Chapter 26: Fever
Chapter 26: Fever
I watched in disbelief as Doday's figure slowly faded away, leaving me dumbfounded. I had lost a friend within the mansion's walls and it was sad that we only had a short span of time to be true and genuine with each other. With a heavy heart, I hurried inside, where Miss Linda called out my name in a concerned tone, her eyes questioning if Doday had indeed left. I quickly nodded in response. Miss Linda sighed, clearly sad by the sudden departure of the Doday. We will surely miss her bubbly attitude but I can not blame Doday for leaving, her heart must be heavy all this time staying at the mansion. Miss Linda voiced her curiosity, wondering aloud about the events that led to Doday suddenly leaving. I let out a sigh of my own, feeling the weight of the situation. A memory flashed in my mind of Joday, Doday's best friend, crying earlier when we had crossed paths in the hallway. It dawned on me that Joday might be aware of what had happened between Doday and Kiro. But Doday had trusted me and told me everything, thinking that I was the only one who knew about it. Deciding to give an excuse to Miss Linda, I made my way to the maid's quarters to find Joday. As I approached her, I noticed she was still overwhelmed with tears. "Joday," I softly uttered, hoping to offer her solace. She turned to face me, swiftly evading my attempt to comfort her, and shot me a death glare. I was taken aback by her reaction but made another attempt to reach out and calm her. "Don't touch me, Lyka," she coldly warned me, her eyes filled with anger. Confused and uncertain about her anger, I tried once more to approach her and comfort her. "Shhh, Joday," I whispered, but she cut me off abruptly. "What happened to Doday? What did you talk about last night?" she asked, her next question leaving me stunned. Puzzled by her bunch of questions, I struggled to find a suitable response. I wasn't prepared to answer her queries, nor did I wish to disclose what had occurred. Consequently, I chose to remain silent, unable to think of a believable reply. I know that Joday is smart and I can not just give her some excuses.
"I-I don't know, Joday," I lied once again, hoping to divert the conversation. "Shut up! You're the reason, aren't you? You're the reason she left, right? What did you do, Lyka? Doday is my friend!" Joday yelled at me, her frustration evident. Understanding her pain at Doday leaving, I let her vent her anger, aware that sometimes people say hurtful things when consumed by sorrow. I know that there are moments when silence becomes the most fitting response to unwarranted accusations but Joday's words were crossing the line, and I felt a surge of anger rising within me. If she had previously judged us, now I regarded her with even greater disrespect. It was exasperating. I despised people who passed judgment without considering both sides of the story. "You don't know me, Joday, so shut up with your suspicions!" I retorted sharply, turning my back to her before promptly leaving the room. She had truly tested my patience. All I had wanted to do was comfort her, but apparently, that was not what she wanted. I hurried to the kitchen to prepare food for Kiro, trying to push aside the unpleasant words from Joday. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself down. Suddenly, I heard Miss Linda's voice behind me. "Lyka... Are you okay? Lyka?" I was startled and quickly composed myself. "I'm fine, Miss. I went to talk to Joday and try to calm her down, but it seems like she doesn't want my help. So, yeah... I'll just bring the food to Sir Kiro," I explained to Miss Linda while picking up the tray filled with food. I tried to shake off thoughts of the argument with Joday and focused on how I should behave in front of Sir Kiro. Miss Linda nodded at me, and I briskly made my way up the stairs. I felt nervous, especially since I had shouted at him the previous night. What was I thinking? You're such a fool, Lyka! I knocked on his door three times, as I always did. Since the door was usually open, I entered immediately. To my surprise, he was still lying in bed. Kiro usually wakes up early every morning. Whenever I brought him food, he had already bathed and was engrossed in his books. What could
be wrong? I placed the tray on his bedside table and was about to leave when my conscience pricked at me. I wanted to apologize for yelling at him the previous night. "S-sir..." I hesitated, trying to wake him up gently. "Sir Kiro..." To my surprise, he actually responded, "I said stop calling me 'sir.' Drop the formalities—" His speech was interrupted by a sneeze, his sneeze. I quickly placed my hand on his forehead. My suspicion was confirmed—he had a fever. "You... You have a fever, Si—Kiro," I said, stumbling over my words. "Obviously. It's my body, so I know," he replied dismissively, his tone sarcastic. The memory of my outburst last night suddenly came rushing back, and I felt ashamed. Ignoring his response, I hurried into the bathroom of his room to pick necessary things. Some things that my Mama would use when I have a fever at home. As I entered Kiro;s bathroom, I noticed the grandeur that surrounded me. The air smelled of expensive perfumes and fresh flowers, creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. The room was spacious and filled with luxurious fixtures and marble countertops, showcasing their obvious wealth. Soft lighting added a warm glow, making it a comfortable space to relax. I approached the large bathtub, which seemed perfect for a relaxing soak. The water was scented with lavender and vanilla, filling the room with a soothing fragrance. The scent of Kiro greeted me. There were various bathing products, but I didn't pay much attention to them anymore. I am here to grab things for his fever! I looked everywhere to find a basin and a towel. The bathroom was much nicer than my room at our home so I hope I find a basin. Found ya! I grabbed a small basin and a towel and rushed back to Kiro. I approached the water dispenser and filled the basin with hot water. Fortunately, Kiro's room was equipped with everything I needed. "Kiro..." I called out to get his attention, but he remained covered by the blanket. "Kiro, remove the comforter from your face," I instructed, and he complied immediately.
He pulled the blanket away but kept his eyes closed. I couldn't help but stare at his face. As I looked at him, I couldn't believe how smooth his skin was. His skin looked so soft and perfect, as if it had never been affected by any roughness or blemishes. The pores on his face were barely visible, and his complexion was even all over, making me feel a bit jealous. I had to admit, he was undeniably handsome. "Why is my blanket moved? Just so you can stare at me?" Kiro's words interrupted my thoughts. Something’s off with him today except with his fever. Why did his behavior change? The fever seemed to be affecting him differently! I quickly looked away, feeling flustered. "You're assuming things, sir! Why would I want to stare at your face?" I stuttered and immediately placed the towel on his forehead. He winced in pain suddenly. I hadn't wrung out the towel, and the water was still hot. Damn, I made a mistake! "I'm sorry, Sir Kiro!" I exclaimed, hastily removing my hands from his face and gently blowing on his forehead. I continued blowing on his forehead repeatedly until I felt it was no longer hot. I stared at him, berating myself. You're such an idiot, Lyka! I turned to face him, my hands still lingering near his face. I was suddenly taken aback by the realization of our distance to each other. We were so close to each other. I remembered that he had been staring at me earlier while I rubbed his forehead. I felt something fluttering inside me. Oh no, not this feeling again!Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.