MORENA-Chapter13

2 weeks earlier… 

He was sleeping soundly when his phone rang. He tried to cover his ears with his pillow. Who could possibly that caller be? His phone kept ringing. He drowsily checked his clock on the desk. For god sake, it was 3am. He reached his phone to know who the unforgiving creature was. He was about to open his mouth when the caller talked.

“Hey! Brother, Listen…” The caller was his sister Leslie.

“What do you want?” He disgustedly interrupted.

“Cedric, this is about dad…” His sister sounded crying.

He felt his pulse rate quicken. “What about dad?” He asked breathlessly, silently shaken.

“He… got cancer, second stage colon cancer.” Leslie was weeping harder and louder this time.

Cedric was shocked. He was numb by what he heard.  That couldn’t be possible. Dad is strong, he’s healthy. Cancer? No way! His mind strongly denied.

“He was diagnosed 3 months ago.  He was about to go to the airport when he collapsed. He wanted to see… you… compete. You know dad. He always thought that… you are the best swimmer. We wanted to tell you but he asked us not to, not on the day of your competition.” Leslie told him .

His heart was filled by pain that he could not even speak.

“He was seeking treatments behind our back. I thought…I thought…he was just on a business trip.” Leslie managed to continue between her cries.

Unstoppable tears were flowing through his eyes. One thing he would never believed he has. He heard everything Leslie said. He’s dad is sick! He got cancer, the dreaded cancer!

He wasn’t sure how they ended up their conversation. All he was sure about was the fact that he did not sleep since that call came in. He cried alone in his room like a child. What could he possibly do to help his father? He is just seventeen. He couldn’t afford to lose his father. No way! He was so angry. Why the hell cancer existed? Why my father? Why our family? Why today? Why not after 10 years? His mind got a lot of questions but answers were inaccessible.

He wanted to tell Dylan so bad but she was in Cebu. He was certain that she was the only person who could appease him. But on the other end, I didn’t want to bother her vacation.

He can’t go home, he thought. Cedric is more than frightened to see his dad right now.

He continued his normal routine. Eventually, Leslie will call and tell me it was wrong, that those stupid doctors misdiagnosed his father.

After a week, Leslie called again but she broke news that he never expected. 

“Our lawyer said we are broke, that we are bound to lose our house and the Jade in two months.” Leslie was talking about their mansion in Sydney.  The very house where he and his siblings grew up. It was the house of his grandparents. The house his father treasured the most. The Jade? That is their restaurant business named after his grandmother’s favorite gemstone. It has already 6 branches.

“That’s not possible! It couldn’t be possible, Leslie!” Cedric shouted in shocked.

“It was already verified by Derek. Sadness in Leslie’s voice is palpable.

He wanted to talk but he uttered nothing.

“Dad will be need expensive and long treatments…we already talked to some of his friends…they helped out but it wasn’t enough to deal with our debts. Uncle Jack offered but he has condition… you need to… marry Addi when you both turned 18…” Leslie told his brother.

“What? That’s insane!” He said in disbelief

“No. This is the only way to get our lives. We can’t live through government support, Cedric.” Leslie firmly responded.

“There must be other way” Cedric wanted to be hopeful

”I’m afraid there’s none” Leslie replied

“I cant marry Addi, I have a girlfriend and I love her.” Cedric couldn’t be persuaded easily.

“Then break up with her. You are better with Addi. You will be perfect together.”

Leslie said without a blink.

“You can ask anything but not that Leslie.” Cedric firmly responded with clenched teeth

“You know what? If I’m on your shoes, I’ll marry Addi without thinking ‘cause that means saving our family.” His sister got mad because of what he said.

“Why are you so imposing? I’m only seventeen for god sake! I cant marry Addi. I cant marry anyone.” Cedric was mad too.

“Exactly my point. You are only seventeen. How can you be so sure that you will end up with that girl?” Leslie was not backing off.

“You don’t get it, do you? I can’t marry Addi because I don’t love her.” Cedric was not retreating either.

“You are stupid!  Can’t you see? Addi loves you so much. She even followed you there, to study at your school. And you are choosing that girl over her? Filipinas only love money. They marry foreigners for their convenience. That happened to dad.” Leslie told his brother furiously.

“Shut up!” Cedric shouted.

“You shut up and listen to me!” Leslie yelled on top of her lungs. “Yes. You maybe very much infatuated with that Dylan girl…but for how long? 2, 3 years? Then what? We will lose everything? What about dad? He deserve the best treatments there is. We can’t lose him, understand? And if you still dissert us for that girl, forget your family. Don’t ever come to Australia. Stay in that god forsaken place” Leslie shouted full of rage.

She said everything to convince his brother. Yes, she was afraid to lose their father but at the same time she was also afraid to lose the life she used to. She’s only 21. She planned to study in Paris next year with her friends. How would she do that? They are bankrupt. So he should agree, he must agree.

Cedric was very furious, not to his sister but to his situation. He was so damn sure that Dylan is his life. No material things would matter more than her.

But what about dad? He thought. Jade is his life since his mother left. And then there’s the house. He owed that to his father, he should give it, that is his father’s happiness, his whole family’s. Would he be selfish and chose his happiness?

 What about Dylan? How would he tell her? She would be back on Saturday.  

    

Leslie already got her a ticket to Australia. He chose his family but he would protect Dylan in a way he knew. Dylan deserved someone who would stand by her no matter what, that was not him. But he knew Dylan so well. They would stand by each other, they both promised.

If there was something, he learned from Leslie about relationship that was to make the girl so angry at you. You would need her anger, if you wanted her to move on the fastest. Leslie was just 17 then. She got her heartbreak from a guy she always thought her great love. Leslie was very mad to the guy that she shredded everything that reminded her of his boyfriend. And then few weeks after, she’s dating.  She should hate me! She should stop loving me!

He was busy packing his things when the angry Ian called him on the phone.

Ian was phasing back and fort when he approached him. Security is really tight in his condo, so uncalled visitors are required to wait at the lobby. Ian cut the few feet between them and smacked his face really hard.

“How dare you do that to her. I should have not let you win” Securities were alert. They were able to restrain Ian. Cedric was speechless. He didn’t need to say a thing. He deserved it anyway. He wiped down his bleeding lips.  

“You bastard! I’ll kill you when you ever get near her again.” He heard Ian shouted on top of his voice as the two security guards dragged him outside.