Sotus: Hiraeth [Complete]

15. Sharing your burdens

Kongpob

The day of surgery finally came Kongpob was scared as hell.
Arthit held his hand " I'm here with you."

" You will be there with me right ? " Kongpob asked.

" I wouldn't have it any other way " Arthit smiled at him but gulped instantly as Kong turned towards sook

" I'm handling your case , don't worry Ai Kong. " Sook too assured him.

Pricha kept a hand on his shoulder in wordless support. Kong smiled hesitantly gripping Arthit's hand as tightly as he could.
Arthit clenched his teeth to keep himself from wincing by Kong's iron grip on his hand.

" Ready ? " Pricha asked gently. Kong nodded. He was taken to the operation theatre.

" Why are two beds here? " Kong asked .

" Just in case. " Sook said.

Arthit gulped seeing all white walls of operation theatre. He was not feeling well. He could feel his palms sweating.

Kong was made to lie on the bed for injecting  anesthatic after checking his vitals. All the while he was holding on Arthit's hand as if his life dependent on it.
" I'm here" Arthit assured him once again. Kong nodded.

Arthit sighed in relief when grip on his hand loosened after Kong was given anesthesia.
Doctor waited before asking Kong to count fingers and they asked his name to see how deep was he in anesthesia, he was in delirium . Arthit stayed by his side. A nurse came in wheeling a tray with all the surgical tools displayed in it. Arthit stared at it , he started sweating uncontrollably thinking all the ominous things these tools can do.

" Are you alright ? " A nurse asked him.

" Ye- " Arthit fainted right away. Nurse looked at Sook as if to ask what to do with Arthit.

"Put him in the bed next to Kong, he had promised to be by his side " Sook said.

" You are evil , why would you ask for all this displayed meticulously , when it's a laser surgery? " Pricha fumed.

" Well, he didn't say he would be conscious. Did he ? " Sook shrugged.

" Okay, get ready." Change was instant in Sook's demeanor. One could see why he was respected as a doctor.

Operation lasted 20 minutes. " Keep him under observation " Sook instructed the nurse as he took off his gloves. Both bed were wheeled in ICU.

" Why isn't Arthit waking up ? " Pricha asked Sook.

" Possibly he hadn't eaten anything to avoid throwing up in operation theatre. He displayed every symptom of a person who has mild phobia of surgical instruments" Sook said.

" Why did you let him in then ? " Pricha fumed.

" He promised Kong besides I made him faint to avoid giving him heart attack, didn't I ? Instruct a nurse to  wake him up and give him something fluid. I'll check on Kong after next surgery." Sook instructed.

Pricha woke Arthit up gently and made him drink fruit juice " you are crazy" she whispered.

He smiled awkwardly " I didn't want to leave Kong alone in there, he was scared." Arthit said gazing lovingly at Kong's still unconscious form.

That day Kong woke up after five hours. Up to two days he was a delusional due to heavy pain medication. Slowly they reduced painkillers, it took a week for Kong to be fully aware of his surroundings. Now he was fully aware of people visiting him but he was advised strict voice rest of two weeks , not even whispering was allowed.