Episode 8

Jason was definitely riding a high, although Bill had been the first guy to kiss him. His hours spent watching yaoi dramas had paid off – he managed to make the boy he had a crush on get hard. It didn't matter that it was just from contact; at that age, even the touch of a feather could be enough to turn you on. But the fact that Bill Brennan responded to his touch was nothing short of heavenly. Jason's self-esteem was sky-high, and he had no intention of stopping. As long as he was in control, nothing bad could happen.

Meanwhile, Bill was processing what had just happened. The touch, the words, Jason's scent, it all clung to him, and his head was in turmoil. He denied it to himself, as he idly flipped through his folder.

"Hey, you’re going to break it," came the sweet voice from behind, making him turn around.

"What?" He asked, disoriented.

"You'll break them if you keep handling your things like that. Is something wrong, cutie?" Magy asked.

Their friendship had grown from the start. Magy was the only girl Bill hadn't pursued, out of respect for Daniel, and she never saw him that way because she cared too much about Jason to hurt him.

"It’s nothing, don’t mind me."

"Hey, if you can't deal with this, it's okay, Bill. Jason will get the money, and my dad will help him when he gets back. Don’t worry."

"It can’t be easy for you to kiss a guy, although what I just saw didn't seem too hard for you."

"It's because the rules say..." he started to get nervous.

"I know the rules. Daniel reminds me every time he wants to shove his tongue in my mouth," she smiles.

"How do you feel about him?" Bill quickly changed the subject, trying to calm his nerves.

"I won't lie to you, I like the idiot, but he hasn't apologized and I won't forgive him, so when these damn thirty days are over, I’ll just start ignoring him again."

"Ow!...Bill!" She complained when her friend ruffled her hair.

"Why are you so stubborn? You like him, and you drive him crazy. Why do you think you drive him crazy?" Magy looked down and sighed. "Just make up and that's it. Don't be cowards. When you like someone, you should just be together, and that’s all." Bill heard his own words and the image of beautiful blue eyes came to mind.

"Hey, what happened? You froze there," she insisted.

"It's just that you and Daniel worry me, that's all."

"Don’t lie. Don’t think I didn’t notice you changed the subject." Magy raised her eyebrows and titled her head to the side.

"Bill, I only told you about Jason's situation because you asked that night, and he hasn’t forbidden me from telling. But don't take responsibility; he's very independent."

Bill leaned his elbows on Magy's bench and rested his chin, staring at his friend, waiting to hear more about his cousin.

"Jason is a cheerful boy, although it might not seem like it. He works harder than my father sometimes," Magy laughed. "He loves watching romantic dramas and spending time with my aunt. He doesn’t need a savior, he needs a friend. If you can’t handle this, just tell him. He won’t get angry; he’s stronger than he looks."

"I'm not giving up."

"Why are you risking your reputation? Come on, tell me." Magy said, smiling as she played with the boy's dark hair.

"I hate to lose, and with Jason, we'll crush them."

"So arrogant." The girl with untamed curls laughed and swatted at Bill's forehead, who chuckled arrogantly.

Days passed with kisses and cuddles in front of curious onlookers. Jason savored each moment even though Bill kept emphasizing that it was all a game, that he was committed to winning. If only Bill knew that the dark-haired boy was trying to convince himself when it was clear those kisses drove him crazy.

Jason had sworn to guard his heart, but still, he felt it break when the dark-haired boy carelessly checked out Brithany’s curves during practice.

He was not competition for two simple reasons: one, she was gorgeous, and two, Bill didn't like guys.

Jason took the bus to the hospital after being notified by the school principal that his mother had been urgently admitted, allowing him to leave his art class early.

The faculty was aware of Jason's circumstances. Each teacher, including the principal, kept an eye on the boy. They lamented his troubles but admired his tenacity. Despite facing hurdles, Jason remained a model student, never causing trouble in school. Even the recent fight in the cafeteria, they trusted, did not directly involve him. That was their big mistake, but those are the perks of being a good kid.

"Excuse me, where's Shara Colin?" Jason asked urgently.

"And your relationship to the patient?" The receptionist inquired, not looking up.

"I'm her son, please tell me where she is." His hands pressed against the counter as if he wanted to see the computer screen himself.

"I need you to fill out these forms," She handed him some paperwork and a pen.

"I want to see my mom now, where is she?" He pushed the pen, which bounced on the white floor.

"Look, kid, if you’re going to act like this I'll have to have you escorted out."

"Where's my mom, please?" Tears overflowed uncontrollably, his blue eyes becoming ever more glassy as if they could lose their color.

"What's happening?" A young doctor appeared.

"Doctor, this boy..." The woman started to explain but Jason cut her off.

"I just want my mom," he pleaded with tears in his eyes. "She's Shara Colin, please help me." Jason grabbed the doctor's hand.

"Doctor, I’m calling security," The annoyed woman reached for the intercom.

"You should work on your empathy. Which room is she in? I'll make sure the forms are signed later."

"I'm sorry, doctor," she apologized, putting down the intercom and turning to the screen. "The lady was admitted to the emergency room—she’s now in intensive care, third floor."

"Thank you, thank you," Jason bolted, with the doctor following at a more measured pace.

He raced up the stairs two at a time, so desperate to reach his mother that he didn't even notice when he caught his foot and banged his knee on a step—just a quick brush-off of his trousers before reaching the third floor where the doctor stood by the intensive care entrance.

"You took the..." Jason panted.

"Elevator," the doctor pointed out, unruffled by the haste.

"I didn't stop you because I understood that nothing I said would make you pause. Now listen, you can't enter—"

"What? Why?" Jason was both agitated and upset.

"They're attending to your mother; you have to wait until they're finished. I'll go in to get an update. I need you to take a seat and wait here."

Jason nodded and took a seat.

"Such a good-looking and obedient boy, I like that," the doctor thought to himself.

An hour passed, and Jason still hadn't heard anything. He clenched his fists, cracked his knuckles—anything to keep his mind occupied—until the door opened and the young doctor emerged.

"How is she?" Jason sprang from his chair, eyes desperate.

"Your mother is stable. Given her condition, these episodes are normal. There's an experimental drug..."

"Yes, I'm doing everything possible so my mother can start the treatment."

"That's good, but there isn’t much time. After the seizures, she'll gradually lose mobility and the drug won’t be as effective,"

"Seizures?" Jason questioned.

"By your expression, this is the first."

"Yes, she's never—"

"I'm sorry, but your mother urgently needs that medication. Wait here; you’ll see her soon."

"Thank you."

The doctor patted the boy's shoulder and walked away.

Jason slumped into the chair and started crying, his chest ached—he didn’t have the money, there was no way to get it, and he hated himself for feeling so helpless, so much less of a man, unable to care for his mother.

His phone rang, and he answered it as best he could.

"Hello, sweetheart, where are you?" Bill's playful voice came through; he had been looking for him, it was lunchtime, and he couldn’t find Jason anywhere. He thought perhaps Jason was assisting a teacher.

"Bill… Bill." Jason's voice was choked with tears. The words wouldn't come, and all he could do was tremble, barely holding the phone.

"Hey, Jason, where are you, honey, where are you, what's happened?" Bill felt a punch to his gut hearing the broken voice of his boy. Jason's sobs didn't stop, and Bill walked to find Magy, trying to calm him down.

"Jason, sweetheart, where are you?" He said softly, meaning every word, not sparing any to comfort Jason.

"My mom… she… hospital… not okay… Bill … I'm... I'm useless… Bill."

"Don’t say that, okay. Just stay there, I’m coming for you. Honey, just stay there." Bill hung up and raced to Magy, told her what happened, then took his car and sped away from school to reach Jason.

Bill stepped off the elevator and saw Jason sitting on the floor, his head resting on his bent knees. He ran to him and hugged him tight.

"Sweetheart, I'm here, calm down." He lifted Jason's face and wiped away his tears. For the first time, Bill was comforting someone, not out of obligation or chivalry, but because it felt right. He didn't understand what this boy woke in him when he looked at him, but it didn't matter—the only thing that mattered was wanting to take care of him like he never wanted to care for anyone else.

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