A Cup of Stars (Revised).

ʜɪs ᴀᴅᴅʀᴇss.

Yuki was so furious when she learned that her employer will not be able to go to the café that morning. She received a message from him, telling that he had sprained his foot. She knew that him telling her that he slipped in the bathroom was just an excuse. She noticed someone arriving and it was the doctor yesterday. This time, he was with his friend. He looked around and realized that the owner of the café was not there. He approached the counter and asked if Hokuto was there.

"Hokuto-san is currently on leave. May I know why you are looking for him?" She asked but he shook his head and ordered two glasses of iced tea instead. He has been worried about him since yesterday because he saw a glimpse of his scar on his collar.

"May I know where he lives?" He asked this time and Yuki just smiled and shook her head. Of course, she would say nothing. She doesn't want to endanger her employer's life, knowing that his husband can kill him easily.

"I will ask Hokuto-san if he can go to work next week already. Can I have your phone number to inform you about it?" She opened her hand in front of him and he gave her his card. After that, he paid for his order. Haru, their waitress, served the two glasses of iced tea on the table.

"Are you sure about it?" His colleague, Shohei, who is also his best friend asked. He shook his head and took a sip from his glass of iced tea. He doesn't know why he was feeling uneasy when Yuki said that Hokuto was on leave.

"Can you fill in for my rounds later?" He asked and Shohei just nodded. It's been a while since he saw Itsuki getting agitated over something or someone. He already assumed that he took interest in the man he told about yesterday.

It was already five in the afternoon when Natsuki and Yuki finished their working hours. They parted ways at the intersection and Natsuki didn't expect that Itsuki was there to ask him about Hokuto's address. He was hesitant to give it to him but at the end, he wrote it on a small paper before leaving to attend his night classes. He stared at the address written on the paper and then, he hailed a cab. It was just minutes away from the café.

It was almost dark. He was about to press the doorbell when he heard something crashing from inside. He immediately opened the door and his eyes widened when Hokuto was on the floor, clutching his stomach. His husband and his mistress were too stunned to move. He carried him in his arms to bring him to the hospital when the mistress stopped him.

"If something bad happens to him, I will call the police." There was anger in his voice. He rushed him to the hospital where he works and Shohei was the one who checked Hokuto. After making sure that he was already safe, they brought him to a private room.

"It happened again." Shohei mumbled while writing something on Hokuto's medical papers. He raised a brow and looked at him. He crossed his arms on his chest and demanded an explanation from his best friend. Shohei let out a sigh and took the vacant seat.

"Hokuto-san has been my patient for three years already. I'm his consulting doctor." Shohei confessed and he felt betrayed that his best friend didn't even bother to tell him that he knows Hokuto.

"Don't get mad at me. I promised Hokuto-san that I will not tell anything about it. At first, I was thinking who was the person you were talking about and now, I learned that it was him. As a doctor, I have to keep his information confidential. You know about that. I can't disclose anything about him." Shohei continued and he nodded. He understood that he was just doing his job as Hokuto's consulting doctor.

"I asked him a couple times when he would report his abusive husband and his mistress but he was not answering me. I tried to help him but he doesn't need me to do it for him. Perhaps you can do it, Itsuki. Help him. I want him to find his happiness." There was desperation in Shohei's voice.

Shohei left them alone after that. He reached for his hand and gently held it. It was cold, almost like a dead person. He shifted on his seat and sat on the hospital bed instead. He unbuttoned Hokuto's hospital shirt and saw the bandages around his torso. The older one almost broke his ribs because of the punches he received from his husband. There were also scars, fresh and old ones. He traced the huge one with his fingertip and felt how painful it was. How could he endure the pain and suffering he was receiving from them? He buttoned his shirt up again and covered him with the blankets. He will be safe in the hospital. He can't let him go back to that house again.

"Stop.. please.." Hokuto murmured in his sleep and tears started to fall from his closed eyes. He was having a nightmare. He held his hand tight and he woke him up. The older one looked at him as he was sobbing silently.

"It hurts.. It hurts so much.." He started to cry hard and Itsuki leaned down to hug and comfort him. He never thought he would need comfort from a stranger. He gripped on him tight and poured all of the tears full of pain and fear he hid for years.

"I'm here.. I'm here, Hokuto." Those words escaped from his lips. The urge to keep him by his side is strong. He held him in his arms, making sure he would feel safe and warm. For the rest of the night, he didn't dare to leave him.

It was already lunch time when he woke up. He looked around and realized that he was in the hospital. The door opened and it was him. Shohei followed and he bit his lips gently. All he could remember was that moment his husband punched him several times on the stomach. He trembled while remembering the pain he received. He started vomiting blood and Shohei called for nurses. Itsuki's white coat was tainted with his blood but he didn't bother. All he wanted was to help him.

"Hokuto? Hokuto, can you hear me?" He asked and the older one lost consciousness in his arms. They rushed him to the ICU after finding out that he has a bruised lung. They performed an oxygen therapy for him to ease his breathing.

"After he gets discharged, I will tell him to stay in my apartment for a while." He said while standing outside the ICU. Shohei grabbed his arm and made him look at him. He shoved his hand away and started walking back to his office.

"You can't do that, Itsuki. He is married. His husband will accuse you as his boyfriend and he can sue you for adultery." Shohei said when they arrived in his office. He took his coat off and threw it to the couch.

"Then, what should I do? Wait for him to go back to his house and let him get beat up like that again? He will die there, Shohei. His husband will kill him." He said and they heard a knock from outside.