Chapter 18

About half an hour later, Elena returned from the kitchen carrying a small bowl of warm soup.

She placed it in front of Alexander.

"Eat this slowly."

He looked at the bowl, then at her.

"You made this yourself?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure it's safe to eat?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"If you're going to keep provoking me, I'll take it away and give it to some passerby instead. At least they'll be grateful for my effort."

He quickly grabbed the spoon.

"No, no. I'm extremely grateful."

She sat in the chair opposite him.

She watched as he took his first spoonful.

"Well?"

He paused.

Then he said, "Good."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Just good?"

He smiled.

"Excellent, actually."

"Much better."

He continued eating the soup while she watched him quietly.

After a few more spoonfuls, he began to look tired.

He put down the spoon.

"I can't finish it."

Elena stood up.

"All right. That's enough for now."

She approached him.

"But you need to rest."

He nodded.

She helped him stand, and they made their way to the living room.

He sat on the sofa and leaned his head back.

His fever was still high.

She looked at him with concern.

"Wait here."

She went to the bathroom and returned with a small towel dampened with lukewarm water.

Then she sat beside him.

She placed the towel on his forehead.

He slowly opened his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"A cool compress."

"You didn't have to do all this."

"I know."

"Then why are you doing it?"

She fell silent for a moment.

Then she answered simply, "Because you're sick."

He continued looking at her.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only answer I have."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"You're worried about me."

Her cheeks turned slightly red.

"Anyone would be worried."

"Anyone?"

"Yes."

"Even if it weren't me?"

She looked at him.

Then she turned her eyes away.

"Don't start with that, even while you're sick. You're annoying."

He chuckled softly.

But his laughter soon turned into a cough.

She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Easy."

She waited until he had calmed down, then adjusted the towel on his forehead.

"You don't know how to take care of yourself."

He spoke in a tired voice.

"Maybe I've never needed to before."

She looked at him.

This time, his voice sounded different.

Quieter.

"What do you usually do when you're sick?" she asked.

"Sleep."

"And eat?"

"Sometimes."

"And drink water?"

"If I remember."

She stared at him.

"You're a disaster."

He smiled.

"But I'm still alive."

"Only because you've been lucky."

Silence fell between them.

Rain had begun falling outside, its drops tapping gently against the windowpane.

Elena sat beside him, watching his features settle into a calmness she wasn't used to seeing.

Suddenly, he asked, "You really were worried, weren't you?"

She didn't answer.

So he added, "When I didn't reply to your message."

She looked at him.

"Yes."

Her answer was honest.

This time, she didn't try to hide it.

Alexander seemed a little surprised.

"Why?"

She lowered her eyes.

"Because you suddenly disappeared."

"I've been sick since that day."

"You could have told me."

"I didn't want to bother you."

She quickly raised her head.

"You wouldn't have bothered me."

He fell silent for a moment before saying, "I was going to send you a message."

"When?"

He smiled.

"After I recovered."

"Would you have told me at all?"

He thought about it for a moment.

"Maybe."

Elena lightly smacked his arm.

"Alexander!"

He laughed.

"All right, I would have told you."

Then he looked at her.

"But I didn't expect you to come here."

"I didn't expect to come here either."

"Then why did you?"

She hesitated.

She could have said she was curious.

Or that she happened to be in the area.

Or that she had simply wanted to make sure he was all right.

But she couldn't find a suitable excuse.

So she said, "Because your absence was strange."

His smile faded.

He looked at her for several moments.

Then he said quietly, "And I thought no one would even notice I was gone."

Elena felt something warm stir in her heart.

"You were wrong."

A long silence followed.

It wasn't awkward.

It was peaceful.

Then Alexander closed his eyes.

"I'm sleepy."

"Then sleep."

"Are you going to leave?"

She paused to think, then looked at him a few moments later.

"I'll stay until your fever comes down a little."

He opened his eyes.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

He smiled.

"Then I can sleep peacefully."

Elena felt flustered.

"Just sleep."

He closed his eyes again.

A few minutes later, his breathing became more regular.

Elena remained seated beside him, changing the towel from time to time and checking his temperature.

She gazed at his peaceful face, remembering the young man she had first met at the university.

She didn't know when his presence had become so important to her.

Nor did she know when she had started worrying about him this much.

But she knew one thing.

Seeing him sick made her heart ache more than she had expected.

As she adjusted the towel once more, Alexander shifted slightly and opened his eyes for a moment.

"Elena..."

"What is it?"

He looked at her sleepily.

"You're still here."

She gave him a small smile.

"I told you I'd stay."

He closed his eyes again and murmured, "Good..."

Her hand paused for a moment.

It was such a simple word.

Yet it made her feel something she couldn't explain.

She returned to her seat and leaned back against the sofa.

For the first time, she didn't feel that the time she spent beside him was passing slowly.

Quite the opposite...

Secretly, she wished these moments wouldn't end so soon.

---

About an hour later, Alexander opened his eyes.

His fever had gone down a little.

He found Elena still sitting beside him.

"Elena," he said softly.

She quickly raised her head.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

She smiled.

"Don't thank me. And next time you get sick, you'll tell me."

He didn't answer.

She glared at him.

"Alexander, promise me."

He looked at her for a long moment.

Then he smiled.

"I promise."

She nodded in relief.

Then she went back to adjusting the towel on his forehead.

But this time, her smile was different.

And so was his.

Feelings had begun to grow between them, feelings neither of them could easily ignore anymore.

By evening...

Alexander had begun to recover.

But Elena's heart...

Had found itself in trouble far greater than a fever.

Several months had passed since the day Alexander fell ill and Elena had stayed by his side until his fever subsided.

To be continued...