Chapter Six: He's Just a Tsundere

"Alien!!!" Kiara called out to the biggest dog among a bunch of dogs. "Have you eaten? Stay here for a while. Let's eat all together. Okay?" She caressed Alien's fur. She was smiling brimming with kindness.

"Okay, teacher," Alien answered.

"Also, don't call us teachers. We only teach domesticated stay-at-home dogs anyway. Call me auntie and call him uncle." Kiara held Alien's face between her palms and then looked at Keith who was being referred to as "Uncle".

Keith wondered why the conversation was familiar. The dog hugged him and licked his cheeks. "Uncle? Or should I call you boss!" The big dog whispered to his ears.

…

Keith woke up gasping for air.

"Keith, are you okay? What's wrong? Baby boy, what's wrong?" His mom patted his back. Everyone was shocked when he suddenly woke up as if he just escaped a nightmare.

"Fuck! Alien was being a dog." Keith simply answered. Keith came to his senses when he heard the others around laugh. He felt relieved knowing it was just a dream. How can he think of Alien as Drake? He was ashamed of himself.

He sat up straight and looked all around him. Above his legs are two foldable small tables stretched side by side and filled with flavorful dishes and his family gathered around him eating. He also saw his crush eating with them.

"Fuck! Alien is a stinky dog not a fuck!!!" Rio laughed.

"Rio, don't say that word again. That's bad. It's not good to say that word." Kylie told them then glared at Keith sending a signal that says, "Watch your language, you son of a bitch!"

"Keith… Take note of your speech. It's not good to keep this habit. At some point in your life, you have to know that some words are not appropriate and not good." Mr. Lim lectured.

"Keith… What your papa said is very true. However, I want to add some things. It's okay to say those words but take note of where and when you say them, to whom are you going to say those words… it's important to think about them. Don't be impulsive and just say whatever comes to your mind." Mrs. Lim lectured too.

Keith felt so ashamed. He wanted to bury his face somewhere. He's being lectured in front of his crush. He felt resentment toward them, He's sick but they don't spare him at all. It wasn't his fault that his nephews just pick up the curse words from him. Why do they have to be so rough? And why is Drake sitting comfortably as if he's the son of this family? These were his opinions that he swallowed when he responded, "Yes Ma. Yes, Pa."

"Uncle, goddammit!" Rio laughed again.

"Oh my god, Keith." Kylie slapped her forehead. "This is what I have been talking about. Look! My kids are only learning bad things from you. Once, I give birth to my baby girl, I won't let you see her if you don't change your attitude!"

The air was so tight. Even Drake who has been thinking about how warm their family is this whole time was not prepared to see a family drama come out all of a sudden.

Keith lied back down again… while Kylie continue to nag about how he influenced her sons to say bad things. His mother would join the nagging too but the temperament is that of an educator. Still… They're annoying and loud since the two kids would join and keep blabbering the bad words they learned from Keith...

Then suddenly, Drake patted his shoulder gently. Keith looked up at him and his eyes were watery, not knowing how to react to being embarrassed by his family. He wanted to look good in front of him. But things blew out of proportion. "Hey… Get up. Let's eat." Drake gently said.

Keith felt as if his heart was pricked by an arrow. Who would have thought that in front of his eating family members, he would be this caring and sweet? He has been contemplating how to put a stop to his feelings because he's straight and there seems to be no hope at all. But that was just him guarding up his heart… And he just can't help it. He's willing to act on what he's hoping now. Having faith in a straight man… how reliable can it be?

Drake helped him get up again. Then, he took the bowl of porridge and get a spoon. He scooped one and blew upon it making sure it won't hurt Keith.

"I can do it by myself." Keith insisted. He might be hoping but he's shy by nature.

"No. I'll feed you. Let me do it for you. Okay?" Drake smiled. He genuinely wanted to take care of his "brother". "You have to eat a lot. I'll make sure you finish this whole bowl of porridge."

For the family members who forgot that Keith was indeed sick and hungry, seeing outsiders care for him felt awkward. Kylie's suspicion about Drake was ignited. Mr. Lim wanted to hide his son away. Mrs. Lim felt the happiest. Aaron was happy for his brother-in-law for having a very good friend. The twins didn't mind at all, who knows what they were thinking. And the other people in the ward wished the two had separate rooms since they pretty much didn't care about other people while they were in their world.

Keith's sense of taste was like everything was bitter, he still has no appetite, but this hospital-made porridge was probably the most tolerable food that was supposed to be inedible he ever had. Every bite supplied his hopes. But when he realized how his family looked at him when he swallowed every spoonful of porridge Drake gives to him, it made him feel like it was the most unsettling dinner they ever had.

Everyone left after dinner. There were nurses, so they don't feel worried for Keith anymore. Drake however returned and watched over him for the night. His place was just a few walks away anyways. It could be said that he was excited because this could be their first "sleepover". Keith got so excited too… on a whole different level than Drake's.

They were so excited, that Drake spoiled Keith by lending his phone to him. He knew it has been days since Keith had the last read. The development was weird but Keith enjoyed watching the pilot episodes of the drama adaptation of The Undead, it was adapted from a horror novel that has a steamy romance between an infected soldier and a famous neurosurgeon but the drama turned into plain horror with a brotherhood theme. They were sitting side by side in the single-bed size nursery bed. They watched together as they shared the earphones so that they won't disturb other patients. Drake was so into it too since the background music, visual effects, and the plot was interesting and elevated.

He'd occasionally ask questions related to the story of the drama but he'd insist that he doesn't want spoilers. He kept asking and when Keith answers his question he would cover his ears and complain about how Keith was spoiling the plot.

When Drake went to the toilet, a notification popped on his phone. It was a text message. The sender was named "Old hag" and a glimpse of the message was shown. "Where's my money??? It's been two weeks. Why did you…"

He wanted to click it but the notification faded and Drake already returned. He poured water into a glass and drank from it. Keith was looking at him, so from the same glass, he poured another water and he placed the glass by his lips. "Here, drink."

He was curious about the message but since an indirect kiss was offered, he immediately took it and gulped it all down in one go.

"Boss, it's late. You should sleep."

"How about you? Where will you sleep?"

"Can I sleep beside you? The bed can fit us, anyway." The thought of sleeping beside a younger brother made him feel good. So, without waiting for a response, he welcomed himself and laid down beside Keith.

Meanwhile, Keith was torn about whether or not to agree. When Drake already positioned himself beside him, he can only accept his destiny happily. He laid beside him. He was worried… I should sleep. But how can I sleep in this kind of situation?

After finishing the episode, they also watched the anime Keith was watching before. After watching three episodes Keith finally felt sleepy. Keith handed the phone to Drake. Then sweetly said. "Thanks."

"This is my first time sleeping with someone beside me. This feels nice. We should do this more often. You can sleep at my place. I will sleep at your place. It's like we're brothers." Drake sweetly said too. He turned to face Keith and give more space to him.

How the hell can I sleep if you're like this? You're acting like this is a sleepover when it feels like a honeymoon to me!!! Fuck! Keith smiled and responded, "Yeah right. We really should do this more often."

Drake opened his SNS and showed it to Keith. On the screen, it was a post he made yesterday. It was a selfie of him, Nick, and Keith who were sleeping in the middle. He captioned it with, "Our boss looks so docile when unconscious. Get well soon boss @canis02 @my waifu is Mikasa" he tagged both of them. The post has more than fifty thousand likes and more than nine thousand comments. It pulled many SNS users to react to this post since Keith has many followers. "Look… you're cute in it even when you're sleeping. Do you have any secrets?"

Keith was taken aback. He double-tapped the screen and then zoom his face. "I look terrible. Why would you post something like this? I'm so pale. Look!"

"No, you're cute." He insisted and chuckled a little bit. Then he opened the comment section. "Look. They don't think like that at all. Trust me you don't look terrible at all."

The comment section mostly consisted of Drake's followers.

"To our baby Drake, get well soon to your boss <3"

"Baby Drake, your friends are so handsome too, especially the sick one. I hope he gets well soon! I will pray to all the temples so he can be okay!"

"@Canis_02 looks so pretty like sleeping beauty!!! Skincare reveal!"

"Is he that "boss"? The one he was talking about in the last video? The one baby Drake wants to hang out with?"

"New ship! ((*^ 3~)><3 AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

"Boss, is this perhaps the first time your face is being posted on the net?" Drake asked but no one responded. Keith was already asleep. He fixed the blanket and placed his hand on his side making sure that the IV tubes are fine. He placed his hand on his cheek to check his fever and he wasn't hot anymore. Then his hand wandered to Keith's forehead, tugging the strands of hair to the side. He observed his face and appreciated how handsome and cute Keith is.

Keith has fair skin. There were a few pimple marks but they're almost on the hairline, too unnoticeable. He also noticed the mole above his left eyebrow and the tiny mole on Keith's high nose. Keith was not slim at all, he has some fats and a fair amount of muscles proportional to his height. His cheeks were as adorable as peaches, when he smiles, cute and deep dimples are carved, and when he pouts, his cheeks blow up like pufferfish. His cheeks are really cute. He pinched it gently and stretched it to his heart's content. Suddenly, Drake pursed his lips and gulped his saliva. He doesn't want to stop pinching but he has to.

The hand that caressed Keith's cheek slid to his waist. Drake drew his head near to Keith's head, curled his body a little, and hugged him. Keith's fever has already gone down but Drake felt warm next to Keith.

It feels so nice to have a cute little brother.

And he fell into slumber. He fell into a sweet dream. He fell deeply into a deep abyss that he'd forget when the slumber ends.

…

At 5 a.m., Keith automatically woke up due to his trained bio clock. He opened his eyes and saw Drake's face magnified in front of him. He could even hear his even breathing. He lifted his hand and touched his cheek lightly and felt a warm and soft sensation. He came to his senses that he wasn't dreaming. Yesterday wasn't a dream. He blushed and can't help but smile. He wanted to scream but he can't. Aside from the closeness between them, He was being held by his crush… What a good morning, indeed!

What are the odds that a straight guy, would be this touchy and flirty to another guy? Is there a chance that Drake is bisexual? Is there a chance that these contacts are not just mere byproducts of his overflowing flirty attitude, but are hints that he has feelings for me too?

Keith felt very hopeful and happy. He looked at this man's face for a long time, scrutinizing every detail that makes his face handsome. Then, his gaze fell on Drake's pinkish lips. He was overwhelmed with his feelings and without considering the time, place, and consent, he pressed his lips into Drake's lips lightly. It lasted for not more than three seconds. He doesn't have enough time to process how it felt. He licked his lips and pressed for a kiss again the same way when he eats the tip of ice cream. He did it as gently as he could. Indeed, it was soft. He did it again. And again.