Disclaimer: I do not own G.A. or its characters.

11

Mikan, wake up.

I felt like I was in a dream. Was that my dad's voice? Yeah, I think it was. "In a minute," I grumbled, still incredibly sleepy. It was the first day of school. Or my very first day in high school. I remembered not getting any sleep at all last night, because of the nervousness, and now I didn't even have the energy to open my eyes.

"Mikan," my dad whispered again. "You're going to be late on your first day of high school."

"Five more minutes," I grumbled again.

"Fine." He sighed impatiently. "I'll be downstairs, okay? If you're not down in five minutes, I'm literally going to drag you down the stairs."

As I heard my dad's footsteps walking out of my room, I suddenly felt awake all of a sudden. After I showered and put on my school uniform, I went downstairs. As I walked down the stairs, I heard my mother's voice. "…have to tell her sometime," she was saying.

"We can't," my dad said. "I don't want to make her suffer. It's better this way."

"Dad," my sister said in a strangled voice. She was already on college now, but she didn't want to stay in a dorm. Which was really, weird since all she talked about in high school, was that she would finally be "free" when she stepped into college. Yet, she was still staying under my parents' roof. "Please don't do this."

"Honey, it's really better this way. There's no way stopping it."

At that moment, I was already on the bottom of our staircase. I made it a big deal to make my presence recognizable. And it worked, because my mother composed herself quickly, my dad turned around and grinned at me and Misaki gave me a weak smile. It looked like she was crying.

"Mikan," my dad said, cheerful as ever, "finally. Do you want me to drive you to school?"

"I'll do it," my mom said, before I could reply. "Just give me a minute, okay?"

"Wait," I managed to say. "What is going on here?"

"Your father and I were just talking about his friend," my mom answered. "You know Uncle Sam? Well his daughter needed a blood transfusion, and your dad here, wanted to donate. And we were telling him it was a bad idea."

My dad for his part didn't say anything. But he wasn't smiling anymore. While Misaki just stared at our dining room table. "Is that true?" I asked.

"Yes," my dad answered. "It's true."

"Then why is Misaki crying?"

"Just emotional, and all," my mother answered. "Let me just go get my things, and I'll drive you to school." When she left, Misaki stood up too. "I have to go too. I'm going to be late."

It was only me and my dad left. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but he just smiled at me again and said, "Don't worry too much about it, okay? I'm going to be fine."

I just nodded. I couldn't help but notice that he looked as if he was twenty years older. I knew my dad always worked hard, being the CEO of an advertising company, but I never saw him this tired. At that moment, my mother appeared, carrying her laptop case and bag in one arm. "Mikan, are you ready?"

I looked at my dad one more time. There was definitely something else going on. Even though I was the youngest in the family, I wasn't stupid. I was already a high school freshman for crying out loud. And whatever it was, I knew I was going to find out. "Yeah," I told my mom. "I am."

My mother kissed my dad goodbye, her back facing me. Misaki suddenly appeared, her eyes still swollen. It looked like she was in the verge of tears again. I knew my sister could be overly dramatic, but I've never seen her like this. I've never seen her so…vulnerable. I saw my mother whisper something in my dad's ear, while he just nodded. After waving goodbye to my dad and Misaki, I went inside my mother's car, and we drove away.

The first day of school, wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be. All my teachers were nice, and I got to see my friends again. Well, it wasn't like I didn't hang out with them during the summer, but you know, seeing your friends in school again, is a different thing. My best friend, Hotaru on the other hand, hated all the first day giddiness, as usual. After school, I waited for my mom to pick up, since she said she would. But I hope the car ride back home won't be as awkward and silent like this morning.

As my mother was driving, I could tell she was tense. It was like she was worried about something.

"Mom?" I said. "Is everything, all right?"

She glanced at me. "Of course, honey. Everything's fine."'

"Are you sure? Because Misaki seemed really upset. I've never seen her like that."

"Oh you know your sister," she said, nonchalantly. "She could be a drama queen at times."

"Yeah but—"

"Just don't worry about anything, okay?" she told me, her voice stern. "I'll handle this. I just want to focus on your studies and school work. I want you to ace your subjects, all right?"

"Okay, I'll try."

"Don't try. Do it." My mother was always like this. Being a lawyer, she had a very strict attitude, and talked things out reasonably. But this was how she really was, and for my fifteen years of existence I've learned to just comprehend with her.

"Hey."

I looked up, surprised. It was Hotaru. I thought she went home like, ages ago. My mom was running late in picking me up, as usual.

"Oh hey," I replied. "I thought you went home, earlier."

"Nah. I was too lazy to take the bus. You mind if I ride with you?"

"No problem," I said. "But, you must know that I was supposed to be fetched like, an hour ago."

"I know," she replied. "And don't worry. I'm used to it."

I smiled. Hotaru, being my best friend and having our houses next to each other, has ridden with us numerous times. Like when I was supposed to be fetched from the mall, or whose house I was having a sleepover in. When it wasn't my dad who fetched me, it was my mother, who was always well, late.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "It seems like something's bothering you."

I suddenly thought of that morning, with the peculiar attitude of my family. "It's just, my dad he's—"

At that moment, I saw my mother's car, heading towards the front of our school. "Hey, Mom," I said as, I opened the door in the passenger's seat. "Is it okay, if Hotaru—"

But once again, I was cut off. "Mikan," my mother said, urgently. "Get in now. We have to get to the hospital."

"Hospital?" I glanced at Hotaru. "What—what happened?"

"Just get in," she practically, screamed. I quickly followed her, opening the passenger door at the back, for Hotaru. It wasn't like I could just leave her.

"Mom, tell me what's going on," I said, as I put on my seatbelt.

Now that I was in front, I could see her clearly. Her hair was messed up, he make-up a little smudged. Her eyes were also red and swollen too. Obviously, she was crying.

"It's your Dad," she choked.

"Dad?" I suddenly thought about this morning. If he did donate his blood, something must've gone wrong. "What happened to him? Is he going to be okay?" I wanted to know.

"I don't know, honey," she said, tearing up again. "I don't know."

I've never ever seen my mother look so weak. She was always a strong woman, and I admired her for that. But now that she was crying, I didn't know what to do. It broke my heart into a million pieces.

"Do you want me to drive, Mrs. Sakura?" Hotaru offered, since she already had her permit.

My mom glanced at her from the rearview mirror. She seemed surprised that she was there. "It's okay, Mom," I said. "Hotaru already has her learner's permit."

"Okay," my mother said, to my utter surprise. "That would be wonderful." She pulled to a stop around a corner. Hotaru went to the driver's seat, and my mom stayed in front, while I was behind her, comforting her. It seemed weird that I was the one comforting her, when it really should be the other way around.

"Dad's going to be fine," I told my mom, and myself. "I know he will be."

I didn't know if she listened, because she was still crying, even as we arrived at the hospital. I was the one who had to ask the nurse at the desk if my dad was here. Hotaru was still with us, which was touching by the way, since I thought she would leave when we arrived here. I knew she hated any kind of drama, after all. But here she was.

When we got to the emergency room, my heart was seriously pounding in my chest, and I felt like it would burst out any minute. I saw Misaki by the waiting area. Her eyes were also red and swollen from crying. She hugged both me and mother, when she saw us.

"What happened?" I asked her. "Is Dad okay?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. He fainted this morning, a little while after you guys left. The doctor said there was no way—he—can't do a—anything," she sobbed.

"What do you mean, can't do anything?" I cried. "Tell the truth. What really happened?"

"Your dad," my mother said, speaking for the first time. "He has…he has blood cancer."

It was as if all the blood drained from my face, and I felt like I was about to collapse any moment now. "Blood…cancer?" I choked.

She nodded, numbly. "He's had it for a while now. Six months to be exact. That's what we were talking about this morning. We wanted to tell you. We really did. But your dad didn't want to. He also didn't want to take any treatments or therapies. He knew that he was going…away soon, so what was the point? I'm so sorry, Mikan, that you had to find out like this. When it might be too late. Your dad wanted to spend his last days, with you happy. Like he said, it was better this way."

Without warning, tears started to fall down my face. I wanted to say something, but I wasn't able to. I was practically gasping for air, when I felt someone put their arms around me. It was probably Misaki or Hotaru. How could they do this to me? What did he mean it was better this way? It wasn't better or even good in any way. Did my dad just want to disappear without me, knowing? How could my mother just lie to me like that? It hurt too much, that I felt numb all of a sudden.

"I have to see him," I whispered. "I have to."

"Honey, no one's allowed inside," my mother said, gently.

"I don't care!" I cried. "I have to see him, Mom. I have to see him, before it's too late."

"Mikan," I heard Hotaru's voice. "Just follow your mom."

I shook my head, still crying. It didn't seem real. I was only dreaming. I knew I was. At that moment, the doctor came out of the emergency room. "He's doing good. For now," she said. "But if we don't do anything, he could leave anytime…today."

"Can we see him?" I asked.

"Of course," she answered. "But, family members only."

"Don't worry, I'll wait right here," Hotaru said.

"Thank you," I replied. "Really."

When we got inside my dad looked fragile, and pale, with an IV attached to him. If a while ago, he looked twenty years older, now he looked fifty years older, if that was even possible. But I could see it with my own eyes. Just like when my mother was crying, seeing my dad like that, broke my heart into a million pieces. He looked a little guilty when he saw me there.

"Daddy," I sobbed. I don't even remember crying this much.

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry." His voice sounded hoarse.

I shook my head. "No, don't be sorry. I understand."

"You do?"

"Yeah." As I said it, I only realized that I did understand. If my dad had told me this earlier, I wouldn't act like myself. I knew I would spend all my time crying, and pretending that I was happy for my dad. And I didn't want that, and I guess neither did he. So maybe, it really was better this way.

He smiled weakly. "So, how was your first day of school?"

"Good," I answered, wiping the tears from my eyes. "I got really good classes. And the teachers were nice."

"I'm glad to hear that. Listen, I know this is hard for you, but I still want you to do your best, okay? I want you to make both me and your mother proud. You're a very bright girl, and I know you can do it. Do you promise? Do you promise to make me proud?"

I nodded, tears streaming down my face again. "I promise, Daddy."

After a little while, he talked with my mother and sister in private one by one. He even talked to Hotaru, who still remained in the hospital. He got moved to a private room, so the doctor could run some tests, and keep track of him. It was already nine in the evening, yet Hotaru was still there.

"Aren't your parents worrying about you?" I asked her.

"I called ahead, and told them. Don't worry."

I nodded. "I can't even believe this is happening, Hotaru. It's just so unfair."

"Life isn't fair. You should know that by now."

"I know it isn't," I said. "But I didn't expect it to be this unfair. I hate seeing my family like this."

"Sometimes stuff like this happens," she said. "But that doesn't mean that everything's over. We have to move on."

"It's not that easy."

"Moving on is never easy, Mikan," she told me. "But we still have to do it, anyhow."

At around eleven, my dad took his last breath. It was peaceful, because he died in his sleep. Also, we all got to talk to him, each one of us having promises to keep, things my dad wanted us to do. We never shared them with each other, but maybe someday we will.

I didn't go to school for the next week. During the funeral, a lot of people came. All relatives and friends of my dad. I once forgot that my dad was the friendliest person on the planet. The next day, my mom went into action. All clothes and things of my dad's went to charity, all pictures of him around the house, kept in drawers. Both Misaki and I hated it. But we couldn't do anything. Sometimes, I would hear my mother in my parents' room, crying, and I wanted to comfort her and pull her into my arms, but something kept me from doing it. Sometimes, she would offer an embrace for me, but I declined. I wanted my mother to know that I was strong, that I wasn't going to be a burden to her, now that she was a single parent.

Meanwhile, my sister went back to her dorm, and got a boyfriend. She seemed happy enough, and seemed to have moved on. While my mother and I had our own ways of grieving. For all her knowledge, I was fully moved on, being the good girl, and the achiever. Getting straight A's and being the favourite of all teachers. My mother became the busiest person on the planet, and for a while, our lives went that way. And everything was fine.

I know it's a little long, or whatever but I hope you read every single word, since of you missed one, you would miss on everything. Just kidding. But I hope you read it well, though. Okay, wait for my next update. :D