It was 8 pm, right after dinner...

LXIV

"This is your room, Mr. Yang. You can lie down on that bed over there. Dr. Moore will come and check on you soon."

They were at the hospital yet again. Eddy was allowed to accompany Brett to his room, this time a single, and wait until Brett's initial examination was done and then, of course, he had to leave.
"Are you gonna walk back home again?", Brett asked, as soon as the nurse had left them alone.
"Nah! Don't worry. Got my phone and wallet right here!" Eddy slapped the side pockets of his black jeans.
"I bet you'll leave the keys here and have to come back to get them."
"Maybe I'll forget them on purpose", Eddy winked, causing Brett to almost blush. Almost.
"Why? Because hospitals are the place to be?", he quipped to hide how much his best friend's last statement had affected him.
Eddy ruffled Brett's hair. "Do you really need to ask?"
"Hey, stop it...", Brett mumbled, but his lips were curving upward.
Eddy smiled softly. "That's the expression I want to see."
"If you want to see me laugh, just forget those keys and come back looking for them for reals. I'd die of laughter."
He received a half-friendly shoulder slap for his retort.

Dr. Moore came along with a nurse, who took some of Brett's blood to analyze. He checked Brett's vitals, which seemed to be better than last time and when the results from the labs were back, he informed, that an overnight stay would suffice.

"That's good news!", Eddy smiled broadly, casting sunlight all over the room and even lifting up Brett's mood, "I'll come pick you up tomorrow. Tell me, as soon as you know when they let you go?"
Brett gave him a thumbs up and Eddy did his by now signature move, leaning over and kissing Brett on his forehead.
Brett didn't know, if it was sad or simply wonderful that Eddy had a signature move for bidding goodbye to him whenever he had to stay at the hospital by now. The small, cheerful flutter in his belly surely did his share of making Brett flustered, so he stammered an indistinct "Bye", as Eddy made his way out.

He sighed. Yet another night at the hospital. Yet another needle piercing his arm to replenish him with vital stuff he himself couldn't provide for his own body. Brett prayed, that this was really going to be the last time.

B: You home?
E: Nah! 😢
B: What? Why? You left like 1h ago!
E: Wanted to take the metro, so I could get boba on the way home and safe money.... Guess what happened😱
B: Did you get lost?
E: 😭😭😭😭
B: fr???
E: Took the wrong train when I had to change. Took me like five stations to notice!😱
B: 😂😂😂
E: Still on the metro btw! Skipping boba so I get home early
B: What for?
E: Work

Brett furrowed his brows.
B: Don't skip boba. You deserve one!
E: Ok mum!
B: That didn't need much convincing. Also your mum would never tell you to prioritize boba over work
E: Just listening to what you say. Are you not happy?😇
B: Very, oc!

The next message took a bit longer for Eddy to type.

E: What do u wanna do for xmas?🎄🎄
B: dunno, haven't really thought about it

He really hadn't. But it was kind of nice to muse about something that wasn't his sickness or work.

E: Wanna get a big ass tree?
B: you know we're in Singapore? No christmas trees here. A palm maybe somewhere
E: A chrismas palm then. They have plastic ones for sure!🎄🎄
B: We barely have space!
E: We make space! It's gonna be fine! I'll get one!

And Brett could picture it perfectly: an upbeat Eddy, whisteling Jingle Bells flawlessly in tune through his slightly crooked teeth, wearing a red santa hat and the Christmas Apparel jumper, both highlighting his golden frames, carrying an oversized Christmas tree up to their apartment.
It was as festive and warm as a cup of eggnug and cinnamon and cookies and spices all coloured in the orange red colour of some fireplace combined.

Brett would pay good money to see this vivid image in his head actually come to life.
He typed quickly.

B: Alright! Get that big ass tree then
E: Will do so! What else?
B: Don't need anything else, do we
E No, I mean christmas presents dummy! What you like?🎁🎁
B: Don't have to get me anything. You're doing way too much already!
E: Just tell me! Or I'll get you shitty things.
B: Nah! It's really not necessary! Is there anything you want?
E: You getting better! That's all.

Brett couldn't help but smile upon reading Eddy's last text. What a sap. A cute sap.

B: I will! But a real gift. Come on!
E: You got me the necklace already!
B: Ages ago! And not for Christmas
E: Boba is fine😍
B: You get that all the time! Doesn't count! Tell me!
E: Figure something out 😉 surprise me

Great! Now Brett had to rack his brain in order to think of a creative item Eddy didn't yet possess. Usually, Eddy was the one with the great gift ideas. Brett had to either walk up to something like he had with the necklace for it to be a heartfelt, genuinely well thought through gift. Otherwise, there were only prank presents he had to offer.

B: Gonna get you a viola.
E: Eww! We already have one!
B: I have one! You don't! You need one too!
E: Brett I swear! If you give me a viola...😡

Brett chuckled.

B: Are you still on the metro?
E: Yup!
B: Is your station up soon?

There was a little break, before Eddy typed.

E: 😱😱😱😱😱😱
Brett had to laugh.
B: Noo... Don't tell me
E: Noooo! I'm almost back at the hospital now 😭😭😭😭
B: wtf!!!
E: You distracted me, mate! It's your fault! Wait!

Brett did feel a bit bad. He imagined a breathless Eddy storming out of the train to get to the other side to ride in the opposite direction yet again.

B: get home first, safely! We talk later!

He put his phone away, so Eddy could fully concentrate on his big quest right now and layed down properly so he could take a small nap.
The needle in his arm shot cold liquid into his veins, the ryhthmic beeping sound soon carried Brett into a dreamless slumber.