His smile froze on his face. Anong covered up with the blanket. His body looked calm compared to how tangled his mind was. His eyes, glued to the ring on her finger. It's exactly the same ring that fell out of Mhok's pocket. Tears clouded his vision. He dropped the cake and run out. Mhok chase after him and caught up with him.
"It's not what you think?"
He looked at him holding back shrieks of anger and sadness in his heart "you left your keys and l thought l will surprise you with your favorite cake but it seems I'm interrupting. I'm not needed here. Happy fucking birthday" he slam the key on his chest. He held tum by the hand
He started to say something just then he heard his name been called "baby is everything okay"
"Leave, l will explain later when l get to work" he pushed him out and shut the door behind him.
He felt the sky and earth switch places. His body shook, he fell to the floor in a disheveled heap as tears streamed down his face. His eyes bleed with pain. He cursed himself. He picked up his phone to make a call to his brother but inadvertently called his boss. "You're right when you said it's better to be single". He sniffed "l can't take it anymore" and hanged up. Meanwhile in Mhok apartment
Anong: What was that all about, what kind of college barge into his friends room without knocking?
He said he brought my keys cause l forgot it. (Lying down beside Anong)
Anong: he still shouldn't barge in like that, what if l was naked. Where is he?!
"Gone"
Anong: Okay so where were we ( Gliding his hands down his chest)
"Stop" he took her hand off him, "Sorry I'm not in the mood anymore, let's just go to bed."
At home he searched his medicine cabinet then took all the medicines all at once. He dialed again.
"I can't cry anymore!"
"What do you mean! Hey are you okay?"
He sniffed "l can't do it anymore"
Do what. Don't do anything stupid "I'm coming to you, stay on the phone with me" he could hear him driving fast
"I want to-" he could feel himself slipping away
"YOU WANT TO WHAT" he yelled, there was long pause for a while "TUM STAY WITH ME"
"I want to DIE!" with a shaking voice
Just then the bathroom swing open. TUM! TUM! TUM! Toa shouted. On the bathroom floor, frothing at the mouth holding an empty bottles of medicine. He was frightened. He called an ambulance.
(In the hospital) Tum was pacing back and forth. Clingy his fist so hard. Toa watched him feeling a sense of pain. "Who is related to the patient" The doctor asked
"Me l am, I'm his brother" Tim almost shouted trembling.
"please come with me" they head to the doctors office. They were seated across eachother.
"How is he doctor?" He asked Nervously
"He will need a breathing tube. The poison didn't damage his lungs too much" he breathed a sigh of relief. "He needs a breathing tank, We found something new. Take a look at this. (He gave him a booklet) That's his x-ray side by side. That's his before and after. His Glioblastoma has advance to stage lll I'm sorry but he has about 6 to 4 months to live"
What! he exclaims in shock
"But you said he has about 2 years or more to live"
"Yes but you didn't treat it. The pills ain't enough without treatment" Tears welled his eyes as he look at the x-ray side by side. Tum has stage 3 Glioblastoma (GBM), also referred to as a grade IV astrocytoma. GBM is a devastating brain cancer that can result in death in six months or less. Treatment are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It have tendrils that reach into other parts of the brain. It likely to spread within the brain
can come back, even if they've been treated. There is no cure for glioblastoma. He also has Stage ll emphysema. His lungs operate between 50% and 79%. Emphysema is primarily a pathological diagnosis that affects the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole. It is characterized by abnormal permanent enlargement of lung air spaces with the destruction of their walls without any fibrosis and destruction of lung parenchyma with loss of elasticity. There is no cure for Emphysema, but can be managed. Tum couldn't afford the treatment so he takes the pills instead.
He head to Tum's room. Seeing him dozing off he couldn't help but cry. He sat next to his bed, lay his head on his chest and listen to his faint heart beat "remember when you told you had a crush at work, well l got myself a girlfriend now. l wanted it to be a surprise not like this. He sniffed. I wanted us to me grow old together" The sound of his brother crying woke him up. He slowly open his eyes. He felt Tim head on his chest, he pat his hair "Tim" he whispered faintly. He looked at him with the tears rolling down his cheeks. He wiped the tears off Tim cheeks.
"you know l hate to see you like this"
Why? Why did you do that
He looked to right to avoid eye contact. He felt a sense of anger whiles thinking about it. Tim could hear him breathing so hard.
Never mind you can always share with me when you're ready. I will be here to listen to you. He took a deep breath and said "Saw him in bed with his fiancee"
He opened his eyes wide with disbelief
I overreacted. Im sorry but l didn't know what else to do
I'm happy nothing bad happen to you. He paused for a moment. He looked away to avoid eye contact. He knew Tim was hiding something from him "what is it" nothing he replied just Promise me you're not going to do something as stupid as that again.
Okay l promise
Life is too short to waste it. How are you feeling. Are you in any pain.
"No lm fine. How long have I been l here for"
Two days the doctor said condition is critical and you have to stay here for a while. You will need a breathing tank and.... He stopped himself from telling Tum about his condition
Tell me. Tim tell me. He looked at him with sad expression he was reluctant to tell him but he was persistent "What did the doctors say"
Your Glioblastoma has develope to stage 3 and had spread to other parts within the brain you have less than 6 months to live. Tears raced down Tum's cheeks he covered his face with shaking hands. Tears spilt over and flowed down his face like a river escaping a dam. He could feel his pain he pat his head "Don't worry l won't get tired of taking care of you. A flood of tears gushed down his face as Tim said It's okay am here for you"
Can you leave me alone!
Bullshit I'm not going anywhere. He hugged him to calm him down. It's ok Tum push him away he smiled
"Ahh yes. You hate hugs" Tim teased him. His face bloom with happiness. Toa arrived minutes after with fruit gift basket
"Hi" he greeted "Oh im sorry I'm l interrupting. l will come back later"
"No it's fine, stay" wiping the tears of his face
"how are you doing, what did the doctor say"
"He said" Tum interrupted Tim before he could say anything "He said I'm okay l will stay here for a while. I just need to rest and eat well"
That's great news
Mr. Toa Thank You Tum said
I'm glad l could help
"Uhm can l have a word with you outside!". Tum shot him a look not to say a word about his condition.
Thanks for what you did for my brother l really can't thank you enough but can you do me a favor. Outside he thank him.
Thank you so much. If anything happens to him I won't know what to do. Please can you do me a favor. Yes sure responded. Can you not tell his colleagues or anyone about what happened.
I won't. He reassured him. He asked curiously. Did he tell you what happened to him. Why he did that?
I don't know. He began to walk away to avoid been questioned "I'm going to get him food. Take care of him, l would be back" And left. Why is he dodging the question (walking back to Tum room) He looked like he was hiding something. He saw Tum winks in pain trying to get up.
"Lie down. If you want something tell me or the nurse. What do you want."
"I need a glass of water" He poured him a glass of water." He drank it all
"Are you okay do you want another"
"No it's fine" he put the glass on the bedside table by accident it fell. No don't worry l got it. He picked up the broke glass by accident cut himself. Toa has Homophobic or blood phobia. He has extreme fear of seeing blood he dread the sight of blood after the trauma from his childhood. He panicked after seeing his blood, he felt pain in his chest and had trouble breathing. Tum rush to him he saw his eyes fixated on the blood on his hand. He looked over the room but couldn't find the tissue wipe so he suck it with his mouth. Are you okay he asked, he look at him shaking with fear. He hugged him to comfort him. Breathe in and out. "It's okay I'm here just breathe" he whispered in his ear "hear my heartbeat just focus on that" Toa stay in his warn embrace. His soft touch and warm tone of voice whispering in his ear.
For a moment he felt feeble. He felt embarrassed being fragile scared him it made him look weak. He pushed Tum away and run out. He walked pass Tim and didn't spare a single glance at him. In Tum ward Tim feed him some soup and put him to bed
The next day in the office Mhok was having lunch with his colleagues at the cafeteria. Tell us how was it eating with the boss Aim asked "He is cold. He never smiled or talked to all the entire trip also Tum stop him from eating to take pictures of the food, he looked scary at that moment. Also I found out Tum was allergic to peanut and fish. He added Do you know he owns the restaurant we ate at"
"How rich is he? Aranya said "Wait" she looked around where is Tum. Just then Boat approached Mhok "hi have you seen Tum" why he asked "well he was suppose to send me the documents for our French client through email and it been days and l haven't seen or heard from him." He probably taking a leave, I will ask Tamas or Mr Toa about it "thanks Mhok." Kaew phone ding and the shock look on her face was so noticeable "Are you okay?" Aranya asked concerned "I'm okay, can l use the restroom" She got up and left. "My sister is a nurse in that hospital. If she wrong then I'm wrong but she told me that Tum tried to commit suicide" Mhok pricked his ears
"Is there a reason why he would do that?" Said another
"I don't think he will do that. l think he's sick." He got up walking back to the office Aranya watch him leave. She wanted to go after him but stopped herself. Thinking to himself he overheard Kaew on the phone sobbing. Hey are okay? Yes she quickly wiped her tears and walked of. What was that about. He head to the office with lots of thought in his head.
"Sir have you heard from Tum."
"Yes he said he's not feeling well and will take a few days off."
Alright l will wait till work is over and approach Aim about what l heard he whispered under his breath. After work he waited for Aim, he asked him about Tum. He told him every he knows and he drove to the hospital.
"Thanks much for what you did for me. Also I'm grateful for not telling my colleagues about this. He nodded and said I'm glad I could help.
"You don't have to feed me l can do it myself."
"Just shut up and open your mouth." He feed him while they talk.
"I don't know why you did what you did but Someone once told me, You can have a lot of people around you but still have no one. If you ever need someone to talk to come to me. I won't judge you" Tum said
He felt bad for what happened. "I'm sorry About that. I can't tell you everything but I can tell you this. I have blood phobia. I have extreme fear of seeing blood"
They talk. For some reason Toa felt warm towards Tum. He wanted to open up to him. They stared at each other. He looked away as his faced turn red. "Why do wear this ring" he said nothing. He took care of Tum. He watched Tum drifting into sleep after his meal. He adjust his pillow. He lay down to nap. Tum slowly open his eyes and watch Toa dozing off. He looked at him noticing his strong handsome features and bone structure. He had a face like a Greek god with a strong jaw and nose.He slowly caresse his hair. It was soft. Mhok watched them from outside and felt sense of jealously. He dialed Tum phone. He ignored him. He felt betrayed, lied to and deceived. After receiving a call from him. He texted him. When he saw the message from his phone he couldn't help but switch off he phone. He wanted to open the door and walk in but turn to and left. The next day
"Did you sleep well." He asked. Toa rub his eyes as he wakes up. "Sorry for waking you up, I brought you some food" He thanked lMr Toa for taking care of Tum "Im glad I could help. I will go use the bathroom."
He splash some water on his face what the hell is wrong with me looking himself in the mirror. He head back. He over heard the conversation between Tum and Tim, wiping him with a wet towel
How do you feel about Mhok. Tum paused for a moment having mixed feelings about Mhok just as he was about to answer Tim cut him off
You brat don't tell me you have feeling for that fool who puts you in this position and doesn't gives zero fuck about you.
All You do is sleep around, you will never understand until it's happens to you he lash out
Yeah l know am a fucking player but l won't make a mistake to sleep with someone else's husband. You deserve someone who values you. He's not good for you. If he really cared he would have been here just once. What were you thinking that you, would try killing yourself and he comes to you, you'll move in together get married and start a family
Shut up. Please get out
I have the right to be worried because I care. He doesn't if he did he would be here.
Get out
He lied to get in your pants. Remember Mhok has a fiancee and you mean nothing to him. He slammed the door on his way out.