The next day, Juan woke up to the sound of cocks crowing. The melody was accompanied harmoniously by chirping birds, reminding him of the reason for his favor towards nature.
Sadly, he would soon be thrust back into the bustle and noisy life in the city. A sigh escaped his lips at the thought of this day being his last day of duty at the military medical camp.
This was also the last village on his calendar until the next year. Once he boards the plane back home, he will be thrown back into the vicious world of business.
His passion as a doctor would once again be hidden away, taking the joy of saving lives with it. He sighed again, stepping out of bed. The spacious tent had a special washing area as well as a cooking space.
He cleaned up and stepped out in another sleeveless shirt paired with comfortable, baggy pants. His long hair was tied into a messy bun, a few strands hanging loosely on his face. All in all, he looked drool-worthy.
As on previous days, he wore his lab coat and rechecked his medical kit, replacing some items and removing others. He was set and ready to walk out until he heard a weak and almost inaudible cough coming from one of the beds. A frown marred his handsome features, a bad premonition setting in.
He tentatively made his way towards his best friend's bed. Upon lifting the covers, his heart ached at the sight. Roman lay twitching uncomfortably in bed. His lean frame was drenched in sweat, his body trembling a little. His hands unconsciously reached out for the covers, trying to stay warm.
Juan rested his hand on the man's forehead. A sharp intake of breath was heard shortly after within the tent. He sighed again, gloom setting in the air. His initial zeal to go out and care for villagers was doused completely. There was no way he could leave Roman on his own.
He kept his kit away, his coat coming off shortly after. A sense of guilt weighed heavily on his heart. Perhaps he was a little careless the previous night. He should have waited for Roman to get inside before he fell asleep. Better yet, he should have pulled him inside when he went inside. Who knew how long the man stayed in the rain?
Ironical right? It was he who opted to hide his tears under the falling rain, but the one who fell ill was the person who came in search of him. He should have seen it coming. Roman's immunity wasn't the best.
That too was his fault. Maybe that was why he loved the man and cared for him immensely. Although he used a teasing tone the previous night to express how important Roman was to him, he treasured the man. He meant every word he said. If Roman were a girl, Juan would be blessed to have him as a companion.
Soon, he was hard at work wiping off the sweat from the other's body. Roman was fully undressed except for the boxer hugging his waist. His lean frame looked appealing to those who watched with interest. However, all Juan could see was a weak, trembling body of a patient he needed to nurse back to health.
Contrary to his usual easy-going expression and steady motions, his hand trembled a little, and his lips sealed into a pout. His furrowed brows never relaxed, and his gaze never lost the worry that filled them to the brim.
He wished for nothing more than to hold the other to provide the warmth the man needed. He despised watching his brother in discomfort. It brought back dark memories. The kind he wished they had never experienced.
Roman was right about something he said the previous night. Anyone who didn't know them could easily infer a different relationship from what they actually share.
This could be attributed to societal norms, which seem only to highlight close, intimate relationships between women while portraying men as less sentimental and intimate physically.
Damn the norms! Juan was tired of them all. Just like he was a womanizer, he was also a rebellious man. He didn't find any fault in the relationship he shared with his friend. On the contrary, he found it so beautiful and something worth protecting.
The doctor only ever cuddled with one person for as long as he could remember. He was a man who enjoyed engaging in dalliances and shunned relationships.
His intimate relations were conducted in hotels where he never spent the night. He would always leave behind some cash and other benefits and disappear from his slings. Yet, here he was thinking of cuddling his friend to keep him warm.
While the world may find it strange, he found it normal. Why should he restrict himself and deny himself the chance to be affectionate towards the person he considered his soul brother?
Why was it wrong to hold his best friend when he was vulnerable and needed to be held? He would be damned if he neglected his basic human instincts to conform to societal pressures set by people like him.
Deep in thought, he forgot about the other two occupants of the tent. Mason woke up to that particular sight. He rubbed his eyes, trying to ascertain that he wasn't dreaming. However, the view didn't change once he opened his eyes. At first, he couldn't understand what was going on.
He sat up, a possessive glint slipping into his gaze momentarily. It disappeared as fast as it had appeared. He got out of bed. His feet moved closer until he was standing by Roman's bed.
"Bro, what's up with him? Is he unwell or something? Wasn't he fine yesternight? What happened?" He fired one question after another at the doctor.
"Mmmh", was the answer he got. Unlike the close intimacy Roman and Juan shared, he was the typical ideal man that society molded. Despite their differences, he and Roman shared an amazing friendship.
Unlike Roman's introverted personality, Mason was the opposite, as his occupation demands. For this reason, he was closer to Juan than he was to Roman. However, he cared for the other man as much as he did for the doctor. He and Juan had a lot in common, including being womanizers.
He frowned, trying to understand the situation. When he couldn't figure it out, he raised a question again.
"What happened?" This time, he explained.
"That's unfortunate. Is there anything I can help with?" he offered. Unlike the two, Mason's schedule was almost always packed as the most demanded young actor of his time.
He couldn't afford to stay another day. This time, he managed to slip away for a few days. He was supposed to fly back today. Mason knew that once he turned his phone on, he would have no peace.
Juan didn't speak for a while. His hands ceased their movements, and his gaze rested on the sleeping figure on the other bed in the tent.
"Yes! Take him back to the city with you. He should be back to school first thing tomorrow morning. I am afraid we won't get back until much later. I need to take care of Roman until it's safe for him to travel."
As though summoned by the words, the sleeping teen woke with a start. He looked around frantically as though he had woken up from a bad dream.
His gaze rested on his brother's sleeping frame, and he stopped breathing momentarily. One look and he knew Roman was ill. Unlike him, his older brother was an early bird. Having experienced this countless times before, he knew how awful his brother felt whenever he was unwell.
He stepped out of bed, lips trembling as he made his way towards his brother. He was pulled into a warm hug by the doctor before the first tear fell.
"Kiddo, don't cry. Your brother is under the care of one of the most sought-after doctors in the country. I will take care of him. I need you to go back to school and work hard. You know how hard your brother worked to raise you right? Make him proud. Make us proud. Okay?" Juan coaxed.
Jasper didn't argue with him. He nodded, determination taking root in his orbs. His brother was in the best of hands and under the best care. He didn't have an ounce of doubt about that.
How could he doubt the man who was like a second home for both him and Roman? Juan was there with them through every hurdle they faced in life. He was loyal and trustworthy.
After a little more encouragement and coaxing, Jasper left with Mason around eleven. Juan watched the private helicopter take off because their tent was closest to the open private military airstrip. He went back and gave the area-in-charge of the medical practitioners a few instructions before heading back into the tent.
Roman woke up in the afternoon. He felt groggy and wet all over. His body felt sticky and uncomfortable. He groaned, grabbing the attention of the man cooking at the stove. Juan turned the heat off and strode to his side. His face broke into a bewitching smile, his lips uttering a warm greeting.
" Hey Buddy! How are you feeling? You must be famished."
The strong man who comforted Juan before was no longer in sight. In his place was a sick man who held a look of vulnerability and a silent plea in his gaze. Juan was too familiar with the look for many reasons.
His fingers combed through Roman's hair, which was as long as his own. His other hand gently held his friend's trembling shoulder before he spoke.
"Brother, tell me what you need. I will try my best to give it to you. Don't hold it in. You are home."
Roman's beautiful emerald orbs watered at the mention of the word home. At that moment, he was no longer the twenty-seven-year-old man feared in the business world. He was the ten-year-old boy who hid in the cellar with a one-year-old child, trying to survive a massacre.
"Mommy. I miss my mommy!"
Those words cut a hole through Juan's heart, his arms circling Roman's frame. How could he not hold him when his friend was just a broken little boy in a man's body? How could he not be affectionate when the said man missed his childhood raising another child?
Juan coaxed the man for a while before he convinced him to eat some porridge. He then placed Roman on a drip before slipping into the bed next to him. Roman rested his head on Juan's chest and hid in his protective arms. Even as he cried himself to sleep, he felt better knowing that he had a home with his best friend.