HANAHAKI

"petals of daisies"

During the World War 1, a disease was discovered immensely hovering on a deserted province in the Philippines. Doctors and other specialists were trying to figure out what could be the cause of its breakout. Years passed, they have kept it in secret but have found no cure for it. Later in 1970, a doctor from Germany came to the Philippines to study the disease and fortunately found the cure.

In year 1978, a young man named Kevin Barber, a medical student, was assigned to his first medical mission in South Cotabato, with a few of his colleagues from the university. It was a three-month long mission around the province. There he met this lovely girl who captured his heart at a glance. It was long before he realized, he kept coming to that place to meet Catherine. He unsurely fell in love with the fine-looking girl. Unfortunately, Catherine didn't feel the same way. Kevin returned to Manila with his heart being torn apart after the first rejection.

Weeks passed, Kevin has been feeling sickly. On a cold rainy day, he woke up and noticed a few petals of daisies on his pillow. He felt this lungs tightened, a burst of blood and petals came out from his mouth. He was a bit dazzled and confused about what was going on. He only thought of one person who would know what was happening to him. He hurriedly grabbed his phone and dialed the number.

"Hello? Good morning Doctor Archie. Sorry to bother you this early but I wanted to consult you with something", he uttered with a shaking voice.

"What is it Kevin? Are you feeling okay?", he asked.

"I – I'm... uh... I've been coughing blood.. And.. A-and petals of daisies were coming out from my mouth. I don't understand what's happening to me. What is happening to me Dr. Archie?", his lips could no longer hold the sobs. Hewas shaking and his eyes were welling up. He was in total shock.

"Oh my god, Kevin!", he exclaimed as if he, too, was shocked with what Kevin just told him.

"Let's meet at the hospital now. I'll explain to you everything there.", he added and hung up the phone.

[AT THE HOSPITAL]

Kevin entered Dr. Archie's office.

The doctor greeted him with a weary smile. "Please have a set, Kev."

"Are you okay?"

"I don't know. My chest is hurting. It's hard to breathe. I feel like I'm about to throw up again." He suddenly felt his lungs tightened as he continued to talk. "Doctor, what's happening to me?", Kevin asked trying to compose himself in front of the doctor.

"It's.. It's Hanahaki, Kevin."

The room was filled with silence that even Kevin's heavy breathing could be heard. He knew about the controversial disease. He had this slight idea what it was and he thought it was too absurd. But then it hit him — that he has this disease now.

The doctor broke the silence. "Do you remember who possibly caused this?"

"Yes, I guess", he responded immediately as if he was so sure who it was. "Her name is Catherine. I met her during the medical mission we had in South Cotabato like a month ago." Kevin answered without hesitation. He knows it was her. He thought it was nothing like a serious matter between them. But regrettably he was wrong because here he is now, in front of the Hanahaki specialist, trying to absorb what was happening at the moment.

"You already know what's gonna happen right?", Dr. Archie asked.

"Yes, doctor. I only have two choices to choose from." Kevin answered in a low tone.

"So I assume you have the decision now."

"Yes."