SHOWING CARE I

"I got none." Cayenne replied before keeping her mouth shut. She didn't want to talk with him when it comes to love. She'd feel guilty towards him.

"Can I talk to you later? There's something important that I needed to tell you." Arthur stated without giving her a side glance. He was keeping his focus on driving even though his heart was singing in joy for being with her. 'I'm in love with this woman and that will stay the same 'til I die. I don't know what to do stop my heart from beating for her. I am just running out of ideas.' He thought to himself. He had so many things he wished to say to her but he wanted to say it when they're all alone.

Cayenne just nodded since there's no harm in talking.

After almost an hour of driving, they finally arrived at the hospital. "Thank you for giving us a ride." Cayenne expressed her gratitude and even smiled at him. "I'll see you around."

Luiz and Kyle came out of the car as well and watch Arthur drove out to look for a parking space before they followed their sister to get to their mother. The smell of the disinfectant greeted them which made Cayenne cover her nose. She really hates the smell of the hospital which was also the reason why she seldomly visits her mother before even though she had little time to spare for her.

"Good morning, Ma." Luiz and Kyle greeted their mother and gave her a hug.

"Morning, Ma." Cayenne also greeted with a faint smile. "How have you been?"

"I'm doing good so far. How's your work? How's your studies?"

"I am doing good as well. Work isn't so difficult and tiring." Cayenne answered first.

"Study for us isn't bad either. I am actually going to receive an award next Friday. Since you can't come because of your condition, I have asked Kyle and big sis to come with me." Luiz responded her mother.

The three of them looked for chairs to sit and they talked to their mother about many things. Weekends were the only days that they could catch with each other. Even for Cayenne and her brothers, they seldomly got time to talk because she needed to work day and night. However, it didn't make her less of a sister. For the two men, she was still the best sister. The woman who was fighting together with them to achieve their dreams.

The talked about their school activities, their upcoming Christmas party, their field trips and other things that their mother missed since she had been staying at the hospital for quite sometimes now. They've spent so little time with them.

"Cayenne." Her mother called for her attention since she didn't talk so much when she's with them. It's not like she talks a lot but she was really very quiet this time. "Yen, I know that we talked about this already but, can you please bring me home?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean 'why?'" her mother questioned, not understanding why she was refusing her to come home. "I don't like to stay here anymore. My body is rejecting the treatment. I have so little time left to have it spent here. I want to go home and stay with the three of you. Isn't it better? You can start saving instead of wasting your money on me."

Cayenne's tears fell and she was having a hard time breathing. She felt suffocated with her words. "Ma, why are you hurrying your death when I'm doing my best to help you survive? What will we do once your gone? Ma, can't you understand how I feel? I want you to live! I want you to stay with us."

"But I have no chance! Yen, wake up! I am dying! There's no way to save me! I'm just good as dead! Why do you have to keep wasting your money on me?! I don't want to stay here."

Cayenne looked at her mother while sobbing. "Ma, if you stay with us for a long time, you might infect us. Didn't you know that? Didn't the doctor tell you about that?"

"I see. Then, it's better for me to die without dragging anyone of you, right?"

"No, that's not what I mean." Cayenne held her mother's hand and squeezed it gently. "Please fight or us, Ma. We still need you. Don't worry about the money. I have saved some for us and there's enough for your medication as well. Don't think about anything else aside from your recovery."

Luiz and Kyle were looking at their sister and their mother who were sobbing in front of them. It was the first time they've heard their sister raised her voice against their mother. She was always kind, gentle and timid in front of other people. However, she would always express her opinion without raising her voice. This time, she was really angry and frustrated which made her raise her tone against her own mother.

"I'll go out for a while." Cayenne wiped her tears and stood up to leave the room. She went to the rooftop of the hospital where she can relax and calm herself.

Not long after, her phone started ringing and Stefan's name was flashing on her phone screen. She answered it immediately, thinking that he needed help. "Hello, Stefan?"

"Ayen, did you arrive already?"

"Yeah. Why are you calling? Do you need help?"

"What makes you think that I needed help?"

"Well, I don't know any other reason for you to call me unless there's something you needed help with."

Stefan chuckled at her upon hearing her answer. "I do have a little problem."

"What is it?"

Stefan transferred the phone to his other hand while signing a bunch of documents which the manager of the cafe gave him. "I am currently at Sweet Love, a café which sells a variety of cakes and pastries and I'm wondering if there's anything you like to eat."