Chapter 03

One day you suddenly wake up and find yourself in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people and then realize you don't even know yourself….what would you call yourself in such situations? That same fuzz of so many questions with no answers was making that boy mad little by little.

And the bomb he was holding onto finally blasted on Ling.

Both of them didn't utter a word, 

"Look, I shouldn't have said—"

"It has nothing to do with me, you or your health should be none of my concern but since I am the one who brought you here…I feel responsible for you plus I genuinely want you to get well soon….who knows if someone is waiting for you at home?" Ling said as he sat down on the chair beside the bed and placed the plate on the table near the bed.

"Someone waiting for me at home…" That boy mumbled and felt a bit lighter in his heart, his eyes showing a bit of softness.

.

"So at least for that person, eat and get well soon…don't make them wait for too long." Ling said as he stood up and walked out of the room.

That boy stayed still for a few minutes before taking the tray and eating the food slowly.

Ling, who was looking at him from outside in hiding, smiled a little.

" A cold softie is it~" 

*Ring* *Ring*

"Hello Pa!...no I haven't caught a cough…my roommates are sick and asleep…I want to but pa…Exams are near so I won't be able to come home…I really miss you pa…it's okay we can celebrate next year too…*clash* oh pa I have some work to call you later!" With that he cut the call and ran inside the room where a glass was broken.

.

"It slipped." He said his eyes showed I didn't do anything.

"No worries, I will clean it up. But before that have you taken your medicines?" 

"Not yet"

"Wait, then let me bring it for you…here." Ling handed him a pill with another glass of water, the boy obediently took it.

"Good boy" 

"Tch…you…why did you lie?" That boy asked as he looked at Ling who was cleaning the broken pieces.

"Ouch! What lie are you talking about?" 

"You got a cut, it's bleeding!" 

"It's not a cut but scratch you continue what you were saying." Ling said as he covered the cut with his handkerchief.

.

"...Why did you lie to your father, when you are already at home?" 

"Oh that!..because I want to surprise him and celebrate my 18th birthday with him~" Ling said as he smiled and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

The boy didn't say or react but just nodded his head.

"But what if he doesn't come, since he knows you won't be at home." 

"Who said he doesn't know, *Ling smiles as he continues to pick up the broken pieces* He knows everything yet acts like he doesn't." 

"Huh?"

"He is my dad of course he knows everything~ if you don't believe then wait until my birthday and see he will be here!" 

"...You…how long do you plan to keep me here?" 

"Until you remember everything about yourself." Ling said as he helped him lie down. 

"Now take some rest, and call me if you need anything. I am next to this room okay." 

"Umm" 

.

After that Ling went to his room that was no different from the other room, just its wall were full of his medals and certificates, a small wardrobe, a single size bed in the middle, and a study table in the left side corner.

"My room has never changed, my safe heaven~ I missed you" He said as he threw himself in the bed and closed his eyes, he didn't sleep a wink since yesterday so the moment he closed his eyes he fell into deep slumber.

.

Both of them were sleeping peacefully while on the other side of the world…

"Have you found any traces of him?" 

"...Not yet…"

"Then go and find him…before he finds him." 

"Okay.." 

"Just where are you…" That person said while looking at the sea.

.

*Ring* *Ring* 

"..Umm..Hello? Who is this?" Ling asked with closed eyes.

"Hello, Lingling, it's me Jie Ge."

"Ge…you reached Shanghai?" Ling said as he opened his eyes and yawned.

"Yes I did just now, tell me everything's okay there right." 

"Yes Ge, everything is fine, you stop worrying about here and focus there."

"Okay Okay grandpa."

"Ge~"

*Giggles* "Tell me did you have dinner yet?" 

"Nope, I will go and cook now." 

"Now, it's almost 8pm"

"WHAT!" Ling shouted as he looked at the wall clock and it showed 6pm.

"Hahahaha" 

"GE! I am not talking with you! Huh bye!" 

"LingLing—" 

He didn't let him complete and disconnect the call while pouting.

.

"My poor heart is still beating so fast…its okay..it's okay." Ling said as he patted his heart and then walked towards the other room while stretching his arms and legs.

"May I come in?" He asked while knocking at the door. Nobody answered so he peeked inside but saw the bed was empty.

"Where did he go–" He thought while turning around and saw that boy standing behind him.

"Ahhh!" He shouted again, scaring both of them.

"What the heck!" That boy cursed while touching his left chest.

"My poor heart is shocked for the second time." He mumbled while sitting on the floor.

"What did you shout like that? Am I that scary?" 

"Why did you stand behind me like that! It's scary!" Both of them said at the same time, and then silence fell over them.

Until Ling cracked out laughing, while the other boy stood there with confused face.

.

"Stop laughing like that, you will choke." He said and indeed Ling started choking, luckily he had a glass of water with him so he quickly gave it to Ling.

"Thanks…so you went out to have water." 

"Mmm" 

"You could have told me…"

"You were sleeping" 

"But still you could have woken me up"

"Going and having water myself takes less time." He said as he entered the room and sat on the bed then continued but in a low voice that Ling still could hear.

"Plus you were tired." Hearing that Ling couldn't help but smile.

.

"I guess just sleeping would be boring. How about you watch the tv—" Just as he said that everything went dark.

"...Now what?" 

"...You are not afraid of the dark, are you?" 

"I don't think so, but it's uncomfortable…especially when you are sitting so close to me, I am the patient here." That boy said as he tried to make some space between the two of them.

"Please don't move! Light will come back in 10 minutes, so please don't move." Ling said as he held onto the boy's sleeves.

.

*Sigh* "Fine"

"Thanks" 

"...But shouldn't you be accustomed to power cuts? It's normal in rural areas, right?" 

"...Yeah it is but…but I am still afraid of the dark…I don't even close the lights while sleeping let alone go out in the dark." Ling said as he sat more close to him.

That boy could feel the shivering of Ling and his cold hands that brushed his knees.

"...It's okay, I am here, just relax." He said as he placed his hands above Ling's, the cold hand found the warmer one, a perfect pair.

"Thanks…it's warm…your hands are just like my pa. Sturdy and warm, giving a protective aura."

"Was that a compliment or?" 

"Take it as you want to," Ling said as he giggled, not noticing that the other too gave out a little smile which vanished as soon as the light came.

.

"Finally!" Ling said as he removed his hands and jumped off the bed.

"You are very good at jumping, and might as well get a medal." 

"And you are very good at giving sarcastic comments, maybe work as a reporter?" 

Both of them stared at each other's eyes until that boy's stomach growled.

"..I. will go and cook dinner, if you want to watch TV you can, the light won't go out again." Ling said while trying his best to control his smile, but when he saw his red ears of embarrassment he couldn't help but laugh.

"You!"

"So-sorry-" Ling said as he ran out of the room directly to the kitchen.

"Rude yet cute…now what should I cook?" 

.

"Damm, that was so embarrassing!! *looks at his stomach* all your fault…" He said as he crossed his arms across his chest and then touched his arms. He remembers what happened just a while ago and again comes a light feeling in his heart…"It was indeed warm." 

After some time,

"Dinner is ready!" Ling said as he entered the room with a tray full of food.

"Are you eating with me?" 

"Yeah, we are the only one here plus eating alone is lonely so…you don't mind right?" 

"Let's eat." That boy said and with that both of them started to eat with a happy heart.