Gap: Eternity

Chapter 5: Objective

"E Sam, I'm the one who's seriously ill. Why did you steal me scene?"

P Jim turns from a zombie to going (really) crazy now after hearing that Khun Sam has a tumor in her head. She's so worried about her friend that she completely forgets about her own problems. As for me, I could only sit still and bite my nails, not knowing what to do, like my soul had already left my body. Right now, only P Kate and P Tee can compose themselves.

"What did the doctor say? Is it a tumor or cancer?" P Tee asks, wanting to know the result in detail. At the same time, P Kate pulls P Jim down to her seat to calm down because we're in a restaurant. Though we're in a private room, seeing a friend go crazy may make Khun Sam more frightened. However, Khun Sam remains stoic, does not show any concern, and shrugs as she answers.

"Don't know. The result is not out yet. It will probably take 4-5 days to know."

"It's lucky that Mon asked you to come for a checkup, and the tumor is not large yet. No wonder you have headaches so often. Why don't you take better care of yourself? You're a CEO, and you have many employees under your wing. If something happens to you, it doesn't affect only yourself." P Tee preaches. Khun Sam only shrugs.

"I came, and now we know. Stop ranting. Let's wait for the test result to come out before getting all stressed out."

"Did the doctor say anything else ka? Like how to treat it? If it's just a tumor, how do you treat it? And what if it's not just a tumor..." My voice starts to crack like someone who's having trouble controlling themselves. Khun Sam looks at me with pity and reaches over to rub my arms gently.

"I will have to undergo an operation to take it out. It can be treated; don't worry. Worst case is I die."

"Khun Sam!"

I slam the table and walk out of the restaurant quickly, enraged. Khun Sam runs after me. She grabs my arm to stop me so we can talk, but I twist my hand out of her grasp. My tears are about to fall. I am deeply hurt and sad that she talks about death like it's nothing without thinking about me, who would be left behind.

"Why are you angry?"

"Why am I angry? I'm angry that you talk about death so easily without thinking about Mon at all."

"I was just saying."

"Before you JUST say something, can you think first? Mon is going crazy with concern over you, but Khun Sam acts so cold. You talk about death without care. What if it was Mon? What if Mon is sick and says, so what if Mon dies? How would that make Khun Sam feel?"

"I would feel like I was left behind."

"Yes, that's exactly how Mon feels right now. Yet, Khun Sam said that it was nothing."

She reaches over to squeeze my wrist tightly and gives me a dry smile before consoling me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think I'd make you think that far."

"Do you think about how Mon can live on if something happens to Khun Sam? (Sob) "

The sweet-faced lady pulls me in for a hug and rubs my back gently. It turns out the one with illness has to console me, who's perfectly healthy, instead.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't think enough before I spoke. I didn't want everyone to be too concerned. Everyone looks so worried about me that I wanted to lighten up the mood."

"If you feel bad, just say it. Why do you have to hold it in?"

"I don't feel that bad yet. It's just knowing that I have a tumor in my head. I don't want to overreact. I want everyone to act normal."