Catching Up to You

Chapter 5 - Let's Try This Again

Linny had been in a state of shock since the news was confirmed that she was diagnosed with a slow brain tumor. If she hadn't met him, she wouldn't have known how much time she had left. The doctor told her that about 36% who are diagnosed have a 5-year survival rate.

"So, you're basically telling me that I now have a year left to my name," she repeated, after coming to accept that this may be the new reality for her, guardian angel included.

"And we're counting down to our first day," he said.

The sterile scent of hospital facilities gave Linny an icky feeling. Lying in bed, she looked at her surroundings in unimaginable disgust. This place could be where she would be 364 days from now, a place so foreign to her until now. Having grown up with both sets of grandparents still alive, she had the privilege of never having thought of death being so near.

"Well, at least I have a bucket list back home to finally start," she said. A part of her deep down was still waiting for bedtime to come around so that she could see if she could wake up and realize all of what just happened in the past few hours was a trippy lucid dreaming experience.

"Great, then let's try this again. The name's Angel by the way," he said as he took her hand to shake it.

Linny stifled her scoff. "... Um, not like I would've guessed that in the first place, but it's a pleasure?" She shook his hand slowly, meeting his confident gaze. His skin, though soft and smooth, was as cold as the ventilated air around them.

"Linny!"

"Jie!" Now and then, Linny would call Trang "older sister" in Mandarin by habit sometimes. It was only after being apart from each other for a few years did Linny begin to feel comfortable calling Trang by her first name.

"Is everything okay? What happened? What did the doctor say to you?" One question came rolling in after another from the panicking sister.

Angel started, "Well, the doctor said-"

"The doctor said I'm fine. I was just a little dehydrated and sleep deprived, and it just so happened that work has just gotten the better of me lately." Linny stepped in without a second's hesitation.

Angel watched her warily.

Still standing akimbo, Trang didn't stop frowning nor did she unfurl her eyebrows after hearing the news. "You shouldn't let some corporate giant just take advantage of you like that! I'm sure that you can achieve a much better work-life balance working somewhere else."

"Actually... you're probably right," Linny said.

"Wait, what?" Trang asked.

"I... I've been thinking of quitting lately." Linny sat up straight in her bed.

"Wow..." Trang crossed her arms, flashing a nervous smile at her younger sister. "Well, that's a surprise. I almost thought I just time-traveled back to a younger me in crisis."

Linny rolled her eyes. "I just thought it was about time to do something new for a change."

"About time, em!" Trang exclaimed. "More like I would've saved myself from those three torturous months and left for Nicaragua right after I graduated." Trang finally shifted her attention to Angel.

"So, you must be Linny's boyfriend," she gave him a sly smile.

Angel chuckled, "Oh, no. I'm Linny's gua-"

"He's my great friend from work, " Linny intervened. Her hand suddenly slapped his back a few times too hard.

"Oh, sure..." Trang said, sounding unconvinced. "Linny's really lucky to have you there. I probably would've just slept on her bed if you didn't call me."

"Hey! Did you sleep on my bed?" Trang grinned.

Angel simply grinned and nodded. Though Angel lacked understanding in modern-day's social cues, he was aware, being a higher being allowed him to sense a rainbow of energies that human beings would never be able to. As he watched the two sisters bickering about "Linny's anal rule about bed-sitting" in Trang's words, he could see one glowing in yellow and the other flicking in blue.

"Well, I'll see you both later. Linny, I'll catch up with you tomorrow to help you with your moving?" Angel asked.

Now, he's catching up.

"Okay, I'll be sure to bring my list to go over with you!" Linny smiled, showing teeth this time.