When Dun got up, he found a white towel on his forehead. As far as he could remember, he could tell that he had got a fever last night. But Dun couldn't recall if aunty came to take care of him or not. When he scrutinized the room, he found out it was Nobel Lin's room. He was weary so he must have accidentally entered the room. Nobel Lin seemed happy to open the windows in the morning. Whenever Dun woke up in the room, he always sensed fresh and cool breeze.
Today, he had to go to the hospital as the operation day for Shin Min Myat was drawing nearer. But nobody couldn't convince her to do the operation. He heard that the donor would soon find eternal rest. If he or she stopped medication and stuff, the heart he or she planned to donate while he was alive would help another person survive while he passed away.
With these thoughts, Dun came downstairs and met with the sight of Nobel Lin wearing a light blue apron neatly and cooking in the kitchen.
"Dun, I heard you're not feeling well."
When uncle Naung shot a question, he firstly swallowed his saliva to relieve his dry throat and nodded his head smiling softly.
"Yes, U Naung. Now I'm feeling better."
"Hmm...Your brother is making porridge for you. Take medicine and go to the hospital. If you're not recovering, take a rest at home."
"Sure. But I have to go as there's an urgent case."
"Fine. Then, don't forget to take medicine."
Dun nodded and took a seat on the table. Aunty brought a porridge for Dun. With a lot of slices of chicken, the warm porridge helped Dun to regain strength.
"Nobel Lin, bring my lunch. I don't want to eat rice from the canteen."
It was not pleasing to mention lunch before he finished breakfast. However, it was veracious Dun always desired to have lunch made specially by Nobel Lin whenever he went to the hospital. It was more appetizing because the lunch has been carefully prepared only for Dun. Well, Nobel Lin wouldn't have the same thought as him.
"U Naung, do you have to go somewhere today?"
"Oh, I was about to tell you. I heard that lilies in Kalaw are infested with worms so I'm going to take a look at them."
When Dun focused on the word 'Lily,' he forgot his parents owned Lily field. Uncle Naung had to look after everything related to the field from beginning to end.
"I see, U Naung. Please, be careful when you drive."
"Okay."
Wait a minute! Didn't Nobel Lin love Lily too? As long as Dun could recall the past, he never heard of the field when he was young. Oh, there was one thing. Since Nobel Lin appeared, his parents changed their business to fields. Then, Lily field and Vine yard must be intended for Nobel Lin. Lol. How important of Nobel Lin to his parents!
"I don't feel like eating."
Dun put down his spoon and stopped eating the porridge that had only two spoons left. He put on his duty coat and picked up his bag. Subsequently , he headed to the hospital. In other people's perspective, Nobel Lin was a person who didn't have any property or possession. For Dun. Nobel Lin was an annoying person who had everything. The only person Dun loathed but couldn't help ignoring was Nobel Lin. The reason why he was furious was himself who was getting jealous of Nobel Lin who was mentally impaired. He heaved a sign and wore a formal smile. Now, Dun had reached in front of Shin Min Myat's ward.
"U U, I thought you are not gonna see me again. Where are you going?"
As soon as Dun entered her room, the little girl's eyes waved over him. She was asking him with her misty eyes while hanging drip. When he saw this, he sympathized with her. He didn't say goodbye to her on that day.
"I was on a work trip. While I am away, did you hurt yourself again."
"You said that you want me to live. But you are like my parents who didn't stay by my side."
"You're mistaken, sweetie. I went there to buy a lucky toy."
When she listened to his words, her eyes glistened brightly and expectantly looked at him like she was looking for the toy.
Dun handed her the toy made of wood, which was an Inle man rowing the boat.
"Is this a lucky toy?"
"Of course. If one has to point out the most diligent people, it must be Inle natives. Because they can row until they reach the shore even if the boat has the hole despite the rain and the sun. Sweetie, don't give in. I want you to have the same perseverance as them. That's why this toy represents the lucky one for you. Do you get me?"
She held the toy firmly when she heard the operation.
"I want my parents to come and look at me. If I die during the operation, I wouldn't get the chance to meet them again."
That's a 12-years-old girl replied. She was hoping for her parents to see her since she was admitted to the hospital. How desolate she was!
"Sweetie, don't think of anything. Take a rest and I'll be back in the afternoon."
Dun didn't want to remind her who was deeply wounded. Let her stay quietly until she was calm.
Dun was making rounds and checking the patients' condition until the afternoon. Speaking of lunch, he wondered why Nobel Lin hadn't come yet. Then, he directly walked to his office. Dun's office was crowded strangely. He frowned when he encountered people were circling the sofa. What were they doing in his room?
Ma Thi smiled at Dun when she saw him.
"Doctor, here it is. Noh Noh made a pancake for us so we are here to try it."
When Dun stepped up near them, he found Nobel Lin who was sitting with a honey bottle and chocolate paste bottle near pancakes packed with big and small boxes. When did he get money to treat everyone in the hospital?
"Noh Noh is talented in cooking. That explains why I didn't see you at the canteen."
Daw Nwae Thu Zar, a colleague of Dun, teased him. Dun forced a smile. He didn't even have lunch while they all were having desserts.
"Nobel Lin, what do you have for lunch?"
Dun asked him with a harsh voice so the nurses noticed the situation and fled the room. Some doctors brazenly teased Dun and followed after them. Dun was acting abnormal when he was in front of his own brother. That was their comment on Dun.
When everyone was gone outside, Dun sat beside Nobel Lin.
"Tell me since when did you get so much money and afford to treat everyone?"
"No."
"Oww..Okay. Now you don't want to talk to me."
Dun considered things after he angrily told him. He never was interested in Nobel Lin and cared to ask about him. He didn't ask him and the boy also wouldn't explain. It was a normal case like he was accustomed to but now he felt like he had a desire to know more about Nobel Lin.
"I don't care. Where's my lunch?"
Nobel Lin pushed the lunchbox towards Dun. When he opened it, he saw one section of noodles, another section of soup and one section of sweet soup. These were all nutritious for the person who just recovered from illness.
Dun coughed for one second and without saying anything, he filled his stomach first. The smooth texture of noodles helped Dun clear his mind.
"Why did you bring the pancake? What day is today?"
Nobel Lin took a while to speak and then, he laid his eyelashes down, and said,
"Zayar .....9th anniversary."
After the end of Nobel Lin's words, the room fell into silence and one could hear the sounds of tick tock coming from the clock.
Zayar was Dun's father, U Zayyar. Dun actually forgot today was the 9th year of his dad's death. A blood-related son like him who was busy with his work schedules didn't remember his own father's death anniversary. But Nobel Lin remembered today and even made a donation with a pancake which his father loved. Aunty didn't remind him what today was and U Naung also didn't seem to remember. A normal person unlike Nobel Lin didn't ring a bell, something important like today.
Dun didn't cry nor the tears came out. This was not the first time he felt disconsolately anyway.
"Okay. I know. Nobel Lin, thank you for remembering today."
Both parties just stayed quietly until the soup was getting cold.
Knock... Knock
The knock broke the silence. And two people entered the room. They were Ma Thi and Shin Min Myat.
"You said you would come. But you didn't, so I am here."
She gripped the wheelchair's handrails and pushed forward and came in. She was all smiles until her eyes reached Nobel Lin. When she witnessed Nobel Lin,
"What are you doing here? Don't make trouble for U U."
Nobel Lin was only a bit taller than Shin Min Myat so she thought they were at the same age and addressed him as 'you.'
"Sweetie, he doesn't do anything to me. He is here to send me a lunchbox."
"No. U said u hated him. If so, don't meet him nor talk to him. U wanted him to die and let me live instead of him. "
Shin Min Myat was shaking as she was too anxious. Dun sent a signal to Ma Thin and asked her to bring anti-anxiety drug. He supposed Nobel Lin wouldn't mind these words. He wouldn't even listen to her words.
Shin Min Myat grasped Nobel Lin's hands after struggling from Dun.
"Let's die. Let's die together. I can't leave U U with you. You caused trouble for U. Die. Let's die with me."
Shin Min Myat was now too turbulent. She thought Nobel Lin received everyone's love while she had to beg for her own parents' love. Dun took back his own words. Shin Min Myat didn't look like Nobel Lin but himself, Dun.
Nobel Lin, widening his eyes, stared at the hands that grasped him. Shin Min Myat was crying loudly and calling Nobel LIn to die. Nobel Lin racked his brain and then, he was breathing hard as his chest went up and down. It's not terrific. While he was controlling one person who had gone wild, he couldn't let another person be out of control.
"Nobel Lin, calm down. She said these things because she was not in the best condition. Breathe slowly."
He had to persuade the boy while caging her. He could let out a hot breath only when Saw Yatu arrived. Nobel Lin uttered one by one while looking at Shin Min Myat who held his hands. He sounded a little hoarse.
"I don't....want...to ...die."
The line Nobel Lin said made Shin Min Myat who was struggling hard quieten down. Shin Min Myat stopped moving and freed Nobel Lin's hands.
Dun almost thought it came to an end. But out of the blue, Nobel Lin collapsed on the floor. He covered his ears with his two hands and dazed at the floor.
"Noh Noh, are you okay?"
Saw Yatu rushed to the boy and asked him. Nobel Lin was breathing fast.
"Saw Yatu, he will run. Close the door now!"
Saw Yatu was fast. When Nobel Lin got up, he locked the door and stood in front of the door.
"Noh Noh, calm down. Everything is fine. She is also fine now."
Nobel Lin glanced at Saw Yatu with an indifferent look. And he walked to the Dun's table and threw the clock on the floor. Shin Min Myat's eyes traced the boy whatever he did without producing a sound. Saw Yatu stepped forward to pull him and his efforts were to no avail as the boy came closer to the corner slowly.
"Saw Yatu, can you help me to hold Shin Min Myat? I'll be responsible for Noh Noh."
Saw Yatu agreely went there and held her. Nobel Lin closed his eyes and got rid of the things again. Dun rushed to him and held on to him. He placed the boy into his embrace and covered over the boy's hands that were on his ears.
"It's okay. Everything is fine and I'm here with you. Take a deep breath and calm down."
Nobel Lin said something from his embrace. Dun was shocked because he didn't know how deep these words convey.
"don't....want...to ....die."
Dun hugged him tightly. Nobel Lin never said a word while he lost control. However, this time to his surprise, Nobel repeated that he didn't want to die. What in the world did he experience?