Unconditional

He has changed

That night Dec was awake coughing and sneezing. And so was Ant. He did feel sorry for the smaller boy but was a little annoyed at that disturbance. It was around midnight that he heard soft sniffles which had nothing to do with the cold. He sat up on his bed to see the blanket bundle in the other bed shaking with suppressed sobs. Ant walks to the smaller boy and slowly pats him on his arms "Dec...."

A small face, wet and red with tears and exhaustion peeps at him through the blankets and Ant places his palm on Dec's forehead to note that the fever has subsided. He passes a bottle of water to Dec, who sits up with some difficulties and sips it slowly

Ant: "Want something hot?"

Dec shakes his head and Ant sighs.

Ant: "Tell me if you want, I have an electric kettle with me"

Dec: " I will do it"

Ant: "Its okay. If you want tea or something, I will ask Mary"

Dec: "No.. water is enough..I am sorry"

Ant: "Its okay. I can't sleep anyways"

Dec: "Sorry for that too... "

Ant heats a cup of water and takes it to Dec who was again attacked by a coughing fit

Ant: "Drink this - slowly. Mary gave us a syrup today but I can't find it anywhere.."

Dec : "Oh.."

Ant: "What's with that face? Do you know where it is?"

Dec: "Umm no...?"

Ant: "Are you a kid Declan? Where is that bottle?"

Dec: "I dont kno-"

Ant: "I can see it in your face that you know"

Dec fishes out a dark coloured bottle from beneath his pillow and looks at Ant sheepishly

Ant: "Beneath the pillow?!"

Dec: "You won't search there"

Ant shakes his head in annoyance and pours the thick liquid into the cap "Drink this"

Dec wrinkles his nose and makes faces at it

Ant: "Drink this or I will smack you to that wall"

Dec frowns at him and slowly takes it and downs it, trying hard to suppress the retches "Eeyuuww"

Ant: "See it was easy"

Dec: "I know you wont"

Ant: "I won't what?"

Dec: "Smack me "

Ant: "Don't be that confident" No I won't

Dec: "You know I read people's mind?"

Ant suppressed a tug in his lips "Do you now?"

Dec: "Yeah.. umm I know that you are thinking when I will stop being an annoyance for you"

Ant: "No. I was wondering what made you cry"

Dec: "Oh.. It's, it's nothing. Just silly"

Ant: "Silly? "

Dec: "I.. I just miss.... umm my mam when I am ill"

Ant: "Miss your mam? You are 21 not 12!"

Dec: "I know that. Its ...umm "

Ant felt bad that he judged the boy like that. He had seen him cry many times to realise that he is an outright emotional being