Learning Kim

Seven

Chapter 7

Around noon the next day the whole family, apart from Korn and Nampheung, gets called into the meeting room once more. Porchay is happy to see Pete there and hopes he will be able to pass the message on to him without anyone overhearing. This room would also be perfect, because of all the security measures. And it saves him from having to make up a somewhat believable story to get Pete's contact details from his brother.

Kinn clears his voice and has all of their attention. "I have called you here, because I just got notice from the doctors that sadly none of us match as donors for Kim. Together with pa and the staff downstairs, we will now intensify the search nation and even world wide," Kinn tells them and a heavy silence spreads. Porchay is so disappointed, because he really hoped that at least one of Kim's family members would match. Because if they can't find anyone inside the family, then where else are they going to find someone? The news feel like a punch to the gut, painful and somewhat unexpected, even though Porchay has tried to prepare himself for this outcome. Now that it's here though, it still hits so hard he can barely remain upright. The instinct to curl up in a ball and cry is very strong.

"How long does Kim still have without a transplant?" Vegas asks, as he pats Pete's hand, who looks like he might be crying.

"They don't know. The new doctor we recently got from the UK insisted we switch him to a constant dialysis. This way his other organs will hopefully be able to recover, which would stabilise him. There's a risk of bleeding and infection though with this new therapy, but I don't think we are having much of a choice," Kinn reports and it shows on his face and in his voice how much he is affected by this. There is not much left of the scary mafia leader at this moment, but that goes for all of them. Even Vegas looks softer and nearly normal.

"Porchay, Khun, because of the higher infection risk the doctor asked that you don't wash Kim anymore. The nurses will do it again. Apparently it's tricky with the tubes now," Kinn continues.

"We will not leave Kim alone in the room with the nurses!" Tankhun thankfully is the one to protest, because Porchay can't find the energy to. He simply feels hopeless and so so sad. He can't get over the fact that nearly a hundred people of the compound had got tested, Kim's brothers and his father, his cousins and none of them match. Porchay wants to scream and cry, hide under his blanket and only come out again when all is well and Kim is better again. Because he just can't lose him, not when Kim doesn't know that he forgave him and loves him. Not when they didn't have a chance yet to give a relationship a shot. He wants this, wants it so desperately he can't even put it into words.

"You ok?" Porsche mouths at him and gives his thigh a squeeze.

"Not really, but it's not the end right?" Porchay whispers back and tries to be brave. Because he has to.

"Fine," Kinn says to Tankhun's comment, apparently not up for a fight either, judging by the way he clings to Porsche's other hand for strength. "That's really all, I just wanted to tell you all in person. There's nothing new in the investigation. So far we haven't been able to find anything new in the documents Porchay gave us. I just... Thank you all for getting tested. Vegas, please extend my thanks to Macau as well." With that Kinn gets up and leaves the room first, with Porsche holding him upright. Kinn just looks broken at this moment and Porchay will try and remember this, when he feels angry with Kinn again. Kinn has feelings and he loves Kim and Porsche, so they share this. Tankhun follows them out, wiping his eyes, but has a determined look on his face.

Porchay has to snap out of his sadness pretty quick, because he understands suddenly that this is his only chance! "Pete!" He calls out just when Vegas and Pete want to leave the room as well.