Chapter Text
It was early May, and the weather was gradually becoming warmer, with daylight lasting longer. However, Simeon Ayp was confined to bed, battling a severe cold.
"Simeon, where did you catch this?" Mehr asked, with a concerned tone. She removed the thermometer from Simeon's mouth and inspected it closely. "This can't be true!" she exclaimed, shaking her head.
Simeon merely shrugged his shoulders, unable to give a clear answer due to his coughing. But the truth was, it wasn't just a cold - he was dying. The vaccine he had received from El Dorado, which was meant to eliminate his powers and extend his lifespan from a mere 20 years to a normal length, had failed to work. As a result, he still retained his powers, which he struggled to keep hidden from others. And he was fearful of revealing his impending death, knowing it would cause those closest to him great pain. So he remained silent, preferring to bear the burden alone.
Meilin approached Simeon's bed, her expression one of concern. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.
Simeon shook his head. "You can't tell anyone, but...I won't be here much longer," he whispered to her.
"Mei-Mei, don't listen to Uncle Simeon - he's just exaggerating," Giris said, entering the room with a cup of tea for Simeon. Simeon and Meilin jumped at his sudden appearance. "Please keep your distance from Simeon until he's better. I don't want you to catch his cold." Placing the tea on Simeon's nightstand, he turned to Meilin. "Can you quickly grab some sugar cubes from the kitchen?"
Meilin nodded and left the room. Giris turned to Simeon, his expression now one of anger. "Why would you tell her something like that?" he demanded.
Simeon sighed heavily. "Just leave me alone. You wouldn't understand," he replied, his voice barely audible.
Giris placed a gentle hand on Simeon's head. "Maybe," he said softly. "Just drink your tea and rest. You'll feel better soon." As he left the room, he couldn't help but ponder the strange illness that had befallen his friend. Something just didn't seem right, but he pushed the thought aside and continued on his way.
After several days, Simeon's condition did not improve. In fact, it was getting worse. He had a high fever and was so weak he couldn't speak properly anymore.
"Simeon, we need to call a doctor. This can't go on like this!" said Mehr. Simeon didn't say anything. "I'm really worried." Simeon gave a slight smile. Mehr smiled back, but then Simeon started coughing, coughing up blood. "GIRIS, CALL AN AMBULANCE!" Mehr yelled in horror.
"What's happening to Simeon now?" Giris asked as he saw the blood stains around Simeon. He rushed to the phone, but it wasn't enough. Everything around Simeon began to shake and had a purple glow. This purple glow is the hallmark of the powers of people who carry the Second Stage gene.
Mehr began to cry. It was fortunate that Meilin was at kindergarten; otherwise, it would have been even worse. "Simeon, what's wrong with you?" she asked tearfully.
"In my nightstand..." But then the doorbell rang.
"Hang on," Mehr commanded as she ran to the door to let the doctor in.
"Is he vaccinated?" the doctor asked immediately.
"Yes, but it's been a while, about 7 years," explained Giris. "Why? Do we need to renew the vaccination?"
"No, you don't. But the symptoms you're describing are also the symptoms of death in Second Stage," the doctor said, shocking Mehr and Giris.
The doctor went to Simeon's room. Once again, all the objects around him began to move and glow purple.
"Definitely. Mr. Ayp, were you vaccinated back then?" the doctor asked.
Simeon couldn't speak. He weakly pointed to his nightstand.
"Should we open the nightstand?" the doctor asked. Simeon nodded weakly. Inside the nightstand, there were three envelopes, each one labeled for Mehr and Giris, Meilin, and Fei. "Would you like me to open one of these letters, Mr. Ayp?" Simeon didn't answer. The doctor handed the envelopes to Mehr and then went to Simeon's bed. He placed his hand on Simeon's forehead. "It's all right," he said calmly.
Simeon looked at the doctor emotionlessly. He weakly grabbed the doctor's arm.
"I..." Simeon gasped heavily. He put his arm back on the bed. "Do you know..." But he couldn't say anything else. The white glow that once shone so brightly in his eyes faded away.
The doctor looked at Simeon for a moment, then at his watch, and wrote something in his notes. He turned sadly to Mehr and Giris, both of whom began to cry.
"My condolences. I suggest you look at the envelope addressed to you." The doctor got the hearse and said goodbye. Mehr and Giris opened the envelope. It was a letter from Simeon.
-
Dear Mehr and Giris,
As you read this, I am no longer with you. Yes, I have passed away.
I understand that you are likely filled with numerous questions, and that is understandable. I want to address them as best I can and bid you farewell.
When I received my vaccine, it was discovered that I was allergic to it, rendering it ineffective for me. At most, it could have slightly prolonged my life while weakening my strength. Whether the vaccine had any effect on me at all remains a mystery.
I tried to keep my symptoms suppressed to prevent any of you from becoming concerned, but why did I not reveal this to you? The answer is that I could not bear to see you suffer, so I kept it to myself. While my passing may have come as a shock to you, it is better for me, although I realize it may seem like an act of cowardice. If you feel angry with me, I understand. But please know that I love you all deeply. You were my support system during the darkest times of my life, and you brought light to my existence. Even though I may not have expressed my feelings to you enough, you understood me like nobody else did.
Therefore, I want to say goodbye to you in the best way possible. I love you. I wish you all the best, and I hope you remain together forever and continue to be loving parents to Mei-Mei.
Furthermore, I have a request: Please pass on the other letter to Meilin when she is of age. The 3rd to Fei can be sent via mail, and you can find his address on the envelope.
Regarding my belongings and such, it is up to you to decide what to do with them. You could donate or sell them, though I understand that they may not hold much value. The decision is yours.
P.S.: There is something inside that I found in your attic that may bring you some joy.
Warm regards,
Simeon Ayp
-
Neither Mehr nor Giris knew what to say in the wake of Simeon's passing. They clung to each other, tears streaming down their faces as they grieved. After a time, Mehr extricated herself from Giris's embrace and retrieved a gift from the envelope addressed to Simeon. It was a photo of the three of them, taken just a few days prior to the Ragnarok tournament. All three of them looked happy and carefree.
A week had passed since Simeon's death, and the house felt different without him. The television sat dark and silent, a stark contrast to Simeon's usual presence on the couch, where he'd critique the people on screen. There were no leftovers from the snack bar where he worked, no smells of his cooking wafting through the air. It was just quiet. Mehr, Giris, and Meilin sat in somber silence, struggling to come to terms with the loss of their friend and family member.
"I don't want to forget Simeon," Meilin choked out suddenly, tears streaming down her face. "I'm scared that we'll forget him."
Mehr quickly went to her daughter, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. "We'll never forget him," she said softly. "He'll always be in our hearts."
As cheesy as it sounded, Mehr knew it was true. They would never forget Simeon, and his memory would continue to live on through them. She pulled away from Meilin and looked into her daughter's eyes, trying to convey her love and support.
"It's okay to grieve," Mehr continued, her voice gentle. "We can take all the time we need. Would you like to go somewhere? Maybe the park?"
Meilin nodded without hesitation. "Yes, let's go to the park."
As they prepared to leave, Giris grabbed an envelope from Simeon's room. "We could still deliver this letter to Fei," he suggested.
"What's in it?" Mehr asked.
"I don't know," Giris replied. "But I think it's best if we leave it as a secret between Simeon and Fei."
-
A year had passed since Simeon's death, and Fei found himself standing in the rain at Simeon's grave. It was adorned with a small statue, and there were candles and flowers placed there by former members of Feida.
Fei took a deep breath, his heart heavy with regret. "I was so cruel to you," he said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I never apologized for how I treated you. We could have gone out for drinks or something." He read the inscription on the grave marker, his eyes filling with tears.
Rest in Peace
Simeon Ayp
December 31st, May 4th
Fei knew it was too late for apologies now, but he hoped that wherever Simeon was, he knew how deeply he was missed. It was the first and last time Fei would visit Simeon's grave.
~The End~