On the way to the canteen, Dun was holding the boy's hand and checked him again and again to make sure whether he was fine.
"You are late today, Dun. Still on your duty?"
The one who's talking was Doctor Saw Yatu. He was a friend Dun was working with since the beginning so they used to have lunch together.
"No. Because my brother came to find me."
"Oh, you have a brother? You never told me. Is he your younger brother? Hello! I'm called Saw Yatu."
Dun answered on behalf of Nobel Lin as he knew the boy wouldn't respond to a stranger.
"He is Nobel Lin. He has stayed in the Netherlands for a long time. He just came back. And...cough…"
Afterwards, Dun pointed his forefinger at the temple, Saw Yatu also got the cue and could only reply "Oh." Then, he didn't make any comment.
"What happened to his forehead?"
"It was an accident. I'll tell you later."
"Okay. You go take lunch. Leave him to me."
"Thanks. Look after him for a minute."
"Sure."
Only when Dun left, Saw Yatu took time to look at the boy who was sitting in front of him, lowering his head. The fact that these two not-at-all-similar people are brothers was hard to believe if Dun himself didn't say so.
Nobel Lin, who put on a light blue long sleeve shirt over a white t-shirt and white short pants, looked too young like a middle schooler. His porcelain skin and chubby cheeks reflected an innocent look.
"Lil Bro, how old are you?"
Let alone a response, Nobel Lin didn't even look up at him.
"You can trust me. I'm a doctor like your brother, Dun."
Nobel Lin looked up at him for a second. And his attention has shifted away to the hospital's garden.
"Did you have lunch?"
Dun came back carrying two trays. When he asked Saw Yatu, he just nodded. Dun took a seat beside Nobel Lin and put a plate with oiled rice and fried chicken down in front of Nobel Lin.
"Is he anti-social?"
It is said that anti-social people are psychos because they are unable to communicate in a normal way with other people. However, for Nobel Lin, he doesn't have such characteristics.
"No. The doctors who checked him said that he was only unable to catch the other's feelings. Well, he doesn't talk much so I think that makes him anti-social."
"Oh."
Saw Yatu considered the matter. It is a rare occurrence that there is such a patient.
"Congenital?"
Dun shook his head while peeling a fried chicken.
"I'm not sure. My parents adopted him when he was four years old."
"Is that so? Oops! Sorry. It's like I'm asking in front of the party in question."
"Don't worry. He didn't even catch what we said."
Dun said lightly. That's because Nobel Lin normally used to have a lack of interest in everything.
Although Dun put the peeled chicken in Nobel Lin's plate, the boy didn't touch any of it. Dun had almost eaten his portion.
"Nobel Lin, you have to take medicine. So you can't have an empty stomach."
Even Dun exclaimed, Nobel Lin was solely concentrating on the kid who was drawing in the hospital's garden.
"Nobel Lin, do you hear me? That's why I didn't want to take you to the hospital. I don't know why uncle Naung sent you here."
Disappointedly, Dun put down his fork and took Nobel Lin's plate back. He tried a string of chicken to test whether it is hard to chew. It turned out to be digestible so he scooped one spoon and placed it near Nobel Lin's mouth. Only then, the boy opened his mouth.
Saw Yatu was silently laughing at Dun who was afraid his brother might pass the meal time and busied himself spoon feeding the boy. Dun was the most excellent doctor among age-mates. He understood thoroughly how to treat the patients.
"Nobel Lin, if you're not sitting properly, how could I feed you? You are no longer a kid. Seriously! I'm gonna beat you if you follow me tomorrow."
Dun was feeding the boy while chattering himself. As for Nobel Lin, he was staring into space and with an indifferent face, automatically opened his mouth when Dun fed him.
"How old is he? I think he's about 14 or 15."
When Nobel Lin stood up to go outside, Dun pulled the boy's hand and let him sit down. He, then, served another spoon and replied to his friend's answer.
"Nonsense. He turned 18 already. We are six years apart."
"Oh, really? I thought he was younger than that. Honestly, he's indeed adorable."
Dun let out a laugh when he heard his friend's comment.
"Where do you think he is cute? If you love kids, then you can adopt him."
"Are you gonna give him to me?"
"I'm looking for a holy person who will adopt him but I haven't found yet."
Dun finished serving the boy while they were chatting. If Nobel Lin doesn't feel like eating, he doesn't touch any food so somebody has to feed him. Dun knew this fact and hence, he initiated to cater for the boy.
When it's time to go home for Nobel Lin, Dun helped the boy call the cab and told the driver the address. He was already late when he resumed his routine task.
"Is your brother alright, Doctor? I got outside her(Shin Min Myat) ward as I thought she was asleep. And I assumed she followed you. I am terribly sorry, doctor."
"It's fine. He's doing okay."
It was not totally the nurse's fault. The one who should be blamed was himself, Dun. Then, he had to call his aunt to make sure if Nobel Lin arrived home safely. He heaved a euphoric sigh of relief only when he heard the boy was finally home.The floor was already swept clean and the boxes Nobel Lin bought were spotlessly put on Dun's desk. On his way back home, he had to take the teddy bear and the painting Aunt Nilar delivered. He was twice as busy as before since Nobel Lin was here. The boy didn't bring any benefits for him.
When he got off work, he went to take the things from the airport. As soon as he got home, Aunt Mya was waiting for him in front of the house.
"You're back. Come in. I've already made lemon juice for you."
"Okay."
He plopped down on the sofa and took a deep breath.
"Nobel Lin, come and carry your things. I'm dead tired."
He shouted so that the boy who must be drawing right now could hear his voice.
"Leave it, son. If you can't carry them. Uncle Naung will give you a hand when he's back."
"It's okay. He can carry these things easily. Please, don't indulge him at home. Aunt, you even sent him to the hospital in the afternoon."
"Speaking of which, I even had to ask you. What happened to Noh Noh's forehead? How did he get hurt?"
"Well, he, the apple of your eyes, became a victim as he timely arrived when one patient was out of control."
He didn't add that it was a part of his fault. A moment later, Nobel Lin got down the stairs. Dun throwed the car key to the boy and commanded him to go bring the things by himself. The painting was too heavy for the boy to carry on his own so Dun couldn't help but send the teddy bear in the box to the boy's room.
Nobel removed the papers wrapping the painting and at the same time, a scene in which the boy was smiling popped up. He seemed undeniably adorable with his dimples on the chubby cheeks.
"What? Don't tell me you're loving yourself. It looks like there's also something you come to like. Are you into painting or the artist? Wait a minute. Why don't you smile if you know how to? A person shouldn't be gloomy all the time. You should try to smile often."
Even though what Dun said is taken lightly by the boy, Dun had to tell what was necessary. It was his wish as a doctor who hoped for the boy to live like a normal person sometimes.