CHAPTER 4:

“This room will be yours from now on. Feel at home!”

A few days after Tristan talked with his parents, he requested to get a discharge at the hospital right after the doctor advised that he only needs time to rest more. Then he asked Drayven to accompany him until he got recovered and adjust to his new condition.

Tristan knows that asking Drayven for this is too much, but he has no choice. No one can take good care of him anymore and the only choice he could do is to stick with his brother-in-law. The moment he asked Drayven to have him, that is the same moment he admits that he is a failure like what his father said. But he doesn’t care anymore, what matters to him the most right now is to survive this hell until he gets his sight back and to get back what he lost.

“I think, I should familiarize myself with every edge of this house so I could move freely even if you left me here,” he commented as he holds a chair.

Drayven still felt pity for Tristan, but he doesn’t want his best friend to sense it from him. He was aware that blind person can enhance their other senses once they lost to sight. That’s why he is doing his best to act tough as if nothing had happened. He just needs to accept the fact that he is the only one that Tristan can lean on from now on, so he should be tougher than him.

“Yeah, you’re right. But of course, you don’t need to push yourself hard because I am planning to hire a maid to be with you anytime. Most especially when I am not at home.”

Tristan’s grip gets tightened. Drayven notices something is not okay but as usual, he just ignores it. He’s wondering if only the blind person could enhance their other senses because he just felt that his senses get enhanced as well. He can tell that Tristan also acting tougher than he does. If was just sounds fun to him that at this point, they still had that kind of similarity.

“Maid? Did you call for one already? If not, we can still check if I can do this alone. I don’t want to give you more trouble, bro.”

Drayven understands that Tristan only wants to lessen his expenses for him because supporting his medicine and other needs is already a big cost. He sure wants to lessen to have more debt with him, even though he knew it is hard for him to move alone. But for Drayven, it will be more burden to him if he will take his word.

“Bro, you need to be guided whether you like it or not. You don’t know any parts of this house, how you can live freely here if you can’t even go to the toilet?” Drayven clarified.

He went on silent as he heard that. Tristan knows that his friend doesn’t want to offend him, but he still does. He just doesn’t want to get that thing hit him every time because he needs to adjust as well in everything, it is just the beginning… there are still more challenges waiting for him aside from the fact that he needs someone to look after him.

“Okay, fine,” Tristan sighs. “Just please get a maid that can do everything in the house including cooking your meals, doing the laundry, and cleaning the house. At least let me have that selfish request that can also benefit you. This is the only thing I can do for you in return… for now.”

Drayven laughs. “Of course, I’ll get a maid that can do that, it’s a waste of money if she can’t!”

Tristan laughs too, and it made Drayven happy to see that his best friend can still laugh after all that happened. He believes that it is still not the end for Tristan, he just needs to stay still and rest to get enough courage to continue his journey in life. It may be harder for him, but he has this faith that Tristan can conquer it all.

“Bro, thank you… really. I don’t know how to repay you for everything, but—”

Tristan can’t finish what he wants to say as he feels his friend’s hand on his shoulder. He is about to cry as if Drayven only doing this for him because his friend pities him. After all, he was a loser, he was a failure because he was trash. But then, Drayven hands holding his shoulder got tightened…

“You think I am doing this so you can owe me something? Bro, I am the one who is repaying you… remember how you saved me from my miserable past?”

Tristan remembers that day… that is the day when they’re still in college. Drayven is not good at school, he even got a 3 in his final grade in his first year of the first semester. His parents always scold him whenever he shows his report card to them. They even threatened him that if he can make his grades better, they will disown him.

That’s the time that Tristan enters his life, he was an excellent student back then. He offers help for Drayven in the study, it was the real reason why he always comes to their house. That’s why his parents adore him so much and they like him for their daughter Danica because he is smart. And his brain saves Drayven from failing continuously.

He chuckles after he remembers everything back then. “Maybe, we were born to support each other, bro,” Tristan said.

Drayven chuckled as well, then he gives Tristan a big hug. He knows that his best friend needs this hug, so he does. He agrees with what Tristan said because he can’t imagine his life without Tristan beside him. Danica already leaves them, but Drayven assures her that he won’t let any from both of them leave the other one.