Is this destiny?

Not long ago, in Michael\'s room…

JoAnna ended the exam of Michael\'s eyes with a frown on her face.

After few seconds, she started rummaging through her medical bag while grumbling: "Men. I will never understand why it is so difficult to admit that you are in pain…"

JoAnna got a tube of some medical ointment and looked at Oni. "I assume that you will be helping him out, right?"

Oni nodded.

"OK. Then watch me do it, so that you can do this for him…", JoAnna got into her medical-teacher mode, and Oni followed without a word. JoAnna taught all kids from the Cliffside villa first aid and Oni knows the drill.

JoAnna ushered Michael to lay on the bed. She was holding Michael\'s eye open while squeezing the ointment from the tube into his eye and talking to Oni who observed carefully: "On every four hours for the next three days. Then reduce to every six hours until the redness is gone." JoAnna lifted Michael\'s eyelid and closed it over the dab of medicine and then gently pressed so that it spreads evenly.

When medicine was in both of Michael\'s eyes, JoAnna spoke to Michael: "After applying the medicine, keep your eyes closed for at least fifteen minutes. And in general, try to keep your eyes closed. They will heal faster. Don\'t use lenses until you heal."

JoAnna shook her head in disapproval at Michael (even though he could not see her). "If you came right away, it would probably be few days of eyedrops. Did you even plan to ask for help if Oni didn\'t drag you?"

Michael pressed his lips into a line as a response. He really didn\'t think that it\'s anything serious. And even if he did, Oni was with Marija… how can he leave the two of them alone? And when that crisis was resolved, it was him and Oni on the dock and the idea of looking for JoAnna was not on his mind.

JoAnna took another cream and applied it on his arms. "You have minor burns. Keep this clean and apply the medicine at least twice a day. Cover with bandage so you don\'t smudge the medicine around." 

Michael took a deep breath and identified that the scent belongs to the cream which Sarah usually gives them for cuts and bruises. It seems that it works for burns as well. He concluded that it enhances skin regeneration, and it also works as a topical anesthetic.

As soon as the bandaging was done, JoAnna jabbed an injection inside Michael\'s biceps. He winced because he didn\'t see it coming (his eyes are closed), and JoAnna was not really gentle.

"What is that for?", Michael grumbled at JoAnna.

"To prevent the infection. Or maybe I just wanted to make you feel the pain as a punishment for being negligent. You will never now…", she snickered while packing her stuff.

JoAnna repeated instructions to Oni one more time, gave her medicine and bandages for the next few days and left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind JoAnna and Jeff, Michael started moving on the bed.

"Where are you going?", Oni asked while pushing him back down. "You can\'t move with closed eyes and JoAnna said to keep them closed for fifteen minutes."

Michael held onto her hand. "Will you stay with me?"

"Of course.", Oni responded and sat on the edge of the bed next to Michael.

Oni glanced around the room. It\'s a bedroom like any other, nothing unusual but… she became aware that it\'s just the two of them, in a bedroom, and that this is even more intimate than the dock, and she remembered the dancing and their talk and her crying and the kiss, and why is he still holding her hand?

She is happy that Michael\'s eyes are closed and he can\'t see how flustered she is.

Michael was thinking what to say. Staying in silence like this, with his eyes closed is uncomfortable. He remembered that she is wearing her party outfit. "Do you want to change into something more comfortable?"

Michael\'s question startled her. 

"What?"

"The party is over for me, and you said that you will stay by my side. I assume that you have clothes which are more comfortable than that dress.", he explained.

Oni glanced at herself and realized that she is wearing her sleeveless blue dress. She noticed his blue silk shirt and thought how they are wearing matching clothes. She shook that thought away. There is no such thing as matching clothes, it is just a coincidence and she should not let her imagination run wild. 

"Yes, I should go and change. Will you be OK here for few minutes?"

"I\'m not going anywhere.", Michael responded.

Oni returned to Michael\'s room wearing running shoes, yoga pants and a loose fitting black shirt. This is her favorite outfit. It\'s comfortable and when she trains, she knots her t-shirt at the waist to tighten it up and it works great. 

She observed that he is still wearing his blue shirt and formal black pants. "Do you want to change clothes?"

Michael hummed in confirmation and asked: "Can you help me?" 

He pointed at his closed eyes, indicating that he can\'t see.

"Sure… What should I do?"

Michael gestured toward the closet. "Find something comfortable for me to change into. You pick."

Oni walked inside closet and observed empty shelves. There was one suit and two finely pressed shirts on the hangers. She frowned while wondering, does he have any clothes? Or maybe she is in the wrong place? Or…? 

Her sight moved lower and she saw an open suitcase on the floor. He didn\'t unpack. There are few gaps, probably as he removed toiletries and those few garments which are hanging on the side, but other than that, the suitcase is nearly-full of folded clothes. 

Oni squatted and picked a corner to start her search for a casual t-shirt and pants. Something he can sleep in, because she has no intention of touching his pajamas. Oni wondered if he sleeps in pajamas or maybe in his underwear… and she read in magazines that some people sleep nude. She reminded herself to focus. Why is she distracted by wild thoughts?

She was getting one by one thing… A shirt which is not casual enough… Training shorts… Socks… A polo shirt. This is a good option, but she saw Michael in more comfortable tops than this one, so she kept the polo shirt on the side and continued searching. Oni froze when she realized that she is holding onto Michael\'s boxer shorts. And she is staring! Ah, she is a pervert! Oni dropped them back, like she burned herself. 

Oni decided to try on the other side of the suitcase, this one is too risky. Oni\'s eyes nearly popped out in shock when she moved few garments and revealed a box of condoms. A second later, she covered it up swiftly. 

This. Is. Too. Intense.

Oni thought how maybe she should apply some of that medicinal cream on her eyes because she just saw something naughty and it\'s not only her eyes, but her whole face is burning.

Oni patted her cheeks and mumbled: "You can do this! You are a general! This is a mission! Find a shirt and pants and get out of here!"

"Oni! Are you doing alright in there?", Michael\'s voice reached her.

She cleared her throat and responded clumsily: "Yes, yes… just a minute… almost…"

Michael heard her answer and chuckled while trying to imagine what she is doing in there. Is she going through his stuff? Probably. Well, he has nothing to hide, but he knows that few things might be uncomfortable for her. He believes that her unspoiled mind is adorable. 

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