Memories under the Cherry Blossom Tree

Ch 23 The ring...

Arthit's cellphone was ringing with the tone he had set for emergencies from the hospital....

"Fuck,...perfect timing to ruin things."he cursed under his breath and moved off Kong.."I am really sorry I need to take this.."he apologized...Kong just nodded.

Picking the call he said, "Dr.Arthit speaking, wat s the emergency?"

As the caller on the otherside seemed to be giving him details,Kong lied back on the mattress admiring his side profile, slightly ruffled hair,pink swollen lips from the kisses...Can his dream really be coming true...he smiled to himself thinking of wat just happened,burying his head in the blanket sure his ears had turned red...

"Kong, there s an emergency at the hospital," Arthit said 2 mins later, pulling the sheet back,"there was a fire at a nearby hotel and many victims have suffered burns or inhaled the smoke...I need to go as the hospital needs all available personnel...I am so sorry,you can stay and sleep over though..."

"It's ok P'Arthit I ll come with u. If you are called then P'Prem and P'Bright will be needed too na..then Rome and Wad ll be left alone...let me stay with them.."

"Ok if u want to, then get ready let's go."

And they left together, comfortable in the other's presence, happy in the afterglow of their intimacy...

At the hospital....

As soon as Arthit had parked, he told Kong tat both Wad and Prem had been shifted to the same room,so he could just go to Rome's room..he told him to take care and call him in case of any emergency..and then he was gone, pulling his arms through his white coat and clipping his i.d card...taking his steth from his coat pocket he ran towards the ambulances lining up near the emergency exit...

Kong walked to Rome's room and relieved P'Bright, who rushed off like Arthit, also telling him to call if needed..Kong smiled seeing the seniors who were joking just a few hours ago, turn so serious and responsible in a matter of seconds..The life of a doctor is tough, he sighed settling on the couch for some much needed sleep..

At the entrance,Arthit was checking and streamlining the patients coming in based on the severity of their injuries...

The next ambulance came in and he waited with an empty stretcher...It was a woman probably in her 50's..He could see 2nd degree burns in her hand..around her fingers..she had inhaled smoke and had difficulty breathing..he connected her to oxygen supply and moved to remove any jewelery she was wearing in her hand before the swelling sets in..he put 2 bangles and a watch..as he moved to remove the ring, he noticed he couldn't remove it without hurting her already burnt finger so he asked the nurse for pliers passing her the clearbag with the already removed jewelry, labelled with the patients details which he had taken from the I.d in her purse, he had
tagged her as no.27 according to his list....

When the pliers came and he moved to cut the ring, he felt a hand grip his wrist...he looked up and saw the woman shaking her head asking him not to damage the ring...she had tears in her eyes, so Arthit thought tat it must be important to her..So he used a bit of disinfectant solution for lubrication and eased it out after a struggle..She smiled despite the pain and mouthed her thanks through the mask....

Arthit then dispatched her to the emergency room with instructions for her treatment..As he watched her stretcher being reeled through the door he realised he still had her ring clutched in his fingers..He dropped it in his coat pocket making a mental note to add it to her pack of belongings later, no. 27 he repeated to himself not wanting to forget, and turned to the next victim arriving..

5 hours later...

Arthit was dead tired as he made his way to Rome's room, where Kong was. It was almost dawn. The burn victims had stopped coming. They were informed tat everyone had been rescued and the fire was put out finally... he knocked softly, hoping he wasn't disturbing the resting patients..

A sleepy eyed Kong opened the door.
"P'Arthit you look terrible!!", his eyes widened, becoming fully awake on seeing the red rimmed eyes, tousled hair and soiled coat with ash stains and blood....Arthit even faintly had a burnt smell around him....

"Knot, Tay and Tew are coming over in a few seconds..we can go home and rest" he told him slumping on the couch in the room..

Kong came and sat next to him, pulling his head onto his shoulder...Arthit leaned into him hugging his hip and burying his nose into his neck..inhaling his fresh scent after standing in the burnt odour for so long...

There was a knock just then and Knot and the others came in..

"Arthit you look terrible, like u were in the burning building yourself," Tew commented...

"Ya and i feel the same way too..thank you for coming to stay with them..I feel I need a day full of sleep.."

"Take a good rest, we ll handle it here.."Knot said..

"Thanks Knot, see you guys", he said waving and pulled Kong along..

As they reached the car Kong put out his hand in front of Arthit..

"Wat??" Arthit asked confused..

"Keys, ur not driving in this state P'Arthit. "

"But can you manage it?"

"I wouldn't offer if I couldn't, " Kong said raising his brow..

Arthit gave him the keys and moved to the passenger seat..relaxing by pushing the seat back...

Kong drove them carefully home,remembering the way from memory and somehow Arthit managed to make it to his room and after a quick shower just plopped on the bed falling asleep the next second...

Kong had taken some rest in the hospital so he didn't feel like sleeping just yet..he set about doing Arthit's laundry and cleaning the apartment a bit..He picked up Arthit's white coat which he had worn tonight..wrinkling his nose at the burnt odour still hanging around it..taking it to the laundry room along with the other clothes he proceeded to check the pockets before dropping each one into the washer..as he delved gingerly into the white coat, his fingers brushed against a small metal object..

He pulled it out intending to set it aside..but when he saw it, his eyes widened...Was it??Could it be...

He pulled out the chain he was wearing, in it was a similar ring dangling like a pendant...he took it out and brought both rings closer..

With trembling hands he pressed them both together, with a faint 'click' the rings molded into one complete ring..

Tears were silently streaming down Kong's cheeks, tears of happiness...I found them mae...he thought to himself, he had found the missing part, of the clue his mother had left, to his family..