2. The Boy Genius (2)

"WHERE'S MY SON!?"

A man with an unkempt appearance ran into the hospital reception as he shouted loudly.

"Please come down, sir."

The receptionist's attempt to calm the man seemed to have the opposite effect.

"Calm down? CALM DOWN!? MY SON COLASPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN!?!?"

"Sir, please calm down, or we will escort you out."

The man's outburst swiftly drew the attention of the guards. In a place where people might die every day, no one knew what rash actions a desperate person might take.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just need to see my son. Please let me see my boy."

The man struggled to hold in his tears as he seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown.

"We're on it, sir. But please react calmly. You might agitate the patient in your current state."

The receptionist added. While she wasn't shaken by what had happened as this kind of scene was quite common, she was still sympathetic.

The man nodded as he reigned in his emotions

"I-I understand."

"What is your son's name?"

"Haruki Takashi."

"And you are?"

"Kenji Takashi."

...

"This is my son?"

Kenji could not believe the pale boy was his son. The boy had a peaceful smile on his face as he slept despite his weak breaths.

'Actually, when was the last time I had a proper look at him?'

Kenji could not believe the small boy he remembered had grown to this extent. He struggled to remember the last time he had had a proper conversation with his son.

"Wha-What's wrong with him?"

Kenji was on the verge of tearing up again as he braced himself for what he was about to hear. The doctor accompanying him had a frown on his face as he answered his question.

"Your son has a malignant brain tumour."

Kenji could tell from the doctor's tone that there was no hope for his son, but he could not accept it easily.

"Surely there's something we can do, right?"

"If he had come in a month earlier, maybe. But the tumour's growth has already exceeded stage four. There's nothing we can do for him now."

Kenji wanted to shout. He trembled as the doctor blatantly stated the facts. The only reason he stayed calm was because he did not want to wake his son up.

The doctor, however, did not have any goodwill towards him. The heavy scent of alcohol at this time of the day during the week as well as his dishevelled appearance painted the image of an alcoholic father.

He wondered how Haruki's parents did not notice any of his symptoms despite Haruki hiding them. Surely there were times when Haruki stumbled, numb or even just sick.

The doctor did not show this on his face though. His job came first.

"Takashi-san, your son doesn't have very long to live."

Kenji lost in his emotions, took a seat next to his son.

"Can you please leave us alone for a while?"

The doctor hesitated for a while looking at Kenji's state before accepting his request. As soon as he stepped out of the door, the quiet sobs of a grown man echoed out of the room.

The doctor sighed as he left. This job seemed to become more depressing every single day.

....

"Hi, I'm looking for my son's room."

A middle-aged woman said to the receptionist. If one looked close enough, they would be able to see the tear marks across her face.

"What is your son's name?"

"Haruki Takashi."

"And you are?"

"Ayako Takashi."

"Thank you. By the way. Your husband is already with your son."

"I see."

That was all Ayako said as she was led to her son's room.

...

Ayako had a defeated expression on her face as she entered the room. She looked at the two most important men in her life.

One slept peacefully even with the pale colour of his face, and while the other had a similarly peaceful expression, Ayako could spot the wet stains on his face and collar.

Ayako could not recall a single time she had seen her husband cry.

He had not shed a tear on his wedding day. He had not shed a tear when his mother died. He had not shed a tear when his son was born.

This was the first time Ayako had seen such an unfamiliar expression on her husband's face. It also told her what to expect to hear from the doctor.

"Can you tell me the diagnosis?"

Ayako seemed much calmer than her husband. The doctor could only sigh as he gave her the diagnosis.

Ayako began to shake as she asked a few more questions. Unlike her husband, Ayako was a famed Biologist. She could understand everything the doctor had to say.

Better understanding her son's fate did not make her feel any better.

She could understand the pain her son was in. She could understand how much effort her son went through to hide his symptoms.

The only thing she wished she did not understand was why he had done it.

Her failing marriage had caused her son to push through the pain. He had never made a single cry for help.

He carried this heavy burden all by himself.

Ayako couldn't help by cry as all of this clicked in her head. She did not make an effort to mask her cry as her sobs turned into wails