What's On My Face ?

"We're run out of ingredients, boss. The fridge only has eggs and meatballs. I forgot to buy groceries this morning."

Jason thought for a moment.

"Iyan, that masterchef, didn't bring back any supplies again? Lately, he's always out of town. Though, that's good. Means no one's bothering us," Jason said, pulling Val closer.

"Boss, what do you mean 'bothering us'? What are we doing?" Val asked, his face reddening as Jason continued to look at him. His boss's sharp gaze always made his heart flutter; he couldn't figure him out what on the man's mind.

"Well, even if we're not doing anything, I just find him a bit weird. He looks at you like you're a delicious meal. I don't like it." said Jason while swing Val's hand.

Val's eyes widened.

"Really, boss? You're exaggerating, right? Is there something weird on my face?" Val asked, touching his cheek.

Jason smiled, stopped walking, and lowered his head, suddenly looking at Val from very close.

Val froze. His boss's face was right in front of him.

"B-boss..."

Jason smiled, raised his head, and continued walking, pulling Val with him.

"Yeah, there is something on your face."

Hearing that, Val pulled Jason's hand to stop.

"What is it, boss?" he asked.

Jason thought for a second.

"Um, that's a secret."

Val's voice went up an octave.

"Boss, tell me! Please tell me what is it!"

Jason couldn't help but laugh at Val's frustrated, curious face.

"Hahaha"

....

The sounds in the central hospital waiting room faded. Visitors thinned out, and several previously busy counters were deserted. By eleven-eleven, nearing midnight, the waiting room was almost empty, only a few stragglers remained. Among them was Val, slumped asleep in a long chair. Someone approached – Dr. Rio, in his white coat, finishing his night shift.

"This kid…" he murmured, crouching down to look at Val's exhausted face. The young man had just had his routine treatment and should have gone home as soon as the medication wore off. It had been over three hours.

"Val," Rio whispered. He saw Val's hands folded under his head.

"Val, why aren't you home? What time is it?" Rio glanced at his watch; it was almost midnight.

Val opened his eyes, looking faintly at Dr. Rio, the only person who knew about his condition for the past few weeks – his doctor, of course.

"Doc…"

Rio helped Val sit up and sat beside him, checking his arm where a bandage and cotton still covered his vein from the treatment.

"Why didn't you go home? I told you not to sleep leaning on one arm. Look, it's all blue," Rio said, holding Val's wrist and gently massaging the blood flow that seemed clotted. His whole forearm was bruised.

Rio saw Val who looked so tired. He brushed back Val's slightly long bangs that covered his forehead, only to find some hair lose in his hand. Quickly, he closed his hand to hide it from Val.

"Still nauseous? You throw everything out, right? Are you hungry? Want to get something to eat before you go home? I'll drive you home tonight; there won't be any taxis or buses around this late hour…"

"Can I stay here, Doc? Just for tonight," Val interrupted Rio.

The young doctor, around Jason's age, looked at Val for a moment. Val looked pale, listless, and tired. he'd been through a rough time, the kind nobody should have to experience, not even Rio, who initially felt pity for Val. Now, he wasn't even sure where the line between doctor and patient was anymore.

"Why? Are you afraid your roommate will find out about your condition? Val, how long are you going to keep this hidden? Sooner or later, your friends need to know the truth."

Val leaned his shoulder against the chair, squeeze his fingers. Rio noticed his distress. The doctor pulled his lips, He took Val's hands and rubbed it with his palm to make it warmer.

"Hey, looked at your hands, it's freezing cold. You can stay tonight. But not here. My apartment isn't big, but there's a wide, comfy sofa in the living room. You can sleep there tonight, or even longer if you want. I'm living alone. Um, let's stop by a restaurant first, though. I don't have any food at home. You're really thin and need to eat a lot. I'll buy you some soup to warm your stomach," Rio said.

Val hesitated, looking at the doctor's hand asked him to get up from his place.

"I think, I'm fine here, Doc. It'll be light soon, it's not bad sleeping here."

Rio took Val's hand.

"No, unless you want to sleep in a patient's room. The waiting room isn't a place to stay overnight. Don't worry, my apartment isn't far from here, just a fifteen-minute drive. Besides, you're not doing well, and I'd really regret it if you got worse tomorrow."

Val looked up at Dr. Rio, who was already standing in front of him. What choice does he had now, but to go with him. The doctor pulling his hand.

"But Doc..."

....

The rain fell in a gentle drizzle.

Rio pulled up the handbrake, glancing at Val who seemed to be asleep beside him. He stopped briefly in front of his favorite little restaurant to grab his order. They are still on service until midnight.

"This kid," he muttered.

The car was quite cold, made colder by the rain outside.

Rio turned up the heater so Val, who was only wearing a thin denim jacket, wouldn't get cold. He looked behind the seat where he usually kept an extra blanket for himself in case he needed to sleep at the hospital.

He gently covered Val's shivering, curled-up form, careful not to wake him.

"Boss," Val mumbled.

Rio smiled. He made sure Val was comfortable before getting out of the car, rolling down the window, turning off the engine, and locking the car from the outside.

At Jason's apartment. He stood in front of the large window, looking at the city skyline and the night sky. He'd been trying to reach Val's phone, sending what felt like hundreds of messages, none of which had been answered. There wasn't even a ring when he tried calling; it seemed Val's phone was off.

"Hey, this kid, where the heck is he?"

Val's last message, sent after he left work early, said he was going to meet a friend and might be home late. But it was past midnight now, there was no updates from the kid. At least answer all the messages he'd sent since this afternoon. 

Jason took a deep breath, clutching his phone and gazing into the distance, his brow furrowed. Something felt off; he felt like Val was hiding something important from him, but maybe it was just him overthinking things. He couldn't stop worrying about him, all day all night just Val inside his head, this might makes him thought too much.

"Hey, Valiant," he whispered.

Out, in the other part of the city.

The apartment door opened. Rio carried Val, fast asleep on his back, into the apartment, briefly setting down his bag on the table near the door.

"Val, hey, wake up, you haven't eaten yet" Rio said, gently lowering Val onto the couch.

Val opened his eyes, blurry, and saw Dr. Rio's face, which looked like Jason to him.

Rio's eyes widened as the boy suddenly raised up and hugged him.

"Hey, Val."