Comments, critiques and tips are welcome!
***
The room was filled with the soft hum of a humidifier, and the curtains were drawn to create a soothing ambiance. Michael lay nestled in his bed, his forehead warm with fever, and his small frame curled up under a pile of blankets.
Ben was seated on the bedside, his face etched with worry as he stared at the handsome boy that lay on the bed. The bedside table held a collection of essentials: a thermometer, a box of tissues, a glass of water, and a notebook where Ben diligently recorded Michael's temperature and any changes in symptoms like Isaac had suggested.
There wasn't a significant change and Ben was getting worried although he was determined to make the little one feel better. A few hours had passed and he was starting to feel tired but he didn't wanna give up. As Ben continued to nurse Michael, he sang a soft lullaby to soothe the little boy's discomfort. Despite the fatigue that lingered in his eyes, Ben's voice carried a gentle melody that seemed to have a calming effect on Michael.
Every now and then, Ben dipped a washcloth into a bowl of lukewarm water and placed it on the little boy's forehead, offering temporary relief from the fever.
David who had barely left the room, stood a distance, watching as Ben took care of his son. His mind never stopped wondering how someone who showed so much care was ever that bad. The words he'd used on him when he was angry would have made anyone to refuse helping him but Ben was there, tirelessly helping his son recover. It made him emotional.
Apart from David, Jim couldn't leave the room. He stood there, watching as his husband watched Ben attend to their son. The expression on his face would have made one think he was plotting something evil. He so much hated Ben that he just wanted to murder him in that room.
"Ben..." Michael managed a weak smile when he finally opened his eyes.
"Hey, sweetie." Ben whispered, tenderly brushing a strand of hair away from Michael's face. "How are you feeling?"
"I am okay..." He said in his innocent little voice. "...you're here."
"I won't leave you, honey!"
"Promise?"
"Promise!" He leaned and placed a kiss on his forehead. "Now rest, I am right here."
The boy closed his eyes and went back to sleep. As the hours passed, Ben's exhaustion began to show, but his dedication remained unwavering. After what felt like forever, he noticed a slight improvement in Michael's condition. The fever seemed to be breaking, and his breathing became less labored.
As night fell, Ben was so glad that whatever he had done at that point seemed to be working. He was finally able to take a breather although he knew that the boy was still not out of it.
***
"No, Ben, please!" David pleaded, putting his hands together. "You cannot leave. Michael's condition has only been able to improve because of you."
"I know that, David, but as it is... it's already late." He glanced at his watch and it was almost 11 PM.
"That's why I insist that you stay." He asked softly, staring at the boy. "If Michael wakes up in the middle of the night and discovers that you are gone, I might not know how to handle him. Stay!" He spoke softly, placing his hand on Ben's shoulder. "Please! For Michael's sake."
Ben thought for a moment and sighed.
"I wouldn't wanna leave him but I don't want to cause any more drama. It's better if I just leave."
"You're my guest." David reassured. "It took a lot of effort to bring you here and I haven't had any time to thank you properly."
David and Ben stared at each other, the yearning in their eyes unmasked.
"It's okay."
"Now will you stay."
"I would but..."
"Don't worry." David slightly smiled. "I have asked one of the maids to bring some toiletries and some clothes for you to change. You can stay in this room with Michael. That way, he will see you once he wakes up."
Ben nodded. "Thank you so much, David."
"Errr..." He paused and glanced at his sleeping son. "...do you want me to stay?"
"No, it's okay." Ben shook his head. "I'll take care of him. If I need anything or if he wants you, I'll call you. You've had quite a long day as well."
"Thanks."
He went to his son and planted a kiss on his forehead. He got happy when he realized that the boy was no longer as hot as he was. After that, he said his goodbye to Ben and left the room. He had a smile on his face but when he got out of the room, he found Jim just outside waiting for him.
He had his arms crossed, staring at his husband.
"When I agreed to this, I didn't mean that I wanted him to stay in my house." He spat, his voice a low growl.
"What's the point of this?" David asked.
"He's already done what he came to do here. Now I want him out of this house." He barked.
"Are you crazy?" David's eyes widened as he closed the door behind him. "Ben is taking care of our son. Do you know how difficult it was for me to convince him to come here? I had to kneel in front of him."
"And so what?" Jim snapped. "He's already done what he came to do. After all, he's the reason Michael ran away from this house in the first place."
"Jim...." David sighed, hitting his head. "...please, I am too tired for this. All of us have had a very long day and we need to rest."
"No!" Jim shook his head, breathing harshly. "First you brought him back home and now you want him to stay close to your room. What am I gonna hear tomorrow? That you want him to stay in your room with you."
"Michael's room is close to our room. Ben is staying with Michael. Can you even hear yourself right now?"
"I am just saying things as they are." He said angrily. "Despite what I have told you about that boy, you still went ahead and brought him here."
David burst into laughter. He laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes.
"I can see that you don't want me to have peace, Jim." He got stern and drew closer to his husband. "Ben is here to take care of my son. And right now, that is all that I care about. As for your feelings, right now, they don't matter to me."
"David..."
"I am very tired and I need to rest."
He tried to move past Jim but stopped in his tracks.
"And one more thing..." he warned, raising a finger at him. "...I don't want you to disturb Ben or say anything while he's around. If you do, you and I are gonna have problems."
With those words, he moved past him, leaving him standing there like a statue. His eyes glistened with unshed tears, a shimmering pool of unspoken anger and pain. His fists clenched and he felt like crushing something. And here he had been thinking that everything was gonna be alright but it was like he hadn't done anything to seal all his troubles. This was all Ben's fault, he thought.
***
The aroma of simmering spices filled the air as Ben prepared a pot of tasty chicken noddle soup. He hummed a soothing tune as he stirred the pot, a smile appearing on his face. He knew the soup was ready and he was sure that little Michael was gonna love it a lot. The inviting aroma wafted through the house, making some members of the house that smelt it to be hungry.
However, that was not the case with Jim. It only made him so upset and he knew exactly what he had to do. Clenching his fists, veins pulsating with unrestrained fury, Jim stormed into the kitchen like a tempest. His eyes blazed with an intense fire that could rival a raging inferno. The lines on his forehead etched a story of pent-up frustration and resentment. When he saw Ben, he was filled with so much hatred.
"Enough is enough, Ben!" He bellowed, the words exploding from his throat like cannon fire. "What the fuck are you doing in my kitchen, filling my house with your poisonous food."
Ben raised his face to stare into the face of his angry brother.
Jim was about to say something but when he saw that blue oversized t-shirt Ben was putting on and the black cargo short that he had on, he saw red. Those were his husband's clothes. Jim's jaw clenched so tight that you could practically hear the grinding of teeth, a visceral sound that underscored the depth of his rage. The muscles in his neck strained against his skin, a physical manifestation of the turmoil within. With each step, the floor seemed to shudder beneath him, as if the very ground recoiled from the force of his indignation.
"Are you not ashamed of yourself?" His voice was a symphony of rage. "You're putting on my husband's shirt.... What a bitch!" He barked.
"I can see you woke up on the wrong side of the bed as usual, Jim." Ben rolled his eyes. "I have a child waiting for me."
He poured the soup into a bowl, put it on a tray and started going away before an angry Jim gripped his arm and pulled him back.
"What happened?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow. "Why did you pull me back?"
"You do not walk away from me while I am talking to you, especially in my house."
"I have better things to do. Have a good day."
He tried to pass again but Jim pulled him back. Ben sighed in frustration, putting the tray on the counter. He frowned, staring at Jim with so much anger.
"What's your problem?"
"Since you came into my life, nothing good has happened." He seethed. "So, how could I have a good day."
Ben laughed, shaking his head. "Since the time I came into your life or since the day you met David? You need to be specific here, because I remembered years ago, we used to be inseparable. And I don't need to remind you who got you out of trouble... little brother." He teased.
He got closer and raised his finger. "Ben, I am warning you for the last time, get out of this house. David chose me years ago and we've already started a new phase of our lives. I am married to David and we have a son, so, don't try to ruin that."
"Why would I?" He shrugged. "I am not after David and.... Oops!" He gasped in mock astonishment. "...you're thinking that history is gonna repeat itself. If I remember correctly.... 6 years ago, David chose me over you. He was happy with me despite the hardship that we went through. IF you're so sure that David chose you then why are you being insecure?"
Jim clenched his fists, jaws shaking in anger. "David is my husband and we're happy. Go away!"
"I came here for the sake of a child. You can scare me, threaten me or blackmail me but I am not leaving this house until my goal is achieved."
"Oh please, Ben. This isn't about caring; it's about clinging to something that's long gone." He yelled. "You're just embarrassing yourself."
