Naked Minds: Reading your mind like an open book

39

<< GUN >> 

I sat for hours holding onto Papi's hand, simply looking at him. I feel sad sitting there while Papi looked like this. His extravagant room previously trimmed with gold and adornments was now reduced to a 250 square feet place that that is now just trimmed with curtains and adorned with wires and tubes. My eyes never left him as worry and concern consumed me. 

"Nong Gun, how is Off?" I heard P'Kwang entering the room. 

"He still haven't woken up." I said softly without looking at her.

"I've already had a meeting with the director, producer, and the management regarding the incident. I was quite pissed that they were all excuses. As your manager, I had to step in. They shouldn't have been lax just because Off was nice enough to lend everyone bodyguards. Anyway, they said that they're already working on everything to address this." 

"Thanks for all your support, P. Though their realization came too late. Papi shouldn't be lying here." I pointed out.

"Look, I'll watch over him. T-rex will bring you somewhere to eat." 

"Can I stay here abit more? I'm not sure how long I can stay here considering there are schedules that needs to be met." I pointed out. 

"You don't have to worry about that. With the recent incident, they have decided to move all your schedule pending the improvement of Off's health. Most of the schedules did require the both of you to be there. I'll let you know if there are any changes." she assured me. "So you better go and eat before you pass out and be a patient yourself." 

I ran my fingers through Papi's hair. "Get well soon, Papi." I turned to P'Kwang. "Please let me know if anything changes." 

"I will. You get some rest and a warm meal." P'Kwang cupped my face with her hands, "Don't worry. We'll get through this." 

I nodded meekly before heading out. I noticed there were bodyguards staying at waiting area. They kept a good eye of people going in and out the ICU. Since there were a lot of reporters waiting up front, he took me to the parking lot where a car was already waiting. 

T-rex brought me to have a meal outside the chaos. I had him join me for the meal knowing that he had also been out searching for Papi. Still the meal was eaten without any exchange of words. Afterwards, I went back to the penthouse for a quick shower. 

"Please have some rest for now, Kun Gun." T-rex politely urged. "The ICU would be closed from 2 to 4 pm. I'll wake you up around 3:30 to leave."

I nodded before retiring inside our room. I was completely drained. After I hit the shower, I laid on the bed and immediately dozed off. I really can't call it sleeping as I found myself waking up every now and then from nightmares. After trying to sleep for the second time, I barely had it in me to go back to sleep. There I laid hugging Papi's pillow. It still had his faint scent lingering on it. I clenched on the fluffy pillow hoping it was Papi but it was nothing like him. Burying my face on his pillow, I wept all worries and woes that never seem to go away. 

T-rex knocked at around 3:30 as promised. I quickly wiped away the tears and tried to compose myself before going back to the ICU. Unfortunately, there weren't any changes to Papi, who was already cleaned by the nurses during the break. I watched and stayed alone with Papi until New came over to relieve me so I can have my dinner. 

This time, I decided to eat at the hospital canteen. It turned out to be a bad move as there were several reporters lingering there. They moment one approached me, 3 other bodyguards apart from T-rex boxing me. Where did they come from? I knew there were people protecting Papi staying in front of the ICU but I didn't expect them to also cover for my safety.