Chapter 80: Chapter 80 The Kind angelic stranger..
Life was unfair to people. Sometimes it felt like your story had already been written and nothing you did could change it.
Daniel Lancaster sat in a chair, holding a handkerchief and trying desperately to calm his wrecked nerves.
"I wasn’t born this way; society made me like this. If only my father was never a monster, if my mom never ignored my presence, and if my sister had continued her support, perhaps things wouldn’t have turned out this way," Daniel muttered, his face buried in his palms as he bent over, still hiding his tears from the public.
For 30 minutes he had been like this, hiccupping and sneezing continuously. Oh gosh, the cold...
As he rubbed his hands together, trying to generate warmth, a harsher chill pressed in, nearly knocking him off his feet as his teeth chattered. How had the weather changed so drastically? He wrapped his arms around his shoulders, still trying to instill warmth, when a long jacket was draped over him from behind.
He was immediately captured by the scent, but unlike others that were harsh or mild, this one was a complete sweetness, like vanilla mixed with sunflowers. The jacket was white from head to toe, imbued with a strong, impeccable vanilla scent.
"You’ll catch a fever. Come on, let’s go someplace warmer," a gentle voice echoed from behind him.
Daniel, lost in distress, was pulled out by the angelic voice with its melodic softness.
"I’m okay here. Just don’t mind me, and you can take your jacket back," Daniel tried to act brave and nonchalant.
But the appealing stranger refused to back down.
"You’re not okay, and I know it’s not my place to ask why, but I believe a calm mind will help you solve the problem," the man expressed.
Daniel finally turned, and his eyes nearly exploded. The guy before him had strawberry blond hair, a symmetrical face, and a cute look. Of all the men he had seen, this one seemed the most innocent. His ocean-blue eyes sparkled with the intensity of his smile.
There was something about the way he smiled; Daniel could feel his heart struck. He gasped so suddenly that the stranger rushed forward and caught him as he fell into his embrace.
People who passed by gawked at the two gorgeous males who could pass as models.
"It’s okay, you’re stressed out, I can see it... Would you mind some nicely cooked noodles? I know someone who makes the best, and it’s close to the hospital," the man suggested. Daniel, who suddenly felt hungry, nodded. It was as if the moment food was mentioned, his stomach began to growl in protest.
"Okay, this way," the man pointed to his right, and truly, there was a food container there run by an elderly man who was doing everything himself.
By mere gaze, he looked 70 or older, and Daniel wondered why someone that old was allowed to work.
"I know what you’re probably thinking, but this man isn’t alone; he has two grandchildren he has to feed and care for. Their parents are gone, so this is all he has," the man revealed, making Daniel feel a sudden, raw emotion—a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
"Let’s go, you look starved and exhausted," the man insisted, and they moved closer. When they arrived, a bowl fell to the ground, and the angelic man bent to pick it up. He bowed in greeting and requested noodles, even asking if he could help prepare them.
Daniel, now seated in a corner, found himself completely distracted from the earlier terrible events, thanks to this man. He wasn’t feeling cold anymore, but his companion might be. Dressed in a complete white short-sleeved polo and trousers, accompanied by white shoes, he looked so regal that Daniel reaffirmed his ’angel’ label.
Together, the two of them prepared the noodles, laughing and giggling as if they had known each other for years. This made Daniel remember Draven. Would he be okay in the operating unit? Would they see each other again? Daniel found himself praying to his creator, wishing for him to be okay.
So lost in his thoughts of Draven, he didn’t realize the noodles were ready until the angelic man cleared his throat.
"Distracted again??? Must be one of the numerous ways of life for you upper classes," the man stated, still wearing that smile, though Daniel sensed a direct mockery of the rich. How did he know I was wealthy? Of course—his clothes. His shirt might have torn while trying to stop Draven’s bleeding, but his shoes and trousers showed a high-quality, glamorous lifestyle.
"You know how to cook?" Daniel asked, surprised by what he had witnessed.
The man just smiled, his face radiating further. He must love smiling a lot, Daniel concluded; he seemed the happiest person he had ever seen.
"Yeah, one of the courtesies my mom taught me before she died, of course." Daniel, who was about to eat, heard the sad remark and immediately offered an apology.
"Forgive my carelessness, I didn’t know—" Daniel started carefully, not wanting to pry into something so private.
"Oh, that was 7 years ago, so you don’t have to mind. I’ve learned to move on and accept fate as it is," the man smiled again and gestured for Daniel to eat.
Daniel dove in, using a fork to scoop and pull the noodles. Oh, it was delicious and different. So sweet. He continued eating, basking in the flavor, not realizing the man had stopped to watch him.
When he had cleared his portion, he looked at the man opposite and saw him still watching.
"Wow, you sure eat a lot. Here, take mine too; I’m not that hungry," the man purred and dished his own food onto Daniel’s plate.
Daniel, torn between morality and acceptance, didn’t know whether to eat the stranger’s portion or leave it. The man might not have eaten, and here he was sacrificing his meal.
"No, I can’t. That would be bad. Who knows how long it’s been since you last ate?" Daniel muttered.
The man refused to listen and passed the plate. "I insist, man, just eat..." he assured him. Daniel shrugged and went on to eat the noodles.
Minutes later, he was done and cleared the same table, carrying the plates to wash inside the old man’s container.
Wow, I have never seen such a human. I thought Draven was an angel, but this one is complete. The latter was a wonderful soul. Seating himself again, he watched people walking around, performing their normal duties, especially the numerous visitors entering and leaving the hospital gate.
Sigh!!! When will things become a little easier?
"So, I am done..." The man approached again, this time standing as if he was leaving.
"Are you going?" Daniel asked, finding himself not wanting this bright figure to leave. His phone wasn’t close by; since he wasn’t that trained with devices, he couldn’t get used to it, so he had left it at home. My bad, gosh. I would have used this great opportunity to get his number.
"Yeah, my sister needs me, and it’s urgent," the man revealed. Before leaving, he came closer and, to Daniel’s shock, raised his hands, pulled him up from the seat, and hugged him.
"It’s okay to be sad, dear, it’s okay. From your eyes, I can see pain. Even if some people don’t show it, each of us has hidden pain, but some just find it worse than others," the man consoled, patting his back.
"I believe maybe one day we will meet again, and I can explain more to you regarding this..." The man stretched the moment, still analyzing.
"Life is fleeting, dear, so just remember to make the most of it. Not everyone will live forever, and these tears might end up lifting you up one day, so don’t give up." He patted Daniel’s back once more and stepped away, but Daniel held his hand, taking in more of his sweet scent.
"Why did you help me? You don’t know me, young man," Daniel inquired, curiosity getting the best of him. But the reply took him off his feet.
"I spread happiness where I go. At least for things I can’t have, let others get that opportunity," the man explained. Before Daniel could fully grasp his meaning, the man’s phone rang. He got a call from someone unknown and suddenly took off, not realizing that something had slipped from his pocket.
"Young man, your jacket and envelope!" Daniel sighed, picking up the brown envelope clearly labeled ’Diagnosis.’
Daniel’s eyes curiously wandered over it. Who does this belong to?
He opened it slowly, and what he saw made him gasp in horror.
Michael Lewis. The above patient is diagnosed with Glioblastoma - a brain tumor - and has approximately 100 days or less to live...
Dan didn’t want to believe it was the angelic man he had just met, but he could see his photo in the corner of the report. His countenance fell once again. Why is it always the kind ones???