As they got back into the car, the engine hummed, and Leon adjusted the mirrors before easing the vehicle back onto the road. Laiva settled into the passenger seat, her arms crossed lightly under her chest, still slightly apprehensive about the unconventional night ahead.
The city lights flickered past them as they drove through quiet streets, the occasional pedestrian strolling by or groups of people laughing outside late-night cafes. Leon navigated through familiar routes, but instead of heading anywhere specific, he seemed content to simply drive aimlessly.
"You ever just... drive around when you need to think?" Leon asked, glancing over at Laiva. His voice was casual.
Laiva took a moment before responding, her eyes fixed on the passing streets. "Not really," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of contemplation. "I usually have to think about how to survive the next day, not... well, this." She gestured to the car, the city, the odd sense of freedom in the air.
Leon nodded, understanding more than he let on. "I get that," he replied
A few minutes later, Leon noticed Laiva's shoulders relax, her body sinking deeper into the seat. Her breathing slowed, and her eyes fluttered closed as the steady hum of the engine seemed to lull her into a light sleep.
Leon glanced over at her, her face peaceful in the soft glow of the dashboard lights. He kept his focus on the road, but something about the quietness of the moment made him feel unexpectedly at ease.
After a while, Leon pulled into a quiet spot by a park, the soft rustling of trees adding to the calm of the night. He parked the car and leaned back in his seat, stretching his legs. The warmth of the car, Laiva's steady breathing, and the quiet night made it hard to stay awake.
He reclined the seat and closed his eyes for a moment.
Before long, Leon had fallen asleep, the peaceful night pulling him into a deep rest.
...
Morning light filtered softly through the windows. Leon stirred slowly, blinking in the unfamiliar morning haze. He glanced over at Laiva, still asleep, her head resting against the window. Her phone, tucked in the cupholder, rang loudly, the ringtone piercing the quiet atmosphere.
She blinked, slowly waking up, her head still heavy with sleep. Her hand fumbled for the phone, and when she saw the call was from the bank, a sense of unease settled in her chest. She quickly answered.
"Hello?" she spoke, her voice still groggy.
A calm, formal voice greeted her. "Good morning, this is Anal Frank from PSB Bank. I'm calling regarding the loan application you submitted. Unfortunately, we regret to inform you that it has been rejected."
Laiva's heart dropped. She stared blankly at the dashboard for a moment, trying to process the words. The phone call felt like a cruel blow to her already fragile state.
"Rejected?" she repeated softly, disbelief thick in her voice. "Why?"
The bank employee continued, "The application was declined due to insufficient collateral. There's nothing further we can do at this time."
Laiva felt the room close in on her. The news felt like a heavy blow, suffocating her, and she didn't know how to react. The loan had been her last hope, the only way she could afford to pay for Jake's treatment.
Without another word, she ended the call, her hands trembling as she put the phone down. She sat in stunned silence for a moment.
Her fingers quickly dialed the hospital's number. She needed answers, anything that could give her a glimpse of hope. The call connected, and she held the phone to her ear.
"Hello, this is the hospital. How can I assist you?" a calm voice answered.
Laiva's voice wavered, strained with the weight of the moment. "This is Laiva. I'm calling about my son, Jake. How much time do I have left to pay for his treatment? Please... I need to know."
There was a brief pause before the receptionist responded. "We've diagnosed Jake with a rare form of cancer. The treatment required is extremely expensive, and to start, the cost is five million dollars. The full treatment plan will require additional payments, but the initial five million is necessary to begin the process."
Laiva's heart dropped as the receptionist continued. "And you'll need to pay within 10 days. If payment is delayed, it will make the treatment more difficult."
The words felt like a physical blow. Five million dollars. The deadline. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think straight. How could she possibly come up with that amount of money in such a short time? She barely made enough to get by, let alone cover the cost of saving Jake's life.
She pressed her hands to her forehead, trying to steady her racing thoughts. Panic surged, threatening to overwhelm her. Even if she worked non-stop for years, she still wouldn't earn enough to cover this.
With a shaky breath, she hung up. The world around her blurred, her head spinning as her heart sank deeper into despair. She sat there in the car, completely drained, feeling more helpless than she ever had before.
Suddenly, she felt a hand gently rest on her shoulder. She turned and saw Leon in the driver's seat, looking at her with concern.
"Umm... what happened?" he asked.
Laiva remained silent for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. She looked away, staring out the window, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
He waited for her to speak.
Finally, with a sigh, Laiva spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "My loan application... it got rejected," she said, her eyes not meeting his.
Leon stayed quiet, sensing there was more, but he didn't interrupt.
Her voice grew more strained as she continued, the truth spilling out in a rush. "They told me Jake's treatment... it's five million dollars just to start. And I have ten days to pay. I... I don't know how I'm going to manage that. The bank won't help. No one will."
Laiva paused, her voice shaking. "Even if I worked every day for the rest of my life, it wouldn't be enough. I'm trapped. I can't save him." She let out a frustrated breath, her hands tightening into fists.
Leon glanced at her, his thoughts briefly drifting to the money. Five million was a lot—before. But now? It wasn't so much. One lucky roulette spin could get him the cash. He knew if he played online again, they'd block his account, so he'd have to go to a real casino this time.
"Umm... if you want... I can give you five million," he said quietly, looking at her with a steady gaze.
Laiva turned her head sharply, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What?" she asked, her voice trembling, unsure if she'd heard him right.
Leon didn't flinch. "I can get the money. It's not a problem."
Laiva's eyes widened, disbelief mixing with hesitation. "What... what do you want in exchange? I don't have anything of value to offer. I can't repay you." Her voice cracked with the weight of the situation.
Leon shrugged slightly, his expression calm but firm. "You don't have to repay me."
"What do you mean, Leon?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Leon gave a small, casual shrug. "Maybe sometimes, we could go get coffee, or something like that. Nothing more than that. Just a way for us to talk. But that's it.""
Laiva blinked, caught off guard by his simplicity. She hesitated, then shook her head slightly. "You're offering me five million and all you want is coffee? Are you serious?"
Leon's gaze was steady. "Yeah. I'm serious. You don't have to overthink it."
Laiva let out a breath, clearly still processing what he was saying. "Fine. But... I don't know if I can do this. It's too much."
Leon shrugged. "I don't see any problem." He slowly handed her his phone. "Send me your account details on this number."
On the screen of his phone, his number was displayed in bold letters.
Laiva hesitated for a moment, staring at the phone, then back at him. She took the phone from his hand, her fingers trembling slightly as she input her account details.
"Done," she muttered, handing the phone back to him.
Leon glanced at the screen, then nodded. "I'll drop you at the hospital. I have to go to the bank to transfer this big amount."
Laiva swallowed, still trying to wrap her mind around everything. "I... don't know how to thank you, Leon."
He gave her a brief, reassuring smile. "You don't need to thank me. Just focus on Jake."
Laiva nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude, though she remained silent.
When they reached the hospital, Leon parked outside. Laiva hesitated for a moment, her hand resting on the door handle.
She met his eyes. Then she got out of the car and quickly headed inside.
After watching her walk into the hospital, Leon didn't waste any time. He pulled away from the curb and headed in the opposite direction, the casino in mind.