Chapter 29 - Ice Cream

Mon entered the office with a scowl on her face.

"What happened?" I leaned back on the chair.

She pulled the one across from my desk and sat down.

"Are you having surgery?" She said it with such urgency that it took me by surprise.

I asked her out for ice cream to talk about the exact same thing.

How did she know about it?

Nita probably told her.

She did say she doesn't keep secrets from Mon.

"Did Nita tell you?"

"You told Nita?" Her frown deepened.

I pressed my lips together.

My assumption quickly bit me in the ass.

"Why is it that when it comes to you, she keeps things from me?"

"Mon," I leaned forward, "don't be mad at her. I asked her not to say anything to anyone."

"I'm not just anyone, Sam." She glared.

Good point.

"But I wanted to be the one to tell you."

"Then it's true. You really are going for surgery," She sounded so flustered as if the world conspired against her and she was the last know about an important secret.

"Yes. But how did you know about it if Nita didn't say anything?"

"I dreamed about it."

"Huh?"

"Last night. You took me to the ice cream shop. That was the first thing you told me. You also said you're not marrying Kirk and that you talked to your grandmother about it. You also wanted to give me Miss Duanpen just in case..." She didn't finish her sentence.

Damn!

That must be some kind of dream.

Mon looked so listless.

I offered her a glass of water.

She refused.

"Sam, just tell me if what happened in my dream was true or not."

"Two out of three is right."

"So, you're still getting married and having surgery?"

"No."

"I am getting the surgery tomorrow and I'm not getting married."

She let out a long exhale and leaned back on the chair.

"I'm not giving you Miss Duanpen. Tee will take care of her until I'm able to drive."

"That dream was so weird."

"It is very strange how you learned about what's going on with me through that."

"Were you planning on telling me anything?"

"Yes, because we are not done with our project and I wanted to give you this," I opened the drawer and took out a gray rectangular removable drive.

Mon's eyes grew wide when she saw it.

"Is everything okay?"

"That thing was also in my dream. Does it have the draft and the videos for our story?"

"Yes, it does." I felt weirded out by how precise this dream of hers was.

"The draft doesn't include your last will?"

I frowned.

How did she know about that?

When I decided to go for the surgery, I spoke with my lawyer.

I told my grandmother that before I do the procedure, I wanted to make sure that my affairs were in order in case things go awry.

She was sad to hear about my plans but understood why I needed to do it.

Besides, it was her who always told me and my sisters to secure our future.

My friends were also shocked to hear about what I'm going to do.

Jim and Kate were teary eyed to learn that I'm leaving them a small inheritance.

Tee will have ownership of Miss Duanpen.

She refused at first and asked me not to talk about dying.

"Sam?" Mon was waiting for my answer.

"Well, there is something in there about that."

"What is that something?"

"If I die during the operation, I am giving you half of my estate."

"Why would you do that?" She did not look happy.

"Whom should I give it too? My friends are all wealthy, my grandmother has more than enough to last her in this lifetime and the next. I don't have kids and no longer have a fiancé which I'm totally happy about by the way."

"Why don't you donate it to a foundation or to those who need it more?"

"You don't need money?"

Mon glowered at the question.

"Everyone needs money but I don't want yours. I can take care of myself. I'm not some charity, Sam."

"I didn't say you were. If something should happen, at least I know that my fortune would be with the people who meant the most to me."

She let out a long and exasperated sigh.

"You're not going to die," She declared with a certainty that puzzled me.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I haven't forgiven you yet."

"Maybe you should. Because in case I don't come back, I don't want to have any unfinished business."

"We're not done with our story. You have to come back," Her voice broke a little.

"Mon," I reached for her hand that was curled into a fist.

A tear fell and I reached up to wipe it away.

My heart was breaking.

I didn't expect her to be so distressed with all of this.

It was understandable and expected of most people to feel uncomfortable about talks of death and last will but this was the reality.

If I don't do this now and leave everything to chance, the people I care about would be inconvenienced.

I didn't want that.

"I don't want you to be upset but let's be realistic. My condition is not getting better. Everytime I have a migraine episode, I thought I wouldn't come out of it alive. My doctor said it could be because my body is responding differently from the medication that's why this is happening. I don't want to live my life like this. I suffered for years and now it's time to do something about it rather than keep wondering if something could actually help me get better."

"I'm scared, Sam."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not ready to lose you."

Those words broke my heart even more.

I don't want to die too.

After speaking with my grandmother, I felt as if I was only starting to live.

She still had a lot of reminders about not making a fool of myself in public and following social etiquette and whatnot but there was something else I noticed after our conversation.

I felt that I was finally getting the respect that I wanted from her.

She treated me like a capable adult and it meant the world to me.

"Mon," I squeezed her hand.

"We could only live one day at a time. Even then, we have to make the most of it because who knows what would happen at night? Wasn't there a saying? About death being a thief in the night?" I forced a smile.

She cried even more.

"You're not getting married?" She changed the topic.

"No."

"How did Kirk take it?"

"He was mad of course but there was nothing he could do."

Mon sighed and shook her head.

"I cannot believe you broke your engagement."

"What's not to believe? You of all people should know that I never loved him."

"But you love your grandmother and would do everything to make her happy."

"I do and that was not going to change in life or in death."

"When is your surgery?"

"Tomorrow."

Her face fell.

"Was that also in your dream?"

She nodded.

"I cannot believe that Morpheus beat me to it."

"Who?" Her brows furrowed.

"The Sandman," I said with a smile.

Mon smiled too.

"Do you still want to go for that ice cream?" She asked.

"Why not? It's the perfect weather for it anyway," I looked outside the window.

There were heat waves rising on top of office buildings.

"I'm paying this time," Mon reached for the box of Kleenex and dabbed the side of her eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. It's my turn, remember." A smile was on her face.

Back in high school, the only way I could take her there was if I agreed to let her pay.

We took turns.

I was surprised that she still remembered that I was the one who paid during our last visit.

"Do you still like the same flavor?" She asked when she stood up.

"Of course."

"Chocolate chip cookie for you then," Mon grinned.

"And salted caramel for you?"

"You know it." Her smile was bigger this time.

I took my purse and we walked to the door.

Mon was about to open it but then she turned around to look at me.

"Are you happy with your decisions, Sam?"

"I am and also very, very scared," I answered with certainty.

"Be strong then," She turned the door handle and stepped out.

When we reached the ice cream shop, the happy memories we spent there came back to me.

The teenaged girl greeted her with a toothy smile.

She wore the pink cap with the pointy top.

Mon and I sat outside and enjoyed the cold treat.

She asked if she could visit once I'm done with the surgery.

"You don't think I would die?"

"No," She licked her bottom lip.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because in my dream, I asked The Sandman not to take you."