Chapter 22 “When There’s No U”
Kaien sat like a statue. He did not move at all. His hand holds Allen’s hand. Then, the tears fell again. He could not breathe, his eyes were swollen, that was all because of crying all the time.
Kaien felt a slight pressure on his back. He looked back and saw Benji was covering him with a blanket. Kaien stayed silent, the other one knows how Kaien’s feeling. He was in so much pain, same as Allen. 
But he could not do much; he just tried to take care of the others. Nathan fell asleep after crying for hours. Dom had been continuously eating outside the room, he ate when he was happy, but also when he was sad. He was trying to bury the pain, the sadness, by eating.
“Kaien, you need to sleep…” Benji said regarding the fact that Kaien had not slept for two straight days.
“No, I’m fine…” Kaien said as he wiped his tears. “I’ll sleep when I know Allen is fine, when he’s opening his eyes again…”
The words stuck in Benji’s heart. He wanted Allen to be alright of course, but…can Allen…really be alright? Can he open his eyes again?
[FLASHBACK]
“Allen! Allen! Allen!” Kaien called as he cried. The blood was still dripping, Allen’s body became colder. He was so afraid. He prayed Allen would be just fine until the ambulance reached the hospital. The image still clearly replayed itself in Kaien’s mind, how Allen protected him from the bullet. Allen pushed Kaien away, making himself the target of it. The bullet went straight into his chest.
Nathan called the police earlier. They got there not long after Kaien took the gun from Kanae. Kaien aimed for Kanae’s chest, but he missed, and it hit Kanae’s arm. 
Benji watched the scenery as he hugged his Allen, trying to stop the bleeding. Then the ambulance came, and Kanae was arrested by the police, still half naked.
The ambulance door opened, they got Allen out, and a bunch of paramedics, doctor and nurse, rushed Allen into the emergency room. The other waited outside. They cried and worried to death about Allen.
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After a few hours, which seemed like forever for them, a doctor in white cape came out. The doctor’s expression was not good.
“He’s fine right?!” Kaien asked, almost shouting.
“Please calm down. We really tried our best, but…” the doctor had not finished talking, but then Kaien shook the doctor’s body as Kaien kneeled down.
“No! Please save him! Please! I beg you! I…I can’t…live without him…” Kaien cried, the other helped Kaien to get up, and so was the doctor.
“Kai…” Dom called as he tried to make his brother let go of the doc’s cape.
“He’s alive…” the doctor said, “but…”
“But what?!” Kaien asked impatiently. He felt like the next sentence would rip his heart. And he was right.
“He’s in a coma…” the doctor finished his sentence.
[END OF THE FLASHBACK]
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The next day, the same activity replayed itself. Dom was still eating nonstop. He might get a stomach ache, that’s why Kaien takes away the food from him.
“Yaaa! Kai!” Dom protested as Kaien took his food.
“Stop eating, will you?” Kaien said as he looked at his little brother. His teary eyes still there, asking Dom to stop eating. He indeed looked like he would die of worry and pain if Dom really got a stomach ache.
“I…I know, I won’t eat anymore…” Dom said, trying to cheer his brother up, but Kaien just nodded. He then went back to the seat, the seat next to the fragile Allen.
Wires and IVs were connected to Allen’s body. It made Allen’s heart in pain every time he saw it. Allen could not live without the machine that beeps next to his bed. The bullet almost hit his heart, just 1 inch from it. It hurts so much, seeing Allen like that. 
He could not breathe on his own, he needed the machine's help. He could not keep his heartbeat anymore, he needed the machine to do it for him. He… might… not be able to wake up anymore… 
He might just leave without saying a word to Kaien when Kaien falls asleep. That was why Kaien had not slept for days. His eyes look like a real panda’s eyes.
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The 2nd day was worse. The doctor breaks heartbreaking news to everyone.
“I’m afraid, the one that hurt him… had injected him with unknown medicine, it might take his life at stake, but, we’ll do our best to figure out how to save him…Please, I know you are so worried, but he needs smiles, no more tears. We believe even in a coma condition, he can still hear you. But if you just display sadness in front of him, how do you expect him to get any better?” the doctor asked. He was trying to lighten the atmosphere there. Then, he left the room.
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The 3rd day, 4th day, 5th day, 6th day pass…
Allen was still lying lifeless there, no sign of waking up, but the others were no longer crying or mourning. They were trying their best to smile, laugh, talking about funny things near Allen. Just hoping it could help him cure faster.
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It was a cold night, tomorrow will be the New Year. People went out to the street, families with their children, and couples with their love. No one mourned on New Year night, but there was one person, who was holding his beloved one, he still had not opened his eyes. Allen was so deep in his sleep.
Benji and Nathan already went home, they wanted to stay there with Kaien, but Kaien would not let them. They should spend their New Year's time outside together, Kaien thought. And so was Dom, Kaien told him to go to Kay’s house.
It was empty, no more sadness or regret. It's just like Kaien was not alive. He holds Allen’s hand tightly.
“Allen…” Kaien called the name softly. “Happy New Year, I love you…” Kaien said as the clock passed the 12 o’clock. It was already a new year.
“I know you can hear me…I…I need you Allen, I need you, I really love you, please open your eyes…” Kaien begged as he hugged Allen, making sure the blanket covered him well.
No answer…again.
Kaien’s eyes were so tired, he needed sleep. He used to refuse to sleep but not anymore. And yet, he still did not sleep often and slept for a long time. Sometime he stared at Allen, spending his sleep time to look at his love, in case any sign something about to happen, but no sign.
Slowly, Kaien leans himself next to Allen. He fell asleep.