"ARE YOU OKAY?"

ARA let out a deep sigh as she felt the gentle caress of Daniel's warm hand on her left thigh beneath her skirt. As a result, the intensity of the electricity given to her by the young man's warm lips increased even more.

Soon the young man left caressing her thigh. Instead, his hands became busy unbuttoning her blouse while his lips remained on hers.

Ara felt like drowning in those moments. And Daniel drowned her because of the intense heat brought on by his lips and caresses.

She felt cold for a moment when she felt the cold air touch her skin when Daniel managed to open her top. But that was only for a moment because she was unable to suppress the loud sigh that escapes from her lips when she felt Daniel's warm hand caressing her left breast.

"Ara," there is something that caresses her heart the way Daniel whispers her name so she deliberately stared into Daniel's dark eyes.

Her lips parted but Daniel quickly took her mouth with his warm kisses again, so once more, like before she lost her eventually sanity.

"D-Daniel," she whispered in her boyfriend's name as his kisses began to travel down her neck.

She felt very hot in those moments and because of what Daniel was doing to her that heat intensified. That is why she also seems to have learned voluntarily how to do good and what she must do to respond to what he does to make her feel loved.

Ara's hand moved then went to the hem of her boyfriend's shirt. She then grabbed it and pulled it up and dropped it on the marble floor.

It was the first time she had ever seen a man's body in person and she was grateful because it was Daniel, the man she loves the most.

"You're so beautiful," she couldn't help but say then gently caressed her boyfriend's muscular chest just to stop after noticing some marks on his body.

"W-Why do you have so many bruises?" concern immediately enveloped Ara's tone.

Daniel laughed softly. "Oh, just ignore those," he said kissing her on the forehead afterward.

 It was when she shook her head then moved to check Daniel's back. The anxiety she felt intensified when she saw that there were bigger and darker bruises there.

"Have you seen the doctor yet?" she instead answered the young man while ignoring her unbuttoned top that Daniel had opened earlier.

And what she saw changed her mood completely.

"Daniel, why do you have so many bruises? Are you okay?" her tone still did not change and she feels like asking her boyfriend again.

Daniel nodded consecutively. "Sure, I'm okay," he replied.

"But, have you seen a doctor yet?" she asked again.

The young man shook his head. "For me, they are not serious because I feel normal aside from getting tired easily," the young man told her.

"B-But I hope you also consider seeing a doctor, nothing will be lost if you do that," she insisted.

That was when Daniel hugged her tightly and then kissed her head. "All right, if that will calm you down, I'll see a doctor, soon," he said, emphasizing the last thing he said.

"Do you want me to go with you?" she asked her boyfriend.

Daniel shook his head. "I'll just let you know," he told her.

*****

AS he promised Ara, he found time to see a doctor. And his world almost collapsed when he found out the true condition of his body.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia, that's what the doctor told him. And according to the specialist who looked after him, a person with this type of disease usually only lasts four to six months, even if he or she is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.

In there Daniel silently stared into seems to be a black space in front of him as he was inside his car. He could feel the warmth in the corner of his eyes which he later could not control either.

He is not crying for himself. He is crying because of Ara.

He was right in his decision not to include take her along with him. He knew it would hurt her a lot if she would hear all the bad news that the doctor could say.

But now, how can he tell Ara that in four to six months he may leave her?

Then Daniel burst into tears.

How about his sister? Is she ready? His mother?

With his hand shaking Daniel started the engine then ran the car. Suddenly after what he has learned he seemed to have lost his desire to leave.

It's like he wanted to hate life and fate that when he finally had the chance to experience how to be truly happy it was when he had this very serious illness.

Ara will get hurt.

He knew that at he is very sure. And he doesn't want that to happen. So maybe it would be better if he will start to avoid her.

A bitter smile broke his lips.

He may not want to do this but he doesn't have a choice. He only has two options that he knew would be good for the woman he loves the most. But either of those two, he knew for a fact that Ara would still get hurt.

But that is better. It would be better to hurt her now while it is still early. He also did not know when he would have enough courage to let Ara know about his true condition.

Daniel sighs and this time tried to control his emotion.

In an instant, everything collapsed.

In an instant, it seems that all the good things and good events that he can still experience with Ara have disappeared.

*****

"ARE you sure of what you say son?" from the other line, even though he could not see it, it was as if Daniel could picture the grief that may now be registered on the face of Marielle, his mother.

When he returned home, he immediately called his mother to let her know what the doctor had told him.

"That's what the doctor said, Mama," he said trying to strengthen his voice and he succeeded.

"I-I'm going home, son I want to be with you, you need to get medical treatment, let's get a second opinion," his mother said crying on the other line.

At that moment Daniel felt like a knife drawing in his throat. And that was because of the intense pity he felt for his mother.

"M-Ma, I don't want to die yet," he said at the same time as his voice broke again.

When he said that, he finally heard Marielle moaning loudly on the other line. Moments later his mother disappeared from the line and was replaced by Danica.

"You'll be fine, I'll go home, I'll take care of you. Isn't your sister a nurse? I'll take care of you, I won't leave you, I love you so much," Danica said.

He was familiar with the tone his sister used, that was the tone he knew would soon explode because of the intensity of resentment that she feels.

"I-I don't know how to tell A-Ara about everything, Danica, I don't know," he said crying as his tears continued to flow.