"Hehe." Catarina giggled to herself.

Yesterday was so wonderful. Even if she was serving breakfast,her mind wasn't present there. Her mind was recalling the events of the previous day, the day when Eiichi and Catarina went on their first date.

"Look she's grinning to herself." Nagi whispered to Yamato. The latter didn't stop his push ups and said, "I really don't want to see weird things first thing in the morning."

Nagi snickered."I bet she's thinking about Eiichi."

"Duh."

Meanwhile,Catarina was immersed in her memories. She was remembering about the time she and Eiichi walked around the amusement park,hand in hand.It was a surprise that nobody noticed Eiichi, even though he was in disguise. Maybe nobody noticed because it wasn't much crowded on a weekday.

"...Breakfast is ready." Kira informed Nagi and Yamato.

The female looked at the clock in the lounge. Eiichi isn't here yet. Kira seemed to have the same thought. "Rinna,call Eiichi."

"Okay!" With a chirp, Catarina headed to Eiichi's room.

"She is in a good mood," Kira stated as he watched the girl walk up the stairs with a skip in her steps. The other two agreed.

Meanwhile,

"Eiichi." The blonde knocked on his door. In response, she heard some shuffling in bed. Is he sleeping? Seems like he's worn out from work.

"Eiichi,I'm coming in." She knocked again before she went inside.The lights were off and she saw her boyfriend sitting up on bed, rubbing his eyes.

Aww,he looks so cute.

Catarina spoke in a soft tone ;since loud voices aren't what one would like to hear first thing in the morning, "Good morning,Eiichi. Breakfast is ready."

The male turned to her and squinted his eyes. She realized it was because he wasn't wearing his glasses. But before she could say anything, he got out of bed and started walking towards her slowly.

"Eiichi?"She looked up at him in confusion. She admitted inwardly that he looked handsome even after just waking up. His slightly ruffled brown hair, lavender eyes not hidden behind a frame of glass and flushed cheeks.

Wait, why are his cheeks red?

Eiichi didn't say anything and kept walking towards her. When she was close enough, he wrapped his arms around her waist and tried to pull her closer.

Huh?

Instead of pulling her closer, he ended up pushing his whole weight on her.Unable to hold his weight, her back hit the now closed door, thus stopping her from falling on the floor.

Eiichi's grip never left her. Instead he held her tighter. His head found its place on her shoulder. His warm breath tickled her nape.

"Eii-Eiichi!?!" A blush crept on her cheeks.

"You're....so warm." He whispered. His husky voice made her heart race even faster.

?!??!! What's with this situation!?!

"Mm...So warm..."He hugged her tighter.

"Uhh..." He's hugging me so tightly! One of his hands goes up to her cheek and began to stroke it.

!!! Catarina's eyes widened,not at his action but at something else.

"Eiichi, let me check." She placed the back of her hand on his cheek. Her blush immediately dissolved.

He's burning! "Eiichi,you have a fever!"

"Hmm?.....So that's why I'm cold?"

"I need to put you to bed. Come on." With all her strength,she managed to drag Eiichi to his bed.

"Lie down." She helped him lie on bed.

Eiichi started to speak, "But.....I have to get up...Work..."

"Nope,not happening. You can't work when you're sick."

"I can...." With a sigh, she shook her head.

"No means no." Then she noticed him shivering.

"Are you cold?" He nodded. She wrapped the blanket around him.

"Will this do?"She asked. The brunette looked up at her and continued staring expectantly.

"Eiichi?"

"....Yeah,I guess."

"Are you having any other problem?"

"Headache and a bit dizzy."

"Your voice is hoarse too," she commented.

"I'll go get a thermometer." Before she could leave, he grabbed her wrist.

"Don't go." Turning her face,she looked at him. "I'll be back quickly with the thermometer. I will also tell the others about your condition." His grip wasn't tight so she was able to break free easily.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Later she told the other three that Eiichi was down with a fever. She told them to cancel all his works for the day. They visited the sleeping man before leaving for work. Only Catarina stayed to look after Eiichi.

While Eiichi was sleeping,Catarina was making rice porridge for him. 'Fumetsu no Inferno' started playing from her phone; meaning she had a call.

"Hello," She answered without looking at the caller id.

"Rin-chan, Kira told me that Nii-san is sick," A worried voice spoke.

It's Eiji.

"Yeah. He has a mild fever."

She heard Eiji sigh from the other side. "I can't return home before evening. And neither can the others. We leave him in your hands,Rin-chan."

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of him."

"Also,"From Eiji's voice, she could guess he was giving an awkward smile. "I should inform you that...Nii-san gets quite childish and clingy when he is sick."

"Really?" So his previous actions were because of the fever.

"Yes...He might also get a bit demanding."

"It's not a problem." She shrugged the matter off.

"Thank you. Knowing that you will be with him reassures me,Rin-chan."

"Don't mention it."

"I have to go now. Call me or Kira if there's any problem."

"Sure. Good luck at work." By the time she finished talking with Eiji, she completed making Eiichi's breakfast. Placing the plates, spoons and glass on the tray, she removed her apron.

"Oh! I should get the medicines."

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

"Eiichi,wake up." Catarina gently shook the male.

"Mmm..."

She removed the wet towel from his forehead and helped him sit up.

"What time is it...?"

"It's nine." Placing the tray in front of him, she continued, "I made you some breakfast. Eat it before taking the medicines."

He looked at her. ".....You should stay away from me. I might pass my cold to you."

"I don't care. I'll stay by your side till you get better." Catarina smiled.

"Okay..."

Once the handsome man finished eating, Catarina quietly said, "I'm sorry."

"Huh?Why are you...?"

Catarina looked at her lap."I shouldn't have tired you yesterday. You were busy the whole week and so when you got the day off, you should've taken it as an opportunity to rest. Yet you had to go out with me...It's my fau-"

She stopped talking when Eiichi lifted her chin. She was staring into his beautiful and clear eyes.

It's almost like he isn't ill.

"...It was my suggestion to go on the date," Eiichi gently started. "Watching you smile and enjoy is better than any rest." His words made her smile.

Eiichi...

"I want to go on more dates with you.I enjoyed spending time with you... What about you?"

"It was really nice! I enjoyed every single moment I spent with you!" Catarina smiled brightly at him.

Some time later,

"I'll get going. Rest for now," Catarina said after folding his glasses and placing it on the bed side table.

"No...Stay with me..," Eiichi let out. It made Catarina giggle. He's being so cute today. "I have some work and I shouldn't tire you out."

"You won't..."

Ack! Since when did he start giving me that look!?.....No! He must rest! We'll just end up talking if I'm with him. Seeing that his puppy eyes; which he imitated from Eiji, had no effect, he sighed and gave in.

"Call for me if you want something," Catarina smiled.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

It was twelve pm when Catarina went to Eiichi's room to bring a cup of fresh water. In between her works, she kept peeking inside to check on him.

When she entered his room, she found him lying in the middle of the bed with his back faced towards her.

He's asleep.

Catarina quietly sat beside him and looked at his face. She studied his handsome face. Some of his brown locks were in front of his closed eyes. Without her realizing, her right hands reached out and swiped them away. But instead of returning her hand, she gently ran her fingers through his soft hair. Her blue eyes drifted to his small beauty mark at the corner of his face. Then, she unconsciously touched his soft lips with her index finger.It lingered on his lower lip before the memories of them kissing flooded her mind, making her flush red. She shook her head when she felt her face grow hot.

Don't think about it now!

Calming herself down, the female kept gazing at the face of her lover. She couldn't resist the urge to kiss him. So she leaned towards his face and softly pressed her lips on his cheek. She smiled after pulling away.

It was the first time she had ever kissed him first.To her it felt like a great development that she didn't overheat even when they kissed. She did feel shy and blush but that was only in a single case. She didn't feel shy anymore when he kissed her cheeks or forehead.

"He looks handsome even when he sleeps but somehow he looks timid now." She whispered to herself and silently chuckled. "Almost like a little kid."

I shouldn't disturb his sleep any longer.
Just when she turned around and was about to leave the bed, she got yanked by an arm onto the bed.

"W-Woah!" She fell on the soft mattress on her sides as a hand snaked itself around her waist. She could feel Eiichi's presence just behind her.

"Going somewhere, angel?" A husky voice whispered in her ear sending shivers down her spine. Her heart also started racing.

"E-Eiichi?" She couldn't turn around because her back was tightly pressed on his chest.

"I look handsome even when I'm asleep but I look timid now..."She could tell without even looking that he was wearing his signature smirk. "I didn't know you were so fascinated by me." He lightly chuckled

"Y-You were awake?" She felt herself blush.

"Since before you came."

"Uhh..." That means you know EVERYTHING I did! "I-It's not good to pretend to be asleep!!"

"I wasn't feeling like opening my eyes. Even more so when you came and secretly made a move." He moved his hand from her waist to stroking her cheek. His hand felt warm but not much like the morning. "You should know it's not good to make a move on people when they're asleep."

"I-I wasn't making a m-move!"

Ignoring her protest, the brunette told, "And, I even saw you blush when you touched my lips. What was that about?" He whispered the question in her ear and began stroking her lips with his index finger. She hesitantly shook her head telling him it was nothing. She was the one feeling dizzy now.

I-Is this what Eiji told me a-about? Th-that he is more de-demanding?!Normally he doesn't t-tease me so much!!

Shakily Catarina held his hand to stop itself from teasing her any longer."Yo-Your fever seems to have d-decreased! I-I'll go get the thermo-"

Eiichi held her again before she could leave. He asked,the smirk ever present in his lips,"And... 'almost like a little kid'... was it?" His breathe reached her skin, and it felt like burning.

"Eii...I-I.." She really was going to faint now.

"Then... can a 'little kid' do this?"

In the blink of an eye, Eiichi turned her around and joined their lips into a passionate kiss.His hands held her waist and the back of her head.Catarina's heart was on the verge of exploding. Her face turned into a deep shade of crimson. It was the first time their kiss was so passionate. Yet, she felt herself relax and kissed him back. Her hand wrapped itself around his waist and her left hand was on his chest. Eiichi pulled her head closer to deepen the kiss.

"Mm...." Catarina let out in the middle of the kiss.

The kiss left both of them breathless. They began panting when they pulled away. Once again, post-kiss effects kicked in and Catarina covered her face with her hands.

WHAT WERE WE DOING JUST NOW!?

Eiichi chuckled at her behaviour. "Show me your face, angel."

His tone was gentle yet it was like she had no choice but to comply. Slowly, she removed her hands and tried looking at anywhere, anything but at Eiichi. However, once her blue orbs met with his lavender ones, she couldn't look away.

"Tell me, did you like it?" He stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"......" She couldn't answer such a question.

"Or not?" His brows frowned in worry that maybe it was too much for his shy girlfriend. And it succeed in making Catarina speak. After all, she could not tolerate it when he looks sad or worried.

"No!I...I liked it..." She indeed liked it but admitting it was difficult. The man smiled gently. "Good."

Seeing his gentle smile made Catarina smile too. A thought crossed her mind.

"Oh right! I should make your lunch." Again, she was held by Eiichi when she decided to leave the bed.

"I'm not hungry.You can make it later."

"Eh?But-" She was interrupted by a quick kiss.

"Please,my angel." Catarina stared at him with pink cheeks.

Returning to her senses, she spoke again, "....Wha-" Again, he kissed her.

"You said that you would stay by my side till I am healthy."

"....Y-Yeah,I did say th-" Once again, she was interrupted with a kiss.

The brunette held her hand. "I'm cold and sleepy. So let's cuddle together."

".....fine.But I'll get up after an hour." He's back to being cute.

"Very well,my angel." He kissed her again. He tightened his arm around her waist and held her chin with another. "Let's do what we did on our date." His meaningful smirk once again made Catarina blush.

"E-E-Eiichi!" And I thought he went back to being cute!

The blonde was embarrassed because on their date they kissed a lot. Eiichi would sneak a kiss from her at every ride in the amusement park; of course without other people noticing.

"What? I thought you said you liked every second of our date."

"I.....did say it...Wait! Didn't you say you're sleepy?"

"Did I?Not that it matters."

"Hey! That's not fair!" She pouted. He lightly laughed before stealing another kiss.

He's teasing me too much!....But I'm glad I am only the one able to see this side...

"Your turn now. Kiss me."Catarina flushed.

And he sure is demanding when he is sick!

                                       To Be Continued.