4. Cooking

When Louis arrived, Terry was still in a dream and struggled to awaken when he heard a knock on the door.

To assist Louis inside, he opened the door, but when he did, he noticed that Louis had a noticeable alcohol smell, a bruise on his cheek, a small line of rips along his lips, and a wound that was still bleeding.

Terry had no trouble deducing what Louis had done the night before.

In a panic, Terry screamed, "Louis, are you okay?" 

Louis only mumbled, "It's okay. It's okay!" in response. 

After saying that, he collapsed onto the mattress and passed out, partially from intoxication and partially from exhaustion.

Of course, Terry was extremely worried in his heart, not knowing what Louis had gone through to become like this. However, seeing his appearance like that, Terry was also worried that he couldn't continue to sleep anymore.

He walked to his bag and took out a towel, then went to the kitchen to cook a kettle of warm water, and finally wiped Louis' face with a towel soaked in hot water. When he touched the bruises on his face, he was very careful, not wanting Louis to suffer any pain.

Although Louis was still young, his face was still a little dusty in addition to his handsome features. Perhaps from a young age, Louis had to go out to brush up early, so his appearance was quite mature for his age.

Terry had no idea how good or bad the job Louis is doing, but it makes him look like this. Despite Terry's best efforts, Louis' brows were slightly wrinkled, as if he was still in pain in his dreams. Terry became extremely sympathetic as a result of this.

He looked down at Louis' neck and saw that there were still a lot of bruises there, so he quietly unbuttoned his shirt, intending to wipe his neck with a towel. Louis was suddenly hugging Terry, still dazed, still saying, "Jerry..."

Terry was tightly hugged by Louis, and he didn't dare to resist because he was afraid Louis would wake up. Terry slipped out of the tight embrace when Louis stopped talking, then quietly lay on one side listening to his steady breathing.

It's still not quite a morning at that time. Because yesterday's walk was quite long, Terry's body was tired. Thus, Terry feels a little sleepy as a result, so he also fell asleep unconsciously. Because this morning slumber comes so quickly, people have beautiful dreams. Terry saw his sister in a dream, no longer lying in a hospital bed at Hope Hospital, but running and jumping with him on the sandy shore of a peaceful and romantic fishing village.

But this beautiful moment was short-lived, as it was quickly replaced by bills with hospital bills, by the unhappy faces of the nurses collecting the money, causing Terry to speak nonsense subconsciously until he finally woke up.

Terry opened his eyes to find Louis standing in front of him, his hand pressed to the side of his cheek, softly asking, "Terry, are you okay?"

Terry swallowed a mouthful of saliva to put the dream behind him: "No! I'm okay! " only to have Louis nod and smile, saying, "That's good!" (– He wrinkled one eye slightly after saying that because he had accidentally touched the wound in his mouth. Terry noticed this and inquired, "Why are you in such a state?"

Louis gave a faint smile and said, "Absolutely nothing! It's very common! " 

When Terry found out about it, he asked, "Do you fight at work?"

Louis raised his eyebrows, indicating that Terry was correct: "Don't think I was beaten; I was the one who taught that jerk a lesson." Some of these injuries are simply scuffles from a fight! " 

"It must have been because that guy was overbearing." Terry replied softly, "That's why he was beaten so badly by you!"

Louis was smug, but upon hearing that sentence, he was taken aback and only curled his lips and smiled: "You think so?"

Terry nodded and stated truthfully, "You humiliated the dumpling owner on my behalf yesterday because she was so mean." In addition, you are such a generous person, willing to invite me to eat pho and sleep at your house; in this case, the guy beaten must have done something badly first! " 

Louis paused for a moment before nodding, only to hear Terry say softly, "You worked all night last night." Now go back to sleep, and I'm going to find work! " 

Terry stood up, his stomach suddenly rumbling. As it turned out, he was very hungry. Louis stood up and said, "I'm hungry anyway. Or it's not too late for you to have breakfast with me and then find a job!" What do you think? " 

Terry happily nodded and then quickly said, "Okay! Let me go to the kitchen! " 

"What are you doing in the kitchen?" Louis inquired.

Terry was embarrassed when he heard that and asked, "Don't you have instant noodles in the house?"

Louis responded immediately: "Ahh... I was just going to invite you out to dinner, but do you want to cook noodles? So, let me see how your cooking skills are! " 

Terry shook his head shyly and said, "Actually, I'm not a great cook, but I'm going to eat your instant noodles." Thus, I think it is better for me to prepare it for you, isn't it? " 

Louis smiled slightly. "You're right! However, don't be shy! I'm your friend! " 

When Terry left, he noticed a few eggs on the stove and asked softly, "Can I use these eggs to cook with noodles?"

Louis immediately said to him, "Sure! You can! All of the ingredients in the kitchen are now yours. " 

Terry quietly boiled water and picked up vegetables, then prepared two bowls of hot noodles and brought them to where Louis was sitting: "Here come the noodles!"

"Wow... it smells amazing! Terry, you're a fantastic cook! " Louis smiled.

Terry bowed his head shyly and exclaimed, "You're laughing at me!"

Louis smiled as he examined the two bowls of noodles, only to discover that his bowl contained green vegetables and eggs, while Terry's contained only noodles. "Why is your bowl of noodles empty?" he wondered.

"I don't like vegetables, so I didn't put them in!" Terry exclaimed.

"What about eggs?" Louis inquired after hearing this.

Terry opened his palm when he heard that. Louis only saw a white egg on it. Terry immediately brought it to his cheek. Louis was taken aback and asked, "You—what are you doing?" 

Terry said softly, "Isn't the side of your face bruised?" I'm using boiled eggs to remove the bruise! " 

The warm egg there rolled gently on Louis' cheek; Terry's attentive face was much warmer than that. Terry saw Louis engrossed in his gaze and asked softly, "Did I hurt you?"

When Louis heard that, he was startled: "No! No, it's just been a while... no, I mean just let me do it myself! " 

After saying that, Louis immediately picked up the egg from his bowl of noodles and put it in Terry's bowl: "Anyway, this egg has rolled on my face. It's okay if I put it in my mouth later." And you eat this egg! You look quite thin. You have to eat a lot to stay healthy and work! " 

Terry smiled as he heard that sentence, not sure if it was the heat from the bowl of noodles below or Louis' constant warmth, which made Terry feel extremely lucky because he was unexpectedly in this city, which lacks human love, and had a wonderful person like Louis. 

This bowl of noodles for Louis has a distinct flavor. Even if each packet of noodles contains the same seasoning packets, the bowl of noodles will have a distinct flavor if cooked by different people. By chance, Terry's bowl of noodles tasted very similar to that familiar flavor, which is the flavor that Louis had eaten before. Louis hadn't enjoyed this kind of taste in a long time. 

Terry saw Louis's eyes turn red and asked softly, "Are the noodles too spicy?" 

Louis shook his head, making the tears that were waiting for him roll down his eyelids. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down by forcing a smile: "No! Just eating this bowl of noodles reminds me of my adoptive father! " 

Terry suddenly remembered the picture of the gray-haired old man carefully hanging on the corner of the wall, and curiously asked: "Your adoptive father must be a very important person to you!"

Louis nodded and lost himself in thought: "I was raised as a street child." If I hadn't asked my adoptive father to bring me home that day, I would have died of starvation on the street. In addition to me, the adoptive father raised another boy named Jerry. My adoptive father is a very nice man who worked hard all year collecting ticks and bottles to earn money to support me, but God takes good people to heaven so early. My adoptive father died when I was ten years old. Jerry and I have relied on each other to survive since then. 

Terry heard the name "Jerry", remembered who Louis had called in his dream, and responded softly: "Sorry for reminding you of a sad story!"

Louis smiled, "It’s okay!" 

"So, where is he now?" Terry wondered.

Louis immediately widened his eyes to show that he didn't understand.

Terry continued, "Jerry!"

"Jerry... is also dead!" Louis exclaimed.

Terry was speechless at this point, biting his lip and saying, "So sorry!"

Louis quietly lowered his face and nodded, remembering two tragic events at the same time. Perhaps he was also depressed. 

Terry didn't want to say anything else and was intent on finishing the bowl of noodles. After a while, he and Louis finished eating, quickly gathered the dishes, and went to wash; when they returned, Louis was lying on the mattress.

Terry changed into a neat shirt and polite trousers before going out to look for work. He finally said, quietly, looking at Louis' sad expression: "Sorry for reminding you of the old story!" Now I'm going to look for work. I hope that you stop thinking about it and go to bed! " 

"Can you stay with me for a while?" Louis asked.

Terry was concerned when he heard this: "What's the problem, Louis?" Are you sick? " 

Louis said, shaking his head, "No! It's just that it's only six o'clock in the morning now. There are no businesses or factories in the city open yet. You should lie down and rest a little longer, then come out around eight o'clock! " 

Terry realized Louis had a valid point after hearing this. Terry also didn't think about it because he had previously lived in this big city. A ray of sunlight shone directly into Louis' face through the window, making him temporarily close his eyes. When Terry saw that scene, he went over to the mattress, sat down, took a newspaper, and leaned against the clock that was placed on a plastic box next to the mattress, blocking the sunlight that was shining directly on Louis' face.

Louis noticed this and quietly moved his arms around Terry's hips, closed his eyes, and said slowly, "You don't mind giving me a hug?"

Terry was embarrassed, but when he saw Louis' sad expression, he had to say softly, "It's okay." 

When Louis heard that, he tried to recall the previous time, then softly said: "I used to hug Jerry in this manner, while my foster father slept on a small bed." It was a wonderful time. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to go back in time! " 

Terry suddenly remembered his grandmother and sister, and in his heart, he understood how Louis was feeling right now. He quietly allowed himself to lie down next to Louis, allowing him to easily hug him.

"Don't be sad any longer." Terry softly consoled.

Terry, I'd like to ask you a question... I'm not sure if you're like... like me. " 

Terry didn't think much of it when he heard Louis ask that question, but he immediately responded, "Yes." 

Louis' voice was tinged with joy: "Really?" Are you similar to me? " 

"That's right!" Terry replied, nodding. I also have a grandmother who adores me. Despite being old and frail, my grandmother tolerated the sun and rain in recent years and worked hard to raise our two brothers. Our situation was already difficult, but our sister became seriously ill. I'm afraid Stella will abandon her grandmother and me one day if I don't make a lot of money to take care of her... just like your little brother Henry! " 

When Louis heard Terry say that, he realized he didn't understand what he meant and felt a little embarrassed. "Ah... So there you have it. Sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up. Yours is a heartbreaking tale. I can only hope your little sister gets well soon! " 

Terry then nodded softly and said, "I hope so too! She is currently being treated at Hope Hospital, which is a good hospital. " 

Louis replied, "Hope hospital? It is such an extremely good hospital. Not only that but there are also very talented and kind doctors. There is also a volunteer group that distributes food to poor patients. On weekends, I usually take the bus there to help them! " 

When Terry heard that he said happily, "Is that so?" You look very familiar with Hope Hospital! " 

Louis nodded and said, "Jerry was treated there." But when his illness was discovered, it was too late, so Jerry couldn't make it through. However, during the treatment at Hope Hospital, Jerry was treated with great care by the doctor there, and especially, there was a super kind doctor who helped me pay the hospital bills!"

Terry had some hope when he heard about it: "I just hope Stella recovers quickly." My grandmother and I are currently in a very difficult situation. I'm afraid I won't be able to pay Stella's hospital bills if I don't earn money to help my grandmother! " 

When Louis saw Terry's sad expression, he grabbed my hand and said, from the corner of his mouth, "If your situation is so dire, Should you remain here from now on? This entire row of motels exists because my boss allowed us to stay for free. In any case, I'm alone. It will be a lot more fun if you stay, and importantly, it will help you save a lot of money. " 

Terry enthusiastically responded, "Really? It's fortunate for me to hear that! Thank you incredibly much! " 

Louis responded with a smile and said, "Anyway, I don't have any relatives at the moment." Besides, our circumstances are similar, or... let's treat each other like brothers. I haven't felt this much love in a long time! " 

Terry's heart was a little warm. He nodded in agreement after hearing that sentence. Louis smiled and opened his eyes as well, saying, "Despite the fact that we are the same age, my appearance is much more mature than yours." To make it fairer, how about we play rock-paper-scissors and see who wins? The winner will be "brother"? Do you agree with that? " 

Terry also happily replied, "That's fine!"

Louis immediately counted the numbers: "Now... 1... 2... 3..." 

Louis's voice had just ended, Terry's hand pulled out, and Louis pulled out a hammer. Winning or losing was determined just like that. Louis smiled and hugged Terry tightly, turned his face to face him, and said in a warm, soft voice, "Call me brother!"

Terry also had no way to obediently respond with a "Brother", immediately after being held by Louis on his head: "Get some sleep!"

Terry could feel the warmth in Louis's arms. It was a little comforting to think about the similar situations of two people; at least in this strange city, there was someone who loved them. 

They hugged each other to sleep for a long time, just like that. Outside, the birds sing nonstop, making the room more peaceful!