YOUNG, DUMB, AND RICH (Complete ✅)

A DYING MAN'S WISH

"When are you going to kiss me?"

"Do you want it now or later?"

"Do I get an extra kiss if I choose later? Delayed gratification and whatnot."

Tay smiled at his husband, glad the man cannot see his face now. "You get one kiss."

New opened his eyes. They looked weak but his gaze was anything but. "Kiss me now, Tay."

It must be how it was worded. His attraction to his lying husband, it seemed, did not waver even when he was sick. There should be something morally reprehensible about feeling aroused when one's sick husband was resting in a person's lap.

A deliberate clearing of the throat impeded the descent of Tay's lips onto New's forehead. He swung his head up. Foei was failing at hiding a smile. Next to him was Neng, who was staring too hard at the ceiling.

Tay sprung up from the bed. His husband's head hit the mattress. He groaned. Muttered a swear word.

"How long have you been standing there for?" Tay rubbed the balls of his left elbow. He knew his face was tinted red.

"A while, Sir." Foei's tongue stretched the inside of his cheek. "We didn't want to interrupt but we didn't want to see—that either."

"Okay." Tay cleared his throat. Looked around the room. He swept his arm to his side. "Neng, come in."

Neng entered with a smile. He pulled Tay into a brief but intimate hug. "Long time no see, friend."

"It has been two months. I'm sorry I have been eating a lot of apples." Tay dragged the chair from the window to the side of the bed.

"Ah, apples. I see why my invitation got lost in the mail."

He took his friend's wrist and ushered him to the chair. "That was all mother's doing. I had no hand in the wedding planning—or the husband."

New's sneeze broke off their laughter. When Tay looked at him, he had a frown on his face. His eyes carried a storm.

Neng sat down with an apology on his lips. "I'm Neng, your doctor."

"Neng my doctor," His pointed voice could slice into beef. "How do you know Tay, my husband?" He made sure to stress the word. "I have never heard of you or seen you before." Try as he did, his voice was too nasal to be intimidating.

"We are childhood friends." Neng smiled at Tay whilst he pulled on his gloves. Tay returned the gesture. The ridge between New's brows deepened.

"I guess you aren't that special if he has never mentioned you."

Neng brought out his thermometer first. He gave it a little shake and held it to the sick man's lips. "Then I guess I'm not that special. Can you open your mouth for me, sir?"

"Only my husband is allowed to say that."

"Jesus," Tay mumbled.

New smiled. Unapologetic. He opened his mouth and closed it over the thermometer.

"I'm gonna ask some questions," Neng prompted. "Just nod or shake your head. Are you feverish?"

Two nods.

"Have you been coughing?"

Nod.

"Sneezing?"

Nod.

"Headaches?"

Nod.

"Diarrhea?"

Shake.