My face burned, and I coughed a few times, avoiding her gaze.
Naturally, my reaction only made Sophie burst into a fit of laughter, her voice as crisp as silver bells.
I fled the scene.
Only after buying breakfast downstairs did I dare return.
---
Time in the hospital passed quickly.
We didn't talk much—aside from casual chatter during meals. Most of the time, Sophie was lying in bed, scrolling through her phone, playing games with a bored expression.
With one hand.
Honestly, I had to give her credit.
Single-handed gaming? That was some next-level dedication to the digital world.
But that evening, Sophie suddenly hit me with a problem I wasn't prepared for.
"I want to take a shower."
I froze.
Her arm was still in a cast—there was no way she could bathe by herself.
But surely, she didn't expect me to help her... right?
Before I could say anything, she blinked innocently at me.
"Can you help me?"
I nearly blurted out a refusal.
This wasn't like helping her eat or changing her clothes.
This was a shower.
As in, no clothes.
Seeing my hesitation, Sophie rolled her eyes and nudged me.
"Oh, come on. It's not like you haven't seen me before."
My face burned even hotter.
In the end, I let out a resigned sigh and nodded.
---
Inside the bathroom, I stood there awkwardly, feeling like a man walking into his own execution.
But I had brought this upon myself.
I had to see it through.
"Help me take off my clothes," Sophie reminded me.
Taking a deep breath, I reached for the buttons of her hospital gown.
I tried to keep my mind blank.
But it was impossible to ignore how well she was built—
The deep valley of her cleavage, the slender curve of her waist, the smoothness of her skin.
My body temperature spiked.
I quickly averted my gaze.
Noticing my struggle, Sophie's lips curled into a mischievous smile.
But when it came time to remove her underwear, even she faltered.
"I-I can do this part myself," she muttered, cheeks tinged pink. "Wait outside for me."
I let out a silent breath of relief and all but bolted out of the bathroom.
Standing outside, I pressed a hand against my wildly beating heart and cursed myself.
Get a grip!
She was the one being calm and natural about it. Why was I acting like a flustered schoolboy?
But just as I was beginning to collect myself, Sophie's voice drifted from the bathroom.
"I accidentally got my hospital gown wet. Can you bring me a fresh one?"