A Year to Live

I don¡¯t know what is with the symbols. It only appeared after I uploaded it.

13¡ªAlone

He was feeling weary, even after the rest he¡¯d taken in the bus. He leaned his hands on the cool balcony railings at the roof top of the hotel. It was such a fine day¡­ He lifted his hands to examine the almost healed cuts and wounds he had sustained months ago. They took so long¡­

A cool breeze sent Kai trembling a little. The tranquility led his thoughts astray, as he ventured into topics he hadn¡¯t dared to think about for quite awhile.

Kai

Why do I have that feeling¡­ That whatever I do today, is of the ultimate importance in my life? Why do I have the feeling¡­ That I if I ever want to show my gratitude to those who supported me through, it is today? Why do I have the feeling¡­ That it¡¯s my last chance, and if I¡¯d wanted to complete something, it had to be today? Does everyone have a premonition before they leave? Is this my last day???

¡°Take a walk. Bye.¡±

The words tasted bitter in my mouth, something foul¡­ Perhaps I was too apprehensive¡­

___

It was getting chilly as he left his stance by the rails. Perhaps it was the bus ride, perhaps something else, that was making him nauseous. He decided to get back and have a lie down.

___

Meanwhile, the others were lounging in Tyson¡¯s room, creating a din, and being overly exuberant. All, except Ray, that is. It had been an hour since Kai wandered off. These days, he¡¯d been precarious with Kai, his whereabouts, whether he felt sick, or just the thought of him. It was implausible that someone who¡¯d been so close would soon be taken to an unreachable realm¡­

___

Kai felt like puking again. He felt drained just by making his way down to the lift. As he stood by the lift doors, waiting for it to open, he felt the trickle of cold sweat running down his forehead. He was afraid¡­ Open up¡­

___

Ray couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He went back to his room and peeked. Kai wasn¡¯t there yet¡­ He sighed with frustration. Maybe I should look for him? He thought. Guess I¡¯ll wait awhile longer¡­

He didn¡¯t have to wait for long. The sounds of scrambling reached his ears, as the door was thrown open, the scarf trailed with the figure into the bathroom and disappeared as the sounds of somebody being sick reached his ears. Startled, Ray went to inspect. It was Kai alright, by then, he had one hand on his forehead to stifle the ache.

¡°Kai!¡±

¡°Leave me alone!¡± he growled. It was bad enough finding Ray in the room. He didn¡¯t want sympathy. Not from the others, and particularly Ray, for he had seen him¡­ ¡®weak¡¯.

Taken aback, Ray retreated from the bathroom door, and stood dumbly outside instead. There was flush of the toilet, the tap, and Kai emerged, water dripping from his face. He avoided Ray¡¯s eyes as he strode to the single bed at the corner. He laid down lightly, and turned to face the wall. Ray was exasperated. He left the room.

___

¡°Hey, shouldn¡¯t it be time we get Kai to wake up? It¡¯s dinnertime¡­ He should eat¡­¡±

¡°Yeah¡­¡± Ray agreed. He led the quartet to his room. Kai shifted.

¡°Kai?¡± Ray whispered as he shook him gently. His eyelids fluttered open, thick with¡­ sleep? Amber eyes filled with bleakness met his eyes.

¡°Dinner. You want to get up?¡±

Nod. Knowing that Kai would not want help, they left him to his own devices, Ray watching from the corner of his eyes, warily. Kai got up, swayed a little, his eyes lost focus, and darkness crashed around him.

¡°KAI!¡± Tyson yelled.

___

They rushed him to hospital as quickly as they could summon an ambulance.

¡°Let him be okay¡­ let him be okay¡­¡± Ray prayed as they tailed the ambulance.

He was sitting in confusion on the plastic chairs outside a firmly shut door.

¡°Ray¡­ C¡¯mon, you gotta eat something¡­¡± Max urged.

Ray shook his head. He felt as if he¡¯d been turned inside out. Cold gripping fear seeped into his very soul. He daren¡¯t breathe¡­

¡°Excuse me¡­ Mr. Dickenson?¡± A white coated man approached the old man. He nodded.

¡°Well¡­ We¡¯re sorry to say, Kai has slipped into a coma¡­ I¡¯m afraid¡­ There¡¯s no waking up¡­¡±

A tear trickled down Ray¡¯s cheek.

Author¡¯s Note: Ok¡­ Don¡¯t kill me please¡­ Here¡¯s the chapter¡­ =( It¡¯s shabby work¡­ Again¡­ I just realized its been three whole months. Sorry¡­ Had this fic been less than 6 chapters long, I would¡¯ve taken it down. But it¡¯s not. =) Thanks to you guys. I meant to write this as the epilogue. But¡­ Can¡¯t resist to put up another chapter. So¡­ Stay tuned? And¡­ Yeah¡­ That¡¯s all about it¡­