The clinic was quiet, the only sound filling the room was the ticking of the wall clock and the deep breaths of Dr. Elias Manlapaz. As Rainan Alon sat in front of the doctor, time seemed to stand still. His mind was racing, yet his body remained still, as if everything had suddenly frozen in place.
“Stage IV pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Elias repeated, each word like a hammer hitting Rainan’s chest. “If you don’t undergo treatment... six months, Rainan. Six months at most.”
Rainan didn’t respond right away. He stared at the floor, as if trying to avoid accepting the reality of what the doctor had just said. The words—“six months”—kept echoing in his ears, but he couldn’t seem to accept them. All the years of hard work, the success he had built—everything seemed to crumble in an instant.
“I haven’t had a break in years, Doc,” he said quietly. “I think it’s time for me to stop.”
Dr. Elias nodded, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Is there anywhere you want to go?”
The question lingered in the air. For a moment, it felt as though all of Rainan’s life decisions had come to a head. The successes, the businesses he’d built, the life he had worked for—it all seemed like a fleeting dream, slipping away bit by bit. He no longer had the time to hide or wait for the perfect moment.
“I’m going back to San Felino,” Rainan said calmly, his voice steady yet heavy with an underlying fear. “It’s time to go home.”
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The next day, Rainan went to work as usual, but something was different. His mind kept replaying the doctor’s words. The time he had left was precious, and he had no intention of wasting it. He walked into his office, where Adrian, his business partner, was already waiting.
"Rainan!" Adrian greeted him, a wide grin on his face. But as he saw the expression on Rainan’s face, his smile faltered. "Is everything alright?"
Rainan took a deep breath, deciding it was time to talk. "Adrian, I’m resigning."
Adrian blinked, clearly caught off guard. "What? Resigning? Are you serious?"
"Yes, I’ve made up my mind," Rainan said calmly, leaning back in his chair. "I need to take a break. I want to go home."
"Home?" Adrian repeated, still in disbelief. "What do you mean? Why now, Rainan? This company needs you. You're the heart of this business."
Rainan let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, I guess it’s time for me to step back and focus on other things. I’m done chasing after this life in the city."
Adrian narrowed his eyes, obviously trying to piece things together. "Wait... are you telling me another company offered you a higher salary? Is that why you’re leaving?"
Rainan chuckled at the assumption. "Really, Adrian? You think I’d leave for a salary increase?" He leaned forward, teasing him. "Can you even compete with what they’re offering?"
Adrian froze for a moment, his face showing genuine panic. "W-What? No! I mean... if you want, I could offer you a percentage... or, like, more money! Just don’t leave, please!" Adrian stammered, his eyes wide with worry.
Rainan couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Adrian, usually so composed, now flustered and panicking. "You’re hilarious, Adrian," Rainan said with a smile, shaking his head. "But no. I’m not leaving for money."
Adrian took a deep breath, clearly trying to regain his composure. "Then what’s really going on, Rainan? You’re just going to leave everything behind? This isn’t like you."
Rainan’s expression turned serious, his tone soft but firm. "I’m chasing time, Adrian. That’s all I can say. My decision is final. I’m leaving."
Adrian’s confusion deepened. "Chasing time?" he echoed, clearly puzzled. "What do you mean by that? What’s going on?"
Rainan leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant. "I don’t have time to explain everything, but I need to go home. This isn’t just about the business or the salary. It’s about something much more... personal." He paused, then added, "I need to know your decision in one week. Whether you like it or not, I’m leaving."
Adrian sat back, stunned. "Rainan, please... just give me some time to think about this. You can’t just leave like that."
But Rainan stood up, ready to leave. "One week, Adrian. That’s all I can give you." Without another word, he turned and walked out of the office, leaving Adrian standing there, his mind racing.