Chapter 30

There is a knock at Room 702, one of many in the Intensive Care Facility of Makhan Hospital. Tas, Gan, Nom, and Pon, are waiting outside the door: they decide to drop by and check on Sun before heading home.

The door opens and Nana Bea greets them from the inside, letting them enter afterwards. “I’ll take those flowers, nong,” she told Gan, who immediately gives her the bouquet.

“How are you P’?” asked Tas as they enter the room. He is astounded with the plastic enclosure protecting the bed.

“I’m good. We slept well last night,” answered Nana Bea as she closes the door. Pon, then, proceeds to the pantry section of the room, which is separated by a sliding door from where the patient is, to set down the fruits on the table.

“Where is Uncle Jek?”

“He went to the office, nong. He said he has a lot of papers to sign, so he can’t miss work today. Tomorrow, your Aunt Mika will go to the office, and he will stay here to look after Sun,” replied Nana Bea. There is another knock on the door.

“I’ll get it. It’s probably Mochi,” said Nom. True enough, it is Mochi who has just arrived.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked Nom, who is frowning with his lips curled when he opens the door for him.

“Tas and his boyfriend. Later,” replied Nom, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

Sun’s family owns a winery, and it was formerly headed by his parents. However, after they passed on, Aunt Mika and Uncle Jek, not only took over in looking after Sun, but also piloted the business into further success. They would have put up a great family if they had children of their own, but it was something that they were not blessed with.

Aunt Mika met Uncle Jek in a university where they both served as instructors, but they taught in different fields. Aunt Mika in science, particularly Chemistry and Physics. Uncle Jek, on the other hand, in Business and Economics. He also happens to be the younger brother of Sun’s mother. As early as when they officially started dating, Aunt Mika confessed to Uncle Jek of being infertile, which was the effect of having to work as a scientist at Khanom Nuclear Power Plant before being an academe instructor. As such, she was exposed to radiations of varying levels. She did not show any physical symptoms and looked perfectly fine until she underwent tests. After he learned that Aunt Mika can’t bear them an offspring, Uncle Jek had vasectomy.

Despite Sun being only their nephew, Aunt Mika and Uncle Jek treated him as if he is their own son. There were days when Sun spent the night over at their condo unit, especially when his parents fly overseas for business meetings and other engagements. After Sun’s parents were killed in the accident, Aunt Mika and Uncle Jek sold their condo unit and moved into Sun’s house and from then on, became his legal guardian.

"Sawadee Aunt Mika," greeted Tas, which the others follow suit.

Aunt Mika returns the gesture without saying a thing. Visibly, she is tired, but more on the emotional side rather than the physical.

"How is Sun, auntie?" asked Nom.

"The doctor said that his condition is stable. His vitals are okay, but because of the impact of the hit, one of his rib lacerated his lung. The doctors said that the cut is shallow, but it is enough to affect his breathing. That is why he needs the help of a ventilator." said Aunt Mika.

"And is this also the reason why they put a plastic enclosure around the bed?” asked Mochi.

"Yes nong. The doctor and nurse can get inside because they wear those protective gears, as is the one who gets his blood every eight hours. They said that since Sun is susceptible to infection at his condition right now, they had to put up that covering to keep microbes away," replied Aunt Mika.

"When will he wake up? Can they determine that?"

"According to them, they call it chemically-induced coma. He had to be put in it, so that he will breathe minimally unlike when he is awake. When his lung heals, they will stop giving him the sedative."

"How long has he been asleep?" asked Tas.

"It has already been three days nong."

"I see. Has the school called you or Uncle Jek?"

"Krap nong. We will come there to discuss with the dean about Sun's studies."

It is dusk when they decide to leave. Tas and his friends have just bid goodbye to Aunt Mika and Nana Bea when Uncle Jek entered.

“N’Tas?” asked Uncle Jek.

“Krap uncle?”

“Do you have class tomorrow at eleven in the morning?”

“No uncle. Mochi, Nom, and I have free time from eleven to one in the afternoon. Why?

“I see. Your Aunt Mika and I will meet with the dean. After that, I’d like to ask you to help us with Sun’s things from school.”

“Okay krap.”

“Does Sun have many things in school, so I can bring a box or two to store them?”

“I know he stores a lot of books in his locker.”

“I see. Maybe I’ll bring two boxes. Khob khun krap Tas.”

“No problem uncle. We’ll help you carry them,” replied Tas, to which the others nodded.

“Are you going home now? You and the others?”

“Krap uncle.”

“Who is that boy beside you, Tas? I haven’t met him yet,” asked Uncle Jek, pointing to Gan.

“Sawadee P’. I am Gan Ratanopong. I’m Tas’ boyfriend.”

“Sawadee N’Gan. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too, uncle.”

“Aren’t you lads going to stay for dinner? I’ll buy us something.”

“Thank you, Uncle Jek, but we don’t want to impose on you. Sorry if we can’t stay longer,” answered Nom.

“No worries nong. It’s already enough that you visited Sun.”

“Alright uncle. We’ll be going now.”

“You boys take care. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Krap P’,” said Tas.

“Mochi, who will you go with?” inquired Nom after they are out of the room. He and his wife, Pon, went there in cupcake’s car.

Tas proposed, “We can drop you off at your…”

“I’ll go with Nom,” cut off Mochi. He remembers what Nom told him earlier.

“Are you sure?” asked Tas.

“Yes, I am sure.”

Inside the elevator, the tension between Tas and Gan is still there. Mochi looks at Nom at times to communicate with him through the eyes, and which only they understand.

“Lobby floor,” said a woman’s voice from inside the elevator.

“This is our stop. I parked my car on the nearby fast-food,” said Tas. Gan steps out of the elevator right after Tas finishes without saying goodbye to anyone. Tas followed him immediately, leaving the others before anyone can say anything back.

Pon presses a button on the panel to close the door as soon as Tas and Gan are out.

“Talk to me, Nom,” commanded Mochi as soon as the elevator closes.

“Tas and Gan are at it again.”

“Aren’t they tired of arguing?”

“This time it’s about a florist that is staring at Tas.”

“Say that again?”

“Yeah. You heard it right.”

“Jeez.”

“I know Tas is fed up already, Mochi. I can feel it from the way he shares their problem to me. Hasn’t he been saying anything to you?”

“No. He doesn’t share anything to me. I wonder how Gan would react if he finds out that I used to like his boyfriend.”

“Mochi! Don’t even attempt to do that,” spat Nom.

“Don’t worry, I won’t. Tas and I only talk about school ever since Gan and he officially became a couple – nothing more and nothing less, and specially nothing in between.”

“Aren’t you going to help him?”

Mochi thinks for an answer and is quick to find it since he made a resolve not to interfere with Tas’ personal affairs anymore. “He can fix it. I know he can,” he answered to Nom.

Nom, on the other hand, is not as confident as Mochi is. However, he cannot blame his friend for having such a stony expression about Tas’ situation. Sun and he know how Mochi likes Tas – head-over-heels. So, the manner how Mochi acts today is something he can’t blame his friend for doing, having been dumped despite improving everything in his self because of the inspiration Tas brings him.