* * *
"Did he eat anything that you think might have caused him to feel this way? I can't conduct further examination because I lack equipment but there seemed to be nothing wrong with him physically but I'm worried it might be a mild food poisoning or an allergic reaction from something he had eaten. His stomach doesn't seem to be hurting but I highly suggest we should bring him to the hospital so I can have a detailed examination regarding his condition," Doctor Feng recommended while fixing his things after checking on Fyre who was now lying in bed since he had a headache and migraine combined with shortness of breath. He had given him sedatives to help him ease the pain a little as he rested for now.
"Not that I know of. We ate the same breakfast from a take-out but I'm doing fine. He took a suppressant because he was in heat last night, but he doesn't seem to be in heat right now. I also didn't know Fyre was allergic to a particular food," Tian Zi replied worriedly. He sat beside Fyre, holding the Omega's hand hoping that it would ease his discomfort. Jonathan was also at the far side silently listening. He was surprised to have seen Doctor Feng visiting the mansion and he did not expect Fyre to be not well when he looked fine just earlier when they all decided how to address Maverick's situation.
"I understand but as I said, I can't do any further examination here. We can't know for sure but to make sure, you might need to call the city health department and have them check the place where you ordered food in case this was food poisoning. As for an allergic reaction, I can't say for now since he has no known allergy but this type of thing could be developed through time." Doctor Feng informed, finally finished fixing his things and was ready to go back.
"Zi, let's just quickly send him to the hospital." Jonathan decided to interrupt at the end.
"I'm thinking the same thing. I'll let Maverick and Joaquinn know later. Right now, they're probably already talking to their father." Tian Zi immediately agreed after finally letting go of Fyre's hand. Since Maverick needed to talk to his father before talking to Elder Sullen and the rest of their family, he came back with his brothers for the time being but after that, they will temporarily live with Tian Zi until they have found a place to stay. Tian Zi didn't actually have to but since the three brothers might lose their inheritance after this, he offered them all the help he could but the brothers declined and decided they would have thought of something when that had happened.
"It has been decided then, I will be waiting at the hospital," Doctor Feng said and decided it was finally time for him to go and planned to prepare ahead for when his patient arrived at the hospital.
"Okay, doctor. Thank you so much. We will see you at the hospital," Tian Zi said before the doctor left. A couple of minutes later, Tian Zi carefully lifted Fyre in his arms. Jonathan silently looked and although he envied Tian Zi, he couldn't do much because he knew he had no right.
"Are you coming with us?" Tian Zi asked. He knew that his friend fancied Frye just like him, but he knew that Jonathan was as worried as him right now. Obviously, he didn't want Jonathan to have any plan to let his friend pursue his feelings for the Omega but he will not restrict them from staying friends. As long as Jonathan remembered where he stood in their situation. If he didn't want Fyre to know his feeling for him and risk it having the Omega hate him, then he'd have to stay silent and bury his feelings for the rest of his life and just move on like he should have long ago when Remi Long died.
"I must refrain... I was actually about to leave but I will come and visit him later. I'm worried but I know that you will take good care of Fyre even if I wasn't there," Jonathan replied with a bitter smile. The reason he visited was because he wanted to meet Fyre and apologize but he had already lost his chance. Besides, he needed to be somewhere at the moment. He just sneaked in his visit and is now late for his prior appointment.
"Hmm, see you later then," Tian Zi replied after a long pause to which Jonathan only responded with a soft nod and almost a sad smile. The both of them left the room together but as they were trailing the way to the foyer, Tian Zi suddenly halted. Jonathan quickly noticed it and halted as well.
"Is something the matter?" Jonathan asked, his eyes quickly landed on Fyre who was peacefully tucked against Tian Zi's arms. He was worried that something might have happened to the Omega but it didn't seem like it so his eyes ventured back to Tian Zi.
"Jonathan, please give up on Fyre..." Tian Zi said and this time he stared straight into his friend's eyes. He knew Jonathan was never going pursue Fyre but Tian Zi also knew that Jonathan never truly gave up Fyre.
"L-Last night... We shared a passionate night and I have realized that I like Fyre or I might as have loved him already. You are my friend and I won't forbid you to stay close to Fyre but I have to tell you honestly, the moment you speak of your feelings to him is the moment you will lose your chance to be with him even as a friend... so please give up Fyre and let me make him happy." Tian Zi said, his eyes burned with passion as if telling his friend to back off if he didn't want to make him his enemy.
At the same time, as Jonathan listened to Tian Zi, his eyes widened momentarily before they came back to normal. He never expected that this was going to happen even though he noticed the possibility because he was so focused on himself but now that he was hearing it from Tian Zi, his heart began to ache. He already knew what his friend was talking about. He knew it way too well but it pains him every time because he knew his feelings will never be reciprocated. And despite that, he could never truly give up hoping that maybe he had a chance.
It was false hope but he couldn't help it. He used to fall in and out of love but this was the first time that had happened to him. It hurt him so much knowing that Tian Zi and Fyre were going to be together but then again, maybe this was what he needed to finally move on. Jonathan sighed, even though there was a possibility that the two could be together, he was still quite shocked to hear his friend say this to him now.
"I understand... but the moment you make him cry, I will become your enemy, Zi. The second you hurt him is the time that I will take him away. I don't need to be Fyre's lover to protect and cherish him." Jonathan replied, throwing back the same intense glare Tian Zi was giving him. The two of them stared at each other for long seconds before finally the both of them chuckled.
"I'm glad. Please do punch me hard when that time comes," Tian Zi chuckled.
"Rest assured, I will break your face when that time comes," Jonathan replied with a brief laugh. Both of them soon began to stare at Fyre, there was silence between them but it wasn't uncomfortable, and surprisingly, it was rather peaceful. After their short talk, the two had to go in separate ways, Tian Zi and Fyre to the hospital, and Jonathan to his own destination. Of course, Tian Zi already called the city health department to inspect the restaurant where they ordered their take-out to see if there was something wrong with their food just like Doctor Feng had suggestion but he didn't know that he will soon experience the most embarrassing moment of his life... starting with a phone call from his eldest brother, Mo Laotian.
"Where are you right now?" Mo Laotian asked as soon as Tian Zi accepted the call. He didn't know why his eldest brother was calling him now but he had never ignored a call from him so it was a habit to always accept it immediately.
"Why? I'm quite busy right now." Tian Zi replied, making sure Fyre was comfortably sleeping on his lap. He had taken a shot of sedatives so it will take some time before he wakes up and he didn't really want his older brother and then the whole family to know about what had happened before he confirmed what was really happening to Fyre. He didn't want to cause unnecessary concern, especially when Maverick's case was still at hand. Fyre was very well-loved among his family, learning that he was sent to the hospital would surely cause a commotion.
"...My wife had something he wanted to request from you," Laotian simply replied, and as soon as Tian Zi heard that, he sighed knowing full well what it might be.
"What is it?"
"About his cousin, the one who recently came out as an Omega. Daniel wanted you to help him. I heard you and your Omega are friends with him?" Laotian monotonically said. He sounded like he genuinely didn't even know what Maverick's name was. Tian Zi also doubted Laotian knew Fyre's name as well, that was why he kept calling him 'his Omega' all this time. While Tian Zi used to correct everyone, he wouldn't right now because he was determined to make it a reality.
"Maverick? We're already helping him as of the moment,"
"Hmm, still...my wife wants to talk to you about it. We're on the way to your house," Laotian informed. Although he didn't really care about the Sullens who had wronged his wife before, he also couldn't ignore his wife's request. It's also his fault for expressing his opinion regarding this matter and saying that it was suspicious so now he needed Tian Zi who was well versed in this kind of thing to assure his beloved.
"Wait! I'm not at home right now. And I will probably go back late," Tian Zi quickly replied. His eldest brother's house is just a few blocks away from his, if they wanted to talk to him, they should have called him and asked him to visit instead of them going to him. Daniel is pregnant so his older brother should have just thickened his skin as always and demanded him to come to them.
"It was an urgent matter."
"I'll just come by later, I really can't right now."
"As I said, it was an urgent matter that my wife needed. Leave whatever you are doing and come back home, we're already here," Laotian ordered, sounding as if he will not accept any excuses. Besides, he highly doubt Tian Zi was doing anything important so he didn't like that his younger brother was making his pregnant wife wait for him when they already went and visited him at his house instead of calling for him.
At the same time, hearing his older brother, Tian Zi was in a silent panic and was silent for long seconds before he sighed.
"... I really can't leave... I'm sending Fyre to the hospital right now. Doctor Feng said it might be food poisoning or an allergic reaction. I can't leave him... I promise I will visit later to talk to Brother-in-law," Tian Zi confessed at the end. He could hear a soft gasp from the other line which he figured was from Daniel but right now, at least his eldest brother won't force him to go back now.
"I understand. Are you going to let Doctor Feng handle him?"
"Yes. He's expecting us to come,"
"Hmm, then my wife and I will come and visit as well."
"You really don't need to. We weren't sure anyway if it was anything serious. This might be just a trivial matter so brother-in-law doesn't need to worry himself. Fyre will be fine," Tian Zi conveyed since he knew it wasn't his eldest brother who would want to come and visit Fyre.
"No. We'll be going. We're on the way now," Laotian replied as if not hearing what Tian Zi had just said, causing the younger Alpha to just sigh again and had no choice but to nod.
* * *
To be Continued...