Chapter 21: Bad news

Alice spaced out indefinitely. She shut down completely. It was like there was a barrier between her and the world. The first few words on the call terrified her.

Momo was puzzled when she looked at Alice's face, which began to pale. Although it was normal for her to take calls in class, she had never seen her freeze like this before.

Momo shook Alice's body and repeatedly called her before Alice finally reacted and turned her head.

"What happened?" Momo asked.

"I've got to go. Can you cover for me?" Alice asked shakily. One could easily discern her trembling voice and had a bad feeling. Momo quickly nodded her head.

Alice bolted out of the class. Outside, she took a few breaths and then returned the call to the unfamiliar number.

"C..can you re..repeat what you said earlier? Ss.. sorry I'm in class and didn't hear you properly," said the shaky Alice as the call was answered.

"I'm sorry ma'am. Your mother has unfortunately passed away earlier. Can you make your way to the imperial hospital? I'll let you know more later."

Alice's ears were buzzing. She once again fell into a trance. Everything stopped.

No way! She thought. Her mother was okay this morning. Nothing was out of the ordinary, and she was as rough as always. How could she suddenly be gone?

Tears began to form. After another urge from the call, Alice wiped her face and made her way to the hospital, trembling.

Her face was drenched in tears by the time she arrived. Lying on the cold, steel bed was her mother, who was always angry at her.

Alice was stumped. She didn't know how she even made it to the hospital, and now, staring at the cold body of her mom, she felt incredulous. She did nothing but stare while standing.

"Are you Ana's daughter?" asked the doctor.

Alice nodded.

"My condolences. I'm Dr. Tang, the one who treated your mom," said the super beautiful girl in the white coat. She stopped by the ward to check if any of the deceased family had arrived as she needed to explain the situation to them.

"Hh.. how did.. this.. happen?" Alice, for the first time in years, stuttered.

"She was diagnosed with bone cancer earlier last year," Dr. Tang explained.

Alice gasped.

"I know, it was very surprising, but your mother did not let any of us inform the family about her disease. She told us that, I quote; you guys couldn't afford any treatment and thus she wished to just go when it's time."

"How could she say that? Even if we can't afford the treatment, she should've told me!!" Alice wailed.

She could never imagine things like this happening to her. If she could remember correctly, none of her family had cancer before.

Alice dropped to the floor and cried her eyes out. She felt weak all over, and her eyes were blurred from all the tears.

She could hear footsteps nearing as she cried. When Alice lifted her head up, she could see her father's emotionless face. He seemed unfazed.

Alice looked at her dad and continued crying while holding eye contact with him. Both of them just stared at each other.