Chapter 5 4

Chapter Four

The night is already deep, but Karen isn't visited by sleep. She's thinking about Colton, who spent the whole day locked in his room, only allowing her up when it's time for his medication. He doesn't talk much to her either. This worries her; maybe he did something wrong, and it might be a reason for him to lose his job.

She startles as her phone suddenly rings. She reaches for it from the side table by her bed and gets nervous when she sees the caller.

Rachel is calling...

Her sister wouldn't call at this hour unless there's a problem. But she hopes there isn't.

"Hello? Rachel? Why are you still awake?" She calmly answers the call.

"Sis! It's Raissa..."

"W-what happened? Is something wrong?"

"Sis... We're here at Auntie's hospital, Raissa has a very high fever."

She stands up and paces around. Worry consumes her for her youngest sibling.

"Is her fever still high? What did the doctor say? What needs to be done? Why is her fever high? What are the results of her tests?"

With so many questions, her sister can't get a word in. It's just the way it is.

"Sis, don't worry. We just wanted to let you know. You said to keep you informed about what's happening here." She nods. That's what she told her siblings. Tears threaten to escape from the corners of her eyes due to overwhelming concern. "I won't go to work tomorrow so I can watch over Raissa."

"Where's Raquel? And Auntie?"

"Raquel has an exam tomorrow. Auntie is going to work."

She takes a deep breath. She should be the one looking after Raissa, she should be there, not her sister. But that's not feasible. She needs to work to support her siblings and meet their needs.

"I'll send money for your expenses at the hospital. Call me right away with any decisions. Okay?"

"Yes, sis."

"R-rest when the patient can walk around, I'll come home. I'll take leave from work to watch over you."

"Thank you, ate. Rest well. We'll take care of things here. Love you, sis."

It's as if her heart melts hearing her siblings express their love and appreciation for her efforts.

This is what an older sister does, right? To help her younger siblings and to be both a father and mother to them. That's why she can't afford to be weak, because she's the pillar and the light her siblings lean on.

EVEN THOUGH Karen is lacking sleep from monitoring Raissa's condition all night, she still forces herself to wake up early to feed Colton and give him his medicine.

"Good morning," she greets Colton cheerfully as she enters his room.

He's sitting on his wheelchair, looking fresh in his grey v-neck shirt and white jogging pants.

"You didn't sleep well?" He remarks, studying her face intently.

"I-I managed," she avoids eye contact with Colton. She's worried he might read her like a book without much effort.

"Why?"

She doesn't need to tell him about what happened with her sister, he might just pity her. She retrieves the chart from the side table and reads it.

"You have an appointment with your doctor tomorrow. He'll check your injured leg."

"Why didn't you sleep well?"

The emphasis in his voice suggests she should answer the question before he repeats it for the third time.

"I-I guess I'm just not used to the place," she bites her lip, lying through her teeth.

Colton's adam's apple bobs as he stares at her lips. He swallows several times before turning away, pretending to adjust his bed.

"You've been here for a few days. Did you only start feeling uneasy last night?" The sarcasm in his voice causes an inexplicable ache in her heart. It's as if he knows she's lying. "And why are your eyes swollen? Did cockroaches bite you?" He follows it with a short, sarcastic laugh.

Karen silently takes a deep breath. Colton being sarcastic is not good for her. It hurts her and she hates it!

"Come on, let's eat." She's about to walk towards the back to push his wheelchair when he grabs her by the wrist. She feels her breath catch as he holds her. His palm is warm against her wrist. "Colton..."

"We're not leaving here until you tell me what's bothering you." He lowers his gaze to her, his eyes sharp but not on her, instead looking out the window. "And don't you ever lie to me again."

"I'm okay-"

"That's bullshit!" His furious voice sends shivers down her spine, fear coursing through her.

She doesn't know if it's fear of Colton, fear of losing her job, or maybe it's the fact that her youngest sibling has dengue fever, and Raissa needs to be in a private hospital far from their aunt's place.

"P-please, C-Colton, I need this job. Please..." She's almost begging, but it doesn't matter now. What matters is how she can convince him not to fire her, not this time.

"I don't like to be with someone who lies to me..."

She sniffles. She's truly scared of Colton's decision. Her fear isn't for herself but for her siblings who depend on her.

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Don't cry." She nods, fighting back the tears threatening to fall. "Face me..." Colton gently turns her to face him, holding her wrist. "What happened?" His face softens as he looks into her eyes.

She's sitting at the edge of his bed, and he's in front of her, observing her in her vulnerable state.

His hand on hers lingers, gently holding on.

His hands are warm and large, enough to envelop hers. It feels reassuring to be held by Colton Altaraza. She feels safe.

"Don't fire me..." She almost whispers, head bowed, looking at their joined hands.

"I will not fire you if..." He intentionally pauses, making her lift her gaze to him.

"If what?"

"If you tell me what's going on with you, K."

Again, she bows her head to avoid his gaze. She hesitates, debating whether she should reveal what's been weighing on her. But in the end, the truth prevails.

"My youngest sister..."

She closes her eyes, holding back the emotions. She becomes particularly sensitive when it comes to her siblings. Who wouldn't?

Family is the first to give us strength, but they can also become the source of our weakness. They are our strength and also our weakness.

"What happened to Raissa?" He asked tenderly.

She didn't know why it felt like her heart was stinging with that tone.

Is he pitying her? This is what he hates about to someone, to feel pity for her. But she is too emotional right now to argue and talk about on what she feels.

"Baby... Tell me..." His voice was raspy, begging for an answer.

He squeezed her hand gently, telling her that she can trust him.

How can she speak properly when this is the situation between her and Colton?

The gentle pressure of his hand on hers only made her feel weaker but at the same time, it sent a strong beat in her chest.

She felt like she was a fragile object in those moments, that one wrong move and she'd break without a fight.

Karen silently took a deep breath before answering him.

"S-she was rushed to the hospital last night. Her fever is very high. Th-the doctor said it's dengue. I-I'm scared..." She couldn't stop herself from admitting her true feelings about her sister. "I'm afraid of what might happen to Raissa. I'm not there beside her."

She covered her face with both hands as her emotions poured out again.

"Hush..." She felt Colton's hand caressing her back, trying to calm her. "She will be okay. Don't worry too much."

"I want to go to them, but I know it's unlikely right now..."

"You can go and visit them, K. They need you now."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she lifted her gaze to him and then shook her head. She really wanted to do that, but she couldn't, not now. She needed to double her efforts.

"I can't just go there whenever I want. I have my work here. If I don't work, how will we manage? I'll endure it..." Her voice was sad. "We can handle this for now."

"I will give you a short leave. Is that okay?"

"Colton..." She protested. "If you feel sorry for me, please, don't. I don't want to be pitied, neither me nor my siblings."

"I'm not feeling sorry for you, okay?" His once sharp eyes softened. "I don't know... I-I'm worried for your siblings." He sighed in frustration. It's as if even he can't understand himself. "They are too young to live without you by their side. You should be together."

She knows that, but her desire to leave them and sacrifice their togetherness for the bigger income she earns in Manila takes precedence.

And now, in Villa Altaraza, being Colton's private nurse, she earns a lot. Her salary is three times what she used to earn, something she can hardly believe but it's in the contract she signed.

Perhaps her employer is just wealthy enough to let go of money so easily just to have someone by his side every day. That amount of money is a huge help to her... to their siblings.

"I understand. Thank you for your c-concern." She wiped her cheeks and eyes thoroughly before releasing a slow breath. "Come, let's eat."

"Are you going home to your siblings or should I fire you? You choose."

She couldn't believe she was looking at him like this. He is really serious! The sharp look in his eyes is proof of his seriousness!

She pressed her forehead. She wanted to go home but she's afraid she won't have a job to return to. There's no opening at BMC for nurses, that's why she was offered this private nurse position.

A fear gnaws at her, that if she goes home, she might not have a job to come back to. It's easy for them to find a replacement for her.

"I-I need to work for them." Her voice trembled.

"They need you. They are more important than having a job."

"I know that! They're extremely important to me that even if we're not together, I'll endure as long as I can provide for their needs!"

She stood up and ran her hand through her hair. She felt defeated at that moment. Their argument with Colton wasn't helping.

"You're stressing yourself. Can you please sit down?" His voice was now softer than hers.

She couldn't control herself when it comes to her siblings' situation. She's overly sensitive and emotional, as if at any moment she could lose her strength, but she has to fight those feelings.

"Don't make me choose, please..." Her eyes pleaded, hoping his decision would change.

"Why don't you want to go home first?"

"Because I'm afraid that... that you'll replace me." She almost whispered her response.

"Is that what's holding you back from going home?"

She nodded slowly, her fingers gripping tightly.

"You know how much important this job is to me, Colton. Especially now..."

"Let's make a deal then."

"What?" She was startled. "What kind of deal?"

"Sit down first." He pointed to the bed, the space she had occupied earlier.

She complied, sitting down with a weary look on her face, gazing at the handsome man in front of her.

"Now, what?"

He planted his elbow on the armrest of the wheelchair, emphasizing the muscles in his arm and the angry veins running down to his hand. Even his forearm screamed of how tough and rough he is as a man.

No matter how stressed she is right now, she still manages to notice every move the man makes. He's really eye candy.

"You will go home..." She groaned at Colton, her forehead furrowing but he paid no mind. "And you will stay there for three to four days only, okay?"

"What's the deal there?"

"If you exceed the days I've set, I'll fire you." She nodded, their deal was too easy. It's easing her headache a bit. "That's not all, baby..."

She looked at Colton again, fighting off sleep. The endearment he used felt like a sweet intoxication.

She knew he was serious about their deal. On one hand, her heart brightened at the thought of going home and being with her siblings, even if it's just for a few days. It's been a while.

"What else?" She lazily asked.

Colton's gaze was fixed on her, and she wouldn't be surprised if he noticed the heaviness in her eyes.

"I want you to call me and remind me to eat and take my medicines while you are there."

So, she still has a job to do. That's fine. What matters is that she gets to go home to her siblings and has a job to return to.

"Deal!" She agreed.

Colton smirked at her. It's as if he had something in mind that she couldn't quite read, causing her to be suspicious.

"What are you thinking?" She asked with doubt.

"I want you to rest now so you'll have energy for your trip later." He said casually, but she really couldn't sit still.

"Ar-are you sure there will still be a job for me when I come back to you?" She wants assurance from him about it. Even if that's all she has to hold on to, it's enough for her. "Y-you won't replace me?"

Colton's deep brown eyes gazed at her, making her heart skip a beat. When they're like this, she's sure she'll weaken under his gaze.

"I won't replace you..." He said in a low voice, as if it were a promise. "Come back here, okay?"

She gave him a small smile and nodded. Yes, she'll come back. She'll come back to Colton.