Dreams or Memories

Chapter 9

The next morning, Vox is getting ready for work as usual until he heard coughing coming from Emika's room.

"Emika?"

He walked out of his room to her door and knocked, "My little spark? Are you okay?"

"...I don't know Papa... my tummy hurts..." 

Her voice sounded off. Like she was losing her voice. That made him open the door and what he saw made him worry. She's on the floor, curled into a ball holding her stomach in tears and noticed a wet spot a few feet away from her. As he ran over and kneeled next to her, he noticed the wet spot as vomit. He grabbed one of her shirts to wiped her face as he held her against him  

"Did you eat or drink anything before this happened?"

"...I had some orange juice that was on top of the counter in the kitchen..." She said, holding her stomach more tight when she spoke.

"Orange ju- ... Ooh, Emika, that juice wasn't good anymore." Vox sighed as he rubbed his face.

"I sowwy Papa..."

"No," Vox gently picked her up and placed her on her bed. "It's my fault of not telling you sooner before you came into the kitchen while I was getting ready in my room."

"...Please don't go..."

"Don't worry, I'm going to take a few days off so I can be here to help you get better okay?" He gently rubbed her forehead with a smile.

"...yaaay..." 

Vox couldn't help but chuckle at that but was replaced with a sad frown when she coughed hard and holding her stomach.

"Alright, I'll be back. I need to call my assistant to let them know that I'll be out for a few days and to do their work for those few days. But try to get some rest while I'm at it okay?"

Emika nodded and asked the tv screen at the end of her bed to play a movie called 'Monsters University' as Vox walked out of the room to call his assistant at his work place.

"Hello sir?"

"I'm letting you know that I'll be out for a few days. So make sure that everything is running as usual but if there is a problem, give me a call and I'll PERSONALLY deal with it, got it?" He threatened.

"Y-Yes sir!"

"Good. Now I'll see you in a few days."

As soon as he hanged up, there was a knock on his apartment door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Charlie."

He couldn't help but feel a bit of nervousness and excitement when she said her name. But then he felt disappointment when he heard Emika coughing again. With a sigh, he walked to the door and opened it to reveal Charlie smiling and waving a bit shy.

"Hey, I was wondering if everything's okay. Usually I'll see you by now in the lobby before you left to work."

He smiled hearing her concern in her voice.

"I'm okay," his smile then dropped at what he said next. "but Emika isn't."

This made Charlie more concerned and worry.

"Emika? Is she ill?"

Vox nodded, "But that's my fault. I was looking for some food when I noticed that the orange juice that she usually drinks has expired. I left it on the counter while I was in my room getting ready for work. I didn't hear or seen her going into the kitchen."