Please Don't Like Me

"Boss."

Val's voice was heavy, his body burning with fever. Rio thought he must have been delirious. He was about to gently remove Val's arms when the boy hugged him tighter.

"Boss, no, please don't like me, you can't like me, boss, promise me, don't..."

Rio was silent. He let Val hug him until the boy fell back asleep.

Slowly and gently, Rio lowered Val back onto the couch and let him sleep. The poor kid looks so tired and sad, a tear rolled down his cheek. He was crying.

"Val, hey, I'll get you some medicine, you can't sleep here." said Rio in soft tone.

Rio got up, he reach out his hand to lifted up Val from the couch, take him to his bedroom.

He paused at the door. Val, half-conscious, lifted his arms and hugged Rio's neck.

"Boss, please forgive me."

Rio took a deep breath. What was he supposed to do with this kid?

...

The morning sun shone brightly, reflecting off the skyscrapers in the city center. Jason had just finished showering and was drying his hair with a towel. He stopped in front of Val's room; the boy hadn't come home all night. And it was Saturday; he must be staying at a friend's house. Jason turned his head when he heard a sound from the door.

"Val?"

Jason immediately went to the living room. He stopped when he saw who was standing at the door with a medium-sized suitcase: Iyan, back from his out-of-town assignment.

"Iyan."

The man saw Jason, then looked around.

"Hey, hi, good morning. I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked.

Jason pursed his lips and shook his head.

"No. How was your seminar? It looked busy," Jason said, managing a few words despite not being particularly close to his tenant.

Iyan, the large man, straightened up, hoisting his bag from his shoulder onto his suitcase.

"Well, it was definitely exhausting. Over two thousand guests in five days, with different menu every day. Everyone worked hard non-stop, but thankfully, everything went smoothly."

"Oh, that's great! You're amazing. Being a head chef can't be easy."

Iyan nodded.

"Yeah, that's about right. Luckily, my team is incredibly skilled, so I didn't feel overwhelmed."

Iyan gestured towards Val's half-open bedroom door.

"Does Val still asleep?" he asked.

Jason turned towards the room.

"Val didn't come home last night. He's staying at a friend's place."

Iyan pursed his lips.

"Oh, yeah, young people are like that, aren't they? Uh, if you will excuse me, I'm going to get shower and rest. This was incredibly tiring."

Jason nodded.

"Oh, please do."

Soon, Iyan wheeled his suitcase towards his room and closed the door from the inside. The apartment fell silent again. Just like it used to be when Val wasn't there. Jason glanced at his phone; no reply from the kid yet. Was he avoiding him? Slightly annoyed, Jason tossed his phone onto the couch.

"That kid. Just you wait until he gets home."

.....

Far across town.

Sunlight pierced through the thick, dark velvet curtains covering the wide window in the apartment bedroom. A sound from outside the room made Val open his eyes. His head was pounding, and his body felt hot and slightly clammy. Was the air conditioning off?

Val turned onto his side. He felt awful; his stomach was upset, and a burning sensation pressed from within. He can't even lifted his weak hand up.

"Val, I like you."

Jason's voice, still clear in his memory, from when his boss had said it while he was supposedly asleep. He hadn't been asleep; he'd heard every word.

Click.

The sound of the door opening from outside.

Val had just closed his eyes and was already half asleep. His boss probably just came in to grab his phone charger like usual; he'd ignore him. But he felt the bed dip slightly. It seemed like his boss was sitting behind him.

"Val,"

Val was so tired. He'd taken the doctor's medication and couldn't keep his eyes open. Maybe his boss just wanted to vent out his stress, like he usually did. But then, there was silence, though he could hear Jason's faint breathing right above his head.

Jason gazed at Val's sleeping face, at his closed eyes with their long lashes, his sharp nose, and rosy lips. Can't help to keep looking at it so close to his heart content.

"Hey, are you asleep?" he whispered.

Jason smiled. He stroked Val's forehead and lowered his head, gently kissing his brow. Val couldn't resist; he was drowsy from the sleeping pills, half-conscious, but he felt his boss take his hand, squeeze it, then lean closer. He could hear his breath right in front of his face.

"Val, thank you for coming back. I won't let you go again, I won't. You will always stay by my side, right?" Jason whispered. Val's eyes fluttered, trying to respond, but he couldn't fight the effects of the medication. Was his boss going to take advantage of him while he was asleep like this? That man.

Jason lowered his head again, tilted it, and kissed Val's lips.

'Chup'

Val was startled. Sure enough, his boss had taken advantage of his helplessness. It was his first kiss, well, officially, anyway. Jason gently stroked Val's soft lips with his finger.

"Let's be together forever, Val. I like you. Thank you for coming back into my life."

Val held his breath, gripping the pillow tightly. He almost sat up and fell off the bed if not for someone quickly held him.

"Hey, careful, don't get up too fast."

Val lifted his head, seeing someone already holding his hand.

"Doc?"

Right, he forgot. Last night he met Dr. Rio, who took him to his place. This wasn't his room not her bed. Val pulled his hand off from Dr. Rio's hold. He only then noticed the IV needle line stuck in his vein, wincing as he pulled his hand too far.

"Ach"

Rio smiled, propped a pillow higher behind Val, and helped him lie back down.

"Come on, lie down. You still have a fever. Eat a little something and go back to sleep," Rio said, checking the needle in Val's hand.

Val admitted, he was so weak and couldn;t lifted his head for longer, he looked at the doctor for a moment, unsure what to say. He shouldn't be bothering him with his condition.

"Forgive me, Doc, for troubling you, I didn't meant to."

Rio smiled. After making sure the IV was properly secured, he picked up a bowl of porridge he'd placed on the table and brought it closer to Val.

"What are you talking about? Come on, eat a bite or two. At least get your energy up. You're too weak, Val. If you keep declining like this, you'll have to stay in the hospital," Rio blew on the still-steaming porridge, stirred it a few times, and offered a spoonful to Val's mouth.

Val looked at the young doctor he'd known since the beginning of his treatment. A young man, probably around his boss's age. He'd never wanted anything more than a doctor-patient relationship, but what was he doing now? He was dragging the Doctor into his problem.