REZ'S POV
"Are you okay?" I asked Mikael since he's silent. I get that he's worried about her sister but he's way too silent.
"Yeah. Can you ask the doctor to check on her that we can go. It's been 3 hours." he said so I got up and look for the doctor. In a few minutes they checked on Tanya and she's free to go. Mikael hand me his keys and supported his sister to the car. He knows how I can get reckless on driving especially his sister is here. I'm getting suspicious now. I started the engine and drove away. However, Mikael is still silent while Tanya slept in the backseat. She's weakened by the jellyfish so its understandable.
"You good?" I asked Mikael again. He glanced at me and smiled. "Are you going crazy?" I said
"It seems you're driving cautiously now." he teased
"Dude I'm also getting chills. I might be thrown out if I get carried away with my driving." I responded
"Besides, driving recklessly isn't cool. It's petty unless its for emergency." Mikael lectures. He's the type of guy who gives that vibe of an old school guy. He follows rules diligently and I can agree that he's a good example to his siblings and even to us. He rarely drinks and when he does, he can only took two glasses. It's not that he can't take alcohol but he says that its bad to get drunk especially to his health. It's not also because of his heart condition but like I said, he makes sure that his siblings will look up to him. He's a very responsible child, sibling, friend, and companion.
"I know Sir Balmoja. Well, how's your heart? I saw you holding on to your chest." I said. That might be the reason he's silent.
"All good. I just had a small panic attack back there." he casually said like it was not a big deal. For him, hospital means death. Once you go in, there's no coming back. I empathize with him since he lost his father and can lose his mother too, and he's blaming himself for that.
"I see." I said since I don't think he likes it, prying into his heart condition.
"Dude I'm okay so please don't try to make a big deal out of it especially to the group. Just don't tell them. And yes, I'm having a chest pain so I'll be meeting Doctor Elliot about it." I almost stepped on the brake hard but I stepped on the gas instead. "Rez!?" Mikael shouted so I slowed down.
"Are you trying to kill me that fast?" he said
"I'm sorry." I said with an awkward smile. "You might want to take a leave from work and focus on your treatment since it's been 4 years already." I said worriedly
"Donors are hard to find since I have to be compatible to them first. And I can't take a leave from work since the twins will go to college." he said while looking outside the window. He took the responsibility his father left and he's been doing great since then.
"You're doing okay. Don't worry about the twins, I can handle it." I volunteered
"Nah, you did enough for me already and besides they're going abroad. That's a lot of money." he said trying to convince me he can do it. I felt pain in my chest too. I'm his friend and more than that, we're brothers, not by blood but by brotherhood. Can't he lean on us more? Can't he trust us more? Can't he be open to us more when his having troubles? I'm angry!
We arrive at the hotel and he left the car first to help his sister. I got out from the car and handed him the car keys then I walked passed them. I saw the group waiting for us so I stopped a bit and looked at all of them then Mikael followed holding Tanya. They all rushed to Tanya but I sighed and walked to our room.
"Why does he always have to hide his pain on us?" I mumbled and throw myself at my bed. I heard loud knocks so I acted like I'm busy then Edwin entered the room.
"Did he told you about his panic attack?" he asked then I looked at him. So he does know.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I said
"I just don't want you to ask him too much. He's in pain after all." he replied then I got more angry
"Exactly!" I said angrily. "He should've told us when he's in pain. He should've told us about his burdens. Why is taking it all in? Why is he doing this to us?" I added
"Just understand him Rez. He needs time to take all of this." Edwin said trying to calm me
"How can I understand him when I don't know what's happening to him? Am I just a friend? Well, I consider him a brother." I exclaimed and left the room. I'm so mad right now and I don't know if I can face the group looking like this.
NOAH'S POV
The look on Rez's face is worrying me. After he walked pass us, Edwin followed him. Did something happen at the hospital?
"Tanya!? Thank God you're okay." everyone exclaimed so I put my attention to her. I looked at Mikael and he seems not fine. Is he having chest pain? This crazy thoughts are lingering my mind so I walked closer to him and tapped his shoulder.
"The doctor says she's okay now. She just needs to rest. How's everyone?" he asked trying to look okay but I know he's not since he's been taking deep breathes from the moment he came in.
"Fortunately, everyone is fine and the lifeguards also have closed the shore for now." I explained. The moment they took Tanya to hospital, they warned the people to get off the shore for now.
"Honey are you okay? It worried you a lot, right? But everything's good now." Abby said while holding Mikael's hand.
"Yeah. Thank goodness." he replied smiling. How tough! "Can you stay with Tanya until she gets better." he added
"That's a given." Abby said lovingly. I hope Mikael can be honest with Abby about everything. I hope he stops worrying also about him being a nuisance or a burden to us.
"Thank you hon." he responded and kissed her hand. The two of them seems reliable and the best match for each other. I hope Mikael settles his dream and his heart condition quickly and settle with her.
"I'm here you guys." I joked and smiled widely at them
"You're always there." Abby joked back and walked away from us
"I'll take a rest." he said to me and tapped my back then walked away. Then Edwin came back with a deep sigh so I turn to him for a talk.
"Want some juice?" I offered him so I gesture the bar counter outside the receiving area. We both sit while waiting for the drink and he seems to be thinking a lot.
"Want to spill some?" I asked as I was intrigued about what happened to them.
"There's a promise so I have to shut my mouth." he replied while they are serving the drinks.
"Of course." I said in surrender and went silent. "Well, how are you two holding up on your IVF?" I asked since he can't say anything because of a promise
"Well be getting a check up again next week after this trip. We'll have to try harder." he answered
"I hope for the best of you two." I said sincerely
"Won't you really ask me?" he ask confused
"About what?" I asked even though I know what he means
"About what you're curious of?" he added
"Will you spill some for me?" I asked smiling and teasing him
"I don't know but check on him from time to time that's all I can say. He's also your roommate." he said. I think he can't keep it up with himself and I know it worries him. Rez called me the other night about Mikael's mom. He told me that she's getting regular check up on her heart and I thought she might have the heart condition too but I'm wrong. She's getting ready for the worst case scenario.
She knows that Mikael fails to find a donor all the time and his heart is getting nearer to damnation since the time is up for his sons' grace period. He was given a max of four years to look for a heart donor but the third came and he started to feel chest pain.
"I'll do that. He seems weird when he came from the hospital." I said
"You guys are really good friends and I bet you see him as your brother too right?" he said while leaning on the table
"Of course. He's a brother to me and Rez that is why we have to help him no matter what. It's brotherhood." I said while drinking the last bit of juice from the glass.
It's been 20 years of friendship. I think every secret we have has been known to us even our deepest agonies. We've been there for each other through the years. When one struggles, everyone is. When one succeeds, everybody celebrates.