Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 113: Brought you lunch

Chapter 113: Brought you lunch

The hospital’s white walls and sterile scent greeted Chris as he walked through the automatic doors. The appointment had already been made as his father promised and had shared the details with him with a text telling Chris to text him when he got to the hospital since he would be having a rather long meeting later and wasn’t sure he’d be able to take the calls.

Chris didn’t waste any time waiting since he was ready to be received inside as soon as he arrived. Chris followed a nurse to an examination room, and a doctor soon arrived, asking questions about his symptoms, taking his temperature, and conducting a brief examination. When he was done, Chris stayed in the waiting area, where he found himself impatiently tapping his foot as he awaited the results of the test. His mind kept drifting back to the short conversation he had with his father and the simple question he could not answer.

Would Sky want what he wanted?

After what felt like an eternity, he was called in again, and the doctor assured him that it was a mild fever and recommended some rest and over-the-counter medication. Chris heaved a sigh of relief, knowing he could now leave the hospital. Like most people, he hated it here.

As he exited the examination room, he pulled out his phone to text his father and update him on the situation. He wasn’t expecting a response, at least not immediately, so he kept his phone back when he was done texting him, reminding himself to check the other text messages he noticed he had received on his way to the dorm.

With his medical appointment behind him, Chris couldn’t help but wonder how Sky was doing. He had left Sky still asleep with only a note beside his bed to say he was leaving for the hospital. He didn’t know why he had done that instead of just using the normal way of sending a text. But he guessed he must have copied that from Sky.

Since Sky seemed really sleepy, he had decided to quietly leave on his own. Also, he didn’t want Sky to follow him to the hospital. He wasn’t sure how he’d be able to explain the special treatment he was being offered there.

The hospital was quite a distance away from the town where their university was, so he had booked a private cab, and now he was seated in the backseat, looking out the window at the busy streets.

The conversation with his father continued to weigh on him. Especially seeing how his father had easily suggested he move out of the dorm. Should he just move out of the dorm then?

And... invite Sky to come stay with him?

He quickly shook his head.

What the hell was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he just focus when it came to him?

The boy roused different kinds of emotions in him, which he didn’t like. He was not exactly sure what had happened this morning or why he felt so emotional. Nah. He knew exactly what had happened but didn’t want to admit it. The logical part of his head had taken a moment to point out that he wouldn’t have Sky. He was glad Sky hadn’t noticed it. When that awkward situation happened and Sky looked at him, his brain began to think of a lie to tell Sky, but when he turned, he noticed Sky had fallen back into sleep.

Remembering that thought brought the same feeling to him, and it felt like the air was closing in on him.

He tapped the back of the driver’s seat, asking him to stop the car. The man did, and Chris paid him before getting out of the car. Thankfully, there was a local cafe only a short walk from where they had stopped, and he decided to take a walk to the cafe. He would rest there for a while and head to the dorm later. He had already reported sick to school and had a doctor’s note for that, so it was fine to skip school today as he needed time to gather his thoughts and consider his next move.

Sitting at a corner table with a cup of coffee, he pulled out his phone and began scrolling through his messages. He had one from Rachel. It was a reply to the first message they had exchanged this morning on his way to the hospital. He also had one from Wilson, whom he hadn’t told about his illness, so Wilson was asking him about a particular game he was considering buying. Lastly, he had a series of text messages from Sky asking about his condition and expressing concern. Chris couldn’t help but smile as he read the messages. But when he caught a glimpse of his face on the glass window beside him, he noticed his smile was rather sad.

Why should he be sad?

Weren’t these text messages from Sky additional proof that Sky cared about him deeply and that their connection ran deeper than mere friendship?

Chris hesitated for a moment before typing a response. "I’m okay, just a mild fever."

Chris wondered if he had disappeared again from the dorm and would only show up when something unusual happened.

(Are you in a place where you can talk?) Sky texted almost immediately.

(Yes.)

As he sent the message, Chris couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through him. He knew he had feelings for Sky, and now it seemed that Sky might feel the same way. He really believed so. But the looming question remained: Was there a prospect in this?

Sky’s call came in, and Chris hesitantly answered after his fingers hung over the accept button for a few seconds.

"Chris?" Sky’s voice came through.

"I’m here," Chris said quietly.

"Why didn’t you wake me up? Do you know how worried I was when I woke up and you were nowhere to be found?"

"Did you think someone had kidnapped me or that I had died or something?" Chris joked, indirectly making a mockery of Sky’s worry.

"You should have told me you were ready to leave. What if something happened on the way to the hospital?"

"I’m fine. I have my medication. You do not need to worry about me."

There was a pause on the other end before Sky asked, "What’s wrong with you, Chris?"

What was wrong with him? Nothing. He was okay. Perfectly okay. Perfectly normal.

"Fever?" Chris supplied.

"Do not joke. You are... off. Are you okay? Where are you?" The concern was back in Sky’s voice.

"At a cafe," Chris answered quietly.

"Why cafe? When are you returning to the dorm?" Sky inquired.

"Are you there? The dorm?" Chris asked.

"Yeah. But... I was planning to head out soon. I was hoping I’d see you and know how you were doing before leaving."

Chris heard what sounded like a yawn from Sky.

"Are you still feeling sleepy?" Chris asked.

"Just a bit. I kinda feel exhausted." Sky sighed.

"You said you had no classes today, right?" Chris remembered he had mentioned it this morning.

"Yeah?"

"You can rest more. You should sleep a bit."

"But..."

"I want to see you when I get back to the dorm." Chris cut in with a quiet tone that gave off more vulnerability than he would have liked.

There was a pause from the other end again. This time, it was longer.

"Then hurry," Sky spoke quietly, causing Chris to smile.

"What would you like to eat?"

"I won’t worry a sick person to buy me lunch."

"Send me a list before you really bother me by making me walk around and thinking of what you might like."

"How stubborn," Sky muttered.

Chris ended the call with a grin. He knew that tone quite well. Sky had conceded defeat.

Finishing his coffee, Chris waited for Sky to send him what he would like to have, and Sky listed just two snacks, which they thankfully had in the cafe he was at. He didn’t know if this was what Sky truly wanted or if he had asked for it to save him money and not stress him, but he simply got them before heading back to the dormitory.

Upon his return, Chris quietly entered their room, finding that Sky had fallen asleep. He couldn’t help but admire the peaceful expression on Sky’s face, even in his slumber. Chris knew he had to wake him, but he wanted to do it gently, not to startle him from his dreams.

He approached the bed and softly called Sky’s name. "It’s time to wake up."

Sky stirred, slowly opening his eyes, and their gazes locked once more. Chris could see the sleepiness in Sky’s eyes slowly fading as he became more aware of his surroundings.

"Hey," Chris said softly, offering a reassuring smile.

"Hey," Sky replied, his voice still carrying the traces of sleep.

"I brought you lunch," Chris said, raising the bag in his hand while smiling warmly at him.