The Cat's Tail

A brand new day has arrived, albeit the time was almost noon and the long board meeting session in the Mandjet Medical Center had already ended.

Sitting in front of one another in the cafeteria, greetings from fellow workers in the hospital would rang through Raymond and Phillip's ears each time the workers would pass by them.

Some time after the last person pass by and greeted both of them, sipping on his can of black coffee, Phillip made a comment.

"It's been a while since we had a board meeting without everyone looking so gloomy."

Phillip's voice was rather calm, but one can sense the hint of gratification coming from him.

"Yeah," Raymond replied, a smile played on his lips. "After more than a decade, the Mandjet Medical Center can finally move on from it's main objective onto the next."

For the past fifteen years, the Mandjet Medical Center had made its objective to find a way to save Leona and Callisto from the incurable genetic disorder that befell on them.

"But looking back, the goal shouldn't have stayed the same for that long..."

As he fell into silence, Raymond's expression darkened as he was reminded of the operation on Leona and its aftermath five years ago.

"I'm really glad that we managed to save Callisto's life using the Mutated DNA Fusion. But..."

Raymond's eyes locked on his own can of black coffee just sitting on top of the table between him and Phillip. Regret wash over his features as he tried to simulate a scenery of him living a happy life with his wife and both their daughters who were now adults with their own careers.

"If I could turn back time, I..."

His remorse for what happened was too heavy for Raymond that it clogged his mouth and couldn't finish his sentence.

Just then...

"How ironic."

"Huh?"

Raymond gave the nonchalant Phillip a puzzled look, following what he said.

"The person who told me to stop beating myself up over what happened is now doing the exact same thing."

"Ah..."

Raymond let out a small laugh, his expression relaxes a little.

"But, I can't really blame you for doing exactly that," Phillip added. "I didn't mentioned this when you suddenly called me to your office to talk earlier, but I still think about what happened back then."

"Phillip..."

Raymond's brows shot up as he looked at his friend with gauging eyes.

"But like I said when you asked me if I'm all right, I am," Phillip continued. "It's okay to reminisce the past, but you shouldn't cling on it for the rest of your life."

Waking up in his office earlier before the board meeting, Raymond called Phillip to talk to him just like he told Oner he would yesterday.

Going straight to the point, Raymond asked his friend about his well-being. He wondered if Phillip felt uncomfortable about doing the MDF one more time as well as being in the hospital again after so long.

As Raymond already expected based on his observation, Phillip is perfectly fine. Raymond thought so as well.

So when Phillip mentioned the truth about him still thinking about what happened five years ago, Callisto's father immediately gauged his friend.

To his relief, Phillip's response from his earlier concern seem to hold true.

"In case you don't remember, those are the exact same words you said to me before dragging me back here," Phillip said before taking a sip of his coffee and putting the can on the table in front of him.

"You sound awfully like Oner yesterday," Raymond responded in displeasure. "I'm still in my 40s, you know."

To be exact, both Phillip and Raymond are 48 years old.

"Hm?"

Just then, Raymond noticed the expression his friend was making after his retort.

"... What's with the unconvinced look."

"Well..."

Phillip had a valid reason for making that face.

"... When I came to your office after you summoned me, I was wondering what you wanted to talk to me about, but then you suddenly told me you forgot."

"That's because I was also thinking about something else during that time. Besides, I immediately recalled what I was gonna talk to you about, so that doesn't count."

To add to his evidence, Phillip saw Raymond and Callisto getting in the car and leaving the hospital still wearing his lab coat.

"Why didn't you say anything if you saw us back then," Raymond protested, scratching his head. "I still feel embarrassed thinking about what I did. I'm glad some people think I'm merely cosplaying with Calli, but others might think I'm just showing off or something."

"Ha?"

Knowing that his friend would return as soon as he took his daughter to her new place, Phillip felt like there wasn't any need to say anything so he simply watched them leave and continue with his own work.

"It's true that lab coats are worn mostly during work, and I do agree that you don't usually wear them outside it, but there is no rule that says you can't," Philli argued. "Nowadays, white coats are worn just to have that extra pocket space and I can't say I don't second that statement."

"I guess that's true," Raymond replied, accepting his friend's argument. "So I was feeling embarrassed over nothing, huh."

"Seems like it."

Raymond never felt more stupid than he was now. Phillip's response certainly did not make it feel any better for him.

"Anyway, it's your own words being thrown back at you. If you really remember them, then surely you know why."

"Like I said, I'm still in my 40s," Raymond said in retort. "Of course I remember."

Both Raymond and Phillip knew that letting go of the past was never easy. Phillip's running away overseas and Raymond's remorsefulness were the testament for that.

However, they also knew what was needed to be done. If they didn't, Raymond wouldn't impart such words to his friend, and Phillip wouldn't bother giving it back to him.

Chugging the can of coffee down to its last drop, Raymond declared; "I need to think of what I can do now rather than back then."

Putting the emptied can of black coffee atop the table with a loud thud served as the exclamation point of the father's sentence.

"I see. That's good, then. I'm sorry for doubting you, Raymond."

"..."

Seeing Phillip express his apology sincerely made Raymond recall what his friend was like the first time he met him back then.

Before, Phillip always seemed uninterested about everything and was devoid of emotions. He was like a robot who never knew what it was like to have feelings and interests. Even though he could handle conversations with people, Phillip's indifference made it difficult for them to even approach him.

"Phillip had his parents to thank for that," Raymond murmured to himself, a faint hint of disdain for remembering Phillip's family was visible on his face for just a moment.

But ever since Raymond, Adela, Oner, and the others befriended Phillip, or rather force their way into his life, his life gradually changed for good.

Now, just like everyone else, Phillip got his own interests. One of them was his job as a doctor. Not only that, Phillip also became a lot more expressive and honest than ever, allowing Raymond and the others to understand him a lot more clearly.

Seeing what became of Phillip compared to what he was back then, Raymond could not help but feel proud of his friend, so much that he could not stop himself from making a proud smile.