**In the Hospital**
Xue Fen was busy slicing fruit when she noticed Kecong waking up.
"Jiahao… Jiahao!" Kecong called out repeatedly.
"Who are you calling? That guy who is always with you?" Xue Fen asked, her voice laced with anxiety.
"Yes, Mom. I heard him calling me by the bedside just now. Did he come?" Kecong replied.
"Yes, he visited yesterday and again this morning, but your aunt sent him away," Xue Fen said.
"Mom! Why would you do this to me? He's my only friend!" Kecong said, his anger surfacing.
"Xiao Cong! You must understand your situation! You can only love a woman, not a man! The government won't allow men to get pregnant! It's against the law!" Xue Fen responded, equally frustrated.
Kecong began to cry uncontrollably.
"But Jiahao is my only friend! Everyone else treats me like a 'monster'!" he sobbed.
"Alright! But if I find out about any other relationship between you two, I will transfer you to a different school immediately! It's too dangerous for you to be in a boys' school!" Xue Fen asserted.
"Mom... what should I do now?" Kecong asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"Mr. Chen has arranged a special toilet for you to use at school. It's on the third floor," Xue Fen said.
"Mom, can I please be friends with Jiahao? With my condition, it's really hard to find a true friend like him," Kecong pleaded.
Xue Fen nodded, and they embraced tightly, both shedding tears.
A few days later, Kecong returned to school. Everything seemed normal, but he noticed that other students were looking at him with strange expressions.
It was Kecong's third year in secondary school, January 10, 2005.
Jiahao waited outside Kecong's classroom.
Suddenly, Ron snatched a letter from Kecong and pinned it to the classroom bulletin board. Due to Kecong's disability, he struggled to keep up. He cried out, desperately trying to retrieve his letter from Ron and his friends.
"Please! Don't do this to me! I've never offended any of you!" Kecong cried.
The group began throwing erasers and pencils at him, while other students started reading the letter aloud.
Ron began to read the letter for everyone to hear:
*To Jiahao Ge,*
*I have been so happy to be with you for these past eight months. I have no friends to confide in and everyone treats me like a monster. I contemplated ending my life, but you encouraged me to be strong, assuring me that no matter the circumstances, Jiahao Ge would never leave me. I understand that society does not accept a man loving another man, and perhaps I am the only one who harbors such feelings. I know I am only 15 and should not fall in love with a man because of my condition, but I cannot resist my feelings for you. I hope this letter helps you understand my emotions. I would regret nothing if you rejected me. I know I am filled with flaws; my family is poor, my body is different from everyone else's. I work after school and live on a box of fried rice for an entire week. My lunch consists of just a packet of milk. It is only with you, Jiahao Ge, that I can enjoy a proper meal. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I love you, Jiahao Ge.*
*Yours faithfully,
Lin Kecong*
Laughter erupted among the students as they pointed at him.
"Disgusting! Do you really think he would like you?!" Danny shouted.
At that moment, Jiahao entered the classroom, snatched the letter from the board, and tucked it into his pocket. He helped Kecong to his feet.
"Kecong, let's go! Don't pay any attention to them!" Jiahao said.
He led Kecong to his apartment, conveniently located across from the school.
In Jiahao's apartment, he carefully placed Kecong on the bed.
"I'll get the first aid kit. Your hands and legs are bruised. Those guys went too far! They threw pencils at you! Your left eye is also hurt! Can you see? If not, I'll take you to the hospital!" Jiahao asked anxiously.
Kecong grasped Jiahao's hands tightly.
"I don't want to go to the hospital! I can't let my mom know what I've been through at school," Kecong replied softly.
"But you can't keep silent about how they treat you! Why suffer in silence? What's wrong with being intersex?" Jiahao asked, frustration evident in his voice.
Kecong cried bitterly, shaking as Jiahao embraced him tightly.
"Calm down, stop crying. It's just the two of us here. Lie down and rest while I get the first aid kit to treat your wounds," Jiahao said soothingly.
Jiahao stepped into the hall to make a phone call.
"Mr. Chen, Kecong is at my apartment. Can you inform his mom that he's resting at your place?" Jiahao asked.
"He's at your apartment?! Are you aware that many teachers and students are gossiping about what Kecong wrote?!" Chen Min replied angrily.
"I know! But I can't just leave him alone to suffer! Those bullies are targeting him on purpose!" Jiahao retorted.
"Do you realize he's secretly in love with you? If you let him stay at your apartment, his feelings for you will only intensify!" Chen Min warned.
"Mr. Chen, aren't you gay too? Why are you so against us?" Jiahao challenged.
"Yes! I am gay! But he is different! He could get pregnant! If that happens, how will he face society and his parents?" Chen Min asked anxiously.
"That's absurd! We're just friends! We're not at that stage!" Jiahao insisted angrily.
Jiahao ended the call just as he heard Kecong crying out in pain.
"Jiahao Ge! Jiahao Ge! I... I'm in pain! Ah! Ah!" Kecong yelled.
Jiahao quickly turned off the stove, grabbed the first aid kit, and rushed back to the room.
Inside, he found Kecong clutching his stomach, bloodstains on the tissue in his hands.
"Kecong! What's wrong?! Why are you vomiting blood?!" Jiahao asked, panic rising in his voice.
"My... my stomach hurts so much. I... I have the painkillers in my pocket," Kecong replied, trembling.
Jiahao recognized the type of painkillers Kecong was taking. Kecong reached for the pills.
"Give me... my pills. I need them," Kecong said weakly.
"Are you out of your mind?! Those are strong painkillers! They will worsen your condition! We have to go to the hospital now! I'll carry you!" Jiahao shouted.
Without hesitation, Jiahao lifted Kecong onto his back and sprinted toward the nearest hospital, just ten minutes away from the apartment.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Kecong coughed up blood, staining Jiahao's shirt.
**-End of Chapter 6-**