Chapter Text
11:28 AM
Wonwoo stretches his neck with a dull sigh, muscles stiff from sitting in the same position for quite too long. His fingers continue to tap away at the keyboard, with his tearing eyes glued to the screen. I can't wait to go home and pet Kimchi, he thinks, glancing at the wall clock, wishing it would tick faster.
Speaking of home, he grabs his phone to check on Mingyu. Normally sa oras na to, tumawag o nag message na si Mingyu to let him know that his lunch the latter ordered had already arrived at their lobby, and that he should go down kasi “Ayaw ko nagugutom ang prinsesa ko”. But today, he got nothing.
Wonwoo scrolls through their message thread and their last exchange was 4 hours ago–when he sent his grab link, because Mingyu insisted for “safety purposes”, always. Na para bang may ki-kidnap sakin at 7 in the morning. But whatever makes my baby sleep at night. Pero pagkatapos ma confirm ni Wonwoo na dumating na nga siya, wala na. Walang picture ng ginagawa niya, o kahit picture niya, not even “ I miss you, baby .”
Weird . Mingyu is a self-proclaimed Wonwoo enthusiast. Basically, manghihina yun kapag hindi nakakausap ang mahal niya even just a split second. Nagkaka withdrawals nga siya, diba.
Wonwoo checked their shared google calendar, pero walang appointment or important meeting. And of course, the Home360 card. The little icon in green is at his condo… with a warning sign in bright red because he’s at…9%?
No way.
Wonwoo sits up straighter from his seat, nervousness settling in his stomach.
Mingyu’s phone battery is never at 9%. He treats anything below 30% like an emergency (kaya nga powerbank ang gift ni Wonwoo sa kanya noong anniversary nila). May mali.
Dali daling kinuha ni Wonwoo ang natitirang gamit niya sa table, at pumunta sa office ng boss niya.
──── .✦
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Wonwoo punches in the code of Mingyu's like it's his. Paano ko malilimutan eh birthday ko ang passcode nito.
The door unlocks on the first try and what greets him isn’t the usual classical music Mingyu plays from a turntable, or his lowlight lamps that adds up to the overall vibe. It’s darkness. Literally. Ang dilim ng unit ni Mingyu, and it's only 2 PM.
He drops his sling bag at the floor and immediately heads to the remote on the console table. With a few clicks, the blinds shift, and light scatters into the room.
Wonwoo pads quietly into the bedroom and as expected, he sees Mingyu curled up like a cat on the left side of the bed, wrapped in a thick duvet. From head to toe.
Ganyan na nga siguro ito ka lala. Aside from the fact na hindi niya narinig na may tao nang pumasok sa unit niya, hindi niya rin napansin na nakaluhod na si Wonwoo sa kanan niya, at unti unting binababa ang nakatabon sa mukha nito.
Mingyu stirs. His eyes are red and glassy, nose stuffy, and lips downturned in an im-at-my-limit kind of way. He blinks slowly, and in the softest, hoarse voice, he says “Hello, baby. Am I just seeing things or are you really here?”
Wonwoo lets out a quiet laugh, one that finally seems to cut through the fog in Mingyu’s head. “Nandito talaga ako, love.”
Mingyu pulls the duvet closer to his nose, voice smaller. “Why?”
“Because… you were at 9 percent?” sabi ni Wonwoo habang hinahawi ang basang buhok nito sa noo.
“Oh okay.” Mingyu pouts, if that's not even obvious.
“And because,” Wonwoo continues, voice delicate and gentler than ever, “I’m going to take care of my love.”
──── .✦
Ingredients
- 5 cups of water
- 1 pack White King Arroz Cald-O
- 2 tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1-3 pcs Calamansi
- Boiled egg
- Salt & pepper to taste
Fried tofu (optional)Precooked chicken strips (optional)
Wonwoo has never cooked Instant Arroz Caldo in his entire life, or even lugaw. Well, maybe he did cook an almost lugaw-textured rice before, but that doesn't count.
He takes pride in doing most things alone, he always has, but cooking isn't just part of that ‘most things’. Isa to sa mga bagay na matagal nang tinanggap ni Wonwoo na hindi siya pinagpala, so he just quit trying early on. Kaya nga may mga karenderias , he told himself.
Before Mingyu came into the picture, getting sick meant popping a pill, eating whatever is on the fridge—coke or cake, or sometimes noodles if he felt fancy— and crawling back to bed. Pero dati yun.
Now, when he gets sick, somehow Mingyu just immediately knows when to worry and when not to. Na para bang memorized nito at the back of his hand ang immune system niya.
Like that one time, Mingyu insisted (always) na puntahan siya kasi dalawang araw niya na itong hindi nasisilayan, only to catch Wonwoo collapsing after unlocking his room’s door. Rest assured, Mingyu’s muscles were put to good use.
Or that other time when Mingyu had to drag him to a clinic to get his frequent nosebleeds checked, and he was right about “Stop overworking yourself, Won” because his doctor really said “Hindi ka naman tagapagmana ng kompanya.”
As for Mingyu… hindi siya masyadong nagkakasakit. As far as his memory serves him, the last time he was a nonfunctional type of sick was during the pandemic–when they were forced to be apart by law. He wasn't there by his side to take care of him then. Kaya ngayon, habang nakatayo sa kusina ni Mingyu dala dala ang packet ng Instant Arroz Cald-O, narealize niyang hindi niya pa ito nagagawa para kay Mingyu. O para sa sarili niya. So he's not so sure if he's doing this right. He has to ask Mingyu about that.
He shuffles through the list once again and crosses out whatever was not available in Mingyu’s kitchen. Paulit ulit niyang binasa ang instructions sa likod ng Instant Arroz Caldo na nabili niya sa convenience store on the way, making sure na wala siyang nakalimutan gawin while it's simmering, or whatever that cooking term is, he thinks.
Hinalo niya ito ng marahan, the smell digging into his nose. It's surprisingly comforting, the smell at least, para sa isang instant arroz caldo. It reminds him of his childhood, lola, or home.
Hindi niya alam ang lasa nito. Hindi niya rin alam kung magugustuhan ng binata ito. This is nothing compared to what he does to me when I’m sick. Mingyu will be the judge of that.
He continues stirring the pot anyway. Because this.. is what Mingyu would do.
If love is a language he’s learning to understand, then maybe this is him trying to utter his first full sentence—clumsy, messy, but real.
──── .✦
“How are you feeling?” tanong ni Wonwoo, peeking at Mingyu who is still sick, but a lot better. The paracetamol must be kicking in, Wonwoo thinks. But Mingyu, hehe, pinagluto niya ako, is all his little brain could digest.
The redness in the latter’s eyes aren't as visible now, his nose still stuffed, but his lips—oh he's definitely grinning.
“Why are you laughing?” nakatitig na sabi ni Wonwoo kay Mingyu who is curled on his side. He’s wiping Mingyu’s face and neck with a wet bimpo. Hindi na ganon ka taas ang temperature nito, and the kool aid fever patch must've worked, kahit Gentle to babies skin type yung nabili niya. Wala eh, baby niya eh.
“Nothing.”
“Ano nga?” lumipat na naman si Wonwoo sa kabila nito.
Mingyu looks at Wonwoo with fondness, eyes soft and delicate, full of adoration, “This just… feels nice. And good.”
Tumigil si Wonwoo sa ginagawa niya, and he feels his heart ache at that. “Hmm.” Wonwoo hums, urging him to talk more.
“You are so good at taking care of me. Like you're made for it. It’s just so… right.” Wonwoo doesn't miss the slight shake and amusement in his voice. Kaya nilagay niya ang bimpo sa side table nito and gently, he cups Mingyu’s face with his both hands.
“You have to get better soon, okay? Kimchi misses you.” Wonwoo whispers, staring at Mingyu’s features like he hasn't memorized the constellation of moles in it already.
“Really? Sinabi niya yan?” tumatawang sabi ni Mingyu, his hands itching to hold the other’s waist. Inirapan ito ni Wonwoo and before he could get away with it, Mingyu leaned forward, just until their foreheads and noses touch. “Thank you, I love you.”
Wonwoo knows better than to kiss his sick boyfriend, so he settles with playfully, and gently biting the tip of his nose, the one with the little mole. “Okay.”
──── .✦
Later that night, naalimpungatan si Mingyu, slightly feverish. He turns to his left, and he sees Wonwoo coiled behind him, sleeping soundly, arms and legs wrapped in him like he's afraid he’ll disappear.
But Mingyu won't, so he reaches down and laces their hands together. Wonwoo thinks he should've done this sooner.
Somewhere in the tranquility of the night, Mingyu’s chest blooms at the realization that he doesn't have to ask who tends to the one who always tends to others. Because Wonwoo will, with no questions asked.