Chapter 6 “First Tears”
Kaien sprinted in the direction of the park. When he made it across the zebra crossing, his garment was already soaked through. The rain was coming down harder than he had thought it would. The fact that it was winter made the situation much worse. Running was difficult because of the snow, rain, and wind. After expending a great deal of effort, he eventually arrived at the entrance to the park.
Once Kaien entered the park at that time, he saw no one. People most likely left due to rain. He was shivering badly. After a brief moment, he made up his mind to turn around and head back. But all of a sudden, he heard something coming from the direction of the bushes.
“Tsk... Tsk... Tsk...”
It sounded like someone was crying uncontrollably. Kaien listened carefully again.
“Tsk... Tsk... Tsk...”
And Kaien was sure and familiar with the voice. He hurried to the bushes.
The angel that he saw early in the morning has been transformed into a trembling person. This person was sobbing his heart out.
“It's alright, it’s alright. I'm right here...” Kaien hushed as he hugged Allen. Allen jerks a little, surprised by Kaien’s embrace.
“Kai?” Allen asked weakly. The temperature of Allen's body was so low. It seemed as though Kaien were embracing an enormously massive block of ice.
“Come on, let's head on over to my place...” Kaien mumbled as he piggyback Alled. Although Kaien had a strong desire to learn the truth about what had transpired with Allen, he was well aware of what the primary focus should be. It was impossible for him to keep Allen warm in this storm.
Allen maintained his silence and did not put up any resistance as Kaien attempted to piggyback him. He felt safe.
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After opening the door to his flat, Kaien dashed into his room in a hurry. He rests Allen's head on the side of the bed. Even though Allen's body was cold, his inside temperature was causing him pain. He was running at a very high temperature.
Kaien looked through his closet for a bulky jumper and some clothes but was unsuccessful. He searched the bathroom for a dry towel. He went back to Allen as quickly as he could. Allen was unconscious due to the high fever.
The decision was made by Kaien to cut open Allen's clothes. ‘We are, after all, both males...’ Kaien was thinking. He undid the buttons of Allen's shirt, exposing the blank chest underneath. He opened the zipper on Allen's jacket as well as all of Allen's other garments. After that, Kaien used the towel to dry off Allen's entire body. He pulled on Allen's body, and it leaned on his body at this point. He had just finished drying off Allen's back when Kaien spotted a scar on Allen’s back. Even though it seemed like a very long time had passed, the long scar could still be seen on Allen's back.
“What on earth could possibly be going on with him?” Kaien asked himself. He decided to ignore his own question. It was more important to him to get Allen warm as quickly as possible. The storm was getting worse, and Kaien wanted to take Allen to the hospital, but it was too dangerous. Even with a car, it appeared to be impossible to do.
Kaien wrapped Allen in a warm blanket and gave him a jumper to wear.
“Ben…” Allen stuttered in a feeble manner.
“It's ok. Don't worry about a thing,” Kaien reassured Allen as he continued to gently stroke Allen’s hair. He was aware that Allen was in need of Benji right now, but he was unable to give that to Allen. All he could do right now was to make Allen feel more at ease without Benji’s presence.
Kaien poured some water into a bucket and sat it next to the bed. Then he used the bucket to soak a hand towel before gently putting it on Allen's forehead.
After a few minutes, Allen went into a deep sleep without making any sound. He made the conscious decision to share a bed with Allen. Kaien thought, “At the very least, I can make him warmer.”
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The storm had passed, and now the sun was shining brightly through the window since the curtain was left open. It awakened Kaien up. The first thing that he noticed today was different from the way things were on other days. Allen had fallen asleep while resting on his arm.
Allen's expression was far much better than it was the night before. He was no longer shaking as he spoke. He slept so soundly, with his head buried in Kaien's chest as they shared the bed.
Kaien touched Allen's head with the palm of his hand. Thankfully, the temperature had started to come down. Carefully waking up Allen was the last thing on Kaien's mind as he got out of bed.
Even though Kaien was not really good at cooking, he was determined to prepare breakfast for Allen. It was a delectable porridge made with mushrooms. He recalled that every time he had a fever, his mother would always make him this particular porridge. The refrigerator of Kaien's home was never without the mushroom. A few months back, his mother sent it to him in case he had a fever.
After adding all the ingredients, Kaien gave it a stir, and the result was an aroma that was beyond description since it was simply too scrumptious. When it was finished, Kaien took some of the warm porridge and placed it in a bowl for Allen. He rushed back to his own room.
Allen was still sleeping. Allen was roused from his sleep by a light jolt from Kaien, who was standing over him.
“Hmm?” Allen rubbed his eyes, trying to register what was going on.
“Wake up! If you continue to sleep like that, mushrooms are going to start growing on your head.” The joke was on Kaien. He intended to bring a smile on Allen's face, but, it seems it did not work out. Allen did not display any signs of laughter or a smile.
“Kaie? What am I doing here?” Allen asked as he looked around the room.
“You don't remember?” Kaien asked.
Allen gave a slight nod in response. He suddenly recalled how terribly he had been crying while he was at the park.
“I'll go through everything in more detail tomorrow. You have to eat first,” Kaien reprimanded Allen as he stuffed a spoonful of porridge into his mouth.
“It's... delicious...” Allen commented.
“Then, make sure you eat a lot!” Kaien laughed.
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“I found you trembling and having a high fever at the park, so I just took you to my flat since the storm was getting worse,” Kaien remarked to his friend. Both of them were standing on the balcony outside.
“Thanks...” Allen told Kaien. “If you hadn't come, I might really be frozen to death...”
“Don't say it like that...” Kaien said to Allen and gave him a gentle grin. It made Allen comfortable. Around Kaien, he never failed to experience a sense of ease.
Kaien stayed silent, and so did Allen. The lack of response was driving Kaien crazy, as he was desperate to find out what happened to Allen.
“Allen, what exactly had happened?" Kaien asked.
Nothing was said. Because Kaien believed that Allen did not wish to discuss the matter, he refrained from doing so. The moment when he was going to change the subject, Allen's voice stopped him in the middle of his sentence.
Allen's voice erupted out of nowhere and was shaking as he said, “Father... lied, again.”
When Kaien heard Allen's voice, he was completely taken aback. Allen’s voice was cracked, like he was crying. And Kaien was right. As he turned his sight, he saw Allen was crying for a second time.