Running On Empty

Chapter 25 (Final Part)

~SILYA~

"Frica, are you Ok?" I watched her face, still pale from the unexpected sight of her butler, try to get back to normal.

"Hahahahaha," she turns to me as if signaling me to do something about the situation as her father stared both of us down, "Of, course. We intruded on Rako at such an untimely hour!" She gestures her had in the other direction.

Right, right...she wants to have a chat with me...about a guy other than Jaylin!

"Um...Mr. Brown...Sir, it seems like Frica and I have some girl business to take care of. We left it back at store." I got up abruptly and pulled Frica beside me so suddenly, he had to look twice at the two of us.

"Girls? At this hour?" His eyes dashed to the stairs where Rako was last standing.

"I really don't think you want to know what happens."

"Alright, Frica since Silya is with you, you may go. Please only be a short while." He looked back at us and then back at the stairs once more, "Are you sure you don't need Rako?"

"Yep, I am certain father!" Frica laughs nervously and suddenly pulls me with her. "We'll be taking this umbrella...you know for the rain...." She laughs even more.

"Come on, Silya!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~RAKO~

I rushed into my room and threw the towel on my bed.

She saw me! Frica saw me!

How could this happen? Frantically pushing the hanger of casual clothing to the side, I got out my usual suit uniform out.

Slipping into my suit, I straighten out my hair and practiced smiling the last few seconds and made my way down the stairs, spotting my boss sitting on the only sofa in the room.

"Sorry, sir." I reached the last step and extended my hand to greet him. He looked at me awkwardly.

"Let's not make this anymore weird than it already is...son." He stuffed his hand in his pocket.

"Of course." I forced my hand down at my side.

Where were the girls? Were they too embarrassed to see me half-naked? As if reading my mind, Mr. Brown gestured me to sit down next to him.

"The girls will be back momentarily." His eyes were fixed on the front door for a moment before grabbing my hand.

"Um, Sir...I'm not sure I understand what exactly is going on. Is something the matter?"

"Rako, what do you think of my daughter?"

What kind of question was that? Why was it so out of the blue?

"I think Miss is a very capable person. She is nice and intelligent. I'm sure she will make a lovely wife someday for an equally capable husband." I had practiced saying this line to him multiple times beforehand, but this time, I could barely get the right words out without feeling like a total buffoon.

"No, I'm asking what you truly think of Frica. To be honest, time is short on my hand."

"Sir?" I watched his eyes look at his lap. His shoulders were trembling suddenly.

"I'm dying. I don't have much time. I went to my doctor and he says that I only have a few more years."

The first thing that hit me was the sound of him saying "dying." The second that hit me was the rush of warmth that flowed from his hands to mine. How could this man be dying? What could possibly kill a guy like him?