Rio turned his body towards the door and saw Jason already standing there, carrying a large doll in his left hand and a package in his right hand. He looked at Rio for a long moment.
Soon, both of them were standing outside the door while the nurse went in to prepare Val for the next procedure.
"How is he? Does he need a tube inserted into his chest?" Jason asked.
Rio nodded.
"Just to remove excess fluid in his lungs. It won't be long; it will be done by the time he wakes up, just for a few hours." Rio replied.
Rio looked at Jason from head to toe, seeing the large teddy bear in Jason's hand, bigger than the one inside.
"Val really likes teddy bears, does he? Everybody seems to spoil him with that"
Jason glanced at the doll. He bought the biggest one, almost as tall as him, good for hugging.
"Yes, everyone thinks Val is so adorable, the thought that he looks like a teddy bear. Why? Am I not allowed to give him this?"
Rio held his breath for a moment, looking at the large doll.
"You can, but not for now. His condition is so fragile; if possible, don't let too many people visit him, as they might spread germs that could make him sicker. Including you, who knows where you've been, and what diseases are on your clothes," said Rio, looking at Jason as if scanning him.
"I know that, I brought a change of clothes, I'll clean myself, and stay with him tonight."
Rio stopped Jason as he was about to enter.
"You know what will happen to Val. You might get hurt because of it. This is not a disease that can be cured in one or two days; it will take a long time and, even then, it will be full of struggle, time, and tears. Jas, even though he needs a lot of support right now, I'm by his side. You don't have to feel guilty. If you want, you can back out now," said Rio.
Jason looked at Rio's hand on his arm. Then his face. Both were schoolmates, once quite close.
"Why should I back down? I can handle this myself, Rio, you don't need to tell me about it, and Val is not alone; he has me and his friends, we will always support him, no matter what happens."
After saying that, Jason pulled his hand away from Rio's grip and walked into the room. Rio held his breath for a moment, then followed Jason inside.
***
Morning came. The sun shone brightly, sneaking into the room freely. The wide window with wide-open curtains made the room, located on the twelfth floor of the central hospital, look more vibrant, illuminating the large sunflowers. Gifts from Val's colleagues at the office, from Alex, with his name clearly written on the greeting card hanging at the bottom. Then there were pretty little chrysanthemums in a tiny pot given by Tina from the HRD team, a teddy bear from Ria, and fresh fruits from Anwar and others. Unfortunately, Val couldn't enjoy the fruits that would hurt his stomach and only make him sicker.
Jason sat by the bed, having slept on the sofa all night until he woke up at dawn and couldn't close his eyes again. Now he just sat beside Val, who was still sound asleep, looking at the plaster covering the small wound on Val's lower chest after seeing Rio insert a tube into it last night. It looked quite painful.
Jason held his breath, trying to control himself from crying. He sat on the other side of Val, holding his hand, while Rio worked on the other side.
Rio turned to him when he successfully inserted the tube into Val's lower chest, and let the nurse take over his work. Jason's eyes welled up, and he quickly turned his head away when Rio saw him.
"This is just the beginning, Jas, if you can't handle it, you still have the time to back down now, don't give Val false hope," Rio said while pulling his gloves.
Jason raised his hand, almost touching the wound as Val slowly moved his head. Jason pulled his hand back. He stammered as Val's eyes turned to him, staring at him for a long time before he turned his face away. Val raised one hand and placed it on his forehead.
"Heh, I must have a high fever. Why do I always see Boss's face everywhere?" he grumbled.
Jason heard him, suppressed his smile at how cute Val's expression was right now. He got up and took Val's hand, lowering it from his forehead. At that time, Val knew that even though he had a fever, he might not be delirious. His boss was indeed there, holding his hand and now looking at him from a very close distance.
"Boss? You here?"
Jason sat back down, placing Val's hand on his stomach. He felt Val's forehead.
"Not as hot as last night, how do you feel? Do you want a drink?" he asked, reaching for the glass on the table beside the bed.
Val looked at his boss for a long time. Although he really wishes his boss would always be by his side, especially at a time like this, hold his hand when he is in pain, and hug him when he feels cold, he shouldn't be selfish. This was his problem, his life and death; he shouldn't drag others down with him. It was enough for him to cry in the dark alone.
"Boss, I'm dying. I have a rare blood disease."
Val's words made Jason's hand stop for a moment. Then he takes the glass with the straw to Val. He looks so calm in response.
"I know." Jason looked into Val's eyes for a long time, waiting for him to open his mouth to accept the water.
Val was so thirsty, his body was hot, and his throat was dry. After pairing his eyes with his boss, he sipped the water a little. After a few sips, Jason put it back on the table.
"Did Doctor Rio tell you?" Val asked.
Jason grabbed a piece of tissue and wiped Val's lips from the remaining water. He looked into Val's eyes for a moment, shaking his head.
"No, that rude guy didn't say anything at all." said Jason.
Val clenched his fist. His boss looks tired with slightly swollen eyes. He might have been there all night, looking at his clothes, it wasn't the clothes he would wear to work either. Just training pants and a t-shirt. Jason looked at Val, then at himself.
"What are you looking at?" Jason asked.
Val pursed his lips, shaking his head.
"No, just, that, your pajamas"
Jason nodded.
"Yes, that's right, these are my pajamas, so, what? What am I supposed to wear to sleep? Oh, I haven't taken a bath yet, it's still early. Um, I'll do that after this."
For a long moment, Val just looked at his boss, he didn't want to do that, looking at him like that, but he had to admit, it felt good to see him now, when he was so weak and needed someone beside him. After all this time, that someone who is close enough with him, is his boss. He almost had no friends, only some who came and went when he needed them the most. But, why now? When he is in the weakest state and helpless, this is not the right time.
Val wrung his fingers, shifting his gaze far out the window. The sky that day was so beautiful, blue, with a few clumping clouds. He kept looking at it for too long, as if he could fly far away with them, without any burden.
Jason taps Val's hand, making the kid turn his eyes on him.
"What are you thinking, Val? Do you want to kick me out of here again? I've decided, I won't leave you alone at a time like this, not yesterday, not now. And I'm your boss, still your boss and that means you have to listen to me." said Jason.
Val averted his gaze, avoiding his Boss's eyes.
"This isn't the office, boss, your words don't work here."