THE PAINS STARTED coming when Dark was in his most successful stages in the company. Not to him, no. His dear friend. The one who he had seemed to have neglected.

At first, Wilford denied the pains. Cast them aside. He only labeled them as just... feeling sore. Probably from all the walking he did around campus.

He was walking around with Prim as they spoke of the story they were working on for the school paper. That's when yet another stab of pain came to him. Right at his stomach—and it was worse than the others.

"Yeah, he s-said—" Wilford grimaced, hunching over in the slightest. "He said that he'd p... publish it soon."

Prim halted, brows furrowed in concern as he stopped her friend, a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Wilford cleared his throat and straightened out his back, playing it off. The pain had subsided.

"Yeah, just fine!" He forced out a chuckle. "Musta been somethin' I ate, amiright?"

Prim scanned her eyes over her friend, humming with skepticism. "Guess so..."

..

"Now—hear me out. If we sell this at cost, just think of all the lives we'll save."

The board members looked at Dark, who stood before them.

"That's insane. We've spent millions of dollars researching for that medication."

Dark smiled, putting his hands on the table. "I know we'll lose money. But... just give it a chance?"

The board members murmured among themselves, mostly sounds of uncertainty.

"Mr. Edward... what would Mrs. Wayfair think of your decision?" a woman spoke up.

He hummed, looking back at the whiteboard that was stained with multi-colored scribbles.

"Why must I think of her reaction when I already know of it?" He sighed. "She says it's an iffy idea. Let me say this—"

Dark cleared his throat. "How would a limited time for this medication sound? Then, we can see if it truly works, and if it needs anymore tweaking."

The board members all looked at each other, murmuring amongst themselves again. There was a soft silence before someone spoke up with a smile.

"We're glad to have you in our company, sir."

..

"Wilford, please don't lie." Prim made the male sit on one of the park benches, and she went to one knee, looking at him with concern. "Keeping in secrets hurts you."

Wilford sighed and looked away, wrapping his arms around his stomach. "Really, Prim. I'm fine."

"I've been picking up on your signs. Please. I want you to tell me what's wrong."

Wilford groaned and gave in. "I don't."

"What?"

"I don't know what's wrong," he explained. "I've just been having these pains is all. It's nothing, Prim, really."

The girl frowned, standing and ruffling the male's hair with her fingers. It made him think of his faraway friend.

"If this happens again, we're doing something about it," she said sternly.

Wilford looked up into her brown eyes. "Why..."

..

"So? How'd it go," Mrs. Wayfair asked, joining Dark's side as they walked down the halls.

Dark smiled. "They said yes. But we agreed to only sell them for a week."

"That's better than nothing," she said, patting the male's back. "I'm proud of you, Mr. Edward."

The words made him falter. Proud? No one's really ever... said that to him...

"Thank you," Dark said with a smile.

..

"Prim, you d—"

"Why didn't you tell me, Will?" Ana spoke, grabbing Wilford's hands. She looked up into his eyes, a frown on her face. "You can tell me anything."

Wilford chuckled, looking away. "I hate having people worry about me."

Prim sighed, patting the male's shoulder. "You're gonna have to get used to it, buddy."

..

WILFORD TRIED CALLING his friend again. They haven't spoken to each other in, what... a year? Maybe even two? Or three?

The male was beginning to give up on trying to get a hold of his friend. His missed calls were piling upon each other, and his voicemails were long lost.

That was because Dark was a busy man. He barely even had time to look at his phone anymore. So he didn't know of Wilford's attempts.

"Excuse me, sir, can I speak to you about the Aaron Project?"

Dark nodded, finishing up typing a document. "Yeah, I have a few minutes."

..

Wilford pressed himself close to Ana, sniffling. "I just miss him so much..."

The woman rubbed Wilford's shoulder comfortingly. "I know, honey..." She sighed. "You just need patience..."

Even she was growing unsure.

..

Mrs. Wayfair had called Dark into her office. She sat before her desk, hands interlocked and back straight in the perfect posture.

"I think we both know why you're here."

Dark felt his heart quicken as he stood before the desk, his hands clasped behind his back. The woman motioned him to sit, and he followed, staring into stern eyes. There was a smile on the woman's face.

"As you know, I'm the owner of this company. But I'm growing old and frail."

Dark's eyes widened as he realized what she was talking about. No way...

"I'm not going to be dying just yet," she joked, "but I promote you as co-owner of this company."

"M... me?" he whispered, leaning forward slightly. There was disbelief in his voice. "Mrs. Wayfair, I've only been here for... almost a year. I've still much to learn."

Mrs. Wayfair smiled. "You'll learn by my side," she said.

..

"I don't wanna go to the doctor just yet," Wilford hissed. "They just... prescribe you with some damn medication and set you off! They only do it for the money."

Ana and Prim frowned. "Better safe than sorry," the two said.

"No. I am not going to the clinic and that is final," Wilford defended.

Ana sighed. "If this gets worse..."

"I know... I know..."

..

"You just amaze me everyday!"

Dark chuckled, slipping off his tie and suit jacket. "I'm surprised myself."

Michael chuckled, laying back on his bed. "Just don't be like one of those guys though, bro."

Dark sat on his bed, sighing in relief. "What do you mean?"

Michael rolled onto his side, propping himself up with the palm of his hand. Dark did the same so the two faced each other.

"Don't be the guy who chases after the money and grows old and dies alone."

Dark's brows furrowed. "I'm not after the money."

Michael chuckled, rolling onto his back and looking up at the ceiling. "Oh, I know. But you're pretty rich right now." He turned his head over to his friend. "Just don't let that blind you."

Dark chuckled. "Since when did you get all inspirational?"

Michael solemnly chuckled, looking back up at the ceiling.

"Just keep those words in mind."

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|| By the way-- this story is almost to an end! ||

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-aya