You & Me [Completed]

Arthit

I was clearing my dishes and making the bed when I heard knocks on my door. I thought it may be Kong as we had plans to go out later.

I went to open the door without looking at the peephole, confidently calling out to Kong, nagging at him for being so early.

Just as I opened the door, before I could register his presence, I was hit squarely on the head with something rounded and hard. I staggered back, stunned by the hit and wondering where and whom it came from when hits started raining on me again. And again. And again.

I couldn't even retaliate back due to the sudden movements and shock of it all. I just spluttered out blood and then passed out, seemingly unaware of what happened after that.

I woke up hours later; in the hospital, with Kong peering at me worriedly and a few other people in the background. I heard my parents' voices too and grimaced. Shit. My mom isn't going to like this.

I tried to sit up, and they helped me slowly.

"Are you ok, honey?" I looked at my mother, who sounded so worried. I nodded my head, assuring her I was fine. She cried on seeing me. I reached out to her, and she sat on the bed, hugging me gently.

"What happened, Ma?'

Everyone looked at me, stunned. I think they were hoping I could fill in the blanks for them, but I was confused myself. Kong filled me in that he found me in a pool of blood, my apartment wrecked and in a disarray when he came by to pick me up. He didn't know how long I had been laying there, bleeding out. He quickly called for the ambulance. He said Lam came by to pass some things back and was shocked to see me like that. He helped Kong in ensuring we got to the hospital safely.

"Where's Lam now?"

Kong said he took off, saying he had something important to do. I frowned. Then it hit me. Fuck. I quickly filled Kong and my parents in on that junior who had been threatening me the day before. I worried Lam may have gone to confront him. I told Kong to quickly get it checked out, and he nodded his head.

He called up some of the boys we hung out with and also called Forth and Park. He found out from Forth that Lam had indeed gone to confront that junior and Park was with him. Kong told Forth to go stop them.

I was getting low-key worried. I was more worried that Lam would get into trouble or be hurt confronting that guy. If my suspicions were right, he must have been the one to hurt me.

Damn, all these over a fucking tutoring assignment?! I groaned as I laid back, a migraine hitting me hard. My parents fussed over me as the doctors gave an update on my condition.

A few hours later, Kong came back with Forth, Park, and some of the other boys, but I didn't see Lam.

"Where's Lam?"

Everyone was quiet.

"I asked. Where's Lam?!"

Just then, the door opened again. Lam shuffled in, his right hand wrapped and sporting bruises on his face.

I tried to sit up quickly but groaned from the sudden impact.

"What happened to you?"

Everyone was eerily silent, even Lam. I repeated myself, but nobody was answering. I sighed. My mom knew I was getting angry. She suddenly told the boys she wanted to get dinner for everyone and asked them to tag along. My dad had gone home to collect my clothes, so it left only me and Lam alone in the room. He wanted to tag along with my mother, who just flicked him on the head and told him not to be stupid.

They left us alone. Lam finally walked over to where I was. I was thoroughly upset over what had happened to him and his refusal to answer me was getting to me more.

I just looked down at my hand and gripped it tightly. Lam finally sat down on the chair and told me what happened.

"I was angry P when I came and saw you in that state. I suspected it must have been him, for I saw him on the phone the night before. I did confront him. I had called the police but I couldn't wait and had gone to see him first. But he.. he did try and attack me, but I managed to keep up.. I am OK.. "

"Are you?! Are you really?! Look at you! Sporting bruises all over and your right wrist is bandaged. Why? Why did you have to do that, Lam?"

"I.. I was just upset when I saw you terribly hurt like that. I felt all this came about because of me.."

I kept quiet, gripping my hands tightly. I didn't look at him as I muttered, knowing I was on the verge of breaking down.

"None of this has to do with you, ok? You have to understand that first. That's all on him. Not even me or you. He lied. He deserved not to be tutored. He definitely didn't need to resort to all this. Are..are you ok?"

Lam nodded. Then, a little while later, he told me.

"I should have just stayed for breakfast, yea?"

I just chuckled as I looked up at him, aware that my eyes were a little teary. I rubbed away at them quickly before they fell. Lam diverted his eyes, pretending he didn't see anything.

Just then, my mother came back with the boys, thankfully breaking up the sombre mood in the room. She insisted everyone stayed for dinner and dutifully looked after me. The boys teased me privately for being a mummy's boy but I just glared at them.

Once we had our dinner, the boys said they will be back to check in on me tomorrow. My mom wanted to stay but I chased her home with my dad, not wanting her to over strain herself. I brushed my teeth with the help of the nurses and was just settling in bed when the door opened again. It was Lam.

"Hey, what are you still doing here? I thought you left with the boys?"

"I came back. I wanted to just make sure you were fine before I left."

"I'm ok. I'm all good. Don't worry."

"Can you call me if anything?"

I assured him I will and he nodded, finally leaving. As I laid back, I couldn't help it but my thoughts kept flitting back to Lam constantly. And how he had hurt himself in the process of looking out for me. Been long since someone last did that.