Two Less Lonely People (A JLC-BA Fanfic)

Chapter 17

Ted's POV

I had this heavy feeling on my chest as I ended the call with Alex. Why is this happening to my friend? Why must he suffer from the same fate twice in his lifetime? "If you are real, God, why are you letting this to happen to Alex?" I uttered in exasperation.

I didn't notice that Meg has sat down beside me. "Honey, don't despair. God must have a plan for him and Mina," my wife said reassuringly. I hugged her and held her close.

"What happened? What did he say? Meg asked.

I sighed and remembered Alex' frantic call 3 days ago.....

Flashback

"Ted! Ted! Something has happened to Mina. I can't reach her and Alice isn't picking up!" Alex was evidently distressed.

"Whoa, pare, calm down and tell me what happened." I said trying to pacify him.

He proceeded to tell me about Mina's email and that her phone seemed to be disconnected. He tried to call her office but the only information he got was Mina went on leave and no one can tell him when she was coming back. He kept trying Alice but she kept cancelling his calls. He sent her several sms pleading for her to tell him what's happening, but he got no replies as if his messages were unread.

"When did you talk to her last? Did you fight or argued about something? I asked.

He answered in the negative. "Something must have happened to her, Ted. Please go and find out, pare. Here is her office address and here is where she lives. Here is her Tita Ching's address.

He definitely looked distraught as he looked up at me through the computer monitor. He sighed. "Pare, please go asap, I need to know what happened to her. I don't know what to think or do at this point." He finally broke down and I could see my friend crying out of helplessness.

"I wanted to come home, pare, but Papa has slipped into coma again. He had another attack 2 days ago and this time the doctors are not optimistic that he can survive this. Help me, pare!" Alex said in defeat.

"Consider it done, Alex." I told him.

End of Flashback

"What did Alex say," I heard Meg asked again.

"Maybe, I shouldn't have told him about the truth." I started saying. "Mina was right about her fears that Alex won't be able to take this. I should have listened to her."

"But it won't be fair to him nor to Mina if you didn't tell him. When he comes back he will learn about it anyway." Meg argued.

I recalled my conversation with Mina.

"Mina was bidding for time. She just had surgery and will still undergo chemotherapy. By the time Alex comes back, she would have known if she had won over her cancer. By then, Alex would have been spared of the agony that she is undergoing right now."

"Poor girl, putting his concerns first before her own. What if she is in advanced stage of cancer?" Meg proceeded to ask.

"Then she said she will go away so he won't find her anymore." I answered.

Meg let out a big sigh which made Ted pull her closer.

"Alex went berserk, Meg." I continued to tell her what transpired in my conversation with him.

Flashback

"Ted, did you find out anything?" Alex was looking at me with anticipation.

"Did you find Mina? He asked. I nodded.

Where is she? How is she? He asked.

"Alex, listen to me carefully," I said emphatically which made Alex stop and became attentive so I started speaking again.

"I went to see Alice and she took me to Mina. Mina is in Manila in a friend's house as she was recuperating from surgery.

"Surgery?" Alex interjected anxiously. "What kind of surgery, Ted? Is she alright now? But why would she hide that from me?"

"Alex, calm down. She had surgery for cancer of the ovary." I clearly stated the words.

Alex' facial expression changed from apprehension to fear. "No! No! It can't be! My Mina can't have cancer!" He looked at me. "Ted, say that again please! Tell me I misunderstood what you said, pare!" His eyes were pleading.

"I'm sorry, pare, but you heard right. She is ok now and will have to undergo chemotherapy for several weeks..." I continued but my words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

He moved away from the computer and I saw him slumped down on the chair with both hands on his forehead.

"Lord, no! Not my Mina. Please! Please! I can't lose her now." He started crying.

He went back to talk me. "Pare, why? Why is this happening again?" anguish was written all over his face.

"Pare, it's not the same situation as Sara's. Mina's cancer has been detected early and she is undergoing chemotherapy and...." I was telling him.

"and she will die just as Sara did. Just as Sara was taken away from me!" Alex shouted. He went out of control and flung everything within his sight while cursing.  "Argh! No! Not Mina! Damn you..!"  He kept shouting.

Alex! Alex! I shouted. "Get a hold of yourself, please." He seemed to have heard me and sat back on the chair, but had his head down as he continued weeping. 

At that moment, I hoped I was with him so I can do something to comfort him. After Sara's death, he retreated into his own world not wanting to move out of his desolation for a long time. I don't want that to happen to my friend. Not again! I told myself.

After a few minutes, I started speaking again. "Alex, Mina needs you. It was her wish not to tell you about her condition because she knew you won't be able to handle it...but she looked lost and miserable. She is trying to be brave but I can see that she needs you, pare. She is in a far better state than Sara was when her cancer was discovered. You don't need to come home, just talk to her and let her know you are there for her."

With his head still bent down, Alex shook his head and said in between sobs. "I can't pare. I can't. Hindi ko kaya. I can't go through that kind of hell again."

I wanted to reason out with him but his angst has clearly clouded his mind.

"I understand Alex."

I waited for some time, watching my friend weeping and cursing in front of me.

"Call me anytime you need me, pare, ok?" was the only reassuring words I can say at that point.

He then raised his head, pain and despair mirrored in his eyes. "Take care of Mina, please, pare. Promise me you will look after her."

"I will. I promise." I told him.

End of Flashback

"You know, sometimes, your friend is too much of a coward," Meg declared.

Ted smiled, "I know you and Alex don't see eye to eye, darling; but please give him some understanding this time. You didn't know how it was when he lost Sara. The past seemed to have come back with what happened to Mina."

"Ok, but still...." Meg wasn't convinced. "My heart goes out to Mina"