A sem ti povedal (Did I ever tell you)

Chapter 5: In sickness and in health

Against the cool tiles of the bathroom, his breath ragged and his body weakened. Kris flushed the toilet and held him close, pressing a soft kiss against his forehead.

Outside of the bathroom Nace, Jure and Jan stood waiting on them. They had walked up there, wanting to check in on their friend, finding a locked door and hearing Bojan puking his guts out in the bathroom. Wincing at every sound they heard. When they heard the flush they knocked on the door. Asking if everything was alright.
With a firm hand he helped Bojan up, steadying him when he stumbled. Bojan drank some water to try and wash away the god awful taste in his mouth. They heard the knock on the door, and then Nace’s voice asking if everything was alright. Kris answered in the affirmative, Bojan looked at him with a tear streaked face. ‘Can you help me get to my room’ he asked. Kris nodded and helped Bojan out of the bathroom, navigating the hallways together.

Back inside of Bojan’s bedroom Kris guided him to the bed, fluffling the pillows and adjusting the blankets to create a cosy cocoon of warmth. He knew his time with Bojan was limited, since he had to go to the meet & greet, but he wanted to ensure his well-being. Noticing the perspiration on Bojan’s forehead he fetched a hand towel, ran it under cold water and gently pressed it against Bojan heated brow. He also placed a bottle of water on the nightstand. ‘You have to drink enough today’ he said, Bojan’s voice, weak but filled with sincerity, trembled as he mustered the strength to express his emotions. ‘Thank you, Kris’ he murmured. Before leaving Kris leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on Bojan’s forehead, ‘I love you’ Kris whispered. Reminding Bojan he would only be a phone call away and that he would return as soon as possible.
Jan, Nace and Jure were waiting outside of Bojan’s room when Kris closed the door behind him. ‘He is not doing well,’ he admitted. ‘He’s still feeling nauseous and is running a fever. I had to help him in the restroom earlier.’ Jure’s brow furrowed. ‘Is there anything we can do?’ Kris shook his head. ‘He is sleeping now’. Kris answered. ‘We can’t leave him alone like this.’ Nace chimed in. Kris’ mind was racing. ‘Bojan would want us to continue’ he finally said.

Throughout the event, Kris's mind frequently drifted to Bojan, his worry growing with each passing minute. He made a conscious effort to engage with the fans, putting on a brave face and mustering his energy for the performances and interactions. However, his thoughts remained with Bojan, and the concern gnawed at his every action.

As the meet and greet progressed, some keen eyed fans began to notice the subtle shift in Kris’ demeanour. He appeared distracted, glancing at his phone every 10 seconds eyes filled with a mixture of concern and urgency. Whispers rippled through the crowd. Sensing the curiosity of their fans Jan took a moment to address the fact that Bojan couldn’t be there because he was sick. Concerned murmurs filled the air as the fans expressed their wishes for a speedy recovery.

As the crowd eagerly awaits their chance to get a photo or autograph from the boys Jure seized the moment to talk to Kris. He leaned closer and spoke in a hushed tone. ‘Hey Kris,’ he bean, his eyes glistering with mischief, ‘how’s your boyfriend doing? Feeing any better?’ Kris eyes widened briefly, caught off guard by Jure’s directness. He glanced around before answering with a sheepish smile. ‘Well he’s not feeling great, the fever and nausea are still lingering and he’s been sick again. I wish I could be with him right now.’ Jure’s grin widened at Kris’ answer. ‘Take good care of him.’ Jure said, making Kris blush, ‘thanks, I’ll do everything to make sure he gets better.’

Unbeknownst to them, a fan with a sharp ear overheard their conversation. Her heart skipping a beat as she pieced together the fragments in her head – Jure urging to go and take care of his boyfriend, Bojan being sick. Excitement and curiosity surged within her as she realized she had stumbled upon a heartfelt secret. She aimed to respect their secret and didn’t spread the news through the group. The fan smiled at Kris as he excused himself from the meet and greet, politely and made his way towards Jan, Nace and Jure. He expressed his need to return to the hotel, wanting to check in on Bojan. The fan watched from a distance, a smile playing on their lips, touched by the genuine care and tenderness Kris exhibited.