Peraya One Shot

What the Heart wants.

Tam sat in the bleachers watching a group of boys play basketball, a wistful look on his face. He liked basketball, he like shooting hoops, he just couldn't do it all the time. Tam touched his chest softly a small sigh escaping his lips. He couldn't do a lot of things like most people could, and it annoyed him.

His whole life, he knew there was something wrong with him. Anytime he got to excited, anytime he walked fast, or for long periods of time. Anytime he did any kind of exercises, or did anything that would make his heart race, he would feel weak, his breathing would become labor, and he felt like he was having a heart attack. He even passed out a few times.

The first memory he had was of his parents telling him he was over reacting and needed to calm down. There was nothing wrong with him. They had used him to the hospital when he passed out. As his parents tell it, the doctor told them he just "over excited himself." And "there was nothing to worry about." He had been four. He had learned not to tell his parents or cry about the symptoms, they would just tell him to "stop over reacting."

As he grew up, he started to recognized the triggers. Too much exercise, too much walking, too much jumping around. He learned to keep himself relaxed, try not to over stimulate himself. If he did, he learned how to calm himself down.

That didn't stop him from being a happy person though. He loved to smile, to laugh, to have a good time, even if he didn't move much.

His friends as a teenager, knew there was something wrong with his health as well. They would watch him sit things out or quickly sit down if he joined in on the fun. They never questioned it since the teachers never did. They just learned to go with the flow and watch for signs Tam would be over doing it.

Now Tam was in his last year of university, finishing his master's in early education with only four weeks left till his finals and he could graduate. The stress of school was wearing him down, making his normal symptoms much worse. His friends have told him to see a doctor, yet he told them no. He just couldn't afford it. He was on a full ride scholarship, plus he was a TA to make some money. The money his TA job paid was enough to make sure he ate and got what he needed. There was no room for anything else.

"oh I know that look." A voice said, bring Tam out of his thoughts.

Tam turned his attention to the man flopping down beside him. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at work?"

The man looked at the group playing basketball waving at one of the players. "Water piped broke, whole floor is flooded, can't go back to work today or tomorrow." He said

Tam looked the man up and down his eyebrow raised.

Day was Tam only friend. Clinging onto Tam after transferring into his class in grade eight. At the time, Tam didn't want a friend. He was tired of being disappointed. Any friend he made would soon drift apart when Tam kept turning down activities for them to do. Turning down going to play sport, the mall, the arcade. Tam had learn to be alone.

Day was different though. He didn't seem to care if Tam turned him down. Didn't mind if Tam wanted to do something that didn't cause for much physical activity. He liked Tam for his humor and his quick wit, not for what he could do. He was also a bad boy, smoking, drinking, getting into fight, skipping school. All in grade eight. He was a wild child, and Tam seem to calm him down some. They were completely opposite.

That was almost eleven years ago, and Day was still the same. Still cling to Tam like a life vest, still smoked, still drunk and sometimes still got into fight.

"Are you sure you were not the one to case the break?" Tam raised both eyebrows this time when all Day did was hum a response.

While Tam went into education, Day went into Engineering, so it wouldn't be a surprise if Day did do something like that.