Chapter Text
Phayu feels so exhausted. Work has been harder recently. It began to show on him, the dark circles under his eyes, the pale face, and general lack of will to do anything. He was masking it well at first, hiding it from Rain and his brother. But the lack of sleep is taking its toll now, and it can be seen easier now. He is still ignoring the idea that he needs more rest.
The last month was brutal, the clients at Mhok’s firm so much more demanding than before. Especially now that he has some of the projects assigned to him alone. Phayu enjoys the trust his boss is giving him, he really does. He just wishes he had more free time. Between the architecture firm, and the approaching race, he barely managed to see Rain. He misses his sweet boy, who is so patient right now. Even when all they manage is a call once a day. Even when he has to wait for hours before Phayu sees the text from him, and sometimes he doesn’t find the time to answer it. Truth is that his heart is aching for Rain, and that is not the only pain he feels. It’s just that other types of ache are easy to move to the back of his mind, and not to think of them.
He is still at the office, and from what it looks like, he is bound to stay super late again. He can’t even go home after, as there are preparations for the race. Pakin trusts him with the bikes, and he has to check them by himself. It’s something that would take a few more hours of active working for him, before he can even think of going home to Rain. He sighs heavily, and starts working on the design again. The break is over, and the client once again has changed what he wants for the house. Not even his architectural prowess helps him now. His eyes feel tired, so tired, from all the looking at details. The fact that he barely manages to have three hours of sleep, or four if he gets lucky, is probably making everything worse.
The work at the office is finally done for the day, and he packs his stuff in a hurry. He can’t afford to waste time now. If he wants to be able to rest tonight. At all. He sighs tiredly, as he mounts his bike and starts riding to the garage. He can feel his eyes closing slightly, but he fights the sleepiness away. Now is not the time. The ride to the garage seems so much longer, in a way it has never seemed before. But, he gets there. Eventually. Worried looks from Aon and Nui welcome him, but he doesn’t pay attention to them.
“Khun Phayu, I didn’t know you were coming today.”, Aon tells him, and Phayu just takes his jacket off.
“I have to work, P’Aon. I can’t afford to leave it for another day. P’Pakin needs these babies ready.”, he answers, as if that is the only possible solution.
His employee accepts his explanation, even if it’s perfectly clear that he would tell him something about it. It doesn’t matter, this is more important. And he will be fine. After all of this is over, he will get a decent sleep. For now, he’ll just push it back for later.
Every single move he makes, feels tasking and tiring. His health might be slightly worse than he thought, but it doesn’t mean he has to stop with his work. He still has enough strength to keep going, so he will. He looks at the bike he was checking on, he isn’t done with it yet, It would probably need a test drive too. Maybe he could call Pai for help, with that part, at least. If his friend even bothers making time for that, and not spending it all with Sky. His mind wonders and he starts thinking about Rain. How is his sweet boy? He misses him, he needs him so badly. But it has to wait, there is no time.
He is finally done with the bike, he should go home. Phayu grabs his jacket on the way out, putting it on, and mounting his bike for the last ride that day. He goes in the streets he knows like the back of his hand, as he can’t really count the times he went that way. It’s too many, for certain. The problem is that he feels so tired now, and his house seems miles away. It’s not, but it feels like it is. Maybe he can just close his eyes for a second, just a little blink before being able to focus on the road again. He does, for a second. But his perception of time is not realistic, and one second became thirty, turning in a minute. He opens his eyes at the sound of a car horn. It was on time, he escaped the crash only with his fast reflexes hyped up with adrenaline. It was so close, this time. He should have called someone to get him and drive him home, but he doesn’t want to be a burden for either his brother or Rain.
He arrives at the driveway, relieved to finally be home. He gets off the bike, and his head starts to spin. It’s hard to move, exhaustion and the delayed reaction to almost getting in a car accident showing their signs. Somehow, he gets to the door, and that’s when he can’t move anymore. The last thing he remembers is falling down, after losing balance. After that, everything went black.
******
Rain has had a bad feeling whole day. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. He tried his best not to dwell on it, but it was present no matter what he did. It was telling him that something bad is going to happen. That’s why he couldn’t go to sleep that night. He is so restless, waiting for the inevitable bad thing that will happen.
“Rainy boy, you should go to sleep. Phayu won’t be happy if he hears that you stayed up late waiting for him.”. Saifah tells him, and he knows that the man means well. But his anxious feeling isn’t stopping.
“P’Sai, I have a bad feeling. Something bad is going to happen. I just don’t know what.”, he admits and Saifah looks at him with concern.
“Do you want me to stay up with you?”
It’s relieving that his worry isn’t dismissed, and he is so grateful for that.
“Please, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t. Do you want to eat something? I’m not Phayu, but I know my way around the kitchen.”
“I’m not hungry, Phi. But thank you for the offer.”
Saifah nods, and goes to eat. They start watching a movie together, trying to move his mind away from the worry about what is going to happen. He needs to stay up and wait for Phayu. Just to make sure that his beloved is safe and well. Even if every fiber of his being is telling him that the bad feeling is connected to Phayu. And that makes everything so much worse.
It is getting late, and his boyfriend is still not home. It’s already dark outside. His worry only increases. Saifah and he look at each other, and Rain understands that he is also worried for Phayu.
“Let’s wait a little bit home. Maybe the traffic is bad.”
He nods, and holds himself from tearing up. Not yet. They both know Saifah’s last statement is a lie, but who it is meant to comfort isn’t clear. And, frankly, Rain isn’t sure it’s working.
The more time passes, the more anxious Rain gets in his waiting. Then there is a loud sound near the door. A sound of a person falling and hitting something, possibly a head. They share a look and yell “Phayu” and “P’Phayu” at the same time, rushing to see if it really is him. It is.
They see him on the floor, and Rain can’t stop the tears falling out of his eyes. He kneels next to Phayu, touching his forehead gently.
“He is burning up, Phi. And he hit his head. Hard. I hope there is no blood.”
“There isn’t. Rainy, can you help me get him inside? He needs to wake up, because a head injury can be bad.”
“Does he need to go to the hospital, P’Sai?”
“I don’t know, Nong. Let’s get him inside first. We’ll see. But it’s a real possibility.”
They both know how much Phayu doesn’t like staying in the hospital. But if it can’t be avoided, the joint effort from Saifah and him would probably be enough to make him stay there.
Saifah and Rain somehow manage to carry Phayu to the sofa. They lower him gently. His boyfriend is so hot, temperature-wise, and Rain is insanely worried.
“We need to take him to the hospital. He needs a doctor to see him because of everything. I’m so scared, P’Sai.”
“Stay with him, I’ll go and get the car, and everything else ready.”
Rain nods. No, he needs to hold himself together. For Phayu. He is not going to cry now. He needs to wake his beloved up.
“Phi! Phi, please, wake up!”, he shakes him lightly.
Phayu opens his eyes slowly, looking around disoriented.
“Rain?”
“I’m right here, Phi. Slow, don’t move too fast. You could get hurt.”
Saifah comes back at that moment.
“You’re awake. Good. We need to go now.”
They help Phayu up, and they get him to the car. It’s a slow process, but step by step, and they succeed. Setting Phayu on the backseat, with Rain right next to him.
“Where are we going? Rain? Sai?”
“To the hospital, Phi. You hit your head.”, he responds honestly.
He knows Phayu doesn’t like this, but it’s their only option now. They arrive at the closest hospital, and they help his boyfriend to walk again. When the nurses see them, they immediately come with a wheelchair which helps.
Waiting to hear the news, when he knows that Phayu is with a doctor, has him anxiously pacing. Saifah looks concerned, and it’s very obvious. After fifteen minutes of waiting, or an eternity if you ask Rain, the doctor comes out.
“Your brother and boyfriend will be alright. He is just terribly exhausted. That caused his fever, and the lack of focus. It’s good that you brought him here, because of his head injury. We will keep him up overnight for observation. He is currently sleeping, but you can see him. As long as you stay mindful of his rest and keep quiet.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
The man smiles at them both, and it gives encouragement. Before the guilt replaces it. How could he have not noticed that Phayu was so exhausted?
“Come on, Rainy boy. No frowns. Big brother will be alright. He just needs to sleep. Let’s go to his room.”
“Alright, P’Sai.”
He follows after the man and they walk into the room together. Phayu looks so peaceful, he is sleeping. Rain goes to sit by his bedside, talking to his boyfriend. He doesn’t expect an answer, but it helps him calm down. He removes some stubborn strands of Phayu’s hair away from his face. He holds his hand with both of his, and that’s how he falls asleep.
Phayu had to stay at the hospital for two days, but he is fully healed. The doctor warns him to take better care of himself, or he wouldn’t be so lucky next time. When they get home, Phayu tells them both that he was so overworked.
“I had so much to do. Both at the firm and for P’Pakin.”
“I can’t help you with architecture stuff, brother, but I am a mechanic. I’ll take over the race preparations, and you will rest. As for your regular job, Rain called and got you a sick leave. You are resting, Phayu.”
“P’Sai is right, P’Phayu. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I thought I could do it all. I’m sorry.”
Rain walks over and hugs Phayu tightly, the embrace much needed for them both. He knows that Phayu would rest more from now on, and Saifah and he are going to make sure of that.