Caretaker: Rain (slight Prapai)
In hindsight, kissing Rain when he was sick was definitely not my best idea. But in my defense he looked so cute with his fluffy hair and his innocent face and cute shyness. And when he confessed…. Well, it's not like I wasn't going to kiss him. But of course, bad decisions come back to you. I had woken up with a pretty awful headache. It was so bad that I didn't even want to put my hair up, and the last time I wore my hair down to work was over three years ago. I went downstairs and began cooking breakfast for Rain so he could eat before class.
Cooking was proving to be difficult. As the oldest in the family. I had learned to cook pretty early in high school. But cooking while having a terrible headache was another thing. I could barely keep my eyes open as the sunlight from the open windows hit me straight in the face. I felt a slight tickle in the back of my sinuses which I pushed to the back of my head. I couldn't let Rain find out I was sick. I was supposed to be the strong one in the relationship and I didn't want him to worry. But with the sunlight constantly hitting my face, there was only so long I could go without ultimately sneezing. I heard Rain climbing down the stairs and immediately put on my most neutral face. I couldn't let Rain find out. I thought. Seems easy. It really wasn't.
Rain walked around the counter and snuggled up against my back, his arms wrapped around my waist. "Good morning," He said softly, "Did you sleep well?" He asked, nuzzling his face against my back. "Good." I lied. He unwrapped himself from the embrace and went around to the front of the counter and sat down. "Your hair is down," He commented. I ran a hand through it. "Yeah."
"It looks good," He said softly. I smiled, "Thank you." I was glad he liked it enough that he didn't question it. Unfortunately when I smiled at him the sunlight outside hit my eyes just right and brought the annoying tickle out, "ngtch!- hnktch!- kktchh!-" I pinched my nose and stifled the sneezes forcefully. "Ouch, that sounded painful," Rain said, looking concerned. I shrugged. "It's fine. You should eat though. You have class." I reminded him and he pouted at me. I laughed lightly as I handed him his breakfast before going back to my room to get dressed for work. I didn't know how I was going to survive work today but I guess I'll have to wait and see.
As I was driving to my office, I felt another sneeze build in the back of my sinuses and I instinctively brought my hand up to cover my face. "HhtKScHu!- Hh…HksChu!- HksSchu!-" I sighed softly. Today was gonna be difficult. I got to the office and was met by Prapai. "Holy shit dude. You look-"
"Yeah I know. Rain got me sick." I said with a noncommittal shrug. My breath caught on an inhale and I coughed a few times. "How?"
"I kissed him," I admitted, Prapai laughed, "Maybe you deserve it." He gently punched my arm. I rolled my eyes. "Your hair is down," He commented. I brought my hand up and ruffled it. "Yeah, my head hurts."
"Do you need some painkillers or something?"
"I'll be okay," I said confidently. "I've got to get some work done though. I'll see you- hh-ktchUH! hKtchu!- hhh- HKtchhu!-KTcShhu!- snf later." "Are you sure you don't need anything?" Prapai asked, his voice becoming softer, concerned. I smiled at his sweetness. "Yeah. I'll call you if I need anything. Thanks, Pai." He nodded. "I'll get going then. Don't overexert yourself." He said teasingly and I hit his arm lightly, to which he laughed and walked away. As I started working, I quickly realized I won't be able to get anything done today. The ever-present headache and tickle in my sinuses was making it impossible to work. Not being able to hold it back anymore, I cupped my nose with my hand as the tickle finally overpowered me. "HhKcHu!- Ugh, HtkscHu!- Hhh…HkttChu!-" I sighed softly. "That definitely does not sound good, Payu." I flinched at the voice but it turned out to be my boss, coming in and sitting next to me. "I'm fine, Sir." "Are you sure? I can give you an off day if you're sick." He said and I just nodded. I'll see if I really need to go home or not. "Thank you, Sir." He smiled and left. I rested my head in my arms, my hair falling over my face. I felt straight up awful. My head was pounding, I felt like sneezing every 2 seconds and my nose wouldn't stop running. I sat up straighter and my hair, now over my eyes, tickled my nose slightly, making my breath hitch again. "HhkCHu!- HkTSchUh!- Htkttchh!-" I took a tissue from my desk and blew my nose, which triggered yet another sneeze. "HktSchuH!- HtKsChu!- HtkSchuH!- Ugh." After I was finally done sneezing, I decided I needed to go home. Knowing I definitely shouldn't drive in a state like this, I pulled out my phone to call Prapai.
"Hello?" He answered. "Hey, can you, maybe, drive me home?"
"Sure, is something wrong with your car?"
"First of all, if something was wrong with my car, why would I call you. Second of all, I don't feel good. And I'm trying to be responsible and not drive."
"Probably a good idea. Also, you're mean."
"I know." I smiled to myself and hung up. I started packing my stuff, pausing a few times to cough or sneeze. When I finished I went to find Pai. When I saw him, the two of us walked to his car. "I'm surprised you're actually going home. Usually you just keep working." He said, giving me a side-eyed look. "To be honest. I'm really not feeling good. My head is killing me and I- hh- ktSHu! EhKtshu!- ktsChu! Ugh, sorry- keep sneezing."
"Yeah, I've noticed. Sounds painful."
"Honestly, it is. My throat and head hurt. But it's nothing compared to how much it hurt earlier when I stifled them around Rain." I coughed then cleared my throat. "It felt like my head was gonna explode."
"KTshHu!- heKTChu! Sorry."
"It's fine. But you definitely should tell Rain that you're sick."
"I don't think I can avoid it. Even if I wanted to." I coughed a few times, "He's already suspicious just from this morning."
"What happened this morning?"
"I sneezed. I've literally never sneezed in front of him before. So it makes sense he'd be surprised or suspicious."
"Honestly I don't think I've ever heard you sneeze either… actually I take that back." He laughed, "Remember when that kitten came to the race track?" He laughed. I shuddered slightly. "Yeah, I remember. That was so embarrassing. I don't think I had ever sneezed that much in my entire life. But I guess today's a strong competitor." Prapai laughed loudly again before placing his hand on my shoulder and rubbing it comfortingly. "I'm glad you actually did call me. It wouldn't be the first time you had almost passed out in the office because you refused to rest when you're sick." I nodded, "Yeah, I know. I'm glad I called you too." He smiled at me, his eyes soft. Prapai really was sweeter than he looked. We drove in silence, before I felt like sneezing again. I pinched my nose shut, trying to make the sneeze go away. "Don't do that. You can sneeze if you need to. And don’t you dare stifle it." Prapai said warningly and I nodded before pitching forward. "HhKSccHu!- HKscChu!- HtskSCHu!- Ugh, HhktsChu!-"
"See now your head won't explode." I rolled my eyes. The rest of the way we rode in silence. My throat hurt too much to talk and it seemed like Pai was being mindful of my headache. I got back to my house and grabbed my stuff. "Is Rain home?"
"Not yet, he's not going to be done with classes for probably 2 more hours or so." I explained. "Would you like me to stay with you around until he gets home?"
"I'll be okay but thanks for the offer. I'll probably take a short nap." I explained. Even though I knew full well I'd never sleep with how much my head was hurting and how often I needed to sneeze. "Okay, but call me if you need anything."
"Yep, no problem." I smiled at him. He waved and drove away. I walked inside and threw my bag down on the couch. I went into the kitchen and got a cup of water and began searching for painkillers to help with my head. But I didn't get much of a chance before I was forced to change my search to tissues. "HEtKChu! EhKtshu- ktsChu! EhTTchu! heKTChu!" I groaned softly and blew my nose into the tissues. I took the painkillers, hoping they'll help before walking to the couch. I fell asleep almost immediately too. After what felt like a short time, I was woken up by someone sitting down next to me. I opened my eyes and saw Rain, his arm resting on my shoulder. He looked adorable. I sat up straight before asking him, "How was your day?" "It was pretty good. I have so much homework though." Rain replied. He looked at me curiously. "Why are you back early from the office? You hardly ever take days off." I mentally decided to shrug off my symptoms so that Rain won't be worried. "I had a headache and my boss decided to send me back home." I replied shortly. Rain looked at me, suspicious. "Are you coming down with something? Was that why you sneezed this morning?" I groaned at how on the mark Rain's assumption was. "Rain, I'm fine. You don't need- hh- HktKsch!- Httnchh!- HktChuH!- HktKsChuH!- Ugh, sorry. You don't need to worry." As soon as I said it, I knew it wouldn't be effective but atleast I tried. "Seriously? Payu, you're my boyfriend it's my job to take care of-"
"S-hh-sorry-hh- NgChh! ktchH!- ngtch!- hnktch!-" I tried not to cringe, but I did cough from the way the sneezes shredded my throat. "Payu, don't do that. You'll hurt yourself." He reached over and pressed his hand to my forehead. "You've got a bit of a fever. Have you taken anything yet?" I nodded. "When I got home."
"About two hours ago." I said, he nodded, "Have you eaten anything?"
"Not hungry." I said sniffling. "Payu, you need to eat something. Especially because you took medicine. I don't want you to get a stomach ache." I nodded again. "I'll order food, okay? And you're gonna rest. Got that?" I nodded, slightly amused at how authoritative Rain could be when he wanted to be. Rain scanned my face. "What're you thinking?" He asked. I kissed his cheek, "Thinking about how cool my boyfriend actually is." I said and Rain blushed. "Okay, I'm done with you. The fever's getting to your head. You should rest now." Said Rain but I didn't miss the little smile he gave while he said that. The doorbell rang and Rain went down to collect our food. He had ordered some soup, probably to soothe my throat for which I was immensely grateful. As we sat in silence, eating our food, I felt the intense tickle return to my sinuses again. Rain seemed to have noticed that I was gonna sneeze because he took my dominant hand before saying, "Don't stifle. You're allowed to sneeze. And it's definitely not embarrassing." I nodded, my eyes glossing over before I turned to the side. "HktSchuH!- HhtKScHu!- HkScHu!- HhkTscChu!- HhTksChu!-" My hair flew over my face while I sneezed and Rain gently reached over and ran his hand through my hair. "Should we put your hair up? Might keep it out of your face. Especially if you keep sneezing like this." He said as he handed me a tissue. "It gives me a headache."
"What if I put it in loose braids? That way it will still be out of your face but not hurting your head."
"Do you know how to braid?"
"I actually do. One of my friends taught me back in primary school."
"If you want it. Go for it." He smiled and moved so he was sitting on the couch behind me. And I sat between his legs. "Let me know if it hurts okay?"
"Okay." His hands were gentle, his fingers soft, I shivered when they brushed the back of my neck. "Does it hurt?" He asked softly. "No, it feels nice. You're so gentle." He kissed the top of my head. As he braided I felt a prickling sensation in my nose. "Rain?"
"I-hh- I need to sneeze." I felt him drop my hair, "Go ahead."
"HKtchShu! HeTCHshu- HH- ktChShu!"
You good now?" I gave a tentative sniff. "Think so."
He went back to braiding my hair. Instead of just one braid, he made multiple ones all over my head. "Are you okay if I rubber band them? I just don't want them to come out when you sneeze."
"Sure." Rain brought out a box of rubber bands and started tying up the braids. After he was done, I felt my hair. "Thanks, Rain." He smiled at me. "No problem. Okay, you need to rest now." I nodded. We decided to just stay on the couch instead of going to my bedroom as it'll be easier to get everything I need and Rain could also do his work. We sat together, my head falling on Rain's shoulder. I felt my nose tingle again. I immediately lifted my head from his shoulder and turned away from him. "HhTksChuH!- HhkKtcHU!- Hh…" I rubbed at my nose, trying to make the sneeze come out. "Got a sneeze stuck?" Rain asked and I nodded, still rubbing at my nose. Fortunately, it worked and I felt the tingling sensation in my nose return. "HhkTsCshu!- HTtsSchUH!- HkTsChuH!-" I groaned after I was done. Rain stroked my cheek softly before saying, "Come on. You need to sleep now." I put my head on his shoulder again and within minutes, I felt myself drifting off. I whispered under my breath, "Thank you for everything, Rain. I love you." He kissed my forehead. "I love you too." I smiled again.