So, I’m climbing the stairs carefully so I won’t fall with all the things I’m carrying on the stray. It’s even harder because I’m laughing of what I’m hearing now.

—Ashoo! Ashoo!!

—Health, money, may come! One more and you’ll get love too!

—I don’t find this any fu… ashoo!!

—And there it is! Love!!!

—Ugh, I hate you. Could you please mind your own business?

—I actually was until CL called me asking for help because certain lady caught a terrible cold.

—I never asked you to come! Leave! Leave now!

—So childish.

—No, I’m not! Ashooo! Ugghhhhhh I’m gonna dieeeeeee… ashoo! Ashoo!!

—You’re being greedy asking for so much health, money and love, you know? Or you’re making it on purpose? I still don’t think you would get anything with that face of yours, you look awful.

—Aishhhh!! CL why did you call this horrible person?!

—Hey! I’m not a horrible person, I’m beautiful and if anything I’m an alien. Now shut up, or you’ll make me miss the count. Now, where was I? Oh yea, 14, 15, 16…

—What does that mean Bomie? You know, the money and sneezing…

—Oh! Here in Doha we say that if you sneeze once you call health, second time you call money, third time is love.

I asked this to Bommie by the time I was entering Dara’s room. I made it without spilling the soup. Then I see Dara on her bed all covered up to the head rolling from one side to another on her covers and sheets while Bom is sitting on the corner of her bed preparing her medicine, I can’t hold myself so I just burst in laughter. Dara comes out of her covers and looks at me pouting. Her face is all red and her hair is messy, so cute, she looks like a little girl.

—30!

Bom sets the glass of water on Dara’s desk, next to the medicines Dara left; then she stands up and helps me with the stray.

—Now, grow up and sit straight, I don’t wanna wash your sheets later on.

—What did you say? You NEVER wash my sheets.

—Well, there’s always a first time but I don’t want this to be one of them, so come on, I’ll help you.

Bom puts a pillow between the wall and Dara so she could rest her back and sit with no problem and eat with no problems.

When Dara is ready I go closer and put the stray on her lap, our eyes meet and I share a smile for her.

—It’s hot, so take it carefully.

—Thank you.

I sit by her side and start combing her hair with my hands. She made a bum but it’s all messy, there are locks everywhere. She smiles at me. Once again she looks like a little girl. I put my hand on her forehead to check if she still has fever, she’s still hot.

—Have you checked your temperature?

—Not yet…

—Here, I still can’t believe you don’t have one.

Bom is standing by my side, she hands Dara a thermometer.

—I used to have one… but it’s broken now…

—That’s what happens if you have a mercury-in-glass thermometer.

—Ha! You have a digital one because you’re mom is a doctor!

Dara takes and carefully tries to put it under her arm, trying not to move much the tray with all her food. She wants to grab the spoon to start eating but she can’t move that arm because of the thermometer.

—Let me help you.

I take the spoon and the first thing I do is to move the soup to make it warm, just a bit less hot, I fill the spoon, blow on it and take it carefully to Dara’s mouth, I set my other hand on the bottom, so if I spill anything, it would fall in my hand, not in her sheers and Bom won’t scold Dara.

Dara looks at me surprised for a couple of seconds.

—Open wide.

I tell her smiling and automatically she slowly opens . I move the spoon just a little closer, she moves her head just a bit so she can reach it, trying not to move her arm, and now she eats.

—Is it good?

She makes a smile while eating.

—Yes… I can’t taste it much, but it feels nice inside my mouth.

—I’m glad.

—My mom’s soup is miraculous, and I’m pretty sure what made it delicious, you’re really good in the kitchen.

—Thank you, but I don’t think mine is better than your mom’s.

—I’m pretty sure it is. I can even smell the great flavour over here.

While talking with Bom, I’m still feeding Dara. The moment I raise the spoon she is already waiting with open, she’s such an adorable girl.

—Aww Dara, you’re just like a baby, look at your face.

I see she has a bit of soup on the corner of . I find funny when she shows her tongue at Bom. Grabbing a napkin, I clean . She jumps when I do it.

—There we go, baby is clean now…

I say with a smile, she hides her face and when she raises her head I can see there’s a blush on her cheeks, a blush of shyness and not of fever. How many times have I said I find it very cute to see her like this?

—Thanks…

—You’re welcome.

This nice moment is interrupted by a beep.

—That’s the thermometer.

Bom says as she saw our confused faces. Dara hands me the thermometer, and in fact, she has fever.

—39, that’s a lot…

—Don’t worry, once she drinks this medicine my mom sent her, she’ll get better any time soon. But you have to eat well, otherwise it won’t do you good.

Dara throws back her head closing her eyes complaining.

—I wanna sleep…

—Let’s go CL, or she might throw another tantrum.

—You horrible person!

—Look at the image you’re giving to CL, she’s not going to follow any of your orders if she sees how childish you are.

Dara opens her eyes and shows her tongue again. I just go back to feed her. When she realizes I have the spoon closer, she stops looking at Bom and opens so I can feed her with the soup. She might be childish but she looks so cute when she acts this way.

I keep giving soup to Dara with no more shows, but then I hear a deep sigh behind me. I look at Bom who has her head down.

—Are you ok?

She raises her head the moment she hears my voice and shows me a smirk.

—Ah… yeah… it’s just that… I’m hungry… so if you don’t need me I’ll go to eat my chicken of last night.

—It’s not your chicken.

Dara says once she swallows her soup.

—It is because I kept a special part for me.

—You never change.

—So you don’t so shhhh. See ya!

Bom gets out of the room leaving us alone. I keep staring to the place where she left. Dara’s yawn awakes me and takes my concentration back to her.

—I don’t want any more… I’m tired, I want to sleep. My body aches; I think I’m going to die…

—So dramatic.

I take the stray off her lap and put it aside, on her desk, and then I reach her the glass of water with medicine. She drinks it showing disgust on her face.

—Ughhhhh it’s horrible.

—But it will do you good.

—But it left my mouth with a bitter taste… I want my grape gum

—There are any left…

—My life is a living hell…-Dara lies back cuddling with her pillows- I’m cold….

I cover her well with the covers. She also grabs them and cuddles a bit more. I come close to Dara and for the first time Ii kiss her, a soft kiss on her hot forehead.

—Take some rest, it will help you.

—Mmmhmm…

She whispers something and in a couple of minutes I can hear her soft breathing, she’s already asleep.

I get the stray and open the door. When I’m about to leave the room, Dadoong comes in.

—Take care of your mom, ok?

Dadoong climbs the bed and goes to sleep at the bottom.

—She’s sleeping now.

I tell Bom