Vira lay limply on the ground. Rain fell on his face. Saka saw his swollen leg. He had sprained it. He touched the back of Vira's head. There was no blood. He bit his lip to avoid crying loudly. He was such a fool! In a fit of anger, he had ended up hurting the one person he wanted to protect and cherish throughout his life. Tears trickled down his cheeks. The closest hospital was on the other side of the woods, about three kilometers from where they were. Because of the woods, there was no signal; the only way was to walk to the hospital.
In a way, he was lucky; it was only a downward climb.
He carried Vira on his back, slinging Vira's arms around his neck. Vira was surprisingly light. He walked slowly. The rain wasn't being merciful, and he did not want to fall down with Vira.
Vira, only temporarily dazed, regained consciousness midway, half due to being cold, the other half due to the dull throbbing in his head and stinging pain in his legs.
He felt the warm back of Saka. It was big, soft, and firm. Slowly he became aware of Saka. He didn't want to open his eyes; his head wasn't being kind to him.
Saka was on a self hating rant.
"I am such an idiot. I let my anger get the better of me."
He sobbed.
"If only I had fallen instead of you..."
He adjusted Vira on his back. He felt Vira slipping a bit.
It was getting very cold. Saka relied a lot on his memory than his vision.
"If only I could be as cool as Sen Akat, maybe you would like me better. Nobody would like an immature brat like me."
He walked quietly for sometime.
" But what can I do? I love you more than I can handle."
He sniffed.
"My heart aches. When you treat me like you treat everyone else, it's so disheartening. I know I am not anyone special, but I want to be. I would do anything for it." He sniffed as he adjusted Vira's position.
Vira felt his heart clench. He really wanted to knock some sense into Saka's thick skull. "Not anyone special?" After all those sleepless nights and heartaches Saka had given him, this was not an accusation he would let slide.
He thought of interrupting Saka, but he couldn't muster the energy. He just lay as he was, his eyes closed, as Saka continued.
"I really love you, Vira. I am truly sorry I hurt you with my immaturity. I don't want to be a child, but I can't help it." He sobbed helplessly. "You are like this bright light; everyone wants to be around you. I understand. I truly do. You are an incredible teacher. You treat all your students equally; you are kind to everyone; you are there for everyone, I know. But I don't want to be just anyone. It's frustrating. I get so jealous. I don't like myself when I get jealous. I become this monster that hurts you."
He went quiet again.
Bright? What a fool. From being a gloomy moron to a person who expressed himself freely, Vira had changed so much in the last six months, only because of Saka. He got friends because of Saka, he got his confidence from Saka. He got an extended family because of Saka.
"Sometimes, I feel like I'm the rabbit running to catch the moon. It's always in the same place, yet always out of reach. It's tiring."
Vira was irritated. Had he not shown him how precious Saka was to him? Was he not clear enough? He hadn't outright confessed, considering their situation.
Sure, he hadn't been as vocal about it as Saka. Saka crying for Vira made his heart ache. What a fool he was. If his subtle actions couldn't convey the message, then fine, he'll make him realize how much Vira loved him by being as loud about it as possible.
After a few more meters of walking, Saka said to himself.
"You are a teacher, you can't afford to get closer to me. I am such a selfish idiot. I promise you, this will be the very last time something like this happens."
Teacher and student.
Vira had stopped caring about things like that for the last few weeks. Never again will Saka feel this way, he swore to himself.
It took them about an hour to reach the hospital.
Mann Hospital was a small hospital that catered to all the emergencies of the locals.
The doctor, Tobi's father, was always around. He had a couple of juniors who worked for him, who were equally bright in their disposition. There were a few nurses as well.
Rainy days were when the hospital was almost empty. There were no incidents due to diving, accidental drowning, and such.
Vira was one of their rare few "customers." He laughed to himself at that thought.
Saka gently laid him on a bed, went out to call the doctor, a young lad on night duty.
The nurse gently patted him. "Can you hear me?"
Vira grunted. "Yes, ma'am."
"Ah! You're awake."
"Yes. My head hurts, so I prefer to keep my eyes closed."
"I see. That's good. Let the doctor check on you first, for signs of a concussion."
Vira grunted again.
Saka came in with the doctor. Vira adjusted himself to see the doctor, his hand on his head, to try to ease the pain.
The doctor quickly examined him, while Saka just stood in a corner. He looked tense and didn't say anything. He refused to meet Vira in the eye.
"I will prescribe a painkiller. Have it.
We'll prepare a warm water bath. The nurse will bring you clothes. Can you wash yourself up and change?
I'll tend to your wounds afterward. Just to make sure you don't have a concussion, stay the night in the hospital."
"Sure, doctor. Thank you."
While the doctor was about to leave, Vira stopped him, "Ah, doctor, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"That kid carried me all the way from the cliff and walked through the woods. He might be hurt and cold, could you please check on him?"
The doctor nodded and smiled. He caught hold of Saka, who protested in vain.
After a rather refreshing bath, the doctor and nurse took care of the minor scratches on Vira and tended to his sprain. He looked like a patchwork.
They made up a comfortable bed for him and drew the curtains to give him privacy, which wasn't really needed since the hospital barely had any patients.
Saka went to see Vira after the nurse had helped him dry off and checked his temperature. He had the medicines in his hands.
His eyes looked puffy, and his cheeks were red. He looked a mess."Come here," said Vira, who was sitting on the bed with his legs stretched out in front of him. He motioned for Saka to sit next to him.
Saka sat down by Vira's feet, his head bowed. "I'm sorry, Sen."