- SEQUEL TO NAIR IN THE UNDERWORLD-
"I felt like I wanted to live every time I was with you."
...
In which Raphael, who dreams of a quiet life, tutors Junya Park for a recommendation letter.
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"I promise I'm fine. They're just being dramatic."
"We took him to the hospital and they suggested bed rest. We're not being dramatic. I wanted to tell you but Junya begged us not to."
"Mom I've been in bed the whole week, I'm fine. I can get up and do stuff - I promise I'm fine."
"Junya."
Nair almost never took on a serious tone with Junya but, she wanted her son to be serious about his health.
"I'll make sure he stays here the whole time auntie," Raphael smiled charmingly, climbing onto Junya's bed. "It's way too cold outside anyways. I don't mind staying in."
After nagging Junya a bit more, Nair was satisfied that she went through every single reason he shouldn't get out of bed.
"I'm sorry I should have texted you- I just-"
"I always went to school when I was sick - I hated being sick and at home. We can watch something and chill for today."
Junya was thankful Raphael understood.
He never had a friend before.
Throughout the week he had his mother and she was one of his favourite people in the whole world. He really appreciated it but, recently, he looked forward the most to the one day in the week when Raphael did an activity with him.
He didn't want to cancel even if it meant Raphael was going to be bored. It was a bit selfish but, Junya was starved for someone besides his family to hang out with him.
"I have this in a different colour," Raphael nodded towards Junya's plaid pyjama pants.
"I think everyone has plaid pyjama pants."
"I've over washed mine so now they have those little fuzzy ball things."
"Fuzzy ball things? You mean lint balls," Junya laughed with a wide smile. "I think you might need to throw them away."
"Don't bully my pants. Anyways, why are you bed bound?"
"My parents forced me to be bed bound. Sometimes I have flare ups because of my heart condition-"
"Shit, heart condition? Are you okay," Raphael asked putting his hand on Junya's forehead trying to figure out if he had a temperature. "If I had known that, I wouldn't have taken you ice skating. So no more high intensity things-"
"It's a minor heart condition," Junya explained calmly grubbing the hem of his own shirt. Something he did when he was a bit nervous. "I can do things, it's just my parents, I promise. You don't have to treat me differently - just treat me like always."
Raphael wasn't convinced but, he understood someone not wanting to be treated differently. Maybe Junya had experienced being made to feel different his whole life and Raphael didn't want to add to that.
