Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?



"Jake? If you don't say anything, is our big brother coming in?"

After a long silence without getting a response, Alex, growing anxious, pushed the door open to go in.

Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open, and there stood Jake, his upper body soaked, with water dripping from his hair.

But that wasn't all.

He looked as pale as a ghost, clearly out of sorts, moving as if he were a shadow of himself.

What happened?

Alex didn't know the specifics, but he had heard from the nurse that Emily had been here.

It must have something to do with Emily.

Seeing his brother like this, did they have another fight? And a serious one at that?

Alex let out a barely audible sigh, "Jake..."

He wanted to offer some words of comfort, but words were never his strong suit.

"Big brother." Jake forced a smile, more pained than cheerful, "You're here?"

"Yeah."

Alex nodded, filled with concern for his brother, "You're all wet. Go change, you have therapy later." "Right, big brother."

Jake's smile widened, somehow more brilliant yet more tragic.

Alex couldn't bear to watch and instructed the caregiver, "Please help Mr. Jake."

"Of course."

As Jake went to change, Alex turned and picked up his phone to call Sarah.

"I've found Jake..."

He had intended to keep it from Sarah, hoping it would give Emily and his brother more time together. But now, they had fallen out.

Perhaps, it would be better with more people around him.

After the call, Jake came out in fresh clothes, supported by the caregiver to lie down on the bed.

The nurse came in for his treatment and noticed his hand was bleeding.

"Mr. Jake's hand needs to be bandaged."

Without the nurse mentioning it, Alex wouldn't have noticed. Drawing closer, he saw his brother's hands,

scarred and blood-stained, probably

injured while smashing things.

"Thank you."

"It's my duty."

The nurse fetched the necessary supplies, cleaned the wound, applied medicine, and then bandaged it.

Alex watched his brother, unsure of how to comfort him.

Matters of the heart weren't something he knew how to deal with.

"Jake!"

The door burst open, and there was Sarah in her wheelchair, pushed in by a caregiver. "What happened here?"

"You're here." Jake greeted with a wide smile, shaking his head, "It's nothing, just a scratch."

Sarah and Alex exchanged looks, not believing his story.

།

They had known each other since childhood. Couldn't they tell when he was hurting? His injuries weren't just physical; the deeper wounds were in his heart.

After the ordeal, Jake's fever spiked again.

The doctor came for a check-up and increased his medication.

Scolding, "How could you let him get drenched? He's already suffering from pneumonia; this is the worst thing for him!"

Alex instructed the caregiver, "From now on, keep a close eye on Mr. Jake. If you need help, I'll find someone else to assist." "Understood, Mr. Alex."

With the fever muddling his mind, Jake drifted in and out of consciousness.

Outside the room, Sarah had a barrage of questions for Alex.

"Was it Emily?"

"..." Alex remained silent, "I'm not sure."

"Hmph!"

Sarah scoffed, her understanding clear, "You deliberately delayed telling me, just to let Emily come and hurt him?"

Alex wanted to defend himself but couldn't find the words. "I didn't know it would end up like this."

"You guys Sarah shook her heat

frustration evident, "How many times have I told you, Emily doesn't truly care for Jake? Yet you never

listen!" es

Alex had no rebuttal.

"Go on, you have things to do." Sarah's anger subsided a bit, "I'll stay with Jake."Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.