"HELLO! Anybody here?!" Gavin jests as he enters the house.
"It's the newlyweds!" Shannel jubilates.
"The new Dynasty member." Naomi waves her hand to flaunt her ring.
Shannel hugs both of them.
"Mr and Mrs Dynasty." Henry claps his hands before he leans in for a hug.
"Nobody plays video games with me in this house anymore. Maybe I should just move to your house." Greg teases as he steps into the sitting room.
"You wish," Gavin smirks. "Come here, little bro." Gavin hugs Greg.
"I literally have a sister at last!" Gem hops to hug Naomi.
"Hey! Don't pressure my wife into adopting your stubborn ass as a sister."
"Do your worst." Gem giggles and wraps her hand around Gavin's waist.
"Happy New Year, everyone. I've missed this house. Damn." Gavin glimpses through the parlour.
"It's nice to have you both around. Your honeymoon pictures were so captivating." Shannel smiles.
"It must feel different living away from us now." Gem adds.
"Let's eat. The table has been set." Henry gestures.
"We hope you rate our food five stars like your honeymoon hotel's." Greg teases.
"You never stop goofing around." Naomi giggles.
They all sit by the dining table.
"There's an extra chair?" Gavin points at the unused chair. "I see you've planned ahead of time."
"Ahead of time?" Gem asks.
"Yes. Eight months ahead of time." Naomi grins.
"Eight months?" Gem asks, confused.
"Hold up. Are you saying Naomi is one month gone?" Greg raises his eyebrows.
"You are still that genius." Gavin nods.
"Henry, we are getting a grandchild! I'm about to be a grannie!" Shannel jumps in excitement.
"It's going as you planned. You purported resigning to take care of our grandkids. This is good news." Henry grins.
"Aunt Gem absolutely sounds nice." Gem grins.
"It wasn't only that hotel that got a five-star rating on that honeymoon. Mmmm." Greg gives Gavin the side-eye.
Everybody laughs. Gem's phone beeps.
"My visitor is here." Gem stands up.
"Gem has a visitor? Since when did that start?" Gavin asks, surprised.
"Since you announced your pregnancy." Gem responds. She goes outside the house to bring Var.
"He's the one expected to take the extra seat." Henry mentions.
"It's even a he. Wow. This is a sight to behold. Chill, is it that guy she used to hang out with in Tavis City?" Gavin asks.
"You knew about him too?" Greg asks.
"Not really. I video-called her one time then and he was sitting beside her. She introduced him to me as a friend. I didn't think there was more to it."
"It appears she finally likes another person since Zach." Shannel smiles.
"Thank goodness. I was starting to be scared she would never use her heart again." Gavin sighs.
Gem opens the door and walks in with a young man.
"Everybody, meet Var. Var, my family." Gem beckons to Var to sit.
"Good day, everyone." Var greets. "She always talks about all of you. It's a pleasure to finally meet y'all."
"Hey, dear. It's nice to meet you." Shannel smiles.
"You are the one who has my girl's heart in a chokehold." Henry stares at Var.
"Dad, come on." Gem blushes.
"What's up?" Gavin waves.
"Welcome." Naomi smiles.
"If you like playing video games, I'm your host." Greg gives Var a thumbs-up.
"Greg, ugh. Var, don't mind him. Anyway, I made some soup for all of us. Let me get the soup from the kitchen." Gem leaves for the kitchen.
"So…Var, do you intend to move back to Tavis City?" Henry queries.
"No, sir. This town is my home, I was born here. But both my parents were soldiers. They were frequently deployed to separate states at the same time. Sometimes, my siblings and I would go with our dad. Other times, with our mum. They would both weigh the location that was more conducive for the children before deciding which parent would take the temporary custody. When the incessant migration started taking a toll on our academics, my parents decided it was best we settled down with our grandparents here. As a result, we—the children—lived here until we grew up. My parents are retired now and they are settled in this town as well."
"Interesting. You never considered joining the military?" Shannel inquires.
"I did consider it for a while. But I figured I didn't want to live a migratory lifestyle anymore. That's why I delved into the civil world." Var smiles.
"What's taking Gem so long to bring soup from the kitchen?" Gavin interjects.
"Perhaps, she needs help. Let's go check on her." Naomi responds.
"Nope. We are visitors here. Greg, go check on your sister in the kitchen." Gavin orders in wry humour.
"It's your time to shine. You can't outshine the family's star though, keep in mind." Greg stands up and makes for the kitchen.
"Inasmuch as I'm outshining you as a visitor, I'm okay." Gavin chuckles.
"Gem!" Greg exclaims from the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" Shannel asks.
"She's fainted!" Greg shouts.
Var springs to his feet and runs to the kitchen. The family members run behind him. Gem is lying lifeless on the floor. Some soup is splashed across the floor, beside Gem's body.
Var kneels beside Gem and administers her first-aid treatment. The family members stare, jittering in shock. Gem coughs, and everybody is a bit relieved.
"Let's take her to the hospital." Var mentions.
"I will drive." Greg offers.
Var spreads his arm across Gem's back, his other arm underneath the fold of her knees. He lifts her and walks towards the house's entrance.
Greg drove Gem and Var to the hospital in his car while Gavin drove the rest of the family in another car, behind Greg.
On getting to the hospital—their usual hospital for Greg and Gavin, they request a private ward as always. However, this is the first time that a ward is being requested for Gem. A doctor came to attend to Gem. He gave her some medicine. Gem is now conscious. A lab scientist came to collect samples of Gem's blood and urine.
"When we get the test results, we will know what really happened." The doctor assures.
"Thanks, doctor." Henry waves.
"First time in a hospital bed. How does it feel?" Greg smiles.
"Not comfy." Gem sulks.
"That optimism you always hammer on, you need it now. Contact me for coping mechanisms." Gavin teases.
"The doctor didn't say she will be admitted to the hospital." Shannel interjects.
"As the hospital regulars that we are, we know when another patient is about to be admitted. Don't we, Gavin?" Greg chuckles.
"Of course we do. We've been in the game for over a decade." Gavin laughs.
"I will call security on both of you now." Gem laughs. "I really wonder what's wrong though. I have never passed out in my life, not until today."
"I'm as curious, jokes apart." Gavin adds.
"I've only seen you down with fever. The fever never lasts twenty-four hours before you bounce out of it. I hope this is not some serious illness." Greg agrees.
"You sound like you've been here all my life. I was born before you, remember?" Gem sneers.
"I'm twenty-six years old, you are twenty-eight years old. You couldn't even clean me up when I started walking. If your birthright was up for grabs, I would undoubtedly qualify more than you." Greg quizzes.
"I will put you up for sale as soon as I'm out of here." Gem laughs.
"You are really good with the first-aid treatment, Var. How come?" Naomi turns to Var.
"My parents mirrored their military training in us. Growing up, they would always teach us survival tactics and first-aid treatment."
"You made a good student. Who would have thought dating the son of a military couple had such unexpected perks?" Naomi turns to Gem.
"Oh please." Gem rolls her eyes.
"I should check on my favourite nurses." Greg proclaims.
"Nurse Niella and Nurse Allana? Are they on duty?" Gavin asks.
"I think I saw their names on the duty register when we came in."
"I will come with you."
Greg and Gavin leave the ward.
"Gem, are you hungry or thirsty? Let me go get some snacks and drinks. I will be back soon." Naomi walks away.
"Thank you, Naams." Gem winks.
"You know that's a Gavin-only nomenclature." Naomi furrows her eyebrows.
"I'm the second in command. What will you do about it?"
"Maybe poison your snacks?"
Gem and Naomi laugh.
"Be right back." Naomi says as she goes out of sight.
"We should go check for updates on the tests." Henry gestures to Shannel. He offers his hand and Shannel grabs onto it.
"At your service." Shannel smiles.
"You guys never restrict your mushiness." Gem mentions.
"We didn't ask to be watched." Henry teases.
"She's jealous." Shannel laughs. "You might be Henry's baby girl but I'm his babe. Deal with that, sweetie."
Henry and Shannel walk out of the room, holding hands.
"See them holding hands like teenagers. These people are almost sixty years old. Funny lovers." Gem shakes her head.
"Do you feel better, princess?" Var asks as he sits beside her on the bed.
"Yes, baby. Thank you. If I didn't feel better, I wouldn't be talking this much." Gem smiles.
"I'm just worried about you. Your family members are so playful, especially Greg. You know I'm shy, that's why I didn't talk. But I enjoyed all their jokes." Var giggles.
"You see what I cope with." Gem laughs.
"I noticed the soup bowl that slipped out of your hands in the kitchen. It contained my favourite soup. It's a stressful meal."
"I cooked it for you. You mentioned to me one time that you love it. I wanted to surprise you with a treat. All my efforts have been wasted." Gem pouts.
"I saw the soup. I acknowledge your efforts. I'm elated you went through that stress for me. You didn't even serve the soup until my arrival. Wow." Var pecks Gem on her forehead. "I love you, princess." He whispers, his lips still glued to her forehead. He pecks her again.
Gem feels her heart sink. A stream of mixed emotions flows. Nobody had told her that, outside of her family, since Zach. Zach and her split almost a decade ago. She and Var have been intimate a couple of times since they rekindled their bond. If he had said this sentence before or during their intercourse, she would have assumed it was his penis doing the talk. But he's saying it to her now, when she's on a hospital bed—sick.
"I…I…I love you…too." Gem mumbles the words.
Var, whose chin is now touching Gem's scalp, heard her whisper. He smiles.
"I was initially sceptical about taking the Tavis City project. I'm glad I took it. It was my chance to meet you." Gem beams.
"That day that I barged into your office looking for Jane, I was upset because she delayed my transfer. I ought to have left Tavis City before your arrival. I bless Jane every day for effecting that delay." Var proclaims.
They both laugh. Var intertwines his fingers with Gem's.
"I'm not Zach. I won't leave you ever. Never ever." Var locks eye contact with her.
Gem, overwhelmed, nods her head in excitement.
Henry and Shannel, on getting to the doctor's office, were told the doctor had gone on a ward round. They were also told that the doctor would visit Gem's ward when her results were released. The parents returned to Gem's ward.
After a while, the family is complete in the ward again. The doctor visits the ward.
"Hey, doc. What took so long?" Shannel asks.
"Sorry for the delay. I had some stuff to attend to. Do you both mind coming to my office with me, so I can explain the situation?" The doctor requests.
"You could say it here. We are all adults. I mean, it can't be so serious, right?" Shannel responds.
"She needs rest, doesn't she? I know she fainted because she overworks." Henry adds.
"She needs a lot of rest, yes." The doctor replies. "However, she didn't faint because she overworks…"
"Dad, you see?" Gem interrupts the doctor as she playfully shoves out her tongue at Henry.
The doctor smiles. "Please, receive this information that I'm about to present gently. Gem has…" The doctor pauses and sighs. "…I'm sorry. Gem has stage IV cancer."
Everyone turns their necks and gazes at one another.
"Cancer?!" They all exclaim at the same time.
"That's not possible. I didn't have any symptoms. It can't be cancer." Gem defends.
"It's leukaemia. Leukaemia may not show you noticeable symptoms for years. It's possible that you were feeling fatigued sometimes but you misinterpreted it as stress. Stage IV signifies that your platelet count is low and your blood won't clot well if you have an injury. Please, don't fret. You will be registered for treatment immediately. Chemotherapy, medications, and all sorts. Cancer is not a death sentence. It can be managed and it can be beaten. With effective care and resilience…"
"Doc! The patient in the next ward is gasping!" A nurse alerts as she storms into Gem's ward. "Your attention is needed."
"Okay. The Dynasty's, please, see to registration for treatment at the hospital reception. Please, don't crawl into depression because of this news. Remember cancer is an ailment, not a death sentence. And it is cured sometimes, keep hope alive. Take care." The doctor walks out of the room.
The ward is so silent, that a pin drop would be heard. All eyes are teary.
"We have a bloody problem in our family, huh?" Greg breaks the silence. "Gavin and I have insufficient and improperly shaped red blood cells. Gem, whose health we have envied all our lives, has insufficient blood platelets. Her ailment might even be worse than our own, for all we know. How did we get here? How? Somebody, answer!" Greg yells and starts sobbing. "None of this makes sense. None. Every time happiness is rising, devastation crawls closely behind it. Happiness is an unattainable concept."
Everybody continues crying. They are all in disbelief.