“Ms. Chou, I am very sorry to inform you but there’s a tumor growing near your brain.”

Those words shattered me inside and out. I was only 22 when I learned that I’d probably die soon. I have cancer and it’s rare for cancer patients to survive. Especially if the tumor has been growing inside your head for almost 15 years.

I felt the pain in the left part of my head when I was 7 but I used to dismiss it. It hurt more when I reached the age of 13. My mother who’s a doctor diagnosed me as someone with migraine and whenever my head hurt she’ll simply give me some medicine and let me take a rest.

Although one incident made my mom rethink about my condition. I fainted once during music class and had to be hospitalized for a week. I had a hard time moving the right side of my body and that’s when mom contacted doctors to evaluate my condition. With the three tests I took all came out with the same results, I have a brain cancer.

When the news was delivered, my mom sat on my left side while she sat on my right side. My mom was crying very hard while she sat there with an empty look. I knew she’s scared as I am but she’s trying to be so brave for us and I adore her so much for that.

2 years after being diagnosed I’m still pretty much alive but barely. I refused to take surgeries nor get chemotherapy. My situation got much worse but I’d rather die with my memory of her intact than lose my memories because of that stupid dangerous surgery.

~~~~~

“Here you go,” Mina handed me a perfectly peeled and cut apple. “Thanks,” I said and took the fruit. “Mum called me last night,” she said and sat beside me. The both of us are watching TV as if no one from the two of us is dying.

“What did she say again?”

“She wanted me to convince you again to take the surgery.”

I sighed and put down my plate of fruit. I faced her side and said, “You know that I’d never agree to it Mina.”

“I know but I wanted to try.”

“It won’t work,” I said then stood up from the couch. I headed to our room while she followed me after turning the TV off. “Why can’t you just give it a try Tzuyu?” she asked me once I lied down on the bed. I’m feeling a bit dizzy and this argument wouldn’t make me feel better.

“You know the reason Mina.”

“Tzuyu if you’re worried that you’ll forget us, forget me, then please don’t. Your health is more important,” Mina said and sat beside me. “You know that I just can’t risk it so please stop forcing me to take that surgery,” I replied then heard her sigh.

“If that’s what you really want then I’d let you.”

The lights turned off then I heard her shut the door.

~~~~~

A month has passed and it hasn’t been fine for Tzuyu. Her migraine feels worse, there are days when she can’t get up from bed and she’s been losing a lot of weight. Of course, Mina is by her side while all these horrible things happen.

“Drink this, it will make you feel better,” Mina said and handed Tzuyu a water glass and some pill. “Thanks,” Tzuyu said and drank the medicine. Mina took back the glass and placed it on the bed side table.

“Isn’t it supposed to be your first day at that internship you’re having?” Tzuyu asked all of a sudden. “I can’t just leave you here while you’re in a bad condition,” Mina answered. “You can just leave me here though,” Tzuyu reasoned.

“And let you skip your meal again? No way. You’ve been losing a lot of weight and I don’t think that’s good for your condition, you need to eat something to feel stronger,” Mina replied back. She’s playing with Tzuyu’s hair now while the owner is lying down on Mina’s lap.

“I can call Momo, Nayeon or Sana over here to help. If they’re not free then I still have Chaeng and Dahyun,” Tzuyu reasoned again. She knows Mina only wants to take care of her but she doesn’t like it when people spends too much time on her and forgets they have better stuff to do than staying with her.

“Let me take care of you just for this day then I’d let you call our friends over the following days,” Mina said. Tzuyu let out a sigh as a sign of surrender.

“Sometimes I wonder who, between the two of us, the really persistent one is.”

“It has to be you, Tzuyu-ah~”

“And why is that?”

“You were the one who courted me for two years!”

“Did I really court you for two years?” Tzuyu asked. She’s obviously pretending. How can she forget those 2 years of pure hardship? She had to prove herself to so many people at that time, Mina’s parents and brother, Mina’s friends and Mina herself.

“Yah! How dare you forget that?” Mina whined.

“I was just kidding, I’d never forget that. It’s one of the most memorable events in my life,” Tzuyu said and snuggled closer to Mina. Mina was wondering why Tzuyu suddenly became quiet. Then she felt hot tears wetting her clothes, she knew it was Tzuyu’s.

“What’s wrong?”

Tzuyu’s crying for two reasons. One, her head is throbbing so hard she just wants it to end. The other reason is that she’s scared, so scared about the future.

“It hurts Mina-ya…” Tzuyu mumbled. “I’ll get you your medicine.” Mina is trying her best not to panic. She has to be calm for Tzuyu, she has to be strong for her. “Don’t, just stay here. All I need is you right beside me,” Tzuyu begged with a weak voice.

That was Mina’s last straw, she can no longer hold her tears back and so her tears started flowing down.

~~~~~

One day, while Mina is away for her internship, Tzuyu got up from her bed for the first time in days. She searched for something even if her head feels like it is ripping and her legs feel like jelly. She gladly found it at her cabinet, Mina probably decided to keep it when she decided to throw it away before. It was her useless phone that produces too much radiation for her to handle.

She dialed a number she’s no longer familiar with nor did she think she’ll ever call again. At the third ring the person finally decided to answer.

“Tzuyu-ah? What’s wrong? Is Mina not there with you? Do you want me to send a friend over there?”

“Mom, please slow down it’s hurting my ears.”

“Fine but what do you need?”

“Book me two tickets heading Taiwan. Also, buy me a wedding gown, I want them to pretty and elegant yet simple. Prepare a beach wedding, I want everything to be perfect from the venue to the rings, it has to be ready at the end of this month. Also send me couple ring, I want it to be elegant and beautiful.”

“Tzuyu what are those for?”

“What do you think Mom?”

“Tzuyu-ah you’re too young for marriage!”

“Mom if I get married at the