Chapter 142: Two Fools
"I told you, Elliott's a snake, nothing good about him, full of deceit."
"You never believed me. I always warned you to keep Gretchen away from him. You stopped me, talking about male best friends. There's no such thing as a male best friend without ulterior motives. He stole Gretchen from you, didn't he?" Frank said, sipping his drink.
They were talking about Gretchen and Elliott, both friends from their youth.
Walter used to hang out with them, forming a trio of brilliant minds, much like the trio in Harry Potter.
In fact, their roles were similar to those in Harry Potter.
Walter was akin to Harry, but even more charismatic and talented, often solving critical problems within their group.
Though Walter now seemed aged and worn, like an average guy, in his youth, he was strikingly handsome with defined features—enough to be a magazine model. Young Walter's looks were mirrored in his son, showing how handsome he once was.
Gretchen was like Hermione, incredibly studious and sharp, a perfect match for Walter. Together, they were unstoppable.
Elliott was like Ron, the comedic sidekick. He was smart but not as gifted as Walter and Gretchen, always a step behind.
He played the role of Gretchen's male best friend, harmless and meek, often seeming like a victim.
Frank didn't know Gretchen and Elliott personally, as they weren't in the same circle, but he was Walter's roommate.
Through Walter, Frank met the other two, but he never warmed to Elliott. From day one, Frank disliked him, often bullying him.
Whenever Frank picked on Elliott, Gretchen would protect him, and Walter would urge Frank to be nicer to Elliott.
Before graduation, Frank met Monica, which led him down a path of self-destruction, dropping out and losing touch with the trio.
Walter, Gretchen, and Elliott stayed close, even during their postgraduate studies. Walter's Nobel Prize research involved all three, with him leading the team.
Talking about Gretchen and Elliott now, Walter seemed complicated and didn't say much, just downing his drink.
Clearly, over the years, the trio's dynamics had changed in ways Frank didn't know, leaving Walter at a loss for words.
Frank's criticisms of Elliott no longer stirred Walter to defend his old friend; he just silently drank, listening.
The two drank and talked late into the night.
After leaving the bar, they didn't part ways but instead sat on the curb, gazing at the dimly lit street, letting the cold wind sober them up.
"Frank, do you know why I started making drugs?" Walter suddenly asked after a long silence.
"Why?" Frank turned to Walter.
"Because I'm dying," Walter said.
"What?!" Frank was taken aback.
"I... cough, cough!" Walter's words were cut off by a violent cough.
"You should take some cough medicine," Frank said, noticing Walter often coughed mid-sentence.
"Cough medicine won't help. I have cancer, lung cancer, and I can't have surgery, only chemotherapy to live a bit longer. So, Frank, I'm dying," Walter admitted.
"Lung cancer," Frank's eyes changed.
"If I die, what about my family—my wife, my son, and my unborn daughter? I need money, a lot of it, to leave them secure before I go.
Money to support my family, for my wife's comfort, and my kids' college tuition—all of it needs money.
I saw on TV how much money you can make dealing drugs, cash piled up in boxes from drug busts.
That's why I started making drugs, to earn money for my family. But things didn't go as planned—nothing's ever simple," Walter said with a bitter smile.
It was clear these thoughts had weighed on Walter for a long time.
He hadn't told anyone about his cancer, not even his wife or son, which explained their normal behavior—Walter kept his illness a secret.
Drinking with Frank, under the pressure of recent events, Walter finally let out his pent-up feelings.
"Am I ridiculous, Frank?" Walter asked.
"Not at all. I understand completely," Frank replied sincerely.
"No, you wouldn't understand," Walter shook his head.
"I'm dying too," Frank confessed before Walter could continue.
"What?" Walter was stunned, mirroring Frank's earlier surprise at Walter's confession.
"I have cancer too, testicular cancer, diagnosed six months ago," Frank said.
"Hahaha!" Walter suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!" Frank joined in.
The two men, both over fifty, sat on the curb, laughing like fools until tears streamed down their faces.
Walter and Frank were similar—responsible, proud, and both fathers.
Frank, learning of his cancer, kept it from his family, focusing on earning money and spending time with his kids, resolving their issues.
Walter did the same after his diagnosis, hiding it from his family and seeking money.
Both had their pride, never seeking help, choosing to bear their burdens alone.
They understood that cancer treatment was costly with uncertain outcomes, potentially wasting money and causing family worry.
Instead of clinging to life, they chose to risk everything, to leave something behind for their loved ones, to shine one last time.
(End of Chapter)