Sakura found herself in her bed some half an hour later, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about Darcy’s words. He was right, of course, in that she had to give him and Sebastian her answer soon, because she obviously couldn’t leave them waiting. It wouldn’t be fair to them. The problem, however, was she was deeply in love with them both and no matter how hard she tried to decide which brother she should choose, she still couldn’t. Was it even possible to pick one and leave the other?
Oh, God. Her heart ached. Not to mention her head was beginning to pound as well.
She turned on her side, her mind now racing.
Sebastian? Darcy? Which one?
She was in so much torment over making such an important decision, that she wanted to cry out in anguish. And of course, her headache was getting worse, also. An hour later, when she couldn’t handle it anymore, she got up to retrieve some aspirin. That was when Akira and Jane came in through the door.
“Sakura, are you okay?” Akira asked the moment she noted the tablets in Sakura’s palm.
“Just a headache,” Sakura answered.
Jane said, “Don’t push yourself too hard. You have a big day the day after tomorrow. So just relax and rest.”
Sakura nodded. “Hmm. Thanks, Jane. I’ll do that.”
“Then we won’t bother you. You need your sleep,” Akira said.
Jane nodded in agreement, and a few moments later, the two girls left again, along with a laptop. Sakura had no doubt Akira would be showing Jane some Yaoi stuff.
After taking her medication, Sakura went back to bed, determined not to think about either Darcy or Sebastian. Indeed, that worked, because the moment her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep slumber.
When she woke in the morning, it was to a pounding headache and her body aching. Slowly, she opened her eyes, wondering why she felt so exhausted that the thought of getting up and facing the day was sickening.
She turned on her side and noted that both Akira and Jane had already left the room. She flicked her gaze to the double glass doors leading to the balcony outside, wondering what time it was. Judging from the brightness of daylight and unbearable heat in the room, she assumed it was close to lunchtime. She couldn’t believe she had slept all through the night and almost half the next day. Was she that exhausted?
She was just propping herself up into a sitting position when there was a knock at the door. Sakura’s gaze drifted there as she wondered who it could be. Obviously, the person on the other side wasn’t Akira or Jane because surely they wouldn’t knock before coming into their own room.
Sakura cleared her throat and said weakly, “Come in.”
The door opened slightly and, to her surprise, she saw both her biological mother, Haruka, and adoptive mother, Brenda, coming in.
She licked her lips and said, “Moms? What are you two doing here?”
Brenda came to sit on the side of her bed and placed her hand against Sakura’s forehead. “I knew it,” she said. “You’re sick.”
As if to explain, Haruka said, “Jane mentioned you looked a bit pale and suggested you might be sick.”
“Oh, I see,” Sakura said. She released a sigh. “I do have a headache, and my whole body feels like I’ve just run a marathon.”
“It can’t be helped. Your health has never been great since you were young,” Brenda said. The woman then turned to Haruka and explained, “Sakura’s body is pretty weak. She gets sick at the slightest change in temperature.”
Haruka nodded in understanding. “I’m a little like that, too. I get colds and flus very easily in the winter. And fevers, too, in the summer.”
To Sakura, Brenda said, “Then it must have been the heat. You’re probably dehydrated, too. Are you stressed about your work tomorrow as well?”
“I am a little anxious about it.” Sakura admitted.
Haruka said, “Don’t worry. Tachibana-sensei is not a dragon. He is very nice to work with when he’s in a good mood.”
Sakura asked, “When he’s in a good mood?”
Haruka nodded. “When everything goes according to his plan. Artists are very particular about their work, are they not?”
Sakura had to agree with that. She was personally very particular about her own paintings and photographs as well.
Brenda said, “We’ll get you some medicine to ease that headache and bring down that temperature of yours. Aspirin should do the trick. We’ll also make something light for you to eat, too.”
Haruka nodded. “Be a good girl and rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”
Sakura felt a little sick at the reminder of the photo shoot. She reluctantly nodded.
While Sakura took some tablets to help relieve her headache, the two women watched her intensely. Afterward, they tucked her in, making sure she was comfortable, which Sakura found rather nice, having two mothers pampering her.
Before they left, Haruka said, “We’ll be back with some food soon.”
Sakura nodded, and once the door was closed and the room was quiet again, she shut her eyes and drifted off into a light sleep.
“Sakura?” It was Haruka’s voice calling her. “Sakura?”
Sakura opened her eyes, thinking it had only been a few seconds since Haruka and Brenda had left. She frowned, wondering why they had returned so soon. When she noted the hot bowl of rice porridge in Haruka’s hands, she realized it had not been a mere few seconds at all. It was probably at least half an hour.
“That was quick,” she said, inhaling the smell of food that came her way. “And it looks delicious.”
“It’s my specialty.” Haruka beamed with delight. “Chicken rice porridge made the Japanese way. It’s good for recovery, especially when you’re sick.”
Brenda said, “I had a taste. It’s delicious, Sakura.”
Sakura nodded. She couldn’t wait to taste her biological mother’s cooking, made especially for her.
While Sakura heartily consumed the hot, tasty meal, the two elderly women sat there chatting away animatedly, which pleased Sakura, because their pleasant voices soothed her.
A moment later, Sakura asked, “Where’s everyone else?”
Brenda said, “They’re somewhere along the beach, playing games. It started this morning.”
“Oh,” Sakura said. “I missed it, didn’t I?”
Haruka said, “You’re sick, so it’s not a good idea to join them. Although, I’m sure you’ll be able to watch this afternoon. They’re coming back after lunch and will continue with more games here.”
“I see.” Sakura was rather disappointed that she didn’t get to join in on the fun. She had been looking forward to it. Although, truth be told, she was also a little relieved, because after what had happened last night between her and Darcy, she sure as hell wasn’t ready to face the man yet.
A few moments later, she finished with her meal and thanked the two women wholeheartedly.
After tucking Sakura in bed once again, both Haruka and Brenda gave her kisses on her forehead before heading out.