Mutated Cancer
Knock~ Knock~ Knock~
Fortunately, all his thoughts came to a stop as knocks echoed in the room.
Following that was the careful sound of the door opening.
"Son, are you awake?" The valiant man, Ren, asked carefully.
Zen turned his head and replied weakly. "Yes, dad."
A little girl suddenly ran to his arms and shouted "Brother!!"
Zen hugged his sister while caressing her head and looked at his parents.
The couple looked at each other before Rina said softly. "Son, your father has something to say to you."
Flabbergasted, Ren looked at Rina.
'Why me? Aren't we supposed to go through all kinds of problems till' death do us part!?'
Sensing her husband's pleading gaze, Rina turned her head and replied with a glare.
Defeated, Ren gave up. He was close to tearing up.
Zen giggled as he witnessed his parents' antics.
Having no choice but to follow the "top of the food chain", Ren took a deep breath and said to Zen. "Son, we know that you have matured early and we know that you have the right to learn about your situation."
After coughing a few times to clear his throat, Ren proceeded to tell their son about their conversation with the doctor.
It turned out that Zen has cancer. Although in today's technology, cancer isn't that serious of an illness. It could also be treated with the world's highly-developed technology and medicines.
The only problem was that the cancer that Zen had was unique.
Normal cancer patients have cancer cells. Those cancer cells are dead cells that could grow and multiply infinitely.
Unlike the traditional kinds of cancer, the mutation in Zen's body doesn't impair anything. His cancer cell isn't separate from every cell in his body.
A typical cancer cell is a dead cell which grows, forming new abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably. However in Zen's case, all his living cells mutated with the characteristics of cancer cells.
The mutated cancer affects every part of Zen's body. His skin, eyes, organs, blood and even his hair.
Another problem was that the speed of the multiplication of Zen's cancer cells was at least a hundred times faster than normal cancer cells.
All this would lead to the gradual breaking down of his body as it would not be able to keep up with his cells.
Hearing all this, the 10 year old Zen had his mouth agape.
After a while, he asked, "Is there any cure for this?"
His parents looked at each other before slowly shaking their heads.
Zen looked at his sister who was still in his embrace. Noticing his gaze, the little girl looked up to him and asked "Are you gonna be okay brother?"
As Sera was still a child, although she could not quite understand what they were talking about, she knew that the situation was bad judging from the faces of her parents and brother.
Suppressing the tears that threatened to come out any time, Zen forced a smile while flexing his non-existent muscles. "Of course, brother is the strongest in the world!"
"Yayyyy!" Sera laughed and hugged him even tighter.
***
A few days later…
As days passed by, Sera began to notice that maybe her brother was not fine. That he may have lied to her.
She became aware of the subtle signs that her brother was not as cheerful and energetic as before.
Also, the look on her brother's face whenever she talked about school was something that she could not get out of her mind.
She had become aware that the situation of her brother was becoming worse. However, she did not point it out, she tried her best to distract her brother instead.
Unknowingly, Sera was beginning to become more mature than she should at her age.
***
Zen felt his body becoming heavier as days passed.
His parents had work and his sister had school, so he was pretty much alone most of the week.
'Damn, am I gonna live here for the rest of my life? How can I poop in private!?!?'
Although Zen tried his best to be optimistic, it could not be denied that he was becoming more and more afraid that he would have to live his life in the hospital forever.
'No, I shouldn't be this weak! I need to have a positive mindset!' Zen slapped his face and turned on the television to distract himself.
Fortunately, they were wealthy and could afford an excellent hospital. The nurses and doctors were also kind and patient with him.
***
Soon enough, months flew by.
Every weekend Zen's family visits him with all kinds of gifts and stories to tell him.
They also watched all kinds of movies and shows. Thanks to this, Zen became more and more positive that within time, all would return to normal.
This routine continued as time passed by…
***
A year later…
The 11 year old Zen became bedridden. Although he could still move his head slightly, he couldn't move his body no matter how hard he tried.
His family witnessed this, the scene broke Ren and Rina's heart. They suppressed their tears to make sure they wouldn't make Zen worry.
Sera, on the other hand, bawled her eyes out. Causing their parents to let out their tears and cry with her.
Zen witnessed all of this, he stopped his tears with all the willpower he had left.
After a while, they did their routine every weekend. Watching movies, telling stories, it lifted Zen's spirit after such a bad event.
***
Years flew…
Zen's family witnessed the ever-increasing medical apparatuses that got embedded in his body as time flew.
The sight broke their heart, but they steeled themselves and didn't let it ruin their mood.
However, as if to give them hope, Zen recovered a little bit and could now control his arms again through the help of various technology, medicines and therapies.
Due to the fact that the cells in his hair also had the characteristic of his mutated cancer cells, his hair grew at a rapid pace.
Because of this, he had to get his haircut at least once a week.
'Well at least this hair could be donated to those who want a wig for various reasons.'
Zen thought in a joking manner, trying to be optimistic as he could possibly be.
***
Present…
Tap~ Tap~ Tap~
The bedridden young man snapped out of his daydream when he heard footsteps nearing his door.
'Ah today's a Saturday, here they come!'
As the young man, or rather Zen, had that thought, the traces of brilliance in his eyes brightened ever-so-slightly.