Boyfriend Privilege (Sam YU AU FF)

Epilogue - Part 5

"So... did you guys fight?" Ray walked out to the balcony to see Sam sitting on the rattan chair by a small table, looking out to the wilderness and probably basking in the morning sun, though Ray found his expression was of quiet the reverse.

"Good morning, Ray." Sam watched as the guy took the seat on the other side of the table and shook his head at the ill-fitted shirt Ray had taken the liberty to put on his body without the owner's permission.

"Yeah, yeah, good good. So, what did you guys fight about? How's your head?" Ray knew about the quarrel Sam had with the husband of his patient but he knew Sam too well to know that Sam wouldn't be affected of such incident. He had seen porridge thrown on Sam's face during their early years of training and the guy still managed to smile throughout the whole day.

"It's fine." Sam sighed. "Do you know why I let you sleep here last night?"

"So I can help you reconcile with Shu Yi, of course."

Sam rolled his eyes, stood up and walked towards the railing of the balcony, leaning his back on it with his arms crossed as he looked Ray in the eyes. "It's because we have unresolved business between us."

"What--"

"So will you let Yu punch you back or do you want me to do it for him?"

Ray's mouth was left hanging for a few seconds as he thought of a way out. Ray decided both options would be equally bad for him, especially when he was not supposed to fight back. His face contorted thinking that he might end up with ugly bruises on his face for too many days.

"How about this, I'll let you curse me instead."

"No. How is that the same?"

"Last time I stepped on a lego, it fucking hurts." Ray was not exaggerating. Only a few days after Sam wished unto him of such mishap, it did happened and to make things worse, it happened in the paediatric ward where many young nurses and vulnerable mothers were around. He wished he could erase such humiliating memory from his mind.

"I don't believe you."

"I swear! I heard that there's a new hot nurse in the paeds so I went there to snoop. The kids there left their toys everywhere! Tell me Sam, isn't that called hospital hazards? You should really teach the administrator there a lesson once you become director, if you become director."

"Serves you right."

"So, come, curse me, swear at me. I can take it."

Sam let out a loud sigh and after half a beat, he agreed. "Fine. But no talking back." He wasn't actually about to punch his friend, it was just a way for him to change the topic and maybe scare the man a little bit, but he guessed, cursing out could be way more satisfying.

Ray excitedly nodded with his chest puffed out as if taking in insults was a noble thing to do.

"Then.." Sam took a few seconds to think before he continued, "...may every video you watch online be full of ads. Ones you cannot skip." Sam himself found it to be too weak. He could think of a few profane words for the man instead, but with his personality, he doubt it'd sound convincing.

"I'll just pay for premium." Ray said nonchalantly.

Chih Tian who was silently watching by the door, cleared his throat before inviting them both to breakfast. "You promised you'd not talk back." He gave an 'I don't know you,' look at Ray as he walked back inside the house wondering how his boyfriend could even finish his study back then when he's that silly.

"You mean you'll make Chih Tian pay for you."

"Same same."

"I pray that every chocolate chips in your cookies turn out to be raisins instead."

"Oi! We never agreed on more than one."

With a smirk, Sam added, "May there always be sand in your socks that got stuck in between your toes, just enough to make you uncomfortable."

"..."

"May all your meals be with someone who'd take pictures before you can eat and when you do start eating, the food already turn cold."

"I wish-"

"Are you not done!?" Ray exclaimed as he jumped to his feet, flailing his arm towards the other man trying to stop more words from coming out.

Chih Tian was again at the door, he glanced at Sam who was smirking and stood on his toes to smack the back of Ray's head using his palm before giving them a warning. "Boys, breakfast. Don't let me come here for the third time."

Sam grinned, fully satisfied at his success at annoying his friend that morning. "I guess that's it. Thank you for your kind attention," he said as he walked towards the door with Ray following closely behind.

"Are you satisfied now? What do I do if all that comes true? Can't you just wish I stub my toe or something?"

"I wish you stub your toe or something."

"Sam, you asshole."

Still between the long hallway separated by the living room's wall, Ray raised his hand and gripped hard on Sam's shoulder, making the man turned his head as Ray stood beside him. In a lowered voice, he consoled, "But seriously Sam, don't be so hard on Shu Yi. Talk to him. He is not the kind of person who'd tell his problem to anyone else. If you don't talk to him, who else can he turn to?"

"Mn." Sam replied, intending to walk away again but Ray was still holding onto him.

Ray had never seen Sam so stubborn before. Sam was never someone who would easily be hurt by anything. He used to sometimes wonder if Sam lived by the saying, one smile separate ten thousand worries.

"You owe it to him, you know."

"What do you mean?" Sam asked, his brows furrowed.

Ray gave serious thought to what he was about to say and decided to just go with it anyway, "You did stab yourself in front of him. He thought you were dead for two years. I don't know if you talk about it with him, but for normal people, that'd be quiet traumatic."

Sam lowered his gaze to the floor, the hand on his shoulder suddenly felt too heavy to bear. He swallowed and looked at his friend, forcing a smile on his face and he nodded slightly. "Right.. Thank you, Ray."

Ray loosened his grip and tapped Sam twice on his shoulder. He gave a concerned smile as he said, "Great, I consider all those curses earlier void then."

"You wish." Sam pursed his lips, counting the seconds his friend managed to stay serious just now.

"Shh.. I'm not talking to you." Ray said, as his two palms met and his chin lifted.

"Wh--"

"O god, please grant me merits and save me from the hoodoo of this evil man.."

"Idiot. Let's see if I can keep the story of you snooping on hot nurses in paeds a secret or not."