" We can shift him to another room if you have a problem Miss. Rodgers! ”
" Oh,No... no no! I didn't know you were moving him beside me. I am absolutely thrilled... I mean I have no problem. Please make him comfortable. ”
Mercy jumped up on her bed cutting the nurse off before she could change her mind.
" Ok! Great. We will help Jake settle down. He was having trouble sleeping alone. There isn't a single room available with a spare bed. I was meaning to ask you if he could stay the night but you were sleeping, so we decided to erect the partition and let him... "
" It's alright. You did the right thing. " Mercy cut her short once more. She was elated at finding none other than the rising superstar Jake beside her side.
She was already wrapping up a shoot for her debut musical when her stomach ache landed her in the hospital.She was about to be discharged tomorrow morning after some medication and rest.
Jake was her latest role model. She loved his voice, his style, his charismatic personality and also the way he brought his characters to life.
It was not normal for their industry to have a singer who was also a dancer and an actor at the same time. Not to mention his modelling gigs.
He was truly an all rounder performer.
" I am absolutely thrilled to meet you in person. I have heard a lot about you. ”
Jake was about to roll his eyes, thinking that Mercy was just another fan. But he realised that she was his only distraction available of the night.
Do Jake forced a smile of his face.
" I am Jake. Nice to meet you! ”
" I am, Mercy Rodgers. I am delighted to meet you. I am your junior, so can I call you brother Jake? I mean if you don't mind, I mean... ”
Mercy was the excited, instinctive kind. She didn't think twice before uttering what came to her mind.
Jake broke into a laughter because he had heard all sorts of fan requests like asking him for a kiss, his hand in marriage, a date night and so on but never had anybody asked him permission to call him brother.
It was ridiculously funny but it felt nice.
" Yeah, sure. Why not. You are a junior huh! When did you debut? ”
Jake liked how they quickly picked up on a natural flow of conversation.
That was what he needed. A distraction. A healthy distraction that kept his mind away from Lea.
" Oh, I haven't debuted yet. We just wrapped shoot tonight and then I ended up in hospital. You see I am not used to erratic eating and sleeping habits.
The schedule took a toll on me. "
Jake burst out laughing.
" Girl! You haven't even debuted yet and you are complaining about you schedule. What will you do when you have projects pilling up. They won't even give you space to breathe. ”
Mercy made a sulking face and folded her hands over her chest.
" I know. I love the industry but they over work their artists and they are under paid.
That why I had asked Mama and Papa to support me. I wanted to launch myself under my own production company.
But no, they would not listen to me. Aaahhh! ”
Mercy sighed so loud that Jake sat up.
" Your own company? You are a millionaire or what? What's wrong? You look upset. ”
Jake said.
" Millionaire? " Mercy tried counting on her fingers. " I think Billionaire... or Trillionare... I don't know. Whatever, yeah, my parents have money. But thats all that they got. They don't have anything else- no heart, no sympathy. Would have been better if I was born in middle class. ”
Merch turned her face towards the window which was covered with blinds.
She got out of her bed and then walked towards it, opening the blinds. They were on the fifteenth floor and the city lights looked dazzling from where they were.
" Doesn't it look amazing. " Mercy wondered. " If only I didn't like modeling and singing so much, I wouldn't mind getting lost in that crowd with no name, no tag, no compulsions... ”
" Rich brats and their rich problems... pssst! ".Jake thought in his head also turning toward the window and unintentionally getting lost in the portrait of the city that Mercy had just painted.
Indeed it would feel great to become a nobody. A nobody who would still have Lea by his side.
It was Jake's turn to sigh a he turned in his bed.
" What happened? What's wrong? Are you alright ? "
Merch immediately came beside him and tried to see if he needed her.
" I am alright, Mercy. Thank you. I feel tired. I want to rest. "
Jake found his eyes kids getting heavier. He wasn't lying when he said he wanted to sleep.
" Alright then. Let me tuck you in. ” She said and without waiting for Jake's approval she went around and pulled the blanket and covered him.
" I used to tuck my older brother to bed. I am a lot younger than he is but he still let me tuck him in and sing him my favourite lullaby. I miss him. "
She said as she unintentionally placed her hand over Jake's forehead and stroked back his hair.
. " I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Sorry! "
She immediately pulled back her hand.
Jake smiled.
" It felt good. Can you please do it again. I really need some sleep. ”
He wasn't lying.
He drifted off to sleep as Mercy stroked backnhis hair like a baby.
Jake could remember the last time someone did that, it was their aunty. She would put him to sleep like that every night after she took him in.
He missed those days.
Everything used to be so perfect back then but everything looked like a mess at the moment.