CHAPTER 138: SENIOR, I HAVE A FEVER... PLEASE SLEEP BY MY SIDE: PART-1

Leo walked into the kitchen, and once again... he froze in surprise.

The sheer number of plates stacked neatly in the racks, the rows of shiny utensils, and the spotless counters—it all screamed of a house way above his league. It was like walking into the kitchen of a seven-star hotel.

"Is her parents also the type who don’t come home, like Valra’s?" Leo muttered under his breath, scratching his head. Still, he pulled open cupboards and drawers, checking for what he needed.

Everything was there. Absolutely everything.

Vegetables, rice, even husk powder...

"Man, even the spice jars are lined up in alphabetical order," he muttered with a small whistle.

Shaking his head, he grabbed a pan and started preparing something simple. Water hissed softly as he poured it in, tossing in chopped vegetables. Steam curled up into the air, fogging his glasses slightly.

That was when—

"S-Senior..."

Leo turned his head.

Sakura was there, barely holding onto the wall for support, her legs wobbling like a newborn deer as she dragged herself toward him.

"What the heck are you doing here?" Leo quickly lowered the stove’s temperature and rushed over before she could collapse.

She smiled faintly, her voice soft and shaky. "I... I wanted to see... your cooking."

Her tired eyes still held a strange warmth as she looked at him.

Leo sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. His gaze fell on her trembling legs—she could hardly even stand straight.

"So much idiot," he muttered with an annoyed expression, though the corners of his lips curled up gently. He slipped his hands around her waist and carefully guided her toward a chair.

"Come on. I guess this is still better than you lying on the bed all day..." he muttered as he lowered her gently onto the chair.

Sakura leaned forward on the table, her chin resting on her arm, and simply smiled at him. She looked exhausted, her face pale, her eyes half-lidded... yet, she stared at him with such keen interest, as if watching him cook was somehow more important than her own health.

Leo shook his head, returning to the stove. "Unbelievable... first time anyone’s ever found me interesting while cooking," he grumbled under his breath, though secretly, it felt nice.

Within half an hour, the room filled with the warm aroma of broth and rice. Leo carried over a steaming hot pot of vegetable soup mixed with rice, setting it carefully in front of her.

Of course, Sakura didn’t have the strength to eat on her own. Her arms were too weak. So, without hesitation, Leo sat beside her, lifted a spoonful, blew on it gently, and brought it close to her lips.

"Come on, open up," he coaxed softly.

Sakura’s lips trembled as she took the spoon, chewing slowly.

Her eyes quivered as she swallowed.

Leo frowned, nervous. "Is it bad?"

Sakura shook her head quickly, smiling even as her voice broke, "N-No... gulp... it’s just... it’s so good." Her cheeks flushed faintly.

She muttered again, barely audible, "Especially... because it was made by my boyfriend."

Leo’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he continued spoon-feeding her.

But after a few more bites, Sakura weakly raised her hand, pushing his spoon away. "Hmm... no, no, I cannot eat anymore." Her face scrunched up adorably as she puffed her cheeks. "I’m already full."

"Please, just one more spoon and you’ll be fine... come on... come on, Baby," Leo whispered softly, leaning closer.

Her heart thumped at the word "Baby." How could she reject him when he said it like that?

Sakura pouted again, then gave a tiny nod. "Fine... but only if... you take half and I take another half, okay?"

Leo blinked at her suggestion, then nodded with a little smirk before leaning forward and taking a small bite from the spoon.

"That’s not even a half!" Sakura pointed weakly, her cheeks puffing out as she pouted.

Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "It’s half. Your eyes are just playing tricks on you."

"No...! It’s not!" she weakly protested, her voice cracking like a child throwing a tantrum.

Before she could argue more, Leo quickly shoved the food into her mouth with a grin.

"Hmff!" Sakura’s muffled protest made her cheeks bulge. She glared at him for a second, but still chewed the food obediently.

After swallowing, she rubbed her stomach with both hands and let out a sigh of relief. "I’m so full..." she muttered, almost like she had just survived a war.

Leo chuckled softly at her expression and nodded. "Alright then, let’s go to your bed now."

Sakura gave him a small smile, her face flushed, before lifting her hands up in the air like a child asking for a pick-up—no words, just a silent request.

Leo’s lips curved warmly as he took her small hand into his arms. With ease, he lifted her once again, holding her close to his chest like she was no heavier than a baby.

Sakura instantly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly like a koala clinging to a tree. Even though a few... larger things pressed firmly against him, Leo didn’t let himself react much. His face stayed calm, carrying only a soft smile as he walked her back to the bed.

He gently lowered her onto the mattress and tucked the quilt around her. "Here, take your medicine now," he said, handing her a water bottle along with the pills.

Sakura frowned, scrunching up her nose. "That’s yuck..." she muttered, her tone almost whining like a spoiled child who didn’t want her vegetables.

Leo leaned in, voice playful yet firm. "Even if it tastes weird, you have to take the medicine. Otherwise, you won’t be able to play with me anymore...

My Sakura is a good girl, right?"

Sakura pouted even more, cheeks puffing like a squirrel storing nuts, before reluctantly picking up the pills.

"Yarr..." she groaned dramatically as she forced herself to swallow them down, chasing the bitter taste quickly with gulps of water. Her face twisted in disgust as she muttered, "So gross..."

"Good girl," Leo whispered gently, reaching out to guide her back against the pillows. He adjusted the quilt snugly around her, brushing her hair back from her face. "How’s your body now? Does it feel better than before?"

Sakura nodded faintly, her lashes fluttering. "Yeah... I feel so much better now..."

Leo smiled in relief.

Sakura stared at him quietly for a moment before murmuring, "You came all the way here... what about school?"

Leo chuckled softly and reached out, ruffling her hair. "There’s no need to worry about me."

Her face fell into a sad expression. Even though she didn’t want to bother her senior, guilt still crept in.

"I... I’m sorr—"

"Shush." Leo gently placed his finger against her lips, his gaze firm yet tender. "I did what I had to do. There’s no need to apologise, okay?"

Sakura’s cheeks turned pink, her eyes softening as she gave a small nod.

Leo hummed, leaning back slightly. "Can you tell me... where are your parents?"

Sakura hesitated, her lips pressing together before she finally whispered, "They had an urgent situation in a foreign country."

Leo’s lips twitched with disbelief. "More urgent than their own daughter?"

Sakura gave him a weak smile, trying to hide behind it, but it only made her look more fragile.

Leo sighed heavily, shaking his head. "I can’t believe you’ve been suffering all alone... sigh... what if you hadn’t called me before?" His jaw tightened as he thought about it, shaking his head again.

Just as he was about to stand and go clean the mess he had left behind in the kitchen, he suddenly felt a small, trembling hand catch his.

"P-Please... don’t leave me alone... please." Sakura’s voice cracked, trembling, her teary eyes shimmering like fragile glass about to shatter.

He smiled faintly, leaning down toward her. "I am not going anywhere..." he whispered, and once again sat at the edge of the bed, letting her small, delicate fingers cling desperately to his hand.

Sakura smiled faintly through the haze of her fever, her lashes fluttering as if she might fall asleep at any second. For a brief moment, it seemed like she was drifting away. But then her lips parted, her voice soft, almost shy, tinted with a blush.

"Please... come and sleep with me."