Can's POV

I sped towards the campus parking lot with my back pack carelessly slung across my shoulder.

Pete and Ae were already there standing by Pete's car, waiting for me.

First Ae gave me a quick hug to comfort me and then Pete did the same. It was as if they already knew how I felt towards Tin.

I sat in the back seat while Ae sat in the passenger car beside Pete who was driving.

My mind was in a daze. I tried to pray to all the gods in heaven that they would spare Tin's life. I wanted him to live. I wanted him so badly to live so that I could tell him how much I loved him.

I fought back a sob that was threatening to escape.

It seemed like eternity before we reached Bangkok General. It also seemed like hours before Pete could find a parking spot.

When we reached the lobby of the hospital, we did not even know how to start looking for Tin.

"Let's go to the Information desk," Ae suggested.

We approached the desk clerk and asked him where we could find Tin. We informed him that he was in a road accident and had been brought here by responding paramedics.

After a long wait for his response, we were told that he was still in the Trauma unit.

My heart sank. I started to pray in earnest again, all the prayers that my mother had taught me when I was a child.

"Pete! Where is he? Where is my son?"

It was Tin's mom who had just stepped into the lobby.

"We were told that he is still in the Trauma unit," Pete replied.

"I need to go to him! I need to see him," said Tin's mom.

"I don't think anyone is allowed inside the Trauma unit except the hospital staff," said Pete.

Tin's mom stood helplessly beside us.

Finally, an ER nurse approached us.

"Who is the responsible party for Tin Medthanan?" he asked.

"I am," said Tin's mom, "I am his mother."

"Please follow me," he said, "the doctor wants to talk to you and also wants you to sign some consent forms."

"Can we go with her?" asked Pete.

"No," said the nurse, "not until he is in the Recovery room."

Finally, until what seemed like forever, Tin's mom came back and told us that the hospital staff were wheeling Tin into the Recovery room.

Ae and Pete and myself followed her to the recovery room. I could not hold back my tears when I saw him with a neck brace and bandaged all over.

I had forgotten that his mom was with us. I raced ahead of her and when I reached Tin, I bent down and I held his hand tightly.

"Tin, this is Can," I whispered in his ear, "promise me you're going to be alright. Promise me that you will recover quickly. Promise me that you will ask me again to be your boyfriend because this time I am going to say yes."

I felt my shoulder being tapped. When I looked around, it was his mom.

I moved away from Tin, feeling acutely embarrassed. Had his mom heard everything that I had told her son? Oh, god, I hope not.

Tin's mom bent down and kissed him on his forehead.

"Son," I heard her say to him, "you have to recover quickly. There is someone here who has something very important to say to you."

Holy mother of God! She did hear what I whispered to her son! I ran out of the room, looking wildly for a place to hide. How was I ever going to face Mrs. Medthanan again???