Redmption 188


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    It was Brandon!


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    He was unlocking his door while carrying a bag of groceries.


    Perhaps I opened the door too abruptly because he looked back at me and squeezed his eyes


    slightly. As if my soul had left my body, I stared at him nkly and bald nothing.


    Finally, he spoke up. “What’s up?”


    I regained my senses and shook my head.


    “Are you sick?” he inquired, putting his grocery bag down and walking toward me.


    While still in a daze, I couldn’t react quickly enough to reply and shook my head again.


    Brandon’s handnded on my forehead. It felt cool. I could hear a hint of sternness in his voice.


    “Are you running a fever?”


    I was still muddled, not registering that he was asking about me.


    Having deciphered my condition, Brandon entered my house and carried me. I was already a light


    person, so when he swept me into his arms, I instinctively grabbed onto him upon feeling unsteady.


    Heid me on the couch and looked around before asking me, “Where are your slippers?”


    It was only then that I realized I was barefoot. My mind, at that moment, had wandered off and lost


    its way. I blinked, still not responding to him.


    Brandon’s eyes revealed a note of helplessness. With that, he went into my bedroom and passed


    me my slippers. “Do you have a thermometer?” he asked.


    “I want some water.” I didn’t answer his question.


    He hesitated momentarily, then went to fetch me a ss of water. However, the kettle was empty.


    Instead of boiling more water, he returned to my side and carried me out the door. I didn’t question


    where we were going because it didn’t bother me where he might bring me.


    Soon, I was carried back to his ce andid on his couch. Then, he went to boil some water and


    showed me a thermometer. “Do you know how to use it?”


    I froze briefly. He ced the thermometer onto my palm. Afraid I would let go of it, he gripped my


    hand and instructed slowly, “I can’t do it for you, so you must do it yourself. ce it in your armpit.”


    Following that, he tentatively released my hand. “I’ll fetch you some water for the medicine. If the


    fever persists, I’ll send you to the hospital. Due to my unresponsiveness, he reminded me, “First,


    let’s take your temperature.”


    “Oh, I finally replied. As if I were alone, I pulled my cor and stuffed the thermometer under my


    arm.


    Brandon looked away and only went to the kitchen after I took my temperature. Soon enough, he


    passed me a ss of water and a pill. “Here. Take them.”


    I took the medicine and put it in my mouth before drinking water, Although I was good at swallowing


    pills, I failed this time. The water quickly seeped into the medicine, spreading the bitterness across


    my tongue. Out of options, I couldn’t help but spit it out.


    Brandon was swift. He immediately caught the pill, as well as my saliva, with his hand. I was baffled


    by that sight.


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    “It’s okay. Have some water. You can retake itter.” He wasn’t disgusted at all. Seeing I was in a


    daze, he asked, “Do you want some sweets?”


    I continued drinking my water without a word.


    Rising to his feet, Brandon walked away and returned with a piece of candy. “Something sweet,” he


    said as he put it near my mouth.


    I didn’t open my mouth, as my childhood memory shed before my eyes. I used to hate the


    bitterness of medicine, and my parents would prepare a piece of candy on the side.


    Since they did not want me to have cavities from excessive sugar, I seldom had any. Still, I was a


    child and craved sugar. Whenever I yearned for something sweet, they would give me a piece of


    candy.