"How long have I been unconscious?"
"One day."
Callista looked at Kenward's clothes which were still the same as when they left for the festival.
"Did you not leave this room at all?" Callista's eyes rounded fully. She silenced her mouth that had suddenly spoken. She was just saying it silently, but how could she let it out?
"How did you know?"
Callista was again surprised by an answer she did not expect. Her eyes looked the other way and were instead made to look at the pile of documents on the table. Even the laptop on the table was left open even though it was turned off.
"Umm, it's appropriate that my body feels all stiff." Callista pretended to stretch her body. She was now just trying to escape Kenward's gaze that demanded answers from her.
"What-Cough! Cough!"
Kenward deftly grabbed the glass containing mineral water on the nightstand and helped Callista to drink slowly. As soon as the itching in her neck disappeared, Callista immediately let out a long breath. She drank so much without pausing for breath.
"Do you want to take a walk around?" Kenward asked, to which Callista immediately replied with an enthusiastic nod. Kenward smiled faintly, no, very, very faintly at Callista's cheerfulness. The doctor did recommend doing just that.
"Are you sure you're okay? If you're not feeling well, you'd better rest completely in bed."
One of Callista's eyebrows shot up. Kenward looked suspicious. "Did the doctor suggest I rest completely or take a walk around?"
Kenward fell silent at the question Callista asked him. Calllista who saw that rushed to take the opportunity. She held out both hands to Kenward.
"Please lift me to sit in the wheelchair."
Kenward sighed. It was indeed good for Callista to get some fresh air.
***
The sound of wheels scraping against marble filled their senses. The hallway they were currently walking through was very quiet as it would only end at one VIP room, and that was the room Callista was currently occupying.
"Can I call you Illis?"
Callista raised her head to glance at Kenward. The man continued to push her wheelchair expressionlessly, and that expression was still the same when Kenward said his question.
"You should have asked permission when you wanted to call me by that nickname for the first time. But this time is not the first time. You don't need to ask. Do as you please." Callista stared straight ahead as she held onto the IV pole.
Kenward stopped the wheelchair when they finally reached the garden in the middle of the hospitalization rooms. Callista, who saw many well-manicured flowers, widened her smile. It was true. The air around this garden was very fresh. It seemed that the main factor of the clean oxygen in this place was the two old trees with their fresh, green leaves.
"I can't keep you company for tonight. I can't postpone any more important meetings, Illis."
Callista nodded her head in response. Not much changed for her anyway if Kenward was working or not working. She would still be lying in a hospital bed and eating bland food with an IV stuck in her hand.
"But I'll get bored quickly," Callista thought with a long sigh silently.
"Can't I come?"
Kenward looked at Callista who was staring at him with an expectant look. Kenward was stunned, Callista deliberately made a cute face in front of him.
"You just woke up. It's impossible to follow me. It's just a boring meeting anyway."
Callista shook her head. "Then I don't want to eat." Whether this method would work or not, she should at least try it. Last time she took advantage of the condition where her body was injured and it worked.
Kenward looked back at Callista. This time the frown on his forehead was printed. He seemed to feel that the facial expressions Callista was making were bringing out the glitter of the stars, and the attack of the stars was being directed at him.
Kenward rubbed his face roughly. "Alright, you'll come with me. But remember not to do anything. That wound on your body has just closed. If you move too freely, it will open again."
Callista nodded in understanding. She pushed Kenward's back away from her.
"Don't you know I'm a resilient girl? There, now you better call your people if you're bringing a girl too."
Kenward sighed. "Don't go anywhere. Stay right here. I'll be right back."
Upon Kenward's departure, Callista burst into a silent cheer. She was celebrating her separation from the bland food and the not-so-soft hospital bed, as well as the smell of medicine that filled her sense of smell.
Callista stared at the roundabout park in front of her. Both of her arms took the IV pole to place it on the wheelchair, precisely between her legs. Only then did Callista turn the wheels of the wheelchair with her hands.
Callista circulated her gaze around. There was still no one she had met in this park. She returned to the scene she was staring at so intensely. Her fingers moved hesitantly to pluck the blue rose in front of her.
She inhaled the distinctive scent of roses. Not fragrant but not unpleasant either. That was how roses smelled to Callista. And please note, she picked the flower because of its beauty, not because of its scent.
"Wow, I didn't know dark blue roses would be this pretty," she murmured with a wide smile.
Callista returned her gaze. Her hand stretched out to pick a yellow rose next to the dark blue rose.
Huk! Huk!
The very loud sound distracted Callista's focus. Her eyes widened to see a rather large dog running towards her. Callista spontaneously threw the roses in her hand carelessly and quickly turned her wheelchair around.
"Get me away from that dog!"