Weak and Pale Body
"What are you doing? The maid told me you didn't eat again."
Henrick walks straight to the bed. He looks at the center table but she didn't even touch the food. It's been three days since he drag her into their house. No one contacted him or his parents about her whereabouts, which is he expected since this is what her mother wants from the start. All words he said back then are out of the blue. Georgina's father's rage is on another level, and he has hit her many times. One glance at her that time. He knows she's still weak and doesn't have energy left on the body.
He bring her home, even both his parents got surprise. They demand an explanation, but he never said a thing until now.
It's past 10 o'clock in the evening. He just finishes their gig and heads back home as soon as he received the news.
"Get up and eat. You need to regain your energy. Don't always lie down on the bed." He said, waiting for her response, but she didn't even move.
After a few seconds of waiting, he pull down the comforter and saw her sleeping while hug the pillow. It has a trace of tears that made him sigh. He shuffles his hair, letting her sleep more than waking up and takes a bath first.
The next morning, Henrick, his parents and Georgina were eating their breakfast together for the first time since she came into the house. Henrick pursues her to eat with them. Although she came out of the room, she still did not eat any food in front and just stare on it.
Henrick is eating fine beside her, but his mother can't help but to look at Georgina, who acts like life is over. Amanda, his mother who's sitting across, kicks him in the limbs, signing to Georgina. He ignores it, but she kicks him again.
At last, he couldn't win against to his mother and look beside.
They are eating a natural English breakfast, which has a bacon, fried egg, sausage, mushrooms, baked beans, toast, grilled tomatoes, and accompanied with tea. Henrick glance back to his parents but they expect him to convince her to eat.
"Why are you not eating the food? Do you want something else? We can tell the cook to change it to your preference." He said casually but she just look down. "You need to eat even a paltry amount. Don't you dare die inside this hous—ack?!!"
He glare to his mother when she kicks him hard. But his mother didn't lose and glare back.
"Argh! Why the hell am I punished here?" Henrick snap, putting down the utensils. "Hey, can't you just eat properly and don't disturb other people? We can't eat because of you."
Both his parents startle on his tantrum. They look towards Georgina, but she didn't move. A long silence lingers inside the dining room before she abruptly stands up and leave without saying a single phrase to them.
"Where do you think you're going? Don't you have manners? I thought you're the best student in your school?" Henrick shouts, looking to where she left.
"You, heartless child!" His mother stands up and pinches his ear out of disappointment. "How can you be so blunt towards the person who's losing the will to move forward? Did I raise you wrong?"
"Argh! Mom, it hurts."
"It's not good to let her continue to act like this," his dad said. "Go there and console her. I'll freeze all your cards if you can't pursue her to eat."
"W-what? Why?" Henrick stands up, full of disbelief.
"You're the one who brought her here. Take responsibility for your action."
"But Dad..."
"Go."
"No, I won't let my life got ruined. Try to pursue her if you insist. I'm going to leave. I lost my appetite."
He didn't let his parents talk again and storm out into the dining room. Both his parents heave a sigh as they watch him walk outside. They already know their son is stubborn and rude but despite of this terrible traits he's still warm-hearted.
***
It's passed 10 o'clock in the evening when Henrick came back home in a good mood. They had three gigs for today and the fact that many people recognize their band is a kind of new but flatters their heart. An hour ago, while getting ready to go home after their performance, a man came towards them and asked if they can perform in a Music Festival two weeks from now. The man introduces himself as one of the coordinator of the said festival and even shows his business card in case they'll doubt. But everything is true. It's a big festival that includes some celebrities.
Since they are still a new band, the opportunity is a big step to their dream that only comes in a while for some people. They didn't need to think about it anymore and accept the offer of the man. It's the reason he's in a sudden good mood despite of being tired from going from one place to another. He even bought a chocolate mousse cake as a celebration.
As soon as he enters the house, a maid came out from the kitchen at the same time. She greets him, but his eyes wander around. There's no light in the living room since most of them are sleeping at this hour, but because of the moonlight reflecting from the glass wall at the entrance of their garden, they can still see each other.
"Did mom and dad already asleep?" He asked.
"Sir Hector is in his study room while Ma'am Amanda is already sleeping upstairs."
"Did she eat?" The maid seems confused about what he asked but realizes whose he's talking about.
"She didn't touch the food,"
"Thanks, you can take a rest now. Good job for today." He smile to her and runs upstairs.
He went to his room where Georgina was sleeping, but as the door open he didn't see anyone but the light inside the bathroom. He turns on the lights and looks around. Georgina is not on the bed, but the comforter's not fixed properly. It's as if she came out from the bed in a hurry. Like yesterday, the AC is too high. It's getting cold inside, so he lower it down before putting the guitar case beside the study table. He heads straight to the bathroom, knocks for three times, but no one answers. He's about to knock again, but the door open. It's Georgina, looking weaker and paler than before.
She doesn't have any fever or something but everyone will notice her weak body. Push her a little and she'll fall down.
"The maid told me you didn't eat again. What are you planning to do? Die?"
"Move aside, I'll go home if you're sick of me..."
"I don't know what's going on with you or your family, but this stubbornness is not right. Let's go down and eat."
"I don't want,"
"Even if you don't want, just eat."
They glare at each other for a minute when Georgina got dizzy and almost fall down, but his reflexes are fast. He immediately wraps his left arm around her waist. Out of the blue, he frown while holding her waist. It's thinner than before and her weight is lighter, as if he's holding a human size bear. Without hesitation or asking permission, he carries Georgina like a sack of rice before going outside the room.
She resist hard, almost shouting while hitting his back, but it didn't make Henrick budge.
"Let go of me, what do you..."
"Shut up or else mom and dad will come out."
They reach the kitchen without getting caught or disturbing anyone, but as soon as he lets Georgina sit on the chair, she ready herself to run outside. Her actions didn't escape from his vision and drag her back to sit. Since she doesn't have enough energy to argue with the stubborn man, she didn't go.
"Behave yourself while I'm still nice. I'll cook a light meal and you just need to do is wait. Do you understand?"
"I'm not a child," she said, looking away.
Henrick glance to her before preparing the ingredients like a pro.
It's not good if she eat heavy meal when she didn't eat properly for a few days. The food might cause indigestion or a stomachache. In the middle of cooking, a long silence lingers between them. He thought she dozed off, but Georgina sits in silent, looking somewhere like a puppy waiting for her owner. A slight smile escape from his mouth and finishes the porridge. He put a soft boiled egg and small diced meat for toppings before he give it to her.
"Finish it," he said, but she didn't react and get a spoonful. "Be careful, it's hot."
After he saw her eat three spoonful Henrick went to the fridge and get a glass of milk.
"Let's take a walk outside tomorrow, before or during the sunrise is the best time. You should eat your breakfast too and later on we'll meet a doctor for check-up." He said while putting the glass of milk on the table. "You should be responsible for your own health. Let's talk about the different matters when your body is fine."
Georgina didn't give a specific answer, but she didn't refuse what he suggest. She continues to eat while he strictly monitors her until the food gets finished.