Chapter 18

Sky was weaving through the busy streets on his motorbike, the food delivery bag securely fastened behind him. He was used to the hectic pace, always moving fast and sharp.

But today, luck wasn't on his side.

As he approached a sharp turn, a car coming from the opposite direction swerved unexpectedly into his lane. Sky didn't have time to react—his motorbike slammed into the side of the car. The force of the collision threw him off the bike, and he hit the ground hard, the world spinning as pain shot through his body.

For a moment, everything blurred. His head was spinning, and his vision was clouded with darkness. He tried to push himself up, but his arms felt weak, his body heavy. A sharp pain shot through his side, and his breath came in frantic, shallow bursts. He could hear people around him, but he couldn't focus on their voices.

The distant sound of a siren pierced the air, but Sky could barely concentrate. All that mattered was the pain, the overwhelming, consuming pain and the panic that set in as he tried to understand what had happened.

After a while, Nani was driving through the city, on his way to his condo, when he noticed something strange. The usual flow of traffic had come to a near standstill, the road far more congested than it should be. Nani furrowed his brow, his senses alert as he scanned the scene.

His eyes darted to the side, and he saw a small crowd gathering near the curb. Delivery bikes were stopped, their riders speaking in low voices. Nani's stomach twisted as he overheard bits of the conversation.

"I heard it's the son of Thai Cushion's owner... He's the one who crashed."

His heart skipped a beat. Sky.

Before he could think, his body reacted. He flung open the door of his car, rushing out without a second thought. His legs moved faster than his brain could process. The only thing on his mind was Sky. Please be okay. Please.

As he pushed his way through the crowd, Nani's heart pounded in his chest, and his head raced with thoughts. When he finally reached the scene, he froze, his eyes locking onto the sight of an ambulance and a stretcher being loaded up. His breath caught in his throat as he saw someone being lifted into the vehicle.

His mind barely processed the people around him. He only saw the ambulance and the fear that clenched at his chest.

With no thought to anything else, Nani sprinted forward, pushing through the crowd, desperate to get closer. His heart was in his throat, his feet carrying him faster than he could think.

Suddenly, a voice, familiar and clear, sliced through his panic.

"Nani!"

Nani froze, his heart freezing in his chest. The world seemed to still for a moment. He turned his head, his eyes searching the crowd, and there, sitting on the curb, looking pale but alive was Sky.

Sky's gaze met his, wide with recognition, his face strained from the shock but unmistakably alive. Nani's breath whooshed out of him, and before he even realized what he was doing, he found himself rushing forward, reaching for Sky, pulling him into a tight, almost desperate hug.

"You idiot" his voice cracking as he held Sky against him. "What the hell were you thinking? You scared the shit out of me!" His words tumbled out, a mess of anger, fear, and overwhelming relief. His entire body shook, his fingers digging into Sky's back like he was terrified of letting go like if he did, Sky might disappear.

Sky blinked, caught off guard by the sudden embrace. Sky's voice was soft, strained from the pain but still trying to calm him. "I'm fine, Nani. I'm fine, really."

But Nani couldn't let go. The flood of emotion that had built up in his chest was overwhelming. All that fear, all that panic, suddenly melted away, leaving only the relief that Sky was alive, that Sky was okay.

Nani pulled back slightly, his hands trembling as they hovered over Sky's body, checking for any signs of injury. His heart was still pounding, and it felt like the air had thickened around them.

Sky gave him a weak smile, his eyes tired but trying to reassure Nani. "I'm alright, okay?" he said again, though Nani could hear the pain in his voice.

Nani let out a shaky breath "Stop talking. Wait for the ambulance." he whispered, his voice low and rough.

Sky nodded quietly, his hand finding Nani's and giving it a reassuring squeeze, though both of them knew the tension wasn't gone yet. The fact that Nani was still so shaken was something Sky wasn't used to seeing, but in that moment, it was clear just how much they meant to each other.

--

The sterile white walls of the hospital room felt suffocating, but at least Sky was in one piece. He sat propped up against the pillows, his right arm wrapped in a cast and resting on a cushion. His body ached, but the pain was manageable. The real struggle was dealing with all the fussing.

Nani was sitting beside his bed, arms crossed, shooting him a glare every few seconds. "You're too reckless."

Sky sighed. "It was an accident."

"That's the problem, idiot." Nani snapped. "You could've—" He swallowed hard, unable to finish his sentence.

"Do you know what went through my head when I saw you like that? Do you know what it felt like?!"

Sky's throat tightened. He had seen Nani annoyed, pissed, even smug. But this? This was different. This was raw.

"I'm sorry." Sky murmured. But it wasn't enough. It would never be enough.

The image of the accident replayed in Nani's mind like a nightmare. Without thinking, Nani stepped forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. Before Sky could say another word, Nani pulled him into a desperate, almost crushing embrace.

Sky froze for a second, startled by the sudden warmth, before slowly sinking into Nani's arms.

Nani's voice was raw, thick with emotion. "What should I do, Sky?" His fingers trembled as they gripped the back of Sky's hospital gown. "What should I do if something really happens to you?"

His voice cracked on the last words, and Sky felt it, the fear, the helplessness, the sheer weight of everything Nani was trying to hold back.

Sky swallowed the lump in his throat, lifting his good hand to rest gently against Nani's back. "I'm still here." he whispered. "I'm right here."

But Nani just held him tighter, as if that wasn't enough. As if he needed more proof that Sky was still breathing, still alive, still his.

--

"Sky!" His mother's voice rang through the room. The next thing he knew, she was by his side, cupping his face with both hands, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Are you okay? Does it hurt, son?"

"I'm fine, Mom" Sky said, though his voice softened at the sight of her worry.

His mother bit her lip, her fingers brushing his cheek as if she needed to confirm he was really there. "You scared me so much," she whispered, and then, to Sky's horror, tears spilled down her cheeks.

Sky panicked. "Mom, don't cry! I'm really okay, I promise!"

Sky's father, normally composed, sighed deeply before stepping forward and resting a firm hand on his wife trying to clam her down.

Nani, who had been silently watching, stepped aside as Sky's brother, Sunny, entered the room. "You really scared everyone." Sky's brother said with a concern.

His mother sniffled again, dabbing her eyes with a tissue before glaring at him. "And you're not getting on that motorbike again anytime soon!"

Sky winced. "Mom..."

"No arguments." but before Sky could replied, the door burst open again. Win and Dew practically ran into the room, both out of breath. "Sky!" Win shouted, his eyes wide with panic. "Are you alive?!"

Sky blinked. "Uh... yeah?"

Dew hurried to the other side of the bed, his gaze scanning Sky up and down like a doctor assessing a patient. "You're not dying, right?"

Sky deadpanned. "Just a broken arm."

Win exhaled so dramatically he nearly collapsed onto a chair. "Do you know how fast we drove to get here?! I thought we'd find you unconscious, wrapped in bandages, on life support or something!"

Sky raised an eyebrow. "Why would I be on life support for a broken arm?"

Win waved a dismissive hand. "That's not the point! The point is...." He suddenly turned to Nani, eyes narrowing. "And you! Why didn't you tell us he was okay from the start?! We almost crashed rushing here!"

Nani rolled his eyes. "I did tell you. You just panicked before I could explain."

Dew finally let out a deep breath "Damn it, Sky. Don't scare us like that." Sky chuckled, feeling a warmth spread in his chest.

The night had stretched on longer than anyone expected. The room was still full of warmth from the presence of Sky's family and friends, but exhaustion was beginning to settle over them.

Sky's mother had been the most reluctant to leave, her worried eyes darting back to him every few minutes as if making sure he was really still there.

" I'll stay the night with you" Sky's brother said, his voice firm but gentle.

Sky immediately shook his head. "You don't have to. I'll be fine on my own."

His mother gasped. "Fine?! You're injured, Sky! How can you be fine alone?"

"I can sleep just fine, Mom. It's just my arm, not my legs. I promise I won't run away," Sky joked, flashing a small smile.

His father studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Are you sure?"

Sky nodded. "Yeah, I'll just rest. You guys have already been here long enough."

For a moment, it seemed like his father would argue, but before he could, another voice cut in.

"I'll stay with him." Everyone turned to Nani.

Sky blinked, taken aback.

Nani didn't look at him, instead addressing Sky's parents. "I'll stay the night and make sure he is okay." His voice was calm, steady.

Sky's mother's eyes lit up, clearly approving of the idea. "Oh, that would be wonderful!"

Sky's father gave Nani a considering look, then nodded. "If you're sure, then I trust you."

Sky, on the other hand, was not sure at all. "Wait, wait, wait. Who said I needed a babysitter? I said I'd be fine alone!"

Nani turned to him, expression unreadable. "Sky."

Sky sallow hard but still replied. "I'm injured, not dying."

His mother gave him one last kiss on the forehead before finally agreeing to leave. His father followed and after some teasing from Win and Dew, they also left, promising to visit again in the morning.

Once the door clicked shut behind them, an awkward silence filled the room.

Sky huffed. "You really don't have to stay, you know."

Nani dragged a chair beside the bed and sat down. "Too late. I already said I would."

Nani called Lisa, asking her to bring him a few essentials. He had no intention of leaving Sky alone, not even for a second.

After Lisa left, Nani took a quick shower, letting the warm water wash away the exhaustion from the long day. By the time he stepped out, his hair still damp, he found Sky half-asleep, his body sinking into the hospital bed, but his stubborn eyes were still open.

"Why are you still awake?" Nani asked, drying his hair with a towel.

Sky blinked lazily at him, his eyelids heavy. "Waiting for you." His voice was slurred, thick with exhaustion and the lingering effect of the medicine.

Nani sighed, sitting down beside him. "Idiot. You should sleep."

Sky frowned, struggling to keep his eyes open. "I want to talk first."

Nani knew they had things to clear up, feelings left unsaid, questions lingering in the air between them. He wanted to talk too—but not now. Not when Sky was barely able to stay awake.

"We'll talk later" Nani said, his voice softer than usual. "Sleep first."

But Sky, being Sky, was stubborn. "No... we need to—"

Nani shot him a sharp glare, the kind that made most people shrink back. Sky pouted but finally, finally let his eyes flutter shut.

Nani was about to relax when Sky mumbled, barely awake, "Sleep with me."

Nani froze. "What?"

Sky's fingers weakly grasped at Nani's wrist. "Can't sleep alone..."

For a moment, Nani just stared at him. He could have said no. He could have just sat beside the bed and let Sky sleep on his own.

But instead, he sighed, shifting onto the bed, careful not to jostle Sky's injured arm. "You're a pain, you know that?" Sky, already drifting off, only hummed in response.

Nani lay beside him, feeling the warmth of Sky's presence so close. He didn't realize how tense he had been the entire night until now, when the soft sound of Sky's breathing filled the quiet room.

"...Idiot."

But even as Nani muttered it, his own eyes started to close. his heart still pounding from the fear he had felt earlier. He had never been this scared in his life. Sky was going to be the death of him one day. Nani was sure of it.







My babies are the best😭🫶🎀