"We're so proud of you"

-------

Elena scanned the notes she has written down on a paper clipped to a clipboard. Her face distorted from calmness to worry. She gave a quick glance to the sick girl on the bed. They were in the room the three teens were staying. A little while back, John asked for Elena to check on JiJi with him in the room and want Ryan to accompany Mika in the living room.

"Jimimah." Elena whispered. The latter look up to her. "I may not have the right tools to determine this sickness but I am pretty sure that I have dealt with this symptoms on a patient before. Are you aware of this?"

JiJi looked hesitant at first but answered the question. "Yes."

"For how long?" Elena asked. JiJi gulped.

"I was born with it actually." JiJi answered.

"You're a carrier. I see." Elena murmured. She check her clipboard again before standing up. "Stay here. I'll go tell the news to Mika and Ryan."

As she starts to walk away, a cold hand grabbed her arm, Elena looked at the source. "Ryan already knows. But if you really know my sickness, please don't tell Mika." She let go.

"Why not?" Elena asked.

JiJi looked at John, who sighed and faced Elena. "We want to tell her ourselves. But not right now. She has been through a lot and we don't want to burden her anymore problems, you know that more than we do. We already feel guilty with asking you to check in her."

"How do you know that?" Elena asked.

"Oh trust me. We have been through a lot together to know what the other feels like. So I am saying for the three of us." JiJi looked at her with a sypmathetic look. "We're sorry."

Elena looked at them in disbelief. "Please, don't apologize."

John looked at her sternly. "Then please don't tell her, just yet."

"There is a possibility that you'll die if this continues." Elena stated with a serious look.

"She had worst before, we know what we're doing." John mentioned.

"Worst?!" Elena asked, astonished.

"Mrs. West, please." Elena look down to the girl on the bed. Green eyes were pooled with tears. "Don't tell her just yet."

Elena scanned their faces for any signs of joke before pursing her lips and nodding. "Very well then, if that is what you wish."

"Thank you." John said as he stood up. Elena left the room and he followed. They went to the living room where Ryan and Mika was sitting on the couch. Mika noticed them coming in and she stood up and asked questions immediately.

"What's wrong with her? Is she okay? How is she?" Mika asked.

"She's fine sweetie." Elena gave a small smile. "She's just a little sick that's all, nothing major."

"Oh, thank goodness." Mika sighed in relief with closed eyes. At the corner of Elena's eyes, she saw John shaking his head lightly to Ryan who frowned at the silent message.

'They do know.' Elena wondered. She sighed and placed a gentle hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Why don't you go check on her."

"Okay." She said as she shuffled out of the living room and head to the spare room. The two boys stopped by Elena's side, Ryan placing a hand on Elena's shoulder, she looked up to him.

"Thank you." He smiled at her before tailing behind Mika and John. Elena watched them go, now wondering what those kids have been through. Elena sighed and went to her room for a bit more research.

☆

"JiJi! Oh thank goodness you're okay!" Mika barged into the room and hugged the girl on the bed who hugged back lightly.

"Of course I am." JiJi laughed, reaching to the table for her glasses. "It takes more than food poisoning to kill me."

"Your legs! How're your legs?" Mika asked pulling back. JiJi pulled the blankets off and showed them her legs clean and bandaged. Mika visibly sighed.

"Did I scare you?" Mika's eyes jolted open and looked at the girl on the bed, she was smiling. "I'm sorry, Mika."

"JiJi. It isn't your fault." Mika said.

"Why, of course it isn't! It's whoever put whatever the damn things on the foods I ate." With raised eyebrows and sassy actions, JiJi said in a joking matter. "Well except for the spaghetti your mom made, that was sweet heaven on a plate."

Mika laughed and the boys smiled. "Well, I'll keep in mind that spaghetti is your new favorite food now."

"Yes!" JiJi said dragging out the 's.' Ryan checked the time. The bright red numbers indicated the time to be 6:33 AM.

"We should get ready. We have school later." Ryan suggested. Mika looked back at JiJi.

"Are you okay going to school today?" She asked. JiJi nodded.

"Of course." She smiled.

Mika stood up. "Here, I'll go find some clothes that'll fit in you, you get ready."

"Leggings or shorts will be fine, thank you." JiJi laughed.

"Shirt?" Mika asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The boys got it covered." JiJi smiled.

"Oh okay." Mika said before leaving the room.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Ryan asked once Mika was out of earshot. JiJi sighed.

"I'll be fine. This was way cuter than the last throw up I had. Honestly though boys, stop worrying." JiJi rolled her eyes playfully.

"We can't stop worrying about you if it's part of our lives, JiJi." John joked. "It's kind of like our job."

JiJi laughed breathlessly and pitifully. "Well then, I'm sorry about that." She smiled an apologetic smile.

"Oh my god, for the hundredth time, don't apologize! It isn't your fault that you have this sickness." John said.

"But it feels like I'm dragging you guys around because of my sickness." JiJi said. Ryan noticed the sudden change of aura.

"Not again with this depressing state, JiJi. I've said this before and I will say it again. You didn't drag us into anything. We wanted to be by your side. You're so strong. So positive. So wise. And you're still here.

"There aren't many people who poses those kinds of strength and traits. Despite your sickness, and everything you have lost. You chose to come out here, because you felt like you could make a difference. We need more people like you, JiJi.

"You bring that bundle of positivity with you anywhere and always make people smile. That has always been your duty. We never held anything against you. We never feared that you will fail. The only thing that we feared was that you will give up on everything." Ryan finished with a smile. John smiled as well.

"And we're so proud to see you haven't."