For His Happiness

Chapter 5: In Sickness and In Health

As children, there's always a time when our teacher or anyone asked us our favorite season. I remembered, when I was in kindergarten, I answered winter (I have my reasons). And speaking of seasons, I also remember what Alfred told me about that one spring morning

For some people, after enduring the ruthless wind within a snowy desert for three months, they could finally breathe the lukewarm air of Primavera, it was the season of life, flowers bloom, birds chirping, animals ended their hibernation, all of these natural phenomena were the icons of spring... and so does a cold, ironically...

In Alfred's case, it's never new to him that he would eventually get a cold in the first week of spring. He claimed that it is a natural reaction or "shock" after an immediate change in the weather. At that time, Alfred was in his bed. Mr. Kirkland brought him a thick blanket and helped him wrapped himself into a burrito. Mr. Bonnefoy, as usual, brought him a simple bowl of fruit salad (mainly apples, oranges, and mangoes). Matthew, on the other hand, went to school as Alfred requested him if he could get a copy of his missed class notes and the homework.

"Achoo!" Alfred wiped the snot from his nose with a crumpled tissue.

"See, this is why I'm telling you to eat your salad, it's not even close to Arthur's scones." Francis reprimanded as he crossed his arms while watching the boy tossing the tissue into the nearest bin.

"It's not that I don't like it," Alfred said with a hoarse voice. "It's just that I find it hard to swallow."

Francis sighed and shook his head. Just then, Arthur walked in, already in his suit and tie, and carrying a briefcase in his hand. "Oi! Frog, I heard you talking shit about me, so I came to make sure you're not feeding him crap."

Francis rolled his eyes and said, "Well, the only crap you used to feed him is anything you touch in the kitchen."

Alfred snorted at them but it ended up turning into another sneeze. The other two looked at his direction as they watched him in apprehension.

"Alfred, I know this is a hard time for you but I have to go to work now. Are you going to be fine?" The Brit asked in his caring tenor.

"Of course I will be. Pops is here anyway."

"Of course." He then turned to the other man. "You better not leave him alone, Frog." He said while giving him the "Or else" look.

"Don't even stress yourself, Cher," Francis said. "You know I've been taking care of him ever since he started showing his symptoms when he was a kid."

Arthur nodded in agreement. "Well, I should be going now. I may be a little late tonight but you can start dinner without me."

The three of them said their goodbyes until Arthur disappeared and made his way outside and drove away.

"Hey, Pops," Alfred coughed.

"Hmm?"