Just as they had agreed, the researchers brought the drug three days later.
Ayan took one dose when they brought it.
The director and Alan looked at her after she used the drug.
Then they asked Ayan how she was feeling and if she was still in pain.
Hearing that the ache was no longer there, Alan broke into a bright smile as he hugged his sister, while the director had tears in her eyes.
Alan eagerly went to give his blood, and he was also given a can of the drug that he was to use every night from then on.
Days passed, and Ayan’s body gradually became healthier.
She began to play with the other kids, and she had even started going to school.
Alan was happy seeing all this, even though he had noticed that a faint smell of decay was coming from his body.
But he told no one, not even Director Mum.
He felt it was worth it for his sister’s health.
To hide the smell, he would spray a huge amount of perfume on himself after bathing, lying to everyone that he really liked the fragrance of the cheap perfume.
And because of the presence of the researchers, there was an abundance of food at the orphanage.
Before, they could only have breakfast and dinner, but now all three meals were available.
But happy times do not always last.
One day, while Ayan was playing with the children, she suddenly spat out blood and fainted.
Alan was doing his homework when Director Mum and the other staff brought in his sister.
He quickly left his book and rushed to her bedside as he called out her name.
The researchers also came in to check on her with a doctor who was among them.
The doctor said her body was already used to the drug and that it no longer had any effect on her disease.
Still, they placed her on a drip and promised to find a solution.
Just as they promised, they immediately began researching other drugs.
Three days later, they gave Ayan another drug.
Immediately after she used it, she curled up in pain, and it turned out that her body was rejecting the drug.
Seeing his sister in pain, Alan urged them to make another drug.
Director Mum disagreed with this, but Alan, feeling desperate for his sister to get a cure, agreed despite her protest.
Because of Ayan, they went ahead and built a basement at the back of the orphanage, and they began full research for the drug.
And finally, they made another one.
This time, after using it, Ayan was well again.
Only for one week to pass before she fainted again while eating.
Before doing anything, the researchers told Alan that for them to completely treat his sister, the number of vials of blood would have to increase even more.
They said that he would be placed in a sterile room they would provide for him, while his sister would also be placed in a bed in their laboratory.
Director Mum disagreed immediately, even telling them that they had overstayed at the orphanage and insisting that they leave at that moment.
After all, Alan was just a child.
Though he was more mature compared to children his age, he could not understand why the director was trying to chase away the people who could cure his sister.
But he was told to excuse the adults as they spoke, so he left, still wondering why.
Only after dinner was he told that he, alongside his sister, would move to the basement that night.
Returning to his room, he noticed his sister was no longer there, meaning she had been moved to the basement.
He just took his stuff and headed out.
He was passing by the director’s office when he heard her say to someone, “These people are people we cannot afford to offend.
They have wealth and power…”
Hazel, hearing this, wanted to hear more, but Alan had walked away.
Before entering the basement, the director came to see Alan.
She gently held his hand.
“Be safe, and if you feel anything is wrong with you, tell the cleaner.
Director Mum would come to see you immediately.”
Alan nodded as he was pulled into a hug.
Entering the basement, he was directed into a glass-walled room where a bed had been prepared.
That night, he was not able to sleep, rolling over several times and thinking of his sister, his body, and even Director Mum.
The thin tube was connected to a machine, and the researchers in white coats clicked a button, and his blood was drawn.
Several days passed.
Since there was no clock or indication of time, Alan could not tell how many days he had spent in the lab.
Blood was drawn from him repeatedly.
He had asked about his sister’s condition several times, only to be met with the response, “She is alive.”
One day, when the researchers went to lunch and the glass room door was opened, he went to search for his sister.
He avoided the place where he heard people’s voices, opening several rooms before seeing a standalone door, which he opened to find Ayan looking pale and sitting up.
“Br…other,” she called out weakly.
He rushed towards her.
“Ayan, how are you?
Why do you sound so weak?”
“Brother, Ayan hurts.
Everywhere hurts.”
Hearing this, Alan did not know what to do.
He grabbed her hands as he assured her, “They will soon make a drug for you.
You will be healthy again, and everything will be fine.”
The door to the room opened, and the old researcher came in, telling Alan to return to his room.
On his way there, Alan asked, “Would you be able to cure my sister?”
The older man stopped, then bent down on one knee and looked straight into Alan’s eyes.
“We are trying to find a cure.
You see those machines in her room?
They are what is currently sustaining her life.
So, little boy, obediently stay in your room and give blood, or else we can switch off the machine.
And do you know what happens if we do that?
Your sister dies.”