What If...

11: Chicken Soup

Having Dennis take good care of me at this time was something I never expected. Especially when he said that he was staying here for the first week to check on me. These moments make me reminisce at the time I did the same for Bok...

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One day, Bok was not around our meeting spot by the school entrance. I waited for 30 minutes, but he’s a no-show.

Fortunately, one of his teammates was heading towards my direction, and I asked him about Bok.

   “Barrs stayed in his room, Ynchang. He may be sick because he rarely stays in our quarters on school days,” his teammate said.
   “Can you take me to his room? I’ll just get something,” I said as I started to worry about Bok. His teammate agreed as we headed first to my favorite deli to get something to eat and proceeded to the Athlete’s Quarters at the far end of the campus.

As the name suggests, the Athlete’s Quarters is where our athletes stay in case they don’t have any residences near the school. Most of the residents here are athlete-scholars coming from far-flung provinces. The quarters have their common living and recreational spaces, dining hall, toilet and rooms that can accommodate at least 10 athletes. Bok's room, however, is different from the rest of the residents. Being an ace player, they are given separate quarters located at the third floor. They have their own room plus toilet and bath for their utmost privacy.

While his teammate is accompanying me to Bok's quarters, some of the athletes were surprised to see me there and heard them asking among themselves:

   “Isn’t that Ynchausti of the fencing team?
   “What is Ynchang doing in our quarters?”
   “Will he be staying in here as well? It would be great to have him with us, knowing that he comes from a prominent family.”
   “Why will he be staying here in the Athlete’s Quarters when he lives comfortably in his mansion at the quiet district of the city?”
   “Who will he visit here since we are all boys?

   When I reached his room, his teammate asked, “Why are you visiting Barrs?”
   I smiled back and cheerfully replied, “Because he’s my best friend, and he might need my help at this moment. Thank you for bringing me here.”

When his teammate left, I knocked at his door, but he didn’t answer or opened the door. I knocked again, but the same response. I tried to open the door in case it’s not locked, and it opened.

Upon opening his room, I see Bok curled in his bed. When I checked on him, he was burning with fever.

   “Bok, you’re burning sick! Since when are you feeling that way?” I anxiously asked Bok.
   “Don’t worry about me, Ynchang. It’s just one of those days that I’m not in the mood to get out of bed,” Bok replied with a gravelly voice.
   “With that fever and cracked voice, you’re definitely sick!” I reprimanded him. “Where do you keep your medicines?”
   “I’m not sick, Ynchang. I just need some rest,” said the sickly Bok. While saying that, he begins to act like he’s having muscle spasms.
   “Whatever, Bok. I’ll just try to search in your room. I've got all day to look for your medicine,” I answered back as he seemed not to care about his situation.
I tried to look in his room for medicines, and found some Paracetamol in the First Aid Kit in his cabinet. I prepared the chicken soup that I ordered at the deli and his drink in order for him to take his medicine. Then I helped him sit on his bed so that he can eat his soup.
   “Bok, please have some of this. You need to recover, especially that we got exams week in a few days,” I instructed Bok as I feed him with my chicken soup.
   “How did you know where my room is and why are you here?” Bok asked as he reluctantly eats his meal.
   “I was worried that you weren’t around our meeting spot this afternoon, so I asked your teammate where you were and led me here,” I emphatically disclosed, while trying to convince him to eat. “Please finish this while it’s still hot. You will also need to take this pill after.”