Chapter 16: His Strange Concern

My body felt like I was in a pile of soft plushies.

Comfortable, soft, and very warm. I feel like I want to fall asleep in comfort and allow myself to be trapped longer in the warmth that wraps around my body. Rarely have I felt this comfortable sleep. This is a rare moment that I can feel since I was dragged into this stuffy room.

However, my body refused.

Slowly, I opened my eyes with a heavy heart and lay on the bed. No plushies surrounding me. Only a thick blanket covered my body from chest to toe. On the bed, Zo sat next to me with his legs crossed.

I blinked once and jumped to the ground. My eyes widened, and I hastily lifted the blanket to check my clothes. Everything is still complete. There was even an extra black sweater that I didn't know about when I was wearing it.

"I didn't do something bad to you. Don't worry. You just passed out."

My heart beats fast. My hands were numb from the cold sweat that suddenly hit. I looked at Zo with a sharp look.

"I just put you on the bed. Besides that, I didn't do anything, so stop your accusing stares," Zo said as if reading my question. "I only put you on my sweater because you were shivering from the cold," he added.

This time I can breathe a little. My body relaxed a little when I realized that there wasn't anything terrible he had done to me.

"You have a fever, and you're not eating. What do you think you are doing?" said Zo. His hazel eyes demanded of me, forcing me to give an answer. "Your eyes are so sunken. Last night you went to bed at two in the morning, and at six in the morning, you were up. You're clearly not getting enough sleep."

I avoided eye contact with him and chose to scan the floor below. Why is he so angry with me? I also didn't know that I would have a fever like this.

"You passed out for seven hours!" He snapped at me.

I shrunk under his gaze. I don't understand why he looks so annoyed with me. If I fainted, it wasn't his responsibility to help me.

"You don't need to help me," I said quietly.

"Don't be silly. You're ill."

"So what? I've been hurt by you after all."

"I care about you."

"Wouldn't it be better if I died quickly? So you don't need to be responsible anymore for what I do," I said in a defiant tone.

His face showed an annoyed expression with a stiff jaw that looked at me intently. That gaze. He always gave me that look when he was arguing with me. His jaw tightened, causing a domineering aura to radiate from him. He looked like he could hit me right then and there.

I dared to face my fear. "What? What do you want? Do you intend to hurt me again like that time because I disobeyed your orders?" I blurted out.

I was angry with him even though he had helped me. I don't know why. All I felt was annoyance bubbling up at him. I think that he is the cause of all my misfortune.

I waited for him to reply to my challenging question. Surprisingly, he just kept quiet and instead exhaled slowly. Zo looked back at me calmly, like he was easing the heat between us.

"Sit up straight," he said later.

I put my hands on my hips and didn't even blink at him. "why if I sit not straight?" I asked still in a curt tone.

"You'll choke."

My brow furrowed hearing that.

"I feed you. Sit properly."

I gaped at that.

Did he just say he wanted to feed me? Is he joking?

"Sit down. Don't be stubborn. I don't want the food to spill on your clothes," he ordered again.

"I'll eat it myself. Just put it on the table," I said even though I wasn't sure that was what I was going to do.

Zo took the plate on the table with his left hand. "No. I have to feed you. If I leave it again, you won't touch this food."

His eyes gleamed menacingly. In fact, what he said was true. My appetite has clearly disappeared somewhere. Just looking at the rice on the plate felt like my stomach was full.

"I'll eat it, Keenan."

When I said his name, the man froze for a moment. It really was only a moment before his body relaxed again. Zo shook his head once before looking at my face with piercing eyes.

"Stop calling that name." He took a glass of water. "Drink first," he ordered as he held out the drink to me.

I hesitate to drink it. Actually, the thirst really hurt my throat. However, I'm afraid that if this drink has been spiked with drugs, that can harm me like the first time.

Zo took the glass I hadn't touched and took a sip. "See? I've tried it. It's really not as toxic or dangerous as you might think. I promise." He handed me the glass again.

I finally took a sip of it. It was a natural relief. My throat was much more comfortable after being hit by the water. Zo took the glass in my hand and started scooping the omelet on the plate. His hand reached right in front of my mouth.

"I can eat by myself," I whispered again. I felt incredibly awkward.

"Open your mouth," he ordered. He swung the spoon again. "Don't be fussy, Minka."

I did as he ordered. Received the first bite with a feeling of uncertainty. The man with the hazel eyes was still glaring at me as I chewed the food slowly. After taking the first bite, I shook my head slowly.

"I can eat by myself, please," I pleaded again.

"Shut up and eat," he said rather harshly.

Alright, alright.

The man patiently fed me. We work in silence. I chewed, and he pushed the spoon into my mouth. No one spoke again as long as he provided. I was lost in my thoughts, and he was still looking at me.

In my roughly tenth bite, I refuse to fill my stomach again. I'm full enough. My body is getting enough energy. Zo knitted his brows, looking at me, who didn't want to take another bite.

"I'm full."

"Are you sure? There's still a little bit left—"

"Please, I'll actually throw up if I overeat. I feel so nauseous."

This time it was his turn to obey me. Zo put down the plate without moving his body from the bed. He then held out a glass of water and medicine in my hand.

"Paracetamol." He took a plastic medicine pack from his pocket and showed it.

I nodded and took the paracetamol.

"Bring your forehead close to me."

I winced and gasped in surprise when the man's hand touched my chin. He pulled my face closer to his. I felt a strange sting when our bodies were only an inch apart. Zo's face is now right in front of me.

"You-"

Zo's index finger and thumb reached out and released the object stuck to my forehead. I just realized that I had a heat-relief plaster on my forehead. I don't know how long it's been there.

Zo took a new plaster from his trouser pocket. He unwrapped it and gently pressed it to my forehead. My breath hitched when I realized that his body was getting closer to me. I could smell the perfume of bergamot and rosemary on his body. The fragrance made Zo's body feel so masculine.

"Get back to sleep again, okay? Don't get sick."

Before I could reply to his words, he was already up for the door with a tray. After the door was closed tightly, I only exhaled the breath I had been holding in for a while.

My hands touched my pounding chest. I stroked it to neutralize the strange flutter when I saw Zo's changing behavior. One time he can speak harshly, and the next minute he can be a gentleman who speaks sweetly as if he cares for me.

Does he really care about me, or is he just teasing me?