Exo Imagines

139. While He Sleeps (Taoris)

The old oak floorboards creaked under his heavy foot, his defined facial features scrunched up in a grimace as his dark eyes looked down at his lover with hope they hadn't woken. With a muffled "phew," he continued to creep out of the room, wiping of the sweat from his brow caused by the anxiety of having to sneak around in the dark bedroom.

He made his way across the bedroom floor, the sun seeping in the the gap between the thick black curtains glistening against his pale skin, his black eyes twinkling as a small tear formed in the corner of his left eye.

He winced a little when the door hinges squeaked as he slowly eased it open, his eyes quickly averting to look at the figure huddled under the covers, letting out another grateful sigh when they only snuggled up against their pillow, a small bead of drool dropping from the corner of their parted lips.

Pulling his beanie hat down further on his head to cover his eyebrows he skulked out the room and along the hall, down the stairs and into the kitchen, him routing through a cupboard to get the the concealed wooden box hidden at back behind an array of pots and pans. Opening the lid he pulled out the orange bottle and twisted off the lid, tipping out one of the tablets before swallowing it down hard, grimacing at the foul taste.

"I hate this," he mumbled to himself as he pushed everything back in its place before pulling his wool lined leather jacket off the cost hook and picked up his car keys, heading towards the front door, passing the bottom of the stairs as quickly as he could.

"Kris?" A husky and sleepy voice called out. Kris skidded to a halt, his heart thumping so hard he feared it would leap up into his mouth, a lump the size of an apple lodged in the back of his throat, making speech and breathing only that much harder.

"You should be in bed, Tao," Kris said with a quiet, caring tone, him turning to look up the stairs to where his boyfriend was standing.

Tao was rubbing his eyes as he said, "where are you going?"

"I was just popping outside for some fresh air," he lied. "I didn't feel too well."

Tao saw right through the fib, he noticed Kris couldn't quite keep eye contact and he also spotted how Kris' fingers were rubbing again this's palms, massaging away the sweat. "With your car keys?" Tao added, his voice a little sterner, his arms folding across his chest. Kris couldn't think of a smart comeback fast enough. "I know you're lying to me, Kris. I may be younger than you but that does not mean I am stupid."

Kris sighed and walked up the stairs to stand two steps below Tao, his hands reaching out to rub against Tao's biceps. "I won't be gone long."

"Where are you going?" Kris didn't answer, he only looked at his feet. "Kris, tell me now."

With a heavy sigh Kris looked into Tao's squinted eyes and said, "I was going to the hospital."

Tao's eyes widened a little and his arms relaxed, looking at his older boyfriend with worry in his expression. "Is this because of this fever you've had for the past few weeks?"

Kris shook his head to signal the answer as a "kind of". "In a way, yes." He answered. Kris grabbed Tao's hand and say down on the step, gently pulling Tao down to sit beside him. "Have you been wondering why you keep waking up without me by your side?" Tao thought about it for a second before he nodded. "That's because I've been sneaking off to the hospital..." Kris paused to take a deep, shaky breath, his hands quivering. "... For chemotherapy," he managed to finish, his voice cracking on the last word.

Tao's eyes shot open, "you... You mean?"

Kris hated that he has to nod to Tao's question. "I have leukaemia, Tao. I didn't want you to find out so I kept it secret and crept out the house while you slept."

"You should never have kept this from me, Kris!" Kris was about to speak up against Tai to defend himself but Tao would not let him. "And none of these excuses. After you left the group I thought I'd never get you back." Tao turned to grip Kris' hands tight and look him dead in the eye. "And I will not lose you again."