Chasing My Dream Lover - Chapter 174：Dying

“Must I do it again ?” Aiko asks in pout. She sits on her bed, twisting the edge of her pillow. “Yes, you must,” Takeshi answers her with firm tone, “This is your punishment for being bad girl,” he continues, intentionaly widens his eyes to make his face funny. Aiko chuckles and sighs at the same time. “I promise I will be good,” she is coaxing. “Of course, you are. You will be here until your chemo session is finish,” Takeshi replies to her then pinches her nose when seeing her sulky face. “I will be here whenever I have no work,” Takeshi promises her. “Which is almost never,” she pouts. Takeshi lets a small laughter. He then bends down to meet her in the eyes. “I will drop all my schedules to accompany you if you want me to,” he looks her in the eyes solemnly. Aiko is silent for couple seconds then she shakes her head. “I don’t want you to do it,” she says.

“Are you ready, Aiko-chan ?” A nurse that just entered the room asks her. Hesitanly, Aiko nods. “I will be here,” Takeshi promises her. “No. I don’t want you to see me after chemo. You should go back to your hotel and rest,” Aiko rejects him. Takeshi pats her skullcap covered head couple of times then kisses her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he whispers to her ear, “Be brave, okay ?” Aiko nods. She then moves from her bed to the wheelchair beside her bed. The nurse then takes her out of her room.

After sitting on the couch, Takeshi rubs both of his hands to his face and going up to his hair while exhales a heavy breath. Aiko’s cancer has returned. It moves to her lung and it gets worse. According to what the doctor told Mr. Waseda, it spreads and grows aggresively. The doctor said it is no longer can be killed. All they can do is taming the cancer to grow slower. Without the treatment, Aiko can only live for 3 months at most. While with treatment she may live for a year. Last night, Mr. Waseda asked him to keep the condition a secret to Aiko. When she knows it, she will definitely refuse to be treated.

Takeshi should be glad to hear about it. It means, his deal will last and he will be able to chase Xiao Ping back. But he is not glad, even less happy. It broke his heart, too when he heard the news. Even though he doesn’t love Aiko, he cares for her as his little sister. Only as a sister, not as a woman. That’s why he is so confused right now. Last night Mr. Waseda also begged him, he even downed on his knee, pleaded Takeshi to marry Aiko. Takeshi couldn’t say anything. He had no heart to refuse him at the moment. He only asked him a time to think about it.

——-

“Morning,” Takeshi greets Aiko from the opened door, covers his face with a bouquet of flowers. Not getting any response, he lowers down the flower and starts to panic when he looks at the almost lifeless Aiko. He will definitely press the emergency button if he doesn’t see that Aiko’s eyes are opened.

“Aiko-chan..,” he calls her while pats her cheek gently. Her gaze slowly focuses on him. “Oh, Hi,” she greets him with a blank stare. “Are you feeling well ?” Takeshi asks her. Putting the bouquet on her chest.

“What do you mean ‘You’re not really well’ ?” Takeshi asks her to explain her earlier answer. “What.. ?” Aiko asks him back in confusion. “I asked you ‘Are you feeling well?’ and you answered me ‘Not really’. What did that mean ?” Takeshi explains his question.

“Oh.. Hmm.. I don’t know.. I forgot why I answered that,” Aiko answers him with a dazy look. “My mind is blurry now,” she continues then sniffs the flowers again, “Thank you. I love it.” Takeshi almost wants to say that she said thanks already, but he decides to keep his mouth shut.

“You should not come. I told you not to come after my therapy,” she says in complain. “Your therapy was two days ago,” Takeshi reminds her. “It was ?!” Aiko seems surprised then sighs. “They gave me different drugs. These ones are stronger, I think. The drugs make me confuse and have terrible nausea,” she explains in sad. “I look awful,” she adds then covers her face with her hands. “You’re beautiful,” Takeshi whispers to her then opens her hands before kisses her forehead. Aiko thinly smile. Takeshi takes the bouquet from her lap and put it in the vase on the bedside. “Have you eaten ?” Takeshi asks again. “I don’t have the appetite,” Aiko answers him Takeshi opens the refrigerator. “Fruit, maybe ? You must eat something. Otherwise, you only become weaker,” he advises her. “Ice cubes ? My mouth is so dry right now,” Aiko says. Instead of bringing her ice cubes, Takeshi gives her a slice of watermelon that he found in the refrigerator. With a little hesitant, Aiko accepts and eats it. “Better ?” Takeshi asks. She nods then biting the watermelon again while Takeshi just staring at her.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to fly for another world concert tour. But this time it won’t be long, only two weeks. After Taiwan, there won’t be any more tour, and I asked Hiroshi to postpone all unassigned contracts so I can be on your side all the time.” Takeshi tells her his plan. Aiko frowns but doesn’t say a word. “I know I promised you to cancel my tour to Taiwan. I had. But my fans there were protesting. They even made ridiculous rumor. So I thought it is better to keep on the concert there. I hope you understand,” Takeshi adds. Aiko nods. “I trust you,” she says. “Thank you,” Takeshi replies then kisses her skinny hand.