'Three months? That's... really a short span of time.'

She scrambled for a response, but she couldn't formulate one. Clarissa wiped her tears away and gave her a teary smile. "That means I just have to be strong for him, right?"

Vera nodded. "And as a token of gratitude, I'll help you."

Clarissa shook her head. "No, you don't have to do that!"

"I insist."

"But..." Seeing that Vera wouldn't budge, Clarissa relented. "Fine." Clarissa stood up from the bench. "I'll just go check on him." She reached into her pocket and gave her a wad of cash. "Here, in case you go hungry."

"I-I can't accept this much!"

"If you're going to help me, I should at least ensure you're well fed, right? Take it."

"But..."

"No buts." Vera reluctantly took the cash from Clarissa's hand.

"Thank you..."

"Also," Clarissa handed her some more money. "I know that you've just gone from sickness, but could you please buy some fruits from the market outside the hospital?"

"I will. Which fruits do you prefer?"

"Oh! This is not for me, but for my son. Oranges and apples would do."

"Okay, I'll get going."

"Take your time." Clarissa entered Theodore Marchyll's room and shut the door.

---

"Clarissa, excuse me, but I'm coming in. I've brought the oranges and apples you've asked for." Vera pushed the door open, and saw Clarissa and a young adult staring at her. She assumed that the guy was Clarissa's son, Theo. His deadpan face stared at her, and sent his mother a questioning look.

"Ah! Glad you're here, Vera!" The oranges and apples were put on the floor. Clarissa introduced them to each other.

"Theo, this is Vera," Clarisse gestured her hands towards Vera. "She's the girl I've told you about earlier, who will stay with us for a while. Remember?"

Theo nodded.

"Vera, this is my son, Theo." She stared at Theo's sullen face.

"Nice to meet you," said the both of them.

"Now that you have gotten acquainted with each other, could I leave you with each other for a while? I just need to go to the restroom. It won't take long, I swear."

"It's fine, mother."

"No problem, Clarissa."

"Thank you... Make sure to eat your fruits, Theo! I'll be back soon!"

Clarissa then exited the room. Both of them stared at each other, gauging how they should proceed. His blank eyes darted towards her for a fleeting second, and averted his gaze immediately. Sadness glazed over her eyes.

"I don't need your pity." Theo reached for the oranges and peeled them.

"Huh?"

"Are you deaf? I said I don't need your pity." Theo took a deep breath. "I know that my mother had told you about my condition." A retort almost escaped her lips, but was shut down before it was even uttered.

"It's too obvious. From your sad and worried eyes, your voice, down to your actions. It screams poor Theo this, poor Theo that. It's quite annoying." Theo popped an orange segment into his mouth.

Her blood boiled upon hearing his words. "What are you---"

"Don't deny it. I've seen it a thousand times before. I also know you're staying out of obligation. Don't mind it, you can go now."

"Is that really how you think of me?"

Theo remained silent. Deep inside, he knew he said hurtful things, but...

"You think of me as a lowly scum, huh? Doing this to repay your mother, or out of pity? It hurts, you know."

"Isn't..." Theo hesitated and pondered upon his next words. "Isn't it true?"

"It's not! Why couldn't you believe that we really care about you?"

"Because we're strangers?"

'Uh, oh. How could I escape this?' Vera scrambled for an excuse. "Maybe... maybe I do not know both of you that much yet... but... your mother saved me... from dying... so..."

"You want to repay her by taking care of me? I was right."

"Don't phrase it like that..." Vera just pouted.

Theo gazed within her eyes. It felt like her soul was bared before him and was being scrutinized. He averted his eyes from hers. "I guess your intention is true, even if you've told some lies." Theo popped another segment of the orange in his mouth. "I can trust you, right?"

Vera nodded happily. Internally, she was screaming. 'That was close!'

"Vera..." said Theo, hesitance evident from his tone.

"Yes?" Vera tilted her head to the side, wondering what this would be about.

"Would you mind bringing me a glass of water? I'm quite thirsty." Vera picked the cup and fetched water from the dispenser on the far side of the room. "Thanks." He tilted the cup just above his lips and let it pour.

"Would you also mind dicing the apples for me?"

'This is getting annoying,' thought Vera as she diced the apples with the knife placed on the desk. 'What are you, a brat? If you weren't sick, I would've killed you!'

Sensing her murderous thoughts, he just blew a deadpan raspberry at her. Her nerves almost burst in anger. He popped another segment of the orange inside his mouth.

'Keep calm, Vera. It's for your sister, Vera. Remember that.' However, her rage just simmered that time and failed to notice how he hid a faint smile.

---

Two shadows were seen inside the room. One was lying on the bed, staring at the night sky outside the window, with longing and sorrow. The other was busy preparing things for the patient lying on the bed.

"Mother," asked Theo, seemingly lost in his thoughts.

"Yes?"

"May I request... something?" His voice almost quivered as he weighed if the request was worth asking.

"What is it?"

Theo weighed his options. He could pretend that this was nothing, but it would only harbor regrets. He took a deep breath and prepared for his mother's reactions. "Since I only have three months left..." Clarissa stopped what she was doing and stared at her son in worry. "Can I be discharged from the hospital?"

"No!" sputtered Clarissa.

"But mother..."

"Why?" Clarissa's voice cracked, worry and anxiety flowing from her voice. "D-don't y-you want to live anymore?"

Theo sputtered. "No, mom! Why did you even think of that?" His vision was slowly turning blurry. He regretted hurting his mother by asking it, but it had to be done. "It's just that... I'll die in three months... It's guaranteed, right?"

"Don't say that! I-I-I can't lose you, too!" Tears were falling down her chin.

"But it's true, mother! I'll die!" Nothing could be heard except for Clarissa's soft sobs. "I'm sorry, mother, but I---" Theo's voice wavered. "I... I don't want to spend my last moments here... rotting... sitting idly while wondering if I could have done something instead of just waiting for the end to come..."

"But Theo..."

"I understand you're scared, mother. But I'm also scared, too, of leaving you behind. It's just that---"

"Would that make you happy?"

"Huh?"

"Would being outside of the hospital for your remaining time would make you happy?"

"Y-yes."

"T-then..." Clarissa gathered all of her courage. For his son. For his happiness. "I'll ask tomorrow if they could discharge you."

"Thanks, mother..."

Vera closed the door. She unintentionally listened to the mother and son's exchange. Her heart sang in pain as she remembered the sorrow from their exchange.

'I'll definitely make sure that... your wishes will be granted...'