Love Found Me (English Version)

Five

Claudine's POV

We tried our hardest to make everything normal and light despite the fact that I am getting weaker day by day.

My family still do our everyday thing except that I started to take sick leave at work.

I make it at work at least once or twice a week before I decided to take a break.

Nicko religiously visits me during the weekends and his friend, Dr. Javy regularly goes to my home to check up on me.

Every time he visits me, he would also give me a single stemmed red rose.

The two friends became addition to my family.

I wonder how I got so lucky.

It was around thirty days after the day I found out about my sickness when we celebrated my birthday outdoors.

Normally, we take home food and do celebrate inside then went to sleep.

Nicko was there to celebrate with me.

He was also there in every occasion in my family.

I started treasuring every minute and moment in my life more than I used to.

Days passed by and Nicko was there with me every step of the way.

He made sure that I would at least take my medicines that I was ordered to to relieve my pain for a while.

Apart from my condition getting worse, I began losing my hair too.

At first, only some loose hair strands that gradually fell off like a normal everyday happening.

But eventually, thick lumps of hair were being stuck in between the comb and hairbrush.

I convinced myself that it comes along with sickness that I have.

I tried to be optimistic.

But it's harder to pretend.

I found comfort looking at all the pictures stored in my phone and social media account.

I missed smiling like this never happened.

I missed being surrounded by people.

I missed being happy in out-of-town trips.

I missed being me.

I come along at our very recent family photo where all of us are present.

That was before my younger cousin went to Saudi for his contractual employment and when our uncle and aunt who were originally from the States went home to celebrate the New Year with us.

I smiled seeing how happy and complete we were.

I also scrolled to the pictures and came along a recent out-of-town trip with colleagues in Cebu.

It was our annual rest and relaxation activity.

We were there for three days and two nights and we had the best time of our lives so far.

I came across probably one of the most natural and happy moments in my life.

It was a stolen picture of me and Nicko while we were checking out some photo in a digital camera.

We were laughing while looking at it.

We just celebrated the New Year's Eve and everyone was in high spirits.

Nobody dared to talk about my condition.

I let it that way. I want it just like that.

It was the first time after several years when I was happy being in love again.

In a span of two weeks, we will be celebrating the month of love.

Come to think of it, I never knew when Nicko's birthday is.

He never told me.

I did not want to appear so clingy and gullible so I prayed that I am still alive to say all the things I have been wanting to say.

I want to make him happy before I leave him.

I want him to be happy with someone else.

I did not notice how fast the time flies when my immediate superior, Miss Hayley, approached me.

She gave me a sympathetic smile and handed me my approved resignation letter.

She glanced at me and patted my head which was covered by a striped bonnet.

My hair was almost gone.

"It pains me to see you go in our company. But I am more concerned of your health. I don't know what to say anymore but I want you to know that I value and thank you for the things that you did for our company. For all the help that you gave us." Boss Hayley said while looking in my eyes.

I nodded and wiped the tears that escaped my eyes.

"Thank you for everything, Ma'am." I said sincerely and met her gaze.

Boss Hayley also wiped her tears and smiled.

"Don't make me cry. I'll see you around, Clau." She said and stood up leaving me alone here at the employees' lounge.

I held on to the table as I stood up to balance myself.

I can still manage to walk but I have to have my cane.

Thankfully, Nicko was patiently waiting outside the lounge for me.

I don't want to be unprofessional by sending email to Boss Hayley so I insisted to come here in our office.

Nicko understood me and accompanied me here.

Nicko probably noticed how I looked like so he suggested to take me back home.

I just nodded and smiled at him.

Minutes later, he was driving me home.