Chapter 11 — Sick

"Umaimah, your temperature is very high!" My mum squealed as soon as she placed her hardel on my neck. I was unable to make it up to the dining area for breakfast thus she came to check on me. "You're burning wallahi, I have to call doctor Nana!" She said as she quickly bounced out of my room to get her phone.

Yesterday I was so soundly but I didn't know how I ended up waking up in the middle of the night with a piercing headache. It wasn't normal, thus I took some pills and returned back to sleep thinking that was it but it wasn't.

This morning, I started feeling cold as soon as I was done with fajr prayer. Maybe it was the water I used in performing ablution, it was literarily cold. Thus, I covered myself with blanket and that was how I ended up not being able to go out to the dining area for breakfast.  

"Okey then, we are on our way!" My mum said as soon as she bounced back into the room, she was with Ramadan, Aunty Zubaidah and Amirah. "Okey, I will call you as soon as we arrive. Thank you, Besty!" She hung up the call.

"Umaimah, how are you feeling?" Ramadan said in a sad tone as he walked towards me.

"I'm... I'm feeling very... very cold" I quivered.

"Sannu, Umaimah" Aunty Zubaidah lamented. 

"Be strong, cute sis" Amirah said.

I couldn't reply them so I slightly gave them a nod. I was feeling so very cold and at the same time hot. My brain was doing as if it would burst. I knew it was my pneumonia, something that took its toll on me when I was a little girl.

"Doctor Nana said she won't be able to make it here, so we are going straight to her hospital. She said we should contact her as soon as we arrived" My mum explained with a sigh.

"Alright then, lets go" Ramadan said carrying me up in his arms. I was in my praying gown. "Amirah, go to Najib! Make sure he's ready for school. Also, inform the school about Umaimah's condition!" He said heading out.

"Okey, sir" Amirah said dispatching away.

"Let me go get my Hijab" Aunty Zubaidah said.

"No!" Ramadan squealed. "The house shouldn't be left like that in the hands of those guards, you should stay please Zubaidah"  He ordered.

"But..." She was halfway saying when he cut in.

"Zubaidah, just do as I said!" He squealed.

"Okey" She said escorting us to the car.

Ramadan and my mum sat in the back seat with me while two police officers occupied the front seats. The driver among them quickly ignited the engine into action. A hillux filled with some officers too ignited into action. Like usual, Ramadan traveled in convoy for safety.

We arrived at the hospital and I was placed on a drip. I didn't even know when I slept off and when I woke up I was crowded. Like seriously? My classmates came to see me, only one person was missing and it was my seatmate – Ayman.

"How are you feeling?" Sadiyah asked.

"More better" I smiled. Actually, I had never been better like this before. The administered treatment was working miraculously.

"Get well soon, opponent" Said Bintah.

"Hmm" I smiled at her. "Thank you"

"You're not welcome" She teased.

Actually, I never expected her to come but somehow she did. If such a person could visit me why wouldn't Ayman do the same? No, something must be wrong and I had to ask.

"Where is Ayman?" I asked.

"I knew she would ask about him!" Arub said.

"Yes, I had that hunch too" Faizah smirked.

"You guys are nuts!" Sadiyah chimed in. "Don't mind them, Umaimah. Ayman is sick too that's why he couldn't make it here" She elaborated.

"Sick?" I squealed.

How was that even possible? I fell sick and he also fell sick? Like seriously? That was a big coincidence. Or could it mean something?

"Yes, he's having pneumonia. He fainted in school today and was taken back home after receiving some treatments from the school clinic..." Amirah explained everything to me.

"Subhanallah!" I blurted out. 

I never knew Ayman had pneumonia and I never knew it was this critical. What must had triggered it? I had never seen him taking cold things before nor playing football in the field.

"But, he's alright" Bintah chimed in. "We visited him first before coming here..."

"Okey" I heaved a sigh.

They kept me company for like 30 minutes before they finally left. Thus, doctor Nana came in afterwards with my medical report.

"Everything is okey, but she needs to be very careful with her diet. Umaimah is having pneumonia and to tell you the truth it is at a critical stage. She needs some rest and also medication. And if possible, she might need a portable oxygen bag – It will give her fresh air and would prevent her from inhaling harmful air into her lungs..." The woman explained. 

"Thank you, doctor Nana" Ramadan said.

"You're welcome, sir" The woman said with a smile and turned to my mum. "Bili, don't worry please. She's going to be fine, okay?"

"Okey, besty" My mum heaved a sigh.