Ruan takes over the call for ambulance while Sasin tries to stay still. Fortunately, the ambulance arrived in less than five minutes. The people assisting them kept asking about Sasin's condition, but he couldn't give an answer. Reaching the hospital, Sasin can only watch Ruan be left behind the swing doors.

When Sasin's eyes fluttered open and he got a clear understanding of the situation, a chuckle escaped his lips. Ah, I survived.

"Found something funny in your situation?"

Sasin tensed upon hearing Ruan's voice. He looks at his left and sees the other giving him a death stare. Ruan takes a seat beside his hospital bed. The prodigy doesn't dare to speak.

"I've found out your secret," Ruan declares after a sigh.

Sasin gulps. "Cat's out of the bag, huh?"

"What do you take me for?" The college student raised as he rested his jaw on his palm, all the while staring blankly at the other. "A fulfiller of a dying man's wishes?"

The businessman's heart skipped a beat. At that moment, he didn't hold back his thoughts and wished that the situation they're in is all but a dream.

"S-Stop making it sound like I'm a dying old man."

"You know, if you really intended to keep this from me, you wouldn't have hung out with me until the last few months of your term. It was safer to go for a one-month vacation," Ruan paused in a jiff to get on his feet and pour the other a glass of water after having a glimpse of his chapped lips. Sasin just followed him with his gaze.

"You're not dumb, you're even a business prodigy, so I know you're perfectly aware. I'm just wondering," he hands to him the glass, "Why did you choose to punish me?"

With shaky hands, Sasin hushfully takes the glass from the other's hand. He was planning to counter him, but when he couldn't find the right words to reply, he opted to slowly drink the water he was given, avoiding his long, fixed stare. Silence enveloped them until Ruan spoke with an expression that's hard to read.

"Anyway," he starts off as he wore his cap, "Since you're awake, I'm heading back for a bit." He gestures towards to door. "The president of your company is here. I contacted him yesterday using your work phone because reporters were going crazy outside. Sorry for using your phone without permission, though. I'm going. I'll be back later."

Without sparing him another glance, he leaves the room.

Days have passed, and Ruan didn't return to the hospital.

"The doctor said you'll have to rest for a week, then you can travel again," President Lee says, all the while starting the engine. Today, Sasin was discharged from the hospital. They're now heading to his lodge where Sasin decided to take rest.

"You're like my personal assistant now," Sasin remarks, staring outside the window of the president's car, watching the crowd of reporters in front of the hospital building. The latter only chuckled as he drove.

Following Ruan leaving the room that day, President Lee stormed in with a bunch of questions as his greetings. Sasin patiently answered every inquiry, and as luck would have it, the president didn't ask much about Ruan. Naturally, the news of his terminal illness appalled the president. No one knew about it except him and his doctor, after all.

At the same day, the report reached the board of directors. This called for an immediate arrangement of meeting with the C.E.O., that's why he has to be back in their city in seven days.

When they arrived at the lodge, President Lee asked once again if he'll be fine without his aid. Sasin gave him a reassuring grin before expressing his gratitude.

"Alright. I'll be back next week. I'll call you. Look after yourself."

Before the president left, he made sure that the guy who got in touch with him to see Sasin was around. He easily spotted him opening the front door. "Take care of this genius for me for a bit," he asked with a meaningful smile then bid his goodbye.

Sasin clicks his tongue as he closes the door. "Don't mind him. I called my former personal assistant to accompany me here for a while. He'll be here around eight," he said as he rubbed his eye.

"Yeah. I'm leaving, right?" Ruan verifies. The menacing tone of his voice too strong not to notice, but Sasin pretended that it didn't bother him.

He hummed in response. "My ex-P.A. already have your plane ticket. The day after tomorrow is your flight's schedule, so you better pack everything up now. If you want something in this lodge, just tell me. You can have it."

"Understood," Ruan responded in an imprudent manner before he went back to his room.

Sasin squeezes his eyes shut then opens it with a sigh. Just a few more days.

Before the sky darkened, Sasin's ex-P.A. messaged him, telling him his flight was postponed for tomorrow. Subsequently, Ruan cooked for their supper. As they eat, uncomfortable silence surrounded them.

The businessman gives up with a sigh, letting go of his spoon and fork. Ruan flat-out ignored him.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

Ruan doesn't say anything.

"I'm sorry for making you feel like I'm punishing you."

"..."

Sasin clenched his fists. "It's really not my intention-"

"Apologies accepted," he interrupts as he stands up to bring his plate to the sink. "Once you're done, just leave everything in the sink. I'll wash the dishes after I take a bath."

Ruan eased up in his room for a couple of minutes before he grabbed his towel and went to shower. Deep in his thoughts, he failed to notice the shower door open. He only flinched when he felt a bare, warm body embracing him from behind.

The ash-gray haired male was rendered motionless for a moment. When he has collected himself, he tried to remove the other's arms on his waist, but the latter just tightened his embrace.

"Sasin, let go."

"I'm sorry..."

Ruan feels like snapping already.

"Didn't I tell you? I've already accepted your apologies."

Sasin finally loosens his clasp around his torso. Ruan did the honor of completely detaching his arms from him. When the college student turned to see him, he was surprised to see him crying.

But he was flabbergasted with what he hears next:

"T-Then, will you have sex with me?"

I wasn't afraid to die.

The sound of the droplets hitting a tile from the switched off shower echoes in their ears. The clock was ticking, but none of them made a noise. Ruan's lips were pursed, as if scared to utter anything or something will break. However, in reality, not letting his thoughts slip past his lips was going to break him more.

When I first discovered that I'll be gone in a few months, I was rather upset, because my whole life belonged to the company that I worked hard for.

Sasin lowers his head as he accepts his silent response. Looking down at his wet, cold feet, he leaves the shower room without a word. He went to bathe shortly in his room's instead. After covering himself in his usual sleep wear, he turns off the light, crawls on the bed, lifts the blankets, then tucks himself in.

The company was everything to me, that I didn't know what life should I live in the remaining days given to me.

As he stared at the lighted lamp beside him, he heard the door creak open.

And then I thought, maybe I can live the life that I was seeking deep in my core.

Before he could twist his body to look, Ruan has already leaned in.

It wasn't easy looking for something I couldn't lay a finger on.

His fanning, warm breath welcomed him.

But when everything remained hazy,

Eyes getting drunk, he slowly fills in the gap between them.

The clearest image was your face.

Gently, he lifts Sasin's hand, giving it a small kiss. "I'll take care of you."

And now I wish death didn't mean the end.