Chapter 10
655 Words
At home, Leonie sat on the side of her bed; kicked her rubber shoes and laid down her tired body on the softness of the cushion. She slowly closed eyes when she was suddenly taken into a never before seen dream.
"Sir, would you like to have coffee or tea?" offered a woman in mid 40's. She was Mrs. Rivera, the personal secretary of Rodney for more than ten years.
"I preferred water, please." He said before he positioned to his chair in the conference hall. There, his clients were waiting for a meeting he personally arranged for.
"I'm sorry if I keep you waiting." His expressive eyes tried to keep the agony of death... at an early age.
Everyone just smiled and nodded in response to the president of the company. He'd been running the computer manufacturing since his father died fifteen years ago. His father left them at an early age of 50 because of prostate cancer. Since he was the eldest of the three, Rodney had to take charge and be strong for their family, for the workers and staff of the company.
They finished the meeting after five in the afternoon. Rodney signaled his secretary to get him a glass of water before entering to his executive room. He sat on his couch and laid his back there for a rest while his fingertips were massaging his forehead.
"Sir, this is your water. Would you like me to get you some pain killer?" said Mrs. Rivera after putting the cold water on his table. She noticed that her boss was not feeling well these past few days.
"No, I have one on my bag, please. Get my bag." He seemed anxious and could not bear the pain in his head.
His secretary hurriedly brought him the bag. After which, he then pointed her to go and leave him alone. He wanted some space to rest. He was thinking of his mother and his siblings, who will take care of them? He was thinking of himself, how fate had brought him to such kind of unacceptable situation.
"knock! Knock!" he got awaked by the sound from the pounding on the door.
"Sir, your mother is in the line. Are you going to take it before I leave?" said his secretary who was behind the door. It was also her way of saying goodbye since it was almost seven in the evening.
"Yes, I'll take care of it. Thanks, Jean. Take care."
His secretary could not believe what she had heard, for the first time, her arrogant boss thanked her for the usual things she made for him. Mrs. Rivera slowly closed the door and left her boss talking to his mother.
"Son, Rodney. We've been waiting for you here at home. Have you forgotten you promised you'll eat here tonight." His mom was on the phone.
"Sorry, Mom. Maybe some other time, okay. I'm not feeling well." His voice was shivering. He quickly returned the receiver so as not to hear anything from her mother. He didn't want her to know his condition.
For years, he made sure death could not chase him. He worked out to maintain the figure which women of his age were fantasizing. He ate only those foods organically prepared and all the vitamins that the doctor required him to take were followed. However, those were not enough for death remained upfront, chasing him wherever he went.
He glanced at his wristwatch, it's 7:30 PM. Rodney left his room and went to the nearest elevator. He clicked the push- button, then the metal door opened and swallowed him inside. Moments later, he was already driving his car, yet he didn't know where to go. He then stopped his car in the middle of the road; he punched the steering wheel over and over, cried heavily.
"Ahhhh! My God, I'm not ready." His voice was fading into the dark corner of the street.
The rain poured heavily, it seemed that nature was pierced with his painful wail.
- Writer
