I woke up the following morning with something heavy on my waist. I smiled as I remembered my dream last night.


    But that smile immediately turned into a frown when I realized that I''m awake now and I still feel his arm around me.


    "Shh... don''t move." I heard a faint voice next to me.


    -''Did I hear Daniel''s voice?''- I slowly opened my eyes only to be surprised when I saw Daniel lying beside me with one of his arms wrapped around me and not Teddy bear''s arm.


    "What the hell, Daniel!"


    I screamed, jolting in bed and glared at his sleeping figure.


    "Hmm.."


    But he didn''t budge and just formed his body like a fetus. And when I removed his hand, that''s when I noticed that his skin was hot. I frowned and touched his forehead only to find that his temperature was not normal.


    "Forgodsake, you''re so hot!" I said shocked and got up immediately from bed.


    His eyes were still closed but I didn''t miss when his lips curled up into a smirk.


    "I know sweetheart, I know."


    I gritted my teeth when I realized what I said that made him smile.


    "Argh! You still can be a jerk even when you''re sick? Unbelievable!"


    "What do you mean---ahh!"


    I didn''t finish my question when he grabbed my hand and pulled me back to his side. His arm instantly wrapped around my waist.


    "Daniel, what are you doing?" I asked struggling but he''s too strong that I couldn''t move even my hands.


    "Just stay here for a while." and he pulled me closer to his c.h.e.s.t.


    "But you''re hot!"


    He chuckled. "I told you I already know that, sweetheart, but anyway thank you for telling me."


    "Forgodsake, that''s not what I mean! You''re sick and you need to take medicine!"


    "No, I don''t need any medicine, I just need you here beside me so don''t move and stay here."


    "But Daniel..."


    -''Oh, my God!''- shock and Panic hit me when I heard him groan again. And because of that, I didn''t think twice to put my arm around his waist and hugged him closer to me.


    "Stay here, please."


    I bite my lower lip as I felt his warm breath fanned across my neck.


    "You need to take medicine, Daniel." I tried to get up (tried) but it''s useless as he didn''t let me move bit.


    I sighed because I can''t do anything but wait for him until he falls asleep again. Last night''s events are still not clear to me. The last thing I remember was that we were arguing in his car, but after that I couldn''t remember anything. Nor can I even remember how I got here and how it happened that he was with me when I woke up?


    He was already asleep when I decided to get up and pulled the blanket up to his neck. He needs to eat and take medicine so I left him and rushed towards the kitchen.


    I found Nanay Emily and Tatay Berto in the counter and they gave me a warm smile when they saw me.


    "Good morning, Anak." They said in unison.


    "Good morning." I smiled awkwardly.


    I was confused but I decided to ignore their strange exchange of glances with one another.


    "We''re preparing for lunch, what do you want to---"


    "Lunch?" My eyes widened in surprise. "What time is it?"


    They both checked their wristwatch and replied in unison.


    "11:30 in the morning, why?"


    "11:30? That means I overslept this morning?"


    "It''s okay, Anak, there''s nothing wrong with that. We know you''re tired from the happenings last night." Tatay Berto said, then grinned widely at me.


    I don''t understand what they were talking about. "Ahm... Nanay, do we have ingredients for chicken soup? I need to cook for---"


    "Chicken soup? Why do you need to cook a chicken soup?" They cut me as they asked at the same time.


    "Oh, what happened to him?" Nanay Emily seemed to pull back from reality.


    "I don''t know, I just woke up this morning with him shaking beside me. Do I need to call a doctor?"


    She gave me a warm smile before shaking her head. "Just check his temperature and maintain a cold towel on his forehead."


    "Is that all I have to do? Are you sure we''re not going to call a doctor?"


    "No need to call a doctor when it''s just a fever, Anak." She smiled. "Let''s go and let''s check his temperature."


    ~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~


    "Hmmm..."


    I stood up immediately and rushed to his side when I heard him g.r.o.a.n.e.d as if he was in pain.


    "Daniel." I called his name as I put another cold towel on his forehead.


    "Daniel, you need to eat and take medicine." I called him again but he returned to sleep.


    I sighed and get the thermometer. His body temperature had dropped by two degrees, maybe because of the medicine, I insisted him to take earlier.


    I walked back to the couch and I was about to sit down when his phone ringed over the bedside table, so I have no choice but to answer it.


    "Hell----"


    "Dude, where are you? Your meeting is about to start within 30 minutes."


    "Andrew, it''s me, Sophia." I said biting my bottom lip.


    "Sophia?"


    "Yeah, it''s me. I''m sorry if he can''t be able to go to work today, he''s sick, Andrew."


    "Ohh, I didn''t know. How''s he?"


    "Well, he''s still sick, but his temperature isn''t as hot as it was earlier."


    "Good to hear that. Anyway, can I visit him later?"


    "Of course. And about the meeting, can you just do something about it?"


    "Yeah, don''t worry about it."


    I put his phone back over the table after ending the call and stared at his face. I smiled when I noticed the slight frown creased on his forehead.


    "Tsk.tsk.tsk. You''re still frowning even in your sleep." I muttered, leaning forward to flatten it.


    I gently rubbed his forehead with a smile on my face.


    -''Is it bad to wish you were always asleep so I can''t hear your annoying screams? And of course, for you to stop bossing me around?-''


    I lowered my finger slowly to his eyebrows, down to the bridge of his nose. And guess what, I didn''t seem satisfied because I leaned forward to see his face closely.


    He''s indeed handsome. A good looking man with thick eyebrows, perfect sculptured nose, a pair of soft and red lips, and of course, a beautiful pair of hazel brown eyes that staring back at me---wait? Staring back at me?


    I blinked repeatedly and checked if I''m just mistaken but no, he''s really staring at me.


    "Ahhh?" My eyes widened and I screamed when I realized he was awake. I tried to balance my body but it''s too late because my b.u.t.t has already touched the floor. "My goodness, you''re awake!" I ignored the stinging pain as I looked at him in shock.


    "Yes, sweetheart, I''m awake." He said chuckling while trying to get up.


    As long as I want to punch his face, I set aside my irritation and got up immediately to help him sit on the bed.


    "Why didn''t you tell me you''re awake? Why aren''t you talking?" I asked as I helped him lean against the headboard.


    He just gave me a weak chuckle.


    "Why would I do that if I know you''re enjoying." He winked at me. "So, have you memorized my facial features, sweetheart?"


    "Tss!" I sneered, rolling my eyes. "Forgodsake, Daniel Kelley, can you stop being a jerk for once in your life?" I glared at him with my hands over my h.i.p.s.


    This time he gave me a throaty laugh that made my heart stop its beating for I don''t know how many seconds.


    "Are you hungry?" I asked him instead, ignoring the weird feeling inside my stomach.


    "Yes."


    "Okay, wait for me here, I''ll just get a bowl of chicken soup." I didn''t wait for his answer as I rushed towards the door.


    "Whew!" I sighed loudly the moment I shut the door behind me.