Chapter 6
Muaj Tsheeb: “I would had thought you’ve gone by now. You told my Pog, you had some business to prepare for later in the day. Why are you still here?” He had a thing for jolting down everyone’s exact words.
Nuj Tsim: “I came to say a quick Hi, to Tsab. But I stumble upon, Hli Nra.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “You two know each other?” He slightly turns his head to eye Hli Nra at the corner of his eyes.
At the same time Nuj Tsim said “yes we know each other”, while Hli Nra said “no we don’t know each other.”
Nuj Tsim: “Fine, Hli Nra. What do you want to say to Nuj Nraim? I’ll relay the message to him.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “Nuj Nraim?” He thought quietly since it was the name of the male voice that Hli Nra had to talked to on the phone before. Not only that, he recognize Nuj Tsim’s voice now. “Nuj Tsim, you are very slick. Afraid people will know you’re cheating on my sister, you use an alias identity to fool around with women.” He thinks to himself.
Hli Nra: “Regarding Nuj Nraim and my relationship, he’s a friend. As for Nuj Tsim and me, I don’t know him. He’s only just a stranger to me.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “Really Hli Nra?” He sat down next to her and purposely put his hand on top of hers that was on her lap. He kept his eyes on Nuj Tsim and could see him uneasy. “Since you are not feeling well; how about I take you to the hospital to get some medicine?”
Hli Nra: “Do you do this with all your female workers?” She teased. Muaj Tsheeb kept his cool but squeezed her hand and clears his throat.
Muaj Tsheeb: “Like I’ve said before, I don’t want anyone to die on my land.” He makes a call to Tsab to make sure he relay the message to his mother that Hli Nra was off with him for that day. “Let’s go.”
Hli Nra: “What are you doing?” She muttered quietly.
Muaj Tsheeb: “Just go without any question asked.” He whispers back. “Oh. You’re probably too weak to go. I’ll help you.”
Hli Nra: “Muaj Tsheeb…” She shrieks quietly as he lifts her up from the bed.
Muaj Tsheeb: “Put your arm around my neck or you’ll fall.” He pretends to loosen his grip and lower her down. Scared, she wraps her arm around him.
Hli Nra: “Muaj Tsheeb, where are you taking me?”
Muaj Tsheeb: “Didn’t you hear? I said we’re going to the hospital.” Muaj Tsheeb walked with her in his arms around Nuj Tsim as they head out.
Hli Nra: “I don’t want to go.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “Why not?”
Hli Nra: “Because…”
Muaj Tsheeb: “Because?”
Hli Nra: “Doctors….sharp…needles….” She shakes the thoughts out. “Can you at least let me down. I can walk on my own.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “Let you down so you can run from me.”
Hli Nra: “Aren’t you tired carrying me back and forth like this.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “If it aggravates someone, then I don’t feel tire at all.” He thought to himself, referring to Nuj Tsim. The eerie smirk on her face make her feel uncomfortable. “You said you wanted someone to comfort you, so just take advantage of the opportunity.”
Hli Nra: “When did I say that?”
Muaj Tsheeb: “You were unconsciously mumbling words.”
Hli Nra: “How embarrassing.” She tells herself. “Is it really a necessity to go to the hospital?” She asked him.
Muaj Tsheeb: “Of course, we need to know if it’s just a flu you got there or something more, it’s for the safety of the other workers.”
Hli Nra: “Aren’t you afraid of catching it then being this close to me?” She was trying to get him to release her.
Muaj Tsheeb: “I’m healthy and don’t catch the flu that easy.”
Muaj Tsheeb got to his car and carefully put her inside. “I don’t need to go. It’s just a little cold. It will wear off in a few days. Uh. Muaj Tsheeb…” He shuts the door and walk around his car to the driver’s side. She was trying to utter something but couldn’t get it out.
Muaj Tsheeb: “Going out with me today, I’ll consider it a day’s worth of labor and will be subtracting it from your debt?” He drives off. “But for that to take effect there’s a rule you’ll have to oblige. Keep your lips seal for the whole day, unless i tell you to speak, or I’ll drop that offer.”
Hli Nra: “Can I ask something first before the rule applies?”
Muaj Tsheeb: “No. It already started.” Distraught Hli Nra slump back. Throughout the whole ride she remains quiet. Though Muaj Tsheeb was driving and keeping his eyes on the road he was also sneaking peeks at Hli Nra was couldn’t sit still. She was fondling with her fingers like crazy. She looked as if she wanted to jump out the window at every red light he stopped at, but she sat still.
Muaj Tsheeb takes her to a clinic where the contracted doctor for his workers worked at. The doctor had known Muaj Tsheeb since he was a child and he was loyal servant of the Hawj family. As they walked inside, Muaj Tsheeb casually walk forward. Hli Nra followed way behind emotionless, slowly like a snail and just dragging herself. Muaj Tsheeb sighed and stops in his steps causing Hli Nra to walk into his back and brought her to life.
Muaj Tsheeb: “Why are you so slow?”
Hli Nra signed her name on the signup sheet and headed off with a nurse who gave her a quick check up. Hli Nra went to freshen herself up after that followed the nurse. They headed toward the doctor’s office. However they meet up Muaj Tsheeb in the waiting area.
Muaj Tsheeb: “What is wrong with her?”
Nurse: “She just has a slight fever, nothing serious.”
The doctor came out of the office to greet Muaj Tsheeb who he hasn’t seen in awhile. Hli Nra quickly hides herself behind Muaj Tsheeb, clutching to the back of his shirt like a child.
Doctor: “Muaj Tsheeb, what brings you here?” He tries to look over Muaj Tsheeb’s shoulder to see who was behind him. “Who’s this? Is she your girlfriend?”
Muaj Tsheeb: “She’s just a worker.”
Doctor: “What kind of boss comes here with their laborer?”
Muaj Tsheeb: “One who cares of course.”
Doctor: “Don’t need to deny. Saying that she’s just a worker, you’re going to make her feel sad.” The nurse comes and distracts their conversation. “Alright. I’ll take care of it. Do you have a room ready for me? He took some paper works from the nurse and turns back to Muaj Tsheeb. “Please follow me.”
Inside the room the doctor asked Hli Nra to sit on the bed and she did so unwillingly. Just as she sat down she could see the doctor preparing an antibiotics shot. She then gazes at Muaj Tsheeb with puppy eyes, wanting him to help her. He had forgotten their discussion earlier and didn’t understand why Hli Nra wouldn’t just say what it was that was bothering. Her hand clutches together while she looks around.
Doctor: “Muaj Tsheeb?” He flicks the needle. “Why don’t you console her? I need her relax.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “She’s not a child anymore. There’s no need for that.”
Doctor: “Whether it is a child or an adult, they need someone to comfort them when they’re hurt. I remember when you were a child, we always had to hold you down just to get a shot. Why don’t I inject you and see how you react now that you’re an adult.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “Stop, no!”
Doctor: “Why did you shout Muaj Tsheeb, do you know patients are in the other rooms? You’re going to end up scaring them.”
Muaj Tsheeb: “Hli Nra, are you ready?”
He puts the spotlight on her as he went to sit by her side. The doctor pours seventy percent alcohol onto a cotton ball and brought it over to them. He uses the soaked cotton ball to wipe a spot off her arm. Hli Nra rested her head on his shoulder, shut her eye tightly and unconsciously slid her hand into Muaj Tsheeb’s hand. Her actions cause Muaj Tsheeb to have quick déjà vu. Once the needled was injected into Hli Nra’s skin and the antibiotic was inserted into her vein, she squeezes Muaj Tsheeb’s hand.
*Flash back*
Girl kid voice: “If you’re afraid it will hurt, you can anguish the pain by holding my hand.”
*Flash back ends*
Doctor: “You can open your eyes now child, it’s all done.” He put a bandage patch on it.
Hli Nra opens her eyes and sat down straight. For a little while she had a strange feeling, so she slightly turns to face Muaj Tsheeb who was frozen in time. She had just realized their hands still clutched each others. The longer she stared at him the more she felt she was about to get an anxiety attack.
*Flash back*
The farm house was home to Hli Nra’s and a second home to Hli Nra’s uncle when they were unwanted by her uncle’s wife. They had to stay there many nights to clear up the weeds from their crops before they get to go to the main house.
One day Hli Nra’s uncle brought a unconscious boy to their farm house. Hli Nra’s uncle had to find food for them, so he had gone hunting and found the boy floating near the river bed. At the farm house her uncle had gently flip the boy over and had Hli Nra hold the wound at the side of his waist while he sew it close, then he bandaged the boy’s waist.
A few days later Hli Nra’s uncle was going to take off the string since the wound had already seal but the boy look nervous.
Girl kid voice: “If you’re afraid it will hurt, you can anguish the pain by holding my hand.” She sat by his side and raised her hand to offer it to him. He shoves it away. “You must miss your parents.”
Boy kid voice: “Parents?” His denial had just dispersed when he realized he had no parents, not anymore. No one would worry that he’s out lost in the wildness.
Girl kid voice: “Did I speak some wrong words?” From his expression he was probably parentless like her. “Even if there’s not here, they still exist in your heart and overlooking you from beyond heaven.” He still wanted to be left alone. “If you hurt, I’m willing to hurt with you.”
Boy kid voice: “Really?”
Girl kid voice: “Why do you think the first day you arrive here and won’t eat, that I went on a diet as well? If you can’t sleep I can’t sleep.”
Boy kid voice: “Yes. And if you work I had to work, if you looked for food I had to look for food.”
Girl kid voice: “Yes, vice versa.” She looks over his shoulder. “My uncle is going to take off the string now, please be prepared.” He closes his eyes and slid his hand with hers.
Boy kid voice: “You seem as scared as I am, yet you’re pretending to be so brave.” He can feel her quaver a bit. He squeezed her hand as the tingly sensation of the thread slid out.
*Flash back ends*
The nurse came into the room surprising both of them. They both slid their hand out and stood up casual. The nurse gave Muaj Tsheeb a note of what the doctor had prescribed Hli Nra.