Lovebirds

ten

Naira was at wit's end when she knocked down her coffee, the dark liquid spilling across white marble, glass clanking, and her papers soaked in the residue. A pulse of panic rose through her as she tried to salvage her hard work. 

A headache pounded against her skull, and her cheeks felt flushed with the sudden heat. Her eyesight was hazy, a blur of her office swarming around her like bees. The sound a dulling purr in her ears as blood rushed throughout her body, and she began to lose focus. 

Gripping the table, Naira blinked back the wave of chills that flooded her. The stench of spilled coffee drifted to her nose, and she remembered the spill, quickly finding napkins. Her headache never ceased, nor did she allow it to slow her down. There was so much work to be done, and she couldn't afford any setbacks. 

Another flash of chills rolled down her spine, her vision losing focus once more. She placed the back of her hand to her forehead, checking to see if she really was sick or just hallucinating from dehydration. Granted, her senses were not sharp at the moment, so she wasn't sure what she was checking. 

Ya Allah, give me my strength to finish my work. 

She shook her head. There was so much to get done, and she had to prepare for their new dance number that she criticized before. The revised form was perfect, and the show would be later tonight for all the Red Knights fandom. 

Naira wobbled again as she reached for napkins. 

"Hey, Naira, I was wondering-" said a casual, familiar voice as Rayan strolled in with his grey blazer and trousers, white shirt tucked in. She could only make out the colors as her headache worsened. Upon seeing her, his eyes widened, and he rushed over to her side. "Whoa, what the hell happened in here?"

When she felt his arms too close to contact, she flinched. "D-Don't touch me," she shivered, voice a soft tremble. 

"Like hell I won't," he hissed, holding onto her waist to keep her from toppling over on the ground. Rayan pressed his other hand against her forehead, recoiling at the heat. "You're burning up like a flame. Why are you still here?"

Naira was barely comprehending his words, but her body and mind were screaming at her to get away from him. Her mouth opened, but no words escaped and the dizziness of her state seemed to strangle her protests. She had fevers before, but not at a rate like this. 

Rayan's arm slid around her waist when he felt her shake. "Easy," he whispered, slowly walking her to her couch. "I got you, Naira. Everything is going to be okay."

"My documents," she weakly protested once she was settled on her office couch. "The event tonight, I have to get back... I have to work."

Did I lose the ability to form coherent sentences? Sickness never stopped me from finishing my tasks before, so I should be able to get up.

Naira attempted to stand up, only to be faced with a scowling Rayan, his usually carefree expression now a stern glance towards her, eyes a vibrant evergreen ocean that threatened to engulf her. His dark, mocha skin contrasted with the snowy white of her office. He crossed his arms.

"You're not doing anything else today, understood?"

"You're not my boss."

"And you're fucking sick, so learn to dial back your dominance."

Naira narrowed her eyes at him even though her body ached for her to close them, to sleep the pain away in a world where worries and stress did not mark the path to success, where she could sleep to fairy tales and wake up in one. But life didn't follow such routes of peace. To earn one's place, she had to work for it.