A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Art's POV

I was worried for Gulf when I saw Mew grabbing him by the wrist and leading him into the kitchen. I knew first hand how Mew was like when he was upset about something. I hoped that he would be gentle with Gulf. I could sense that Gulf was a good and kindhearted person. It would be easy for anyone to fall for him. Not only was he a good and kind person but he had a gorgeous face and a hot body. I slapped myself to shake off the unbidden thoughts. I should be mourning instead because AJ was getting married to his childhood sweetheart Camille.

I slowly and sadly made my way to my room. My hand was on the door knob of my assigned bedroom when my phone started to ring. It was a generic tone. It was clearly someone not on my contact list. Was it a telemarketer, a scammer perhaps? Who knows. Maybe I shouldn't take the call. I ignored it and let it go to my voicemail.

When I got the phone sound indicating that I had received a voicemail, I tapped on it.

"Art! This is Prasert, AJ's head waiter! Please! Please come to see him at St.Gracie Medical Center. That hospital is not far from your own building. I am with him right now and he is in some kind of delirium and keeps calling your name."

I wondered how Prasert managed to get hold of my contact number. He must have taken hold of AJ's phone and used his thumb or whatever finger he used to unlock his phone.

This was no time to wonder about something insignificant like that though. I had to go to St. Gracie Medical Center right now. (A/N: St. Gracie Medical Center is a fictitious name for a hospital. Author doesn't know if such a hospital exists but Author does know that St. Gracie exists.)

I went into Mr. Siripool's office and told him about my personal emergency situation and asked permission to leave the building. I promised that I would come back the same day. Thankfully Mr. Siripool did not ask too many questions. He could see on my face the anxiety and the agitation that I was going through. He gave me his permission to leave the building without much thought.

I rushed out of the building, just briefly stopping at the receptionist desk to leave my card key with her.

I flagged down the first taxicab that passed by and asked the driver to bring me to St. Gracie Medical Center.

"Are you sure?" the cab driver asked me.

"Of course I'm sure!" I replied, feeling a bit annoyed that he was wasting time asking me that question.

"It's just at the next corner," he informed me.

"I don't care," I said, "Take me there right now, please."

"Very well," the driver said, stepping on the gas because he seemed to sense my urgency.

I gave the driver a generous tip on top of the base fee and then rushed into the hospital lobby. After I gave AJ's name to the receptionist, I was informed that he was in Room 360. I thanked her hastily, and seeing that there were many people waiting in front of the elevators I looked for the door that led to the stairs and took the stairs two at time, not wanting to waste any more time.

I was painfully out of breath by the time I reached the third floor.

Luckily I did not have a hard time looking for AJ's room. It was the first room at the turn of the first corridor.

I knocked briefly before opening the door and stepping into the room.

I was alarmed to see a nurse sticking a needle into the port of the IV bag that was hanging on a metal pole. The end of the tube attached to the bag was connected to AJ's dorsal hand.

"What are you giving him through that IV bag?" I asked, trying not to sound too alarmed.

"I cannot give you that information unless you are his responsible party," the nurse replied.

I had to think quickly.

"I am his significant other. His parents are out of the country. I am his responsible party." I told the nurse, putting on the most convincing look I could muster on my face. The years of training as an actor came in really handy at this critical moment.

The nurse took a minute to absorb what I just said.

"Very well," she finally said, "I gave him a low dose of morphine because he has been moaning and grimacing. As you can see from his bandages, his right side took a big hit. He sustained a small fracture but all fractures regardless of size or depth can cause severe pain."

"Art... "

I almost jumped when I heard my name being moaned by AJ. I rushed over to his side and took his hand in mine.

"AJ... " I said clearly into his ear. "This is Art. I am right here beside you."

AJ's eyelids fluttered open and then closed again. I felt his hand move very faintly in mine.

Prasert who was standing in a corner of the room moved towards me.

"Art, how long are you planning on staying?" he asked.

"I can stay until eight this evening and then I have to go back to my building," I replied.

Prasert looked relieved at my answer.

"Is it alright if I leave you for a few hours?" he asked. "I need to go back to the restaurant to take care of stuff before closing. I will close early. Don't worry about dinner. I will bring you dinner from the restaurant."

"What time will you be back?" I asked.

"I will be back promptly at eight," he promised.

"Very well," I said, turning my attention back to AJ.

The nurse had finished injecting the morphine into the IV and had taken her leave.

Prasert bowed to me and excused himself.

I was now alone with AJ.

I looked down at his sleeping figure. His face that had earlier been grimacing had taken on a relaxed expression.

I could not help reaching out to caress the side of his face.

Then I slowly bent to place my face closer... and closer to his. My lips were now just inches from his lips.

Suddenly the door burst open.

I quickly straightened up and came face to face with Camille.