The Hard But Easy
Chapter 6

After eating together below, Eliza hurriedly went up to the room, citing having to rest. But actually he lied. After eating earlier, his stomach became nauseous again and he ended up in the bathroom. Removing his stomach contents, occasionally coughing. Eliza really could no longer stand up. Body's limp. And he fell on the bathroom floor. Fortunately, the bathroom was in the room, so at least whatever he did was not heard until he left the room.

When Eliza decides to go up to her room again, Jonathan leaves for Carlos. They were also heard talking about something before Jonathan left. And right now maybe Carlos is cleaning up in the kitchen.

After a long time sitting on the cold bathroom floor, Eliza slowly stood up while holding the wall. His path was slightly hobbled as his strength had yet to fully recover. The girl was finally able to get out of the bathroom with her footsteps.

Slowly he got to the bed and lay down on it. He now looked at the ceiling of his room, starting to imagine something that would happen after this. Could it be that he's going to be okay? Or the opposite? Quietly Eliza began to fear that one day everything would be revealed. But it's definitely gonna happen. If not now there must be a good time for God to tell the people around Eliza.

Then he remembered Jonathan's words, and the look on his face meant something sad. Eliza thinks Jonathan has a secret more secret than she does. And perhaps right now, the man was struggling to become the happiest person despite his heart ache. He could even comfort the heart of Eliza who was sad at the time, without expressing feelings about herself.

And Eliza's curiosity about Jonathan begins to rise. First, she knows Jonathan is her brother's friend. Second, Jonathan is a youtube artist who has a lot of fans. Third, Eliza knew Jonathan was Korean with American citizenship. In just one week, Eliza learned three things about Jonathan. He hopes that after this Jonathan can be closer to him, at least the man can share his story even if only a little.

Because Eliza knows what it's like to try to be strong alone. Because he knows what it's like to struggle to smile when the heart feels the opposite. Because he knows what it's like to be around people who care about him.

And this very second, he wants to get closer to Jonathan Darrel. Whatever happens.

When Eliza was about to close her eyes, there was a sudden knock from behind her bedroom door. He immediately opened his eyes and glanced towards the door that was now slowly opening, displaying the figure of the elder brother. A second later Carlos closed the door to Eliza's room, approached the girl and sat down on the bedside.

"Your face grew pale" he said, and he put the back of his hand against Eliza. "Body fever. Want compressed?"

Eliza let out a faint breath. He also nodded. Afterwards, Eliza sees Carlos exiting the room without closing the door. Moments later, the man went back into Eliza's room carrying a basin and a small towel. Carlos sat down again on the side of the bed after putting down the basin he had brought earlier. Next he squeezed the towel until the water came out and put it on Eliza's side.

"Want me to sleep?" again Carlos offered. Eliza knows that Carlos sometimes likes to overdo things, so she worries.

"No need. You will get sick later." Eliza said a little lie. Actually he did not want Carlos to know that he has been experiencing digestive disorders lately. Especially when he vomited. Carlos could have taken him to the doctor. Oh, Eliza's dead until that happens.

"Yes, already. Now get some rest, huh?" she said as she stroked Eliza's hair slowly.

Eliza nodded, a second later she smiled.

Carlos got up from Eliza's bed, intending to get out of the girl's room. But just as he was about to grab the door leaf, he suddenly turned to face Eliza.

"Tomorrow Jonathan will visit you." Afterwards Carlos completely disappeared from Eliza's sight, after the door of her room was closed.

And Eliza realized, that it was not only Carlos who was worried about her, but Jonathan Darrel as well.

...-οΟο-...

Today Jonathan Darrel plans to visit Eliza Fern; yesterday he told Carlos that he will be back. The man came out of his apartment carrying a guitar and a basket of fruit for Eliza. At least today she needs to comfort and accompany Eliza Fern, even though the girl is ill. Seeing Eliza's pale face yesterday, Jonathan took pity on her. In addition to needing rest, the girl also needs people to talk to. He would also get bored if he slept for a long time.

During the trip, she hummed a little occasionally replying to others' greetings to her with a friendly smile; one that could make the girls weaken. Most of the people who greeted him were young girls. The popularity of Jonathan Darrel among teenage girls.

After arriving at Carlos' studio, Jonathan opens the door and searches for Carlos in his hiding place. The man frowned slightly, because Carlos was not there. He came out of the place and intended to go up. Know-how, Carlos raises himself from the upper stairs, intending to go down. He gasped a little to find Jonathan in his studio. The man went down the stairs, approaching Jonathan.

"It's a good thing you're here" he said. "I want to finish one of the painting orders. But I'm afraid Eliza has nothing to look after. Help me, will you? He's upstairs. The room is next to the stairs." Carlos patted Jonathan on the shoulder slowly, after which he entered his hiding place, leaving Jonathan who looked clumsy in his place. A second later, the man climbed the stairs and walked towards the room; which he believed belonged to Eliza.

Before entering, Jonathan knocked on Eliza's door first, then he opened the door knob slowly and saw Eliza Fern leaning on the bed with a glance toward her; it could be said they were looking at each other.

"Hi!" greet Jonathan. Then the man approached Eliza and placed a fruit basket on the bedside table. "Are you feeling better?" jonathan asked after he sat in the chair by Eliza's window.

"Lumayan." said the girl hoarsely, with a smile that reviewed her face.

"I'm really troublesome, huh?" said the girl.

"No, not at all." Jonathan said, shaking his head. "Why think like that?"

This time, Eliza reviewed a bitter smile. "I trouble everyone, when they have their own busy lives. I wish I could take care of myself."

"Eat him don't get sick and get well quickly" Jonathan said casually.

The girl gave a thin, very thin smile. "If only I could, I would cure my illness. Even everyone's disease."

Jonathan did not respond to Eliza's words, he immediately picked up his guitar; which he had put aside. "Tell me, what song do you want?"

Jonathan's offer was able to make Eliza laugh, even though only laugh. "anything. Anything that could make me feel like I'm alive again."

Jonathan seemed to be tapping his fingertips on his guitar, thinking of a suitable song sung for Eliza and according to the girl's circumstances.

"OK." he said. Then Jonathan cleared his throat a little, and began strumming his guitar slowly.

"Feeling like I'm breathing my last breath... Feeling like I'm walking my last steps... Look at all of these tears I've... Look at all the promises that I've kept...

I put my heart into your hands... Here's my soul to keep... I let you in with all that I can... You're not hard to reach.... And you bless me with the best gift... That I've ever known... You give me purpose.. Yeah, you've given me purpose...."

Eliza silently watched Jonathan sing along with the guitar. This song is so touching. What brought him was Jonathan, the man's voice sounding melodious and able to touch the deepest part of his feelings.

Eliza's eyes glazed over as Jonathan returned to sing the refive part of the song. Ah, his feelings are mixed now.

"I put my heart into your hands... Here's my soul to keep... I let you in with all that I can... You're not hard to reach.... And you bless me with the best gift... That I've ever known... You give me purpose.. Yeah, you've given me purpose....Oh.. You're my everything...... Oh.. You're my everything.."

Jonathan ends his music game and turns to looking at Eliza with a smile. "Are you feeling better, or want to hear another song?" at the end of a short laugh.

"Whatever I'll listen to." Eliza said with a smile, this time her smile was very wide and bright, as bright as the sun.

Jonathan smiled back, then he plucked the strings of his guitar.

"Now Romeo and Juliet..... They could never feel the way we felt... Bonnie & Clyde, Never had the highlights.... We do's.... We do's... You and I both know it can't work..... It's all fun and games, 'til someone gets hurt,.. And I don't, I won't let that be you... Now you don't wanna let go.... And I don't wanna let you know.... There might be something real between us two, who knows? Now we don't wanna fall but.... We're tripping in our hearts and it's reckless and clumsy, 'cause I know you can't love me here...

I wish we had another time... I wish we had another place.... But everything we have is stuck in the moment... And there's nothing my heart can do.... To fight with time and space 'cause, I'm still stuck in the moment with you..."

Tell Jonathan now that he has managed to raise Eliza's mood which was getting worse. The girl smiled to herself now with a gaze that focused on Jonathan.

And Eliza realized something after noticing Jonathan. That guy turned out to be handsome. Many women fall in their charm. Perhaps today Eliza is one of hundreds or even thousands of admirers of Jonathan Darrel.

This is totally insane. Jonathan Darrel made Eliza Fern fall in love. Had Eliza not remembered herself, she would have fallen deeper into Jonathan. In just one week the man managed to fill Eliza's heart.

Being near Jonathan Darrel is not a good thing, Jonathan is very dangerous for Eliza's health, especially for her heart health. And worse, now Eliza can not distinguish whether she still has a fever or not.

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