“What will I do when you’re not around?”
Mhok felt his heart clench at Day’s words.
He was both ecstatic and dejected at the same time.
If only Day’s words meant what Mhok wanted.
“Do you want me to take Hazel with me when I go home?”
Day cast his eyes down slowly, “I like having him around, but I’m not capable of taking care of him in your absence, P’Mhok.”
Mhok understood how Day felt.
“I get it, Day, but I can’t keep traveling with him. Can you just manage the evenings? I’ll return early in the morning every day.”
Day was silent.
Mhok sighed, “Should we not keep him?”
Hazel let out a bark at that, clearly not entertaining that idea.
“No. I’ll keep him.” Day tried to form a small smile, “We’ll keep him.”
Mhok could’ve sworn that his heart skipped a beat at Day’s seemingly normal words.
“Okay. We’ll do something about Hazel. Let’s just eat dinner now.”
Day smiled easily this time, “Okay, P’Mhok.”
P’Mhok was way too genuine with his job, Day thought.
Only if Day knew that Mhok would’ve done all this for Day even if he wasn’t paid for it.
Day was not his job. Day was his reason to smile.
The atmosphere became more cloudy, and by the end of their dinner time, it was already raining relentlessly accompanied by thunder and lightning.
“Damn,” Day swore under his breath when he heard a sound of the thunder.
Day was scared, but he didn’t want to be perceived as weak, so he tried to act nonchalant about it.
He was always judged and poked fun at for being afraid of thunder by his friends, and his fear only got worse after becoming sightless.
Day didn’t want Mhok to judge him or, worse, pity him.
Mhok noticed Day’s obvious discomfort at the sudden change of weather, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Are you okay?”
Day internally sighed. Why did he have to notice everything?
“I’m alright. I’m not comfortable with this weather, that’s all.”
Mhok knew that Day was definitely not alright, but he didn’t want to pry and make Day feel bad.
A heavy lighting struck, followed by a roaring thunder. Day couldn’t stop his hands from covering his ears harshly as he shut his eyes.
The electricity went out and engulfed them in darkness.
“Day!” Mhok was already making his way towards Day, who sat across him.
Mhok couldn’t see anything clearly, but he somehow located Day and thought twice before putting his hand on Day’s shoulder.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.” Mhok patted his shoulder gently to calm Day.
After a couple of minutes, Day’s body relaxed.
Mhok felt it and withdrew his hand from Day’s shoulder.
“Doing better now?”
“Yes.” Mhok heard a timid voice.
“Do you know where the candles are? Or perhaps, do you have a lamp?”
Mhok wanted to change the subject since Day wouldn’t like to address his fear of thunder.
“Why?”
Mhok had done it again. Mhok had forgotten that Day was blind.
“Um, the power went out.” Mhok said in a low voice.
“Oh.”
Day was embarrassed for no reason. It wasn’t his fault that he was blind, yet he felt that way, “I don’t think I have candles or anything, since they are of no use to me.”
Mhok realised his mistake. He should’ve been more thoughtful before asking Day such questions. Of course, Day couldn’t light a candle and put himself at risk, and most importantly, he didn’t need them.
“Okay.”
Mhok decided to stand close to Day until the power came back. But it never did.
His legs had started to ache, and it was past his leaving time, but he didn’t dare to voice out his thoughts.
“P’Mhok?”
“Hmm?”
“Has it been too long?”
The question was vague, but Mhok deciphered it just well.
“Well, kind of. I don’t think the power is going to return anytime soon.”
“What about Hazel?” Day was worried about their pet.
“I don’t hear any sound from his side. He’s probably already asleep on his comfy bed.” Mhok let out a chuckle.
Day smiled as well, “That’s better then. Dogs are scared of thunder. Like me.” Day added in a whisper, but Mhok caught it.
“It’s alright. Everybody is scared of something. There’s nothing to be ashamed about.”
Day felt better after hearing Mhok’s comforting words. P’Mhok was so wise, Day thought.
Mhok had neither judged him nor pitied him.
Mhok saw Day as just another normal human.
Just another normal human whom Mhok had feelings for.
“Do you want to sleep, Day?” Mhok asked. It was getting late at night, and the rain didn’t seem to cease any time soon.
“How will you go back, P’Mhok?” Day asked, dodging Mhok’s question.
“I don’t know,” Mhok rubbed his neck, “I’ll wait until the rain stops.”
Even Mhok knew that it wasn’t a rational decision.
There was silence for a moment.
Mhok wondered whether Day had fallen asleep or not.
“Stay.”
“Hmm?”
“Stay here.” Day’s voice was firmer this time, “It’s late, and the weather is bad.”
Mhok’s heartbeat picked up, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“So, are you going to sleep?” Mhok asked again.
“No, I’m not sleepy yet. I just want to sit here longer.”
“Well, I’m not sitting.” Mhok joked.
Day realised then, “Oh, sorry, let’s sit on the couch.”
Mhok couldn’t locate the couch in the darkness, but Day knew right where it was.
The darkness never bothered him anyway.
Day hastily found Mhok’s arm and stood up.
“D-Day?”
“I know that you can’t see anything, so let me be the one to help you for once.” Day said, sounding cocky to lighten the mood.
Mhok chuckled, “Sure. Lead the way, captain.”
The blind leading the sighted – it was a moment worth watching.
“Here we are.” Day settled on the couch.
Day left Mhok’s arm, and he missed the warmth of Day’s hand right away.
They sat on the couch in comfortable silence for a while. It was quiet except for the drizzling rain and the occasion thunders.
Mhok felt Day scooting closer to him after one particularly loud thunder.
Day’s breathing was rapid and uneven because of his phobia, and Mhok’s breathing was that way because of their close proximity.
“P’Mhok?”
“Hmm?”
“You said that everybody is scared of something. What are you scared of then?” Day sounded vulnerable, and he wanted to know other’s vulnerability as well.
Mhok was taken aback but still pondered over Day’s question.
What was he afraid of?
What did he fear?
His eyes widened when his heart reached a conclusion.
Mhok was scared of losing Day.
“P’Mhok? Don’t sleep, answer me.”
Mhok laughed at Day’s childish antics, “I’m afraid of losing something precious.”
Day frowned, but Mhok couldn’t see that in the darkness.
“Like? Like your wallet?”
Mhok laughed again, “Yes, my wallet.”
Day let out an exaggerated huff, “What did I even expect?”
“Heyy! Don’t be insensitive about my phobia.” Mhok laughed.
“Sorry, sir.” Day said in a mocking tone, “Don’t worry, I won’t steal your wallet.”
Laughter echoed in the living room, and they continued with their banter for a while longer.
“And do you know what happened then?” Mhok was narrating a hilarious event of his life, and all of a sudden, he felt a weight against him.
Mhok went stiff when he realised that Day was sleeping against him.
Mhok knew that sleeping like that would hurt Day’s neck, and waking him up was not a good idea either, and taking him to his bed was surely out of the question.
Mhok gently held Day by the shoulders and laid his head on his lap. Day stirred slightly but didn’t wake up. Fortunately, Day was a heavy sleeper.
Mhok’s hand reached for Day’s head and brushed away the sweaty strands of hair that clung to his forehead.
Mhok was content, and his heart was filled with joy.
He gazed at Day lovingly even in the darkness.
“Good night, Day.”
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