The next morning Ray woke up feeling miserably but dragged his feet up and freshen up before heading to to work.
"Ray you don't look so well.. I mean you look pale.. do you want to take sometime off?" His secretary asked when he reached.
"You have two important meetings today one with Er Ge and your dad and another with Jay's agent on the collaboration plans and Kay I think you have Yi Ren whose been trying to schedule a meet with you today but I hadn't reply, he said he tried to reach your mobile this morning but there was not respond, he mention he will drop by later"
"Ray! you okay? I think you should take time off today. You really don't look too well" His secretary ask again as he saw Ray holding the table in front of him.
Ray was having a bad migraine with cold sweat this morning, he was cursing the night out yesterday and his stomach hasn't felt well.
"No I'm okay don't cancel the meeting with Dad but reschedule the one with Jay's agent." Ray needed to get his proposal across to his father on the collaboration first.
He forced himself to go through the meeting with his Dad and and Er Ge. He was explaining the concept of the collaboration. Ray was forcing himself to focus through to complete the meeting. "What's wrong with you today? You look very pale, are you not well? Er Ge what's wrong with him?" His dad stop and look up as he saw Ray's complexion.
"Ahh...he was complaining of stomach and not feeling well this morning not sure if he ate something wrong" Ray swiftly offered the respond. Ray quickly follow through the meeting forcing himself to stay sane throughout. Er Ge left earlier but gave Ray an eye signal to keep it short worrying if Dad would drill him further.
"Dad, Ray will wrap up - I have to leave now for another meeting. Ray you should go back earlier and rest that tummy of yours and see a doctor" Indicating loudly so dad won't keep him back too long. The father and son chatted for few more minutes after Er Ge left.
"Ray, I think I understand what you are proposing, let me think about it. Alright I know you have been working hard these days but please do take care of your health. Go back and rest early"
Ray pulled himself together and headed back to his floor and on the way back to the room he swung by the gents and locked himself in the cubicle sitting down on the closed toilet seat. He drop his head on his palm with his hands elbowed on his thigh, he had been feeling very tired with migraine this morning couple with cold sweat. And while he suddenly felt he was about to pass out, he held onto the wall and fumble on to get his mobile but stop as the floor starts to spin a little. He sat there for sometime.
Yi Ren just arrived at the building as he saw the familiar figure walking to the gents and thought he'd wait for him at this room. But the long wait raises his concern as he saw the glimpse of the tired figure walking to the gents earlier. While he was seated at the waiting area, he decided to check on Ray.
As he stood up and walked towards the gents, he felt anxious and quicken his steps until he reach the door. Pushing it open
"Ray. are you here??" Ray?"
He scanned through the cubicle and fixed his eyes on the last one. "Ray?" He knocked "Ray?"
Ray must have passed out or sleep as he heard the voice ringing in his head for a bit. At that familiar voice he he steadied himself, not wanting to show this side of him to Yi Ren. He carried himself up "Yes, wait for me in my room, I'm done soon". He said softly
As he pushed himself on his two feet, he stumbled but held on to the wall for balance. He waited to hear the footsteps leave, but he didn't hear any. Frustrated at waiting further..he open the door and as he looked up straight he saw that familiar eyes starring at him. Deep within he felt comforted at that familiar eyes, just wanting to move forward and rest in the embrace yet he stopped, erasing that thought off his head.
"Are you okay?" Concerned on Ray's outlook. He held Ray's arm but Ray move over to the sink and stood there washing his hands.
"You were looking for me?" He asked calmly. "Anything?"
"Let's get you home, you don't look too well...." Yi Ren dropped his defences this time and the differences between them that kept them distant. He move forward and took him by his arm again.
"What are you doing, please mind your manners, we are in the office"...those words hurt Ray as it came out, as it hurts Yi Ren too. Keeping their interaction formal when their eyes locked yet again . Yi Ren wasn't too bothered by it, he was only concern on Kay's pale and fragile look today.
"I'm concern about you....I know this is what happens when we get back here, I know we can't revisit the past, I know I can't explain more after what happen at Ruo Lan's place."
"Don't! Just stop!.... if you are here to talk about that don't."
Ray felt the sudden sharp pain that came back to his heart, he doesn't want to revisit that conversation at all, infact he hated replaying the conversation. He summoned himself and move away from Yi Ren.
Yi Ren watched as Ray walked past and said "Ray I have never played with your feelings, each moment I spent with you is real"
"Please stop...." Ray repeated and he walked out but in a split second he stood there as he felt his legs about to give way and the visual of the ceiling starting to slant. Panic he held on to the door of the toilet cubicle as he closed his eyes to calm down and find his footing.
Yi Ren quickly reach out and grab his arm, holding his waist up "Please Ray... let me send you back"
He waited until Ray steadied himself again. Ray soften at that....he knew Yi Ren meant well and it's probably better as Ray really wasn't feeling well this time.
"Take my car no need the driver" He said as he struggle to stand still. Yi Ren panic a little seeing how unwell Ray is and hurried him to the car taking the nearby lift. They kept the distant although Yi Ren was carefully watching Ray's every step.
"I... I need to get to the doctor first"
"I'll call to make the arrangement" Yi Ren knew the routine for, the company had a privacy policy for their family hence they had their own reserved room and private doctor's to handle the visit within the hospital.
Ray got in the car just sat in and slumped his body down on the chair. Yi Ren look desperately wanting to make him feel better, he took the seat belt and buckled up the seat belt for him.. as he adjusted it and drove them off.