Scene: Tan's Apology
The room is heavy with silence, the air thick with unspoken words as Tan lies there, his body still weak and fevered. His friends surround him, looking down at him with a mix of concern, guilt, and sorrow. Tan’s eyes are red from crying, and despite the fever, he still feels like he’s burning from the inside out, not just from illness but from the weight of everything he’s done wrong.
Tan can barely sit up, but he forces himself to. His voice cracks as he speaks, the words feeling like they’re tearing him apart with every syllable.
Tan: “I’m sorry… for everything. For taking advantage of you, Fang. I never meant to hurt you. I… I thought I was helping, but I only made everything worse.”
Fang’s heart aches as he hears Tan’s apology. His mind is clouded with confusion and guilt, but as Tan continues, he can’t help but feel the weight of his own actions too. Fang’s eyes soften, and his voice is barely audible as he replies.
Fang: “Tan, you didn’t take advantage of me. I… I asked you for help. I begged you. I… I don’t know what happened to me, but I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I should have trusted you.”
Tan closes his eyes, feeling a knot form in his throat. His body aches with the fever, but his heart aches even more with the thought that he might have permanently lost his friends.
Tan: “I just… I thought I was a burden. I thought you all would be better off without me. I never meant to make things worse for you.”
Phum steps forward, his voice full of regret as he speaks to Tan.
Phum: “Tan, you were never a burden. We should have noticed what was happening to you. We should have been there for you when you needed us, but we failed you. We failed as friends, and I’m sorry.”
Tan’s gaze falls to the floor as he tries to process their words. He still doesn’t understand why they’re so willing to forgive him, especially after everything he’s put them through. He’s just so tired of being the source of everyone’s pain.
Tan: “I… I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know how to make it right.”
Q, Toey, and Chain stand nearby, watching Tan with a mixture of sympathy and sadness. Toey steps closer, his voice soft but firm.
Toey: “You don’t have to fix everything, Tan. You just have to be here with us. We’ll help you, but you have to let us in. Don’t shut us out anymore.”
Tan looks at them, his vision blurry from the fever and the tears that still fall from his eyes. He’s not sure if he deserves their kindness, but the ache in his chest begins to lessen just a little bit. Maybe, just maybe, he can try to move forward.
Tan turns to Peem, his voice weak but sincere.
Tan: “I’m sorry for bothering you all. I never meant to drag anyone down with me. I just…”
Peem’s eyes soften, and he places a hand gently on Tan’s shoulder.
Peem: “You’re not alone, Tan. You never were. You just have to let us help. You can’t carry all of this on your own.”
Tan nods slowly, his eyes filled with exhaustion. He’s still unsure of how to fix everything, but hearing his friends’ words, seeing their faces filled with concern and care, gives him a sense of hope he hasn’t felt in so long. Maybe things can get better, but it’s going to take time.
The group remains close, silently supporting Tan in whatever way they can, giving him the space to heal both physically and emotionally. The road ahead may be difficult, but Tan knows that, with them by his side, he doesn’t have to face it alone anymore.
