A Few Hours Later - At the Hospital
Nat's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry and unfocused. Harsh fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, making him squint. The beeping of a heart monitor echoed softly in the room, grounding him in reality. His entire body ached, and his head felt like it was splitting in two.
Before he could fully comprehend where he was, he heard a familiar voice—worried but relieved.
"P'Nat!"
His gaze shifted, and he saw Mae rushing toward him, tears streaming down her face. Mali trailed closely behind, clutching her stuffed animal tightly.
"Mae…Mali…" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
Mae gently cupped his face, her hands trembling. "What happened to you? We've been so worried! You weren't answering your phone… I thought… I thought something terrible happened."
"I'm… sorry," Nat managed, his throat dry. "I… I didn't want you to worry."
Mali climbed onto the edge of the hospital bed and hugged him as tightly as her small arms could manage. "You scared us, P'Nat! Don't do that again!"
Nat weakly rested his hand on her back, feeling guilt twist in his chest. "I'm sorry, Mali… I didn't mean to…"
Just then, a doctor entered the room, clipboard in hand. His expression was serious but not unkind.
"Mr. Raksasakul, it's good to see you awake." He checked Nat's vitals before continuing. "You were severely dehydrated, malnourished, and suffering from extreme exhaustion when you were brought in. If the person who found you hadn't called emergency services, it could've been much worse."
Mae's grip on Nat's hand tightened. "Found him? Who… who brought him here?"
The doctor glanced at the chart. "A young man. He didn't leave his name, but he stayed until the ambulance arrived."
Nat frowned, trying to recall anything from that night, but his memory was hazy. Whoever it was… they'd saved his life.
———————
Later That Evening - Tharaporn Estate
Ran paced anxiously in his art studio, his phone clenched tightly in his hand. He had heard nothing from Nat in days, and P'Sang's attempts to reach Nat's workplace had failed.
"What if something happened to him?" Ran whispered, his voice cracking.
P'Sang placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll find him. Don't give up."
Just then, Ran's phone buzzed. His heart leaped as he snatched it up, breath held— a message from Nat.
Nat: I'm okay. At the hospital… I'm sorry I couldn't call sooner.
Ran's knees nearly buckled as he read the message, relief flooding his entire being. Without a second thought, he grabbed his coat and bolted toward the door.
"I'm going to see him."
P'Sang didn't try to stop him. "I'll drive."
——————————
At the Hospital
The drive to the hospital felt agonizingly long, though P'Sang drove as fast as he could while keeping them safe. Ran's fingers trembled as he clutched his phone, rereading Nat's message over and over.
He's okay… He's alive.
When they arrived at the hospital, Ran practically leapt out of the car, ignoring P'Sang's call to slow down. He sprinted through the entrance, frantically scanning for the front desk.
"Excuse me!" he gasped, out of breath. "I'm here to see Nattawut Raksasakul. He was admitted recently."
The receptionist typed quickly, nodding. "Room 207, third floor."
Before she could finish, Ran was already rushing toward the elevators, his heart pounding. His mind spun with countless possibilities—how bad was it? Was Nat really okay?
—————
Room 207
Nat stirred in his hospital bed, staring out the window as the setting sun cast a warm glow over the city. Mae and Mali had gone home to rest after much persuasion from the nurses, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. His body still ached, though the doctors said he'd recover with proper rest. Still, he couldn't shake the lingering guilt. I shouldn't have pushed myself so hard…
Just as he closed his eyes, the door burst open with a loud thud, making him flinch. He turned quickly—only to see Ran standing breathless in the doorway, eyes wide with worry.
"Ran?" Nat croaked, stunned.
Before he could say anything else, Ran crossed the room in seconds and threw his arms around him, holding on as though letting go would make Nat disappear.
"I thought I lost you," Ran whispered, his voice breaking. "You didn't answer… I was so scared."
Nat hesitated, then slowly wrapped his arms around Ran, resting his chin on his shoulder. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to worry you."
Ran pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you were struggling? You don't have to go through this alone."
Nat let out a shaky breath, guilt flashing across his face. "I didn't want to burden you… You have your life, your art… I didn't think—"
"You are my life, you idiot," Ran interrupted, gently cupping Nat's face. "Don't ever think you're a burden to me."
Nat's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he leaned into Ran's touch. "I'll… I'll do better. I promise."
"You better," Ran whispered before pressing his forehead against Nat's, holding him close.
.....
Nat closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of Ran's touch, letting himself feel safe for the first time in a long while. His arms tightened around Ran just a little, afraid that if he let go, this moment might vanish like a fragile dream.
Ran gently brushed his fingers through Nat's hair, his thumb tracing soothing circles along the back of his neck. "You scared me so much…" he whispered, his voice still shaky. "Don't ever do that again."
"I won't," Nat murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Ran… I didn't mean to—"
Ran shook his head, silencing him with a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. "No more apologies. Just… tell me when things get too hard, okay? You don't have to do everything alone."
Nat nodded slowly, resting his forehead against Ran's. "I'll try… I'm not used to… needing someone."
"You don't have to be used to it," Ran whispered. "Just let me be here for you."
For a long moment, they stayed like that—holding each other, sharing the silence filled only by the soft beeping of the heart monitor.
A Few Minutes Later
The door creaked open softly, breaking the tender stillness. P'Sang peeked in, looking relieved to see Nat awake and Ran by his side. "I brought some extra clothes and food," he announced, holding up two bags. "Thought you might need them."
Ran pulled back, wiping his eyes quickly. "Thanks, P'Sang."
Nat offered a faint smile. "You didn't have to—"
"Shut up," P'Sang interrupted with a teasing smirk. "You almost worked yourself into an early grave. Consider this your first dose of payback."
Nat huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "I guess I deserved that."
Ran helped Nat sit up while P'Sang set the bags on the table. "Eat first," P'Sang ordered. "Then we'll talk about how you're never allowed to scare us like that again."
As Nat dug into the food, feeling lighter than he had in a long time, he couldn't help but glance at Ran every few seconds, making sure he was still there—still real.
For the first time in forever, he truly felt like he belonged.
———————
After being in the hospital for 7 days Nat was finally released after doctors saw his body get better, but he was instructed to take a break from any heavy work or any work that would put pressure onto his body.
"I'll advise you take a break from work, because any more recklessness could cause your life." His doctor broke the news. "Make sure you eat three meals a day, get 8 hours of sleep, and 2 sessions of physical therapy every week." He stated
Nat nodded, though the weight of the doctor's words settled heavily on his chest. Taking a break from work wasn't an option he could easily afford, but after nearly collapsing from exhaustion, he couldn't ignore the warning.
Ran, standing beside him, gently squeezed his hand. "We'll figure this out together," he whispered, his gaze steady and full of determination.
The doctor handed Nat a prescription slip and a detailed health plan. "Follow this strictly, and you should be able to return to work in a few months. Until then, focus on recovery."
Outside the Hospital
As they stepped into the fresh air, Nat inhaled deeply, savoring the feeling of being free from the sterile hospital walls. But worry still tugged at him—his job, Mae, Mali… how was he going to manage everything without working?
Ran seemed to sense his anxiety. "Stop thinking so hard," he said softly, slipping his arm around Nat's waist. "You're not doing this alone."
"I can't just sit around," Nat murmured. "Mae and Mali… they depend on me."
Ran stopped, turning him so they faced each other. "We'll take care of them together. You're not a burden, and you're not alone."
Nat's eyes softened, though doubt still lingered. "I'm not used to asking for help…"
"You don't have to ask," Ran replied firmly. "I'm already here."
Later That Evening – At the Tharaporn Estate
When they arrived at the Tharaporn Estate, Nat was surprised to see Mae and Mali waiting by the grand entrance with P'Sang and P'Akara. Mali sprinted toward him, wrapping her small arms around his waist.
"P'Nat! You're finally back!" she cried. "I missed you so much!"
Mae approached more slowly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You scared us," she whispered, hugging him tightly. "Don't ever do that again."
Nat held them both close, feeling the weight of guilt and relief collide within him. "I'm so sorry… I'll be better from now on."
P'Sang cleared his throat loudly, smirking. "We figured you'd be stubborn, so we've already set up a recovery room for you."
"You'll be staying here," P'Akara added, grinning mischievously. "Doctor's orders."
"What?" Nat blinked in shock.
Ran shrugged with a small smile. "I told you—you're not doing this alone."
Before Nat could argue, Mali tugged at his sleeve. "Can we eat now? I'm starving!"
Nat smiled as he ruffled Mali's hair. "Alright, let's get something to eat. You've earned it."
Mae nodded, her face softening with a relieved smile as she placed a hand on Nat's shoulder. "We'll make sure you're taken care of here. You just focus on resting and getting better."
They all headed inside, and soon the sounds of the household filled the air, the warmth of family settling into the space. The kitchen was bustling as the house workers started preparing dinner.
Nat sank into one of the plush chairs in the living room. His body still ached, and the exhaustion from the past few days lingered like a heavy cloud, but being home, surrounded by family, made the weight a little easier to bear.
Ran took a seat next to him, placing his hand gently over Nat's. "How are you feeling?" he asked quietly, his voice full of concern.
"Better," Nat replied, his voice rougher than he'd intended. "But I don't know how I'm supposed to stay still. I feel useless just sitting here."
Ran chuckled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair out of Nat's face. "You're not useless. You just need to take a break and let your body heal. You've been pushing yourself too hard."
Nat sighed but didn't argue. He knew Ran was right. He'd been stubborn for too long, determined to provide for his family at the cost of his own health. But now, he was being forced to face the consequences of that decision. It was time to take a step back.
TBC