The nurse, with a warm smile, remarked, "What happened to Mr. Kurobe? Did he ever come to visit you?"
Blake's smile faded, replaced by tears in his eyes as he replied, his voice quivering with emotion, "No, he couldn't. He... he had already passed away due to a heart attack." He paused for a moment, his voice filled with both sadness and affection and then smiled through his tears. "But you know, before he passed, he said something to me."
The nurse, curious and compassionate, leaned in, her eyes reflecting Blake's pain, and asked, "What did he say? Please, tell me."
Blake continued, his voice filled with affectionate remembrance. "He said to me, 'Blake, I've already taught you everything I know, and you'll need to leave town to further your studies.' Then, he turned his face away, tears in his voice, and said, 'Just remember my teachings and come... come visit me whenever you're around.'"
He went on, his voice trembling as his memories resurfaced, "He stood up, hugged me, and said while crying, 'Just take care. You know, I've always considered you as my grandson, so come visit me sometimes, okay?' I hugged him back, my tears flowing as I told him, 'Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll come to visit you whenever I get the chance, because I still have to beat you, you know.' And Kurobe Sensei would laugh and say, 'I'm always ready for the challenge.'"
Blake's expression turned somber. "Little did I know, that would be the last time I spoke to him. Three days later, when I went to visit him, I received the news of his passing from his neighbors. I visited his grave as well."
Blake's voice filled with emotion as he said, his heart heavy with loss, "He was the only one after my mother whom I considered my true family."
The nurse comfortingly replied, her voice soft and understanding, "Don't worry, both of them will be watching over you from heaven, concerned about your well-being. Okay, what happened after that? How did your studies go?"
Blake wiped away his tears and continued, his determination shining through, "Well, not much. As I mentioned before his passing, I left town for further studies, but it wasn't a somber journey, thanks to his teachings and his last words. By that time, I had already let go of thoughts of revenge against my dad. I just wanted to excel in a field I genuinely enjoyed."
Curious, the nurse inquired, "Oh, was it in the business world, as you mentioned earlier?"
Blake smiled and shook his head, saying, "No, that was only my initial plan, driven by thoughts of revenge. But when the fire of revenge died down and I no longer had that motivation, I realized that pursuing a career in something I didn't love wouldn't make me happy. I had a passion for chemistry, mathematics, and physics, and I aspired to become a researcher in these fields."
Blake continued, his thumb gently tracing patterns on his hand as he smiled. "After that, I focused on the subjects I loved and excelled. I received an offer from Princeton University at the age of 17, so I came here. However, on my very first day at the university, I collapsed at the front door. After some tests, I received the news that I have a terminal illness and that I have only a short time left."
The nurse, filled with sympathy, softly said, "I'm so sorry."
Blake responded with a reassuring smile, "No need to be sorry. I still have a few months, according to the doctors. In the meantime, I plan to watch 'One Piece.' You should head home; it's already late, and I wouldn't want the hospital to cut your salary."
As the nurse glanced outside at the darkening sky, she sighed, "Oh, goodness, it's already dark. Time always flies when we talk. I'm sorry, Blake, but I have to go attend to other patients; otherwise, the head nurse will give me an earful."
Blake chuckled and said, "Yeah, you should go. Thank you for listening to me."
The nurse stood by the door, smiling, and said, "Well, my mother always says I'm a good listener. So, if you ever want to talk more another time, I'll be here to listen. For now, goodbye."
Blake waved goodbye, and as the door closed, he was left with a feeling of gratitude for the caring nurse who had lent him an understanding ear.
The months swiftly passed like grains of sand slipping through an open hand, until one day...