Chapter 22

After Blake finished the taco, I heard a notification sound from my phone. When I picked up my phone and glanced at the message, I was elated.

Someone named James Zeller in the dormmates' chat group said he would be coming to Southvale next month for a business trip.

James asked Kyle and me if we would like to meet for a gathering then. Of course, Kyle and I readily agreed. We responded enthusiastically in the group, and the three of us immediately started checking when we would all be free.

I was absorbed in the conversation when a noise caught my attention. Looking up, I saw Blake scratching himself with all his might. He looked like he was going to scratch holes in his skin.

Why was Blake suddenly feeling so itchy? He had been fine all day, hadn't he?

"Stop scratching yourself! I'll get the doctor here to examine you!" With that, I set my phone down and got up to leave.

"Ahem… It's okay…"

"It's okay? You're itching so badly, and you still think it's okay? This must be an allergic reaction!"

"The ointment last night was quite effective, so why don't you try applying some on me again?"

"Fine, I'll get some water to wipe you down first." With that, I lowered my head to retrieve the bottle under the bed. Then, I turned around and walked toward the kitchenette. I was completely oblivious to the gleeful grin on Blake's face.

I had other thoughts in my mind. I surmised that Blake was really suffering, so much so that he didn't even have much of a reaction when I said that I would be wiping him down. After all, Blake did have a huge reaction to it before.

As for the reason Blake didn't want to take off his clothes to let the doctor examine him, I still felt that it was due to his shyness.

Blake preferred men too, and his attending physician was quite a handsome young man. So, this was probably the equivalent of taking off his clothes in front of a beautiful woman. It was no wonder that Blake would be so resistant to the idea.

Everything made sense now. No wonder Blake looked a little uneasy every time the doctor did his rounds and came over to check on him.

I also began to wonder about Blake's reason for treating me that way. It might be because he had been single for too long and was too shy to make a move on strangers.

I happened to be the only man around Blake in the same age range, so he decided to target the vulnerable me instead.

That made perfect sense. I had been wondering why Blake began treating me like that ever since he returned from Fioreca. Now that I had found my answer, I was determined to give him a hand. As long as he wasn't trying to date me, I would aid in his love life as much as possible.

After getting the hot water, I assumed that I had arrived at the right conclusion. Hence, I had a spring in my step as I hurried back toward the ward, bottle in hand.

In the ward, Blake was bewildered by my understanding expression. He wondered if I made some weird assumptions about him.

He looked at me as I calmly wiped him down and applied ointment on him. Amidst the flurry of activity, I even helped Blake change his underwear. For a moment, he didn't know what to make of it.

My motivated behavior persisted for two days. In that period, I cared for Blake as if he were my father.

I would take the initiative to wipe him clean and apply ointment on him, and I would also help him with bathroom matters. I washed his hands and feet, and I even washed his underwear.

However, another matter drew Blake's attention the most. Every time his attending physician came over to check on him, I would have endless questions for the doctor. I was coming up with various ways just to get the doctor to stay.

Blake could still convince himself that I was concerned about him if it were just that. So, I would ask his attending physician many questions about his condition.

But now, I was going off the rails! I would visit the doctor in the latter's office for no reason and use Blake as an excuse to get the doctor to enter the ward. Also, Blake noticed that we were getting along quite well. I had even managed to get the doctor's private number!