Part4 Final part 2

Daniel reports to Jun that Mark is about to make a move to August. 

Jun, after Daniel called him, ordered his bodyguards to be extra cautious with everything regarding August. Today is August’s birthday (Aug-06). August is marking his birthday, the day that the orphan caretaker found him. He was about to go see his father (orphan caretaker), but his college schedule is so hectic that he cannot leave.

Early in the morning, he was called by his father, who wished him a very happy birthday this year. He told him that he is not able to come to this birthday, but in semester break definitely he will come. It’s okay, his father said to him, you come when you are free; it doesn’t matter if you come on your birthday or not. They finished the call, and August gets ready for classes.

When he comes in front of the college gate. He is far too shocked to turn around. Before him the gate is properly adorned with flowers like some type of function is held in college, but he takes a glance; nobody is present and finds it strangely quiet. Which is unusual to a bustling collage, he thought may it is some kind of holiday; may he miss some notice? So, he checked his mobile phone, but there was no holiday notice. Watch time as well, but he just got here, so he proceeded to look inside. As he pushed the college gate (boom!), he wasn’t expecting it. Boom! Confetti was everywhere on him; he was caught off guard when the confetti started falling around him. He saw Jun standing in front of him with a huge flower arrangement. All of them have heart balloons and shout loudly, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.” August is joyful hearing all of them wish him happy birthday. Jun arrived and gave him a bouquet of flowers and said,

Jun: Thanks for being born to me. Happy birthday, my meow boy. I will celebrate your birthday until death approaches me, year by year and my whole life.

August is so moved by what Jun shared with him. He was crying, but Jun wiped them away.

Jun: I will make you cry tears of happiness, no more tears of sadness if you want, but I will make you not have to cry any tears.

This was live broadcasting and breaking the internet. Mark was sitting on his phone in a live broadcast when for an instant, he was stunned with shock, and he dropped the phone. The phone cracked but he barely noticed. Mark stood there; mouth open with eyes full of tears. He took a step back, his breath caught in his throat. His hands were trembling.

Mark: How was it for you? All these years. Where did you go?

A knot formed in his throat as memories flooded back—long, agonizing years of seeking, hoping, and grieving. Mark’s heart pounded in his chest, each beat resonating with a combination of profound relief and suffocating sorrow. Mark was under the weight of lost time bearing down on him and the hurt emptiness of countless moments never to be retrieved. The room grew vague, the world beyond him reducing to nothing as he stood, dazed by the weight of discovery.

One minute after, Mark has a pain in his chest; he grips his chest, and he is terribly in pain and collapses on the ground. His friend knocked, but no one opened the door, so he assumed that no one was at home, so he was going to pull out the key from his pocket, but he heard a strange noise from inside. He thought that someone came into his house, but the next second he was going to turn and run away; he heard that painful sound, AHHHHH!. He opened the door at once and thought Mark could be in trouble, rushing to Mark’s room. When he reached his room, the flowerpot was broken, and all the water was spilled on the floor along with the flowers. Along with the chaos, Mark was lying unconscious. Korn (Mark’s friend) rushed to him, called an ambulance immediately, and rushed to the hospital. He was admitted to the ICU; Korn was so worried, pacing here and there anxiously. Outside the ICU door. Around 45 minutes later, the light over the ICU door was out, and the door opened. The doctor emerged and informed Korn that Mark’s status is stable now, but he is unconscious at the moment; if he doesn’t wake up within 4 hours, he will be in a coma.

Doctor: How did this occur? It appears that he saw something that took him aback. Korn nodded that he doesn’t know anything because he was returning home; he doesn’t have the slightest idea about this. The doctor told him that they will observe Mark for the time being. Saying this, the doctor departed; then the phone rang suddenly. Korn pulled out; it was Mark’s phone. He tried to see who was calling, but the screen was broken, so he could not see and answered, thinking it might be from his workplace.

Daniel: Hello, Mark. You left something at my house. Why did you hurry yesterday? Will you come to get it from my house, or should I go to your house?

Korn thought that Mark’s friend was only him, a man comforting as Mark’s friend, whom he had never seen or encountered. When hearing, Hello! Hello from the other side of the phone, Korn snapped out and told that he is not Mark. Daniel apologizes and asks, where is he?

Korn: He is in hospital.

Daniel: What happened? Which hospital? Korn told the hospital’s name. That time, after receiving all that information, Daniel rushed to the hospital. He arrived in the hospital “little hearts.” He is running towards hospital gate in anxiety and requested front desk to enquire about Mark. The nurse informed that he is in critical ICU. His heart skipped a beat hearing that Mark is in ICU, and he did not see or hear anyone, just running towards ICU. When he came to the front entrance of the ICU, he came face-to-face with the same person with Mark saw in the café.

Daniel: Where is Mark? May I see him? Korn told him that Mark is on observation, so he cannot be seen right now. Daniel is really nervous, breathing heavily. Korn walks towards Daniel and tells him, don’t worry; he will be fine. It happens due to the fact that he has forgotten his usual checkup. After calming Daniel down. Get acquainted with each other. Korn informed that Mark underwent a heart transplant a year ago.

Korn: All were normal, but what happened today? I don’t know. The doctor informed me that he just happens to see or experience some mind-boggling something. In case if he doesn’t become conscious within 4 hours, anything can happen. He may go into a coma.

It is almost 2 hours, but Mark did not wake up. Daniel was out of patience so he requested the doctor to visit Mark first. The doctor did not approve, but Daniel kept insisting, so the doctor provided him with just 10 minutes and only 1 person can be allowed, so Daniel hurried inside to visit him. When he reaches the ICU door, Mark lies on the bed in a hospital gown and oxygen mask. He doesn’t know his tears were streaming down like a stream. He goes near Mark’s bed and sees him quietly sleeping on the bed. Going near him, memories of the glimpses return to him when he is with Mark and living in his house. They develop a special bond since they are living together. This special bond is more than a friend but special feelings. He glances at Mark for a second and instructs him to wake up and cook for him again.

Daniel: Your food is yummy, like my grandma cooks for me, I admit that now please wake up, please. I want to eat your special poached egg you always prepared for me.”

Special poach egg:

• Dice the sausages: Sausages must be cut in small, dice shaped pieces.
• Heat the pan: Add some butter to the pan and heat it until it becomes hot.
• Crack an egg: Crack an egg into the pan very softly without breaking the yolk.
• Add sausages to the yolk: Add the tiny, minced sausages slowly into the egg yolk. Keep the heat low so that they will not overcook.
• Baste and cook: Spoon melted butter from the pan and spoon slowly over the egg until pale jelly color.
• Serve: Place two fried sausages on a plate, cover the center with lettuce, and top it off with your special poached egg.

Seizing Mark’s hand Daniel, ‘Wake up, cook for me; you know that I can’t cook.’ Wake up and laugh by playing dumb jokes on me. Please don’t abandon me. ‘The doctor says to Daniel, the 10-minute appointment is finished; please exit. Daniel comes back with a sad heart to vacate, but something arises that catches him off guard. Mark withdrew his hand, not letting go. Daniel calls for a doctor since Mark is coming to consciousness. Doctor, hurry up, come and examine him, and take Daniel outside to wait. Within one minute, the doctor informs that he is alright but should admit him for around 1 week for observation purposes. The doctor instructs hospital attendants to move the mark to the general ward. They move Mark to the general ward, and he becomes fully conscious. Daniel and Korn come to see him. Mark seeing them depresses. He says in jest,

Mark: Why are you two making such faces as if I had died already? Daniel rushes towards him and slaps him lightly. ‘How is it that you are interpreting what just happened to you as something humorous? You came back from death. Is this the time to joke? He was sobbing while saying this to Mark.

Mark: Sorry. I did not intend to hurt you but needed to give you both a lift. I cannot bear to see the two of you being sad over me.

Daniel and Korn: ‘We are not sad; we just care about you, fool!’ they both weeping hugged him.

Mark: You are sobbing me out too. I’m in the hospital for 1 week. I need some fresh air; I won’t be here long; just take me home.

Korn and Daniel: No!

They told him to stay for observation because it is a serious one. They cannot risk his life by bringing him home, but Mark is bawling like a baby. He has been nagging them for years, so they called the doctor. After witnessing doctor Mark pout and mutter in a low voice, ‘I want to go home.’ He is also troubling the doctor as well, stating, Look, doctor, I’m fine and healthy. Can I go home, doctor? I feel this hospital room is providing me with a choking sensation. Let me go home; I won’t miss my check-up.

Doctor: I was also annoyed with him, so I let him go home but had to see him every day for 1 week and not miss his regular check-up. Hearing Mark snicker.

Korn: Where are you going to stay? Because I have to work, I can’t take care of you all day. You need high care. (Korn is justifying getting him to stay in the hospital.)

Mark: Oh ho! I will go back to my hometown.

Doctor: You can’t take long-distance travel for 1 week. Long-distance travel will injure your health and incite your heart to imbalance, causing you to reject your body.

Mark smiles and requests to Daniel. Daniel is going to say yes, but Korn pinches him on the back, and he says to him that he too is busy and cannot take care of him. Mark is pouting, complaining, sigh! If you both don’t want to take me home, then I will get a nurse to look after me.

Daniel: Ugh! Ok! Ok! You don’t have to hire a nurse to look after you; I will take you to my home. My grandma can make ill food for you. Ha ha ha.

Daniel assures Korn that he is strong enough to look after a naughty and stubborn childlike Mark. Mark glares at Daniel and says, I’m not a child, you know; I’m a big boy with a handsome body and good-looking. Daniel laughs on hearing Mark’s big boy. ‘Ya! Ya! You’re a big boy with stubborn, childlike ways.’ You can say anything you want, Mark sulked.

They left the hospital and went home to Daniel’s; Korn took them. Granny welcomed them to the house and arranged for a room for Mark in addition to Daniel’s room. Granny invited Korn to dinner; he agreed. Following dinner, Korn left because he is to report to his office tomorrow morning for a meeting. As the darkness surrounded the house with an eerie silence, Daniel slept soundly, having made sure that Mark had taken all his medication. The night passed uneventfully until a thunderous, unexpected crash tore through the silence. Daniel’s heart pounded as he was suddenly jolted awake by the noise emanating from Mark’s room. With apprehension gripping his heart, Daniel rushed to Mark’s door. He could barely make out Mark’s shape in the dim light, struggling to pick up a fallen glass. Mark himself was white and tired, mumbling an apology in a voice barely audible. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. “Daniel’s concern turned to urgency quickly. He crossed the room quickly, steadying Mark on his feet. The gravity of the situation rested heavily on him; Mark’s state of health was more delicate than ever before. He helped Mark, ensuring that he was fine; there was tension in the room, but Mark was still calm, and it anger Daniel.

Daniel: You are sick at the moment, but you are cool. Why? You can tell me anything that you need; I will carry it to you. So don’t be irresponsible; you are now under my care for a week.

Mark: “I’m not being cool. I don’t have to be cool. Because I know. I am cool.” With winky eyes. Daniel was tired of Mark and spoke in bossy mode.

Daniel: Sigh! “You really think you can be cocky when you need me to watch your back for an entire week? Listen, you need to have some appreciation in your heart. I’m trying to help you, but you need to appreciate that and be nice. You understand? I’m doing this for your own good, so put on your manners and let’s ride this out. Alright.” Mark is taken aback with Daniel ordering him around and complies silently. Then Daniel offered to take a nap on the couch next to Mark’s bed so that he could look after him in the evening more efficiently. Both of them go to sleep. The week passes; Daniel looked after Mark and took him daily to the hospital for regular check-ups. On the last day of the week, Mark asked Daniel to take him somewhere else instead of home.

Mark told him that he will tell him way. They way are driven to August college.

(In Daniel’s mind, time stood still. Mark, with a wicked grin, aimed the gun at August. The bullet, moving in slow motion, spun in midair like it was auditioning for a Hollywood film. Jun, in a brave but slightly clumsy attempt, dashed toward August. His face was set with determination and alarm, as though he were a superhero who had left his cape behind. He was nearly at August’s side when he stumbled over his feet and fell into an ungraceful heap. The bullet hit its target and August caught it right in the chest. As August hit the ground, Jun was beside him, tears streaming down his face. Jun cradled August in his arms, wailing loudly, “Nooooo! This can’t be happening!” In between sobs, Jun glared at Daniel, who was standing there dazed. “This is all your fault, Daniel! You helped Mark, and now look what you’ve done! You killed my dearest one; how could you do this to me?”)

Daniel, waking up abruptly from his daydreaming. Screaming noooooooo! I didn’t do anything, please.

Mark was taken aback by Daniel’s scream; he put his hand over his ear to block the noise.

Mark: Cut it out! You’re going to burst my eardrums. What’s wrong with you? Are you mad? Daniel looks around and finds that they are in their car parked outside the college gate. Mark is sitting next to him, not moving an inch.

Mark’s heart pounded when he saw August approach the gate. He leapt out of the car, his steps lengthening with each step. He was inches away from embracing August when a power pushed him away. A sharp pain exploded across his face as he fell on the ground, dazed. Blood trickled from his mouth when he touched it, and his eyes regained focus to see Jun standing over him. Despite the throbbing pain, a grin split Mark’s face. Jun was here. The world came to a standstill, the chaos of the moment lost as the joy of seeing his friend swept over him. Tears stung in his eyes, not because of the pain but because of pure bliss at this surprise reunion.

Mark’s joy was that much overwhelming that he was nose to nose with Jun. There was no shyness at all as he wrapped his arms around Jun and held him in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down Mark’s face, his body shuddering uncontrollably from his cries. It was as if he had discovered a piece he had lost years before. Jun, shocked, first tried pushing him away, his eyes wide with puzzlement. But Mark’s grip was unyielding, his arms about Jun with desperate haste. For that moment, the world did not exist for Mark—all that mattered was the reunion with his lost friend. The bond they shared, thought to be gone, was kindled with an emotional force that neither had anticipated.

In a few minutes, August’s friends (Joe and Danish) arrived and were shocked to see the scene that Jun was being embraced by someone else rather than August. After Jun stopped pushing him, Mark let go of Jun from his arms and held his hand.

Mark: My friend Jun, where have you been all this year? I was looking for you everywhere. I searched for you and your father at his clinic, but you and your father disappeared from that city like you never existed. I searched the whole year and found the video when you proposed to August and saw you, and then my feet were swept off the ground. I missed you so much.

Observing Jun’s confused face, Mark let go of Jun’s hand and asked, Jun, did you forget me? How could you forget me? We’re childhood friends.

Jun: Oh! Sorry, I couldn’t remember as I had an accident last year. The doctor told me that it could be permanent; I won’t remember my past before the accident.

Mark is shocked to death after knowing the accident that had happened to Jun. Mark assured that he would make him remember him. Jun called Daniel and asked him to book a restaurant for them. When Daniel immediately obeys Jun’s order, Mark is bewildered.

Mark: Do you guys know each other?

Daniel: He is my boss. I am working under him in his office.

Jun softly placed his hand on August’s cheek and asked to go home safely after classes. He also asks his friends to look after August for him. He will return to him once he is finished talking to Mark. He kissed his forehead and left with Mark and Daniel. Danish saw Jun kissing August’s forehead; he was like over the moon. He said, “Aww, so romantic. I wish I had that romance and a loving partner like Jun too.” Joe was listening to Danish words and looking at his face quietly. Joe started pouting suddenly and said to Danish.

Joe: Why do you need him as a partner when you have me? Joe left with disappointment for his class, but Danish is puzzled with his words. Why? He said he didn’t get it, so ask August what had happened to him. August tapped Danish on the shoulder and said,

August: Oh boy! Don’t ask me what had happened to Joe; ask your heart what Joe is to you. Is he a friend or something more than a friend? Just go with your heart. You do not have to respond immediately; take your time and consider it carefully to have a clear idea regarding it. Danish fell into deep contemplation, and he requested August to cover for him in class tests. He will go home; something urgent came up, so they departed on their own path. Joe is sitting dismayed in class but keeps glancing at the entrance door of the classroom, expecting Danish to come and make it up to him. August approaches Joe and sits down next to him, but he keeps gazing at the door.

August: Keep gazing at the door; he won’t come to you. He left class and went to his dorm.

Joe’s eyes widen after hearing that; he grabs his bag and rushes to search for Danish, but he is too late. He grabbed his bike and sped in the direction of Danish’s dorm, but they missed each other by a few minutes. They passed each other when Danish was driving, on his way to his hometown. He did catch a glimpse of Joe on his motorcycle, but he pretended not to have seen him and left discreetly.

Joe reached the dorm gate and threw his bike and dashed to Danish’s room in haste, but there was a note stuck to the door.

Note: Joe, I know you will search for me. Do not search me, please. I will come back after getting my answers, which have been troubling me for so long.

Joe’s hands trembled as he held Danish’s note, the gravity of the words bearing down on his heart. Despondency engulfed him, and he fell onto his knees, his body trembling in uncontrollable sobs. He crawled forward, his tears wetting the ground beneath him, as the truth of Danish’s departure hit him like a tsunami. “Come back I can’t live without you,” Joe screamed, his voice breaking. “You don’t know how much I love you. How could you leave without a word?”

His words resonated in the empty corridor of the dorm, an echoing reminder of the emptiness that stayed behind. Joe dragged himself to his bedroom, every step heavier more than the previous one. He collapsed on his bed, clutching his pillow like a lifeline, his tears combining with the fabric. He buried his face in the pillow, his sobs muted but desperate, as if he was trying to hold on to the last scents of Danish’s perfume, his touch, his memory. The pain was unbearable, a burning, gnawing pain that seemed to be tearing his very soul apart. Joe’s howls filled the room, a requiem of sorrow and longing, as he lamented his heart. The rest of the world went forward, but for Joe, time was frozen, and all that was left was the suffocating sorrow and the desperate longing for Danish’s return.

Meanwhile, in the cozy corner of the restaurant, Mark and Jun sat across from each other. Mark’s voice trailed off as he spoke, his eyes wide with disbelief. He couldn’t fathom that Jun was really there, right beside him. Tears of joy threatened to spill over as he stared at his friend, the emotions overwhelming him.

Jun, sensing the weight of the moment, broke the silence. “So, can you tell me about me? What was my life like before the accident?”

Mark’s face lit up with a bittersweet smile. “Oh yeah, why not? We grew up together, you know. We loved doing fun stuff—going fishing, climbing trees. We were always getting into trouble. Remember the neighbor uncle? He used to scold us all the time. We were so naughty, teasing him by calling him ‘bald uncle’ and telling him to grow some hair before scolding us. Our parents were furious when they found out. We got grounded for a week.”

Mark chuckled, the memories flooding back. “But nothing could stop us. We snuck out of the house and went to our secret treehouse that we built ourselves. Our parents searched everywhere but couldn’t find us. When they finally promised not to ground us anymore, we came back.”

As Mark recounted their mischievous adventures, his voice wavered with emotion. The bond they shared, the laughter, the tears—it all came rushing back. Jun listened intently; a mixture of surprise seen in his eyes because he couldn’t recall anything Mark told him.

They talk like that suddenly. Mark requests Jun to see his father, Dr. Nike. It’s been a whole year since I’ve seen him. Jun said that his dad is busy with his work; let me ask and fix a time for you. They agree to meet again and go their own ways.

It’s been 3 days since Joe didn’t attend classes, so August went to check on him. When August visited the Corredor of Joe’s dorm. It is like a kind of horror sensation. He knocks at the door and shouts at Joe, but there is no reply. He declared, I know you are inside and angry, so open the door; you won’t be missing classes. When he turns around the door handle, it opens; the door was not locked. He enters the room; it was so dark, but it was a full moon night, so little dim moonlight was passing through glass windows. He is walking slowly towards Joe’s bedroom. He shudders due to something in the way of Joe’s bedroom. He opens his phone turn the flashlight and sees he shudders due to the camera stand. He sets aside the camera stand and by phone light, he begins to search for Joe, but there was no one but clothes pieces and alcohol bottles all over the floor. He was still searching for Joe; he listened for some sort of sound like a snake hissing. He nervously approaches the disheveled piles of clothes on the floor; he picks up the camera stand and starts to push away clothes one by one. He was so afraid of what was in there that he prodded with the camera stand first, and the noise came from underneath the bundle of clothes: ‘OUCH!’ He removes it off hurriedly, and there was drunken Joe lying. He is a ghost of the man who is overtaken by the darkness of his own feelings. He looks like a zombie. The air is thick with stale liquor and uncleaned bedclothes, indicative of his descent into despair. He slurs, randomly, shattered fragments of his broken heart tumbling from his lips in tipsy whispers. What had been a warm and loving voice now grapples with the weight of his sorrows, a mournful echo of what he has lost.

August’s heart aches seeing Joe in this condition; Joe is the one who is always so jovial and makes everyone feel comfortable in the group. He extracts him from under the heap of clothes and puts him down gently on his bed. He is out cold. August had been waiting for him to wake up; in the meantime, he cleaned the room. Joe wakes up after 2 hours and catches a whiff of something pleasant in the kitchen. He gets up, but his head is pounding with a hangover; he continues to hold his head in his hand and continues to find out what is going on in the kitchen. He stretched to open the kitchen door and saw that August was making food. August saw him and asked him to shower. He made a carrot juice to ward off the hangover. He comes back from the shower and drinks the juice that is made with August.

August’s voice trembled as he spoke, his eyes brimming with unspoken sorrow. “Joe, I know you’re broken, and I can’t even begin to comprehend the weight you’re carrying. But please—don’t let this darkness consume you. You were always the light, Joe. The one who made the world a little brighter just by being. You can’t lose that part of you. Not now. Never.”

Joe strained, his chest heaving as August’s words struck a chord, breaking through the armor he’d so precisely built around his grief. Danish flashed before his mind in pictures—their laughter echoing in his head as faraway music, the warmth of their moments together now so painfully distant. A surge of pain flooded him, and before he could stem it, Joe collapsed into wrenching sobs, each one more devastating than the previous one. His hands trembled as they clutched at his chest, as if trying to hold together the pieces of his shattered heart. August reached out, his voice cracking with emotion, “It’s okay to cry, Joe. Let it out. Just don’t forget—you don’t have to carry this alone. I’m here. I’ll always be here.” Joe’s tears fell like rain, his grief pouring out in waves that threatened to drown him. But beneath the storm of feelings, something stirred—a fragile thread of comfort in August’s unbreakable presence, a glimmer of hope amidst the blackest desolation. For the first time, Joe allowed himself to grieve, not alone, but with a human being who understood the size of his sorrow.

August pulled Joe into a warm embrace, its warmth melting Joe’s sadness away like snow in the sun. Nestled in the safety of August’s arms, Joe whispered, “Thank you, for being here.” The warmth lingered, wrapping around them like a gentle promise of peace.

It was nightfall, and Joe smiled at August. “Hey, if you’re tired, you can just stay here overnight. The couch is comfy, and I’ve got blankets.” August smiled, appreciative of the offer. Joe busied himself with making a cup of tea, and they both settled in, the soft lighting in the room making everything cozy and mellow.

To be continue

Preview of Final part 3

Jun’s father hesitated, his trembling voice reveling the truth. Those memories before the accident were not his, Jun wasn’t even Jun.