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It was unfair
“I’m still regretful of the way I ended our—” Alfred murmured in bed. After his surgery, Taepyong has been keeping an eye on him.
“It’s fine! I,”
“It was my fault really. I was too. Proud. I shouldn’t be so harsh when you were clearly worried about someone.” Taepyeong held his hand.
It wasn’t fair at all
“Joseph,”
Joseph looked up to the sound of his voice, startled at his sudden attention.
“Are you.. Alright?” Taepyeong asked him worriedly. Right. Taepyong was worried. About him.
“I’m fine. I don’t feel unwell at all.” He should be happy that Taepyeong was worried, that means he cares. That he hasn’t forgotten him in place of someone else.
“You shouldn’t hide what you feel you know.”
Joseph blushed. What I feel, for—
“Hiding symptoms could only end badly for a patient.” Right.
Alfred chuckled. “Right, you should already tell the doctor whatever you feel. Or else you’ll regret it, Joseph.” He teased softly, eyes crinkling at him.
His blush deepened. “Considering that the doctor is already busy with one patient, it wouldn’t do for you to get sick wouldn’t it?” Taepyong turned to Alfred, humoring him as he caressed his forehead.
“Having a fever after appendectomy is considered normal unless 101.5°F. We’ll have to monitor your condition but it should resolve on its own.” Taepyong explained.
“A..ppendectomy? Was his illness because of a rupture in his bowels?” Joseph asked.
Although Taepyong would always say odd words, he could always understand them. It’s only natural, he was of course his dearest friend.
“It can lead to that at worst, thankfully his appendix was just inflamed.”
“His appendix was inflamed due to..the pus” Joseph concluded,
“Normally, this happens because of either stool, parasites or a tumo—” He explained before suddenly interrupted by Alfred.
“A tumor? Am I going to die?!” He cried.
“Calm down,” Taepyong reassured him, “I have reason to believe that it was because of the mercury.”
“But the use of mercury as a treatment is,” Joseph spoke unsurely.
Common. Especially as treatment for syphilis considering its compound. Although the treatment was nothing more than a temporary cure as it can cause severe mercury poisoning. The development of the disease can momentarily stop, at the expense of more suffering from the poisoning. A poison for a more deadly one.
Taepyong stared at him in a daze. Noticing his flush, “Were you also exposed to the mercury?”
He asked, getting closer to Joseph and cupping his cheek.
“I.”
Taepyong stared at his cheek, looking for rashes. It could be acrodynia. “Well? Does it hurt?”
“It. It doesn’t.” Joseph stuttered, “Excuse me, I have to..” leaving the room suddenly.
Taepyong stared dumbfounded at the door as he left, his train of thought interrupted by a faint laughter from Alfred.
“I’m sorry, I can’t help but be amused at the way he’s acting. It’s just so—” cutting himself off with another chuckle.
“Ow!” Taepyong smirked as he pinched him, “You just had surgery, if you laugh too much it will hurt.”
Alfred let out a smile “Then I’ll be on my best behavior.”