Autumn is a second spring

72. Fever.

Boun hadn't expected their Paris trip to turn out this way. In the beginning everything was going as per his plan. They took Bew to meet his mom and the child was over the moon after they did. 

But, on the second day of their trip, they found themselves stuck in a, hotel room. Prem had fallen seriously ill with a fever that came out of nowhere, leaving him weak, drenched in sweat, and confined to bed.

Boun sat by the bed, his hand gently resting on Prem's, feeling the warmth of his skin through the thin fabric of the sheets. It pained him to see his Pao reduced to a vulnerable state. 

Prem had always been the strong one, the one who could handle anything life threw at them. But now, as he lay there with an IV drip in his arm, his strength seemed to have deserted him.

The doctor had come earlier that day, at his insistence, to avoid dragging Prem to a hospital, which would only have made him feel worse. 

The doctor reassured him that it was a viral infection, nothing too serious, but still, he couldn't help but worry. He had always been a worrier, especially when it came to the people he loved.

Prem had been under a lot of stress lately, and he knew it. After Bew asked to meet his biological mother, Prem had taken it hard. 

Ohm's assurance had helped settle Prem's anxiety to a great extent but the fear of losing Bew to Merlin still lingered in the depths of his heart.

When Boun planned this trip, he wanted them all to have a break, especially Prem, who had been working without a day of break. He wanted them to relax and enjoy each other's company without the looming shadow of responsibilities. 

As he sat there watching Prem restlessly move in his sleep, his plan for the perfect marriage proposal in the romantic city of Paris, seemed to be crumbling.

Prem's face was pale, and every so often, a shiver ran through his body despite the blankets that covered him.

Boun reached out to brush a damp strand of hair from Prem's forehead, his touch soft and gentle. He didn't want to wake him, but he couldn't resist the urge to offer some comfort, even in this small way.

Prem had always been the one who took care of him. This was the fourth year of their relationship and for the first time, he had to take care of his Pao.

"Why didn't I notice sooner?" Boun murmured to himself, a pang of guilt tightening his chest. He should have seen the signs. 

Prem had been quieter than usual in the days leading up to the trip, but Boun had chalked it up to nerves about the upcoming meeting with Merlin. He wondered if Prem had been feeling unwell all along but hadn't wanted to worry him.

A soft knock at the door pulled Boun from his thoughts. He stood up quietly, not wanting to disturb Prem, and went to answer it. 

Earth stood in the doorway, his expression a mix of concern and warmth. He was staying in the room next door.

"Swadee, Phi," Earth said softly, his eyes immediately going to the bed where Prem lay. "How is he doing?"

"Still the same," Boun replied, his voice hushed. "The fever hasn't broken yet."

Earth nodded, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. He walked over to the bed, his gaze lingering on Prem for a moment before turning back to Boun. "You have been here the whole time, haven't you?"

Boun didn't answer, but the exhaustion in his eyes said it all. He hadn't slept in days, not since Prem first fell ill. The worry had kept him awake, his mind racing with thoughts of what could go wrong, what he might have missed, and how he could make things better.

"You need to rest, phi," Earth said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I will stay with him tonight. You go get some sleep."

"I can't leave him," Boun protested, though his voice lacked its usual strength. He knew Earth was right, but the idea of leaving Prem, even for a few hours, made his heart clench.

"You are not leaving him," Earth reassured him. "I am here, and I will take care of him. You are no good to him if you are running on empty. Go get some rest, and I will wake you if there is any change."

Boun hesitated, his eyes flickering back to Prem. He felt torn between his need to be by Prem's side and the exhaustion that was pulling him down. He knew he was no good to anyone like this, but still, the guilt gnawed at him.

"I'll just lie down for a bit," Boun finally conceded, his voice barely above a whisper. "But come get me if he needs anything. Anything at all."

"I promise," Earth said, giving him a reassuring smile. "Now go. I've got this."

Reluctantly, Boun left the room, his footsteps heavy with fatigue. He found his way to the adjoining room, where the bed seemed to beckon him with a promise of rest. 

As soon as he lay down, the weight of the past few days hit him all at once, and he felt his body sinking into the mattress, his eyes already closing. 

But sleep didn't come easily. His mind kept drifting back to Prem, lying in the next room, and the worry that had been his constant companion since they arrived in Paris.

Boun had wanted this trip to be perfect. He had wanted to show Prem just how much he loved him, to make him forget all the stress and worry that had been plaguing him. 

He had even planned to propose, a moment he had been dreaming of for months. But now, everything seemed to be slipping through his fingers, and he didn't know how to hold on.

He turned onto his side, pulling the blankets up around him, and tried to push the thoughts away. He needed to rest, if only for a little while, so he could be strong for Prem. But the guilt lingered a dull ache in his chest that refused to go away.

Back in the other room, Earth sat by Prem's side, watching his friend sleep. He could see the toll the fever had taken on Prem, but he could also see the strength that still remained. 

Prem had always been a fighter, and Earth knew he would pull through this. But he also knew that Boun was right to be worried. Prem had been under too much stress for too long, and it had finally caught up with him.

He wasn't much surprised when he heard that Prem collapsed. The amount of stress he was under because of Bew as well as the workload had been taking a toll on his friend.

The climatic difference between Paris and Bangkok was the last straw. Prem's body was already weak from lack of rest, and it couldn't adjust itself when they got to Paris, resulting in a fever.