Peraya Delight - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Kongpob sighed as he stared at himself in front of the mirror.
Kongpob slowly pulled out his mask and his gloves. He washed his hands with soap for a good minute before he dried his hands and put sanitizer on his palms.
Kongpob leaned against the wall of his room. He was still in his doctors' suite, his eyes threatening to close. Kongpob sighed again, he touched his nose which was starting to get dark marks from putting on the respirator mask for hours.
He hasn't slept since new patients started to report at the pandemic section of isolation. The isolation area was already getting overflowed. He knows he isn't the only one who's suffering but all other doctors and nurses too.
But Kongpob doesn't feel it as suffering since it was his duty, his duty to his people and nation. Kongpob is more than happy that he was a part of it.
"Dr Kongpob."
"Yes, coming!" Kongpob called out from the washing room where he was hearing his nurse's voice.
He walked towards his table and smiled at May, his nurse and best friend. He could see how tired she was and he knew that she had been taking care of the new patients for several hours.
"You should get some rest May," Kongpob smiled.
May chuckled, " Then it should be you who should do that. If it wasn't for your smile you would look like a living corpse."
Kongpob chuckled, " The patients are the ones suffering more than us, so it's nothing to be compared."
May nodded her head, giving her friend a smile of assurance.
"I came here to tell you that two patients are ready to leave, they've tested negative," May announced.
A wide smile bloomed on the doctor's face as he heard the news.
"Thank god! I hope that they never get to come here again!" Kongpob exclaimed.
May smiled genuinely at the doctor.
"And Dr Kongpob, you're food will arrive in then minutes," May said with a sly smile.
Kongpob smiled shyly at her as he got up from his seat.
"I'll meet the discharged patients in an hour. They have to be given instructions right?" Kongpob asked to which May nodded her head.
Kongpob nodded before he walked out of his room. He took his mask form his coat and wore it as the smell of hospital medicines and disinfectants hit his nose drills.
He greeted every other doctor and nurse as he passed by them to the backyard of the hospital.
He slides the glass door as he stepped outside.
Kongpob inhaled the fresh air outside. He missed staying outside like this. Being busy and taking care of the patients who tend to increase day by day was making it hard for him to have his own time. He's not complaining but he's also a human right? Is there any wrong for wishing this pandemic would end soon?
Kongpob watched his fellow doctor wiping his tears as he walked towards the glass door with a packet in his hands.
"Ray, you alright?" Kongpob asked even though he knows the answer.
Ray had his mask on, just like him, so he wasn't sure what expression the latter had.
"I just miss them a lot, Kong. I just wish I could hug them and be with them through this," Ray sobbed.
Kongpob smiled sadly under his mask. He patted the latter's shoulder.
"I know, Ray. I know. What can we do? The only thing we can say is, this will pass too. There are many doctors out there who couldn't even see their family. At least we can see them through chats or in a meter distance," Kongpob said, he was trying his best to control his own emotions.
Ray nodded. Kongpob could see that he was smiling from the way his cheeks lifted to his eyes.
"He's waiting for you, go fast."
Kongpob smiled widely under his mask as she nodded and walked away towards the fence that was not so long walk from where he stood. The backyard was filled with trees and it was refreshing out there.
Kongpob's breath hitched when he saw that familiar figure standing at least a meter away from the fence. He saw the plastic down dangling from one of the latter's hand.
Even with the black mask on the latter's face, he could recognise him.
Kongpob walked towards the fence, he stopped his tracks exactly at a one-meter distance from the fence. There was no one except for him and the other latter out there.
He watched as the latter at the other end pulling his mask down and Kongpob watched that beautiful dimpled smile decorating the latter's face as he walked forward and placed the plastic bag on the stand at the other side of the fence.
After Kongpob made sure that the latter had stepped two meters back, Kongpob walked forward and took the plastic bag. The fresh aroma coming out from the bag made Kongpob yearn to return back home.
Kongpob looked at his husband before he took out his phone and clicked on the video call to his husband.
Kongpob watched as his husband answer his phone within a split second making him chuckle.
"Hey, Kong! How are you doing? Are you okay?"
Kongpob smiled behind his mask as he saw Arthit's worried face.
"I'm okay, Arthit. I'm okay," Kongpob replied back.
Arthit smiled softly at Kongpob, "I miss you, love."
Kongpob's eyes prickled with tears as he heard the words.
"I miss you too love, so damn much," Kongpob confessed back as he let his tears fall. It's always been Arthit, it's always been him that he had shed his tears with. It's always been Arthit who was by his side to wipe his tears and cajole him but now it was just Arthit's soothing voice.
"I know Kong, I know. You know how hard things are getting, the pandemic is not getting any better. I just want you to stay healthy and take care of yourself. Don't forget to take care of yourself in the hurry of taking care of others," Arthit smiled showing his dimples even though tears were falling from his eyes.
"The doctor needs to be healthy first," Arthit said to which he heard a chuckle from the doctor.
"How are you doing? I heard that you'll have your work from home," Kongpob asked.
"Yeah, it'll start next week," Arthit gave a sealed smile to the other.
"Remove your mask, I want to see you," Arthit asked.
Kongpob scratched his neck. He didn't want Arthit to see his face because it was Arthit we're talking about and Kongpob didn't want to worry him.
Since coronavirus hit the country Kongpob had to leave for the hospital and stay there to look after the patients. It's already been more than two months and he knows that he hasn't even had enough time to even talk to Arthit.
He does do calls at late nights but never did he do video calls as circumstances didn't allow him to. The only time he would see his husband was when he would deliver food to him. But Kongpob might be too busy to get the food that most of the days he would send his nurse to get it.
"Please Kong, please. You've time now, don't you? I know you've. Please Kong, I miss you Kong. It's been too long since I saw your face. Please Kong, just for your Oon?" Arthit pleaded.
Kongpob took a deep breath, Arthit's desperate voice was making him feel weak.
"Okay," Kongpob sighed at last.
Kongpob saw the dimpled smile appear on Arthit's face at his answer. He watched as the smile drop when he removed his mask.
"Wh...what Kong? Your nose..."
Kongpob watched as Arthit's eyes fill up with tears again.
Kongpob touched his nose, "It's from wearing the mask for a long time, Oon. It'll get better."
"You...you look soo tired, Kong," Arthit covered his mouth, preventing the sobs from escaping his mouth.
There were dark circles under Kongpob's eyes and his lips looked soo dry. His cheeks had sunken and Arthit couldn't bear seeing him like this.
"I'm not lazing around here, Oon. You know that patients are increasing, I've to do my duty," Kongpob said.
Arthit nodded his head in understanding.
"Please stay healthy and safe, Kong," Arthit said.
"I'll Oon, I'll. You too Oon, stay safe and healthy. I'm looking forward to the rewards you're going to give me after returning back home," Kongpob chuckled when he saw Arthit blush.
"You pervert," Arthit mumbled with a smile.
"Only for you, love."
Arthit smiled at his husband's words.
They stared at each other's eyes for some time. Various emotions speaking through their eyes. They wanted to tell so many things but at the moment there seems to be nothing to talk.
"You're not only a hero to this world Kong, but you're also a hero to me too. You're my hero, to begin with."
Arthit said breaking the silence to which Kongpob smiled shyly.
"Dr Kongpob, patient no 091 needs immediate attention," May came running towards Kongpob.
Kongpob's eyes widened as he nodded his head.
"I'll be there soon May," Kongpob said before turning towards Arthit.
Kongpob opened his mouth to speak but Arthit held his hands up with a smile.
"Go, do your best to help them Kong. I love you."
Kongpob smiled, "I love you too Oon."
Kongpob hung the phone. He looked at Arthit who stood beyond the fence and waved his hands which the other returned.
Kongpob pulled his mask up to his nose before he rushed inside.
"Thank you so much, Doctor. Thank you so much."
Kongpob smiled behind his mask as he watched his early patient get discharged from the isolation ward.
"Please don't, it's my duty. It's not only me, it's a teamwork. I hope you stay healthy and safe, follow the precaution methods," Kongpob said.
The patient smiled. The patient then took out a letter and showed it to Kongpob.
"It's from my daughter, she wants to give this to you. Remember? She felt the ward last week, Aya," the patient said.
Kongpob's eyes glistened at the name, he knows that little girl who had come to the isolation ward with critical condition. All the nurses and doctors said she'll not survive but Kongpob always stood positive. He took care of his personally staying by her side and entertaining her about his and his husband's love story which the little girl was soo interested with.
"I'm so happy. You can keep it on the table, I don't want to touch you, might transfer germs. We don't want to take any risk," Kongpob said in his ever so sweet voice making the patient smile and node her head in understanding as she placed the letter on the table before she felt with the other nurses.
Kongpob took the letter and walked back to his room. After he washed and sanitized his hand and face, he sat on his chair and opened the letter. He was greeted with messy handwriting of the ten-year old which put a smile on the doctor's face.
Hello Uncle Kong
How are you doing? I'm doing great here! No more fever and no more vomiting!
I'm soo happy to get back home and see my brother and dad but I miss you so much! I miss your stories with Uncle Arthit and all the other nurse aunties there. Please tell my hello to all uncle Kong.
I hope you and others are doing fine there. When all this is over please come and visit Aya na uncle. Please bring uncle Arthit along with you, please! I've put my address at the bottom, please don't forget to visit me uncle.
I love you uncle! Miss you a lot!
Your little Aya.
Kongpob chuckled as tears started to fall from his eyes. He took his phone and took a photo of the letter and send it to his lover.
Kongpob placed his phone back on the table and placed the letter neatly in his bag. He couldn't stop smiling. He remembered how much the little girl had suffered during the treatment and he doesn't want any other child to be in that condition, or anyone else. He just wants everything to end soon. The pandemic was getting difficult to be controlled in some places and many lost their loved ones.
Kongpob took his phone when it buzzed indicating he had a message. He smiled when he knew his husband had messaged him.
Soo sweet of her! You really did a great job, Kong.
Kongpob smiled at his husband's reply.
She's Oon. I already had tears reading the letter.
Kongpob messaged back.
Cry baby!
Really? I know who is a crybaby.
Fuck you!
That's what I'll do when I come back, baby.
Kongpob chuckled to himself as he imagined how Arthit's face would be like a tomato with a sly smile on his face.
Kong, I miss you
The sudden reply to his cheesy line didn't sit well with Kongpob. Arthit would either continue to argue with him or be offline for a few minutes until he comes back again to message him.
What happened? Is something wrong Arthit?
No, it's just...
Just?
I saw in the news that three doctors were tested positive for Covid. I'm afraid, Kong.
Kongpob sighed as he read Arthit's message. Kongpob called Arthit.
"Hello," came a muffled voice from the other side.
"Is my Oon getting emotional out there?" Kongpob chuckled as he pressed his phone closer to his ear.
"How the fuck can I not!? I'm afraid for you Kong!" Kongpob could hear how Arthit tried to control his cries.
"Oon, I'm here okay? I promise you that I'll take care of myself. You know me," Kongpob tried to smooth his husband's worries.
Arthit sighed, "I know. I'm sorry I'm being too sentimental."
Kongpob shook his head, "No Oon, please no. I would have been the same if I was in your place. It's not wrong to get sentimental but don't overthink things Oon. Just keep in your mind that I'm always yours and I'll always find my way back to you."
Arthit chuckled as he hummed.
"I miss you too Oon," Kongpob said as he played with his pen on the table.
"I miss you too, my love."