Byung-Hun observes Alex that playing with the food in front of him. Usually, Alex is the one who very excited to eat in the cafeteria, but this time it seems like he doesn't have any appetite although he is the one that asking to eat together.
"What's wrong?" Byung-Hun asks to break the silence that comes between them even though it's a very rare for him to do it.
Alex raised his face to look at Byung-Hun with his half heart smile. "Nothing much. Suddenly losing my appetite. Probably because of the weather."
"Aaron is doing okay right?" Byung-Hun added. He feels a little bit anxious because when a lively person like Alex suddenly looks miserable, there's must be something behind the change.
Alex sighed slowly before answering probably trying to find peace in his mind and heart first.
"Aaron got a situation last night, luckily he pulls through. I as a father feel horrible every time I saw it happen. My heart also feels so hopeless because I know I can't do anything for him. Just… only able to watch his suffering."
At this kind of time, Byung-Hun didn't know what to say. Usually he only becomes a good listener to his friend. He never knows what the right thing to do. Even comfort words seem not good enough and surely cannot take the burden away. So he just chooses to listen. He sure a lot of people can relate to him about this matter.
"After the storm last night suddenly I remember about the red stone thing. I hate myself for that, but at the moment it just makes me come to think if… "
"Don't tell me you want to volunteer Alex. You heard what happen in the halls yesterday. The doctors even have a different opinion. I don't think it's a good idea." Byung-Hun shares his thought.
"I know. That's why I said that I hate myself. I feel hopeless. I try to be strong and keep the hope that one day Aaron will be able to wake up, but not a single medicine right now can be any help. Right now he just lives depending on the machine. I… Just wondering if the red stone is my last hope."
Understanding about Alex position make Byung-Hun thinks deeper before saying anything. Deep down inside, he doesn't want Alex to regret anything. If the decision went smooth its surely a miracle, but if it goes south, Alex definitely will kill himself for it.
"I know it's not my place to say anything. You are the one that suffering for so long. You are the one that been through all this things. But I really hope you thinking this straight. I don't want you to regret anything in the future. No one can guarantee the successful of the medicine. The research also still in early stages. I already talk to Melanie. She also didn't agree to fast forward things but people in the higher up and her senior wanted everything done quickly."
"Dr. Melanie? You know her personally?" Alex looks a little bit shocked. His introvert friend has another friend that even he don't know about seem new to him.
"She's my high school junior." Simple answer being given to clear up everything. Byung-Hun is not the type of person that share all his personal life even to his close ones.
"I promise you, I think about it more before making any decision." Alex seems a little bit relax than before.
"If anything, just came to see me. I can ask Melanie to talk to you too, if you want. Just… Make sure your head and mind is healthy enough before anything. Don't be dispirited. That's surely not like you."
Beep… Beep…
At that very time, a sound of getting messages came from Alex phone. He opens it slowly but suddenly hurried to get up after reading the text.
"Where's are you going? You're not finished eating yet."
"Finish them for me. Professor Do-Yun wanted to see me ASAP. I need to go as fast as I could to get into his good side." Said Alex while walking away in a fast paced.
Byung-Hun scratches his non-itchy head as he speaks to himself. "Strange, Professor Do-Yun is not the type of person who calls people at lunch. Hmph…"
___________________
::Inside Professor Do-Yun office::
Out of breath, Alex arrived there. Sweat began to wet his face as a sign that he had just finished running. He didn't want his Professor to wait for long. What surprised him in the office was not only Professor Do-Yun but there is also Dr. Martin that given the speech before and also Professor Vincent, their head scientist that clearly seemed waiting for him.