The Fever

Three days ago...

~~~

Blake squirmed in his short nap, feeling stuffy and stiff, yet he resisted the urge to open his eyes. His body had been continuously battered by his busy schedule since yesterday, and he was irritated.

Could he not even be left alone during this brief rest?

He had been juggling back-to-back shoots, promotional events, and interviews, barely having time to catch his breath.

It seemed like there was no end to the demands of his celebrity life. He longed for a moment of peace, but even during his precious moments of rest, his mind was plagued with thoughts of work and obligations.

Despite whatever happened, he kept trying to reclaim his sleep. Suddenly, he felt a cold sensation on his forehead, as if a mountain breeze gently brushed against it.

Ah, it must be none other than Mrs. Mila, his manager, who had taken care of him for years.

Instinctively, he smiled faintly and whispered, "Thank you."

In that very moment, he slipped back into the realm of dreams.

***

As the sunlight streamed through the curtains, attempting to awaken Blake Anderson from his slumber, he resisted the intrusion with a groggy mumble.

Blake, known for his captivating round eyes and long, luscious eyelashes, was undoubtedly a shining star in the world of acting.

His talent and charm had earned him a place as one of the most successful actors in his generation.

Despite his usual reluctance to open his eyes when waking up, hunger had a different effect on him.

His stomach had been growling since earlier, and the persistent hunger forced him to acknowledge the morning light filtering into his caravan.

Blake, a 23-year-old young man, attempted to lift himself up slowly and with some effort. However, a small blue towel slipped into his lap.

J.W. were the letters intricately woven with silver thread in its small corners.

Blake furrowed his brow, but his stomach growled again, diverting his attention once more. Although he couldn't smell anything, his eyes could still see a bowl of porridge already set on the counter table.

Despite feeling unwell, he knew he needed to eat something. He reached for the small blue towel, gently wiping his face to freshen up.

The touch of the towel was soothing against his skin, and the initials J.W. somehow reminded him of Jack Williams.

His hand was already reaching for the food, but it froze in mid-air as a sound caught his attention.

The soft creak of the bus door opening.

"Are you awake?" uttered a middle-aged woman who stepped inside the bus, her gaze fixed straight ahead at him.

Blake quickly recognized her as Mrs. Mila, his manager. She had been by his side for years, guiding and nurturing his career.

Embarrassed that he was caught trying to eat against Mrs. Mila's advice, Blake immediately withdrew his hand.

It was too late; she had seen everything. But to his surprise, instead of scolding him, she smiled.

"Go ahead and eat. This is for you."

Relieved, Blake eagerly grabbed the bowl of porridge in front of him. As the first spoonful entered his mouth, he couldn't help but think about the peculiar towel with the initials he had noticed earlier.

Blake lifted the towel and looked at Mrs. Mila with a questioning expression. She was like a mother figure to him, and he felt comfortable seeking answers from her.

"Oh, that's Jack," Mrs. Mila explained.

"Jack?" Blake seemed uncertain.

"Focus on eating first, Blake," Mrs. Mila reminded him.

Blake nodded and obediently began to eat in front of her. The porridge was made exactly how he liked it, without any beans.

"Jack just returned from Korea last night. As soon as he heard you were sick, he rushed over here. I told him you had a fever, and he took the initiative to compress you with a towel from his clean bag," she said, chuckling. "His expression was so funny, hahaha. He's been back and forth this morning and ended up falling asleep on the floor. He looks really exhausted."

"Why didn't he sleep in his seat?" Blake asked, puzzled.

Mrs. Mila simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders. She didn't offer a direct answer, leaving Blake to interpret Jack's actions on his own.

She knew that sometimes, actions spoke louder than words, and she believed that Jack's care and concern for Blake were genuine.

As Blake finished his meal, he couldn't help but feel touched by Jack's gesture. It was unexpected but heartwarming to know that someone cared enough to come and take care of him when he was unwell.

Blake shook his head before he raised his voice again, but Mrs. Mila quickly interrupted.

"He just took a shower."

Blake smiled sheepishly, realizing his bowl of porridge was empty now. "Thank you for the porridge, Mrs. Mila."

Mrs. Mila smiled again. "Tell that to Jack, Blake."

***

Cheers from the audience slowly faded away as they had just finished one city, leaving five more cities to go.

Blake, Jack, Gina, and Dara were four top-notch artists embarking on a promotional roadshow for their latest movie titled 'Four Coma'.

When one of them was busy with something else, they were replaced by the supporting actors, Zaki or Ranu.

Blake lay back relaxed. When he returned to their bus, Jack followed behind him.

"How are you feeling? Still dizzy?" The younger man, only a few months younger than Blake, asked gently.

"Better than before." Blake smiled.

"Don't force yourself. If you're still feeling dizzy, rest, Blake. Ranu or Zaki can take over for you."

Blake shook his head.

"I can't. This is my responsibility! As long as I can walk, I'll do my best."

"Your health is more important," said Jack coldly.

As the smile crept across Blake's face, he could sense the genuine concern behind Jack's stern words.

Jack Thompson, an equally talented and esteemed actor of their generation, was now playing alongside Blake as his co-star.

Their parallel fame often led to comparisons, but they had managed to build a strong friendship and mutual respect.