Louisa's p.o.v;
When I woke up from my sleep, I realised that I was in my apartment. How did I get here? My clothes were changed. Wasn't I in a car with Ace? Did he change my clothes? I got up from the bed and saw Ace walking into my room.
"What are you doing?" I inquired.
He placed the vessel he was holding on the nearby table and said, "I got hot water for you."
"Hot water? I meant, what are you doing here? At my place?"
"I thought I'll drop you at your place and head to mine but you were asleep and didn't wake up. So when I tried to lift you up, you were burning… the point is you have a fever." He placed some tablets on the table saying, "I bought medicines nearby for your fever. And for the hot water…"
Before he finished, I asked, "Didn't Bernie ask you anything?"
"He wasn't here when we came here."
"How did you open the door?"
"I found the key in your coat."
"Since I'm awake now, leave my apartment."
"I'll leave after giving you a sponge bath. You're still burning."
"What!? Wait, why are you doing this?"
While I was talking with him, I heard the main door opening and I heard Bernie calling out my name.
I whispered to Ace, "Hide behind that door."
"Why?"
"Please…"
He gave a stare and stood behind the door I pointed at.
I shouted to Bernie, "I'm here!"
Bernie walked into my room being soaked in water asking, "Why are you on the bed?" He walked to me and touched my forehead asking, "Why are you burning? Did you get stuck in the rain too?"
I nodded and asked, "Your clothes are wet. Change before you get sick too."
"Get up. Let's go see a doctor before it gets worse."
I showed the tables and said, "I got medicines already."
"That's new. When did you start visiting the doctor alone? Aren't you scared of that hospital smell?" He chuckled and continued, "Okay, okay. Take medicine and rest. By the way, I'm having dinner with everly. Do you want me to buy something for you?"
I shaked my head and asked, "How are you going to go in this rain?"
"It has already stopped. Okay, take the medicine and go to sleep on time."
He patted my head and left the room.
Ace came out and said, "No one would believe you two are friends after hearing your conversation."
I tucked in bed and said, "Since he left, you leave too. I want to have a peaceful sleep right now."
He checked the hot water and said, "It's cold. I'll bring it hot." And took it out of the room.
After a while, he sat beside me with hot water saying, "Get up."
"Didn't you leave?"
"I'll give you a sponge bath. Unbutton your shirt."
I got under the covers and said, "I don't need it. Just leave."
He pulled the covers down and said after touching my forehead, "Let's cool you down a bit."
Since I felt weak, I couldn't talk back to him with my usual attitude.
"It's fine. I'll do it myself."
When I tried to take the towel from him, he said, "I'll do it."
While I was feeling uncomfortable unbuttoning my shirt, he said, "It's just a sponge bath. I'm not planning to do anything."
After I removed my shirt, I sat with only my bra. I avoided looking in his eyes while he was giving a sponge bath to me.
"Why are you here?"
"Can't you see what I'm doing?"
"Why are you pretending to be nice to me?"
"I'm not pretending. It's just me."
"But in the past…"
Before I finished, he said, "Just think of it as a return favour from me."
"Huh?"
"Do you remember the day when he took me in when I got a bullet wound?"
"Yeah."
"This is the favour I'm returning to you."
"I didn't help you expecting a favour in return. Till now I can't believe why I helped you back then."
"Even if I apologise for what I did, I know it's not going to create a good impression on me. So think of it as a help from a stranger."
"What if I wanted to know the real face of this stranger? Will he show me?"
He stood up holding the water saying, "You can put back your shirt. I'll prepare some food and leave."
"Food?"
"You have to eat something to take the medicine." And left the room.
After I put on my shirt, I covered myself with the blanket and looked at the door. Why didn't I fight back? Is it because I have a fever or am I forgetting what he did to me? Returning the favour? I felt the conversation which took place between us today felt different from before. It was warm.
Ace walked in with a bowl saying, "Here's hot porridge for you. After finishing it, take the medicines and go to sleep."
When he was about to exit the door, I asked, "Where are you going?"
"To my place. Didn't you ask me to leave?"
"Can you stay over?"
"What if your friend comes back? Wouldn't it be a problem for you?"
"He won't. Whenever he goes out with his girlfriend, he stays the night at her place. So he won't come here tonight."
"Then, I'll stay."
After I finished the porridge and took the medicines, I tried to go to sleep but then I remembered that I was on the way to the library and it rained so I couldn't take the books I wanted. Tomorrow, I should get the books , otherwise I wouldn't be prepared for the test the day after tomorrow.
Ace walked in and asked, "Can I turn off the lights?"
I nodded and laid on the bed with the sheets covered til my neckline.
After turning off the lights, he walked to me, checked my temperature, and said, "It's coming down." And laid beside me on the bed.
"What if you get my fever?"
"I'm a Mafia. I don't get a fever easily."
I smiled at what he said.
"I thought you didn't know how to smile."
I let out a sigh and said, "Leave before Bernie comes or things will only get complicated."
"You should smile often."
And I didn't hear anything from him after that. Did he fall asleep already? When I looked at him, he was sleeping soundly. I held his hand and whispered, "Thank you." And closed my eyes to go to sleep.
The next morning,
When I woke up, he wasn't lying beside me. Guess he left. I got up, took a shower and got ready to leave for the library.
When I came out of my room, I heard noises from the kitchen. Was Bernie back?
"Bernie?"
Instead of Bernie, Ace walked out of the kitchen and said, "When did you wake up? I thought you'll be late since you took medicine last night."
I looked around the apartment while he was speaking.
He continued, "Your friend's not here yet."
"Why are you still here?"
"Didn't you ask me to leave before you arrived? Looks like your friend will be late. And, why are you dressed up?"
"I'm leaving the library."
He moved closer to me and checked my temperature saying, "Your temperature is good but you look like you're going to faint anytime. You're not leaving anywhere like this. Go to your room and take a rest."
"I have a test tomorrow. I didn't have notes yet. I can't skip."
He made me sit and said, "Hold on then."
He went into the kitchen and bought a bowl of porridge, placed it in front of me and said, "Eat this while I get ready. I'll take you there."
"I'm not a kid. I can go by myself."
After a while, he came out with new clothes. Definitely, not Bernie's.
He wrapped another piece of fabric around my neck asking, "Shall we leave?"
After a while, we went to the library at my college. When I got out, he got down along with me.
"Where are you coming?"
He pointed to the library and said, "In there."
"This is my college. What if someone asks about you? How do you want me to respond to them?"
"I'll stay away then."
I let out a sigh and walked into the library. The librarian asked, "What are you doing here? It's not your shift today."
"I came to get some books for my quiz."
"Okay, go ahead."
I walked inside the philosophy section and started looking for the books I needed. After i got one book,
"Ah, this place makes me sleepy." I heard Ace's voice behind the rack.
I walked around it and found him.
"What are you doing here?" I walked towards him and asked, "I asked you to stay in the car."
"It's been a long time since I visited the library so I thought of paying a visit."
"Then don't act like you know me."
"Who are you again?"
When I turned around, I saw Diego standing in front of me. Did he see us?
Diego walked to me and said, "Hi."
"You came to take books?" I asked.
"Actually…" he held my arm and said, "I have to tell you something. Come with me. Let's go somewhere private." And dragged me to the other side of the library.
"What is it?"
"Enzo isn't straight." And gave me a quick hug.
"What?"
"The guy on whom I had a crush earlier."
"But didn't you show me his girlfriend?"
"That was her sister."
"Even if he came with his sister, how come you know he's gay?"
He looked around and whispered to me, "Cause he asked me out."
I got surprised and yelled a little, "WHAT?"
He shushed me and said, "Keep it low. I know, I was surprised too."
I held his hand and asked excitedly, "What did you reply?"
"What do you think I would have replied?"
I punched him on his shoulder while saying, "No way. Why were you so easy?"
"He was so cute when he asked me. How can I neglect his cuteness?"
"Are you my friend?"
He smiled while saying, "Okay, I'll have to log out quickly. Will see you tomorrow in college."
I held his hand and asked, "Where are you hurrying up?"
"Um…"
"I won't let go until you say. What are you still hiding from me?"
"About that… he's waiting for me outside."
"What did you just say?"
I let go of his hand and looked outside and saw Enzo waiting outside.
"You're so bad, Diego."
He smiled nervously and said, "Can i?"
I smiled and said, "Okay, leave. You have to introduce him to me."
He nodded and left along with his books.
"Who's he?" Ace asked, standing behind me.
"My friend."
"You're always surrounded by boys. And you give them titles as friends. Is he really just your friend?"
"He's gay."
"Oh. Okay. Did you take the books?"
"I took what I needed. Why are you still here?"
"Didn't I say that earlier? I'm here to look out for you."
"When will this return of favour end?"
"You looked more lively while you're talking to him. What happened now?"
"Because you're not my friend."
He moved closer to me and asked, "What am I to you then?"
"What are you playing here?"
"Louisa?"
I heard Lucas' voice behind me.
When I turned, Lucas was standing in front of me. I looked around and saw his girlfriend reading a book in the left corner table.
I told Ace, "Let's go."
"Louisa." Lucas called out my name again.
When I ignored and tried to leave, he called my name again. What does he want now?
Ace asked him, "Are you blind? Can't you see that she's ignoring you?"
Lucas asked him, "What? Who are you?"
I said to Ace, "Don't talk to him. Let's go."
Lucas, "Who is he, Louisa?"
Ace asked me, "Who's that guy?"