Burden

After dinner, Amy and Jen cleaned the table while Felix and Jim sat on the terrace sofa.

"Thank you for being there for Amy," Jim said. "Jen told me you took care of Amy when she passed out in her office."

"It's nothing really. Amy and I had gotten along the past few months pretty well." Felix replied. "She's just not a great doctor but also a good friend."

"She is," Jim sighed as his thoughts wandered deep. "I will take care of her from here in; best believe I will take better care of her," Jim added.

"Is your best appearing and disappearing whenever you want to? Does that include dragging someone and using them as a scapegoat?" Felix said, his anger clambering. "Do you know how worried she was thinking about nothing but your career and how it might get affected by the internet bullshit? she had to take the bullet from all those internet troll. Yet you didn't even show up once for her. I was there when you didn't even bother to call her and ask her if she is okay."

Jim remained quiet.

"I do not know if you know, but Amy is a very well respected doctor, not only in our hospital but among medical communities all around the world." Felix stood up, trying to calm himself from his rage. "She's an icon in pediatric neurosurgery."

"You're not the only one who has a reputation to behold. Do you know what will happen if those who are envious of Amy, especially those who want her position, do with any malicious information? They will try to ruin her. I didn't mind being dragged on this issue because I want Amy to help you maintain your image," Felix paused, "I did it because of Amy. Because if I won't protect her, no one would." Felix scoffed and went back inside.

Jim sat on the terrace sofa. His face is sullen. He hated Felix's guts but what he said was true. 'Am I burdening Amy?' 'Am I making her feel uneasy? He whispered to himself.

Jim then remembered his conversation with Leo one drunken night.

"We are labeled as the most powerful and influential men in the world," Leo tipsy said. "But what power do we have when we can't even protect the people we love?"

Jim sighed. He now understood what Leo was saying.

"Jim?" Amy said, making Jim's train of visions halt.

"Everything okay?" She continued. Jim nodded. His thoughts are still somewhere else.

"I'm gonna take a bath," Amy said and smiled caringly. Amy noticed that after Felix's and Jim's conversation, Felix's mood went sour, and Jim had not uttered a word. 'Something must have been said,' Amy wondered.

She was about to leave when Jim grabbed her wrist. "Let me give you a bath; I promised to take care of you."

"I'm sick, but I'm not bedridden. I can muster up the strength to give myself a bath." Amy smiled as the man holding her hands looked at her with a loving stare.

"Please, let me at least do something for you." Jim pleaded as he stood up.

"You being next to me is more than enough," Amy said. "I am fine."

"You're not," Jim said firmly. "If you were okay, you would not have passed out. Amy, please, do not carry all the burden by yourself. If something is bothering you, tell me. If you want me to be around you more, demand it. Amy, I am in this relationship, too. Let me in; let us go through this together. How can you only think of protecting my image and not take care of yourself." Jim said angrily. "You were all I was thinking of"

Amy's tears began falling. All this time, she had kept it all inside her; the anger, the sadness, the frustration. Amy let people believe it was her and Felix in the photo because she didn't want any rumor damaging not only Jim's career but also his team members.

'His career must come first; I better just live as if Jim and I don't know each other,' Amy repeated to herself over and over again since the gala.

When Amy saw Jim and the rest of the group smiling at the cameras, performing at award shows, and putting on skits on tv shows, Amy thought Jim had forgotten about her. But hearing Jim's confessions proved Amy wrong. Jim was also hurting, and underneath the fake facade he had to show the world, Jim was also struggling.

Amy hugged Jim tightly; her body shook as she cried in his arms uncontrollably.

After a while, Amy clamped her hair up as she submerged herself in the warm bath concentrated with lavender and amber Vanille. Jim joined her a little after.

Sitting between Jim's legs, her bare back touching his wet chest, Jim started rubbing Amy's neck. "It tickles," Amy giggled. "I told you I'd bathe you, let me," Jim said as he stroked Amy's neck again.

"The bath smells incredible," Jim said, stroking the soft body scrub on Amy's back.

"When did you get here? I thought you were out of the country," Amy asked.

"We were," Jim replied, brushing Amy's shoulder blades. "We literally just landed when you called."

"When are you leaving?" Amy asked.

"We are leaving in two days," Jim said softly. "Would you be fine by then?" He asked.

"Of course, I was just overfatigued. I will be fine after a night of deep sleep." Amy answered, trying to reassure Jim.

"I need to wash your arms; come face me," Jim commanded. Feeling all cozy from the bath, Amy turned and faced Jim. She blushed after seeing Jim's dark, smoldering eyes fixated on her; his naked body wet and glistening. Amy swallowed hard.

"Your arms," Jim said, his voice controlled. Amy lifted her arms as Jim gingerly scrubbed every inch of her arms. Amy couldn't figure out if the warm bath or Jim's alluring touch that's making her feverish.

"Now, your legs," Jim demanded. Though embarrassed, Amy obeyed and lifted her right leg, then her left leg unto Jim's chest.

"It's very ticklish," Amy giggled as Jim caressed every inch of her legs. Amy saw Jim beaming as he was patiently grazing her skin. "You seem to be enjoying this," Amy spoke.

"Very much so," Jim replied in a very husk voice. "Now come, I wanna feel you," he said while pulling Amy closer.

Inches away from each other, Amy felt the need to touch Jim. She leaned closer as if there was still more space between them; Amy cocooned herself unto Jim and softly kissed his neck.

Jim then kissed Amy passionately as she clutched at his light, wet hair. Amy moved on top of his lap and started to move gracefully. Jim stiffened as Amy traced his collarbone with kisses.

"Amy," Jim moaned as he pushed inside her. Amy's hips trembled as the pain turned into pleasure. Feeling her body burn, Amy matched Jim's pace, welcoming spells of climaxes with gusto.

When Amy reached her limit, she buried her head into Jim's shoulder. "Tired?" Jim asked. "Mmmmm," Amy moaned, her eyes closed. With a gentle swoop, Jim carried Amy out of the bath. "Here, you must dry yourself right, or you'll get ill," Jim said as he dried every body part of Amy. "I can do it," Amy said, her voice raspy.

"It's okay. Here." Jim handed Amy her pajamas as he wore one himself. When both were dressed, Jim carried Amy to bed.

"Sleep," Jim said softly; Amy nodded, her eyes giving up on her."

When Jim realized Amy was asleep, he took a blanket and covered themselves. "Goodnight, Amy," Jim said as he kissed Amy's cheeks and drifted off to sleep.