The Sanctuary

New Beginning (2)

***

"What are you doing here?" 

Aou heard Boom say that made him look up from reading the file of one of his patients. 

"Good morning to you, too, Khun Boom! How was your sleep?" Aou said and smiled widely.

"What are you doing here?" 

"Oh. . . Do you need anything? Are you hungry? I think your mom left something here. Wait. . ." He continued as he went to the small refrigerator to look for some food. "Oh here. I'll heat the soup first."

Boom sighed and said firmly. "I said, what are you doing here? Can you leave, please?"

Aou stopped on his track going to the microwave and sighed, "I can't."

"Why?" 

"Because I want to stay here with you."

Boom glared at him. "This is my room and I can choose whoever I want to stay here. And I don't want you here, got it?"

"Well, Khun Boom, I think your mom also has a say on this matter. She allowed me to stay here and I quote, 'N' Aou, please take care of my son for a while. I just need to go and buy some things, OK?'" Aou said changing his voice just like Aunt Mai's.

Aou smiled when he saw Boom's annoyed face. He turned to the microwave again to heat the soup.

"Just get out of here. I don't want to see you."

"I will stay until your mom arrives. I promised her to be with you while she's gone." He said. "If you don't want to see me, you can just close your eyes." He smiled widely as Boom glared at him. They didn't say anything and just stared at each other until they heard the microwave ding. That cut the staring contest they didn't even realize they were doing. Boom looked away and Aou turned around to take the food out of the oven. "Ouch! Ouch!"

That made Boom looked back and asked, "Hey, are you okay?" 

"Yeah. I am." He said and smiled knowing Boom was still soft behind the cold behavior he was showing him. He didn't mention it to him because he didn't want Boom to shy away. "It's just too hot." Then he put the bowl on a tray and to the table he rolled in front of Boom. "Here, be careful." He said and blew the soup on the spoon.

"You don't need to feed me."

"I want to. . .please. . .?" Aou said with a pout.

Seeing him with a pout made Boom smile a little and agreed in a small voice, almost inaudible. In a few minutes, Aou was the one who mostly talked and asked questions while feeding Boom. As Boom started to warm up for Aou, he answered the latter's questions with short answers which made Aou happy because his goal to befriend Boom was getting some light.

"There you go. Good?" He asked and Boom just nodded. "Oh! Wait." Aou took a tissue to wipe Boom's mouth. "Are you full? Here. Drink some."

"You can leave now. I'm done eating, and I will just sleep again. You don't have to stay. Just go."

"You really don't want me here, Khun Boom?" 

Boom was taken aback by Aou's sad expression. He thought his behavior toward him had gone overboard. He wanted to say sorry but Aou stood up and took the bowl to wash. Boom just sighed as he watched Aou's back. Aou's deep sigh just made him guiltier of his behavior. He was about to call him to apologize but the door suddenly opened.

"Oh, you're awake, sweetheart!" Boom's mom greeted him as soon as she entered the room. "How are you feeling? Hi, N' Aou. I'm sorry it took me so long."