Disaster after disaster

Elias didn't know what to say. Should he say hi? But how can he- How can he be all buddy buddy with his highschool crush, from whom he'd gotten rejected and basically cut all contact with, and was now meeting him after more than a decade. In the end, he could only nod. 

Louis walked over to where he was, still shocked. He leaned down, tilting Elias' chin upwards, studying his face. Like he was a peice of art. Or maybe that's just his mind making up things, as it usually did, when it concerned Louis. 

"It really is you, huh," he mumbled, his hand tilting Elias' face sideways, as if inspecting it. Elias felt himself freeze up, not knowing what to do.

By now, the students seemed to recover somewhat. Most of them looked shocked, and a little offended, like- How is he just casually touching Dr kang? Some of the shuffled awkwardly, feeling like they were witnessing something they shouldn't have. Only the redheaded girl actually spoke, standing up. She said, equally surprised and somewhat mortified, "Brother? What are you doing here, I said I'd be home late, didn't the Chauffeur tell you! And...do you know Dr Kang...?"

Louis glanced at his sister, his hand still holding Elias' chin. The hold was firm enough to hold him in place, yet loose enough for him to shake it off of he wanted. Yet...how could he, when the weight of something much more than physical force, when the weight of all those past feelings was holding him in place, making it impossible to shake it off. 

After a beat, he spoke up. "Know him?" The surprise and disbelief gave way to a flicker of nostalgia and bitterness. "I guess I do 'know' your Dr kang."

For a moment neither of them said anything. Louis still gripped Elias' chin, and Elias continued to stare, wide eyed in shock, a thousand emotions flickering behind the bright blue eyes. After a moment, Louis seemed to realize what he was doing, and loosened his grip further, the long fingers only ghosting over the skin, but still...there. Just like his memory had always just...been there with Elias. No matter how much he tried to forget.

Louis' eyes studied Elias' face, taking in his appearance. His tired dark circles, pale skin, and somehow, he could tell that Elias seemed to have lost some weight in the past few years. Something stirred in his chest. He wanted to scold him for overworking himself, but he knew he didn't have that right. He was a friend- well, more accurately, just an old friend. He had no business commenting over Elias' health, or anything else for that matter. He finally lets go of his chin, albeit reluctantly. 

"...Been a while."

Yerenika watched as her brother let go of Dr kang's chin. Her mortified expression turned into a surprised and curious one as she watched the interaction. She couldn't help but note...for once, in a long time, her brother's gaze didn't hold the calculative coldness as he glanced at someone except immediate family. On the surface, his eyes narrowed in bitterness, but Yerenika could see a subtle hint of concern in them. She watched as her brother's gaze took in the others appearance, momentarily stilling at one place. He mumbled something which sounded somewhat like, 'You kept it, huh', but she couldn't quite catch it. She could feel her classmates' gaze on herself as well as the interaction in front of them, as if silently asking for an explanation. 

Elias wanted to say a million things, but his mind felt unable to form the words. He wanted to act just like he'd done that day, like nothing was wrong. But he couldn't. His mouth opened numerous times, only for him to stay silent, the words on the top of his tongue yet so far from actually coming out. 

As if the universe finally decided to take pity on him after crash landing both of his ex love's in his life on his birthday, there was a knock on the door. A nurse walked in, regarding the scene with curious eyes. Still, she knew better than to comment on Dr Kang's business. She decided to just say what she came here for. 

"Um, Dr kang- You're needed in room no. 312. The patient..." She glanced at the files in her hand, fumbling for the name, "-Ah, yes, Raphael Morgan. His family is here and want to talk to you."

... Damn it. His fault for ever thinking the universe could take pity on him.