Chapter 18

Lauren

"Hey, Lauren." I looked up from the file I was writing when I heard someone.

Its Alex.

"Alex, Hi. what are you doing here?" I asked him.

"I needed to give this file to Sarah. Did you see her anywhere?" he asked me uncertainly.

Sarah?

Okay...

Why do I get this feeling that the file is just a reason to meet Sarah.

"She went to meet Leah. I can give the file to her if you want." I said fully knowing that he would decline.

His face turned down listening to me, clearly disappointed.

"Sure." He said weakly and was about to give the file when I saw Sarah coming back from the elevator.

"You can give it to her yourself," I said gesturing behind him with my eyes.

He looked confused and turned around.

His face instantly graced with a big smile looking at her. When Sarah saw him waiting for her, she gave him a soft smile.

He walked toward her and gave the file to her.

I didn't mean to eavesdrop or anything, but I can comfortably hear him talking to her about going out tonight again or something like that.

She chucked at something he said and nodded at him.

He stared at her for a moment and suddenly turned towards me. To not make it suspicious that I was looking at them, I hid my face under my hand and looked down pretending to write something keenly.

When I didn't hear anything, I peeked up to see him kissing her for a second before rushing out.

When he left, I turned towards Sarah to see her blushing with a big smile.

"What just happened?" I asked her and she sat in front of me still red.

"Nothing. And don't tell anyone." She warned me.

"Did he propose yet?" I asked her curious.

"No. but I think he will do it soon." She answered blushing.

"Ooh... Someone is going to get a ring." I teased her and she tried staying neutral but the smile crawled up her face.

"Stop it, Lauren," she said but I just ignored her.

"I can't wait to spill this to Leah." I said dreamily and she glared at me.

"I hope she doesn't die with excitement." she said and we broke into laughter.

***

The rest of the day passed in a blur and when it was almost time to leave, I walked toward Ethan's office.

My heart skipped a beat when he passed my mind.

It has been two weeks since that night he yelled at me and later made me hot chocolate.

My blood still rushes to my cheeks remembering his actions that night.

I knocked on his door and opened the door when I heard his answer.

"Are you done?" I asked him and he looked up from his laptop.

He was typing something on his laptop when I walked in. I frowned when I saw dark circles under his eyes.

He looked exhausted, weak and not to mention sick.

"Not yet. I'll stay some more time." he said and I frowned at him.

"Are you okay?" I asked him worried looking at his pale form.

"Yes, why?" he asked me looking genuinely confused.

"You look tired, Ethan. You need to rest." I said and he just rolled his eyes at me.

"I'm fine, Lauren." he said ignoring me and going back to his laptop.

"No. you're not." I said walking towards the desk and standing in front of him.

Even his voice sounded weak.

"You look like a pale ghost with those dark circles under your eyes." I spoke.

"Still better looking than you." he said not even giving me a glance.

I narrowed my eyes at his response but let it slide for now.

"Alright then, I'll stay here with you." I said to him.

"You don't have to, Lauren. You can go." He said leaning in towards the table.

I so badly want to go home and rest, but I didn't want to leave him when he is not okay.

"Why are you being stubborn?" He asked me and I squinted my eyes at him.

"I could say the same for you." he just shook his head in response.

I walked towards the couch in the corner and sat on it.

I thought of going back to my desk and doing my work, but my mind instantly rejected the thought.

As it is already past work hours, the majority of the employee left.

I was never the workaholic type. I'm more of the lazy type.

And let me tell you, I'm not exactly proud of that.

If I'm absolutely good at anything, it is at doing nothing.

That's a rare talent. I know.

Moreover, I'm sure if I stay here, he will stop working and leave, at least for me.

***

I yawned for the umptieth time watching the clock.

Usually, I wouldn't have disturbed him. but he didn't look okay.

He needed some rest.

"Fine, let's go." He said standing up from his chair.

Finally. I thought.

I took my bag from the couch and stood up.

We both walked out and towards the parking lot.

I looked up to see the sky. It looked like it would rain heavily.

Tom halted the car in front of us and we both got in.

He started the car and soon we hit the road.

***

When I heard another thunder, I opened my eyes instantly. It's not like I'm afraid of thunders or storms. They are just so loud that they disturb my sleep all the time.

I glanced at the watch to see it is past two in the morning. I got up and sat on the bed looking around for water.

When I found it empty, I groaned and got up to get some water.

I was walking towards the kitchen when I heard a whimper.

I looked around and slowly walked towards the sound to see it is Ethan sleeping on the couch.

He is shivering heavily.

His face looked like he is in pain.

I crouched down in front of him and placed my hand on his forehead to see his body temperature.

His temperature has increased and I can feel the heat even from afar.

He is having a fever.

My panic intensified when I saw his flushed face and him sweating heavily.

I quickly brought my phone from my room to call a doctor.

I hung up the phone after calling the doctor.

The doctor will be here soon.

I looked out and it was raining heavily. It looked like a storm.

My eyes fell on Ethan who is still slightly whimpering and groaning, with his eyes shut tight.

I looked at his troubled expression and ran my fingers in his dishevelled hair.

His eyebrows relaxed when I touched his hair.

I touched his forehead again and realised his fever has increased.

To manage his fever till the doctor arrives, I rushed to the kitchen and filled a bowl with cool water. I came back and sat in front of him on the coffee table.

I soaked the clean towel in the cold water before placing it on his forehead. I wiped the sweat off his forehead.

I continued doing it, till the doctor came.

***

The doctor examined Ethan and I impatiently tapped my foot on the ground worried about Ethan.

The doctor stood up and came toward us.

"Don't worry Mrs Kingston, I have given him some medicine. He will be alright now." I sighed visibly listening to his words.

"It's Hyperthermia. His sugar levels are very low and his body is dehydrated. Not only that he looked like he hadn't slept for days. Make sure he gets some rest. And takes the medicine I've prescribed." He said to me.

"Yes, doctor," I answered.

He nodded at me and he left.

I stared at Ethan for a moment and saw him sleeping better now.

I sat on the coffee table in front of Ethan to check his fever and gladly it is getting down. I wrapped a blanket around his body and I smiled when he snuggled in it.

He looked like a big baby snuggling into the warm comforting blanket.

I stifled a yawn and sat on the chair beside the couch and glanced at the clock to see it is three in the morning.

I made myself comfortable on the chair and didn't realise when I drifted off to sleep.

***

It was the next morning and although it sounds absurd, I'm in the kitchen. I checked the taste of the soup I was making and felt happy it didn't taste horrible.

This is the third time I've tried doing the soup since morning. I've done it once or twice when my mother was sick.

She didn't die drinking this. So, I guess the soup is not poisonous.

Once the soup is ready, I walked toward the living room to wake Ethan up.

I smiled looking at his sleeping form.

I squatted in front of him to wake him up.

I checked his fever and his fever is completely down now.

"Ethan," I called him.

When he didn't budge, I slightly placed my hand on his arm shaking him.

He furrowed his eyebrows and slowly moved his eyeballs before opening his eyes.

His usual sparkling blue eyes now looked dull but still beautiful.

He looked confused for a second before getting up and leaning back into the couch.

"How are you feeling now?" I asked him and he cleared his throat.

"Like I've been run over by a truck." He said rubbing his forehead.

I blinked my eyes clearing my throat when I heard his morning raspy voice.

"That's what you get when you work too much and not rest at all." I scolded him and he looked up listening to my tone.

"You know I've been so worried last night and that doctor said you have hyper or hypertherma or something like that." I started but he decided to interrupt me.

"Hyperthermia?" he suggested.

"Yes." I agreed.

"So, were you worried about me?" he asked looking up.

And my heart melted looking at his hopeful eyes.

He looked like wanted me to be worried about him.

"No." I lied plainly just to annoy him.

"Liar." He squinted his eye at me.

"You wish." I spoke and he just smiled leaning back on the couch, staring at me all the time.

"So, why don't you go and freshen up. I made soup for you." his smile vanished listening to me.

"You made it?" he asked me dreadfully and I nodded my head proudly.

"I don't want to risk my life, Lauren. why don't you order something for us?" He said and I looked at him offended.

"Don't be so dramatic, Ethan. I'm sure you will not die drinking that." I glared at him.

"But I'm not sick." he said childishly.

"Oh, then the doctor must've come to water our plants last night." Sarcasm dripped in my words.

"But-"he started but I cut him off.

"No. I worked so hard cooking the soup. You are drinking it." I said sternly and he just sighed.

***

He sat on the bed and I placed the soup in front of him.

When he didn't budge to drink, I sat beside him and took the bowl.

I took the spoon and placed it in front of his lips urging him to open his mouth.

He hesitated for a second, but when he saw my face, he opened his mouth.

I grinned at him and placed the spoon in his mouth.

"Well, how is it?" I asked him raising my eyebrow.

"Below average." He said and I scoffed at him.

He could at least appreciate my effort.

"Feed yourself." I pushed the bowl into his hands and he raised his eyebrows looking up at me.

"Ok, Fine. it's good." he said smiling and my heart fluttered looking at his smile.

Isn't he giving me a lot of smiles lately?

I smiled to myself at the thought.

"So?" he raised his eyebrow gesturing me to the tray.

"You want me to feed you?" I asked him surprised.

"Yes?" he asked me back.

"You're not a baby. You can do it yourself." I teased him.

"But I'm sick." He said feigning innocence.

Shaking my head at his expression, I took the tray from him.

Who would've thought I would see this 'baby' side of him.

***

We had spent our whole day doing nothing except sleeping. I kept an eye on him to make sure he doesn't sneak into his study to work.

I've finally convinced him to watch TV with me as I'm bored out of my wits.

"So, what do you want to watch?" I asked him.

"Anything." He shrugged his shoulder.

"Pick a genre, Ethan." I snarled at him.

He thought for a good two minutes before answering.

"Horror?" he suggested.

What?

No.

I hate horror movies.

I get scared easily.

"No. I'll be bored watching them. We'll watch something else." I spoke hiding the fact that I'm scared to watch them.

"Don't tell me you're scared?" he spoke giving me a sly smirk.

And here I thought, I managed well.

"What? No." I chuckled nervously trying to hide my fear.

"Then we'll watch it. common." He said gesturing me to sit beside him on the couch.

"Why don't we watch something else. By the way, horror movies are overrated." I said to him.

"Admit it, Lauren. You are scared." He provoked me.

I scoffed and agreed with him to watch the horror movie.

Literally, after ten minutes into the movie, my first thought was,

Why?

Why did I agree to watch this movie?

I should've just shut the hell up and admitted to him that I was scared.

I silently brought my knees to my chest and hid my face behind my knees.

I jumped out of my skin when the ghost appeared on the screen out of nowhere.

Why do they do that?

From the corner of my eye, I could see Ethan smirking.

I tried watching the movie hiding my face behind my knees for another fifteen minutes.

But when the music intensified and the camera zoomed into the dark on the screen, I couldn't see anymore and moved forward switching off the TV.

I swear I'd die of a heart attack if I continue watching.

"Fine. You won. I'm scared." I admitted to him.

"It's about time," he said and I shook my head at him.

I got up to get some water from the kitchen when I abruptly stopped walking halfway.

"Ethan, come here once." I called him.

"Why?" he yelled from the living room.

"I'm scared." I yelled back.

This is what happens when I watch a horror movie.

I'd be scared to even walk alone for some time.

I feel like the ghost from the movie will be watching me in the dark.

This is really embarrassing as I didn't even complete half of the movie now.

Ethan's laugh brought me out of my thoughts.

"You're scared?" he said pinching my cheek adorably and I swatted his hand away.

"Don't do that." I fumed at him.

He just ignored me laughing out loud.

I walked into the kitchen fully knowing he is following me.

I drank some water ignoring him and he eventually stopped laughing.

"Ok, now we'll watch whatever you decide." He said standing beside me.

"Really?" I asked him innocently and he nodded at me.

I smiled to myself at his response.

"Now come with me." he said casually gesturing towards the living room.

"That's what she said." I opened my mouth without thinking twice.

When I realized what I said, I turned towards him with widened eyes, hoping he didn't hear me.

Of course, my luck once again betrayed me.

"What did you just say?" he asked me looking surprised.

"Nothing," I said trying to play it cool.

"Did you just say-" I didn't let him finish.

"You heard nothing. Shut up. And moreover, it's just a joke." I said turning a dark shade of red.

I didn't wait for his response and tried to run back to the living room. I looked back to see he was following me.

He caught me by my waist and turned me towards him.

We were both breathing heavily and he was staring at me hard.

My eyes got lost in his eyes for a moment before they fell down to his small sharp nose and then finally to his full pink lips.

When I looked up, his eyes are on my lips too.

He leaned in towards me and my heartbeat hastened.

I fluttered my eyes not knowing what to do.

When he is just an inch apart from my lips, he ran his eyes all over my face.

He inched forward and my heart exploded thinking about what was going to happen.

Just when I think he is going to place his lips on mine and kiss me, he altered his face slightly and pecked me on my cheek.

I sucked in a breath when I felt his soft lips on my cheek.

He lifted his face up and looked at me.

He stared at me intensely before taking his time removing his arms from my waist and giving me a smile, which made butterflies erupt in my stomach.

He stared at me for a minute more before walking away to his room.

Wait-

What just happened?

Why am I feeling all this? It's just a peck on the cheek.

It's not even a kiss.

Does he have feelings for me?

I don't know why but that thought alone made me feel giddy.

All these new unfamiliar feelings made me forget my fear that I was watching a horror movie before.

Author's note.

Hey everyone,

How are y'all?

Thanks a lot for reading.

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