Chapter 4. Waking Up.

Tee was aimlessly waking to his car after finishing for the day of boring lectures. He was already absent for 3 days and now he had to catch up on so many things.

But for now his mind was occupied with Tae. Max told him that he woke up briefly and then fell asleep again. He told him Tae was doing better but he wanted to see himself.

The visitors were still not allowed to stay inside the room and he knew it wont be any better even if he visits. He clicked the car key in his hand and was about to enter the driving seat when his phone blared, indicating an incoming call.

"Hello. Yes Sing". He picked up the call as a regular from Singto as one of them would usually update him about Tae on his request.

"Tae is awake Tee". He heard a cracked voice and his own heart started beating fast. Tae was awake.

He hang up the call and rushed to drive the most stressful 30 minutes from the campus to the hospital.

Tae was admitted in the ICU on the second floor and he didnt wait for the lift to take him, instead he climbed up the stairs and reach the waiting area with ragged breaths.

"Hows.. Hows...".

"Ssshhh. Calm down. Tae is fine. Awake. The doctors checking on him and he would be shifted in a private room in short. Also his parents are here". Tul told him handing him a bottle of water.

He felt nervous for an unknown reason.

'Will they blame him for Tae's condition? Will they hate him'? He was scared. And may be it was so visible in his eyes that Max had to come forward to patt his shoulders.

"It wasnt your fault Tee. It was an accident". He read those unspoken doubts and cleared them but still Tee wasnt sure.

Until..

"Boys. I have a word with the doctors. Tae is fine. They will shift him over to the room we have booked tor him. For now two people can stay over with him. So there is a big sofa cum bed. You will be relaxed to sleep. Okay.

Also i have ordered food for now and will send food from home. So no food from cafeteria okay. And...

Oh my who is he Singto"? Tee got tensed again as he saw Mrs Kreepolrerk pointing at him.

'Am dead now'. He gulped.

"He is Tee Jaruji aunty. Our friend from medical faculty". Singto told with a smile.

"Since when the engineers started to be friends with the doctors. Or your facult is no more dealing with your fighting bruises hmmm. Anyways is good to have a doctor around"? She teased them with a chuckle before she walked to Tee.

"Son. What happened? Why are you so upset and nervous? Dont worry, my Tae is strong. He will be fine soon. Will you stay here"? She held his hands with a warm smile. A motherly smile that out him to ease too.

"Aa.. Ye..yes Ma'am. I am his friend. I..i was worried about him but am good. Am good". He assured her but he knew he failed. A stray tear lingered out of his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.

Mrs Kreepolrerk smiled and took him in her arms, to the chairs. She kept him in his embrace to let him cry for once. She would deal with it later that a FRIEND doesnt cry with fears.

"Are we okay hmmm"? She lifted his face once he stopped crying. Still hiccuping though. "Max, water please". She took the bottle from Max and fed him water. ...

"I am sorry. I.. Its all because of me. Only if i was careful. I am sorry mrs Kreepolrerk. Am so sorry. Tae had to suffer it all". He was rambling with tears again pooled in his beautiful eyes. He had clasped his hands like a little kid ashamed and scared of his mistake.

"Tee? Right"? She confirmed and he nodded. "Look son, i know Tae. He wouldnt hesitate to help if anyone under his watch would be in danger. And you, as you told, are his friend. He would have done it without any second thought if any of his friend would be in pain.

I know what happened up there. I have eyes and ears everywhere. Whatever happened up there was an accident. And he would never have rested until he would have secured everyone.

I came to know you have suffered too. So when you were in pain too, how could i blame you hnmm. Take care of him. Hmmm"? She asked cupping his cheeks and smiled to see him nodding.

"Great. Now rest home and get fresh".

"No. I mean i want to stay here. If.. If you allow". He asked hesitantly.

"Ofcourse you can stay dear. I was just worried that you must be tired". She asked in worry.

"Am fine aunty. I will ask my friends to bring in my clothes and things. It would be okay here". Tee assured her.

She nodded her head watching him going to a corner to call Thanitt and Copter.

"Who is he Max"? She asked Max who got confused for a while. "And dont say friend. Because you all are his friends since diaper days, and i have never seen this desperation on your faces like him". She added raising her perfect eye brows.

Max gulped. He knew he could never trick Tae, more to trick his mother.

"Dont worry. I will wait for Tae to tell me himself. Now go and arrange for his stay in Tae's room, because i know he wont let anyone stay. Make sure he eats properly and sleep too. Hmmm". She patted his shoulders and walked to her husband to tell him about Tee.

Max sighed and went to his friends to inform her predictions that even he was sure about.

Tae's dad was a bit skeptical about Tee staying with Tae but he didnt stop him to arrange his bag, books and laptop in the corner of the VIP room they had booked for their son.

"Do you think its a good idea"? Mr Kreepolrerk asked, once they left for their home. They had made sure the boys were fed and Tee had ate his dinner too.

"Trust me honey. No one can take care of Tae more than Tee. And to say he is a doctor". She replied calmly.

"Doctor to be". Her husband corrected her but they didnt further continue the discussion. They had to wait until Tae wake up.

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Tee finished his assignment and went to sit on the chair beside Tae's bed. He wasnt sleepy although he had to wake up in the morning for his classes. How he wished he could take leaves, but he was already lacking behind. Thanks to Thanitt and Copter who helped him with the lectures he missed.

He turned to see Tae closely. The brusies had started to heal pretty good.

"Hmmm. This would be the most unique way to court someone by sleeping on the hospital bed". He put his head on the bed beside Tae's hand. And he didnt know when he drifted to sleep.

The morning was quick considering how deep he slept but one ring of his mobile alarm was enough to wake him up. He glanced once to check the vitals and so far so good. He quickly and quietly took a bath in the ensuit and changed into his uniform.

"Good morning son. Ready for university"? He was startled to listen to Tae's mother arranging breakfast on the table. "Come. It will be cold". She patted the space beside her.

"Good morning. Swadee. Thank you but i could have taken breakfast in the cafe. Why did you...". He couldnt help to feel even more guilty.

"Tsk. It isnt a burden Tee. I had to be here anyway. I know you had classes and rest of the boys cannot come too. His dad is busy in his meetings. Besides, i was missing my son. And i know you would tend to skip breakfast.

So now come and eat. You will be late Tee". She held a plate to him who could only nod in gratefulness.

He was indeed thankful for the yummy breakfast and a little conversation she kept to avoid any awkwardness between them.

"Thank you so much uhmm Mrs Kreepolrerk. I will be leaving now". Tee stood up with his books and mobile. "I will come back as soon as i get free". He glanced towards Tae as if telling him.

"How is he doing Tee"?

"He is better Mrs Kreepolrerk. Will wake up soon. Its already late. I.. I will be leaving". He left quickly before she could see the tears lingering in his eyes. But he knew she knew what he said and what he meant.

Tee drove his car to the university where Thanitt and Copter were waiting for him.

"Hi.. How are you? Hows Tae"? Thanitt asked as they walked together to their first class.

"Still sleeping"? Copter asked and they both got their answers from those crystal drops falling off Tee's eyes.

"Its okay Tee. He will be awake soon. He is doing good right"? Copter spread his arm around Tee's slightly shaking shoulders.

"Wipe your tears Tee. The professor is here". Thanitt whispered in his ear and Tee quickly wiped his tears away. He could not make himself the center of attention in the class.

One after another and finally they got free at 1pm, thanks to their last lecture cancelled. Honestly, Tee only wanted to be with Tae but he couldnt miss his classes and quizes.

"Ahh. Tee. Its been two days no flowers at your door". Copter mentioned as Tee was about to unlock his car.

"Good enough. May be the person is tired enough. Atleast he or she wont bother Tee anymore". Thanitt sighed in relief, so did Tee.

"Want to go see Tae"? He asked his friends.

"In the evening. For now you go". Thanitt patted his shoulder.

"Oh hi Tee. Going to hospital"? They turned to find Kristo with Sing in his car.

"Yeah.".

"Great. We will follow you". They bid goodbye and went to their respective destinations.

Tee and Tae's friends almost reached one after another and they moved to the room where Tae was staying.

"Oh you guys back. Come hurry". They all were kind of surprised to hear the excitment in Tae's mother.

Tee was the last to enter the room and his eyes found Tae awake, and sitting on the bed being examined by the doctors. So far Tae had not seen Tee standing by the wall as if channeling some energy to stand on his feet. His vision was getting blurry with the tears flowing down.

The pain, the wait. The guilt. Everything just came back and he couldnt hold his sob and ran outside the room. Only then Tae looked confused at his mother, asking who was it?

"It was your friend from medical". His mother told. Tae was confused for a while and then his eyes grew big.

"Tee. Tee mom? Hows he? Why did he run out? Is he okay? What happened mom"? He was frantically moving around in the bed that the doctor had to strictly instruct him to stay still for the checkup.

Once the doctor left his mom came up and hug him tight with tear shedding eyes. She had suffered sleepless nights and restless days, worrying for Tae and now when he was awake, every emotion rushed back.

"Am so sorry mom. I was just trying to help him. I am sorry". He hug his mother back.

"Its okay son. Mom is not angry. Mom is proud of you. Mom was worried". She wiped her tears kissing his face with love and fond.

"And about your friend, he will be back soon. He is staying here with you. He was worried about you. Nothing else". She consoled her son and his questioning eyes.

"Hows he"? He asked his friends.

"He is good. He gained conscious after 3 days. And since then he had not slept properly. Constantly worried and asking about you. So when the doctor shifted you here he was the one to opt to stay". Max told Tae with a smile. Tae nodded in undestanding.

"Want me to call him"? Tul asked. Tae looked at his mom and then nodded his head.

Tul nodded his head too and went outaide only to see Tee sitting on the waiting chairs, hiding his face in his hands.

"Tee". He sat with him, holding his shoulders.

"I am scared Tul". He said in a hoarse voice.

"He is asking for you. Lets go". He calmly held Tee and took him inside.

"Tee. Son. Come. Sit with Tae while i will arrange for food for him and all of you". She motioned him to sit and subtly nodded at the boys to leave them alone.

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