Chapter 50

Amina

"That is the most absurd thing I have heard anyone say in a while but six year old me would be glad if that was a way to take medication." Ivan chuckled.

"What are you saying now, that I am thinking like a six year old?" I attacked him.

"I didn't say that. How did you filter just that from all I said?"

"But tell me Ivan, if what I said were possible, will you do it for me? Would you take the drug?"

"And bump my head with yours to transfer the effects of the medicine?"

"Yeah?"

"Yes, I probably would."

"Probably?"

"Let me just tell you right now that I not going to take your medication because there's no way on earth that bumping heads could..."

"I'm not asking you to take it now, I was just...urgh, nevermind." I sighed to his hearing and snatched the bottle of pills from his hand, opening it and taking the prescribed amount.

"Water..." He put the glass in front of my face so I took it and poured a good amount into my mouth before holding it out for him to take it back.

Still holding the water in my mouth, I started to sob. I always found it hard to swallow drugs and even if it was stingingly painful, I would rather have the medication injected into me system than swallow pills.

I swallowed the water in my mouth without the drugs and started to sob again but louder this time.

"I can't." I took Ivan's hand and open his palm, putting the pill in his hand and shaking my head.

"What do you mean you can't?"

"I can't take it, what else do I mean?" I sniffed. Just great, my runny nose was back because I cried shortly.

"You have to take the medicine." He urged but I started to shake my head again.

"I'm not going to. I can't and I won't."

"Okay, look Jewel, when I said 'you have to take the medicine', I wasn't pitching for a negotiation. It's necessary that you take the pill, it's for your own good, for your health. It's supposed to help you recover, so here." He opened his palm and held it out for me to take the pill but I didn't, I just stared at it and imagined how bitter it would be if it touched my tongue by mistake.

"Jewel?" Ivan called me out of my thought."Here, have it." He did what I did earlier; he opened my right hand and placed the pill back in my palm."It's not that hard, just hiff it in."

"What?"

"Tilt your head back and throw into your mouth and swallow, then you're done." He demonstrated how to do what he was saying.

"It's not as easy are you are putting it you know? What if it gets stuck in my throat and starts to melt off it's bitterness and I can feel it diffuse to my tongue."

"You don't even know if it's bitter or not," he said to me."Can you just take it? Please?" He stood with his hands on his waist as he looked at me with a weary look.

"Alright. Pass me the water again." I told him and received the glass of water from him. Doing like I did before, I poured some water into my mouth then tilted my head back.

Ivan watched me as I held the pill directly over my open mouth. He was keenly waiting for me to let go and drop it into my mouth but he had no idea how much I was trying hard to do that. My hand wanted to let go but my brain was against it.

"If you take it and swallow it successfully, I will take you to anywhere you want to go today." Ivan said and my eyes went from looking at the pill over my mouth to looking at him.

"Really?" I asked and thought I sounded inaudible with the water in my mouth but he nodded which means he heard me.

"Yes. If you take it and you aren't weak anymore."

"You promise?" I asked, still having the water in my mouth.

"I promise," he nodded again. He really wanted be to take the drug and yes, I know it's for my health that I have to take it but... here we go.

I closed my eyes and let the pill fall into my water filled mouth then I swallowed quickly and heard Ivan clapping. I opened my eyes and saw a smile pasted on his lips.

"Finally," he gave me the glass of water to drink from it and I did."I will go make you something to eat." He said and wanted to leave but I stopped him.

"You meant what you promised right?" I asked, eagerly waiting for him to nod in response.

"Yes." He said and wanted to leave again but I stopped him like I did before.

"I will go shower and freshen up while you make breakfast so when we are done eating, we can go." He scratched his head when I said that.

"It doesn't have to be today, I don't think you are strong enough."

"Ivan, you promised..." I reminded him and paused but he said nothing so I continued," besides it's just a cold I have, and some body aches but I took the drug right? And I'm going to carry a water bottle with me, if that's what you're worried about; the doctor said I need to be hydrated all the time, I could still do that if we go out." I explained to him. He had no idea, how badly I wanted to leave the house and go to somewhere that wasn't school.

"You have classes today, do you want to go to school first?" He asked and I rubbed on my face with my palms. He just had to mention that, didn't he? And now, I couldn't say no because it would make me actually be unserious about schooling like he once said. I'm sure he's thinking: since she's strong enough to want to go out, she must be ready to go to school today too.

"I should start getting ready then," I responded to his question about going to school and got out of bed.

"Do be fast so your breakfast doesn't get cold waiting for you." He said lastly before leaving and closing the door.

****

I was quick with getting dressed and went out of my room for the first time since hours of just going from the bed to the bathroom and vice versa.

I went straight to the kitchen and set my jotter and pen on the kitchen counter before sitting on a high stool for Ivan to serve me. It was after I got comfortable with how I was sitting that I looked up and met his gaze.

He was in different clothes now. Did he already bath and make breakfast while I did just bathe?

"You are also ready to leave?" I asked and heard him sigh.

"Took you forever to get ready."