"Just walking around." Heka answered briefly. He couldn't possibly tell Clancy who he had just met or the turmoil he was passing. After all, Clancy didn't know him either.
Clancy stared at him for a moment. His gaze was deep and intense. Then, she smiled gently. "You look fine, your sleep must have returned to normal."
It was the most mysterious case that he never caught at all. He never truly shared everything he had gone through to everyone he knew, either his parents. Yet he wondered how they seemed to know about him so much, including some of the treatments he had undergone. "Really? Actually, I didn't sleep last night." He admitted quietly.
"Try another treatment, who knows it will work? " Clancy said gently. She reminded him of the offer of help from Ansel. A possibility he had been wrestling with his hand.
This time, Heka's doubts about Ansel grew stronger. Because Ansel was aggressive, and he was not comfortable with him. But it seemed like Ansel was confident that he could help him. It was a rare glimmer of hope in the deep mist of despair.
He was on the verge of destiny. Caught between hesitation and the desperate need for relief, Heka found himself at a crossroads once again. He was wondering if he should trust Ansel's bold promise or continue searching for another way.
"Not yet, I'm thinking about it." Heka said. His voice tinged with uncertainty.
Clancy looked at him with a steady. Her gaze was convincing. "You don't have to think about it, but you have to do it. Take that opportunity. The most important thing for now is your health. Sleeping is very important, and your heart will not feel tight. Don't think about anything else, the cost or what the treatment might be like."
Her words carried a gentle urgency. As if she were urging him to seize the chance as soon. Yet Heka remained silent. He lost in hesitation.
Clancy pressed on. Her tone softened with concern. "What is the new treatment like? Is it very expensive? Is that so scary?"
"I don't know.". He answered briefly.
Clancy leaned in slightly. Her voice was firm yet caring as she tried to convince him. "Okay, listen to me! You have to try it, don't think about anything other than your recovery. That's the most important thing."
Her words struck a chord deep within Heka. Slowly, the walls of doubt he had built around, it began to crumble. Her conviction made Heka begin to waver and his belief in accepting the offer from Ansel was getting stronger with each passing moment.
He felt Clancy had a point. For now, what he had to prioritize was his recovery. For everything else, the cost, the uncertainties, he had to put aside. Healing himself was the only thing that truly mattered.
"Look, my sister has come." Clancy said softly. Her gaze was dazzling as she spotted her sister approaching. She saw her sister bending over some dresses. It was definitely for her wedding. Their family did return to China, except for her sister.
"Hey, Heka." Stacy greeted me warmly. Her face glowed with happiness. "You must come to my wedding."
"Okay." Heka replied simply. A small smile touched his lips.
Stacy glanced at her sister. "Clancy, let's go home." Then, their gaze shifted to Heka. "Heka, sorry we're heading back first."
Heka just smiled, saying no words in return.
But Clancy gave him a gentle wave as they prepared to part ways. "Bye, Heka."
As they walked away, Heka remained seated by the lake. The water was peaceful, but it also filled with reflection of beginning and farewells. He thought it was better to wait for the sunset, after that he would go home. Apparently, he got nowhere to go.
His phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Ansel.
Heka, let's meet again. There are many things I want to talk about. It's about your recovery, my Grandpa can do it. Tell me when your free time and where we meet.
Reading those words, Heka felt a surge of conflicting emotions. Deep down, he felt that he had to accept the Ansel's offer.
Although, he felt that there would be a big change that would happen if he did. But whatever it was, he had to accept the risk, including he would step into unknown hazardous territory.
His mind drifted to the advice that his Grandpa's advice was very true. Actually, he was supposed to avoid Ansel. This time, he decided to think about it now and ignored the message. He just wanted to breathe easily before he felt his chest feel tight to breathe. Before his chest overwhelms him again.
Yet the reality was clear. Probably, Ansel's Grandpa had the real power to heal him. Hence, he didn't have any choice, but to accept whatever fate awaited.
One thing he knew was only Ansel's Grandpa, who could heal him. He has to accept and live whatever would happen later.
"It looks like I have to open the door for Ansel and enter my life. Although, there's something terrifying in his hands, and maybe it can kill me." He whispered to himself. A shiver was running down his spine.
Worry and fear gnawed at him. Beneath it all was a quiet determination that he had to do. He had no other way, yet there was no way out.
He swallowed hard, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. There was no turning back now. Whatever awaited him beyond this threshold, he would face it head-on. For in the depths of fear, he found the spark of courage that would guide him through the darkness.
Whatever awaited him beyond this threshold, he would face it head-on. The fear that had gripped him moments ago began to transform, slowly melting into something fiercer and more resolute.
For in the depths of fear, he found the spark of courage that would guide him through the darkness. It was a fragile flame, flickering but unyielding, a beacon in the storm that threatened to consume him.