The Red Thread of Destiny

Chapter 16: The care you give

"The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else."

Inside Phayu's hospital room –

"Rain," Phayu's soft whisper was like a shout in the deathly silence of the hospital room. There was utter stillness, until Rain bent down and said, "Phi? P'Phayu?" everyone present surged forward and Pai immediately pressed the button for calling the doctor. The whole family crowded around the bed, trying to touch some part of Phayu, just to ensure he was okay. "Please, step aside from the patient," the doctor announced as he walked in, followed by the nurse. All of them moved away en masse from the bed. Rain also tried to step back, but Phayu's hands kept clutching his fingers. Inspite of being so inherently weak, Phayu somehow found the strength to try to keep Rain with him. Rain looked at the doctor, his eyes filled with an unspoken question. "It's okay Rain, you stay with him. Looks like he is not going to let you go so easily," the doctor said, smiling. Rain sat back beside the bed, stroking Phayu's hair, and holding on to his hand.

The doctor checked his vitals, and pronounced that it seemed that Phayu was out of danger. "We will remove the oxygen mask now, and the catheter by the evening. Let's stick to the IV for a while yet, we will try light liquid meals from tomorrow. But it looks like Nong Phayu is on the mend," the doctor smiled. The entire family breathed a collective sigh of relief. "Let me inform Khun Nu and Macau," Chay said. "They have been asking for constant updates. Best let them know Phayu woke up," he added. Phayu was the first born Theerpanayakul in this generation, born almost 6 months before Pai. Porche always said that knowing about Vegas and Pete about to have Phayu was what motivated them to go for Pai. But being the eldest meant, that Phayu got a lot of love and attention from every single member of the family, for six months more than Pai, a fact that he never forgot to remind Pai of, much to his chagrin.

"Rain, now that Phayu is awake, why don't you go home and rest baby," Pete asked him, patting his head. "Your Pa and Dad are still here, and so are your friends," he added. "I am not going," Rain said, in a soft voice, continuing to stroke Phayu's hair. "You can all leave," I will be there with him." Although his voice was soft, the tone was clear as a scream. 'No one dare force me. He is mine to love, mine to care for, just mine.' Everyone looked at each other. Type started forward, about to say something, when Tharn pulled him back. "No Type, leave him be. He will only get more stubborn if you force him. Let's just give him some time," he reprimanded his husband in a soft voice. Type assented, though his frown clearly indicated that he was not happy with these turn of events. "Rain," Pete said again, only to be stopped by Vegas. "It's like Tharn said. Leave him. He will figure out what is best for him. We decided to entrust our son to him, so let's give him some credit," he said. "But he must eat Ai'Vegas," Pete said. "Papa P, trust me, I will ensure Nong eats," Pai said. "You guys go ahead, and you all too," he said turning to Rain's group of friends. Let me get you guys something to eat, and then get someone to drop you home," he continued. "Thank you for the dinner offer P'Pai, but no thanks. We will take care of it. Plus we have Sky's car, we will get ourselves home. You just take care of P'Phayu and Rain," Sig said, earning nods from the whole group. "Rain is lucky to have friends like you," Kinn said, smiling at them. All of them went, slightly back-hugged Rain, earning his smile, waiied to the elders and left.

Outside the hospital room –

Pai ushered everyone else out of the room. "Rain is being too stubborn Tharn. I can't let this go on. He has performances coming up, he can't afford to get sick," Type said, worried beyond belief. "I agree with Type. Why did you and Tharn stop us, Ai'Vegas?" Pete asked his husband, anger and worry warring clearly. "Just answer this one question Pete. If it had been Tharn or me, would you and Type have left us alone?" Vegas asked. "No, we would not have, it's true. But he is just a child," Pete said. "No Pete. He is not a child anymore. We think that because he looks so tiny and fragile. He has the core of steel, and he never gives up, just like his Pa, right Type?" Tharn said. "I agree that, as parents, we need to worry about our kids, but we must not forget that they have their choices too. As long as we have given them the right values, and the courage and wisdom to make their decisions, we have to learn to respect them too. They deserve that from us," Vegas said.