Chapter IV: How to cure a cold?

This is my first morning here at the Vatican. To my surprise, nothing strange happened last night from Cesare. However, as soon as I woke up, I started sneezing loudly, which woke up Cesare.

"Antonio, what's wrong?"

"I think I caught a cold...I started sneezing last night, and now that I woke up, my head hurts and I feel very cold."

"Wait, I'll go get the doctor now!"

"Cesare, there's no need! Cesare, no!"

Well, I think in the end I do need a doctor. It's better to be safe than sorry. The doctor is an older monk who examines me. Although I am a priest, I am surprised that almost all of the staff here are priests or monks. Even the doctor?

"Father Cesare, Father Antonio is suffering from a mild cold accompanied by a fairly high fever. I have prescribed some medication, but it's important to consider the environment he will be in. He needs to stay in the warmest environment possible!"

"Are you sure?"

"In my opinion, it's necessary for him to recover. He said he feels cold, right? So..."

My head hurts so much, but I can still hear them. They're talking about me needing to stay in warm places...I don't know what warm place I should find, but I want to recover in two weeks. Plus, I can't infect Cesare with my illness. I miss the soups my grandmother or mother used to make for me. Also, the instant soups that Beniamin used to prepare for me. The only thing he didn't know how to cook...

"Antonio, I have some errands to run in the city. Do you mind if I leave you with Sister Caterina for a bit?"

"What? I don't mind, I guess...Right now, I don't really care who's around me, I'm not very lucid anyway."

"If anything happens, ask Sister Caterina to prepare something for you, okay?"

"Sure...Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to sleep a little!"

"Okay...I'll go call Sister Caterina!"

I eventually fell asleep. Finally, I can be alone with my own thoughts. I remembered the accident I had, the moment I became unconscious and ended up here. I'm still wondering what happened exactly. Is this the price Mama Julia talked about when I was in Naju? I don't know why this is happening to me. I've been good to others, I've respected the vows I had, I've had a good relationship with God...Yet here I am. Is this some kind of test? Did I really die? What should I do? Where should I go?

As I was thinking these things, I smelled something enticing. The smell of the soup my grandmother used to make when I was a child. But I'm not hungry. I can't eat, I feel too weak... "Father Antonio! Wake up, please!"

Sister Caterina is calling me. I am too tired to respond. If I go to the city, I might come across the cardinal's secretary and talk to him at least.

"Father, father, where are you going? You are not allowed to get up from the bed!"

I didn't care about what the sister was saying...I am leaving to find the bishop secretary and tell him what I have to say, then to go to Wallachia or my time...I feel so weak, but I must do it. I take the robe given to me by Cesare and head to the town. However, right in front of the door, I fall and become unconscious.

Why? Why can't I do anything in this world the right way? I feel so weak here without Cesare. Why did I have to meet him of all people? In the end, I think he might have some power for a simple priest, but I'm afraid of what will come next.

"Antonio! Antonio!"

The voice sounds quite familiar. Wait, Cesare? Wasn't he supposed to be in town? Why did he come back now? I just hope my health situation didn't ruin his plans...

"C-Cesare? W-Why did you come back?"

"Isn't it obvious? To take care of you!'"

What a sweet gesture...I remember how my mother used to take time off work to take care of me when I was sick as a child. She was the only person who was there for me when I was young. I wish I could see my mother, my grandmother, and everyone back home one more time before I disappear forever.

"Sister Caterina made some soup for you. Why don't you eat?"

"I don't want to. Besides, no one asked you to take care of me! Anyway, in two weeks, we will become strangers!"

"Well, maybe that's true. But a true priest like me would never let someone die without helping them."

"A true priest, you say? You? Out of everyone I've ever met, no one has tried to do what you have tried to do!"

"What exactly? Please explain it to me, and I will leave you alone!"

He knows I can't say those things. I'm too shy to do it. And he starts with his advances that annoy me too much.

"Well, you know... those things..."

"I don't know anything. If you consider them bad, it means that you're the one with the perverted mind, does it? I haven't done anything directly, so..."

"N-No... Ugh... You don't care about my health, you're just trying to make fun of me."

"No, I do care! That's why I came back from the city. Come on, get up, you need to eat!"

"I said I don't want to! And besides, I can't... I don't have enough strength to eat!"

"Okay then... Open wide!"

Wait, what? Is he trying to feed me? Oh God, what should I do? I'm so hungry, but I can't fall into his trap. Although, this soup looks delicious and smells like the one my grandma used to make...Ugh...

"Aaaa..."

Hm, the soup is extremely delicious. I never thought I'd enjoy the presence of a pervert like Cesare, or that he'd give me food, but still...maybe it's not so bad. I guess I should give him a chance. I'll have to repay him for this day though...I'll do it anyway, I don't like being indebted to anyone.

"Antonio, eat..."

"I can't eat anymore!"

"Are you sure? Sister put a lot of effort into making it..."

"Oh well...just because sister made it, right? It's not like..."

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing! Come on, I'll continue eating!"

I don't know why I feel more and more affected. I've made too many mistakes lately. Taking cold baths, celebrating in the Pope's chapel, sleeping with Ce... Anyway, that's because I have nowhere else to go. To be honest, I don't want to stay with him, but if there's no other choice, then...

"And, the last one...Done! What a good boy we have here...Come and take your medication prescribed by the doctor!"

What could that strange drink be? It smells like herbs. Some plants that I remember picking with my grandmother when I was little. This drink is quite weird, but I trust that it's not poison...I think!

"Well, Antonio, now you can rest!"

"Sure...I would have done it without you telling me!"

"Certainly...Sorry for interfering!"

He pats my head... How nice. It made me feel better. It reminded me of my childhood and of those at home... I think I will feel good here. Being said, there are only two weeks left, and then I will go home or to my homeland in this world. I can't wait for it to be over, to talk to His Eminence, and then to leave and be alone again in my parish, with my congregation. I just hope the bishop doesn't kill me when he finds out what I'm planning to do.

"Sister Caterina... I have some business in town to take care of. Can you take care of Antonio for me? Please!"

"S-Sure! You can count on me!"

Suddenly, the door closed and I woke up. Sister Caterina was praying next to my bed.

"Sister Caterina..."

"Father Antonio... I don't understand anything that's happening!"

"What do you mean?"

"Cesare? To feed someone? Seriously? No one in this world has ever had that privilege... I think you're a-"

"No! I'm not! It's just that... He's afraid of catching a cold from me, and that's why..."

"Father, dig deeper and answer a question... Why would someone like him do this? And especially for a stranger he just met..."

"Well... The truth is, a thought has been haunting me since yesterday... What if..."

"What if you really are an angel?"

"Not that. What if Cesare really is that good to me without being interested in anything else..."

"What else could he be interested in from your part? Socially speaking, you're just a priest from a distant country looking for justice from the cardinal..."

"I feel bad because I'm so cold with him... It's just that I'm not used to his personality yet!"

"Well, you'll manage... One question. Did he do anything to you last night?"

"No... But he was about to. When I woke up, he was embarrassed and fell asleep. He really made me smile at how cute he can be..."

"Wait, are you talking about Cesare we know? The one who just left for the city?"

"Yes... Why?"

"What? What do you mean? He, who has never been emotional in his past relationships, now becomes shy when you catch him wanting to..."

"Yes... It seems weird, but that's how it is! I think he's sick or something!"

"Love is a disease too, isn't it?"

I feel sorry for becoming so cold towards Cesare...Where is that warm-hearted priest who used to help the suffering? Maybe he has some trauma he needs to overcome...unlikely...Then maybe he feels the need to be close to someone. The life of a priest can be very lonely at times, so it might be that.

From now on, I will be warmer towards him...that's what I want, and I believe I will eventually succeed.

I have a dream in this world...to meet Pope Alexander VI Borgia at least once. Honestly, I think I will never be able to see him, but it's worth trying to pray for it. Maybe my prayer will be fulfilled and I will meet him. It would be a great joy for me to meet such a mysterious figure.

I fell asleep easily. It seems that now, waking up with the sun already up, I am no longer sick at all. No trace of a cold. Finally, I can say that I am healthy and that I can make an effort to be a true servant of my fellow human beings and to apologize for the coldness I have shown these days. Wait, where is Cesare?

No, it can't be!

"C-Cesare, what are you doing?"

"Lie down! I'm sleepy!"

"If you're sleepy, at least let go of me and go back to sleep!"

"No...you're sick and you need warmth!"

"Warmth? Cesare...you're naked and holding me in your arms! What the hell are you doing?"

"Don't you know that body heat is the strongest and most beneficial for the sick?"

"What- "