Chapter 21: Chapter 21

The next time I opened my eyes again, I was laying down on the bed. I trembled as I felt cold causing me to rub my arms and pulled the quilt material up to my chin to cover me. Everywhere was dark save for the bed lamp that was still on but wasn't bright enough. I felt a throb in my throat and covered my mouth and started coughing.

My attention was drawn to footfalls padding down the hall. I tried to sit up and at the same time, the door opened and a creased-faced Cameron came in looking very whipped and tired. His eyes were dull as if he haven't had any proper sleep.

At seeing me up, he widened and brightened as he walked to the bed, sat close to me, and took my dainty hand on his huge ones. “I was very worried...” he hesitated for some time before he continued “You scared all of us”

“I'm sorry. I didn't know it was that serious. What happened to me?” I looked around the room noting the tray containing some drugs and a bottle of water.

He followed my gaze and then he met my eye “You had fainted near the stairs and was discovered by Samuel who ran to my office calling afterward.”I nodded. I remember telling very tired and then retiring to my room to refresh but what happened later, I can't really tell.

“The Doctor said it's a type B typhoid. When last did you treat typhoid?”

I exhaled and retrieved my hand from his to lay back on the bed. I was feeling dizzy and my mouth feels sour. “Three years ago and that's because I hardly fall sick,” I informed him casually.

He looked disturbed at my admittance “That is very risky, baby. You should always be very cautious of your health. I was very troubled when Samual said you passed out,” his eyebrow was furrowed and I could see some sign of stubble in hipbones smooth jaw.

I reached out and place my hands on his. “It's okay. I'm going to be fine. I'm sorry for being a burden right now. I will leave when I feel a lii___”

“Don't say that Val, you are my responsibility now. I would take care of you and make sure you are properly nursery back to hood health. The Doctor came earlier and checked you out. He would return by” he checked his watch he wears at every moment of the day “4. Which means he would soon be here coz it's already 3:30” he said offhandedly.

I nodded and shifted on the bed. “Can I get water please I feel very dry.” he nodded and reached out to pick up the bottle of water which he popped open and gave you to drink. I sighed as the water penetrated my esophagus. It looked like my throat has been very parched.

I finished and returned to the bottle and then I closed my eyes and tried to drown out the pain I was feeling all over my body. I pulled the cover upwards the more as the cold became more pronounced. “You don't look comfortable. How are you feeling?”

I shook my head without opening my eye which was very hot by now “I feel ache all over. I may need some aspirin” I mumbled.

He git to work instantly. He stood and plucked up the drugs which he brought back to the bed and in turn, he asked me to stand I couldn't. I was feeling very weak in the short span of time. It seems the little chat I had, provoked my body and in return, this is my revenge.

“Okay, I will pull you up now Kittie. Let's try to take the drugs okay? I promise after the drugs the next time you wake up, you would be as good as the day” he encouraged. I tried again to open my eyes even if an inch and it worked. I gazed at Jim hazily.

He nodded my approval and I remember making my first move. I hated being this sick. It made me very clumsy and useless. When I had sat up from the bed, he used to pillow to wedge me and sat down picking up the drug again. Just as he was about to pop it into my waiting hands, the door flew open and in walks, a man in a white frock and a translucent glass in his eyes. From his looks, I could tell he was the doc.

He smiled when he came closer. “Sorry, I had knocked but it seems none of you heard” Cameron nodded and smiled back at him and spun to continue what he was doing but the Doctor stooped him.

“It's good you are awake Ms. Briggs. But I won't think it's wise to give her that for now. Has she eaten? “ Cameron developed an alien look and flushed white.

He shook his head and quickly retrieved his hand holding the drug. What is he doing? I need that drug right now. All my body I feel like I was crushed by a fast train.

“It skipped my mind that she would have to take something before having this drug. I will just have the chef whip up something and be right back”

I rolled my eyes. Whip up something? When I'm literally close to my deathbed here “I can't wait for that. I'm not even hungry. I need that drug right now Doctor. I'm feeling very tired and all my body feels like hell” I grumbled and sighed already wearing thin from fatigue.

“I understand Ms. Briggs. Those are the symptoms. But all the same, you would need sustenance if not even after taking this particular drug, your pain won't go away” I finally had it to my neck. I nodded stiffly and instantly removed the tie pillow behind me to lay back properly.

I closed my eyes and willed sleep to come faster so I wouldn't feel the extent of pain I was feeling that minute and hopefully by the time I would have up, it would all be gone. But as much as I tried, the pain won't hi away, and sleep refused to cucumber me in its sweet arms.

All the same, I didn't move from the bed. I lay with my eyes closed, shivering under the covers. The bed dipper and I feel a hand on my arm stroke at me gently. I slowly peeled my eyes open and saw Cameron looking very drained. “Let's try to take this, okay? I got to the kitchen, it happened Antonio already made something so” he gestured to the tray in his hand. I eyed it for some time and made it my mind. If that food was all it would take for my body to digest that drug and make it work, then the hell I'm down in it.

He helped me up again and placed ty tray on my shivering lips. I tried moving my hands but it felt very heavy. I forced it forward and picked up the spoon. It fell from my hand and clattered to the tray. I tried again to be stopped by Cameron’s hand on mine. He picked up the spoon and smiled at me. “Let's do this”

Why does he keep using ‘let us’? I remember when I was little, mum always said that whenever she wanted me to carry out a task. She would be like. “Valley, let's do this, let's do that”. Why would Cameron use it? I guess he wanted to motivate me to do them just like mum.

I found it hard considering the pain I was feeling even around my mouth but it kind of helped. He would scoop and smile before pitying it in my mouth. I looked like some fucken invalid.

Cameron was really a caring guy. I never believed he would this kind of person. I'm used to seeing him as the spoilt two sooner guy who had another clean io his mess. If he was going to let me stay in his house at a time like this, I expected him to maybe employ the help of a nurse or even have sent me to a hospital where I would be duly taken care of. Not be the one taking the stress of taking care of me.

This is really exhilarating. No one, I mean no one of his social status and raking work does this. And you add to my amazement, he looked really hot doing it.

The way his shirt is folded up and he is looking so plain in his house free joggers, made him look very sexy. His hair looked tousled like he just rolled on the bed. And talking about tousled and bed. Where is that snitch bitch, Mandy? Hope while I was asleep she hasn't been busy making her long deceitful claws on my man?

My curiosity got the best of me “Where is Mandy?”

He looked taken aback by the sudden question and arched his brow at me. I shrugged “She is in the living room with Samuel. They decided to stay over. Until you are recovered.”

“Have you been alone with...her?” he eyed me and then to my surprise, he smiled and dropped the plate in his hand on the tray. I fiddled with the gem of the quilt.

“Kittie, you don't have to worry. I haven't been close to her. What do you take me for? I have been fucken out of my mind since..since you boast out. There's no way in hell? I would think of that. So be at peace okay?”

I was relieved by his honest repose but still, as far as I was playing in this bed while that wench strolled around this house unleashed, I don't think I would be at ease.

“Uts okay. I just wanted to be...sure” I shrugged and motioned y the food. He brought up the plate and resumed feeding me. I was suddenly enjoying his pampering. .

When we finished our feeding routine, he brought the drug up and gave me. I took it before he went out to call the Doctor. I was already lying down when they returned and the Doctor carried out his check-up on me. “She would be okay. Her heartbeat is steady now. She just needs a little rest and this...” he reached into the bag he came in with and brought out a package which he dropped on the tray which was still sitting on the side table.

“Make sure she takes this when she wakes up from sleep. Before tomorrow morning, she would be good” he concluded and smiled at me.

He retrieved his medical equipment from the table and replaced them in his bag and made to leave. Cameron accompanied him to the door and shook hands with him before turning and coming back to the bed.

My eyes were already drooling. The drug has started working its magic causing sleep to wrap its dark tentacles around me.

“Just try to sleep Kittie, by the time you wake up, I believe we would be as good as a fiddle, okay? “ he vents out calmly and laid a chaste peck on my forehead. I tried to offer him a side crooked smile, but my chin felt like it was glued together and couldn't stretch.

Everything seemed weird. This drug is somehow.

But all the same, it didn't stop me from seeing the blurry face of my alluring tormentor and once again I appreciated the ‘we’ he had used to describe my situation. Maybe this wasn't bad after all__falling sick.