
Kaizer's POV
I quickly left the room without turning back. What was I even doing?
I glanced down at my phone. Lux. I picked it up.
"Did she wake up?" He asked in his usual loud voice.
"Hmm.." I hummed in response as I glanced back at the room.
"Wait..why do you sound like you were just in between of something important?"
It quickly took my attention to the moment.
The way neither of us pulled back.
A small smirk slowly formed on my lips.
"Are you there?"
"Shut up."
I said as I hung up the call.