KIMCHAY TALES: BITTERSWEET EXCHANGE

CHAPTER 9

Beauty found poor Beast stretched out, quite senseless, and, as imagined, dead. Beauty threw himself upon the Beast and found his heart beating still.

-

Chay's heart pounding hard against his chest, he can almost hear it. The ride to the penthouse is one of the stressful moments of his life. His anxiety increases in every red light they stopped to. He can almost see Kim's unconscious body every time he closes his eyes. No. Kim is okay. Chay kept repeating that in his mind.

Once he reached the building, Chay immediately ran inside. He stopped before he entered the elevator. He gasps. Blood. There's blood on the elevator floor. This made him more nervous than he already is.

"Please be someone else's. Please." he whispered as he entered the elevator, trying to avoid the blood. He felt the ride was so slow. Like fate is playing with him. He has to see Kim now, he has to know if he's okay. He just stared at the screen where the floor number can be seen, tapping his foot impatiently.

The doors opened, just as his eyes widened in shock. There's more blood on the floor, trailing its way to Kim's room. Chay dropped his heavy bag and immediately ran into Kim's room. He was extremely anxious that he could feel his eyes swell with tears.

He immediately opened Kim's door and gasped once more, "Oh no... Khun Kim..." he whispered as he approached the bed. Kim is in a bad state. He's covered in wounds and bruises. He has two long cuts on his chest and arm. Blood started to dry up on his skin.

"What happened to you? " he said, almost crying. He's still breathing which is good, that means he's still alive. He placed his palm on Kim's chest, feeling his heartbeat. As long as its beating, Chay will feel secure. He immediately ran outside and grabbed a med kit and stitching tools. He can't believe he has to do this thing again.

When he went back, he sat by the bed and tried to wake Kim up, "Khun Kim. Khun Kim, please wake up." he called, softly patting Kim's cheek. "Why are you always like this?" he whispered, a tear falling from his eye. Seeing Kim in this state, it's a painful sight for Chay. He felt like his heart was being squeezed.

His heart almost screamed in delight when Kim stirred and groaned as he gained consciousness. He looked at Chay for a while and whispered, "Y-You're not r-real... Y-You're n-not here..."

Chay frowned. What is he talking about? Who's not real? Chay? Or is he seeing someone else? He's probably delirious at this point. Chay tried to snap him out of it, "Khun Kim, what happened?" he asked. Kim didn't answer and closed his eyes, losing consciousness once more.

Chay didn't even know where to start. Should he clean him up first? Which wound should he stitch first? Yes, he knows that he did this before. But his mind is so clouded with worry that he can't think straight. His eyes even blurry with tears.

He gave Kim a shot of painkillers first, Kim might be in pain for a long time and this might lessen it at least. He did the one in the chest first since it's easier to fix. He cleaned it as carefully as possible. With a shaky hand, he stitched Kim's wounds. Chay keeps breathing deeply to calm his trembling hands.

In the middle of stitching, Kim moved. Chay thought he was in pain because he moaned like this in some kind of way. Suddenly, he whispered, "M-Mom..." He moved again, causing Chay to stop.

"Khun Kim, I need you to stop moving. I'm not done yet." he said. He's been sweating profusely and Kim moving added to his stress. The stress is too much, it makes him tear up more.

Kim didn't seem to hear him and moved once more, breathing deeper this time. It looks like his in some kind of dream, a bad dream. Chay knows, he had a few of it before. "Mom..." Kim said again, a tear escaped from his closed eye. It breaks Chay's heart, seeing Kim like this. He's calling for his mom like a lost kid. He looks so weak, so vulnerable. Chay wants to comfort him, but how?