NIGHTMARES II

"Kaye, wake up. Please wake up." Ivan found her curled into a ball with blanket all over her, sitting at the corner between her closet and a cold wall. He carried her back and put her on the bed, felt her back was damped with sweat as well as her hair.

"Help me. It hurts so much." she was still crying from her dream and couldn't let go, curled up again protecting her chest and her stomach.

Ivan didn't know what to do. He's been shaking her but she would only frown like she was disturbed but she won't wake up. Ivan decided to get a face towel and a warm water to wipe her face.

'What's going on that you didn't even have time to change your clothes?' he questioned internally when he remembered the texture of the fabric that she wore. It was the same as earlier. He continued wiping her face and neck, didn't go far as change her clothes or she would throw him out. He already entered her room, that's enough violation.

"Kaye, whatever you're dreaming, you have to come back to me. It won't happen to you again. I will protect you from any harm. Please wake up." he talked to her even if she couldn't hear him.

"I'm in pain." Kaye scrunched her face and curled into a ball again.

"Kaye, I haven't explained to you yet. I really think I've met you before but I couldn't be sure. I really wanted to see you but you wouldn't want me to. Kaye, if you want, I would go for surgery for you, but if you're happy with us this way, I'm fine with that." he continued talking, holding her right hand as he wiped the sweat on her forehead.

Kaye stopped trembling and relaxed a little. She turned her body toward him and hugged his waist.

"Warm." she burrowed her head and sleep again, tension was no longer visible on her face. Her breathing return to normal and she looked peaceful.

Ivan stopped his movement and sat on the bedside unmoving. When he was sure that she won't wake up from any movement, he removed her hands from his waist, covered her with blanket and sat on the sofa available in her room.

"You will be the death of me." he whispered and decided to guard her on her sleep, just in case she would have a nightmare again.

Kaye woke up at three in the morning. She was feeling dizzy and her head, eyes and throat were in pain. She realized she hadn't change her clothes and now it was damped with sweat.

"Again. I've not forgotten it, I just chose not to remember them." she touched her neck, chest and stomach. Hideous. She started changing her clothes when she noticed through the reflection on the mirror that someone lying on her couch. She was still thinking of her nightmares earlier, but this time she was scared silly of this person.

She hastily changed her clothes and switched on the light. What greeted her was a handsome face, sleeping soundly on her couch - Ivan.

"Goodness gracious! Why is he sleeping here? Was he sleep walking?" it was now her turn to panic. She didn't know whether to wake him up or wait for him to wake up and ask what happened. She sat on her bed, facing his way, biting her thumbnail thinking what to do.

In the end, Kaye decided to wake him up. She walked slowly toward Ivan and when she was about to shake him, he opened his eyes suddenly. Kaye was so scared she stepped back unbalanced and fell on the floor with her butt.

"Ouchy ouchy...it...hurts..." she was massaging her but as she stood up.

"Kaye? You're awake?" Ivan was happy and reached out to her. "Are you hurt? Are you okay?" now he was anxious and nervous.

"I'm fine mister but what are you doing here?" she asked him as soon as she regain her balance. When Ivan heard how she addressed him with a little sarcasm, he felt everything turned back to normal.

"Huh? Am I not allowed here in the living room?" he asked innocently. He wanted to tell her she was crying from a nightmare but she might not want anyone to know that, so he lied.

"Were you sleep walking?" she asked tentatively. She didn't have any idea how sleepwalking affect someone.

"Nope. I went out to drink and sleep here on the couch."

"You sleep on the couch? Here in the living room?" she clarified.

"Yes."

Kaye pinched the space between her brows. 'This is another nightmare.' she uttered mentally.

"I see. You go back to your bed now. It is not good to sleep here. You can't stretch your leg, blood needs to circulate, you should know that." she reached his hand and guide him back to his room. His hand was warm in her cold touch.

"Thanks." Ivan whispered before he sat down on his bed.

"No need. Good night." then she went back to her room. She locked her door and took out her phone. 'He didn't hear me crying from my dream, right? I didn't say anything weird, right? I...I don't want him to know.' she asked herself while dialing a number on her phone.

"Kaye? You're awake this early? What happened?" a concerned voice sounded from the earpiece.

"I had it again. This time, someone might've heard me. What should I do?" she was on edge as she speak.

"What happened? What agitated you? What caused it to come this time?"

"I was hurt."

"You're hurt? Did you get into accident again? How are you?" the voice on the phone was laced in panic.

"Ms. Maine, my heart is in pain." This time, the person on the other line was speechless. "I think my heart got broken for no reason."

"Kaye, let's talk in the morning. Come and see me at nine in the morning. Drink some milk and get some sleep. If you can't sleep, cook something to eat later."

"Okay. Noted." then she hang up the call. It was Ms. Maine, the person she knew before when she was young. She was the only person who helped her and was also doing her consultation.