Chapter 95 95

Chapter 95 95
It’s been the weirdest experience of his entire adult life…not having a job…or homework.

For the past week Dylan’s only responsibility has been taking care of Andre, which even that isn’t really needing much anymore. 

It’s a waiting game at this point.

Andres completed his prescriptions and showed absolutely no signs of infection.

He won’t say it out loud but Dylan absolutely takes complete credit for that—if it weren’t for him Andre would’ve been training as if nothing ever happened the very next day. 

Meathead.

Looking around the kitchen Dylan feels embarrassed for the way he just laughed out loud to himself. 

Thankfully Andre is in the shower, and his parents seem to be busy with Hyeri. 

Dylan rolls his eyes and returns to looking through his emails. 

Denis told him to be on the lookout for a communication from the bank…but so far nothing has come through yet.

Dylan didn’t have it in him to tell his grandma on the phone this morning about the money fiasco. 

She’s trying to figure out her own stuff so she can move—he doesn’t need to give her any reasons to fight with his mother. 

Not when they’re just waiting for the unit she will be moving in to pass the routine inspection. 

So close.

He’s about to shut down his computer when an email pops up from the hospital he worked at.

The subject titled reading ‘congratulations 2023 scholarship recipient’. huh? His need to have zero unread mails leaves him with no choice but to open it…and now he’s even more confused.

The scholarship from the hospital is only for interns—which he was not.

He was always just a part-timer who got the job because Hyolyn loved him. 

He’s never even bothered filling out the scholarship form because one look at his parents financial situation and he wouldn’t be considered further anyway.

Convinced it’s spam, he just deletes the email.

But then Andre emerges from the hallway with Dylan’s phone in his hand, “hey baby, someone’s calling you but the number isn’t saved.”

He stares at the number, it looks familiar but not enough to know immediately who it is.

‘hello, this is Dylan.’

‘hey! How is it going?’

‘Hyolyn?’

‘Yeah! This is your new phone number right? Jay passed it on to me.’

‘It is…Listen, I’m sorry for leaving suddenly and only sending an email—’

‘Dylan, that’s not why I’m calling. I got your email and completely understand.’

‘Oh…then why are you??’

‘So…every year staff are allowed to refer students to apply for the scholarship the hospital offers.’

‘Yes, for hospital interns…working towards med programs…’

‘Typically, yes…but it’s up to the scholarship board to consider candidates, there’s a difference between students who apply and employee referrals—anyways, I nominated you for it. 

The committee retrieved your unofficial transcript and various character references were submitted as well from your coworkers, myself, Sean from last summer, Jay...’

‘I don’t understand…’

‘You won, silly. So I need to know the address to send your reward check to. Your last paycheck deposit was rejected so I need to mail you the paper copy of that check as well.’

‘hold on, what do you mean I won? I’m not…I’m not studying for this field. That should absolutely go to someone that is actually working towards it—it’s not fair.’

‘Wow..’ she chuckles softly ‘I’ve never had someone deny their scholarship before.”

“But honey, it’s already yours. You’ve been working with us every summer since you were a senior in high school, you put in more than enough time to be eligible.  And all of the people here who think your presence in the summer makes a huge difference, agree.  I was going to tell you about the nomination at your next shift, but obviously…you weren’t there. So it’s kind of fun to tell you about it knowing you already won.’Andre sits down in the chair next to him, a bowl of chocolate chip ice cream with two spoons to share.” 

The way his face is red, tells Dylan that he already knew.

‘Hyolyn…I’m at a loss for words.’

‘You don’t need to give me anything other than your address. Congratulations.’

‘I—’ Dylan gnaws on his lip, finding Andre’s eyes who smiles brightly at him. ‘—I’ll text it to you.’

“‘Great! You should be getting an email with all of the details, but just a run down. It’s not like regular academic scholarships. You are receiving a check and what you do with it is up to you. Obviously, the intention is to directly help with university costs. But it’s up to you whether that goes to tuition, room and board, paying for your ramen or whatever college kids eat now a days.”

‘Thank you…really. Thank you so much.’

‘Aw, don’t thank me! Thank you for being one of the best student workers I’ve ever had! We all miss you and wish you the best in your future endeavors!’

As soon as the phone call ends Dylan faces Andre to question him, but a spoonful of ice cream is pressed to his lips. “So good right?”

Dylan lets it melt and scoots his chair closer, hand grabbing Andre’s and tugging it into his lap. “If you knew I was nominated for something, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know, Jay just told me like two days ago.”

He huffs, “So you’ve known for two days and didn’t tell me.”

“Baby, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’ve been dealing with a lot.”

Dylan nods in agreement, leaning forward to steal the bite Andre prepared for himself.

But Andre pulls the spoon back, sealing their lips together instead, “I'm so proud of you.”

“I didn’t even do anything…”

“Dylan, your existence made such an impact on that hospital that your boss chose to go out of her way to collect character references and nominate you for a scholarship. People don’t just do that.”

It’s true…he knows that Andre isn’t wrong…but it just doesn’t feel real.

When Andre finally gives him another bite of the ice-cream, Dylan recovers the email and nearly loses his eye balls as he reads it.

“What does it say?”

“Andre…they’re sending me a check for twenty thousand dollars.”

“Holy shit!”

“That…” Dylan’s jaw is open, head spinning, as he remembers the numbers from last year's bills combined, “…it literally covers all of my room and board…” there’s no way. 

This has to be fake. He’s going to wake up any second and be back in that room feeling worthless.

He’ll be back to working six days a week and counting down the hours until returning to campus.

But then Andre presses an ice cold, sloppy kiss to his cheek and reminds him just how real this is, “hell yes! You should even have some left over right? That's amazing! That’s the universe coming right back to you, baby.”

Dylan stares at the email as Andre spoon feeds him ice cream until their bowl is empty. Andre closing his laptop, pulls him from his thoughts, “So now, there’s no stress involved with what you and mom are working on. She will get your money, but in the mean time you know that everything with school is taken care of.”

“I think I’m going into shock.”

“Don’t do that..” Andre laughs against Dylan’s temple. Pressing several kisses before standing to clean out their bowl. “..we’ve got like three episodes to catch up on. You wanna call it a night and have an anime celebration so you don’t go into shock at the dining table?”

“Yeah” Dylan smiles ridiculously wide, his heart is pounding with so much excitement, “I really want to.”

Cuddled up together beneath the warm blanket, Dylan keeps subtly pinching himself.

For once in his life…is everything really going to be okay?