A Token Kiss

Faridah got sick and was told by Keteki to take a day off since she needs to heal immediately for the upcoming conference meeting this Saturday.

"Keteki, Bring me some ice cream," Faridah whispered while closing her eyes. "Here's your ice cream, " a familiar voice said.

"Kyle? What are you doing here?" She asked as Kyle smiled behind his mask and helped Faridah to sit down.

"I came to have lunch with you but it seems like you have a cold." Kyle said as Faridah's face was red and she stared at him. "How about school?" Faridah asked.

She knew that her parents gladly helped this kid make his way here to my room. 

'I don't know what they did to Keteki but hang in there Keteki!' Faridah thought knowing that they commanded Keteki to go off somewhere far so they couldn't be disturbed by him.

"I had my excuse, Beside Keteki won't be around for a while I'll take care of you until you better," Kyle said as he put a cold patch for fever on Faridah's head.

"I'm a grown-up, I don't need your help. I can take down this cold by myself." Faridah said finishing the ice cream and going to bed. 

"I know but you can at least depend on me on stuff like this." Faridah looked at Kyle. 

"I want you to go back to school, I will sleep the whole afternoon. You can come back later." Faridah said as Kyle smiled.

"Then can I stay here for the night if I can't be with you the whole afternoon?" He asked. "Hmm, suit yourself," Faridah whispered and went into a deep sleep.

Kyle smiled as he stroked Faridah's hair.

Kyle told Faridah's parents that he would be attending school and would come back later for a sleepover.

"Ehhh?! Faridah agreed to that?!" Mr. Alexander asked as Kyle nodded. 

"I see, She didn't throw a fit this time." Mrs. Feliz said as Kyle was confused.

"Anyways we'll be waiting for you, Have a safe trip!" Mrs. Feliz said as Kyle nodded excusing himself.

When Kyle got back from school he was so focused on finishing his work when he saw Calista waving at him outside.

"What are your plans today? Shall we go for a date?" She asked.

"I can't, Faridah is sick." He said as he looked at the time and it was almost dismissal.

"Faridah?" Calista asked as that name was familiar to her ears.

Of course who wouldn't know that name when she's the first woman who got her name on top by herself in the business industry. 

Wise, powerful, and brilliant that empower and inspire women.

The bell rings as Kyle excuses himself and goes home to his house to change into something comfortable and go back to the Hamilton Mansion. 

Faridah was still asleep by the time Kyle arrived. 

"She's been asleep the whole time that you were away, Are you really fine taking care of her?" Mrs. Feliz asked as Kyle smiled. 

"I heard from Keteki that she will have a big meeting tomorrow, Seeing her rest makes it more reassuring that she'll be fine by tomorrow." He said as he showed her parents the ingredients he bought.

"Isn't this a huge waste? Faridah won't eat something that a professional chef didn't make." Mr. Alexander said. "She'll be fine, She ate the bento I made last time."

"Bento?! You went to her office and offered her a bento lunch that you made?!" Mrs. Feliz asked as Kyle nodded like it was just a normal thing.

"You made quite a progress." Mr. Alexander said as he smiled at Kyle. "Then please take care of our daughter." He said as Kyle started cooking.

Kyle stood in the kitchen, nervously glancing at the recipe he found online. His future wife, Faridah, had fallen ill with a nasty cold, and though he wasn't the best cook, he was determined to make her something comforting. 

He remembered that Faridah requested mushrooms for today's bento yet she got I'll so he decided to make her some mushroom soup.

Mushroom soup had always been one of her favorites, and Kyle thought it would be the perfect way to lift her spirits.

He tied the apron around his waist, took a deep breath, and got to work. The kitchen smelled of garlic and butter as he sautéed the mushrooms, their earthy aroma filling the room. 

Mr. And Mrs. Hamilton looked amazed by how good Kyle is in cooking.

Kyle meticulously chopped the onions and garlic, remembering how Faridah looked when she suggested mushrooms as he finely diced onions for a smoother texture. He smiled to himself, recalling all the times she had helped him in the past and even though she acted coldly there was something inside her that warmed his heart.

As the ingredients began to simmer together, Kyle added the broth and a splash of cream, stirring carefully. He wanted the soup to be rich, not too thick, but creamy enough to coat the back of a spoon just right.

His mind wandered to all the times Faridah had taken care of him when he was at the hospital, giving him flowers and paying his hospital bills not to mention the compensation he received after he got out of the hospital and today, it was his turn.

Once the soup was done, Kyle ladled it into a bowl, adding a sprinkle of fresh parsley on top. He packed it carefully and made his way over to Faridah's room. When she opened the door, wrapped in a blanket, her eyes lit up at the sight of him holding the container.

"Is that... mushroom soup?" she asked, her voice hoarse but filled with gratitude as she knew by the smell of mushroom.

Kyle smiled, handing her the warm bowl. "Only the best for you."

They sat together as Faridah took her first spoonful. "It's perfect," she whispered, a small smile spreading across her face despite her fatigue.

Kyle felt a warmth in his chest, knowing that he had succeeded in bringing a little comfort to his lover when she needed it most.

"Are you staying for the night?" Faridah asked looking at Kyle in his pajamas. "Yeah, you agreed on it right?" He reassured as Faridah didn't remember her agreeing to anything yet Kyle wasn't the type of person that would lie in her face.

"You asked me about my age, Can I return the question and ask how old are you?" He asked Faridah with a serious face as Faridah smirked.

"I'm twenty-five." She answered as Kyle smiled. "You don't look twenty-five." He said.

Faridah smiled as she finished the soup. "Is Keteki back?" She asked as she looked for her phone. 

"Hey no working for awhile. Just rest for the rest of the night." Kyle stopped Faridah from finding her phone as Faridah smirked.

"You can't just tell me what to do," Faridah said as her straps lowered a bit making her expose more skin. 

Kyle blushed as he looked away. 'Hmm, interesting reaction.' Faridah thought.

"You can stay in the guest room, I'll have my rest," Faridah said as she put her phone on the bedside table.

"Your parents told me the guestroom is far away from your room and I would like to check up on you more often," Kyle said as Faridah took a glimpse of him and sighed.

"I don't have the strength to disagree with you. Do what you want." Faridah said and went back to sleep when Kyle slept beside her. 

"If you get my fever I will never take care of you," Faridah said as Kyle hugged her from the back.

"Your body is still warm. I think you should reconsider having a human pillow." He whispered as Faridah smirked and slept in.

In the morning Faridah woke up with Kyle on her side as she looked through her phone and saw tons of messages from work and emails.

Keteki:

I'm outside, I'll be waiting here Ma'am.

Faridah smiled as she stood up and did some stretching as she was back in her work mood.

Kyle woke up and saw her in a suit as she was fresh from the bath.

"Are you feeling okay now?" He asked Faridah if she was busy choosing her shoes. "Yeah, I'm doing great now thanks to you. You can go home after having breakfast downstairs. I will be leaving early." She said as Kyle felt sad hearing such a thing since he wanted to get close to her.

"Okay, I'll be going now," Faridah said yet when he looked at that sad face of Kyle she just smirked and walked towards him.

"What?" Kyle asked as she held her chin and gave him a peck on the lips. "It's a token of appreciation, Don't be late with my lunch." She said as she left the room. 

Faridah's parents saw such a scene as they were rooting for the both of them to have a good relationship someday.

'She kissed me and asked me to make her lunch again?! Damn it why am I hard with just a kiss right now?!'