Looking around as the brown-haired girl was covered in her sweat (and maybe a little bit of tears..) she was a bit conflicted on why she was sweating while it also felt like she was trapped in the ice age? She was freezing to death— well she wasn’t freezing to death but it sure did feel like that. She rubbed her eyes as she grabbed her sloth stuffed animal, her favorite stuffed animal, while she groaned a bit in the process sniffing pathetically.
This flu was horrible. The last time she got sick was when she ate a bad Gyro outside of the mosque, and she had food poisoning for a day. This was a bit different, this was a bit worse.
Kamala continued to lie and bed, and moped a little to herself before she heard a slight twist on her doorknob and watched it turn wondering if it was her Ami coming to check on her or even her Abu, but to her slight surprise it was Bruno with his dorky stance at the doorway with a soft expression of concern.
“Hey K.K.... not feeling well, huh?” The brown-haired boy asked with the usual look of concern on his face when it came to Kamala.
Kamala huffed miserably as she shook her head, giving the other a teary look. She felt like absolute shit, and Kamala is usually the one to complain when it came to her not feeling good, but she was too tired to say many words to the other.
“Oh no- no Bruno, ‘M perfectly fine…” Kamala said with a tinge of sarcasm and raspiness in her voice as she sniffled.
“Ha. Ha, Kam.” The brown-haired boy with no hint of laughter in his voice, he was just returning the sarcasm as he rebottled back, “Hey you should lower it with the sarcasm since I’m here to take care of you.” Bruno said chuckling before continuing.
“Aaand I was so nice to do so since your mom said she and your dad were going out for something about your brother, and they needed me to stay for a bit, and I’m not working.. so I’m here.” He finished off as he sat down on the others bed seeing how sweaty she looked.
“I feel like ab-“ she paused her face tensing as she then released a loud sneeze sniffling softly as she whimpered, “Augh.. absolute hell is what... I w’s gonna say.” Kamala rasped as Bruno winced feeling horrible for his sick friend, it was a good thing Mrs.Khan called. “And I thought I told my mom to stop texting you..” Kamala whined but didn’t mean it because at least she wasn’t going to be sick and alone.
“You’re gonna be alright Kamala, is there any medicine, usually in the bathroom right? Did you take it yet?” The boy questioned as his hand stroked Kamala’s back a bit trying in some way to comfort the dark-haired girl.
“Jeez, so much questioning for— for a sick person,” she said huffing and cracking a soft smile at the dork. “I took Tylenol ‘ouple hours ago… I just feel really f-freaking cold.” Kamala spoke but was lying. She didn’t just feel cold, she felt like she was in Antarctica being deprived of anything warm, and her body was just gonna freeze at any minute!!
Maybe that was a little overdramatic, but she was allowed to be dramatic! She was sick!
Bruno looked at his friend with a slightly troubled look in his eyes before Bruno shuffled on over to Kamala’s bed and both of his hands grasped onto Kamala’s already flushed cheeks as they were really warm, he wondered if her temperature could have gotten any higher.
Kamala groused softly as her face turned into a bothered-like expression as she slowly tried to get Bruno’s Palms off of her face.
“Bruno!! Your palms are freaking cold, man, I just said I was fr-eezing..!” Kamala said in a huff before letting out a very loud sneeze as she clenched her pillow as if it was a surprise… Another surprise was in the process of sneezing her Nose started to glow purplish color as she groaned loudly, “Not again.” She said grabbing the blanket that was sprawled across her body over her head as she dramatically sighed.
“This s’ the worst!” The girl spoke as Bruno was trying his best to help out his friend but he wasn’t sure what to do…! But he knew who would know what to do.. he needed to get some help from someone, fast.
“Hey calm down a bit K.K, I’ll get Nakia to help you out too, She’ll know what to do alright?” Bruno said fast, no reply coming from Kamala as he stifled a sigh.
Ring…
Ring…
….Click!
“Dude, what’s up?”
Bruno sighed in relief as he was glad his friend answered back, because he could use a little help, plus It might make K.K. feel better with both friends right?
“I could use a little help if you aren’t busy. Kamala’s really sick, and I wanted to come and help, she’s even more sick when she ate that gyro that one time.” He said softly with a bit of a grimace as he looked back at the blanket that Kamala was sitting under.
“Oh? Alright, did you ask if she took any medicine? She cold or hot? I’m coming over in a few, just keep her comfortable, I know how to ease off her sickness-stress.”
Nakia said quickly before hanging up as Bruno nodded to himself, alright, he was going to help his friend get better, even if it also meant getting more help!
“Kamala, Nakia’s coming, she’s gonna help, how are you doing under there?” Bruno quickly asked as the sick girl popped her head out, her big glassy eyes looking at him, her nose still glowing that purple color as she sniffled.
“What does it look like?” She said before Bruno chuckled at her, “You're going to be fine alright Kamala?” Bruno said trying to ease off the girl's sickness before Kamala gave her usual pout, this pout poutier than ever. There was a pause in the two before Bruno spoke up.
“Want a hug?” Bruno asked, hoping that would make his friend feel a little bit better mentally.
“Yes.” Kamala breathed out putting her arms out of the blanket as she somewhat did a grabby motion to the boy, Bruno stifling a small laugh before shifting over to her and giving her a long-needed hug, petting her back softly as he could hear small sniffles coming from the enhanced girl.
“You better not be getting me sick K.K”
“You’re the one who asked me if I wanted a hug!” Kamala giggled sheepishly before shifting a bit away from Bruno and hacking into a rough coughing fit before she stopped to a halt, holding on to her stomach, Nausea going on heavy, her nose not glowing anymore.
Uh oh.
Her eyes then wide as Bruno gave a concerned look to her, Her eyes showed distress as she clumsily and quickly tried to rush out of the room, gripping the tables and chairs to get to her nearest bathroom.
Bruno quickly got up after she held her shoulder as she leaned on to him as they made it to the bathroom.
Kamala quickly dropped herself down in front of the toilet as she spewed what was left inside of her stomach all into the toilet, gagging tearfully as Bruno gently rubbed the girls back, pulling her hair back as she hiccuped some more, sniffled and then threw up what was left, Bruno continuously rubbing her back as she gripped onto the toilet seat.
Saying Kamala felt awful was an understatement.
Bruno still pulled her hair back, over her ears as he had a worried expression after he finished hearing gagging noises.
“Kamala, you okay? Need water?” He asked gently as the ill girl weakly pulled down on the knob of the flush of the toilet, her hair wet and drenched from both a little bit of vomit and her own sweat, cheeks flushed, eyes droopy and not so big-eyed anymore, and nose drippy, eyes drippy too. Her whole body shaking from throwing up so much, and she was also shivering, she was so cold!
Kamala looked just how she felt. She definitely got worse. She couldn’t even comprehend what Bruno was saying, everything was mumbled up in her head, and it felt fuzzy and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.
“Kamala, can you talk for me, dude? Earth to K.K?” Bruno started saying a bit desperately, getting up as he flimsily grabbed to toilet paper that was next to the two, and a lot of it. He started to tenderly wipe her face, and around her mouth occasionally getting strands of hair out of it as Kamala looked like she was in a haze. He then grabbed more paper as he wiped the bits of vomit that got in her hair, and then the snot around her nose, she was so sick. Nakia needed to come soon and help, ASAP.
Kamala started feeling a burning sensation grow further to both her eyes and throat, but the nausea was thankfully gone. She sniffled but this time tearfully. “Can you get me some water?” She whispered hiding her choked sobs behind those words as she continued to hold onto her stomach, tears softly flowing but she was too tired to sob.
“Yeah— yeah of course I’ll get you water,” Bruno said in a bit of a rush to get ready to get his friend whatever she needed or wanted, but then he felt a buzz in his pocket.
Nakia!
“Hey, open the door dingus, I have everything for Kamala.”
Nakia said before Bruno felt a bit relieved she was finally here
“Finally…” he mumbled before accidentally (not so much) hanging up on Nakia. He looked down at the very sick sweaty girl who continued to hug her stomach a bit and drifted off tears still flowing.
Poor girl.
“Hey Kamala, Nakia’s here, so I’ll open the door and she’ll be right with you and help you get more cleaned up alright?” Bruno shared, Kamala weakly nodded, “Okay..” she breathed, Bruno kneeling once more to stroke her cheeks removing the tears from her face as best as he could with the flick of his fingers.
Bruno didn’t know if this was the best choice to leave a sick Kamala alone, but he knew Nakia would be up with her in a second, and he could get everything ready for her like medicine and whatnot. So he decided he should rush and hurry down, fast.
And that he did, he might’ve bumped into a table or two because of how fast he was rushing to the door. He quickly twisted the lock and opened the door.
What stood there was Nakia, with a bag, and what in the bag looked like it contained strawberry sherbet, a DVD of what also looked to be an animated image of Captain Marvel in the front, and a container that had something that Bruno thought was probably Khichdi, which he remembered the name and food because Kamala’s mom gave him the same thing the time that he had the flu, Nakia came prepared.
Nakia quickly walked in, “Where’s the sickle? Upstairs I’m guessing, in her room?” She questioned looking at Bruno.
“Guessed wrong, she’s in the bathroom, I was going to get her water cause she just threw up and—“
“She just threw up?!” Nakia cut the other off as she sighed, “Should’ve started with that in the first place! Here put these in the fridge would you? I’ll see how she’s holding up upstairs.” Nakia said before handing Bruno over the frozen foods. Bruno nodded as he did what was told Nakia walking up the stairs quickly.
She entered the open bathroom to find Kamala huddled in a fetal position next to the toilet whimpering softly as she looked like she quite literally just got hit by a car.
“Squishy..” Nakia muttered softly crouching down to her level and saw her friend's face to be scrunched up and in pain.
“Kamala.. C’mon, why don’t we get off of this gross floor, and get you cleaned up and in bed? You’re sweating all over the place..” Nakia spoke seeing the girl a bit damped from her head to clothes, she should change into a T-shirt Nakia thought, not knowing even throughout the sweating Kamala was feeling cold, her body was bipolar with temperature change, and it sucked.
“How does that sound yeah? I’ll put a rag on your head, a nice cold one, and I even brought you Strawberry sherbet!”
“But.. ‘m f-freezing.” Kamala groaned, Nakia was confused before realizing, it was probably chills.
“Alright, I see, no T-shirt, the Long sleeve you have on is fine then, what about the wet rag? It’ll be fast I promise, and we can have sherbet right after if you're feeling warmer?”
“Sh... Sherbert..?” Shuttered Kamala as she was still freezing, that must’ve gotten the girl's attention.
“Yeah, just how you like it when you’re sick, Of course, I had to get sherbet. Bruno’s grabbing your medicine and water, and I’ll tell him to get you a bowl of sherbet alright? If you sit up for me the process will be faster, okay Kam?” Nakia said, her voice softer than Kamala had ever admitted to hearing.
“Okay….” Kamala exhaled hissing a bit as it hurt more to move than before, “Help?” Kamala mumbled to Kamala as Nakia nodded holding her friend's head up as she let her friend lean on the wall. She then spotted the bathtub as she stood up to grab the rag that was hanging over the tub, walking over to the sink to drench it in cold water and then wring it out.
Nakia before cleaning anything up on Kamala shouted out to Bruno, “CAN YOU GET SOME OF THE SHERBERT IN A BOWL TOO??” Kamala flinched lightly, but she was already used to the shouting from Nakia. Nakia then started dabbing the wet rag on her already sweaty face, Kamala groaned a bit, new to the touch as her eyes slightly opened.
“F..feels good..” Kamala admitted as Nakia smiled, hopefully, the cold rag could bring the fever down and break it. “That’s what I like to hear, now After I’m done cleaning you up, you get some medicine in you? Cause you’re going to be sweating worse in that long sleeve.” Nakia chuckled as she started wiping Kamala’s neck.
Nakia was finished cleaning up the sick girl. “Ready to get up and back to your room?” Nakia questioned. Kamala groaned some more, “Do’wanna get up.” Mumbled the out-of-energy girl as she turned her neck, Nakia rolled her eyes, Kamala could be so difficult sometimes.
“But what about the sherbet, Don’t want that either?” Mused Nakia, Kamala quickly cocked her head back to Nakia, “You got me there..” she spoke out, Bruno entered the open bathroom with water, a bottle of sherbet, and the medicine in between his fingers of the glass of water.
“Feeling any better?” The teen inquired, Kamala eyed the bowl of sherbet, and Nakia chuckled looking at how quickly Kamala saw it.
“I’m just guessing she really just wants the sherbet, Am I right about that K.K?” Nakia wondered out loud.
“And you- you got that right too,” Kamala said weakly and meekly as she stifled another cough. Nakia stood up slowly as she opened her arms down to Kamala, ready to pull her up and let the other lean on her, “C’mon night light let’s go.” Nakia teased
“Hate that name.” Kamala pouted subtly as she onto the other girl, leaning onto her arm as she grasped it, Nakia giving a small snicker after hearing the other girl.
The trio entered the room and Nakia helped Kamala sit down on her bed Nakia then placed her hand on her forehead which was no longer as damp after washing up her face, but Kamala still looked hot.
Nakia sat down next to the ‘Patient’ as she then asked, “Do you want to change into something else… I know your cold but it must be uncomfortable after sweating and throwing up in that shirt, and I know you’ll need help from that since you can’t even stand on your own.” Nakia slightly teased, Kamala piercing her lips as her face matched the iconic ‘Jim Halpert’ from the office face.
“Hey, I’m just saying what we’re all thinking, right Bruno?” Nakia questioned as the brown-haired boy chuckled.
“She is right K, I’ll leave the room, and then you can just drink your medicine and eat your ice cream yeah?”
“It’s sherbet there’s a difference!” Nakia corrected.
“Okay okay, Sherbet.” Bruno laughed leaving the room and placing the medicine, sherbet, and water on the table.
“‘Kay fine.. But can this be quick? I still feel cold..” Huffed Kamala, Nakia just nodded, “Of course, let me go find you something to wear.” Nakia spoke walking over to Kamala's drawers and finding a long-sleeved Captain Marvel shirt, Inside was nice and soft, “This good?” Asked Nakia, Kamala nodded.
Nakia quickly helped the girl change in under a minute as Kamala was already feeling a bit relieved without feeling so sweaty, “You can come back in Bruno.” Nakia spoke the only male of the group walking back in, “Feel less… sweaty?” Asked Bruno Kamala just nodded and yawned.
“Can’t sleep yet Kamala, medicine now.” Nakia said reminding the other pouty girl, Kamala frowned but complied, “Pass the meds.” She slurred out before Nakia and Bruno looked at each other and chuckled a bit.
“You sound like an addict.” Bemused Bruno.
“Yeah and the Sluggish tone isn’t helping your cause either—“ Nakia agreed.
“Nope..!”
“Are yo’gonna give the sick person the meds or what..!” Kamala whined.
“Alright, here you go patient cranky.” Joked Bruno as Kamala quickly downed the pill and took the drink a bit clumsily but thankfully not dropping it, she was not sipping either but chugging the water down as if she never had a drink in her life, god she was thirsty.
“Thanks. Now can I have sherbet?” Kamala pleaded looking at the bowl on the table. “Sure you can.” Passed Bruno as Kamala flimsily held the bowl, as if she were to drop it, Nakia gave an eyebrow raise as the poor girl looked like the sherbet was going to run away, Kamala didn’t care if she looked like she was making a mess, she was sick and really needed that sherbet.
“Alright, give me that.” Nakia took the bowl from Kamala before she could drop it, “You're going to drop it, you obviously can’t hold it, I’ll feed you it.”
“I was doi—doing just fine!” Kamala coughed in her elbow as she whined.
“We’re you though?” Bruno replied in a sort of teasing tone, Kamala pouted once more rubbing her eyes gently before crossing her arms.
“Fine, feed me.” Her voice was still raspy, “Bu’ bet fast about it.” She demanded before Nakia scoffed.
“Whatever you say your majesty, but I’m not letting you choke on sherbet.” She joked, feeding Kamala scoop by scoop, Kamala's face could tell she was satisfied, maybe even feeling a bit better by the scoop, strawberry sherbet did solve everything.
“Kamala, when was the last time you ate?” Bruno asked a bit concerned because it looked like his friend was sucking the sherbet from the spoon in under a second. Kamala looked a little abashed before speaking, “Maybe.. maybe yesterday dinner? I couldn’t eat.. stomach always hurt, threw up everything..” she admitted, Nakia, giving her friend a look, not any look, a look of—
“You haven’t eaten since yesterday?! Kamala, I’m concerned! You need to be eating and hydrated!!” Nakia said in a huff, Bruno returning that same look. “Naks I’m sorry! My mom tried feeding me’ some soft foods.. but nothing sat in my stomach.” She said biting her lip, “I’m not even surprised.” Admitted Bruno.
“We can feed her the Khichdi after we see if the sherbet will sit right with her stomach,” Bruno said nodding to himself before Nakia agreed, Kamala didn’t feel like eating more after the sherbet, but she knew her friends wouldn’t let her.
After the bowl is done and Bruno brings it down, Kamala feels a bit tired, the Tylenol was admittedly making her a tad bit sleepy, but also a little jittery, the side effects weren’t that bad but they still sucked.
But at least the sweating stopped and she wasn’t as cold as she was before, now both of her friends were on the bed with her, Nakia on her side tapping away on her phone, and Bruno in front of her his mind off in space, she felt content and comfortable, her friends were the best.
Her eyes leaned onto Nakia’s shoulder. The clock read 6:05, but she was so sleepy, that her eyes couldn’t stay up, they felt like heavy blinds. Maybe a nap wouldn’t hurt, but she felt like mumbling something out before sleep would beat her to it.
“Thanks, guys…” was what she said last before the blinds fully closed and she was knocked out.
Kamala felt better, not a lot, but way better than she did a few hours ago, Her eyes felt stuck together, and she slowly opened them to find herself not leaning on Nakia anymore, and Bruno to be gone on the edge of the bed, and for her to be more laid down and tucked into bed, oh no— did they leave her? Kamala worried looking to the side to find the clock, it only read 8:55… it wasn’t late, but she.. didn’t feel like staying home alone, and it didn’t sound like her Ami or Abu were there.
She groaned slightly feeling a light headache tingle as she huffed, She didn’t feel like getting up, so she stretched her arms and legs out, hm, They didn’t ache as much, maybe the medicine was finally working.
“Looks like someone’s up from a nap, feeling better?” Bruno asked at the door, When the heck did he get in??
“You’re back…! I wondered where you An’ naks went…” Kamala yawned out while speaking as Bruno chuckled, “We just went down to reheat your Khichdi up, but then we started playing Mario cart, and I beat Nakia twice and now she won’t talk to me.” Bruno cackled, Kamala having a sort of, “Should’ve known” expression on her face before giving a small smile, “I’m feeling a bit better.” She admitted, “My body doesn’t ache too much and I’m not sweating anymore.. but I feel a small headache.” She said sniffing as Bruno nodded.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, maybe if you eat the headache will go away, wanna eat in your room or downstairs? We can put on the Captain Marvel cartoon Nakia brought for you.” Kamala’s eyes widened, “Captain of the stars?!?” Kamala said naming the series, “Yea! Yes… yes! 100 percent— I’m coming down now.” Kamala said, her speech still a little croaky, but she was looking better. She quickly got up and clumsily stumbled a bit, Bruno shifted to the side to let her come through, she could walk okay, but Bruno held her shoulder, She was too sick and excited for her own good, and he didn’t want his friend falling down the stairs.
As they entered the living room Nakia turned to Kamala smiling at the other, “You look better already, still cold?”
“Nah, I just feel a little chilly… ‘s there a blanket?” Kamala croaked and Nakia nodded, “Right here, and no I’m still not talking to you, Brian.” Nakia said in a huff pulling out the blanket from her side, Bruno crossing his arms and sneering slightly before rolling his eyes, “Whatever you say, now I’ll get the Khichdi.” Declared Bruno as he walked over to the kitchen.
Kamala shuffled close to Nakia putting her head on the taller girl's shoulder Nakia opened up the blanket and put it on the both of them, giving Kamala more of the blanket of course as they laid back down on the cushion, “This feel good, Kamala?” Nakia asked and Kamala hummed with a nod, She was still a little groggy from the nap, but they were going to watch her favorite cartoon, so she was going to stay up for this!! Nakia put the DVD on the TV, as Kamala’s wide and retentive yet baggy eyes were glued already to the first episode, her mouth moving to every word that was being said, withOUT captions. This was really her favorite show.
“I got the food KK, ready to eat?” Bruno questioned, Kamala just nodded not replying, heavily focused on the TV as Nakia laughed, “She’s too focused on the flying glow stick that’s on the TV than the Khichdi.” Kamala nodded distractedly, “Y-yeah out i’ over there.” She sniffled laughing back still focused on the show.
“Okay, are you going to eat or are you going to make us feed you, nightlight?” Bruno teased, Kamala huffed but spoke out, “Second option.” She mumbled opening her mouth as The other two gave each other a look, “Typical.” Bruno chuckled before feeding the sick girl, they all continued to joke and make quips with each other.
It was good to have people care about you, especially when you’re sick.