The Drummer's Keeper [Completed]

Waiting For Word

ARTHIT

After my mini-meltdown in Prem's arms, I feel exhausted to the bones. Unlike in the movies, there is no glaring red sign that says 'In Surgery' right outside the emergency room doors which I can stare at but instead, metal doors with a 'Do not enter unless authorized' sign stares right back at me, not providing me any answers on how Kong is doing right now. A nurse comes up to us awkwardly, perhaps wary of me after my bawling, softly requesting for us to go to the waiting room a few doors down so that passageway is not blocked by us in the event of emergency.

Knot nods to the nurse and leads the way with Bright as Prem pulling me up to my feet, half supporting me. The waiting room is as depressing as I imagined this kind of place to be. The walls are painfully white, the few tables are littered with old newspapers where people must have read them to pass time waiting for news on the very well used gray couches and chairs. At the corner of the room, there is a wide television at the corner which shows the list of patients in the surgery room and their attending doctors. 

Prae and Em stand in the middle of the otherwise empty room discussing furiously under their breaths, their actions agitated but they still at the sight of us. Her eyes land on me, regret and guilt reflected back in her expression.

"Arthit...I am sorry we didn't manage to stop Sanoh-"

"Stop."

I take a deep breath, a hand halting her apologies.

"How is the rest of the team? Nai, Wad and P'Yong?"

Prae looks surprised at my question. "They are seeing the doctors now to make sure there is no lingering side effects from the tasers. No way of knowing if Sanoh had even know what was the safe voltage or she if took some perverse pleasure in going for maximum voltage to ensure that they went down fast."

"I am sorry to hear that. I hope they will be fine." Having heard how Kong spoke of them before and how they are as close as my band and I, I know it must have really pained her to see her team hurt in one way or another.

"I have also called Kongpob's parents, they are on their way in."

"I..."

My words are paused at an announcement for a Dr. Ratkosin to the surgery room accompanied by running medic staff. I hear whispers of heart failure and some unknown medical jumbo that I cannot comprehend. The most worryingly of all, is hearing Suthiluck mixed in all that. At that moment, the me who never really prays, prayed to every single God and deity that I even vaguely know or heard of. Please just bring my Kong back to me safe and sound.

Curled up on a chair with my feet tucked under me in the corner, my eyes have not moved from the television screen, hoping there will be a change from 'In Operation' to 'To Ward' next to Kongpob's name. A bottle of pink milk suddenly appears in front of my face, blocking my view and I follow the hand attached to Bright's face. Staring at the bottle, I can't muster the energy nor effort to reach out for it. In my line of sight, I can see him slumping in the chair next to mine, his long legs sprawled in front of him.

As if sensing my lack of enthusiasm for the treat, the bottle disappears before reappearing with a straw that is pressed against the corner of my lip. Opening my mouth, I sip it long and hard, the familiar taste flooding through my tastebuds. I wait but the usual happiness doesn't come, I just feel blank, empty, and plain weary. Bright moves the bottle away, leaving it hanging between his fingers.

"Arthit, I am so sorry."

I turn to stare at him, his face wrought with guilt.

"I panicked then. I didn't know if I will see any of you again. I should have trusted Kongpob, I know it's all my fault."