Chapter 33: Reactions
"Seriously..."
Tsun watched in silence as Lian checked under the bed, in the bathroom and behind the curtains.
"Am sorry, I can't seem to find Mr. Ding anywhere in the room," he said and Tsun turned to him with a raised brow.
"Were you expecting to find him in the places you were searching?" he sarcastically asked and Lian bowed his head," let's go ask a doctor or a nurse on duty. Maybe they saw him walk out of the room while we were asleep."
"He shouldn't be walking around with a wound that serious," Lian said and Tsun nodded his head and walked towards the door.
The two stopped and asked anyone they found in the halls about the whereabouts of Ding but got no information about his current location. Once they were about to give up, a doctor walked up from around the corner and Tsun immediately noticed he was the doctor assigned to watch over Ding. Relief washed over him and he ran up to the doctor inquiring about Ding.
"Doctor, have you happened to see the guy who just underwent the surgery?"
"Who?" the doctor asked.
"The guy with a deep stomach wound which you stitched up?"
"Oh.. the patient set to stay in room 305?" he asked and Tsun vigorously nodded his head in agreement even though he had no idea about the room number.
"Yes! Have you seen him?"
"As a matter of fact, I am just from checking in on him. He suddenly requested a change in rooms, maybe something in the previous room wasn't to his taste." he said and a sigh escaped both Lian and Tsun.
"May we know where he is at the moment?" Lian asked and the doctor turned to him.
"He's in the room just down the hall."
"Thank you," they both said in unison and dashed down the path as instructed leaving the doctor to go about his business.
The two made it to the room and stood by the door panting heavily. Tsun raised his hand and knocked on the door twice. When he didn't receive any response after the third knock, he turned the knob and walked into the room to find Ding slumped over on the bed fast asleep. Lian softly closed the door behind him and walked towards Tsun who was by the bed.
"Look at him! Peacefully sleeping while we were worried about him," he said in a low whisper.
"Why do you think he decided to change rooms?" Lian asked oblivious of the fact that he woke up on the bed Ding was supposed to be on.
Tsun didn't respond but sat by the chair grabbing Ding's hand in his," Don't scare me like that ever again."
Later in the afternoon, Ding stirred and opened his eyes. He slowly sat up and stretched his hands above his head.
"That medicine the doctor gave me worked like magic. I feel so much better."
"Hmm? You're awake?" Lian asked walking towards him.
"What are you doing here?"
"We should be asking you that question don't you think?" Tsun asked emerging from the door a basket of fruit in his hand.
He placed the basket on the bed side table and turned to Ding who rubbed the back of his neck.
"What do you mean?" he asked cluelessly and Tsun placed a hand on his shoulder squeezing it lightly but enough to make him slightly wince in pain.
" 'What do I mean?' You know perfectly well what am talking about," he stated plainly.
"Uh... why don't we pick this up when Mr. Ding is all better?" Lian intervened trying to stop a fight which was deemed to occur between the two brothers.
"If he knew he wasn't better, why would he go and disappear on us?"
Tsun continued scolding Ding about his rash behaviours and Lian was surprised at how silent and obedient Ding was, he wasn't even talking back or trying to justify his actions and this surprised him a lot. After a few minutes, Ding bowed his head and apologised. Lian's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the sudden gesture and he nearly dropped the glass of water he had on his hands. Tsun noticed this and swung an arm around his shoulder.
"Don't drop the glass or you'll also receive a scolding."
Lian shook his head and apologised. Never in his life had he ever been scolded and he was not about to change that fact. He carefully handed Ding the glass and he took it, a rare smile playing on his lips.
"Thank you," he stated and Lian's heart beat loudly in his ears clearly taken aback by this act.
"Um... yeah... sure," he nervously stammered and Tsun chuckled at his reaction.
"Hey Ding, look at you effortlessly making this cutie shy and short of words with a single smile."
Lian could feel heat rising to his cheeks and he immediately excused himself and dashed out of the ward room.
"You just had to tease him," Ding said once the door slammed shut and Tsun shrugged his shoulders with an innocent look in his eyes.
"Out of all the guys I have ever met, he has the most interesting reactions when he's shy."
Ding shook his head at this and raised his hands above his head. Tsun looked at him confused by his actions and walked in and embraced him.
"Help me up young master. I want to get some sunlight and breeze if you don't mind," he said pushing him away.
"Oh? You should have said something instead of making it seem like you wanted a hug," he stated defensively and Ding chuckled.
Tsun swung Ding's arm over his shoulder and gently helped him get down from the bed. Ding stumbled slightly upon taking a step but Tsun was quick, grabbing him and preventing him from stumbling onto the ground.
"Careful now!"
"Yeah, thanks."
He slowly helped Ding onto the wheelchair and after ensuring he was comfortably settled, he pushed him out of the room and out onto the gardens.
Lian leaned on the sink and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
"Some cold water should help."
He opened the tap and washed his face with the running ice cold water trying to reduce the heat in his cheeks. Once he was done, he flipped some wet strands of hair from his eyes and let out a sigh. The events which had occurred a few minutes ago replayed in his mind and he buried his face in his hands.
"Why did I run away like an idiot?"
An image of Ding's smile popped up in his brain's eye and he could hear his heart beat echoing in his ears and his cheeks grew hot at this.
"It can't be... do I like him?"