Brute

Part 8

Joong

"Here...everything you need is inside", Jay shoved a bag onto my table. I looked up at him, looked at the bag and continued my work that I was doing. "Don't push yourself, Sir. He was already warded for two days. You wanted to go there, then go. I'll cover you up". I dropped my pen on the table and wiped my face, agitated. 

"I've already sent you to take care of everything. I believed, nothing amiss, right? Then why should I go?", I asked Jay, trying to control my voice from straining.

"Nothing amiss? Don't you want to know the reason he was in there in the first place? That moment you called me because you wanted to find out where he was or what happened, your voice was shaking. You were afraid. No, you are still afraid! So, stop lying, Joong! ", Jay was mad. He never raised his voice, nor called me Joong during work. 

"I'll ask the driver to bring your car home. Used the one that is parked on the side of the building. Nobody would detect it's you", he said curtly in the end. 

"When did I say I'll go?", I said to Jay, cold.  

"No. I decide that for you. If you still want to be bullheaded, then find a taxi to go home", Jay said and almost walked out from my room, when he continued, "it wasn't just a simple fever, Joong. Don't come to me regretting your choice later. I'm afraid, I won't be kind enough to embrace you at the time". 

Damn! I must be too soft on Jay. But, I knew he meant well. And just liked Nine, he was another person who genuinely care for me. I looked inside the bag. A casual shirt, jeans, glasses and cap were in there. And also the car key. The only thing left was my choice. 

Nine

I felt tired. Though I ate, most of it came out through vomit. There're so many test done, blood taken, wires and lines attached to my body. They wanted to monitor and make sure my condition did not get worse. The fever was up and down in two days. I was still not that stable. My parents were here till ten, I asked them to leave. Both were not young anymore, they felt tired easily too, lacking sleep, taking care of me and still need to go to work in turn. The staff convinced them that I'd be in utmost care 24 hours, whenever needed. 

My sleep was disturbed. I again dreamed about Joong. When we were kids, when we were teens, when we were young adults. The phase jumping here and there. I must missed him so bad, to dream of him so vividly liked this.  It ended up with me holding his hands, but it started to bleed and I panicked. The blood was dripping on the floor. I tried to stop the bleeding but it was endless. I was shaking. How come this happened again? Whom did he fight, this time? I could feel the wetness blurring my eyes, "No...", I was screaming, "No! Stop!". 

I could feel my face was held by someone. Feel the tears that had started to fall, was wiped away. With a little sobs, I opened my eyes and saw a figure so familiar, dressed up liked when we were young adults. I am still dreaming. This is him, back then. I sniffed and said, "When did I ask you to punch anyone, Joong?". He smiled, and answered, "It's my choice, to fight for you". 

Joong

As soon as I said that, he smiled, closed his eyes back and sleep peacefully. He didn't let go of his hold on my hands. I could feel the warmth seeping on my skin. How I missed this tenderness that was lacking my whole life. I remembered back then, every time, his lips tightened to not say anything, when he cleaned and put medicine on my injured hands. Yet, his eyes were always shiny. He was trying not to cry. He must had cried when I was not looking, liked just now. Even while dreaming, he felt it. His question had let me knew; he must be dreaming of that hard time again. 

I looked at the sleeping face; sunken cheeks. This illness must be bad on him, to look so sick. My eyes felt prickly. Regret and guilt were consuming my soul. I thought what I did was the best for him. I didn't know that he was sick more than what I'd expected. Jay was right, and I realized why he was so mad at my stubbornness. He must had seen the condition Nine was in. I laced my fingers in between his slender one. My big hands made his, looked so small. Let him sleep as much as he wanted. I'll wait till early morning and be gone. 

Nine

I opened my eyes slowly. The nurse came in to take my vital's reading. She was smiling and asked a few questions. I told her that I felt a little nauseous, but that might be caused by the headache that I felt. Too much sleep; or that endless dream; might be the cause of the headache, I guess. She took note and said a specialist would come to check on me later. Not long after, breakfast was brought in. But, I was surprised when there's an extra small paper bag included. The person said, it was put in as a special order. 

I opened the bag and saw a bread and a bottle of water. A small note was also put inside. 

"Sorry it took years, but here is your bread and water that I took. Hello Nine, I'm Joong". 

My lips were trembling, my eyes dampened again. Finally, he stopped being a coward, and came back to being, my friend.