"Voicemail, what do you mean by voicemail."
I screamed on top of my lungs, my voice cracking as panic rushed through my chest like wildfire.
My fingers trembled as I dialed his number again. This time, he picked up.
"Hey Ara?"
I heard his husky voice. He sounded tired, drained, like someone who had been carrying too much for too long.
"Can we talk tomorrow I'm a bit busy and tired." He added.
"Wait, it's important. Raisem," I said quickly, my voice shaking as fear clawed at my throat.
There was a brief pause.
"What's wrong with him?" He replied with care, his tone changing instantly.
"I don't know but he fainted and he won't answer me when I call." I was already crying. Tears and I are best friends though, but this time they wouldn't stop. They slid down my face freely.
"Where are you two?" He asked
"His apartment." I replied and the line went dead.
He just hung up.
I stared at my phone, my chest tightening.
Was he coming? Why would he hang up?
Before my thoughts could spiral further, my phone rang again. I picked up immediately.
"Okay, Ara, listen to me." Austin said calmly. His voice was steady.
"I need you to stay with me. Is he lying down?"
"Yes," I replied quickly. "He's on the floor."
"Good. Lay him flat on his back." Austin said. "Don't let his head tilt forward."
I knelt beside Raisem and carefully adjusted him, my hands shaking as my fingers brushed his face. His skin was too hot. His eyes were shut, lashes resting too still and quiet.
"He's so hot, Austin." I whispered, fear crawling into every word.
"I know." He said. "We'll handle that. First, lift his legs a little. Do you have a pillow or anything close?"
I scrambled around and grabbed the pillow from the couch, sliding it carefully under his legs.
"Okay, done."
"Good." Austin said. "Now loosen any tight clothing. Collar, jacket, buttons—anything restricting him."
"He's not wearing any." I replied, swallowing hard.
"He's really burning up," I said, my throat tightening as fear pressed against my chest.
"Next thing," Austin said. "I need you to check his breathing. Is his chest rising?"
I leaned closer, my ear near his mouth, my eyes fixed on his chest as it moved faintly.
"Yes," I breathed out. "He's breathing."
"Good." Austin said. "Slow or fast?"
"Fast… but steady." I replied.
"Okay." He paused briefly. "Now we cool him down. Do not use ice."
"I won't." I said quickly.
"Get a cloth. Use cool water, not cold." Austin instructed. "Place it on his forehead and neck."
I rushed to the sink, soaked a cloth, wrung it out, and hurried back. I pressed it gently against his forehead.
Raisem flinched slightly.
"Oh my God," I whispered. "He moved."
"That's good." Austin said. "Keep the cloth there."
I slid the cloth gently under his neck, my other hand resting on his arm as if holding him there would keep him with me.
"Don't give him water." Austin added firmly.
"Not yet. If he's unconscious, it's dangerous."
"I wasn't going to," I said, tears slipping down my face and falling onto the floor.
"Ara," Austin said softly. "Talk to him. Sometimes voices help."
I swallowed hard and leaned closer, my lips near his ear.
"Raisem," I whispered. "Please wake up. I'm here. Don't do this to me."
I noticed his brow creased slightly.
"Austin...." I gasped. "I think he's trying to wake up."
"Great" Austin said. "If his eyes open, keep him lying down. Do not let him sit up."
Raisem's eyelids fluttered slowly.
"Raisem," I said urgently. "Don't move. Please."
He groaned faintly, his hand twitching weakly in mine.
"That's it." Austin said. "You're doing well, Ara. Keep cooling him. If he doesn't fully wake in the next 10 minutes and I'm not in the apartment, I want you to get him to the hospital."
My hand trembled as I held the cloth to his forehead, my chest aching.
"Please…" I whispered again. "Just stay with me."
Then the call ended.
I kept shaking, hoping he would wake up properly. There had been movement earlier, but now he just lay there, still and quiet. I checked the time and clenched my jaw.
I wasn't going to wait.
If Austin doesn't' get here in the next five minutes, I would take him to the hospital myself.
I held his hand tightly.
Not long after, I heard the door open. Fast footsteps rushed in. Austin burst in like a thief. I wasn't expecting that.
He ran straight to Raisem and checked his pulse.
"Thank God, you did well Ara. I'll handle it now. You can excuse me please." He said.
"Okay." I replied quietly and left the room.
I noticed Austin shut the door close. Maybe he just didn't want to be interrupted, so I didn't think too much of it.
******
Inside the room, Austin walked towards Raisem and touched him and to his surprise, Raisem slowly sat up on the bed with a groan.
He was shocked because Ara told him, Raisem wasn't awake.
"I thought she said you couldn't stand up." Austin said, confused.
"I was awake a few minutes ago, I didn't want her to see me in such a situation." Raisem said.
Raisem had been awake since his eyes started fluttering but he pretended he wasn't awake intentionally.
"So you were pretending." Austin said and hit him on his chest.
"Woah." Raisem said faintly.
"I almost had an accident on the way not knowing you were awake." Austin said. "What happened?"
"I don't know, I just felt dizzy and hot with this severe headache." He replied.
"You need to see the doctor again to make another complaint. Raisem why don't you go for chemotherapy.?" Austin asked.
"It's no point, it's in a terminal stage and the chemotherapy is just 50 percent. It won't guarantee my survival. I don't know if I'm ready for that yet." Raisem said honestly.
"I wonder what it will take to just change your mind." Austin said.
"You know once I have my mind on something it won't change." He replied.
"And how about Ara? Is she still signing rh contract it's getting late and time's running out." Austin said.
"She is truly worthy but I don't know how I'll convince her after all what I've done." Raisem said.
"Did you see the look on her face when she was beside you, did you see how she reacted when she called. I can tell there is something there. maybe not from you but from her." Austin said.
"Hmm." Raisem replied causally.
"I'll place you on IV drips for now but you have to see the doctor." Austin said.
"Don't let Ara come in. I don't want her to see me this way." Raisem said while resting his head on the pillow.
******
Austin came out and I rushed toward him.
"How is he doing?" I asked anxiously.
"He is fine, but right now he needs to rest. Please don't disturb him." Austin replied.
I nodded quickly.
"Thank you." I said with joy.
As long as Raisem was fine, I'm okay.
*****
It was midnight. I was sitting outside his door, resting my head against the wall. I was waiting for him to wake up. Silly me. The whole place was quiet, cold, and lonely. I had no idea when sleep took over me.
I didn't notice the door creak open.
He saw me sleeping there and walked over quietly. He crouched in front of me and stared into my face, his eyes soft, heavy with thoughts.
I didn't know he was there until I slowly opened my eyes and met his gaze.
"Raisem." I said hurriedly, standing up and holding his hands.
"Are you okay? Do you feel better now?" I asked in worry.
"Why didn't you go to your room to sleep?" He asked like nothing happened .
"It's fine. I thought you'll wake up earlier I didn't know when I slept off." I said, adjusting my top and forcing a smile.
"Ara, can I ask you something?" Raisem said.
"Yes, sure anything." I replied.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Can you sign the contract again?"