::In the hospital::
After all the ruckus that happen in the medical lab of Korean military secret research building, Dr. Martin maintains his poker face and arrived at the hospital with the medicine.
"What's taking you so long?" Professor Vincent look a bit anxious right there.
"Got a little situation back there. But it's already settled down. I brought the medicine here and all I need to do is mix it with the right formula."
At that time, his mind wanders to when he injects the medicine to Melanie. He suddenly remembers that the medicine not yet mix, but he composes himself fast. It's not the right time to remember about that woman. Not that he cares for her anyway. He needs to focus now.
"What's wrong?" Dr. Martin is asking when he finally collects his mind.
"That's the Doctor who treated Aaron. Ever since, he kept asking this and that and didn't let us approach Aaron at all. He said Alex didn't tell him anything about this. He didn't budge even though I had already given him a letter of consent that had Alex's signature on it." Professor Vincent half-whispered to Dr. Martin.
Dr. Martin's face showed his hatred. There are always have those who dare to interfere with his work. Wasting no time, he went to confront the doctor.
"Hello Dr. I hear you've been the one in charge with Aaron all this time." Dr. Martin tried to be friendly while held out his hand to shake as a greeting sign. The doctor greeted back and asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Dr. Martin and I'll be in charge of Aaron for a few hours to test the new drug if you don't mind. I'm sure my friend has already talked to you about this. An official letter has also been delivered to you. So why are you still here trying to ruin my work?"
The doctor was startled to hear Dr. Martin then. He realizes that people like Martin are not easy to confront with. "But I need to call Mr. Alex first."
Without showing his anxiety, Dr. Martin quickly said, "No need to call Alex, he's busy with his research. The program is supported by the government itself, where Alex now works. If you are still not satisfied, I will call the minister in charge to confirm it to you even if you are not the person who suppose to get that special treatment. Don't blame me if after that you run into problems with the higher ones. Remember, you are not yet in a fixed position at this hospital anyway. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to do my job here. "
The doctor was clearly shocked by the Dr. Martin attitude, but no longer said anything. He re-examined Alex's letter of approval and only complained inside his mind. Eventually he resigned from there letting Dr. Martin alone.
Dr. Martin approached Professor Vincent, "Watch him. Make sure he doesn't call Alex for a while."
As usual Professor Vincent just nodded, understanding the instruction.
Then, Dr. Martin entered the yard of the room where Aaron was being treated. He saw a woman there.
What now? He talks in his mind. "Who are you?" Martin didn't expect anyone else will be there.
"I'm Aaron's caretaker. I need to take care of Aaron until Mr. Alex comes." She said.
"Tsk." Dr. Martin tried to calm himself. He took out some money from his pocket and handed them to the woman. "Go eat and rest first. We need to treat Aaron. Don't come in until I say so."
"But ..." The women were a little hesitant but seeing Dr. Martin's serious face she just complied.
After she left, Dr. Martin asked his assistant, "CCTV?"
"We've already asked people to cut the footage. So, no need to worry."
"Good. Make sure no one other than us comes into this room. I don't want my work to be delayed again. Let's get started."
He checked all sorts of life support machines connected here and there to Aaron to keep him alive. He knew Aaron's condition was worse than expected. But, he is still convinced that his medicine can work like magic.
Without delay, Dr. Martin started mixing the red meteor liquid with all sorts of things according to the new formula that his team made which is conducting a 95% success rate before. In his eyes we can tell that he is hoping the medicine will work 100% fully to human rather than the lab mouse . After satisfied with the result, Dr. Martin came close to Aaron and took a small bottle of blood for testing before he inject Aaron with his medicine. Just after that, he gives him the injection. Then, after about 30 minutes passed, he took another bottle of blood.
After finishing with it, he asks one of his assistants to monitor Aaron heart rate and breathing flow while he analysts Aaron blood condition before and after the consume in the corner of the room.
Time passes quickly, but the face of Dr. Martin looked dissatisfied. Since then he checked Aaron's blood that's been taken but, there was no response at all.
"What about his heartbeat? Breathing flow and blood pressure?" He asked his assistant.
"Same as before the doctor. Nothing change. Heartbeat is in a stable mode."
Dr. Martin rubbed his tired face, which was now in a rage. Aaron should show reactions such as increased heart rate and rapid breathing even if only slightly. But the situation remains the same as before. He felt like he used his efforts only in vain.
Just then, Professor Vincent entered the courtyard of the room. "Martin, let's go now. It's already late. Alex will be here sooner or later."
He knows that the medicine did not work very well just by reading the room or Martin surely have announced his successful to the whole world now.
Dr. Martin let out a heavy groan. He didn't want to stop yet, but time surely not cooperating. With mixed feelings he packed up all his equipment and got out of there.
___________________
::At that night in the hospital::
It's been a routine for Alex to accompany his son Aaron every night at the hospital since a year ago. But, in the few days since the day of the incident in Professor Do-Yun's office, he didn't visit his son because there was too much to think about. That night, finally he found the strength to meet his son.
He looking at his son face trying to remember something. In fact, he actually does not really remember the memory with his son when his son has been healthy before even just a year. He scared of that. The memory that they collect together each day seem to fade away now.
Aaron is the same age as Eun-Woo, Byung-Hun son. Only 16 years old. The car accident that happens is because of a drunk driver that drives into bypass while Aaron try crossing the 'green man' light to get back from school. Usually he is the one that sends and took Aaron home, but that day he had a job that could not be left and had to let his son go home alone. How sorry he was when he found out about Aaron's condition at the time.
"Hey son, sorry I just came now. You know that I have tons of work that needed to settle right?" Alex that's been standing watches his son who just lay without moving on the bed while talking. Sometime he felt like he can hear his son talking back to him. Of course, it's all in his imagination only.
"Hmph… Never mind. As you already know, I lie of course. You know me better than all people out there anyway. I didn't come because something is bothering me. I'm afraid if I see you I will make a harsh decision. So that's why… Forgive me okay?" Alex asks again. He finally sits down beside his son this time.
"I want to tell you why I am frustrated all along, but I don't know where to start. Actually, I've been given an offer to give our new medicine made from the red meteor that I used to tell you about. But, I think I've to decline the offer. I'm sure you'll able to understand. I just want the medicine is fully functioning first before I agree. I don't want them to make you a test subject for it. What do you think? You approve my decision right?
Beep… Beep… Beep. Beep. Beep Beep. Beep. Beep… Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep…
"What? Aaron? What's wrong?" Alex began to panic when the machine connected to Aaron that showed his heart rate suddenly sounded wild. He clicked the red button next to Aaron's bed and ran out of the room screaming for help.
Only in a second medical team arrived at the scene with the doctor in charge. The situation in an instant became very chaotic.
"What happened? What's wrong with him?!" Alex asked, but no one noticed him as they were still trying to get Aaron to breathe again. One of the nurses pull Alex out from the room so he won't interfere with medical process.
Alex's mind became more confused then. Cold sweat began to rise in his face. His heart also beats so fast now. Aaron's caretaker came at the same time, even though she was supposed to be home.
"Mr. Alex, what happened?"
"Aaron stopped breathing abruptly." Alex replied with a gasp.
"Mr. Alex, I know this isn't the right time, but this afternoon there are some doctors from where you work coming here to see Aaron."
"Ww… What? What do you mean?" Alex stutters a bit by the unexpected news.
"I don't know the detail either but he drives all people away from Aaron and he said you already know about it. First I go out but I felt unhappy about it so I watched from afar. After a few hours they came out and one of the people throws this in the hospital lobby trash can."
Alex takes the paper that handed out by the woman's caretaker. His eyes widened, looking at the contents of the letter which said he agreed to give Aaron the medicine made with the red meteor. His hands trembled with anger.
"But, I didn't do this. Why won't you call me!" Alex loses his mind.
Feeling scared, the women caretaker answer slowly, "One of the people want to borrow my phone and never give it back. I also forgot about it till now. That's why I came here." She said nervously.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppppppppppp ...
Alex looked back at the room where Aaron was staying and the sound of the machine was heard again in his ear. It seems that all the health workers there stopped giving any help to Aaron at the time. Deep in his heart he knew that Aaron was no longer with him.
"Here I am announcing that Aaron William is dead. The time of death is 21:35 p.m." The declaration of death and notes at the time of death were finally spoken by a doctor who made it all official.
The paper Alex was holding fell scattered on the floor. His whole body now felt weak.
"N.. no... No... No... No!"
Alex enters the room again and sees Aaron's lifeless pale face. Then he went to the doctor on duty.
"Doctor, please do something. This can't be real. Please help him!"
"I'm sorry Mr. Alex. We've tried our best."
"No! Don't say that. There's must be some kind of treatment or anything that we can try now. Don't just stand there. Do something! "Alex is yelling his heart out with tears. He is definitely not ready to say goodbye to his son.
"I'm very sorry." The doctor understood Alex's feelings and was still apologizing.
A bit calmer, Alex watched his son Aaron again.
"You cannot leave. Not yet. Doctor, please check him again. He probably just sleeps. He's not dead! " Alex still did not want to accept the statement.
After a few minutes, his conscious mind come back to him. He finally came to terms with the situation.
"I still have a lot to say to you. Why are you leaving me like this? " He said then knelt next to his son's bed in sobbing.
"I'm sorry Aaron. It's all my fault. If only I took you home that day. I'm sorry. " He felt like his heart is shattered into pieces. His crying also, getting louder.
"Please come back! Please… Please come back to me! " Alex screams in regret.
In that sad environment, everyone in the room bowed their heads, praying for the dead for one last time.