[Single? No More!] – The Reason Why Val Stayed Single

Val was frozen when he realized the implication of her words and their meaning, 'Oh My God! She just... asked me out! Shit! Why? Why? WHY?'

His rational and logical thoughts were suddenly jammed as memories of his past life came crashing into his mind.

[FLASHBACK]

At the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas

Sarah was lying on the hospital bed with IV tubes, bags, and other medical apparatuses surrounding her.

She slowly glanced around with a weak, tired, but still lively expression on her pale and deathly face. She could see her two children with their spouses and grandchildren crying while clutching each other closely. Her other family members, brothers, and sister, with tear-stained faces, were crying their hearts out in the back of her hospital room. She could also see a few people wearing doctor and nurse's outfits with their heads hanging low, biting their lower lips in frustration and pity.

A sigh left her slightly purple lips. Her throat and hands were sore, indicating her severe condition. Her eyes' previous brightness and luster were no longer present as they were clouded and foggy like a glass globe covered with mist.

Lastly, she slowly glanced at Val, who was holding her frail hand in his hands while resting his forehead on them. He was quietly sobbing, utterly unaware that she was watching him.

She could feel the helplessness in his actions and in his body. She had not seen him cry once in his entire life, and now that he was, it also made her tear up.

She could feel that it pained him to see her like that, but nothing could have been done about her condition.

"D... Don... Don't... c... cry..." Sarah whispered weakly.

Val's body trembled slightly upon hearing his wife speak. He raised his head to look at his wife, and at that moment, she could see a large number of tears streaming down his face, along with his bloodshot eyes and cheeks reddened from all the crying. His eyes had huge dark circles, which, along with his skinny body, made him look as much a patient as her.

Staring in his eyes, she knew instantly what was going through in his head. She slightly moved her numb hand and held his hand. Her movement alerted Val, causing him to look at her hand and then at her as their eyes locked in a gaze.

"It..." Sarah opened her dry mouth and tried her best to talk and tell him, "Isn't... your... fault. Y... You... tried... your... best..."

"No! It is!" Val replied with frustration. He stared at her pale face and said, "I failed to find the cure for your Stage IV Mesothelioma! What is the use of all my inventions? All of my achievements? All of the lofty titles? All of the reputation? Is all that even worth anything if it can't help my wife?

All of that wealth, all the achievements, they mean nothing! If you die... Then, I don't know what to do with my life anymore. Because nothing I'll do is worth doing."

"N... No..." Sarah raised her hands weakly, put her left hand on her husband's left cheek, smiled, and continued, "You... Shouldn't... feel... th—

* Cough * Cough * Cough * Cough * Cough*

She felt a sudden rush of air being sucked out of her lungs, and she couldn't breathe properly, coughing out saliva mixed with blood.

Seeing this, Val hurriedly pulled some tissues from the table next to him and gently wiped off the droplets of blood hanging in the corner of her mouth.

She smiled weakly as the coughs stopped and continued in a hoarse voice, "Honey..."

She looked him in the eye and said desperately, "Promise me... Promise me..."

"What? Anything! I'll give it to you no matter what!"

Sarah smiled, and a tear slowly fell from the corner of her eye. She tightened the hold of their hand and whispered, "Move on... And find love... Again..."

"What?! What are you tal—" Val opened his mouth to ask when he heard beeping sounds coming from her ECG monitor and suddenly...

* BEEP * BEEP * BEEP *

He glanced at the ECG monitor, indicating her heart rate was increasing. He looked back at Sarah and tried to say something, but she increased the intensity of her grip on his hand and weakly gasped, "Honey ... Promise... Me... You'll... F... Find... Someone... W... Willing... To... Be... Y... Yours.."

"Baby! Please! Stop talking! Your heart rate is going up!" Val pleaded, but Sarah wasn't ready to listen and continued in a chokingly voice, "Promise me... Honey!... Look at me.."

"I... I... Don't want anything... Happening to you. Please, baby..." Tears slowly slid down his face, but Sarah had a knowing and desperate smile on her face, "...Find someone... who can cherish you... As much as I did... Just as how much I... L-Love... Y—

"Please! Just... Stop talking, please..." Val pleaded loudly. Tears were streaming down his eyes continuously like a never-ending flood.

But Sarah shook her head and said, "Promise me..."

Val gritted his teeth and, seeing the desperate look on her face, finally said, "Y-Yes... I will!"

Hearing him, Sarah weakly smiled and murmured as she closed her eyes, "May... we... meet... again..."

* BEEEEEEP *

[FLASHBACK END]

Val could feel tears threatening to erupt from the corners of his eyes as he couldn't hold himself together anymore. Seeing the memories of the promise that he made to her when she was dying resurfaced after a very long time. He could feel the anger and sadness of that moment emerge and fill his soul, reminding him of the sorrow of the incident.

His facial expression remained the same, although a flurry of emotions passed through his heart. Grief, pain, fear, and desperation all converged and gathered in the center of his chest.

However, something brought him out of his trance. A calm, soothing, warm voice resounded in his mind, 'Why not give her a chance? Don't you want to keep your promise?'

Val's body shuddered slightly. His mouth opened to say 'NO!' but Sarah's desperate plea from back then repeated in his mind like a broken record, making him stop for a moment.

Storm noticed Val's unreadable facial expression. She saw him clenching his fists, but his face remained unmoving while his eyes had this deep longing and pain. She caught this and couldn't help but think, 'W-What happened? D-Did I do something wrong?'

She waited patiently for his answer until she began feeling uneasy. Her unease was further raised when she noticed the students busy with their tasks were throwing quick glances their way.

Sighing, she straightened her posture and mustered all the courage she had in her to not burst into tears.

However...

Finally, Val released a long, tired sigh while considering, 'Fuck it! I don't want to disappoint Sarah!'

He looked at her face with a radiant smile and responded, "Sure, why not?"