Malignancy

I wasn't in any way expecting the next thing I saw when we entered the room.

Immediately we entered, I spotted a woman not looking older than 35 years laid stiffly on a hospital bed. The lady wasn't really what got my attention no, it was the number of tubes that were connected to her that immediately got my utmost scrutiny.

"Oh, it seems like she's sleeping" I heard Dili mutter beside me. And indeed she was. Her eyes were shut softly giving rise to her eyelashes sweeping her cheeks, Her skin looked awfully pale for a black person, and her hair was covered making It impossible to see her hair. But all in all her looking pale and sickly didn't hide the fact that she was exceptionally beautiful.

"Your mom is gorgeous" I whispered to Dili not wanting to disturb his mother's slumber.

With a genuine small smile, he responded "Thank you"

I took my time to glance over the room. I knew Dili's parents were pretty much loaded, so the extravagance of the hospital room didn't all that shock me.

"Is she okay?" Immediately the question came out of my mouth, my eyes automatically widened at how stupid my question sounded.

I tried to rectify my words quickly "Sorry that was a very silly question. I mean obviously she's not okay, seeing as she is in the hospital and all...." I rambled on in a soft low voice. Pretty sure I sounded ridiculous.

Dili only released a low chuckle at this, and a shake of the head. "It's okay Rica, I know you didn't mean any harm by your question" I released a relieved breath at his words.

"So what exactly is wrong with her?" I finally mustered up the courage to ask for a second time.

He heaved out a sigh before talking "She has malignancy"

I raised a eyebrow in surprise "She has Cancer!?" I mumbled out in shock.

"Ah, You're a smart one after all" He joked with somewhat of a forced smile.

"Dili" I said In a serious tone.

Releasing a long sigh he then spoke in an apologetic tone "Sorry, I tend to tell bad jokes when I'm tensed".

There was one thing I liked about Dili, and it was that he blunt and truthful not only to other people but also to himself. It made him all the more appealing as a person.

He didn't wait for a reply from me before he continued talking. "And yes like you've rightly said, my mom does have cancer. Appendix Cancer to be more specific"

At that moment I didn't know the right words to use. Using either 'Oh I'm so sorry to here that' or 'That's horrible', really didn't sit well with me. But after much contemplation I finally came up with the best consoling words I could offer.

"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll get through this" I said to him with all determination, trying to encourage him. Because he might have tried to hide it from me but his eyes looked undoubtedly sad, and I didn't like it. I liked the cheerful, playful happy Dili, not the sad one in front of me.

Turning his gaze to his sleeping mother he responded "I hope so".

"I'm going to the vending machine to get something. Do you want anything?" He asked out of nowhere after a short time of silence.

I shaked my head signaling a 'No'.

"Okay then, you can just sit down on the couch and wait for me" Finishing his words, it then occured to me that we had been standing since when there was a place for us to sit all along.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't really like the idea of Dili leaving me in the hospital room with his mother. I mean what if she woke up to see a stranger in her room, that would most definitely call for the raise of an alarm. And most importantly I hated invading people's privacy and space, him leaving me there would be somewhat doing the same thing.

Before I could even utter another word Dili was already out of the door. I sighed in defeat.

"Well then" I muttered to myself before sitting down on the couch.

"I was wondering when he was going to leave" I heard a feminine voice call out suddenly.

Surprised I automatically turned to the direction were the voice came from, wanting to detect who the owner was. And boy was I in for a surprise.