CHAPTER 23 - ACHOO!!!

By the middle of the day, the shoot had exceeded all expectations, and I found myself in one of my rarest and best moods. Carla mentioned it multiple times, but I just shrugged it off playfully, not giving any particular explanation. Even Nathaniel claimed I was being hyperactive, and I teased him, saying that he was only jealous of my youth.

However, I hadn't seen Eugene the whole day. I decided to stop by the production room after lunch hour to thank him for helping me last night and putting me to bed. The thought still sent shivers down my spine. We were filming in a local department store, which has been closed for the duration of the shoot. We only had two days to complete the session; therefore, we considered ourselves lucky to be ahead of schedule. A few of the shop spaces were designated for the production crew, and after having wasted some time searching for Eugene's, I eventually found them. I had a photocopy of the inventory items, which Nathaniel had already checked, but I needed an excuse to see Eugene.

People were rushing in and out of the doorway, and I exchanged cordial greetings with a few of them before entering. It was a mess inside, and there were laptops and mounds of documents scattered everywhere. It was a temporary setup, although I was convinced that almost every department was as untidy as this one, if not worse. We had intended to use a fake set at first, but since we felt that we were jeopardising the authenticity, we opted to contract with a real mall, and the employees worked relentlessly to make everything work in such a short period.

"Where's Eugene?"

I asked a middle-aged woman, and upon seeing me, her eyes widened, but she quickly recovered when she noticed I wasn't there for any surprise inspection.

"At the back side. He should be in front of a laptop."

I thanked her and left her to her duties. I had to hop through cables as I made my way to the end, where dozens of workstations were organized over three large desks.

Eugene was peering at the screen with a sketch book on his right-hand side and a pencil stationed between his fingers. What was out of the ordinary were the three boxes of tissue paper, two of which appeared to be empty, and the black mask concealing his face.

"Achoo."

He sneezed violently and yanked the piece of fabric from his mouth before blowing his nose aggressively on the Kleenex and tossing it into the trashcan, the paper landing above the already-forming pile.

"For the love of God, Eugene, go to a hospital. You are spreading the infection."

An unknown guy yelled from the opposite side, his face also buried in his computer display.

"Sorry."

Eugene said in a grumpy voice before pulling back his mask, giving me enough time to see his puffy nose and red face. I considered approaching him and urging him to get some rest; however, I refrained from doing so since he was crowded by the others. Even though it would not be strange for coworkers to look out for one another, it would be weird if I was involved, considering I don't get entangled in other people's affairs. I folded the documents before getting back to work and gave Eugene one last glance.

......

"Can I have a car, Susan?"

I requested the transportation supervisor, and she pulled out her tablet prior to scrolling through something.

"Would you like a driver as well?"

I shook my head and explained that all I needed was a car for the next three hours. She tapped rapidly on her iPad and then smiled at me professionally.

"Just go to the parking section of the mall and wait in front of the elevators. You would receive the key from a hotel staff."

"I really appreciate it, Susan."

She beamed more broadly at my earnest response. I didn't even bother changing and quickly made sure I had my wallet before waving good-bye to Nathaniel and Carla and making a beeline to the production unit.

Eugene was still perched directly in front of his personal computer, the only modification being the additional box of tissue on the table. Most people had already left the building, and only a few technicians lingered, every one of whom was preoccupied with either shutting down their systems or cleaning their stations.

I strolled straight towards my target, and he didn't even notice me approaching. He was just staring into the screen, where the scene from a few hours ago kept replaying. He jotted down the materials he located in the picture as well as their placements. He also sketched a crude drawing of the grocery store area where Carla was interacting with Aiden. I tried to get his attention by clearing my throat, but he didn't even flinch. I glanced around to make doubly sure that nobody was in our immediate vicinity and positioned myself in between him and the rest of the individuals in order to prevent anyone from seeing him.

Eugene was startled as I lifted my hand and rested it on his forehead. He quickly jerked his body backwards, which caused the chair to swing back and nearly topple over if I hadn't gripped it in time.

"We are okay."

I stated reassuringly, tilting my head to make certain no one witnessed our minor mishap. I only found three males and one blonde girl, though none of them seemed to give a sh*t about what was going on. However, when I turned back, I saw the reaction that only mattered to me. Eugene was gazing at me, wide-eyed, his masked face accentuating his eyes and the sensations he was experiencing. He was definitely caught off guard.

I dipped my head a little bit, refusing to let the chair return to its original position. Our noses were so close that they made me aware I was intruding on his personal space, but I didn't really care. I wanted to make the most of the opportunity since he was so easily accessible.

"It seems like we are constantly switching roles. Now what, should I lean in and kiss you?"

I murmured, lowering my eyes and staring at the mask where his lips were supposed to be. Yeah, way to ruin the mood. And if that wasn't enough, Eugene suddenly sneezed, his head flying forward and slamming against my skull.

"Ouch."

I shrieked, my hand instinctively reaching for my head. That hurts like a bitch.

"God, I am so sorry."

Eugene exclaimed, springing up from his seat to take a look at my probably bruised temple, but the sudden motion must have knocked him off balance, as he fell back into his chair like a log. It was so chaotic, but I was loving every moment. It felt like we were back to normal, or even a little more closer.

"Sit still."

I ordered, my eyes shining with amusement, and bent down again, this time more carefully. I stretched my hand once more to check his temperature, noticing the dark circles under his eyes in the process. Eugene hesitated at first but relented when he saw me glaring at him. He was running a fever and didn't look to have eaten anything.

"Turn the computer off and follow me."

I spoke firmly, and he was definitely about to protest, but my stare held him back. These were the occasions when I felt glad I was his superior and had authority over him.

We exited the back room together, and I guided him to the elevators and pushed the button to the parking lot.

"Where are we going?"

Eugene inquired, punctuated by a sneeze. His voice sounded ridiculous, and there was scratching at irregular intervals, suggesting that his nose was blocked. A sore throat should also be added to the list.

"Someplace important. Do you have any proof of identity with you?"

Eugene's hand went to feel his pocket, and he nodded.

"I do have the driver's license. Why?"

I didn't say anything as the elevator chimed and the doors separated, leading us to the parking space. Just like Susan suggested, a man stood right in front of the elevator, his attention fixed on the inside. He must have been waiting for a long time.

"I apologize for keeping you hanging."

I said as I reached the young man in uniform.

"It's alright, ma'am. I haven't been here for long."

He took out the keys and shifted his focus between me and Eugene, expecting the latter to accept them. However, I simply took it from his open hand.

"Thank you."

The guy was uncertain for a second, but then smiled widely.

"Your car is parked in D7. Have a good time, both of you."

I smiled and thanked him again before motioning for Eugene to accompany me. He was busy wiping his nose and dumping the tissue into the nearest trash can. I really hope there's a tissue box in the car; otherwise, we will have to stop by the convenience store. The car was a Toyota Camry, and I silently praised the person who had stocked a new packet of tissues on the dashboard.

"Would you now tell me where we're going?"

Eugene inquired once more, but I stayed silent. Instead, I turned on the GPS and entered the nearest hospital as my destination.

"Why are we visiting the hospital? Are you hurt somewhere?"

He questioned me, evidently alarmed, and I pinned him with a scowl. Is he serious?

"I'm certainly not the one with a fever right now."

I responded, as a matter of fact, and I could see genuine relief in his eyes. Why is he confusing me with all these stupid reactions? He acts as though he cares about me, but then flatly refuses my invitation to sleep with me. Well, in his defense, he has already said that he sees me as a friend.

"I am okay. I just need some rest. You don't have to take me to a hospital."

Even though he said that, Eugene showed no signs of resistance, and I realized he was in far worse shape than he portrayed.

"Just keep quiet and try to get some sleep. I'll call you when we arrive."

He dutifully listened to me, and I suppressed the temptation to shuffle his hair. I pulled out of the parking lot and simply followed the blue line on the GPS. Apart from his periodic coughing and sneezing and the Google's voice, everything was nice and calm.

I should have known he would catch a cold as a consequence of the pool episode, but I was too distracted to think logically. Of course, I blamed myself for his present condition, yet I was pleased with how things had turned out between us. I guess I can't stop being selfish.

............