But since the title's page

'Alex, you should go to the hospital, just to be safe.'

Alex's father was usually on business trips, seldom coming home. He lost his mother to brain cancer when he was nine and lived alone since then, along with his father's occasional visits.

His father had returned a few days ago.

Why does one have to go to a hospital because of a mere cold, one might wonder? But before the day Alex had fainted, he had been experiencing minor headaches and vision problems, which he shrugged off as nothing serious. Though things did get serious afterwards.

He started having balancing problems, his memory got fuzzy, he would vomit unexpectedly, and zoned out from time to time. These were some of the symptoms that were added to the headaches and vision problems.

Coincidentally, his father had come home on the same day he fainted and had been observing him.

Seeing his symptoms, he realized it was no fever Alex had, but something else much more troublesome. He had a hunch what it might be but prayed he was wrong.

Seeing Alex walking so weakly with his hands on the wall for support entering the kitchen had him concerned.

'Don't worry, Dad, I'm fine. It'll wear off soon.'

'Alex, just accept it, you don't have a fever. Stop being a wimp and go to the hospital.'

Alex knew he was right, but having a slight fear of hospital and especially needles, which his father was aware of, he refused to go. Being of the O blood group, he rarely got sick and never really needed to go there except for some cases.

'I'm totally fi-'

'Alex!'

Dean abruptly stood up and went to his son, who had collapsed on the floor.

Next thing Alex saw, he was on a bed in a room brightly lit which had the sharp smell of ammonia. He knew he was in the hospital.

Alex knew his father must have brought him here. Weakly getting up, he looked around to call someone. He saw and signaled a nurse.

The nurse, immediately seeing him, called the doctor and his father.

They both rushed in. His father was relieved to see his son is alright. Seeing his father in his casual clothes, which he wouldn't be caught wearing unless inside his house and his dark blonde hair uncombed, Alex wondered if his condition was that bad.

'How are you feeling, boy?'

'Okay, I guess.'

'You gave your father quite a scare, you know.'

Alex was vaguely trying to remember what happened. All he could recall was him refusing to go to the hospital, yet somehow, he was there.

'Since you're here, let's have you checked, shall we? Your father told us your symptoms, and we suspect something might be wrong, so we'll have a quick MRI scan of you.'

'It doesn't look like I have a choice anyway.'

The MRI scan was indeed done quickly. Alex was left alone with his father while the doctors filed the report. He made fun of his father because of his unkempt hair, which made his dark blonde hair and a few black strands that would typically be in a disciplined and fashionable style looked like as if a tornado hit it. Commenting on his casual clothes and saying he has a faint heart and was quick to panic.

'You are getting old, Dad. Keep that up, and you'll end up with a heart attack yourself.'

Dean was glad to see his son was back to normal, looking at his son's eyes with his own shade of blue different from his son's. But try as he might, he couldn't force a laugh to please his son.

Something was clouding his mind. Thoughts were racing in his mind that shouldn't. He was scared of the unknown, which wasn't like him, but something familiar had taken place in the past, which fueled his anxiety.

He saw the doctor at the door and went out. His heart was pounding loudly, seeing the doctor was worried himself.

'Mr. Dean, it is our policy to be honest with the patient and their family. As such, I must tell you that your son….is suffering from a case of GBM.'

It was then that Dean's heart seemingly stopped. He felt cold and immediately sat down. The doctor took pity on the father but continued speaking.

'GMB is an abbreviation of –'

'Glioblastoma Multiforme. I know.'

Dean completed the sentence as a tear rolled down his eye. The doctor was surprised that he knew the name, it wasn't common knowledge. For Dean, that name was a curse. A name he hoped he would never hear before.

--Sorry, Yumi. I messed up.