L THE TYCOON

Sasha & Q

LISA

We arrived in a hospital near the city center.

Fuck.
I hope it's not what I'm thinking.

I just followed Jennie. No one's speaking a word.

We reached the ward with more than 10 patients inside.

Jennie went to the corner bed and talked to an elder.
I heard she's thanking her for taking care of her son. Son.
My son. Quentin.

"Quentin?"
I asked Jennie.
She nodded.

Oh god. He is so big now. Counting the years, he's 7 and turning 8 years old.

"What happened?"
I asked.

"He's been complaining since last year that he has been having a headache regularly. I brought him to the hospital near our village in Africo, but you know, Africo is such a poor place here in Italy to have the right tests. So the Doctor suggested that I should bring Q here. By the way, Quentin is already 7 years old, Lisa."
She explained.

"Yeah. He's really big now. The findings?"
I asked. My heart is being crushed knowing my son is in this kind of situation. I missed him.

"Brain Tumor. Small. But needs to be removed right away. He is suffering. They won't start operating if I won't be able to pay half of the Surgeon's fee."
Jennie said and she wiped her tears.

"And that's why you thought of doing what you did for this?"
I asked and she nodded.
Jennie must be struggling raising our son for 7 years after they–. They disappeared.

"Don't worry about it now. Let's go to his Surgeon."
I said and we both went to the Surgery department.

"Hi, Ms. Jennie Kim."
The Surgeon greeted her.

"Good evening, Doc. By the way, this is Lisa Manoban. Quentin is both ours."
Jennie introduced me.

"Oh yes. I know. You own Q chain of restaurants, right?"
He asked.

"Yes. It's actually named after Quentin."
I said and smiled. Jennie smiled too but she is still worried.

"Your son needs to be operated as soon as possible. The tumor is so active that it can possibly cross to the other side of his brain. More complications will show up while he's growing up. If we won't do the operation this early, he will experience constant pain and it may lead to–."
The Surgeon explained but I didn't let him say the last word.

"Let's do it asap. We trust you on this, Doc. Then may we request to transfer him to a private room now and after his operation. We will just settle your fee. Please save our son. Thanks, Doc!"
I said and Jennie is still crying, looking hard to breathe properly.

We went out of his office and I asked Jennie to eat with me after we check on Quentin again. Once he's transferred to a private room, there'll be a nurse looking after him while we're not yet back.

She said she must go home first to get her things and come back to the hospital after.

"Okay. I will go with you. Then let's have our dinner before we go back to the hospital."
I said and she agreed.