Love at the Door

Melina picked up a pastry and thoroughly relished how delicious it was.

Seeing this, Dante asked, “Do you want another one?”

Melina nodded sheepishly.

Dante had a strange expression as he set the plate of pastries right next to Melina. She ended up eating a few more pastries, filling up her belly so that it wouldn’t make any more noise. Once that was done, she felt too embarrassed to continue eating.

Feeling in good spirits, she said, “Thanks for the pastries. They’re delicious. Let’s carry on with the class. I’ll make up for the time I used to eat. After all, I’m getting paid to teach, and I want to make sure I honor my end of the deal.”

Dante abruptly asked, “Ms. Crawford, what do you think is the point of me learning all of these things?”

Pausing, Melina lifted her eyes off the book and looked at Dante, who met her gaze.

“Ms. Crawford, not only am I an albino with impaired vision but my immune system is also compromised. I have all sorts of health complications. I have irreversible fibrosis in my lungs. I’ve suffered from countless infections that have led to myocarditis and frequent bouts of arrhythmias.

“Maybe someday, at some point, I’ll go into cardiac arrest and die. I’ll die within a few years, Ms. Crawford, so what’s the point in learning all of these things?”

Melina’s eyes widened as she stared at Dante. Unfamiliar with albinism, she thought it only meant that he was paler than usual. She didn’t expect him to suffer some such serious health concerns.

Could it be that this angelic–looking child in front of her didn’t have more than a few years left to live?

She got the feeling that he was being serious with his question, so she dared not give a flippant response. After a long silence, she finally said solemnly, “Knowledge can stimulate one’s mind, broaden one’s horizons, and enrich one’s life.”

“But I’m sick. No matter how much I learn, I’m going to die soon.”

“I don’t know how to answer your question. But when my teacher was severely ill, he used the money for his treatment to sponsor a few orphans, allowing them to go to school.

“When I asked him about it, he said that it would’ve been great if he could build NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

enough schools so that all the children in the world could have access to education. Since he couldn’t achieve such an ambitious goal, he wanted to do everything within his means, including offering up everything he had.”

Dante continued, “Does this mean you want me to use the rest of my life to help others too, Ms. Crawford?”

Shaking her head, Melina replied, “No, what I want to say is that it doesn’t matter how long you have left to live. As long as you’re alive, you should do what feels

meaningful to you.”

“But… I can’t find anything meaningful to me.”

“Well, read some books then. There are all kinds of things written in books. Maybe once you read more, you’ll find something that’s meaningful to you.”

“Really?”

“Really!” Melina replied with an emphatic nod. “When I come over tomorrow, I’ll bring you some of my favorite books.”

Dante eyed Melina with a piercing gaze, almost as if he could see right through her soul. After a while, he chuckled. “Okay.”

He had a genuine smile on his face, as though he’d hidden the stubborn, darker side

of him.

As Melina looked at him, she felt a little wistful. It seemed like all things of beauty couldn’t last for long, even this angelic–looking boy in front of her.

She carried on with her lesson, but it was no longer as formal as it used to be as the two chatted from time to time as well. She came to realize that despite seeming like a loner, he had a lot to say.

Dante wasn’t a chatterbox, but he didn’t have many people he could talk to. It felt like Melina had barged into his cage one day and treated him like a normal person.

The tutoring session was only meant to last two hours, but Melina stayed for two and a half. She only got up to leave when she started feeling hungry again.

Dante got to his feet as well and asked, “Are you coming over tomorrow, Ms.

Crawford?

Nodding, Melina replied, “Of course. I even signed the contract. As long as you still want me to teach you, I’ll come over.”

The tutoring job paid a high salary, so even if Dante was still as stubborn and rebellious as he had been the first day, she would’ve kept the job anyway, let alone

now when his attitude had changed.

Dante watched as Melina left. All of a sudden, he found meaning in studying. At the very least, it meant that Melina would come over.

Chantec