When I recalled what I’d said earlier, my breath caught in my throat. I wanted to exin, maybe


    apologize, but Hayden, still kneeling beside the couch, stood up before I could say anything.


    “Dinner’s ready. Come


    eat.”


    As he pulled his hand away, I realized how tightly I’d been gripping him. In my dream, I thought I


    was holding onto my parents–but it had been Hayden all along. And I’d cursed him, thinking he was


    the one getting in the way.


    Awkwardly, I let go. His arm lifted, revealing deep red marks from where I’d squeezed too hard.


    Without a word, he turned and walked off. I slowly sat up, feeling sticky and ufortable. I’d


    definitely broken a sweat–probably a sign the fever had finally passed.


    “Here, put this on. Don’t catch another cold,” Hayden said,ing back with a nket.


    I reached out to grab it, but my grip was still weak, and I almost dropped it. He ended up draping it


    over me himself, then handed me a warm, damp cloth to wipe my hands.


    For a moment, I felt like a kid again–sick, vulnerable, being cared for the way my parents had when


    I was little.


    “Can you manage eating on your own?” Hayden asked, setting a bowl of fragrant pumpkin soup in


    front of


    1. me.


    Was he offering to feed me? If he were my boyfriend, I wouldn’t hesitate, but he wasn’t. And the


    embarrassment from my drunken confessionst night still lingered.


    I nodded, trying to prove it by picking up the spoon, but my hand trembled, the spoon wobbling in


    my grip.


    Hayden gently ced his hand over mine. “Take your time.”


    “I think I’d rather drink some water first,” I said, suddenly aware of how dehydrated I felt after


    sweating so much.


    He must’ve anticipated that, because he handed me a ss of water without a word. I drank it down


    in one go, pleasantly surprised to find it was the perfect temperature, with just a hint of honey.


    I felt a little touched, though “thank you” seemed too small for everything he’d done.


    Hayden’s dinner spread was simple but perfect: garlic butter shrimp, fried cabbage, lemon honey


    pork ribs, and cucumber sd. All my favorite dishes.


    “Hayden, have you been spying on me?” I asked, unable to resist as I savored another bite.


    He nced at me. “What’s there to investigate? Your taste in food?”


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, I pressed on anyway. “But everything you’ve given me, even the candy,


    feels like something only someone really close to me would know.”


    Hayden paused mid–bite, his spoon hovering for a second. Then, he casually said, “This is what


    any good boyfriend would do.”


    Boyfriend?


    Didn’t I already tell him we were done? Had he not taken me seriously?


    But with the delicious food in front of me and the memory of all the care he’d shown, I decided not


    to ruin the moment with heavy talk. Instead, I stayed quiet and focused on finishing my meal.


    “Did something happen?” Hayden asked as I neared the end of my te.


    I bit down on my fork, unsure how to respond. So much had happened, I didn’t even know where to


    start.


    When I didn’t answer, he didn’t push. He just said, “Next time you’re sick, tell someone. Don’t try to


    tough it out. A fever like that can get serious–you should know better.”


    “I didn’t know I had a fever,” I admitted. Honestly, I’d just felt exhausted. I’d fallen into bed, drifted in


    and out of sleep, but never realized it was a fever.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Thinking about it now, I was lucky he’d opened his door ande to check on me. Who knows


    what might’ve happened if he hadn’t..


    “Next time, if you feel even a little off, call me,” Hayden said, his tone firm. Not a suggestion–more


    like amand.


    I bit my lip and said, “Okay.”


    C