Chapter 17: Here for You
At the hospital, Run went to ask where a patient was. The last name is Sinh. The nurse looked up the information and asked him what the patient was in for. Run didn’t know, but the girl who brought him told the nurse that she was in for brain cancer. Run looked worried. “Wow, she must be in serious condition to be at the hospital for this.” They got the room number and he rushed up to the room. Thanh had left to go get some dinner, so nobody was in the room. Run went in and saw this lady lying there. She was a beautiful lady. He couldn’t believe this was who Mr. Khoonpa was with. He wondered why Mr. Khoonpa let such a beautiful lady go. Run sat down and began to introduce himself. “Hello. I am Niran Amarin. I am Thanh’s friend. I was worried about Thanh so I came to find her. Looks like you just had surgery. “ Then the door opened and Run turned around. It was Thanh. Thanh looked surprised to see Run. She didn’t expect him at all. Run stood up and said hi. He then told her that he got worried about her because she never went home. She got a grip and told him that she had to leave because her mom is very sick. Then she told Run they can go out and talk. They went and found a sitting area and Run sat next to Thanh. She looked sad today. Run could see dark circles and puffiness under her eyes. “My mom has brain cancer. She just got out of surgery today. I’m still not sure if she will survive it.” Said Thanh.
Run moved his hand towards Thanh. He hesitated, but he then decided to go ahead and hug her instead. She began to tear up and he told her to keep on crying and let it all out. Today he is here to listen to her. Run told her that he will try to help out. She felt comfortable with him holding her. She loved hearing the comfort in his voice. Thanh sobbed and told him that the best doctors can’t solve this. It is all fate. She told Run that she wanted to call her dad, but doesn’t want him to worry. She didn’t want her dad to find out about this. Run decided to encourage her to tell him because it may be their last chance to meet up.
Thanh then let go and said, “You think my mom will die?” Run knew he made a stupid comment and told her it wasn’t that at all. It’s just…it’s just not 100% sure. Thanh slowly began to agree. Then she told Run that her phone wasn’t working. Run said, “Now I know why you haven’t been picking up.” “Yes it died sometime yesterday,” explained Thanh. Run laughed. “You know who else has been trying to contact you? Andrew.” Thanh smiled. “Andrew said something about this artwork. The artist wanted to give it to you,” said Run.
“Really?” asked Thanh. That news made her few more at ease. Thanh asked Run if she could use his phone to call her dad. Actually, she decided to call Annie instead because she doesn’t want her dad to get another attack. Run agreed. On the other line Annie saw that Run was calling her. “Geez, he’s finally calling me after he’s engaged to my friend.” She picked up and said, “Run, finally you call.” Thanh cleared her throat and said, “Hi Annie. It’s me.” Annie wondered why Thanh was on Run’s phone. “I want you to help me. It’s concerning my mom. I don’t know if you’ll allow dad to come visit my mom. She has brain cancer. She just had surgery and there is only a 50% chance of her surviving.” Annie was shocked to hear the news. “Of course I will allow that.” Said Annie. She told Thanh that she will go meet dad and tell him to go. But she told Thanh that Thanh will have to say it herself to dad. Thanh told Annie that Pirot had an asthma attack with sudden news in the past and was worried. So, Annie said that she will be right there to prevent anything from happening when Thanh tells him.
At the office, Annie dialed Run’s number and had her father talk. “Hi Thanh. What is going on?” Thanh responded, “Mr. Khoonpa, I mean…dad. Mom is very sick right now. Can you find time to come and see her?” Pirot wanted to collapse, but Annie was right there to ease him. He stuttered and told Thanh he was leaving right away. Annie and Pirot made it to the hospital and both went into the hospital room. Annie admired Thanh’s mom and said, “Wow, she is gorgeous! Dad, what were you thinking of leaving her for my mom?” Pirot stayed silent. He went closer and sat down. He reached over and held Mornnapa’s hand. It was cold.
Everyone left the room and sat in the waiting room. Annie asked, “Run, what are you doing here?” Run responded, “I got worried about Thanh.” Thanh then said, “Annie, Run and I have an apartment together.” Annie was shocked. She began to laugh and say, “What? Run then why are you marrying my friend?” Thanh began to deny things between them and she said, “It’s not what you’re thinking. We just rent it together. He has his own room.” Annie laughed more. Then Run told Annie to be quiet. She shouldn’t be happy at this hour. Then Annie said that she can be because life can’t always be sad. People have to smile and laugh so they don’t get old and grumpy. Thanh totally agreed with it and told Annie thanks for that because even though mom might be dying, life has to go on.
Run couldn’t understand it. He lost the love of his life and he was so heartbroken by it. These two sisters can laugh about death as if it were nothing. He let them be. Back in the room Pirot had a drop of tear. He began to talk, “Mornnapa. I never thought I’d be able to see you again. Now that I do see you, I wish I can hear your sweet voice again. I waited for you. But, I guess my waiting is not as painful as yours was for me the day of the engagement announcement. My excuse is worthless. Even though Airlin claimed she had cancer, I should’ve followed my heart. Now you are the one who is sick and she is the one all happy and cured. Mornnapa, I love you still.”
Mornnapa’s hand began to move and her eyes began to twitch. She started talking hoarsely. “Pirot, Pirot have you come?” Pirot got excited and decided to call the doctor. The hospital team rushed in Thanh, Annie, and Run started to worry again. When they reached the room, the nurse told them that Mornnapa was coming out of coma. Annie and Thanh shrieked and hugged each other.
The next day, Karn had come in the morning. He wanted to see this infamous step-mother. When he got there, everyone was laughing and smiling. Pirot introduced Mornnapa to Karn. Karn went over and hugged her. He told her that he’s never seen his dad this happy.
During lunch all the children left to go eat. Pirot and Mornnapa talked some more. They had straightened things out and Pirot found out Mornnapa never knew about waiting for him. Mornnapa also found out from Thanh’s video that Ruan had left a box for Thanh with information about her father’s identity. It made her think too much when she saw Thanh cry in the video. Mornnapa admitted that she felt horrible for not telling Thanh who her real father was after seeing the video. And that she felt selfish about it. She let her daughter be unhappy while she was hurt. She laughed at Ruan’s cleverness. Mornnapa also complimented Pirot’s children for being so open. “They are exactly like our Thanh.” Then Mornnapa got serious. “Pirot, our time is so short. But, promise me one thing. Take care of our daughter. Make sure she is happy. And Run, seems to really like her.” Pirot was unsure why Mornnapa was talking in this way. But he promised.
By evening, Mornnapa asked Thanh over. She told Thanh to watch out for herself. She even told Thanh that she thought Run likes her. She told Thanh to not let him escape. Thanh chuckled. Mornnapa told Thanh that she was serious. She heard what Run said when she was unconscious. Thanh smiled. Besides, a guy who didn’t have any feelings for Thanh wouldn’t rush over to see her. Run fell asleep on the couch, but he woke up and heard this conversation.
All of a sudden, the cardiac monitor began to beep. Thanh looked at her mother and Mornnapa was beginning to fall asleep. “Mom, what is wrong?” Mornnapa said, “Good bye.” At that moment, Pirot had returned from his dinner with the kids. He got to Mornnapa on the other side and Karn went to call the staff. Run got up from the couch and rushed over to place his arms on Thanh. Annie went to comfort her father. The doctors arrived and tried to revive Mornnapa. But, she is gone.
My Critique
Lots happen in this chapter. Seems like I'm speeding up the story (like those annoying lakorns) of her family issues; sorry
. I guess as I was writing I had the goal of only writing a certain amount of chapters since I wrote the ending right after the first couple of chapters. This is a sad chapter.
