Surprisingly, Andrew has been very nice. The tea he has prepared was good and with the hot cloth plus painkillers, it reduces drastically the pain I was feeling.

He asked me to stay on the couch while he has finished his work, and after he is cooking diner for us.

I enjoyed observing him working while I drink my tea. He is so focused, he forgets about his surroundings and his attention is one hundred percent on it. 

I admire it. I can never focus on only one thing; my mind is always a flow of completely different and messy thoughts.

I got back to my apartment to take my phone and sit back on the couch checking my new messages. I have missed three calls and messages from Steve.

"Oh shit! I completely forgot!" I speak up guiltily putting my hand over my head.

"What did you say?" Andrew asked me from the kitchen, turning with a spoon in his hand.

"Oh boy, I should have gone for a drink with Steve tonight and I completely forgot." I hate doing things like that, especially making people wait for me. I hate waiting, so I avoid doing it to others.

Andrew said something else, but I haven't paid attention to it. I already had my phone in my right ear, calling Steve. He picks up when I was close to giving up but said nothing.

"Hi, Steve." I cheer, chewing my lips.

"Hi." He replies dryly.

"I'm really sorry Steve. I got sick this afternoon, I came back home, and I fell asleep." I speak up in one breath. I necessitate taking some measured small breaths to recover from it.

"You are sick?" He now sounds curious. Well, I won't tell him exactly what I have.

"Yes, I am. I am really sorry for not letting you know. I wasn't with my phone."

"Oh, it is ok. I understand. Are you feeling better?"

"A little bit, I'm still a bit sick though," I tell him adjusting myself on the couch, feeling relieved he is not mad at me.

"I can come to bring you something to eat if you want?"

"Oh no, that's ok," I replied in too much hurry. "Don't worry, I'm at my brother's place. I will have diner here." On the corner of my eye, I see Andrew watching me, leaning his back against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed on his chest.

"Uhm, your brother's place?" He asked faltering. "Ok, it is better If I don't come then." After my brother's reaction the other day, I cannot blame him.

"I hope you haven't waited too long. I will reward you I promise. Next time drinks on me, ok?"

"Ok, it sounds good, but don't worry Kelsey. I hope you will get better soon."

"Thanks, me too. Bye Steve." I said still feeling slightly guilty, but it helps knowing he is not mad at me.

"Bye Kelsey."

Raising my eyes after I hang up, I notice the dinner table is already done. Andrew has his back facing me now, probably serving us food. When he turns around, he is scowling and avoiding looking at me. He comes towards the table keeping his eyes on the food plate. His demeanor has completely changed from emphatic and nice to a serious one.

"Here." He puts a plate of pasta on the table in front of me.

"Thanks, Andrew." I look at him giving a small smile. He doesn't reply to it, I'm not sure he even saw it.

He sits in front of me and starts eating, not spending a glance at me. I don't understand what's happening with him. He was being nice just five minutes ago.

"Are you ok?"

"Uhum." It is all he replies, feeding himself with pasta. My diagnosis is he has a drastic mood shift disorder. I never met someone who changes his behavior so often as him.

I keep observing him from time to time, checking if his mood got any better. No improvement is detected.

After a little while of staying quiet, I resolve to try talking to him again. The silence is killing me.

"Uhm Andrew?" I start trying to catch his attention. "Just want to thank you for everything, really," I said making a sigh. He glances his eyes at me for a mere second. "For the painkillers, the tea, cloth, and diner. I really appreciated it. I don't know what I would do if you haven't help me tonight." I tilt my head keeping my eyes on him throughout my speech.

I almost want to laugh. He is looking like a little kid whom his mom just scolded because he peed in his pants.

"Not a problem." He said chewing. "It's like if I'm doing it for a sister." He answers keeping his eyes on his plate the entire time. He doesn't show his usual grin or smirk, it must be a record for him. One hour without even one smirk or his evil stare. Would it be weird if I say I miss it?

His response confuses me. What has he meant? Does it mean he sees me as his sister? I decided not to ask about it, he doesn't seem up to talk.

I continue eating the pasta on my plate, it is not bad. It's pasta carbonara and I'm happy to say a well prepared one. Differently than Charles, I perceive Andrew likes to follow the real recipe like a good engineer likes to follow exactly a procedure. 

Charles has always modified the classical carbonara sauce incrementing with something that isn't in the recipe. I have never eaten a classical recipe prepared by him.

After we finished our diner I got up and start taking the dishes.

"Go sit on the couch, I will take care of it." He pronounces. He cleans his mouth and goes up as well.

"Not it's ok, I can do it," I replied picking up my plate from the table.

"Just go to the couch Kelsey." He orders. He is a bit annoyed now.

Another fact about Andrew, he likes to boss around. It isn't something I appreciate. However, I decide to just follow his command, I wanted to help, but he is clearly not up for it.

After he has finished the dishes he comes to sit on my side. I lift my head, which was leaning against the back of the couch, to observe him.

"So, I imagined Dani is not at home?" He ran his hand through his tawny hair to remove some strands from his face.

"No, she has classes on Thursday night, why?"

"Nothing specific just for information. So, we can watch a movie." He said taking the tv remote control.

Again, it was not a question. He is doing commands, and I keep following them. I don't want to irritate him even more or give him the impression I don't appreciate what he is doing for me.

I Insist he should choose the movie; the poor guy has already spent his night taking care of me. I can at least watch a movie of his choice. He plays Fight Club on Netflix.

In the middle of it, I shrink in pain, feeling cramps again. It has been less than two hours since I took a painkiller.

With a hand on my stomach, I got up to take the painkiller box and a glass of water.

"What are you doing?" Andrew inquires, raising his head and pausing the film. Watching me as a father watches his daughter sneaking out at two in the morning.

"I'm feeling pain again, I will take another pill," I affirm filling my glass with tap water.

"No, you won't."

"Yes, I will, I won't be in pain for the rest of the night." I start to open the painkiller box to take a pill.

"Kelsey, this is a strong painkiller." He states pointing to the painkiller box clearly annoyed. "You cannot take more than one for four hours, it hasn't been even two hours since you took it." He gets up and comes in my direction.

"Here, give it to me." He said taking the painkiller box from my hand. I have the impression each time I don't follow his command he gets annoyed. Well pal, you are driving me frustrated here too.

"Go back to the couch."

"And what? Pass out because of the pain?" I am annoyed now, who the hell he thinks he is?

"Don't exaggerate, I will do something ok? Just trust me."

I am in no condition of fighting him over my painkillers, let's face it, he would win even if I was in my best shape. Look at his chiseled muscles, my bamboo arms have no chance against it.

So, I do go back to the couch. Sitting in a squishy position. My feet are over it, my elbows and head being support on my knees. I stayed like that, glaring at Andrew the whole five minutes he took to come back. Wishing I have laser vision enabling me to erase his bossy behavior from his head. 

Didn't happen...

"Here." He gave me again a warm cloth. I just took it and kept glaring at him.

"C'mon you know what to do with it." He said sitting on the couch. "Put on your belly and come here."

"Hum?"

Come here where? I'm already on the couch.

I barely have finished putting the warm cloth on my belly when he takes me in his arms. He adjusts me with my front facing him, my head on his left shoulder, my butt is on his lap and my legs on the couch.

I blink at him confused. I won't complain about the position tough. I am very comfortable. However, I can't understand why he positioned me this way.

He then starts to rub my lower back with his right hand. Sometimes slowly, sometimes with a bit of pressure like a massage. It feels good, his hand is warm. I feel tingles where he touches, making me a reminder of the path his fingers just took.

I exhale a shaky breath and close my eyes. I'm so placid. I'm forgetting I was in pain. With my head on his shoulders breathing his scent, coming to me while inhale, in a perfect flow, it calms me. I understand now why they put some essential oil diffusers in spas. It is relaxing.

It is always pears and fresh mint. I get the fresh mint smell, it can be from his toothpaste, chewing gum, or maybe shaving cream, who knows. But pears? How does he smell like pears? Does he eat it all the time? I heard Steve Jobs had a diet based only on eating apples. Maybe Andrew has a diet base on pears?

Anyway, how does he make this combination so perfectly good? It should be a girl smell. But here I am bewitched by his fragrance.

Great, now I want to eat a pear.

"Is it getting any better?" He asks with his mouth on my left ear. It sends a shiver thru my spine.

At this moment all I could think is 'Oh God yeah don't stop it please!'. But then the only sound leaving my mouth is "Uhumm," coming out as a moan.

He chuckled. It makes me adjust myself to get even closer to him, putting my arms around his neck, not realizing the compromising position we are in. I don't care if it is intimate, I'm feeling on the clouds right now, with a smooth and warm angel's hand touching me.

In this position I start falling asleep, the last thing I heard was he restarting the movie.

Afterward, I feel someone taking me up from the couch. Caring me while I'm still asleep. I'm dozing off, like someone who had just done an operation and still is under anesthesia effect. I could feel and hear some things, but not exactly knowing what is happening, when, or if it was real or just a dream.

Firstly, someone places me on a bed. In an instant, I feel my belly get colder and then get hotter again. Possibly, the warm cloth has been changed.

Next, I'm feeling covered with a blanket around me. It feels like an embrace, making me feel wrapped and protected. My back is against a hard and warm wall, holding me, heating me up. The last thing I feel is something holding the cloth in its place on my belly.  A .. hand?

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