บท 2: CHAPTER 2

Paitoon entered his mother's room, his knees buckled when he saw the bed empty and cleaned up.

"Nurse? Where's my mother?" He asks in panic.

The nurse's face turned grim.

"We had to move her, just after you left, she tried to stand up but failed, she hit her head on the nightstand, she's in the emergency ward now"

Tears stung his eyes hearing that. His own mother, struggling to walk, it was a scene he didn't want to witness but hearing of it as well still made his heart ache.

"Will you....will you take me to her?"

"Of course, follow me"

The grip on the strap of his bag tightened as he followed the nurse. He saw his mother sitting on the bed hunched over, he could tell she was crying.

"Mom..."

Sunstra quickly wiped her tears and turned to face her son but the look on his face told her that he had already seen her.

"Paitoon....aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"The principal gave me the day off, are you hungry? Do you need anything?"

She shook her head with a soft smile. Her dear son is so caring, her only wish is that he finds someone who will return the same care to Paitoon.

"Im fine, come sit, let's talk"

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At twelve on the dot, Phichit ran out of the classroom to the parking lot, he saw the familiar black Mercedes and threw himself in the back seat.

"Did you find the basket?"

"Yes sir, the largest one in fact"

He smiled.

"Good, take me to that hospital"

"Yes sir"

As the car drove away, he looked at the basket next to him. He smiled. Will that boy like it? Will his sick mother like it?

Just like before, he didn't notice that the car had stopped at their destination.

"Sir we're here"

"Oh....thank you, wait for me here, I'll be back"

He carried the basket out of the car and went inside the busy hospital, the scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils making his head ache lightly.

"Hello I'm looking for a boy" he says to the nurse.

"There are plenty of boys in the hospital, be more specific"

He blushed in embarrassment and cleared his throat.

"The boy was wearing a school uniform, he came here for his mother"

"Ohh that one, they're in the garden"

"Thank you"

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Paitoon smiled seeing the smile of relief on his mother's face.

"If I knew the view was nice here i would've visited it more"

"You still can"

They went silent, the fact still remained, Sunstra was going to die today.

"Hello"

They turned to face the source of the voice and Paitoon gasped. It was the young man who gave him a lift this morning.

"Hello dear, how may we help you?" Sunstra asks smiling. She could tell the boy was here for her son, he had the same look her late husband had when he would gaze at her.

Phichit suddenly was speechless, he awkwardly stuck out the basket to Paitoon.

"For your mother, you practically ran inside so I thought I'd see you again"

Paitoon blushed lightly. He accepted the basket. Sunstra smiled.

"Ohoo and here i was thinking the basket was for me, hai" she teased.

Phichit was quick to reply.

"It's for you, i uhm....i didn't know how to give it to you"

Paitoon giggled sending shockwaves to Phichit's body. Suddenly he received a spank to his leg.

"Paitoon introduce me hai"

"Oh....this is my mother, P'Sunstra"

Phichit smiled and offered a waii, which was returned by Sanstra.

"I'm Phichit Phassakorn"

Paitoon smield, Phichit was good name.

"Thank you for the basket dear, Paitoon take it to my room hmm?"

"Okay mum, I'll be back"

They watched him walk away. Sunstra turned to Phichit with a teasing smile.

"You like my son don't you? Was it love at first sight?"

Phichit blushed again, did he indeed like the boy? He....thinks so. Did he think about him after their encounter? Yes.

"I.....I don't know"

She nodded in understanding.

"Such things do take time, Paitoon probably didn't share this with you but today is my last day alive so just by looking at you, i know you can take care of my Paitoon"

He nodded with a weak smile. Paitoon is probably going to be devastated after today, he vows to make his days bright from now on....if he's given the chance.

"If he gives me the chance, I'll keep my promise"

She chuckled.

"You have my blessing then"

Paitoon heard everything as he hid behind a tree, part of him was angry at his mother, why would she practically give him away to a stranger? But the other part was humbled about the gesture, his mother didn't want him to suffer without her presence.

He walked up to them with a smile.

"Mom....it's time to head inside, it's getting too hot"

"Mn, N'Phichit kha, wheel me inside"

"Yes ma'am"

Paitoon followed behind with a smile on his face. He knows his life is about to change but he doesn't know if he's going to reap a good outcome from the change, he hopes for the good though.

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"You followed me here?" Paitoon asks shyly. Phichit smiled with nod.

"Mn, i wanted to see if you arrived in time, sorry about my driver pushing you to the ground"

"It's okay....i was invading his personal space"

Currently, the two were just outside Sunstra's room as she took a nap, Paitoon would go inside to check if she was still alive because he didn't say goodbye yet.

"Your name is Paitoon?"

"Mn, Paitoon Kittisak"

He nodded with a soft smile, the name suited him. He was about to ask another question when the machines in his mother's room started beeping.

"I'll go call the doctors" Phichit says running off.

Paitoon slowly made his way inside his mother's room, he held her hand and grimaced, she was too cold.

"Mum....I was wrong, i can't do this, come back, please come back!"

The tears flowed down his cheeks landing on their joined hands.

"Paitoon....it's okay, remember that I'm always here for you, you're strong Paitoon, never forget that a Kittisak never quits" she says wheezing through her words.

"I love you" he whispered.

The warm tears flowing down his cheeks landing on his mother's fingers.

"I.....love you too"

Her last breath fanned over their joined hands and Paitoon released a heartwrenching cry, his mother was no more.

The doctors came inside and he watched them do the CPR procedure.

"200 charges, clear!"

He whimpered when her body jumped on the bed.

"300 charges, clear!"

Phichit watched in agony as Paitoon looked at his mother's body jump on the bed because of the shocks.

"S-Stop, she's gone, stop!"

It went silent as Paitoon held the doctor's hands, his tear stained face making everyone's heart in the room break.

"I'm sorry....I'm so sorry" the doctor says in remorse.