Lion sighed as he queasily eyed his McDonalds meal. He had felt nauseous since coming into the hospital and wasn’t really sure if he could actually stomach any food right now. In the end, he stuffed a few fries in his mouth before binning the rest guiltily.

“You’re awake!” Lion said as he hurried back into the room that seemed like some sort of luxury hotel residence.

“It will take more than a cough to have me shuffle off this mortal coil,” Granny grinned crookedly. Her eyes were heavy with fatigue and her usually tanned face seemed paler with a pallid hue.

“How are you feeling?” Lion frowned. “We can call for the nurse-“

“Oh don’t bother them,” Granny shook her head. “I’ve only just managed to get rid of the last nurse, kept fussing over me and asking if I needed more pillows, I mean, where on Earth are we Lion? This isn’t the usual hospital.”

“No,” Lion replied shyly, “um, Inn brought you to Bumrungrad.”

“I see,” Granny nodded, her lips pursed in though. “Grandson, I am going to ask you some questions now and I want honest answers.”

“Of course,” Lion felt his chest constrict with nerves.

“Has Inn tricked you into joining organised crime?” Granny asked finally, sitting up against the plethora of pearl white pillows and fixing him with an imperious look.

“What? No!” Lion let out a wobbly burst of surprised laughter. “Honestly Granny, Inn is just quite wealthy and he wanted to help.”

“If he’s wealthy why is he staying with us?” Granny sniffed. “I’m not saying I mind, but wouldn’t he rather be in some fancy hotel or serviced apartment?”

“No,” Lion laughed, before faltering. “I mean…”

Why was Hanuman still staying with him? The monkey warrior probably knew the human world well enough by now that he could get his own place. Perhaps he figured Lion was his only chance of returning to the magical world. However, Inn didn’t need to live with Lion for that, let alone go to school every day or serve out pointless teenage detentions.

“Hah,” Granny stated weakly. “I guess you must hold some appeal after all.”

“Granny!” Lion scolded as he furrowed his brow.

“What?” Granny asked innocently. “It’s just reassuring to see you with a friend. People should appreciate your company Lion.”

“Thanks,” Lion rolled his eyes before leaning over to check the I.V. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“Living the dream,” Granny replied drily, “now turn on that television, it’s time for my drama and I want to know if Honey is keeping the baby.”

“Okay,” Lion bit his lip in a grin but tensed as he reached up to switch on the T.V. and heard bubbling coughs from behind him. He went to sit back down beside the bed, taking his grandmother’s shrivelled brown hand in his own. It felt worrying chilled and fragile as they interlocked their fingers together.

“Look at him,” Granny snorted, gesturing to the screen. “That’s the man she’s leaving her husband for, doesn’t look trustworthy does he? Eyes too close together.”

“Granny!” Lion chided in amusement. “You can’t judge on looks.”

“Your Inn could be in these dramas,” Granny announced, shaking Lion’s hand off a moment later to grab a large glass of water and slurp through the straw. “Handsome young man like him, I’m surprised he hasn’t auditioned.”

“I think he’d rather be behind the camera,” Lion replied, trying not to let his body instinctively heat up and preen at the phrase ‘your Inn’.

“He must be very popular at school with the girls,” Granny continued obliviously, settling her drink back down on a neat card coaster. There was a small pot of artificial flowers on the bedside table, shades of pink and blue.

“I guess,” Lion rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced away from the screen and out of the window. They were pretty high up with a view of the sprawling city, pale grey and white skyscrapers perforating the clouds.

Lion wondered what was happening at school that day? He thought about how Nin had asked Inn out on a date, he tried not to imagine Inn going to lunch by himself, he would probably be swarmed by a gaggle of beautiful and popular students the minute he sat down.

“I um, I think he actually has a date on Friday,” Lion murmured, his cheeks heating up tellingly as his grandmother glanced at him.

“Oh?” Granny remarked, the onscreen screaming match momentarily forgotten. Honey’s former best friend had just yanked out a cushion from under her dress, exposing the pregnancy as a ruse. The men looked suitably shocked and the camera was doing quick fire zoom to get everybody’s responding expressions.

“Yeah, with Nin. She’s a really pretty girl from my ballet class,” Lion nodded.

“I see,” Granny replied, smacking her lips. “Will he also be taking her to the aquarium, or perhaps the Ramayana Water Park?”

“Granny!” Lion’s eyes widened, he wasn’t sure how she could possibly have found out about those trips.

“Inn spent about an hour showing me photographs,” Granny snorted a laugh. Lion groaned and shook his head, he couldn’t tell if Inn had really been ignorant of what he was doing or just pig-headed. “Really Lion, there’s only so many pictures of a fish I can pretend to be interested in.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where we were going,” Lion chewed his lip guiltily, “I didn’t want you to worry about the cost.”

“If we’re not paying why would I worry about the cost?” Granny chirped, grinning wickedly before winking at her grandson. “It’s just interesting isn’t it?” Granny sighed, “What makes a date a date.”

“I-“ Lion began but his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from Inn.

“Had lunch with Nin today. Have something to tell you.”

“Oh…” Lion whispered, his throat felt strangely tight.

“What is it?” Granny raised a thin grey eyebrow.

“Nothing,” Lion shook his head and forced a smile. “Just a reminder.”

Lion put his phone away and gripped the edges of his chair tightly. It was stupid to feel upset over something that had never even existed.

“So,” he cleared his throat and nodded his head at the television, “that actress has short hair and red lipstick so I’m guessing she’s the villain?”

“Shh,” Granny scolded, “don’t give any spoilers!”

Lion laughed and sat back in his chair, trying not to tense every time he heard a cough.