Chapter 5

"Stay there. I'll just go out to let Bry know you've woken up." He nodded so I got up to go out of his room. I sought for Bry right away and found him in the living room. He was conversing with Baki, who had clearly just arrived. Baki's frown could be seen plainly as they both turned to face me. I ignored her and came to a complete stop in front of her brother. "She's awake, Bry." Surprise and joy appeared on the man's face before he got up and went to Jas's room. I was about to follow when I suddenly felt Baki's touch on my arm causing me to look back at her. I turned to her and gently move away her hand. "Why are you here?" she asked. "Shall I still answer that question,Baki? I know you know why I am here," I replied ignoring the fact that I was just stepping into her house. I turned away from her and went to Jas' room. I sensed her presence behind me as well, but she didn't stop me. She's doing well because, even though it's her home, I have the right to visit, don't I? She is not the one I am visiting here, and Jas is a friend of mine. As a result, she must have realized that I was concerned as well. I'm not looking for a fight. I don't want to be on bad terms with her, but if she leads me, I'm not going to let her beat me. We went in one after the other and found that Bry was giving Jas some medicine. "Are you feeling weird, Jas?" He shook his head in response to Bry's question. Bry turned to me and to the person next to me. He took turns looking at us before deciding to end it to Baki."Baki, come with me. We'll buy him something to eat." I watched the reaction of the person next to me and I could clearly see the tension in her jaw. "Why me?" she asked. "Why didn't you ask her?" she was referring to me. "I'll just take care of Jas here," she added. We were silent for a few seconds until Jas spoke."Come with Bry, Baki. I also need to talk to El." Baki sighed and left the room without saying a word. Bry shrugged before following his sister. They left us and Jas unable to look at me. I sat on the edge of his bed and waited for what he would say but I heard nothing even as I passed the minute of silence that enveloped us. "Jas, is it okay if I asked you?" This is probably a good time to ask what really bothered him and about his illness. Doubt drew on Jas's face so I move more toward next to him. I reached for his palm and gave him a smile that might have caused the doubt he was feeling to subside. "Jas, I want to know you. Let me know and find out everything about you. I will accept everything. I will not leave you no matter what else I find out." I smiled and he did as well. Her doubt subsided thus I let go of her palm; ready to listen to any story he has. He sighed before starting."I was fourteen when mom and dad separated. My two brothers went with dad so I went with mom and here we went. I thought we will live and start a new life here." He sighed again. "But it was just me. After a month ago, she left. She went abroad so I was alone at home. She supported me financially but I didn't feel any sympathy for life." Both Jas and I are in the same boat. When it comes to family, I think my tale is too grim. I can't picture someone else knowing how I'm feeling or where I'm going. "I'm not sad. I'm not happy. I'm just fine. Until a year passed, I felt and saw a strange reaction in my body. I ignored it because of a lack of self -interest. I thought it was simple. I thought it was normal and would only disappear if I won"t mind." We're the same in terms of how he feels about himself. I'm no longer having fun. I forgot I was sad because I thought I was fine. I am able to live a normal life; unlike other citizens, I am able to eat adequate food. I spend my time studying since it's all I know I have and it's the only way I know I'll ever be valuable in the world. Jas' situation is deteriorating. He was sick and had a small living space. Despite the fact that he couldn't tell me what ailment he was suffering from, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "Until my friend came from my home in province and that"s Baki. She and her brother Bry were the way for me to know my true condition. They watched over, treated, and took care of me. Something I couldn't get over my own family." I couldn"t figure out why I felt pain in my chest. I really have to be thankful because someone helped him at times when he needed a care. I just can"t help but compare myself to Baki. She knew Jas better. She has done many things for the man I care. Maybe if Jas was to choose between Baki and me, he would just let me go quickly. But I can't agree. I will take it back. From now on, I will be the person next to him to accompany him on his journey through the reality of his world. I couldn't help but give him a hug. As he wrapped his arms around my waist, I hugged him tightly and felt the caress of a strange joy on my chest. His temperature was warm, but I felt a strange level of heat because of the excitement. He has never let me down since we met, and while I am with him, I always feel valued, therefore I will not let him lose me lightly. Even if it is wrong, I will fight for my rights. "Jas, I'm already here. I want to be sorry for leaving you. I want to apologize because I'm not by your side to fulfill my responsibility as your friend. Jas, I'm here too. Let me take care of you just like Baki and Bry did to you. " I felt the tightening of his embrace on me. It seems he take strength to bring out what he want to say. "Will you still stay even if I can't join you in sipping and eating hot dishes?" I nodded between our hug. " Can you stand the thing that you won't give me an emotion that can go to an extreme level and make me feel hot?" I nodded again and I felt the shaking of his shoulder. "C-can you give me your rest time? " his arm tightens even more. Slightly trembling his body close to my body. "Can you turn your back on the sunlight to join me under the moon and an atmosphere shrouded in silence and darkness?" I was confused. I understand what he is saying but I can't get what exactly he is trying to convey. I-is it possible ... His hug widened and he released me. I immediately checked his expression and I got shocked for what I see. His skin is red again but the assemblies of his eyes are no longer bright shining in my sight. "El, do you still like me like before? Do you still like me even though the things I do with you are limited?" he asked as a series of grains of his tears fell. He wiped his face with the back of his palm right away. I am unable to move in my seat. I didn't utter a single word. My vision stayed fixed on him, but I was no longer in my own thought. As if he's running a kilometer, he catches his breath. His rashes reappeared, and worry wrapped around my chest. I was swallowed up by the strong impact when the door opened. "JAS ?!" I do not understand. I can't hear who that shout is from. As far as I know, two people ran to our place. The world's cycle appears to be slowing down. As I watch the motions of older Bry, who is caring for the unconscious Jas, my vision fades. The doctor's words were clear, as if he were issuing an order, yet there was no voice. Until I felt someone grab my shirt collar. Baki knitted me and forced me to stand on the edge of the bed. Her ears and nostrils were filled with a smokey stench of rage. As she gripped me and crushed me against the room's wall, her teeth were virtually clinched by the tension in her jaw, and her blazing eyes fixed on my face without a trace of expression. "DO YOU REALLY PLAN TO KILL JASPER ?!" she shouted in my face."I TOLD YOU THAT YOU COULDN'T HELP! YOU KNOW NOTHING AND DON'T PRETEND YOU HAVE!" Baki let me go because Bry dragged her. They left the room while I coughed, kneeling and holding my chest. I caught my breath and looked at the bed where the man was lying unconscious because of what I had done. Sunshine on the beach.High emotions now. Now I know. He's having a cholinergic urticaria—rare allergic reaction which occurs when core body tempterature increased due to active or passive body warming. Z