Here All Along

chapter - 32

A month and a half passed just like that. Chemo had long before started showing its effects on aunt Irin. She had lost weight, grown thinner than a strand of grass, her bones peeking against her pale skin and weary eyes sank deep into the sockets. To me, she was still pretty, even when she believed her bald head made her look like an ugly monk. To me and to all the others, but mostly to Win's dad who i remember often visiting with a bunch of yellow fresh sunflowers (which is how I learned that Win told his dad to buy yellow sunflowers for aunt Irin) and a book to aunt Irin's preference because lately she had been wanting to read more. The fear was evident in his eyes and he had quit trying to hide it. I guessed it dwindled some of the pain, for if others can see, it means it is no longer concealed inside you. Buried wounds hurt the most. The overbearing weight of loans was visibly crushing his back down. Phi Earth's company was slowly getting back on the tracks which was perhaps the only news we had received in a long time.

Everyday felt like the previous, walking in the hospital and wishing that Dr. Neen's words would somehow wash away the frowns on our faces and replace it with a relieving smile. Of course, it rarely happened. It was a matter of comfort that she was a skilled and passionate doctor with whom I'd indulge in polite conversations sometimes. Down the lane, we became acquaintances and then friends. We shared nothing in common except i had handed over to her all my hope regarding aunt Irin which she received kindly. And she would sometimes rant about the performance pressure and office conspiracies. We clicked, not immensely but enough to chat over a cup of coffee after a long day in case we met.

No matter how packed my schedule would get, I'd never forget to check up on Win every night. We were not spending much time together like we used to. Other than at hospital sometimes, we'd not meet anywhere else due to the lack of time. The frequency of his participation in swimming contests and thus, winning was raising him to new pinnacles of fame. He was getting featured in teenage magazines and rewarded as the inspiring youth award by the mayor of the city. He would be embarrassed everytime we'd be out and someone would approach him, asking if he were Win Metawin, the best swimmer at the Water Wings. I was immeasurably proud of him and a giddiness would sweep over me everytime he recited the same story at every platform about how I tricked him into learning to swim and encouraged him beyond limits. Most of the times it was exaggeration because to me, it was his achievement, his effort and as i always said, i only sat back and watched him become the wonderful man he was.

Sometimes, I would insist to hang out especially when he'd sound low over phone. He'd force me to leave so i could spend some time with Adam. I'd tell him Adam understands and he'd clam up. The other days, he'd call me out of nowhere, asking to talk and so i would until his soft snores would hit my ears. There was also a time when I stayed with Win for two nights when phi Earth had to go to Naurburi to fetch certain papers. Win was never the one to get scared easily but after aunt Irin's diagnosis, he had become quite sensitive to things. I wondered why he didn't ask Kavin to come over or may be he did but Kavin wasn't free. I did not ask, more like couldn't and he stayed silent too.

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A/n : suggestive 🔞 content (very little)
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After i returned back to Adam's apartment (which was kinda also my apartment now since i had started to share the rent despite his disliking) that night, I found him sitting in the dining hall which was glowing under little red bulbs and smelled of lavender and lilacs.

"What are you doing?" I asked, raising my brows.

He smiled and pulled me in one of the chairs, pouring me a glass of red wine.

"It's only been two days but feels like you were gone forever."

"How are you doing?" I asked, unwinding in the chair.