Chapter 26

Joshua has been lying in bed for maybe thirty minutes now, but he still can't make himself sleep. No, it's not because of the fact that the bed does not have a mattress. That's fine with him, and he's feeling comfortable as it is. But the real reason why he can't sleep is outside the room that he's in. Earlier before going to bed, he saw when Carmen gave Carla some pillows and blankets. Joshua knows how uncomfortable the sofa is because aside from the fact that it doesn't have cushion just like the bed he's lying in right now, it's also narrower. And although Carla is petite as compared to him, he knows she still won't feel comfortable on the sofa. He couldn't stand it anymore, so he got out of the bed and went to Carla. She's not yet sleeping, and at that time, she's reading something on her smartphone. She sat up upon seeing him. 'Are you okay? Is there something wrong?" Joshua sat down beside her. 'I just can't sleep knowing how uncomfortable you are here." He knows he's sick and he has the right not be a gentleman right now, but he is restless knowing how uncomfortable Carla is. 'Joshua, I had a lot more difficult sleeping arrangements that this," Carla said, trying to pacify him. 'Trust me. I'll be fine." Joshua scowled. 'I don't know what you've been through, but I don't wanna be the cause of your discomfort. So please, let's look for a way for you to feel more comfortable." Carla was touched at what he said. She can see the sincerity in his eyes while he said that. She felt her heart warmed up. 'Okay. Let's go back to the room." She stood up and took the pillows and blanket provided to her. Joshua followed her inside the room. Carla put the pillows and blanket on one side of the bed. 'Sleep on that side, then I'll sleep on this side," Carla said. Joshua could not believe what she said. 'We'll… share this bed?" 'You can say that," Carla said. 'But, you'll lie there and sleep, and I will lean on the wall and sleep while sitting up." Joshua can now picture what she's saying. Is she going to watch him sleep? 'Don't worry about me," Carla said. 'I can sleep while sitting down. Also, I need to monitor you. You need to drink another paracetamol after four hours." Joshua frowned, but didn't say a word. 'Believe me, this is the best solution for us," Carla insisted. 'If you don't agree, then I'll just sleep on the floor because I won't allow my patient to sleep on the floor." Here she goes again. When her tone is like that, Joshua could never disagree. It's like she has this power of some sort to make him obey her orders. Joshua laid down on his side of the bed. Carla also got in the bed, but as she said she leaned on the wall while a pillow cushioned her back. 'Are you really like that?" Carla looked at Joshua. 'Hmn?" 'To your patients. Are you really that… bossy?" Carla giggled. 'Only to those importunate ones." 'So, I'm importunate?" He turned to face her. 'Yes you are. Since high school. Remember?" After realizing what she said, Carla was stunned. Didn't they resolve to not talk about what happened in high school and just move on? Why did she even think of saying that joke? Good thing is it didn't seem like a big deal to Joshua. He smiled, and he even acknowledged her accusations against him. 'Oh yeah…" He chuckled. 'I'm sorry. I just got used to it." Carla smiled. She made a mental note to not mention anything about high school again. 'And, I'm sorry if you're having an overtime work, Doctor. I know you're tired because of the medical mission earlier. Then, you still need to monitor my condition." 'You know what? I'm awake for almost twenty-four hours just to monitor my patients who have more severe conditions than a slight fever. This is nothing compared to that." 'Well, that's good," Joshua said. 'At least I won't be much of a burden. And also, you'll only charge me a minimal PF." Carla giggled. 'You'll pay my PF?" 'Of course." Joshua smiled. 'Just tell me how much." Carla giggled at what he said. Joshua just smiled as he felt the sleepiness that's starting to take over him. 'I'm the one who should apologize to you," Carla said. 'If you did not come with me to Marlon's house, then you won't be stranded here with me. Then you should not have gotten sick." 'It's okay," Joshua said. 'I also won't allow you to go there alone." Carla was touched at what he said. She smiled at him. 'I mean…" Joshua can't think of some excuse to say. Here he goes again, saying inappropriate statements. 'Please don't get offended or awkward." He grimaced. Carla frowned. 'What do you mean?" 'You know, we talked about how we should forget about the past, move on… Then, I'll say something I should not. I mean… for me, it's just a joke. But we're not that close for me to crack jokes to you." Carla was surprised. So, Joshua is also worried about what he is saying? Here she is fretting about her bringing up how importunate he was back in high school, without knowing that Joshua is also stressing about the same thing. 'I am so glad that we've come to this phase," Joshua continued. 'Before when you see me enter a room, you immediately leave just to avoid me. You just don't have a choice sometimes because we're classmates so we have to stay on the same room. But most of the time, you avoid me, and I understand why." Carla felt embarrassed and guilty at the same time. She can't help but feel like that even if Joshua took all the blame. 'But now, we are talking and we are very close to each other. We're actually on the same bed together," Joshua said. And Carla can't help but giggle. That made Joshua frown. 'Did I say something funny?" Carla shook her head. 'Nothing… It's just that… you made it sound so…" She suddenly felt embarrassed at what she is thinking. Why did that even cross her mind? 'So…? What?" Joshua asked. Oh well… Carla knows Joshua will not stop asking until she answers his question. Didn't she just say he's quite importunate? 'Sensual." Joshua gazed at her, seemingly absorbing what she had just said. Carla giggles as embarrassment took over her. She bit her lower lip to prevent herself from giggling. 'Oh… Doctor…" Joshua said in a teasing manner. 'I didn't know you think like that." Carla laughed. 'Hey! I didn't mean anything wrong, okay?" She could feel herself blush because of embarrassment, but she still can't stop laughing. 'Really…?" Joshua moved to lie down on his back again. 'I didn't know you have a naughty side in you." 'Hey! You're so mean!" Carla said while giggling. Joshua smiled. 'That was a joke." Carla continued giggling, stopping only when Joshua slowly closed his eyes. 'So, does this mean that we're really okay now?" Joshua opened his eyes and looked at her. 'That we're close enough to joke with each other?" Carla gazed at him. He was serious and hopeful and sincere. How can she say no? 'Of course." Joshua smiled. 'Ooh…! Thank God." He closed his eyes once again. 'Why do I feel like sick…? Sleepy?" He took a deep breath. 'It might be the paracetamol working," Carla answered. 'I hate paracetamol…" He started falling asleep. Carla watched Joshua doze off. He seems so peaceful and quiet, unlike the persistent and tenacious classmate she met fourteen years ago. She smiled as she remembered those times, when she can't even stand being in the same room with him just like what he said earlier. She does not hate him, she never hated him. She just hated the fact that he won't stop pursuing her. For her, it means he's making fun of her. Yes, back then, Carla felt like he's just pranking her. Truth is, she's one of those girls back then who find Joshua Socorro cute. She just doesn't want to show it because… well, she's not the type who easily gets attracted to a boy. That is because she has high standards when it comes to the boy she'll like. He has to be a McDreamy. To be fair, Joshua Socorro is one hell of a good-looking guy. No wonder he became a matinee idol. But, he's someone she cannot consider smart during high school. He is not totally a loser when it comes to academics. Just the ordinary kind of student. Still, he is not considered intellectually smart. And that is what Carla usually admires. Smart boys, A-students, those kinds. So she kind of felt embarrassed to herself when she was gotten by the charm of a boy who is not even on the honor roll list of their batch. Then Joshua declared that he has a crush on her. Carla was totally turned off because of the attention that that brought her. She knows a lot of girls likes Joshua, and so she was hated by them because of him liking her. She doesn't like that, and because of that she doesn't want to be associated with Joshua. She really hated his persistence back then. She hated the fact that Joshua will not stop even if she tells him she doesn't like him. But maybe, she felt off because she feels like she's no match for someone like him. When they were in third year high school, Joshua became famous in their university and more girls started crushing on him. Even those girls who are very attractive were caught by his charms. Carla slowly developed insecurities and because of that, she is feeling annoyed whenever Joshua pursued her. But everything changed during college. Truth is, she's about to give in, and it will only take a little more effort from Joshua for her to completely fall for him. Then suddenly, he stopped. He disappeared, and every day she waited for him to come to their house. A day passed, two, three days… Until days turned to weeks, then a month. He totally disappeared. Truth is, she missed him back then. She wondered what happened to him. Until one day, she heard he is working on a company owned by their batch mate's family. And then, she discovered that his father got sick. Until news came to her that Joshua's father passed away. Carla wondered, what if she gave him a chance back then? What if Joshua Socorro really became her boyfriend? Maybe, she would not have met… Joshua might have spared her the heartache she went through. Or, maybe he would be her first heartbreak? Carla closed her eyes as she leaned on the pillow. She dozed off to sleep thinking about the what ifs that might have happened if things turned out a little differently.