Chapter 25

Carla knocked on the first house she saw. She was immediately answered by a man who is on his early forties. 'Good evening," Carla greeted him. 'Doctor!" The man was quite surprised to see her. 'You're still here?" 'Yeah…" Carla smiled. 'Well, I'm sorry for the trouble, but I need your help." 'Of course, Doctor," the man said. 'What can I do for you?" Carla explained their situation. The man immediately went with her to Joshua's car. He is also the one who helped the sleeping Joshua get out of the car. Carla made sure that they have everything that they need before locking the car doors and following the man who took Joshua to his house. 'Carmen, lay a towel on the bed. Joshua's clothes are soaked," the man said to his wife. The woman who is of the same age with the man did as told. She went to the room and prepared the bed made of bamboo for Joshua to lay in. 'His clothes should be changed," the man said. 'It's very wet." 'I can't find any clothes in his car," Carla said. 'Maybe your clothes can fit him," Carmen said to her husband. 'I'll get him something he could wear." 'I'm really sorry for bothering you two," Carla said to the couple. 'No worries, Doctor," the man said. 'You've given us a lot of help. This is nothing compared to that." 'He's right, Doctor," Carmen agreed. 'And it's really impossible for you to go home now. For sure your car cannot pass through the road because of the mud. It's also very dark because there are no light posts yet. You can stay the night here in our house." Carla knows they have no other choice but to do what Carmen just said. She also does not want to risk her and Joshua's life just for them to get home. They might not even make it to the hospital if ever. The husband volunteered in changing Joshua's clothes. Carla agreed because she doesn't want to do that herself. She just helped Carmen cook their dinner because she also wasn't able to refuse her offer that they eat dinner with them tonight. The man had started undressing Joshua when the actor woke up. He was shocked upon seeing the man taking off his shirt. 'Who are you?" He sat up and immediately moved away from him, until he's next to the wall. He embraced himself because he was now half naked. 'Don't worry," the man said. 'You're here in our house. My name is Gustin." Joshua looked around. Where in the world is he now? 'You are still in Brgy. Loria. Your clothes are drenched in rainwater, so I was about to change them," Gustin said. 'Loria?" Joshua tried to remember what happened. He's aware that he and Carla were not able to leave the place before it rained, so they stayed in his car waiting for the rain to stop. Because he started feeling unwell, he decided to close his eyes and rest. Did he fall asleep then? 'Yes," Gustin answered. 'You have a fever because you were wet." Joshua felt the air blow on his back. His arms wrapped more tightly around his body. 'Doctor Carla is outside," Gustin said. 'Wait here and I'll call her." Joshua suddenly felt embarrassed. The last thing he wants is for Carla to see him half-naked. 'Wait, no!" He tried to get off the bed, but Gustin was already out of the room. He heard him talk to Carla. When he heard someone walk towards the room, he immediately got back to the bed. He took the towel and wrapped it around his body. Or at least he covered his chest. Carla was quite surprised when she saw him. That is because of the way he is looking at her. Joshua looks like a kid who was caught red-handed in his mischief. He's even panting because he got tired getting off and returning to the bed. And maybe because of adrenaline rush as well. 'How are you feeling?" Carla asked him. 'Fine," Joshua answered. 'Very fine." 'You have a fever," Carla said. 'Me? I don't," Joshua denied. 'I'm feeling just fine." Carla went out of the room. When she returned, she brought with her a white gun-like apparatus. She pointed it at Joshua's forehead. It's a thermal scanner. After the bleep, Carla showed the temperature to Joshua. Thirty-seven point seven was the reading. 'You have a low-grade fever. It's not that serious but what I'm worried about is you were exposed to the virus earlier. Let's just hope what you're feeling is not related to that," Carla explained. Joshua could not really understand what's happening, or what Carla is explaining. He's not sure if he just really does not know what she's saying, or it's because he's feeling so unwell. 'Change your clothes. I'll just help in cooking our dinner," Carla said. Joshua just nodded. Carla went out of the room and helped Carmen and Gustin prepare dinner, while Joshua changed his clothes himself. When he finished changing, he wanted to go out as well, but he suddenly felt too weak to even get out of the bed. What the hell happened to him? Carla went back inside the room when she finished helping prepare the dinner. 'Dinner's ready," she said to Joshua. 'Can you get out, or should I just take your food here?' 'No! I'll go out," Joshua said, pretending as if he's not feeling too weak to get out of the room. He followed Carla to the kitchen. Joshua felt a little embarrassed when he saw Gustin and his family waiting for him in the dining table. Carmen was there, and also two girls who seem to be their children. Gustin confirmed Joshua's theory when he introduced his family to him. 'I apologize if you were shocked earlier," Gustin said. 'I'm the one who should apologize," Joshua said. 'Let's just forget about it," Gustin said. 'Come here and let's have dinner so that you can take your medicines." Joshua sat down beside Carla. She immediately put food on his plate while Joshua watched. 'Eat this soup so that you will feel warm," Carla said as she was giving him some soup. Maybe it's because of the fever that's why Joshua felt overwhelmed with Carla's gesture. He felt his heart warmed up as she handed him the cup with soup. She smiled and he suddenly felt shy. He looked away, and because of that he caught sight of Gustin's two daughters. Obviously the two were caught by his charms. Joshua tried so hard to make his wince look like a genuine smile. After eating, Carla gave him a paracetamol. Then they discussed their sleeping arrangements for the night. 'You can sleep in the room so that you will feel comfortable," Gustin said to Joshua. 'I'm sorry if the bed does not have a mattress." 'It's okay," Joshua said. 'But, I'll just sleep here in the sofa." 'No, I insist," Gustin said. 'Then, Doctor Carla can sleep in our daughters' room." 'No, I'm fine sleeping here in the living room," Carla said. 'You can sleep in the room, then I'll just sleep here outside," Joshua said to her. 'You're the one who needs to sleep in the room because you're the patient," Carla said. 'You don't have to act like a gentleman now, Josh. You're sick and it's understandable." Joshua just stop and didn't argue further. With that tone on Carla's voice, Joshua knows he can't win over her. 'How about you, Doctor?" Carmen asked. 'I'll sleep here in the living room. You can join your daughters in their room," Carla said. 'That would be better because I need to be near the patient so that I could properly monitor him." The couple just agreed at what Carla said. That made Joshua smile. Surely, Carla is still the feisty classmate he had back in high school. Isn't that the reason why he failed to pursue her back then?