Chapter 40 - Hospital Room Romance

Beneath the moonlit sky, Achara and Than found solace on a quiet bench outside the hospital, their shared moment steeped in the warmth of coffee.In the tranquil night, Than's voice broke the silence, "Acharaa..."Responding with a soft hum, Achara sipped her coffee, awaiting his words."Will your brother agree to our relationship?" Than inquired, his gaze turning toward the celestial beauty above."He's not what you think, my brother. He's kind," Achara reassured a hint of affection in her voice.As their conversation lingered in the moonlit ambiance, Than acknowledged, "Yeah, he is! Just about you and Nil."His words resonated, prompting Achara to seize his arm. Leaning into him, she rested her head on his shoulder, a gesture filled with unspoken tenderness. In a soft tone, she expressed, "Thann, you think a lot about this."Responding to her, Than reciprocated the intimacy, placing his head on Achara's, and uttered, "Umm, I think you're right." The night embraced them, weaving a delicate tapestry of emotions beneath the moon's gentle glow.In the quiet confines of the room, Nil lay on the bed, an air of defiance surrounding him. Beneath the veil of a pillow, he muffled his voice, making a peculiar request of Stranger."Stranger, I shan't entertain the idea of medicine unless you grace me with a kiss," Nil declared, his eyes peeking out from behind the pillow.Stranger, bemused, responded, "What peculiar stubbornness is this, Nil?"With a glance that bore a hint of mischief, Nil met Stranger's gaze. "I happen to be The Kao Neotune's boyfriend. A touch of stubbornness suits me, don't you think?"Stranger, adopting a polite tone, implored, "Please, Nil, take the medicine."Defiant, Nil lowered his head, refusing compliance. Stranger, undeterred, appealed to their shared moments. "You've received countless kisses, Nil. Even this morning, our lips met. Is that not sufficient?"Nil, unyielding, countered, "Those kisses hardly qualify. Fine, I'll take the medicine, but you must feed me water."Relieved, Stranger agreed, prompting Nil to share his unconventional condition. "Fill your mouth with water. When I take the medicine, you'll have to provide me water from your mouth."Stranger, initially resistant, exclaimed, "No, no, no!"Nil, wearing a disappointed expression, accused, "You don't love me anymore."As Nil drifted into sleep, Stranger remained in contemplation, the dynamics of their relationship hanging in the air.Meanwhile, in the bustling atmosphere of the cafe, Marry sought to unveil Techno's sentiments. As Techno navigated the demands of customer service, Marry orchestrated a plan. Purposefully shattering glass, she stooped to feign the task of gathering the broken pieces, anticipating Techno's concerned inquiry into her well-being.In the ambient hum of the cafe, Techno's stern voice cut through the air as he addressed Mary's latest mishap. "Four glasses in a month. Who will bear the cost?" he chided, his frustration evident.Marry, her voice quivering, murmured, "Technoooo, sorr..."In a curt tone, Techno warned, "Give importance to your work."From the reception, Uncle Tham intervened, "Techno, it's alright. Let her go. She must be scared."With a heavy heart, Mary fled inside, her inner thoughts revealing her perceived distance from Techno. "(In a crying tone) Techno doesn't love me. He doesn't even want to see me stand in front of him."Yet, in an unexpected turn, Techno called her name, catching her off guard. Turning, Marry found him standing there with a first aid box. Despite her anger, she obliged when he asked her to sit on the bed. As Techno tended to a small cut on her thumb, Marry questioned her own obliviousness. "I didn't even notice. But Techno did. What if Nil was right? Does Techno really have feelings for me?"Observing Marry, Techno apologized, "I'm sorry, Marry. I shouldn't have scolded you in front of everyone." As he made to leave, Mary stopped him, seeking answers to the lingering question in her heart. "Techno, do you have feelings for me?"In response, Techno wordlessly exited the room, leaving Mary in suspense.Meanwhile, in the hospital room, Stranger's patience wore thin as he urged Nil to take his medicine. Ignoring Stranger's pleas, Nil reveled in the amusement of his companion's frustration. The tension reached a breaking point when Stranger, fed up, yanked the sheet from Nil, prompting a surprised outcry."Strangerr, whattt..." Nil exclaimed as he hastily covered himself and turned away. In a decisive move, Stranger sat down beside him, grasping Nil's neck gently.Their proximity escalated as Stranger leaned in, lips nearing Nil's. Just as the moment hung in the balance, Nil intervened, hand between them, confessing, "(Looking at him, with a soft tone) Strangerr, I was just kidding. And I'm ready to take the medicine."Amusement flickering in his eyes, Stranger removed Nil's hand, retorting with a soft, hoarse tone, "(With a soft hoarse tone) Mr. Qing, but now I'm not kidding." With that declaration, Stranger sealed their proximity with a lingering kiss.In the hushed confines of the hospital room, a forgotten detail unfolded as the door latch stood unlocked. As Stranger approached the bed, an intimate dance ensued. Nil, in the throes of passion, skillfully unbuttoned two of Stranger's upper shirt buttons.With a daring touch, Stranger's hands found their place on Nil's backside, and as their lips met, he pulled Nil closer. A sensuous exchange transpired, Stranger capturing Nil's lower lip with a teasing bite, engrossed in a fervent kiss that elicited moans of pleasure from Nil.In the midst of their passionate entanglement, an unforeseen interruption shattered the private moment. A nurse, unaware of the intimate scene awaiting her, entered the room. Her initial gaze fell upon a discarded blanket on the floor, but as her eyes ascended, astonishment painted her expression.Nil and Stranger, unabashedly immersed in their shared affection, became the unwitting subjects of the nurse's unexpected intrusion. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, she trembled, lowering her gaze as she stammered, ''I'm sorry, I came at the wrong time. I'll give Nil sir an injection later.'' With that, she hastily retreated, leaving the room enveloped in a lingering sense of awkwardness.In the aftermath of the nurse's abrupt entrance, Nil and Stranger hastily disentangled from each other, their expressions a mix of surprise and embarrassment. Nil, still atop Stranger, attempted to shield their intimacy as they both sought to conceal their vulnerable state. Addressing the nurse with a hint of urgency, Stranger spoke in a slightly hoarse tone, ''Nurseee, that's not what you sawww.''However, before Stranger could clarify, the nurse, catching only fragments of his words, swiftly retreated, leaving the room in a flurry. Unperturbed, Stranger called after her, ''Stoppppp, nurse.''Facing each other, Nil, with a soft tone, gently blamed Stranger, ''Strangerrr, what's looking at me like this? It's your fault; you didn't close the door.'' Despite the lingering awkwardness, their eyes met, and an unexpected eruption of laughter dissolved the tension.Subsequently, they found solace in each other's arms, lying on the bed in an embrace. With his head resting on Stranger's chest, Nil observed him, playfully tracing circles on Stranger's cheek. ''What're you looking at?'' Stranger inquired, prompting Nil to respond with a kiss on his chest. ''You know what,'' Nil mused, ''no one can tell by looking at you that you are the old Kao Neptune.''Embracing Nil more tightly, Stranger smiled, ''Because now, I'm just your Stranger.'' His words were followed by a subtle movement of his lips towards Nil, but a restrained hand on his lips interrupted the advance. Nil, cautious of the recent intrusion, voiced his concern, ''Stranger noo, that nurse has already seen us in such a situation. I don't want anyone else to see us like this.''Respecting Nil's apprehension, Stranger rose from the bed, meticulously arranging their disheveled clothes. As he prepared to leave, Nil seized his hand, pulling him in for a soft, lingering kiss on the lips. ''Love you, Stranger,'' Nil confessed.Stranger, wearing a fond smile, reciprocated, ''Hmm''Unexpectedly, the serenity of the moment was shattered as Techno entered the room, casting an unwitting gaze upon the aftermath of their private exchange.