I love you, hang ups and all.

NINE

"Tell me now, Mae. I won't ask again." I said in an ice cold tone.

After she told me what happeneed, I easily retrieved my wallet from my aunt. They already knew that I meant business. I took the next flight back home. When I reached my bedroom door, Mae was waiting for me.

She kept on asking for a key.

I ignored her and banged on the door. Gun didn't reply.

Mae kept pestering me about the key.

The thing about me is that if I want to enter a room, I can always find a way in. With my pent up anger, I kicked the door open. I rushed in only to find an empty room. I scanned the room and found him falling down at the corner.

Luckily for my quick reflexes, I was able to catch him.

The family doctor was indeed called as he arrived shortly after the chaos. I carefully placed Gun on my bed and watched the doctor like a hawk. He examined Gun and attached an IV to his frail hand. I was just gone for a week and he already lost that much weight.

The doctor assured that he just needs some rest and warm, soft food to recuperate. Mom left me with Gun as she showed the doctor out.

I stood there looking at him as I recalled what he greeted me with. I can't believe he would be foolish enough to think that I could hate him.

"Papi." Gun grunted in his sleep. He was on the verge of tears.

I quickly ran to his side and held the hand that was not connected to the IV. I caressed his cheek which seemed to calm him down. I watched him and jumped to attend to him everytime he showed any discomfort.

"Off, can I talk to you for a minute." Mae said softly. She added when I kept looking at Gun. "Don't worry. He's just resting. We'll just be by the door."

I nodded and followed here past the broken door. I was much calmer now.

"I didn"t expect that he would react like that. " Mae started. "I didn't expect that he would take some punishment as well. "

"Mae, please tell me what happened." I pleaded.

"He started to be lost when you let him go like that. He didn't speak even until we arrived. He would try to look for you but I would just chaange the subject. I had to do it because he had been crying in his sleep and calling for you. No matter much I held on to him, he just can't calm down. He won't wake up unless he does it himself."

She continued to tell me about the past two days that Gun never went out nor ate. He had been there the entire time.

"I already talked to his father." she continued. "It seems he have a bad case of night terrors when he's trying to cope or when he's sick. He said that it's been quite a while since his last episode but it took months. It was when his mother died. I had much hunch but I didn't expect it to be like this."

"Are you telling me that I caused this?" I asked trying hide my shaky voice.

"No. I'm telling this because I want you to know that it's not your fault. He seems to be attached to you so if you can, try to be there for him." she said.

I nodded while looking inside the room. Then she added playfully, "I'll just force you to come shopping with me as punishment if you act out again."

While we argue most of the time, right now, I'm thankful that she's there.

"I'll bring you some food in a bit. You need to finish everything because Gun would get more worried if you're sick." she demanded.

"Don't worry. I won't starve myself." I said. "Can you also bring some porridge for Gun. He needs to replenish his energy."

"It's in the slow cooker. I'll have someone carry it in a bit." she assured me.

I noticed a slight movement from Gun. "I think you need to bring it up right now." I said leaving Mae to look into Gun.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked up at me.

"Am I dead?" he asked.

"Ai Sat! Are you that angry at me to kill me in your thoughts?" I scolded.

"Language." Mae scolded as she entered the room. I grinned sheepishly as she placed the bowl of porridge on my study table.

"And you, young man, don't ever do that again." Mae scolded Gun. "You don't know how worried everyone was because of you."

"Sorry, Mae." Gun said.

"Mae, scold him when he gets better." I pointed out.

"I'll leave you with Off, Gun. Off, wake me up if you need any help." Mae said before leaving us alone.

"Can you eat now?" I asked him.

When he nodded, I helped him to sit up and started feeding him some porridge.

"P, I can feed myself." he complained. "Finish your food."

"The patient can't complain. I'll eat after you finish this." I said.

"P, what happened?" he asked after finishing his bowl.

"You're asking what happened? Really, Gun? You starved yourself for 2 days." I scolded him.

"Sick." he said pointing at himself. Now it seems he's using this against me.

I sighed and continued in much calmer way, "If Mae didn't call me, I won't even know you were acting crazy here."

"No. I didn't mean that. I meant what happened to you." he clarified.

"Ai Sat!" I scolded once more.

"Patient." he pointed once more at himself reminding me I can't scold him just yet.

"I was sent to do community work because I let you enter the hotel bar and got into an accident." I admitted.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he pouted.

"I tried but I know you'd feel guilty so I just let you learn later on." I said.

"You never called or texted me. How would I know?" he said on the verge of tears.

"Aw. You didn't see my note?" I asked.

He quickly shook his head. I grabbed my jacket that was lying beside him and handed it to him.

He looked at the jacket then complained some more, "P, what's this supposed to mean?"

I sighed then said, "Have you checked the pockets?"

He looked at me with wide eyes then started searching the pockets. He finally took out a piece of paper from the jacket's inner pocket.

It contained a rough self portrait sketch with a note on the side that says, " If you miss me stare at this for time being. I'll be back in about 2 weeks." He hugged the piece of paper as he cried.

"You're such a crybaby." I wiped his tears away. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid next time."

"Meaung! What do you mean next time?" He barked.

I chuckled. "Alright, there won't be a next time. You should rest so you can recuperate. I'll be here." I assured him.

I helped him lie down. Slept while having a good grip on my hand. I wanted to fix the door but he's not letting go. Hey, I'm not complaining. I couldn't have it any other way.

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Thanks for reading this far... please bear with me if yohu notice any typos. This is the update for today. :)