Why He Left

Mia: What do you mean 'saved his life'?

I quickly sit up straight. Cindy blinks at me in surprise.

Cindy: He didn't tell you? I thought you guys were close.

Close, huh. I'm not even sure if we're even friends after what happened.

Mia: No, he didn't.

Cindy: I guess you should know about this since you guys are...

She trails off. We are what? Did Jason already tell her everything about us?! Wait, but then she wouldn't say that we're close. Ugh, speak, woman! Speak! You're killing me here!

Cindy: Ahem, so.. you remember how I told you that our parents moved to the city about a year before I was born?

She leaves me hanging but I go along with it regardless.

Mia: Yes.

Cindy: Nobody told me the real reason but this is what I heard from people.

Mia:...

The matter is definitely serious and it's not just her tone that's telling me that but also the built-up tension in the room. I gulp nervously. I hope it's nothing bad. My hopes are crashed however, as she continues.

Cindy: When he was 6 years old, he started having multiple health issues. Our parents were advised to move to the city for better treatment since the town hospitals couldn't heal him well. And so, within a matter of days, they packed up and left.

So that's why they left all of a sudden! But, if he had health issues, how come I never knew of it?

Cindy: As they could afford the best doctors, his illness was diagnosed shortly. His damaged cells weren't regenerating and there were chances of organ failures.

My throat goes dry. He went through all that?! While he was fighting for life, I was blaming him for me getting bullied by others. I'm such a horrible person. I clench the sheets tightly.

Cindy: When kept on medication, he had at most one year before he... would reach the terminal stage. His body kept rejecting the transplants and his health worsened. My parents were heartbroken when one of the doctors suggested that we use the stem cells from his umbilical cord. As relived as they were, grief surrounded them as they realized that they had disposed it when he was born. So, in order to get the stem cells of the same blood, they gave birth to me. And then, they used my umbilical cord's stem cells for him. After proper treatment, he finally got better and better.

Mia:...

Cindy:I remember, when I was little, I used to go to visit him in his room and there were all these monitors and equipment all around. Among those, he would simply stare outside the window at the children playing around or doodle in his notebook.

When I was of his age, I was physically fit and would train for hours... and he couldn't even go out and play like a normal child. My chest aches just thinking about it.

Cindy: Now, he can move around, go to work but, not do absolutely whatever he wishes to. He's still much weaker than an average adult and needs to take medicines throughout the day to keep him going.

Mia:...

That explains it, he staggered when he was hit with that low-blow. I didn't think much of it but, *I* really put him in danger. I cursed him for hurting me without knowing that he's living such a painful life himself without complaining about it.

Cindy: Come to think of it, it's... awful. He can't take too much stress so he just freelances for companies but last year, he signed a 1 year contract with Seven Seasons. He won't listen to me when I protested. Maybe he just wants to live life normally and not like how he has already been living.

Mia:...

He can't stress... I made him panic so much last night. Why do I always overreact? If only I had kept ahold of my emotions. I drop my head down in self-disappointment.

Cindy: W-Woah, now I'm kinda rethinking this whole "Don't just crash over at my place, Jason!" thing.

I look up at her. Although she laughs it off, her voice slightly chokes while trying to hold back tears. I want to cry too but, I have to be strong. I loosen my grip on the sheets and take her hand in mine instead.

She looks at me in surprise and I squeeze her hand with a reassuring smile.

Mia: You okay there?

Cindy: 'Guess so... Anyhow, do you want to eat something?

Mia: I'm starving.

Cindy: You're in luck then, I happen to be a very good cook.

Mia: We'll see.

I tease her as she helps me get up from the bed. Did I misjudge him? I can't even imagine what he must've felt during that time. Why didn't he tell me about this back then? He always seemed so... normal. I couldn't have guessed that he was actually in so much pain.

It is human nature to blame others, isn't it... However, I don't blame my instincts but myself for doing this. He said we had three months, right? I'm going to make him make everything clear. Because... why would someone fall for someone who hurt them..?