"Am I not allowed to do so?" John returned the question as he leaned on Stefan's car. "I was waiting for her to tell me that she remembered me. Marian and I, we're poles apart in status. Her family is wealthy and there were many boys who like her. I am nothing but a simple man. I promised I'd come and get her when she's 21 but when she reached that age, I still have nothing.
I don't have anything to promise to her parents. I didn't greet her because I didn't want other people to know that I am acquainted with a rich heiress. Why didn't I speak to her even after seeing the ring? It's because I felt embarrass giving her that cheap ring. Why didn't I chase her? I did.
I chased after her but I guess, I was seconds too late."
Stefan didn't say anything. He only listened to the man, trying to get as much information as he could.
"I broke up with my girlfriend on the day that she visited the dorm. I studied so hard to become the best in class. I looked for every opportunity to see her but after that day, she's become elusive. I tried visiting her in their house but their servant said she has never come back to their home ever since she transferred school.
I did my best to look for a high-paying job and thankfully, I got accepted in Xavier's Shoe Manufacturing company. I am one of the mechanical engineers there. I saved my money and invested it to build a dessert café because I know she likes sweets. I tried so hard but now that I have money, she's ignoring me."
"Did she ever tell you that she wants money? Did she ever mentioned that she wanted you to become rich? Did she ever mention money to you? You should have known it from the start. She didn't want money from you. She only wanted your time but you gave your time to someone else."
"But it's never too late, right? I can still start over again with her."
"I don't think you have enough time." Stefan replied solemnly. "I think it's really too late for you to start over again."
"Have you ever wondered why she's become elusive in school? Have you asked yourself why she never came back to their place? Have you ever checked on her these past few years?" Stefan didn't wait for any answer from the man. He just continued to speak, letting him know the things that he missed. "The day she left your dorm in a hurry, she fainted on the road and was brought to the hospital.
She's got chronic leukemia."
John stood there in shock from what he just heard. As if he was struck by a lightning, he remained rooted on the spot without moving an inch. It took him a several seconds to recover but he was still unable to say anything.
"I shouldn't say this to you knowing that it's a matter of health privacy but I think you should just give up on her. You are just wasting your time. She doesn't have much time left. Why don't you look for someone else? Didn't you do that during the years that she's been clinging to your promise? Doing it again won't matter now."
John could still hear what Stefan was saying but his brain seemed to have short circuited because they weren't functioning properly. He was still stuck with the explosive news. He couldn't move his feet nor look at Stefan's face. He just stood there without doing anything.
Few minutes passed without any response from John, Stefan stopped talking. He didn't bother the man anymore and just let him contemplate. If he won't give up, Stefan was planning to help him see the woman again even if it's just from a distance.
Contrary to Stefan's expectation, John took a staggering step away from him. Step by step, he went back to his car and got inside. Without saying anything, he left the place.
'Maybe it's for the betterment of them both that he left?' Stefan thought to himself. He closed the window of his car and took a nap while waiting for Cayenne because he knew that his wife will be taking her time.
Back inside the house, Cayenne and Marian kept talking but none of them mentioned the illness yet. They just talked about their happy moments in life and they also added Seiji and Arthur to the conversation. Marian was close to Arthur and Seiji as well so Cayenne didn't mention what Arthur did few months ago.
"Will your husband get mad if I'm taking your time?" Marian asked while glancing at the time on the wall clock.
"No, he won't. He told me to take my time."
"En-en, I want to see our friends again. I want to see Seiji and Arthur. I want to have pictures of us before I leave this world."
"How about your ex-boyfriend? Don't you want to see him one last time? You still love him, right? Don't even deny it because I can still see the ring that you are hiding underneath your clothes."
Marian took out her necklace with the same old pendant which was the silver ring with fake gem stone. "I tried. I really tried. But En, it's difficult. He was the only man I have ever love. He was the only man I wished to spend the rest of my life.
I never wanted anyone else but him. En-en, I really tried but what can I do? Even if I want to stay with him, I don't have much time left. I don't want to give him any painful memories. I don't want him to see me ; weak, pale and ugly."
"You're not ugly. You're not."
"I am." Marian took off the wig to show Cayenne her head – hairless. "En-en, I don't want him to see this image of me. And you know what, maybe we're not really meant for each other. I'm already satisfied that he remembers me as his first love- his beautiful first love. That's all that matters to me."