The Mysterious Chairman Keith

Chapter 24

WHAT IS THIS TEA?

“How's my father doing?!” Manuel asked over the phone. 

He was on call with Christopher, who happened to be there, taking care of his father. 

“You might want to see him…” Christopher chuckled over the phone. 

Manuel nodded and dropped the phone, his gaze on the wall for a moment. 

Then, he stood up at once and motioned to the door.

“Get the car ready. We're heading to the hospital now.” 

Laura nodded and at once, she sent the driver to make sure the car was ready and spotless. 

When Manuel got outside, he saw how neat and ready the car was and a smirk spread out across his lips. 

Never has he thought in his life that a day he'd be giving commands would come. It was something he never dreamt of and now, he was living life to the fullest. 

Soon, they moved and in no time the driver stopped in front of the hospital and rushed to open the door for Manuel, before he did that himself.

Laura had warned him not to allow Manuel to open the door by himself ever again, even though Manuel didn't think much about it, even though it didn't matter to him.

He stepped out of the car slowly, the hospital looming ahead of him.

The doors slid open before they even got there. He hated the smell of drugs after everything he went through in the hospital for the one he loved. 

That was behind him now, he looked ahead and saw the doctors and nurses going about their activities.

His footsteps echoed as he walked down the corridor toward the private ward reserved for Dave Keith. 

He never thought his short and peaceful reunion would later end in hospital visits. He was yet to find the real cure to his father's ailment, but still, the hospital was doing a great job managing him.

Just then, a man wearing a white coat stood outside the room, carrying a book that looked like a file.

He looked up when he noticed Manuel approaching.

“Mr. Keith,” the doctor said, offering a respectful nod. “You’re right on time.”

Manuel returned the nod. “How is he?”

The doctor hesitated, just enough for Manuel to notice. He didn’t like that pause.

“Your father’s condition is… stable,” the doctor began carefully. “But fragile.”

Manuel folded his hands behind his back. “Explain.”

The doctor sighed lightly. “The poison in his system is unlike anything we typically deal with. It’s dormant, but it hasn’t disappeared. His body is fighting it remarkably, but that resistance is weakening.”

“So he’s not getting better,” Manuel said flatly.

“He’s not getting worse,” the doctor corrected gently. “Not yet. But we’re maintaining a balance. One disruption could change everything.”

Manuel’s gaze went over to where his father was lying. “How long?”

The doctor looked straight at him. “That’s the question I can’t answer.”

He tapped the screen of the tablet he was holding on his other hand. “For now, he’s stable enough to be monitored without aggressive intervention. Only physical stress will trigger his decline.”

Manuel put both his arms in his pocket and then looked up. “Thank you.”

The doctor stepped aside, allowing him access to the room.

Inside, Dave laid on the bed unable to talk or take note of anyone yet. Christopher stood by the side, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked at Manuel.

Manuel stood there for a long moment, unmoving, just staring at Dave without uttering a word.

“I'll be back.” Christopher said and walked outside. 

Manuel drew closer, looking at Dave more intently.

“You always hated hospitals,” he murmured in a low tone. “Guess I inherited that.”

There was no response.

He pulled a chair closer and sat down, resting his forearms on his knees. 

He looked at his father's face searching for what he didn't know exactly, but his father looked peaceful with no response. 

“I don’t know how to do this,” Manuel admitted under his breath. “I don’t know how to be your son.”

He leaned back, exhaling slowly.

Suddenly, someone knocked at the door.

Manuel looked up to see Christopher standing there, holding a small flask. He stepped inside quietly, closing the door behind him.

“Doctor says he’s stable,” Christopher said as though that would lessen Manuel's burden. “That’s… good news, you know?!”

Manuel nodded. “That’s one way to put it.”

Christopher moved toward the small table by the window, then he placed the flask on it and started bringing out the other things he brought with him.

Manuel watched him silently.

“You didn’t have to come,” Manuel said eventually.

Christopher smiled faintly. “I know.”

He poured the tea inside a small cup slowly, carefully measuring the amount before he stopped pouring.

“You look exhausted,” Christopher said. “Drink.”

Manuel hesitated for a second, looking into his eyes as though surprised by the kind gesture.

But then, he took the cup from him and took a sip.

The effect was immediate.

There was this warmth that spread through him all of a sudden. 

He closed his eyes and then exhaled, he felt a bit relaxed.

Then, he frowned slightly. “This tastes different.”

Christopher’s hands paused for just a second before he resumed packing away his tools. “Different batch.”

Manuel took another sip. The warmth spread further now, threading through his limbs, brushing against places inside him he didn’t even know existed. His thoughts sharpened. 

The constant pressure he had been feeling suddenly eased.

“What did you put in this?” Manuel asked.

Christopher chuckled softly. “Tea.”

Manuel shot him a look. “I’m serious.”

“So am I,” Christopher replied easily. “I’ve studied human limits. Extensively.”

Manuel’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Studied?”

Christopher looked at him calmly. “Pain, endurance and lots of things about the human body. The body has thresholds people don’t realize exist. Most never come close to touching them.”

Manuel drank again, slower this time. He felt… good. Better than he had in years. 

The exhaustion was no longer there and it looked as though something was peeling off his body.