C33

A streak of sunlight enters the room and lands on the face of the man that is sleeping peacefully. A sleeping pills bottle lie next to him.

He opens his eyes slowly.

'I am awake again.' He thinks to himself as if he's hoping to not wake up again.

He slowly pulls himself up. As soon as he starts moving, his head starts throbbing painfully so he holds his head, rubbing on it.

'God....'

He took the glass on the side table and pours some water gulping it down. He puts the glass back to it's place and stands up by gathering all his strength.

He heads to the bathroom holding on anything that he could hold on. Inside he took off his clothes and steps inside the shower. When the warm water hits his skin, a sense of relief spreads all over his body as if some of the weight he is carrying has been washed off by the warmness of the water.

He stands there with his hands pressing against the wall supporting his body. When he comes out, he saw someone sitting on the sofa. He rubs his eyes to see it clearly.

The person looks like him but how could it be him. Why would he come here? He hates me. He thought it was just in his head and heads to his bed sitting down at the corner of him with his face turned to the person's direction.

'Looks very real.' Joss smirks to himself as he is now even hallucinating.

Joss turns around and took the sleeping pills bottle. He takes out two pills and pour some water in the glass. When he was about to take the pills, someone knocks on the door.

'Who is it!?'

'It's Lee Mr.Joss.'

'What is it, Lee? I told u not to disturb me.'

'I know but someone is here to meet u.'

'To meet me? Who is it? Tell them to come later.' He puts the pills inside his mouth and gulps it down with some water.

'Mr.Joss.'

The door suddenly opens. Joss looks at the direction of it. A familiar figure was standing there. Lee was standing behind him.

"Gawin..."

"Can I come in?"

"Gawin!" Joss runs towards him and pulls him into a tight hug. Lee bows his head slightly and walks away.

"Are u coming back to me now? Do u know how long I waited for u?"

Gawin pulls himself away from Joss.

"Heard u are sick so I'm just paying a visit. Don't get ur hopes up."

"....."

"Not going to invite me in?"

"Oh sorry. Come inside and sit."

Gawin walks towards the sofa and takes a seat there. Joss follows him weakly with a smile.

"Have u eaten?" Gawin asks him.

"No." Joss sits down beside him. Gawin doesn't move away from him which makes Joss happy.

"Great then, I bought some congee for u."

"For me."

"Um. Wait here. I'll grab a bowl and a spoon."

"Ok." Joss's gaze follows Gawin's movement with a smile not leaving from his face the whole time.

Gawin grabs a clean bowl and a spoon from the kitchen counter. On his way out he meets the maid.

'Are u Mr.Joss's friend?'

'Kub.'

'Good. Son please make him eat something. From the past few days, he hasn't eaten anything.'

'Why?'

'I don't know. He refuses to eat. Even restricted everyone to enter his room. It's good that u come. Please make sure he eats.'

'Don't worry aunt.' Gawin gives an assuring smile and walks upstairs.

He opens the door and as he steps closer to the sofa he found that Joss is already asleep.

"Joss?"

"....."

"Joss...Joss... wake up."

"......."

"How can u sleep? U haven't eaten anything. Sleep after eating something. Joss..." Gawin shakes him gently but there was no response.

He puts the bowl and the spoon on the table. He's visiting him before heading to the office so he can't stay for long.

He walks to the bed to take a blanket. From the blanket a bottle drops on the floor. He picks it up and looks at the description.

"Sleeping pills." He looks at Joss. "Is that why u fall asleep?" He puts the bottle on the table and steps closer to Joss putting the blanket over him.

He took the congee and handed it to the maid.

'Aunty, I'll be taking my leave. Joss is asleep. He hasn't eaten anything so when he wakes up please make sure to feed him this. I'll come back again later.'

'Thank u very much.'

'No problem. I'll get going then.'

'I'll see u out.'

'Thank u.'

Gawin went on his way and for Joss he still is fast asleep. Moreover he's not in his right mind so he might have thought that Gawin coming to meet him and all the things that happened was just his hallucination.

In the evening, Joss opens his eyes slowly, his body is weak all over with very dry throat. He supports himself against the bed board and pours some water and gulps it down slowly.

Near the jug there's a note. He picks it up and his eyes widen.

"I'll leave the congee to Aunt so make sure to eat it after u wake up."

He can't seem to believe his eyes so he rubs them and reads it again.

'Is it him? The handwriting is same.'

Joss gets up from the bed quickly and heads outside calling for the maid.

'Aunty! Aunty...!'

'Kha! Dear what's wrong!?' The maid runs upstairs quickly.

'Did someone came this morning?'

'Yes. A friend of urs.'

'His name?'

'Sorry dear I forgot to ask his name.'

'Can u tell me how he looks?'

'He is tall, fair and looks like a mixed.'

It's really him.

'Oh! He leave some congee before he goes. Wait inside ur room, I'll heat it up for u ok?'

'Kub.' Joss walks inside his room.

The maid is relief that finally he is agreeing to eat something. She rush downstairs towards the kitchen to heat up the congee.

She brought the congee properly put in a bowl with a spoon along with a glass of warm water.

'Here dear, drink some water first.' She gives him the glass of water. Joss takes a sip and hands back the glass. She takes it and keep the plate in front of him.

'Eat some congee. Here.' She gives him the spoon. Joss takes it and starts eating. 'Eat it slowly dear.'

'Thank u aunty.'

'No problem dear.' She looks at Joss with a smile. 'Oh! I forgot to tell u. Ur friend from earlier.'

'What about him?'

'He told me that he will visit again today.'

'What!? Really!?'

'Um. Why are u so surprised?'

'No it's just...it's been a long time.'

'Oh is that so? Then it's good that U two can talk. Eat all of it ok. I will be downstairs. Call me after u are done eating.' The maid leaves after rubbing slightly on Joss's back.

Joss continues eating the congee slowly.

<see u on next chp>