Chapter 29: Hard Work
Several months had passed since they started dating. Ray had finished school and, casting aside all his doubts, got a third job—the school principal helped him with that. Now he worked at a children's oncology center. His age could have been an issue, but a diploma from one of the best schools and the principal's recommendation resolved that.
Right now, he was sitting next to a cute twelve-year-old girl, and they were drawing something. Ray's job was to arrange entertainment for the children. It was very hard work, but Ray understood these children well and could relate to their parents. The last few days, a drawing contest had been underway.
Ray's painting depicted a futuristic spaceship, with a very beautiful blue planet behind it. His competitor's painting—a girl named Hina—showed an anthropomorphic family: a father who was a white tiger, with a little girl who looked very much like him sitting on his back. Beside him stood a fox-girl, and at their feet were two older girls. Unlike the youngest, her older sisters took after their mother.
As a result of the voting, Hina won by a majority. After the voting ended, Ray approached the girl.
"I want the movie 'The Lion King,'" she said.
"Understood, give me a couple of days, and your faithful servant will arrange everything," Ray replied jokingly, saluting.
Seeing his behavior, the girl smiled:
"That might work with the younger kids, but I'm too old for that sort of thing."
"Big Brother Ray," Hina said quietly, "not long ago, I really wanted a family, but now I'm glad I don't have anyone. It hurts me so much to see how other children's parents suffer. But I realized there's no one who'll look after my grave."
"Hey, you promised me not to get down," Ray said gently. "You have to fight. Maybe you'll be the one to look after not only my grave but also care for my future child and wife. Also, lately my mother keeps saying she wants a daughter. I think you'd be perfect as my little sister."
Finished speaking, he gently stroked the girl's head.
Today was a very bad day. Two children had died, just hours apart.
Approaching a man who was shedding bitter tears, mourning his son, Ray patted him on the shoulder.
"Casey loved you very much. You raised him well; you have reason to be proud. My life is very difficult, but even I can't imagine how hard this is for you. The very thought that my future wife and mother might go through something like this fills me with horror."
The man looked up:
"You're Ray, right? Casey talked about you."
"Yes, that's me. Honestly, I was going to comfort you, but the truth is, I don't know what to say. Losing your own child is one of the hardest things in life, if not the hardest. I hope I never have to go through this."
"Here's what Casey asked me to give you," Ray said, holding out a flash drive.
"Do you know what's on it?" the man asked, accepting it.
"Yes, I helped your son record that video. It contains his last wishes. My advice to you: if you want to fulfill them, you should watch that video as soon as possible. Because if luck is against you, you might not have time."
In the eyes of the man who seemed to have completely lost the will to live, a spark of life flickered again. He quickly stood up and ran to find a place to watch the video.
Finding a secluded spot, Bart inserted the flash drive with trembling hands. On the screen appeared a boy with a tired face.
"Old man, if you're watching this video, it means I'm dead, and right now you're crying. I don't mind, but you're still a man and my father, so don't overdo it. If God does exist and I can watch you from up there," he pointed to the sky, "well, I have no desire to see my old man crying all the time."
"I have a friend, Lisa Barents. She's at the center too. If you're watching this, it means I died first in our duo. Her mother raised her alone. Her father went out for bread before she was born and never came back."
"I hope Lisa can pull through. If she does manage to, look after her. Her mother is very hot, but I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind. I'm sure she'd be happy if you were happy."
"If we're unlucky and Lisa follows me, make sure her mother doesn't do anything stupid. She's a good woman who's been very unlucky. Help her survive losing her daughter. I'd be glad if something worked out between you two. You both deserve happiness."
Pausing, the boy smiled bitterly.
"Lisa put me in the friend zone, so our family needs to get revenge. Now all hope is on you, old man. Don't dishonor our great family name."
During the viewing, Bart's soul was in chaos. He experienced a kaleidoscope of incredible emotions that he'd thought could never combine. But by the end, the man laughed out loud—even as tears rolled down his cheeks.