When the doctor left, Ly Giai and I took care of Si like how he told us to. Just preparing medicine and cleaning him took us a few hours to finish.

  After Si, we moved on to the other patients.

  While waiting for the medicine for, Ly Giai and I came up with an idea to put up veils between the patients to keep their privacy when we have to clean them.

  "Hi, Miss Tu. I have the medicine ready for you here. Let me help you sit up to drink it easier." Ly Giai seemed to have an easy time with the female patient.

  So I tried copying her, but I was much more nervous. "Hi, Mister... Sao. I have... medicine here. Let me help you sit up."

  Mr. Sao glanced at me and turned the other way. I tried to help him sit up, but he shouted. "Don't touch me!" It was loud enough that the other two heard and turned our way.

  "But you need the medicine..."

  "I will never drink anything that you touch! Don't come near me! Filthy rapist!"

  I was damaged by his words. I just wanted to help. I even got permission from the doctor, but my reputation was forever haunting me. I felt the eyes of the other patients silently watching me, all with the same look as Sao.

  "I... understand," I whispered and left the tent.

  I returned to the medicine tent and set the bowl down. I stared at the dark liquid and became lost in it. The medicine was dark, so dark that I could see myself in it.

  I stared at it for a long time, a very long time. My mind was completely blanked and consumed by it.

  "Do," a gentle voice behind me pulled me back to reality. It was Ly Giai.

  "Ly Giai..." I slowly turned.

  She then looked at me in and said gently. "I believe in you."

  I smiled, feeling a little better. "Right. Thank you."

  "Give them some time. Eventually, they will feel the same as I am. That accusation... you will be able to leave it behind."

  "I'm not even sure if I am truly innocent, Ly Giai," I honestly said. "What if I did it? Then..."

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  "Do," Ly Giai cut me.

  "Yes?" I replied.

  "Believe in yourself, like how I believe in you," she said confidently with a slight punch on my chest.

  ...

  "You say that. But you must be... doubted me as well."

  Ly Giai smiled. "Never," she answered without hesitation. "I trust my eyes, heart, and life. My eyes see Do is a good person, my heart loves felt Do the good person, and my life was saved by Do the good person."

  I was speechless, and couldn't think of anything. I froze and stared at Ly Giai slowly getting closer to me. She raised her hands and touched my face.

  "You are crying?" she said gently.

  "What?" I touched my face. There were tears without me ever knowing. "Haha. How many times have you been saying nice things like this to me? And yet every time, I couldn't help myself," I laughed in happiness while wiping the tears away.

  Ly Giai suddenly hugged me.

  "L... Ly Giai?"

  "I'm here for you Do, whenever you need."

  I was stunned in place, didn't know how to act.

  Ly Giai looked up and demanded, "Hug me."

  "Ah right!" I nervously laughed.

  Slowly relaxing my body, I wrapped one hand around her waist and the other on her head. We stayed in that position for who knows how long, but at that moment, I just wished for time to end, so that this moment would last forever.

  In each other's arms, I felt the caring, warmth, and gentleness of Ly Giai. Her soft hands and fragile body, which deserved to only live in comfort and happiness, not having to be stuck bearing the ruthlessness of others with me.

  Eventually, we left the hug and returned to reality. Usually, Ly Giai and I would be clumsy and nervous after these kinds of moments.

  "Let me reheat and give the medicine to Mister Sao," she said.

  After the medicine was reheated, Ly Giai was about to take the medicine to the patient's tent, but I stopped her. "Let me."

  "He won't drink if it's you," she explained.

  "I'll figure it... somehow. If I fail, then I'll let you try," I insisted.

  I took the medicine to the patients' tent. Taking a deep breath to prepare myself, I stepped in.

  "Didn't I say that I won't have medicine from you!" Mr. Sao still refused me.

  "Please keep your voice down. The other patients are resting," I reminded him in a serious voice.

  Realizing that, he lowered his voice. "Anyways, leave! I don't want to see you!"

  "I need to give you medicine and clean you once a day. That's what the doctor instructed me," I stubbornly said.

  "Hah! You think I'll let you touch me! Ridiculous. Where is the doctor? I want to speak to him!"

  "The doctor is busy with other patients. You are not the only patient here Mister Sao. He gave me clear instructions on how to take care of you. There is no need to bother him. Or are you expecting young lady Ly Giai to clean you?"

  "Absurd! Of course not!"

  "Right," I nodded. I then put the medicine bowl down and said one last thing before leaving. "You must know that our medicine is precious, especially in this condition. This medicine could save someone else, but I let you decide if this bowl should be wasted or not."

  I left the tent to see Ly Giai was waiting outside. She asked, "Will he drink it?"

  "I think Mr. Sao has a good heart at his core. He wouldn't let the medicine be wasted after I said it could save another person."

  "What makes you say that?"

  I shrugged, "That's just how I feel."

  Ly Giai took a peek inside the tent and smiled. "Well, I think you're right. He is drinking the medicine."

  After that, using the same argument, I was able to convince the other male patients to take their medicine as well. But just like Mr. Sao, they also strongly refused to let me clean them.