Since early morning on one Saturday, Dun was busy packing himself. He racked his brain as the boy was coming along with him. The most important thing was the medicine for Nobel Lin and he had to put them first. He was about to take sketchbooks. However, he found out all the books he recently bought ran out. He didn't have time to check what he drew though.
He had to run a quick errand to buy sketchbooks and colors. Then, he bought some necessary items and packed them carefully. They planned to meet at the hospital at four o'clock so he gave a bath to the boy and let him get dressed. It's already winter. Although it was scorching in the afternoon, it must have been cold at night. The express buses especially turned on the air conditioner to the highest volume. Holding two jackets in one hand, Dun and Nobel Lin each carried a rucksack. Dun dragged the luggage and rushed off to the hospital. He was afraid aunty might be left alone if uncle Naung sent them. So he just drove by himself and left the car in the hospital car park.
"Oh, Noh Noh. You look so cute wearing this."
Nobel Lin emitted a fresh and young vibe as he was adorning light blue two-toned hoodie complemented with white jean pants. As the breeze danced in the evening, the boy stood rooted on the spot and all eyes were on him from time to time. But to Dun, it was not strange at all as he had seen Nobel Lin from A to Z.
As the bus pulled up, they all took their own seats. Dun and Nobel Lin followed them lastly and the bus was nearly crowded because there were doctors and nurses from other hospitals.
"Dun, do you wanna take the first seat? Noh Noh do you have car sickness?"
They all got to learn Nobel Lin's condition from one another so they prioritized the boy. Well, it was undeniable that Nobel Lin was given priority due to his looks. He looked like big stuffed toys which were displayed in the supermarket. As they cost an arm and a leg, some people who could afford purchased them where others couldn't help looking back over their shoulders. Nobel Lin was the same. Due to his health situation, though he didn't have the chance to know everyone, it was irresistible he was an ethereal beauty.
"I've never gone on a trip with him so I am not sure. Nobel Lin, where do you want to sit?"
Dun was confident wherever the boy pointed, that person would move to another seat so he asked the boy to choose. He picked the spot in the middle, not too far from front and not too close to behind. Somehow, he felt great because he didn't have to do anything. On the way, a lot of people came to offer water as well as snacks. Well, it showed Nobel Lin was well-loved.
The trouble started at night. After a thirty minutes drive, Nobel Lin leaned on Dun's shoulder and fell asleep instantly. Dun felt uncomfortable as his chubby soft cheeks were on his shoulder. He was afraid if he moved a little, the boy might hurt.
"Nobel Lin, we will soon get to the restaurant. We will take a break and go to the restroom. Get up! Is it still not enough after two hours of napping?"
Nobel Lin raised his head and subsequently, he was back to catch his sleep by leaning his head on the chair again.
"Don't tell me you are feeling carsick, Nobel Lin?"
Dun told him while watching the boy who was closing his eyes beside him. He was half disappointed and half worried about the boy.
"If you feel carsickness, you can breathe fresh air and go for a walk later. You will get better."
Dun just stayed silent after he said. Then, they got in the restaurant. Dun woke the boy up and came down on the bus after everyone else. As soon as Nobel Lin got down, he ran to a tree and vomited. Dun got worried because the boy didn't eat that much food. Why didn't he tell he was dizzy? Dun believed he was sleeping. He never had a cue that he couldn't get up as a result of dizziness. If he's feeling like this, how could he endure the mountainous roads to Tauggyi?
"Are you okay?"
Rubbing Nobel Lin's back, he asked out of concern. The boy was struggling to even open his eyes. Seeing this, Dun was sorry for him.
"Is he vomiting? Phyu has brought medicine for motion sickness. You can give him meds after eating something."
When people including Saw Yatu saw them, they came near them and Saw Thadar Phyu even handed them medicine.
"Thank you."
Dun smiled and thanked her. Putting the medicine into his pocket, Dun pulled the boy and went into the restaurant. After they took their seats, Nobel Lin's head slowly leaned onto Dun's shoulder like a sickly patient. Dun slumped down on the chair so that the boy could lean on his shoulder on the bus. Yet, at the restaurant, he can lean only on his arm. Dun moved his hand back and let the boy's head fall on his chest. Dun had his arm wrapped around the boy's shoulder in order not to fall.
"Noh Noh, if you feel too dizzy,how about lemon juice to ease nausea?"
Ma Thi, the nurse, gave the juice to Nobel Lin and he can lift his head after drinking it. While he was sitting quietly, a person from another table came to them.
"Hello, I'm a general practitioner, Doctor San Min Myat. May I give him a massage?"
"Of course! Thanks a bunch. Could you please share the method?"
Quickly, Saw Yatu agreed to his request. If one didn't know, people might think he was the guardian of Nobel Lin.
"Sure. Firstly, you need to pressure the spot between your thumb and your index. Then, you need to slowly massage starting from the lower part of your ear up to the temple. When you reach there, you are supposed to put pressure round and round. It helps to treat nausea when you pressure the nerves on your forehead. If you feel pain in the neck which is prone to car sickness, you can also relieve the nerves on your neck."
Doctor San Min Myat massaged all the way from Nobel's face to his hand. After a while, Nobel Lin obviously got better and fluttered his eyelashes. Doctor San Min Myat smiled brightly looking at the boy. Then he said,
"His skin is really really soft - he is adorable at that. I have been watching him since he came up on the bus."
Dun almost rolled his eyes. He wanted to scream if they adored the boy that much , they should take him home.
"He is Dun's younger brother."
"Yes, I noticed."
Look at his prejudice! He was clearly eyeing Nobel Lin and it was inscrutable that he just noticed Dun.
After Doctor San Min Myat said goodbye and went back to his table, one could hear people at his table teased and mocked him. Dun was a bit furious. Although Nobel Lin was not to his liking, he never treated the boy as a joke. Nobel Lin was never a person to be mocked at.
When they got back on the bus, Nobel Lin took a window seat first. So, Dun was life with no choice and he sat down on the seat beside the aisle.
"Don't sleep too much. You will get motion sickness."
He reflected on what he said. If Nobel Lin didn't sleep, he had nothing to do at all. Though the boy had a mobile phone, he used it to call and send messages. Even so, Dun never got calls from him, let alone messages.
Dun placed one earbud into Nobel Lin's ear and played the music. The song he opened was "Let her go" by Passenger. He carefully analyzed the lyrics. A part of music he heard was,
"Well, you only need the light when it's burning low...
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow...
Only know you love her when you let her go.."
One would regret only after he lost something or someone. What about Dun? He didn't feel remorseful when he lost his parents. It appeared that Dun would have nothing to regret in the future too. For he had nothing to lose. Even if he fancied May Moe Madi, she was like his big sister so he wouldn't express regret regarding her.
Then, how about Nobel Lin? With this thought, he casted a side glance to Nobel Lin who was sitting by him. Would the boy have regret? Dun was amused after he thought. Nobel Lin had a lot of pages to learn before he reached the chapter for regret.
As soon as the bus started, the boy looking fragile fluttered his eyes frequently and when Dun witnessed this, he stopped his imagination.
"Nobel Lin, give me your hand."
While asking for his hand, Dun took his hand that rested on his lap and massaged the points between the index and thumb like the previous Doctor taught. Despite the fact that he didn't like that doctor, he could still use the method he mentioned. Was it because Dun excelled at massaging or the boy didn't get better? This time, the boy dozed off instantly. Dun slumped down and let the boy lean on his shoulder. He then closed his eyes. He tilted his head towards the boy and listened to the song. It went like this,
"Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
Caused you loved her too much and you dived too deep"
Was it possible that I would feel nostalgia because I loved someone too much one day? He also hoped to see someone he loved and treasured most once in a lifetime.
It was freezing as the aircon was turned on. Since it was at night and they were closer to Taunggyi, it was chillier. Plus, it made people who were sitting on the double seat closer. Dun felt pain in his shoulder so he sent his arm back, grabbed Nobel Lin's shoulder to take control of his body. When the boy was taken in his chest, he changed his position to the boy's arm and embraced him tightly in order to make cold chills go away for him and Nobel Lin.