NEW YEAR

"HELLO! Anybody here?!" Gavin jests as he enters the house.

"It's the newlyweds!" Shannel jubilates.

"The new Dynasty member." Naomi waves her hand to flaunt her ring.

Shannel hugs both of them.

"Mr and Mrs Dynasty." Henry claps his hands before he leans in for a hug.

"Nobody plays video games with me in this house anymore. Maybe I should just move to your house." Greg teases as he steps into the sitting room.

"I'd bet," Gavin shoves Greg. "Come here, little bro." Gavin hugs him.

"I literally have a sister at last!" Gem hops to hug Naomi.

"Hey! Don't pressure my wife into adopting your stubborn ass as a sister." Gavin taps Gem's hand.

"Show me your alternative." Gem giggles. She wraps her hand round Gavin's waist.

"Happy new year, everyone. I've missed this house. Damn." Gavin glimpses through the parlour.

"It's nice to have you both around. Your honeymoon pictures were so captivating." Shannel smiles.

"It must feel different living separate from us now." Gem adds.

"Let's eat. The table has been set." Henry gestures.

"We hope you rate our food five-star like your honeymoon hotel's." Greg chuckles.

"You never stop goofing around." Naomi giggles.

They all sit by the dining table.

"There's an extra chair? I see you've travelled ahead of time." Gavin points at the unused chair.

"Ahead of time?" Gem asks.

"Yes. Eight months ahead of time." Naomi grins.

"Eight months?" Gem asks, confused.

"Hold up. Are you saying Naomi is pregnant?" Greg raises his eyebrows.

"You are still that genius." Gavin nods.

"Henry, we are getting a grandchild! I'm about to be a grannie!" Shannel jumps in excitement.

"It's going as you planned. You purported resigning to take care of our grandkids amongst other reasons. This is good news." Henry grins.

"Aunt Gem definitely sounds nice." Gem smiles.

"It wasn't only that hotel that got a five-star rating on that honeymoon. Mmmm." Greg gives a side-glance.

Everybody laughs. Gem's phone beeps.

"My visitor is here." Gem stands.

"Gem has a visitor? Since when did that start?" Gavin asks, surprised.

"Since you announced your pregnancy." Gem responds. She goes outside the house to bring Var.

"He's the one expected to take the extra seat." Henry states.

"It's even a he. Wow. This will be a good view. Chill, is it that guy she used to hang out with in Tavis City?" Gavin asks.

"You knew about him too?" Greg asks.

"Not really. I video-called her then and he was sitting beside her. She introduced him to me as a friend. I didn't think there is more to it."

"It appears she finally likes another person since Zach." Shannel smiles.

"Thank goodness. I was starting to be scared she would never use her heart again." Gavin sighs.

Gem opens the door. She walks in with a young man.

"Everybody, meet Var. Var, meet my adorable family." Gem beckons to Var to sit.

"Good day, everyone." Var greets. "She always talks about all of you. It's a pleasure to eventually meet y'all."

"Hey, dear. It's nice to meet you." Shannel smiles.

"You are the one that has my girl's heart on a chokehold. Mmmm." Henry stares at Var.

"Dad, come on." Gem smiles.

"What's up?" Gavin waves.

"Welcome." Naomi smiles.

"If you like playing video games, I'm your muse." Greg thumbs up.

"Greg, ugh. Var, don't mind him. Anyway, I made some soup for all of us. Let me get the soup from the kitchen." Gem leaves for the kitchen.

"So…Var, do you intend moving back to Tavis City?" Henry queries.

"No, sir. Here's my home. I was born here. But my parents were soldiers. They were frequently transferred to different states at the same time. Sometimes, my siblings and I would go with our dad. Other times, with our mum. They would both weigh the location that's more conducive for the children before deciding which parent takes the temporary custody. When the incessant migration was taking a toil on our academic prospects, we had to settle down with our grandparents in Tavis City until we grew up. My parents are retired now and they live in this town."

"Splendid. You never considered joining the military?" Shannel inquires.

"I did consider it. But I decided I don't want to live a migratory lifestyle anymore. That's why I delved into the civil world." Var smiles.

"What's taking Gem so long to bring soup from the kitchen?" Gavin interjects.

"Perhaps, she needs help. Let's go check on her." Naomi responds.

"Nope. We are visitors here. Greg, go check on your sister in the kitchen." Gavin orders in wry humour.

"It's your time to shine. You can't outshine the family's star, bear in mind." Greg smiles. He stands to move to the kitchen.

"Inasmuch as I'm outshining you as a visitor, I'm okay." Gavin chuckles.

"Gem!" Greg exclaims from the kitchen.

"What's wrong?" Shannel asks.

"She's fainted!" Greg responds.

Var springs to his feet and runs to the kitchen. The family members run behind him. Gem is laying lifeless on the floor. Some soup is splashed across the floor, beside Gem's body.

Var kneels beside Gem and provides her first-aid treatment. The family members remain jittering in shock. Gem coughs as she is resuscitated.

"Let's take her to the hospital." Var announces.

"I will drive." Greg offers.

Var underlays his arm beneath Gem's nape, his other arm underneath the fold of her knees. He lifts her and walks towards the house exit.

Greg drove Gem and Var to the hospital in his car while Gavin drove, the rest of the family, behind Greg — in Shannel's car.

On getting to the hospital—their usual hospital for Greg and Gavin, they request a private ward as always. This is the first time a ward is being requested for Gem. A doctor came to attend to Gem. He gave her some medicine. Gem is now conscious. The doctor further asked a laboratory scientist to conduct some tests on her.

"I will be back in an hour after I resolve the mystery." The doctor assures.

"Thanks, doctor." Henry waves.

"First time in a hospital bed. How does it feel?" Greg smiles.

"Not comfy." Gem sulks.

"That optimism you always hammer on, you need it now. Contact me for coping mechanisms." Gavin teases.

"The doctor didn't say she will be admitted to the hospital." Shannel interjects.

"As hospital clients that we are, we know when another patient is about to be an admit. Don't we, Gavin?" Greg chuckles.

"Of course we do. We've been in the game since over a decade." Gavin giggles.

"I will call security on both of you now." Gem laughs. "I really wonder what's wrong though. I've never passed out in my life, not once."

"I'm as curious. Jokes apart." Gavin supports.

"I've only seen you down with fever. The fever never lasts twenty-four hours before you bounce out of it. I hope this is not some serious illness." Greg agrees.

"You sound like you've been here all my life. I was born before you, remember?" Gem sneers.

"I'm twenty-six years old, you are twenty-eight years old. You couldn't even clean me up when I started walking. If your birthright was up for grabs, I would undoubtedly qualify more than you." Greg quizzes.

"I will put you up for sale as soon as I'm out of here." Gem laughs.

"Ah. I should check on my favourite nurses." Greg proclaims.

"Nurse Niella and Nurse Allana? Are they on duty?" Gavin asks.

"I think I saw their names on the duty register when we came in."

"I will come with you."

Greg and Gavin leave the ward.

"Gem, are you hungry or thirsty? I will go buy some snacks. I will be back soon." Naomi walks away.

"Thank you, Naams." Gem laughs.

"You know that's a Gavin-only nomenclature." Naomi furrows her eyebrows.

"I'm his immediate. What will you do about that?"

"Maybe poison your snacks?"

Gem and Naomi laugh.

"Be right back." Naomi says as she goes out of sight.

"We should check how far with the tests." Henry gestures to Shannel. He offers his hand and Shannel grabs unto it.

"At your service." Shannel smiles.

"You guys never restrict your mushiness." Gem interrupts.

"We didn't ask to be monitored." Henry teases.

"She's jealous." Shannel laughs. "You might be Henry's girl but I'm his lover. Deal with that, sweetie."

Henry and Shannel walk out of the room holding hands.

"See them holding hands like teenagers. These people are almost sixty. Funny lovers." Gem grins.

"Do you feel better, princess?" Var asks, as he sits beside her on the bed.

"Yes. Thank you. If I didn't feel better, I wouldn't be talking this much." Gem smiles.

"I'm just worried about you. Your family members are so playful, especially Greg. You know I'm shy, that's why I didn't talk. But I enjoyed all their jokes." Var giggles.

"You see what I cope with." Gem laughs.

"I noticed the soup bowl that slipped off of your hands in the kitchen. It contained my favourite soup. It's a stressful meal."

"I cooked it for you. You mentioned it to me one time that you love it. I wanted to surprise you to a treat. All my efforts have been wasted." Gem pouts.

"I saw the soup. I acknowledge your efforts. I'm elated you went through that stress for me. You didn't even serve the soup until my arrival. Wow."

Var pecks Gem on her forehead. "I love you, princess." He whispers; his lips still glued to her forehead. He pecks her again.

Gem feels her heart sink. A stream of mixed emotions flows. Nobody had told her that—outside of her family—since Zach. Zach and her split almost a decade ago. She and Var have copulated a number of times since they rekindled their bond. If he had said this sentence before or during their intercourses, she would have assumed it was his penis doing the talk. But he's saying it to her now that she's on a hospital bed — feeble.

"I… I … I love you too." Gem mumbles the words.

Var, whose chin is now touching Gem's scalp, heard her whisper. He smiles.

"I was skeptical about taking the Tavis City project. I'm glad I took it. It was my chance to meet you." Gem beams.

"That day that I barged into your office looking for Jane, I was upset because she delayed my transfer. I ought to have left Tavis City before your arrival. I bless Jane everyday for effecting that delay." Var proclaims.

They both laugh. Var intertwines his fingers with Gem's.

"I'm not Zach. I won't leave you ever. Never ever." Var locks eye contact with her.

Gem—overwhelmed—nods her head in excitement.

Henry and Shannel, on getting to the doctor's office, were told the doctor had gone on a ward visit. They were told the doctor will visit Gem's ward when her results are released. Henry and Shannel returned to Gem's ward. After a while, the family is complete in the ward again.

The doctor visits the ward.

"Hey, doc. What took so long?" Shannel asks.

"Sorry for the delay. I had some stuff to attend to. Do you both mind coming to my office with me so I can explain her sickness?" The doctor urges.

"You could say it here. We are all adults. We should all hear the words from the horse's mouth." Shannel responds.

"She needs rest, doesn't she? I know she fainted because she overworks." Henry adds.

"She needs a lot of rest, yes." The doctor responds. "However, she didn't faint because she overworks…"

"Dad, you see?" Gem interrupts the doctor as she playfully shoves out her tongue at Henry.

The doctor smiles. "Please, receive this information—I'm about to present—gently. Gem has…" the doctor pauses and sighs. "…stage IV cancer."

Everyone turns necks and gaze at one another.

"Cancer?!" They all exclaim at the same time.

"That's not possible. I didn't get any symptoms. It can't be cancer." Gem defends.

"It's leukemia — chronic leukemia. Chronic leukemia may not show you noticeable symptoms for years. It's possible that you were feeling fatigued sometimes but you interpreted it as stress. Stage IV signifies that your platelet count is low and your blood won't clot well if you have an injury. Please, don't fret. You will be registered for treatment immediately. Chemotherapy, medications and all sorts. Cancer is not a death sentence. It can be managed. With effective care and resilience…"

"Doc! The patient in the next ward is gasping!" A nurse storms inside the ward. "Your attention is needed."

"Okay. The Dynasty's, please see to the registration for treatments at the hospital reception. Please, don't crawl into depression because of this news. Remember cancer is an ailment, not a death sentence. And it is cured sometimes, keep hope alive. Take care." The doctor walks out of the room.

The ward is so silent, a pin drop would be heard. All eyes are teary.

"We have a bloody problem in our family, huh?" Greg breaks the silence. "Gavin and I have insufficient red blood cells. Gem, whose health we have envied all our lives, is deficient in blood platelets. Her ailment might be worse than our own, for all it's worth. How did we get here? How? Somebody, answer!" Greg yells. He plunges his body to the floor and starts sobbing. "None of this makes sense. None. Every time happiness is raveling, devastation crawls behind it. Happiness is an unattainable concept."

Everybody continues crying. They are all in disbelief.