Amidst The Pademic

Amidst The Pandemic

" Patient 375 survived." her nurse for almost 3 years said.

"Lucky guy." Lorrie chuckled a little despite the rough feeling on her chest, it was one of the times where her lungs doesn’t cooperate with her.

"You do know that what you're doing can hurt your lungs." Rina said which didn't matter. She knew she was gonna die anyway, her lungs became weak by years and it was just a matter of time that she will forever close her eyes.

"Oh Rina, what else is not allowed? All I can do here is stay in this bed all day. A little chuckle won't hurt" she said and looked at the room next to her, he was there.

"When did he got here again?" She said as she walked towards her door where she can clearly see a piece of paper attached outside her best friend's door.

"Can't believe you're still breathing" it said.

"Last night." Rina answered as she took a piece of paper and a pen.

"Well can't believe that you still have a head asshole" she wrote back and stuck it on her door.

"He's getting worse is he?" sitting on her bed she asked.

Avoiding the question, her nurse only smiled, "Just, just spend your life to its fullest. The both of you should."

"Rina, you know that my state and his state can never live the life to its fullest. Who knows maybe I will have my last meal here? Well if so, then that's disgusting." Lorrie scrunched her nose just by the thought of it, a poor lumpy mashed potatoes or a classic chicken that lacks of taste as her last meal will be a big no-no.

"Ugh, such a negative person." her nurse rolled her eyes.

In the middle of their quiet room, Lorrie's phone suddenly rang, yes a phone. I mean she's still a young girl after all.

"You called, do you need help? I'm sorry to say but your sis can't help you too, we're both locked in this…" she looked around her room, "In this prison."

"Who said I need your help? I just wanted to call you baby." Mike laughed on the other line.

" Ew, baby. That's disgusting Mike, ew " Lorrie went to her door and made a gagging face in front of Mike's room which he can also clearly see the expression of the girl's face and made him laugh more.

"Aww come on, think of it as a welcome gift Lor."

" How can you be so chill? You're literally going in and out of this hospital stupid!" The girl shouted which only made Mike smile.

" It's the headaches, I know it's getting worse even if they don't tell me. Heck, i'm already bald!" Her best friend laugh like it was nothing while the girl just rolled her eyes.

"Well Rina said that we should spend our life to its fullest." She chuckled and looked back at her nurse who only rolled her eyes.

" Well then, please tell Rina that we sure would love that." Mike replied. And they both laughed. After a couple of seconds, silence entered.

" Hey, Lorrie?" He said cutting it off.

"When we, well if ever like one day we can go out... Will you come with me?" the boy asked

It took a while before the girl answer. " Well, if ever then that would be a yes" Lorrie looked up at Mike's door and smiled.

"Then that's good." Mike said and ended the call and left her hanging.

"Asshole." she murmured putting her phone away.

" Patient 375 survived." her nurse for almost 3 years said.

"Lucky guy." Lorrie chuckled a little despite the rough feeling on her chest, it was one of the times where her lungs doesn’t cooperate with her.

"You do know that what you're doing can hurt your lungs." Rina said which didn't matter. She knew she was gonna die anyway, her lungs became weak by years and it was just a matter of time that she will forever close her eyes.

"Oh Rina, what else is not allowed? All I can do here is stay in this bed all day. A little chuckle won't hurt" she said and looked at the room next to her, he was there.

"When did he got here again?" She said as she walked towards her door where she can clearly see a piece of paper attached outside her best friend's door.

"Can't believe you're still breathing" it said.

"Last night." Rina answered as she took a piece of paper and a pen.

"Well can't believe that you still have a head asshole" she wrote back and stuck it on her door.

"He's getting worse is he?" sitting on her bed she asked.

Avoiding the question, her nurse only smiled, "Just, just spend your life to its fullest. The both of you should."

"Rina, you know that my state and his state can never live the life to its fullest. Who knows maybe I will have my last meal here? Well if so, then that's disgusting." Lorrie scrunched her nose just by the thought of it, a poor lumpy mashed potatoes or a classic chicken that lacks of taste as her last meal will be a big no-no.

"Ugh, such a negative person." her nurse rolled her eyes.

In the middle of their quiet room, Lorrie's phone suddenly rang, yes a phone. I mean she's still a young girl after all.

"You called, do you need help? I'm sorry to say but your sis can't help you too, we're both locked in this…" she looked around her room, "In this prison."

"Who said I need your help? I just wanted to call you baby." Mike laughed on the other line.

" Ew, baby. That's disgusting Mike, ew " Lorrie went to her door and made a gagging face in front of Mike's room which he can also clearly see the expression of the girl's face and made him laugh more.

"Aww come on, think of it as a welcome gift Lor."

" How can you be so chill? You're literally going in and out of this hospital stupid!" The girl shouted which only made Mike smile.

" It's the headaches, I know it's getting worse even if they don't tell me. Heck, i'm already bald!" Her best friend laugh like it was nothing while the girl just rolled her eyes.

"Well Rina said that we should spend our life to its fullest." She chuckled and looked back at her nurse who only rolled her eyes.

" Well then, please tell Rina that we sure would love that." Mike replied. And they both laughed. After a couple of seconds, silence entered.

" Hey, Lorrie?" He said cutting it off.

"When we, well if ever like one day we can go out... Will you come with me?" the boy asked

It took a while before the girl answer. " Well, if ever then that would be a yes" Lorrie looked up at Mike's door and smiled.

"Then that's good." Mike said and ended the call and left her hanging.

"Asshole." she murmured putting her phone away.

" Patient 375 survived." her nurse for almost 3 years said.

"Lucky guy." Lorrie chuckled a little despite the rough feeling on her chest, it was one of the times where her lungs doesn’t cooperate with her.

"You do know that what you're doing can hurt your lungs." Rina said which didn't matter. She knew she was gonna die anyway, her lungs became weak by years and it was just a matter of time that she will forever close her eyes.

"Oh Rina, what else is not allowed? All I can do here is stay in this bed all day. A little chuckle won't hurt" she said and looked at the room next to her, he was there.

"When did he got here again?" She said as she walked towards her door where she can clearly see a piece of paper attached outside her best friend's door.

"Can't believe you're still breathing" it said.

"Last night." Rina answered as she took a piece of paper and a pen.

"Well can't believe that you still have a head asshole" she wrote back and stuck it on her door.

"He's getting worse is he?" sitting on her bed she asked.

Avoiding the question, her nurse only smiled, "Just, just spend your life to its fullest. The both of you should."

"Rina, you know that my state and his state can never live the life to its fullest. Who knows maybe I will have my last meal here? Well if so, then that's disgusting." Lorrie scrunched her nose just by the thought of it, a poor lumpy mashed potatoes or a classic chicken that lacks of taste as her last meal will be a big no-no.

"Ugh, such a negative person." her nurse rolled her eyes.

In the middle of their quiet room, Lorrie's phone suddenly rang, yes a phone. I mean she's still a young girl after all.

"You called, do you need help? I'm sorry to say but your sis can't help you too, we're both locked in this…" she looked around her room, "In this prison."

"Who said I need your help? I just wanted to call you baby." Mike laughed on the other line.

" Ew, baby. That's disgusting Mike, ew " Lorrie went to her door and made a gagging face in front of Mike's room which he can also clearly see the expression of the girl's face and made him laugh more.

"Aww come on, think of it as a welcome gift Lor."

" How can you be so chill? You're literally going in and out of this hospital stupid!" The girl shouted which only made Mike smile.

" It's the headaches, I know it's getting worse even if they don't tell me. Heck, i'm already bald!" Her best friend laugh like it was nothing while the girl just rolled her eyes.

"Well Rina said that we should spend our life to its fullest." She chuckled and looked back at her nurse who only rolled her eyes.

" Well then, please tell Rina that we sure would love that." Mike replied. And they both laughed. After a couple of seconds, silence entered.

" Hey, Lorrie?" He said cutting it off.

"When we, well if ever like one day we can go out... Will you come with me?" the boy asked

It took a while before the girl answer. " Well, if ever then that would be a yes" Lorrie looked up at Mike's door and smiled.

"Then that's good." Mike said and ended the call and left her hanging.

"Asshole." she murmured putting her phone away.

That night after her nurse's last check, Lorrie crawled to her bed to waste her night with some books. Insomnia wouldn't help her sleep either.

" Hey Lorrie?" Someone outside her door knocked.

"Hey Lorrie?!" That someone knocked again.

"Oh my lord, ghosts can't knock right?" she whispered to herself.

Unfortunately, her legs dragged her to the door.

"Lorrie!" someone spoke and the door suddenly opened causing her to scream.

"WHAT THE FUU-MMMM!" She was cut off by a hand.

"Oh my god shut your loud mouth!" Mike answered before removing his hand.

"Wha- Why the hell are you here?" She whispered shouted, afraid that someone might hear them which can lead into trouble.

"Well... hehe?" There Lorrie saw her best friend fully, IVs attached to his wrist while he holds the pole with him, and a back pack strapped to his shoulders.

"What the hell are you doing here? And why do you have that huge back pack?" she asked which she also thinks that bag is full of chips.

"Well you said you would come with so I packed a lot of chips." well she was right about the chips but what did she agree on?

"Excuse me, where will I go with you?" she said in confusion

"Outside!" Mike exclaimed

And then it hit her.

"NOW? Are you crazy?! Mike, we're not even well. YOU, are not even well!" She exclaimed and hit him in the shoulder instead of his head.

"OUCH!"

"That's what you get from being too stupid."

"Oh come on Lor! We know we can't ever have a day that we're not sick. That can never happen that's why I wanted to do this." Mike answered and then sat on a chair near her bed.

"Well you do know that WE will be in big trouble if we got caught escaping this building." She replied back with a furious expression all over her face.

"Come on Lorrie please?" Mike begged while Lorrie put her hand on her chest, suddenly feeling nauseous.

"God Mike, what part of "We will be in big trouble if we got caught" did you not understand?" this wasn't good for her, all this commotion happening made her feel all fuzzy and weary.

"Please Lorrie, just please. I am near my end, they're not telling me but I know that my days can be counted now." Mike said showing a sad smile. He knew that he's near. And he's not gonna end it without doing the things he haven't done yet.

Meanwhile Lorrie was pacing around the room. "God you're persistent ." she mumbled to herself. Unlike Mike, Lorrie was the type of girl to sit back and relax. She was the type of girl who was ready for what's bound to happen to her.

"FINE!" Lorrie shouted while her eyes closed, thinking that she was taking a huge risk for the very first time in her life.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Mike jumped up and down in excitement forgetting his state

"Shit that kind of made my head go jumble." it made Lorrie look at her best friend fearing that something worse might happen.

"Are you alright? Why are you so stupid?" She said taking a good look of his head, not noticing that Mike's hand made its way to her wrist to pull her.

"Thank you Lorrie, you really are the best." He said giving Lorrie one of his tightest hugs.

Lorrie pushed him a little, "Shut up and let me pack"

"So where do you plan to go?" she said gripping her bag tighter. Fortunately, Mike knows all the exits of their building and they went to a path where there were less guards.

“A local store, come on.” He took her hand and started walking to the nearest store they found.

“Chips, water, oh and uh hygiene” Mike entered an isle and started to hand Lorrie the things they needed for their trip.

“Why do we need this? You already have lots of food enough for us.” She said looking for a basket to put all the stuffs.

“We might need more and also, you need to have hygiene ‘cuz I ain’t taking you anywhere with a smell” he stated not even looking at her.

“Well I ain’t here to be your maid, dumbass.

After a while, they were off to another destination. She doesn’t know where and Mike intended not to.

“Come on my legs are killing me! Why can’t we just take a bus or what please?’’ Lorrie pleaded to Mike.

“There are no buses nor whatever here. There’s a pandemic Lorrie remember?” Mike rolled his eyes and continued to walk

“And yet he chose to go out…” She puffed and hug her hoodie tighter. Despite being in summer time, it was surprisingly cold that night.

“We’re here!” Mike exclaimed as she looked up to where they are.

“An abandoned house?” she asked. It looks old but not much, just enough to tell that it was abandoned already.

“Yeah, this was my grandma’s. No one ever visits here anymore after she passed, so I used it as hideout. We can stay here for the night.” He smiled and opened the door revealing a room full of things covered in white sheets.

“Home sweet home I guess…” she mumbled and went in to help him setting up things.

“Hey you can sleep on the bed, I can sleep on the couch.” He said pointing the couch.

“Nah, I don’t want to trouble your head. You can sleep here if you want, the bed is too big anyways.”she said patting the bed

“You sure about that? You’re not gonna be uncomfortable?” he asked

“Oh come on we’ve been friends for YEARS sure this will feel like when we were kids.” She shrugged.

Hesitating, Mike went to seat on edge of the bed only, not noticing his heartbeat rising. He was too focused on the feeling of embarrassment.

“Why are you so shy-“ Lorrie pulled Mike and suddenly they were on top of each other.

This is too close, Lorrie thought. Mike suddenly pulled away. That was embarrassing, he thought.

“I’m going to sleep. Good night” And just like that, silence conquer that night. Well it wasn’t a total silence, Mike’s heart was beating too loudly that night and so does Lorrie’s who shrugged it off and tried to sleep.

“Good morning! Eat a lot, we have lots of places to go.” Mike’s voice made Lorrie wake up from her slumber which was lucky that she got to wake up. Before, she was so scared to sleep because she thought she was going to die then. Which was true, she could’ve died last night in her sleep. Lucky me I guess… she thought while walking downstairs.

“And what food do we have?” She asked wiping her eyes

“Canned food and some tasty buns.” He said taking a seat in one of the several chairs.

“Good, that’s better than hospital food.” She mumbled taking a piece of bun.

“What exactly are we doing here?” still munching some buns, Lorrie looked up in a place where there were bunch of 2nd hand bicycles.

“Stealing.” Mike casually said as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“The heck did you say?!” Lorrie spitted out the food she was munching.

“Just kidding…” Mike hopped on one of the bikes and Lorrie followed his gestures still unsure of what was bound to happen.

“Comfortable?” The boy asked, and she nodded

“Good. Now pedal!” The boy quickly pedaled away and left the girl hanging. It wasn’t long when the owners of the mini shop suddenly came out and made Lorrie pedal for her life.

“Asshole! Why did you made me do that?!” The girl felt bad for what they did, poor store owners losing some extra money.

“I don’t have any much more money! We used it all for food!” Mike panted.

“We could’ve just walk! Now we’re criminals nitwit!” Lorrie shouted in frustration, the word criminal was the only thing on her mind at the moment.

“I know but they don’t know us!” Mike said trying to make the air lighter.

“You said we have a lot of places to go when we don’t even have enough money.” Lorrie puffed out.

“I’m sorry, forgive me?” Mike held Lorrie’s hand. It was like the old times, whenever he hurt Lorrie he would hold her hand and asks for forgiveness.

Lorrie hid her now red face, still confused why her heart’s beating weird. Maybe because I’m ill? Is this part of my condition? She thought.

“Ugh, fine. Just because I just wanted to enjoy this day and it works every time.” She rolled her eyes and started to pedal again.

Mike caught up, “What works every time?” he asked with a grin.

“Oh shut up!” she started to pedal faster while Mike followed her and continued to tease her.

And it went on and on. They don’t even know where they were going. They just pedaled and pedaled. Never cared if something might happen or if a police checkpoint will come up. They were just enjoying their day like it was their last.

“You know what’s weird? I haven’t even seen any check points.” Lorrie pointed out. They we’re biking for so long but there wasn’t a single checkpoint.

“Maybe it’s our lucky day I guess?” Mike shrugged and continued to pedal.

Finally they stopped at a church that was still closed. It was a known tourist spot.

“Remember when we both promised that the first one who’ll get married should marry here?” Mike asked looking back to the times where everything is normal, where they were still normal.

Lorrie grinned at the thought that none of them will even get married by this state. “Too bad that will never happen.

“Yeah…” Mike sighed.

“Come on, let’s find a place to eat. I’m hungry.” She changed the topic and started walking away from the place.

All day long they were travelling with their bikes that they stole. The cool breeze made their biking more enjoyable than it was. They were so lost in the moment that it felt surreal. It was the first time in a long time that they enjoyed a day in their lives.

Later that night they decided to stop by a beach to rest. Of course they sneaked out, there was a word no trespassing all over the whole gate. They hid behind a large rock that they found while sneaking in.

“This was totally the best day that I ever had.” Mike said after they settled.

“And this was the very best risk that I ever took.” Lorrie smiled and looked up above. The best thing she risked and will risk again. She never knew that a simple risk could change everything, including her perspective in life.

“Hey, have you already brought a girl at a beach? Didn’t I dare you to bring a girl at a beach when we were like, 16?” She laughed at the thought of Mike bringing a girl at a beach and then tried to impress her with his swimming skills that he didn’t have. That was the main reason why she chose that dare to him.

“You were the girl…” Mike said hiding his face.

“Did I hear that right? I’m the girl?

“Hey, answer me-“ And then again, Lorrie’s aggressive pulling made them kiss. In accident.

When they pulled away they were both red as a tomato. They were friends, who not so surprisingly, became each other’s first kiss.

“I-I, I’m sorry about… that.” Lorrie moved a little away from Mike.

Mike didn’t want it though. He pulled her again for a kiss, a longer one he hoped. Ever since that dare, Mike always planned to take her at a beach. It was her that he wanted, not someone else. But that plan went to trash when Lorrie got rushed to the hospital and soon discovering her sickness, it wasn’t also long when it was him who was rushed at the hospital with his sickness becoming more worse making his hopes crash.

“I like you Lorrie, and I always hoped that you will be the girl that I’ll take at the beach.” He said after pulling away, he was getting his chance.

“I-I, you like me?” She was too shock to answer anything. It’s not like she never liked him, she did like him at some point in their friendship. She was just too afraid of the rejection and the thought of their friendship will end if she confessed made her burry all the feeling she had deep in her heart.

“I like you, ever since that dare I promised myself that you will be that girl. I like you for years Lorrie.” He breathed out, he can’t keep it anymore. And for sure as hell he was also ready for rejection.

It took a moment for Lorrie before she answered. “I like you too. I wanted to tell you that before but I was too afraid that it might ruin our friendship. I-I like you too Mike, I like you too”

And with just that, another kiss happened. This time, they knew that they were feeling the same to each other. They spend the night playing their songs of childhood and laughing at their own silly jokes like the world wasn’t in a huge crisis and that they were the only one in this world. They felt that their life was already completed with that simple kiss, and that the night won’t end with sadness.

It was morning when Mike opened his eyes, he remembered they fell asleep while hugging each other and then ending it with a kiss.

He faced his lover to wake her up. Lover, that word made him smile, they finally confessed that night. It felt heaven to finally know that she likes him too, it was the best day of his life.

“Good morning.” He greeted her, but she didn’t woke up from it.

“Lor, wake up” he tried to wake her up again, but she still didn’t.

“Hey Lorrie, wake up.” This time he was starting to panic and started to shake her to wake her up but she wasn’t budging.

“Lorrie this isn’t a good prank. Wake up!” and when she still didn’t budge, he went to get his phone and call the only person he trusted.

“Rina? Rina it’s me, Mike. L-lorrie, oh my god…” he couldn’t even talk properly.

“Listen Mike, calm down first and tell me where you are so that we can get you both. And tell me what’s going on.” Rina answered on the other line.

Mike nodded as if Rina can see him, “I’m at a beach. The nearest beach from the hospital. Please come quick, L-lorrie, Lorrie’s not breathing.

“Oh dear god… Help is on the way but I want you to perform a CPR on her. You know how to do it right?

“Yeah, I know that.” He answered.

“Okay good. Stay on the line with me Mike. Don’t end the call.” Rina told him and he wasted no time and performed it. Soon enough, the ambulance arrived and took them to the hospital.

“Mike! Mike! Over here Mike!” Rina went to him as the others took Lorrie in the emergency.

“A-are you okay? Why did you guys do it?” the nurse went on and took a good look if anything happened to him, but it didn’t matter if he was hurt. The only thing on his mind was Lorrie being revived at the emergency room. His love of his life suddenly being taken from him in just a night.

“How’s Lorrie?” Mike stood up when he heard her name, it has been an hour and there wasn’t any news about her since then.

It took a moment before the doctor looked at them, perhaps it was from exhaustion from reviving her.

“I’m sorry.” was the only thing that escaped his mouth.

Mike felt like the world fell on his shoulders. He couldn’t bear to hear anymore explanation from him so he ran. He didn’t know why but he just couldn’t trust him, he wanted see her first.

“Lorrie…” he breathed as he entered the emergency to look for her. He didn’t fail when he saw her on a bed and was being covered by a white sheet.

“Wait!” he stopped them and went to Lorrie’s body, she was so peaceful looking, like she was just sleeping.

He took moment to stare at her. She’s dead. Lorrie’s really dead. The one that he love is dead.

But of course he wouldn’t believe it. In his mind she was alive and all he need is to wake her up.

“Hey, hey, hey…” he whispers slowly as he gently stroke the girl’s hair.

“Hey Lorrie? I-I love you more than I loved life. Well you are my life so might as well tell you that I now love my life.” He chuckled, still wishing that this was all a dream.

While the boy was pouring his tears out, the nurse walked in at the sight. She too was in grief for what happened to her child. Yes, child. She treated her patient like her own after all these years. There was even a time where Lorrie asked her to be her mother here in the hospital. The girls’ parents weren’t visiting much since they were busy working to pay the expenses of the girl, thus the reason she was the closest parent figure Lorrie had during her stay.

“Huh?” she was too caught up her thoughts that she didn’t notice the expression of the boy.

“Why am I here? And why is she sleeping?” the boy asked her that made her tears fall.

“Mike?” the nurse asked.

“Rina? Why are we here?

“You… you don’t remember?

“We… Me and Lorrie. We were at the beach! We, we, we slept there. What is happening?!” the boy was shouting in frustration.

“Oh lord.” Rina mumbled as she tried to calm the boy down.

“Lorrie? Lorrie?! Rina why isn’t she waking up!

“Mike! Mike! Calm down!” the nurse pleaded the boy.

“Rina why isn’t she waking up…”

“M-mike? Mike! I need assistance here! Doc!” Rina shouted catching the boy into her arms.

“R-rina?” Mike slowly opened his eyes. He was back into a very familiar room.

“You passed out.” Rina smiled at him giving the glass of water to the boy.

“Lorrie… She really is…” the boy didn’t said much further.

“She’s happy. And I know she wants you to be happy too.

“What happened?” he asked

“Although Lorrie’s state sounds simple, her case had other factors that can risk too.” The nurse explained.

“Lorrie started to have irregular heartbeats whenever she sleeps, which is why she was brought here 3 years ago. Every night nurses still checks up on her just to make sure her heartbeat was normal. And since her case doesn’t even have a cure for it, the only treatment she has with her was the CPAP.

“To help her breathe when she sleeps…” Mike added.

“She has the condition for five years and study shows that when a person that is diagnosed with Sleep Apnea for more than five years has a higher risk of having a heart attack during their sleep which can be their death…. Lorrie had the complications so it made it wore risky”

“And she had a heart attack during her sleep?” he mumbled to himself.

“What happened to me? Why did I passed out?” he asked Rina.

“ You…You…” Rina couldn’t find the right words to tell him.

“At least I’ll meet her again.” he smiled.

“Mike-“

“It’s alright Rina. You were with me and Lorrie ever since we got admitted. And I’m really thankful for that. I already know why I passed out, I looked up about what will happen to me if my case got worst.

And at that moment Rina couldn’t control her tears anymore. She hugged Mike and cried out some more.

“Shh… Just promise me Rina, please look out for me if I ever forget what happened. And if I die…” The boy looked at his nurse.

“If I die, continue taking care of patients like me and like Lorrie. Be their mom just like what you did to us.” He smiled which made Rina cry more.

Few days later Lorrie’s parents took care of Lorrie’s burial. They weren’t showing their emotions but deep down their hearts were broken that they lost their daughter.

Meanwhile, Mike was still locked up in his room. He was preparing himself for the worst. Although his heart was still broken, he still continued to smile thinking that he will see his lover again.

“Mike?” Rina knocked inside the room. Mike was there looking at Lorrie’s picture.

“You know it’s her last day, don’t you want to call her parents?

Mike sighed and took something that was on his bed.

“Do I look good?” he chuckled turning around her.

“Lorrie would say you look handsome. But for me? Eh you’re bald.” The nurse laughed.

“Hey that’s mean!” he tried to look mad but ended up laughing.

“Kidding. But you do look handsome. Lorrie would probably do some heart eyes for you.

“She should be, I’m her boyfriend after all.” He then took out his phone and dialed someone.

“Oh hi Mike.” Lorrie’s parents greeted him with a sad smile.

“You guys should smile more. Lorrie will wake up and threw a fit if you guys cry.” He laughed

“We’re trying. For her.” They said and smiled a bit better.

“There we go! Lorrie will be happy, really.

“We know, she’s not in pain anymore. You know, whenever we got time to visit, she would ask us to sing. She said it eases her heart.” Her mother smiled.

“Can I… Can I see her?” he asked. The mother nodded and went beside Lorrie’s casket.

“It’s only a few of her family that are here. We don’t want too much people just to be sure for our safety.

Mike took a big gulp before facing her.

“Hey Love.” He started.

“Hey uhm, I love you. And I miss you already. I might see you soon tho. But if we do meet, will you still love me now that I’m bald?” he chuckled.

“ At least your heart and lungs is at ease. And you’re lucky that I can’t tease you anymore.

“You good?” Lorrie’s mother smile.

“Yeah Tita. Thanks for the time. “ and the call ended.

“You done?” Rina asked.

“Huh?

“You forgot it already?” Rina asked.

“Who are you? Why am I here? I’m supposed to take Lorrie out! Oh no, my plan!” Mike shouted walking up the door.

“Hey Mike!” Rina called which made him turn.

“You know me?

“I do, you’re my patient.

“Patient? But I’m not sick?

“You are Mike and I promised that I’ll take care of you if this happens again.” Rina said walking up to him.

“No, no, no don’t go near me! I’m going to Lorrie.

“Lorrie’s dead!” Rina shouted before Mike could even walk out.

“What non- sense are you telling? Lorrie is alive and I’m about to ask her out.

“Look at the calendar. Tell me what date is it today.

Mike slowly walked in front of the calendar to prove the nurse wrong.

“Why is it May 2020 and not October 2015?” Mike asked confused.

“Because it is May 2020. Mike you have Tumor Cancer and this is the effects of your case. Lorrie is died a few days ago and you just called her parents because it’s her last day.” Rina walked up to him.

“I’m sorry Mike, I’m sorry.” She said and hugged him.

“No, no, no, this can’t be happening. She’s alive! She’s supposed to be-“and then he passed out.

Rina sighed and waited for a bit before he laid him down his bed.

“Rest well Mike. See you later.” She mumbled and left his room.

Rina went to visit his room later that night to feed him.

“Mike? Food’s here.” She peeped her head inside.

“Mike…” She called out again when she went inside.

“Mike I know you hate hospital food but you need to eat.” Annoyed, she placed his food on the nearest table to wake him up.

“Mike.” She shook him

“Mike-“ she stopped mid-sentence when she saw a letter placed on his night stand.

It was a letter addressed to her.

“Dear Rina,

Maybe I wouldn’t wake up by this time and I’m sorry for that. Maybe I’m with Lorrie already. I saw her Rina, I really did. So I wrote a letter just to say goodbye because I’m going to chase my girl.

Adios amigos! We’ll watch over you! See you when you’re ready!

Love,

-THE END-

ah...what a love story that I wrote eh?

But what did happened to them?

“What did you wrote on that letter?” a girl said looking down at the person who was crying.

“Nothing! I said I’m chasing her and said goodbye.” The boy answered and received a strong punch from the girl.

“Nitwit! You didn’t said any sweet words to her? Look at her she’s crying! Ghaa you’re such a stupid guy Mike Tebioso!” Lorrie rolled her eyes in annoyance. She thought the guy would be a little smart when she told him to make a proper goodbye to Rina.

“This Mike Tebioso loves you so much Lorrie De Valle, but you just punched him.” Mike made a face at her.

“Yeah because you deserve that.” She snickered.

“Ehem.” A voice cut them off.

“So do you want to go down or up? I’m getting impatient with you two.

“Oh shut up we’re still looking over Rina.” Mike said which made Lorrie smack his head.

“Ow!

“Look who you’re talking to stupid!” The girl point her finger up.

“Ow…” Mike suddenly realized what he did.

“ You know I might just stay here for a while he might put me down there if I greet him…..” he shivered at the thought.

“Agh don’t be a baby and let’s go up.” The Lorrie stood up while Mike looked at her with pleading eyes.

“But I made him angry…. Help….” The girl rolled her eyes at the boy’s statement and did what she did.

“H-hey a-ow! That hurts. L-Lorrie you’re scarier, hey!” Mike was holding his ear trying to take it back from Lorrie who was also holding it.

“Lorrrrriieeeeee. “ Mike pleaded.

Lorrie looked at him dead in the eye. “If you don’t apologize to him when we get there then you’re really going down.

“But you will come down with me right?” Mike smiled sheepishly at Lorrie who was now mad than ever.

“A-ow! H-hey! Okay okay I’ll say I’m sorry! Lorrie let my ear go! H-hey!

And then they went into the light. Lorrie still holding Mike’s ear and Mike, well good luck I might say.