It was afternoon and the sun was beautiful.
Where are we going now? i said
You go. I have a date.
With a woman?
Yes.
A set date?
Yes.
Damn it, you go on set dates?
Do you think I don't want to get married?
No, that's not what I meant. It's just...
Just what?
Never mind. Don't you work?
What?
I don't usually see you working.
What do I think?
I don't know, but I think you're supposed to be busy right now.
No, I'm not busy.
How?
I run everything hierarchically.
What do you mean?
Filtering... I follow a filtering system.
Speak clearly.
Each of my companies operates independently, and each company has a manager, and each manager has a department head.
Oh?
All the managers are my subordinates, and at the end of each month, I receive one report for each company. There are audit specialists and accountants under my supervision, and after reviewing, I give the final approval.
Isn't there a lot of corruption if things are left like this?
Huh? No.
Well, you know best. So my job is to deliver this report and stay by your side.
No, you'll be the president of the telecommunications company and my secretary.
President of the company?
Yes. You'll be the acting president.
Huh? You were saying I'd be your secretary.
You have to start with that first.
But I don't want to be the president.
No. You have to be the president.
Why? Aren't you the president of the company?
I want to stay away from all the companies until I manage the group.
But why me, and why now?
You'll find out later.
I looked at him suspiciously, and he knew I sensed something was wrong.
Then I'm going somewhere, I told him.
Go.
I wasn't asking for your permission.
I didn't say anything.
I left him and walked a little way around the company.
Then I went to the hospital, feeling exhausted.
I entered the oncology ward, in the chemotherapy room.
I saw my mother's tired face after her treatment.
I've arrived. I told her:
Finally.
The road was crowded. Did the doctor say anything?
No. I'll see him and come back quickly.
I left her and went to the doctor to see how her treatment was progressing.
But, like any awful doctor, he said, "You know how serious her illness is, and you need to prepare yourself mentally," and other such respectable nonsense.
I left and went to my mom.
What did he say?
"You have mild anemia as a result of the treatment, so you're having trouble eating."
Oh. Did I tell him I'm having trouble sleeping?
Yes, and he prescribed some painkillers.
Good.
Mom, do you remember the little boy I told you about in middle school?
Who?
The boy who went into the bar and you told the teacher about him?
I don't remember... and she tried to remember.
Oh... don't worry, it's not important...
It's not important.