"It's a glioblastoma." The doctor, Jennie, said.
"You have multifocal glioblastomas. They are the cause of your dizziness and vomiting. I will find out more with a biopsy. But the location of your tumors isn't ideal." She added.
Nodding my head, eyes focused on the MRI, "I see." I said, "Okay." She mumbled, confused at my reaction.
Squinting my eyes, "Do you perform the biopsy on the weekend?" I asked, "No, I don't." She immediately replied.
"How many days will it take to do the biopsy?" I asked again. Jennie then brought her laser out, encircling something on the MRI, on what I assume is where my tumor is located, "It will take at least a week." She replied.
"That won't work." quickly informing her, "Pardon?" She asked as her eyes widened, "I can't." I answered.
Grabbing the MRI, my attention now is on her, "You can't do a biopsy?" I nodded, "No, I can't take a week off from work." I added.
"Shouldn't you put your health before your work?" She asked, shaking my head, "I'm not sure. Anyway, I can't take a week off." I replied.
"Then, let's not do the test. If you get the surgery, you'll have 3 years. Without it, you'll have a year and a half. And you won't be able to live normally for those 3 years either. You may suffer from hemiplegia, a speech disorder, and a cognitive disorder as well. Getting a biopsy can be risky enough." She stated.
"It's risky?" I asked, "Yes." She immediately replied, "Will I die?" I asked again, silence engulfed the room before she answered, "Yes."
Nodding my head, "I see. Okay." I said and smiled at her, "How's Ruby?" She smiled as I mentioned her daughter's name.
"She's okay. A beautiful pesky girl." She replied, chuckling, "Indeed she is." I nod agreeing to what she said.
As I was about to leave the room, Jennie grabbed my arm, "Why won't you, Li?" She asked, I smiled at her and patted her hand.
"Because." Opening the door, looking back at her. "Don't tell Lary and Rosie about this." She opened her mouth and closed, "Please." I said, interrupting her.
She looked at me, exhaling a sigh and nodded, "Thank you. I'll visit Ruby soon and I will call you if I do." I smiled, bid my goodbye and left.
Exiting the room after hearing the news, I walked slowly down the corridor.
Glioblastoma.
Glioblastoma.
My phone rang interrupting my thoughts, without looking at the caller I clicked the answer button.
"Where are you?" A raspy voice asked, "No hello? I see." Hearing a faint tsk at the other end, "Hospital." I added it immediately.
"What?! Why? What happened to you? Are you okay? Are you dying?" She asked, bombarding me with questions.
A laugh escapes my lips, momentarily forgetting about the news, "No. I'm not, just a headache." I answered not telling her that I am indeed dying.
"Hey, Li are you still there?" Blinking rapidly, "Yeah. Anyway, why did you call? Worried?" I asked teasingly.
"You have a race tonight." At the mention of race, a smirk slowly forms on my lips, posture now straight, body now alive, and giddy.
"Time and Location." I said, "11 pm. Usual place." She answered, "Okay copy that, thanks Lary." I said and ended the call.
The Kims. Lareina the oldest of the three, Jennie the middle one, and Rosie the youngest. I became their friend when I rescued Rosie from her bullies thus a friendship quickly formed between us, then eventually meeting the two.
Rosie was my closest out of three given that we have the same age, although she's in Australia right now, we still keep in touch with each other. But only Lareina or Lary as what I call her, knows that I race and also the one who became my 'manager' as what she calls herself.
⚜
As I enter my coffee shop, a door chimes softly, "Welcome back boss ma'am." Luca happily greeted me behind the counter, a tsk came out from me hearing what he called me.
I told them not to call me that.
"How's your walk boss ma'am?" A petite girl, wearing a dark brown apron wiping a nearby table asked.
Sighing, "Usual Lily." I answered.
I stationed myself behind the counter, wearing an apron, wiping the counter, and refilling some cakes and muffins. Checking and cleaning the machines.
"Anything happened?" I casually asked.
"You won't believe who just left and ordered some coffee." Louise excitedly said, eyes sparkling with admiration.
A chuckle escaped from me seeing his reaction, "Do pray tell me what made you so happy." I said with an amused smile.
"Tony freaking Stark!" Louise said, sighing dreamily.
Furrowing my eyebrows at what he said, "Excuse me, who?" I asked, nonchalantly.
Both boys looked at me, jaw dropping at my question. "W-who? You don't know who Tony Stark is?" Luca asks.
Shaking my head, Lily gasped, "You're kidding right?" Leo now joined our conversation.
"Did I stutter, boy?" I deadpanned.
"He owns Stark Industries, the big-"
"The big ugly tower with an A on the side?" I ask, interrupting Lego. The five of them laughed at me, "What?" I ask confusingly looking at them, "Just stating what I saw." I added.
Shaking their heads as they get back to their work. As night falls, Lary casually enters the shop. Greetings can be heard from the six of them, she then sits on her favorite spot — at the corner where you can see everything outside.
Hours later the shop closed, the five of them bid their goodbye, and after making sure everything was in the right place, I walked towards Lary.
Sitting in front of her, placing two caramel macchiato on the table — our favorite.
"Hey." I said, she hummed and looked at me. "When is Rosie going to visit?" I asked.
She sighed, "She's still unsure of it. You know she's busy with her upcoming fashion show in Australia, plus she just recently met her soulmate, which leaves me the only one out of three of us who's yet to find my soulmate." she answered.
"Hey, I didn't find mine yet, so I feel you." She looked at me, raising an eyebrow at me then scoffed, "You're hiding from them remember?"
I nodded, "Yeah I forgot." I answered snickering at her, "Why, if you don't mind me asking, are you hiding from them, soulmates are your significant other, you know who will love and protect you, so why?"
"I do mind you asking me about that matter." Rolling her eyes, "Just because." I said and shrugged.
"So about the race." She said, eyes now watching outside.
Following her, my eyes now observing people, "Nervous as usual, but I'll win. I always do." I answered now facing her, a smirk plaster in my face.
She looked at me and scoffed. "Of course you'll win, your Elisha Mikazuki Greil, the Midnight herself, the undefeated racer." She said, sarcastically.
We laughed at our antics and silently drank our coffee, enjoying the serene silence.
'If you get the surgery, you'll have 3 years. Without it, you'll have a year and a half.'
"Lary?" She hummed, placing a hand under her chin.
"What would you do if you only have a year and a half left?" I asked.
She looked at me, eyes analyzing my face. Placing the cup back on its saucer, intertwining her hands on the table, "Why ask?" She asked, shrugging at her.
Lary sighed, "Well, if I only have a year and a half left. I want to find my soulmate first, if not, then I want to pursue my dreams to become a famous actress or singer. Travel the world and go shopping. Eat my favorite foods, delicious foods. Adopt a dog or two."
I nodded, "Okay." I mumbled, "Then, we'll do it together." I added.
Her eyes widened, "Pardon?" She asked.
"I said we'll do it together, minus the actress and singer part, but we'll do everything together — find your soulmate, travel, shop, adopt a dog." I replied.
Doubtfully looking at me as her eyebrows furrowed, "Something isn't right." She said.
I shook my head and chuckled, "No, everything is alright Lary. I just want to do it." I smoothly lied.
"What is it, Li? You're hiding something." She asked.
"It's really nothing Lary, just let me do things for you, you know as my thanks." I answered.
A tsk can be heard from her, "You always do things for us Li, besides you're like our sister, your family to us." She stated.
My eyes stung at what I heard.
A family that I'll leave soon.
Averting my eyes away as I looked outside. Hoping that she didn't see my eyes that started to water, blinking rapidly, pushing the tears down.
A deep sigh escaped from me as I continued to watch the people pass by.