Brute

Part 35

Nine

Joong was sick. It was so rare for him to be this sick. He came home with a wound, swelling and cracked lips, and worst of all, there's no light in his eyes. So, this was the result. Thing that he was afraid of, had happened. I took him into the shower for a bath, made an ice pack to sooth the skin near his jaw that had started to bruise, cooked for him a bowl of porridge to not put pressure on the swollen lips more, and covered him up under the blanket when he said he felt cold. I held him till he fell asleep. Not a single tear. This was just liked back then. He was hurt and in pain, yet he refused to cry. Joong was different in that way; agression wouldn't make him cry liked gentleness do. Maybe, because he was numb to it, or it was his coping mechanism since he's a child.

I went out of the room after he was asleep. What had happened? How bad was it that Jay chose aggression? The frustration almost made me wanted to scream my heart out, but all I could do, was curled up on the sofa, burried my face on the soft throw pillow, and cried. I felt that my tears were so readily reserved for Joong. The more pain he bore, the more grief I felt.

This had already been the third day. His fever rose up and down. Most of the time, Joong just fell asleep, only woke up when I asked him to eat, or when I said I'd help him to have tepid baths to reduce the heat. I didn't know how to call for a private doctor. Joong didn't want to go for a treatment too. So, all I could do, was cared for him liked how my mother cared for me whenever I was sick.

It was already late evening, the sky had turned pinkish. I was preparing chicken soup for Joong. People said, that it might help to reduce the fever, by making the sick person sweat. I'd just try, anything that might be of help, I'd do it. But, the doorbell that suddenly rang, caused my heart to skip a bit. I was a little afraid, since, aside from Joong, only Jay knew this place. But, the way that it had been going on, almost not possible for him to come.

When I didn't answer, loud knocks came next. And surprisingly, the familiar voice that belonged to the last person I expected to appear, could be heard from outside, "Nine! It's Jay, open up please. I called a few times but you didn't pick up the phone!". Ah, my phone was in a silent mode to not disturb Joong's sleep, and I forgot to turn the sound back on. Hurriedly, I opened the door and saw a little messed-up version of the sleek Jay that I knew; shadows under his eyes, thin layer of stubbles and an overall, haggard look.

"Jay...are you alright?", I asked after closing the door. Jay nodded and looked around.

"Where's your baby? He didn't come to work, and I run out of excuses to tell people", Jay said and already moved towards the bedroom. My mouth hung open. One was sick, and this one pretend to be alright, but, obviously not.

"Mr.Archen! ...Joong!. I'll come in, cover up anything first, before I enter", Jay said loudly and listened to any movement. Before I could say anything, the door was opened and Joong stood face to face, looking at Jay with cold eyes, "My left jaw is still sore, if you want to punch me again, use your left hook and hit the right side. Nine, close your eyes; or leave".

"Just as I thought, your face is pale and your voice croak, so, no, I'm not going to hurt a sick person. Nine is too gentle to drag you to the hospital, so I come to kick you up from the bed if you're being a bullhead, as I knew you to be, when you're sick. Ah, this save my energy, since you could already stand up on your own. Come, I'll take you to get treated; or you want me to call your family doctor?".

"Why are you here, Jay? Is this a mental tactic to bug me, or what?".

"Mae kicked me out of the house since that day! Said I need to go and kneel till you forgive me. I told her, this is not a historical movie and you are not a King. But, she locked the door from inside, so I had no choice, but to sleep at a cheap motel for three days!".

"Alright. I'll tell Mae that it's already done. You could go home, then...", Joong said and turned to go back into the room.

"Foolish! You're really a fool, Joong!", Jay shouted. Joong took a deep breath and turned around. "Jay, I am too tired to even stand and now have to face your taunt too, go home, Jay, please...".

I couldn't take this two fools anymore. Both of them were too proud or too embarass to say sorry, or forgive each other, and in turn, they riled each other up instead. I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed heavily.

"Shut up! Both of you", my harsh words made both of them turned to look at me in surprise. "Jay, stay for dinner. It's chicken soup, rice and some veggie; mushroom; you like them, right? And please, call the doctor to come, I don't want you two to kill each other on the road, because of foolishness alone!", Jay eyes blinked nonstop, "And you, Joong, go take a bath first, you seemed stable enough to shower properly today. Be stubborn for another minute, I'll use the pan to smack you to your senses".

Liked an army general's order, both moved; one sat on the sofa, switched on the tv but not even focusing on whatever was showing on screen; and the other one, closed the room's door with a bang. Huh! Showing tantrum, because I invited Jay to dinner. I rolled my eyes and turned towards the kitchen to hid a smile that had started to peak out. I closed my eyes and prayed for a second, for there's hope, really...