Dilemma

Ophelia's POV 

I hummed to myself as I flung my makeup supplies and bottle uniform into my bag. Afterward, I draped my bag around my chest and trudged out of the dressing room.

I retrieved my cell phone from my jogger's pocket and connected it to my headphones as I walked towards the entrance to the club as various unhinged thoughts assailed my mind.

I had gotten a call the night before from the doctor who was in charge of his treatment to report to the hospital as soon as I could because she had something important to discuss with me. When I heard that, my heart almost flew out of my chest in worry, I couldn't sleep throughout the night as I tended to overthink everything.

"Lia, wait!" I heard someone yell my name from behind and I halted in my steps as I whipped my neck around to deduce who it was.

A small smile adorned my face amidst my worries when I saw that it was my kind boss at the club, Rodrigo Fernandez.

"Rodrigo," I greeted him with a nod as I took an airport out of my ear. He had insisted that we–the workers–all called him by his name without adding formalities.

We freely conversed with him like friends did and I was extremely grateful to have such a kind hearted man like him as my boss.

"Lia, what's this I hear about you?" He ignored my greeting. I gulped nervously when I realized that his face was devoid of its usual cheerful and warm smile.

What had I done wrong? I thought to myself as I gazed up at him.

"What?" I squeaked.

"You want me to give you overtime at the club, knowing how hard you work and study at the same time. Do you want to die of stress, huh?" He yelled at me, and I was momentarily taken aback by the cruelty of his voice but I quickly reshuffled myself with a sigh.

"There's nothing I can do other than that, Rodrigo. My Dad's surgery and chemotherapy have to begin as soon as possible and I don't even have up to half the required amount saved up yet. I have to do everything and anything I can to make my dad hale and hearty again. He is the only family I have left in this world," I calmly replied to him with a plain mien.

"My goodness, Ophelia. You could have just asked me to give you a loan and I would have willingly agreed to do so. I'm not trying to be negative or anything, but we both know that even if you work all day long at the club for a year, I don't think you can have up to the required amount you need. Stop pressuring yourself so much, let me help you. Okay, I'll give you the required amount you need and I'll deduct the money from your wages every day until it's completed. How's that?" Rodrigo suggested, with a gentler tone and I just heaved a deep sigh.

"I'm very appreciative of your kindness towards me, Rodrigo but I'm sorry I can't accept it. I don't want to bother anyone with my problems and I mean it. I don't know if I'd ever be able to pay you back and I don't want a situation whereby we'll become enemies-"

Rodrigo cut in "But Ophelia, can't you see it? I'm just-"

"It's fine, Rodrigo. Really. I don't need you or anyone's help. I can do this myself, okay? Please stop acting like I'm a damned damsel in distress. If you don't want me to work overtime then I guess I'll look for another part-time job, that shouldn't be a problem for me. Thanks for your concern and I mean it. I'll be on my way now because I have an emergency, take care," I rambled out in one big breath and darted a slight quirk of lips at my boss before I turned around and continued my walk to the bus stop, ignoring the manner my conscience tugged me for not accepting my boss's deal.

Yes, I inherited my stubborn trait from my dad and I'd rather die than seek help from others.

+++

I stepped into my Dad's ward with a forlorn sigh and clammy hands.

My eyes became fuzzy with melancholia as I gently slammed the door shut with my eyes trained on the unconscious state of my sick dad on the bed.

I eased my bag onto the sofa which was placed next to the bed before I plopped down on the other chair next to him and slipped his cold, frail hand into mine.

I sighed for the umpteenth time that day as I gazed at the numerous beeping machines that were connected to him. I fiddled with his fingers as bitter tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Dad, I'm here again. You're still not conscious. When will I get to see your beautiful eyes again?" I whispered through my croaky voice as my gaze swerved to his tightly shut eyes and pale lips.

"Please just wake up once when I'm here so that I can tell you everything I failed to say before you fell sick. Please get well soon for me. I love you, Pops and I will be back soon," I muttered as I wiped my tears off with the back of my hand.

I had observed something, my dad was never awake whenever I visited him. Even if I planned on paying him a surprise visit, I'd still never meet him awake and that prompted me to conclude that he probably didn't want to see me and that made my heart ache badly.

I gazed at him for a while as I gently stroked his hand before I reluctantly hoisted myself up to go to the doctor's office with a heavy heart.

I clutched my bag tighter to my chest as I trekked into the doctor's office. I took a deep breath to mentally encourage myself to be hopeful and it seemed to work or maybe I just gaslit myself into thinking it worked.

"You came so early today. That's good, have your seat," The doctor cast one of her numerous kind, gummy smiles at me, to which I stiffly nodded as I tentatively flopped my butt on the chair opposite to her.

"So, you asked to meet me for an important matter. What's going on? Is Dad okay? Is something wrong with him?" I couldn't help but babble every thought that floated into my head in my state of frenzy.

"Calm down, Miss Ophelia. Yes, I called to meet you for something. We carried out a thorough body examination on him yesterday and discovered something," The doctor answered and my heart plunged deeper into the pit of my belly as cold sweat broke out on my skin.

"I know I said we were going to start full treatment and operate on him in a few weeks but I'm sorry to inform you that it can't be possible anymore. We discovered metastatic kidney cancer yesterday and we don't think we should delay his treatment any longer," She stated and the air in my throat choked me when she finished her utterance.

I coughed wildly and patted my chest to relieve myself as my eyes burned with choked-up tears. Fuck it, what was I going to do?

Where would I go from there? 

"Are you alright, Miss Ophelia?" She asked me with concern conspicuous in her tone and I managed to nod.

"So, even exactly are you planning to start his treatment?" I whispered.

"In a week. We'll have to set everything up throughout this week after you make the down payment," She replied, and I let out a mirthless chuckle.

That seemed to be the best measure in my situation.

After a while, I heaved another deep sigh, "So, would a quarter of the fees be enough for the preparation? I don't have the complete fees yet but I can assure you that I'll try my best to get the remaining amount as soon as possible. Please allow me to pay a quarter of the fees," At that moment, tears had started flowing down my cheeks and I was one step away from shamelessly kneeling next to her and clutching her ankle to get her help.

"I don't know about this, let me ask the hospital. The hospital will have to decide on it as I don't have enough rights to help you even though I want to," She uttered, and with that, I rooted myself on the chair as I shook with sobs.

What was I going to do? How was I supposed to get two million dollars in a week? I mentally questioned myself.

"Okay, fine. We'll take a quarter of the fees," The doctor's exasperated voice broke into my train of thought, and instantly, my tears stopped.

"Thank you so much for helping me, I can assure you that you won't regret doing this for me. I will keep to my words and bring the rest of the payment next week," I cried as I reached across the table to squeeze her hands.

"You're welcome, I've seen how dedicated you are to helping your dad get better," She beamed at me.

I nodded silently at her as I released her hand from my hold with one question prevalent in my mind.

How was I going to earn as much as two million dollars in a week?