The hidden heir of Wayne

Two: Desperately in need

With a hand firmly gripped on his mopping stick, Ivan stared directly at the vibrating handset in his other hand, trying to figure out the number even though a part of him kept telling him it was from the hospital. The phone kept ringing but he was too scared to answer it.

He froze still, as if one sudden movement would create some sort of havoc, and when he feared his heart would jump right out of his skin. He decided to pick up the call, but it cut off instantly. He sighed, breathing in a deep breath he didn't know he had in him seconds ago.

Then came the call again.

To his surprise, he brought the phone to his face and saw that it was a familiar number. Without hesitating, he answered it. "Hello Abigail,"

"Ivan, I hate to tell you this", he heard the doctor's thin voice chirped in from over the phone, "but your parents' results are out." There was a sigh, but he couldn't tell whether it came from him or the doctor. Then he heard her continue, "it's really not looking good, and I mean… besides…" her voice trailed off, but Ivan already knew what was to come.

Something that would definitely rhythm with bad news.

He gulped down a ball of nerves, his head slightly spinning already. "I'm on my way, Abigail."

He hung up, and immediately rushed over to the hospital.

****

Abigail was the doctor assigned to Ivan's parents and aside from her flawless beauty, she was very nice and caring in nature and also very patient.

"Here," Abigail said, handing Ivan his parents' results.

He flung it open and scanned through the paper severally but made no sense of any of the files. "What does this mean?"

"It means that your parents' cancer is developing into stage three and that is not good. The chances of stage three lung cancer survival is around twenty-six percent."

"So you're saying--"

"--if we don't do something fast, we might lose them." Abigail explained, her tone filled with worry.

"I understand you, b–but the money for the operation is yet to be completed." A memory rested on his mind, one that spoke of a little hope. "What about that therapy stuff you mentioned the other day! T-That can help right?" Ivan asked uneasily. His eyes were already swarming with uncontrollable tears.

Abigail took a deep sigh, "chemotherapy will slow things down but it won't heal them--"

"--it's worth trying though, listen we have to save them no matter what--"

"--Ivan!" Abigail exclaimed but took another deep breath to calm herself. "I'm not saying I won't try but I can't keep on giving them chemotherapy for ever. If by any chance it becomes stage three before we can operate, I can only promise you your parents for five years even after a successful surgery."

Ivan was short of words, he tried hard to fight back his tears even though he felt he didn't need to. Biting hard on his lower lip, Ivan closed his eyes for a few seconds trying to regain himself before opening them again.

"I'm sorry Ivan--" Abigail said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder "--i'll keep helping in every way I can, I promise. I think you should gather yourself before you go to them." She added, squeezing his shoulder and he just nodded in reply.

Every other doctor gave up on treating Ivan's parents because he had no money but Abigail took it up as her responsibility that every one of her patients would walk out of the hospital hale and happy and no matter how long it took, she'd keep treating them. Never did she believe she'd meet a patient like Ivan who had been struggling to get money for his parents surgery ever since the early stages of stage two lung cancer.

****

"Mom! Dad! Your favorite person in the world is here." He called out to his parents.

With a heart warming smile on her face, Ivan's mother stretched out her hands, "come to me my dear."

Ivan ran to his mother and hugged her tight and did the same with his dad.

"Look what I brought you," he said waving a white poly tin bag in the air.

He brought out some fruits and shared them amongst his parents.

He squeezed the nylon and pockets it before sitting next to his mother.

"Isn't there any left for you Ivan?" His mother asked after noticing the bag was empty.

"I had a big lunch today so I'm still quite full." He said even though his stomach grumbled.

"Are you sure son--" his father asked "--we can always share mine."

"It's fine dad, watching you two eating fills me up anyway." He answered smiling.

His mother smiled back and squeezed his cheek with her thumb and index fingers.

"My sweet boy," she said with tears rolling down her face and Ivan immediately wiped it off.

Her pale looking face displayed emotions of sympathy mixed with guilt, if only they were not so poor then they would have been able to provide more for Ivan.

****

Ivan had been more than sad for the day, but he decided to summon his courage to meet the woman of his dreams. For Tara, she was someone he could never replace. Sure, he was poor. But Tara was always understanding. Once he was able to get his money for his suit, he would ask her out.

Except, at that moment, he needed to just see her. She was the only woman who never condemned him or treated him wrongly.

He sighted her not long as he stepped inside the school's premises. "Hey, Tara?" He jogged down to her location, and with bright eyes, she smiled back at him. Fear overwhelmed him. "Uh, I-I wanted to say this. I mean to ask you this," he was still saying when she cut him off.

"Would you like to go to the dance with me?" She asked, and immediately, he nodded in excitement.

"Yes I would!"

All through that moment, he couldn't get her off his mind. At least something good happened to him at the end of his terrible heartbreaking day.

That evening as he was strolling to his dorm, he heard some people mutter some harsh words to him, but he was not bothered. He ignored and kept on with his stroll, then there was a message from Tara, and as he saw it, his eyes widened.