Chapter 288: Symptoms (2)
That strange dread and pain that ca every ti I spent money. It had… returned.
I imdiately canceled the item I had just paid for on the website. Then,
“Phew……”
Little by little, my breathing eased, and the pressure in my chest subsided. Just a mont ago, it felt like sothing was squeezing my throat, narrowing my airway, but the mont I pressed the “Cancel Paynt” button, that suffocating pressure lted away like a lie.
‘So it really is…… this symptom.’
The sa one I had suffered from in my past life—“spending money brings on anxiety.” Back then, though, all it took was a refund and the symptoms would vanish completely.
But now, a heavy discomfort still lingered around my heart. It was like thick, black sludge clinging to the walls of my blood vessels, blocking the flow. Like so kind of toxin slowly creeping into my lungs.
‘That can’t be right, can it?’
Only then did I realize—there was still one purchase I hadn’t canceled.
‘David’s wedding gift.’
I quickly canceled that one as well, and the residual discomfort drained away like the tide receding. Along with it, every bit of anxiety and pressure disappeared as if it had never existed.
‘The symptoms are the sa. The mont I stop spending money, I’m perfectly fine again.’
It was a relief to confirm that much, but soon my brow furrowed.
‘Then, what about the hotel……??’
As soon as I arrived in Philadelphia, the first thing I needed was a place to stay. The problem was, the Presidential Suite at the five-star hotel I usually stayed at cost over $17,000 per night. And according to my past life’s mories, the bigger the expense, the worse the symptoms beca.
If it was just a small amount, it would end with a brief wave of discomfort. But once it crossed ten thousand dollars, it felt like the shadow of death itself lood over . And of all things, this room was seventeen thousand.
So, I had no choice but to make this unusual request at check-in.
“Not the Presidential Suite today, please. I’d like the Corner Suite instead.”
“Yes? Is sothing the matter…?”
The manager’s face flickered between confusion and disappointnt. After all, this was a custor who always demanded the highest-grade Presidential Suite suddenly requesting a much lower-tier room.
“The air circulation in that suite isn’t great for the space. It feels a bit dry.”
Well, it wasn’t a complete lie. That was one of the very few downsides I’d actually noticed. Anyway.
The mont I took the key to the much humbler room and stepped inside—
“…Phew.”
A sigh slipped out. It was so small. Just a bed and a little sofa in the whole space. It felt like stepping into a matchbox. The walk-in closet, the sitting room—None of those existed here.
‘So much money, and I can’t even spend it.’
I told myself I could endure for a night, but the claustrophobia only grew heavier. I tried to cheer myself up by looking for the bar, as I usually did, but of course, it didn’t exist. Instead of the full-sized oak bar neatly stocked with bottles, all I found was a lonely minibar sitting in the corner.
From that shelf-like minibar, I quietly poured myself a glass of whiskey and thought about what had just happened.
‘There are two possibilities.’
The first, and most likely theory—This symptom was tied to the special fortune I had been given. Before I died, I had interpreted it this way: The opportunity and abilities granted to weren’t just a gift to make rich—they were a mission, a command to cure this “illness.”
So every ti I spent money, this symptom appeared as a warning: “That’s not what this money is for.”
Of course, scientifically speaking, that made no sense. But then again, neither did reincarnation. And I was living proof of that miracle. It would be ridiculous for to start insisting on science now.
Still—
There was another possibility. That all of this was nothing more than my delusion. Not that I was hallucinating symptoms out of thin air. More likely, the physical reactions I felt were the sa early symptoms any Castleman’s patient might experience. In that case, the delusion lay in linking those symptoms to “money” in my own mind.
‘So which is the truth?’
Honestly, I hoped it was the delusion. Because if this really was a warning from my power—That would an everything I had built until now was aningless. The funds, the wealth, the reputation, even advancing AI technology—All of it, and yet I couldn’t afford the luxury of spending on sothing so trivial.
Anyway. The best conclusion for now would be if these were just the ordinary early symptoms of any Castleman’s patient. The way to confirm it was simple. Just ask soone else who suffered from the sa disease.
Fortunately, there was soone like that close to . David. I picked up my phone to call him—
‘Ah.’
It was two in the morning. Even for , asking the groom-to-be about “early symptoms of onset” on the morning of his wedding day felt wildly inappropriate. I set my phone down.
‘I’ll just ask him tomorrow in person.’
#
The next morning.
I almost called for my usual sedan service, but in the end, I had to cancel. The mont I booked the ride, the card I had on file was automatically charged… And at the sa ti, my heart started pounding like crazy.
‘Another episode.’
I quickly canceled and took a taxi instead, since it was cheaper, and eventually my pulse settled down. But my mood did not improve. Unlike sedans, which were always spotless and carefully tidied up for each client, taxis were—
‘Ugh.’
Seats that hadn’t been wiped in who knows how long, fingerprints everywhere. Just sitting there made feel like my entire body was being contaminated. So I sat stiff-backed, making sure not to let my body touch the seat, and endured the twenty-minute ride.
Finally, I arrived at the venue.
‘So many people…?’
My plan was to ask David about the early signs before a Castleman’s episode when the guest count was still low. That was why I ca early. And yet, the place was already packed to the brim.
“Sean! You’re here!”
“Hey, can I talk to you for a—”
“There you are, David! Hah, I can’t believe you’re actually getting married!”
“Oh, you ca too! Just a second, Sean—”
I managed to find David, but there wasn’t even a sliver of a chance to say a word to him. If things stayed like this, there’d be no way to speak to him one-on-one until the ceremony was over.
I was just starting to think of ways to pull him aside when—
“Sean! It’s been a while.”
A familiar voice made turn, and I saw a familiar face. What was his na again…?
“Joel. You really helped us a lot with Alia back then.”
That’s right. Alia’s husband, Joel. Without realizing it, my face brightened with relief.
“It’s been a long ti. I was actually wondering how you were doing.”
Not that I really was—but I was genuinely glad to see him. Because if anyone knew Alia’s early symptoms, it would be him.
“I’ve actually been looking into the early signs patients show before an attack. So cases ntion feelings of anxiety even before the episode starts. Did Alia ever complain about anything like that?”
But Joel’s answer was firm.
“No. She never even coughed, and she never had anything like depression either.”
“What about sensations like organs twisting, or feeling like her blood was draining out?”
“Never.”
He answered with conviction, but then his expression suddenly softened into sorrow.
“But… who knows. Maybe she just didn’t show it in front of . She always wanted to look strong.”
In the end, only the patient themselves could give a definitive answer about such symptoms.
‘So I’ll have to speak directly with a patient.’
With that thought, I began walking around the venue, looking for one. David had been running the foundation for quite a while now. Surely among the close friends invited, there had to be Castleman’s patients as well.
But the problem was…
“He’s a friend from d school!”
“We’ve been mountain biking together since middle school.”
“I lost my wallet in a café years ago, and David helped . We’ve kept in touch since then.”
…David’s network was absurdly wide.
‘Seriously…’
It felt like even distant relatives and childhood neighbors were all cramd into the wedding hall. And to make matters worse—
“Sean! I’m a fan!”
“It’s an honor to et Arica’s national treasure in person! Could I take a picture with you?”
Everyone who recognized had so kind of request, and it was exhausting already.
“How about a shot with Sean in the middle doing the Rumble pose?”
“Yeah! Great idea!”
So there I was, practically surrounded like the center of a college football team—
“Sean?”
The one who saved was none other than Rachel. One of Jessie’s bridesmaids, she stood there in a sky-blue dress, looking beautiful beyond words. Everyone stared, stunned, as she spoke softly to .
“Can we talk for a mont…?”
Rachel pulled out of the circle and whispered.
“I’ve been wanting to say hi, but you looked too busy… Normally, you’d hide off in so quiet corner and only appear when the ceremony began, but today you’ve been mingling with everyone instead.”
She was right. Normally, there’s no way I’d wander into the crowd like this. There was only one reason I was doing it now.
“I was hoping there might be Castleman’s patients here.”
“…Ah!”
Rachel’s eyes widened, then she nodded.
“Of course. You’re always so busy, Sean, so it’s hard for you to et patients face-to-face. But, well… I’m afraid none of them ca today.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Today’s guests are all from around Philadelphia, but most of the patients live far away… They usually only visit when it’s ti for treatnt.”
Rachel looked apologetic, but to , that was useful information. Now I knew for sure there weren’t any patients here. So all I had to do was find sowhere to stay out of sight until the ceremony started.
I spent the remaining ti on the terrace, and when the music began, I returned to the hall.
[Do you both swear to love and respect each other, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in every circumstance, for the rest of your lives?]
[Yes.]
[I do.]
And yet, I couldn’t help but feel sothing strange. Watching two of the few people I saw regularly step into such a life-defining mont left with a mix of wonder and awe.
‘They’re really getting married.’
To marry soone who might die at any mont. After the officiant’s words, the vows began. David spoke first, his voice trembling as if he were about to cry.
[Honestly… there were tis I doubted I could ever get married. I just couldn’t find the courage… But thank you for half-forcing into this. For telling I deserve an ordinary kind of happiness too…]
He was referring to the story of their proposal. Marrying a patient is never easy. At one point, David had been ready to give up on marriage, not wanting to burden anyone else with his illness. But Jessie had co to him first while he was hooked up to an oxygen machine, unable to even speak properly, and proposed to him.
She declared she would take his silence as acceptance, practically forcing the marriage forward.
[My happiness is my choice. I’d rather live a short and full life with you than a long and empty one without you. Let’s be happy together.]
Their vows were unusual. They carried the resolve to embrace a love that might have an end.
‘Though it won’t end so soon.’
In the future I knew, David was still alive ten years later. Even so, Jessie’s decision to marry him, not knowing that fact, was admirable in its own right—even if she and I were never ant to get along.
Anyway, once the ceremony ended, the bride and groom ca over to .
“Sean! Thank you for coming despite being so busy! I never imagined you’d actually attend in person!”
Unlike David, who had already greeted , Jessie seed genuinely surprised by my presence. But looking at her reminded of what Rachel had said yesterday.
“Did you rember to bring a wedding gift?”
Given Jessie’s personality, I was sure she would casually slip in sothing like, “By the way, what about our gift?” during the conversation.
…But she didn’t. Since I had canceled the paynt, the gift had effectively vanished. So before Jessie could bring it up, I smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere.
“By the way, where are you two going for your honeymoon?”
“Honeymoon?”
Jessie tilted her head at my question, and Rachel nudged lightly in the side.
“They can’t go. There are patients to look after… If they let their guard down and left, sothing like what happened with Milo could happen again…”
Right. Milo’s death had happened precisely because we had all stepped away for a mont. After going through that, leaving for a long trip was unthinkable.
“I told them I’d cover for a few days so they could go, but…”
“But I can’t handle everything alone for several days. Rember our rule? We take shifts. But more than that, Sean, I’m kind of hurt. I’ve told you several tis they can’t go on a honeymoon, and you already forgot?”
I smiled gently.
“I didn’t forget. I’m saying they should go. Rachel and I will fill in for you.”
“What?”
“That’s my wedding gift.”
It was an idea that had slipped out, but not a bad one. After all, I needed to talk to patients about their early symptoms anyway. This way, I had the perfect excuse to et them, and at the sa ti, I could give a aningful gift without spending a di.
‘Though whether this really counts as a gift is questionable…’
To my surprise, Jessie’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Really? If you’d do that… that’s the greatest gift of all! Honestly, a honeymoon only happens once in a lifeti, and I’ve always wanted to go…”
“Yes, that’s exactly why I suggested it.”
“Hahaha! Thank you… truly.”
Jessie wiped her tears with the back of her hand and laughed.
“Looks like I lost the bet.”
“A bet?”
“I made a bet with Rachel. I said Sean would definitely prepare so strange kind of gift. Probably sothing insanely expensive but completely useless for us—or worse, sothing that would only increase our upkeep costs. Like a luxury sports car or a yacht.”
I couldn’t help but flinch for a mont. After all, the cryonics chamber I had actually prepared was exactly that—sothing with maintenance and fuel costs that far exceeded the price of the device itself.
Anyway. In the end, this turned out to be a far better gift—for David and Jessie, and for .
“Take a whole week. Go at your own pace. I’ll adjust my schedule and stay in Philadelphia.”
As I said it, the thought of hotel bills crossed my mind. If I stayed for a week, the cost would be significant. And with that expense would co the “symptoms.” But the idea of enduring another week in a cramped, matchbox-sized room under ten thousand dollars wasn’t appealing either.
So I carefully added,
“In that case, would it be alright if I stayed at your house during that ti?”
“What!”
Jessie covered her mouth with both hands, genuinely shocked.
“You know, I always wondered why you insisted on hotels when I told you to stay in our guest room. I thought maybe you were keeping your distance on purpose, or maybe you were just so used to hotels that our house felt uncomfortable…”
She had hit the nail on the head. But I answered with a smile.
“Of course not. I just didn’t want to trouble you.”
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