The van arrives at the hospital where George is being taken care of. Al goes ahead with Mark and Sam trailing behind. A nurse leads them to the ICU and when they’re at the threshold, the nurse only allows those who are related.

  “Mark here is his son,” says Al. “Maybe you can let him see his dad.”

  The nurse nods and lets Mark in.

  “Your dad is in critical condition,” says the nurse. “The doctor will come here shortly.”

  The nurse takes hold of his shoulder and says, “It will be rough but hold on, let’s hope for the best.”

  The nurse leaves and Mark stares at the unconscious father he always looked up to as the toughest and strongest in the family. But now he’s helpless, connected to numerous tubes and needles.

  Mark steps closer to get a better look at his father and sees a swollen face that once was beaming with hope and joy. Mark grabs hold of the railing by the side of the bed and numbingly stares at him.

  “Why, God?” says Mark. “Why do you have to also take him from me? Why does this have to happen? You have taken… everything from me.”

  ‘He has taken everything from me,’ Mark thinks. ‘I guess it’s like Job. Why can’t we accept the bad along the good that he gives into our lives?’

  “God… whatever your plan is… please let my dad live.”

  Mark’s tears start to trickle down.

  “Please… let him live, God. I don’t… wanna lose him, God...”

  Mark bawls his eyes out and slumps almost to the floor while clutching the railings.

  “God, please! Please, God! GO-OOD!”

  Just as he is about to say another word, a tap on the shoulder straightens him up. Mark wipes his snot and tears as he gazes at the person concerned.

  “Hello, sir,” says the man, “I’m doctor Velazquez. Your father is in a critical condition—"

  Dr. Velazquez gives him a brief overview of the medical condition and the possible remedies they can administer.

  “But our best shot in saving your dad is—”

  He gives Mark the only way to maximize the chances of his father’s survival.

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  “That would be the only way.”

  “I…” Mark hesitates. “I don’t have enough money. My dad squandered most of it away and I’m still a student.”

  “I know,” says the doctor.

  Mark jolts and says, “What do you mean you know?

  “Mr. Macapobre already pledges to help you with the expenses, I only wanted to ask for your permission to transfer him to the hospital that is best suited to this kind of operation.”

  “You mean… Al? He would pay for it?”

  “Yes, The Sniper himself.”

  “I… I want to do everything to save my dad. So yes, do everything so that he may live.”

  Mark rides in the ambulance where his father is, lying… unconscious.

  Mark is holding his hand and says, “Please, dad. Please… be alright.”

  Another batch of tears come streaming down his face.

  The ambulance arrives at the Chong Hua Hospital. They rush George into the hospital with Mark trailing. Al and Sam also trail behind until George gets into the Operating Room.

  Mark meets them with a look of despair. Sam again hugs him.

  “It will be fine, Mark,” says Sam. “He’ll pull through this. We just have to have faith in God.”

  Mark is numb, unable to get the tears out anymore.

  “I don’t even know if I would live to see what will happen, Sam.”

  Sam pulls back and says, “Don’t say that, Mark.”

  Mark’s eyes meet hers with his mouth mum.

  “I… want you to be here. I don’t want you to go. Please don’t do anything rash and reckless. This too shall pass, you hear me?”

  Mark’s eyes show a spark of hope to Sam's soul. Until a chuckle gets out of him and nods.

  “Ok, Madamme. As you please. I will stay here, right now.”

  Sam smiles gently at him and says, “Whatever happens, God loves you. And he loves your father too. He will make everything right.”

  Minutes and then hours pass by while Mark, Sam, Al, and Roger wait in the lobby.

  “Sniper… why did you come here? I mean the season is not yet over in the BLP (Basketball League of the Philippines).”

  “I wasn’t suppose to be here, Splash. But, I have to since ya’ll won the championship. I wanted to congratulate you personally at the celebration at your house but the jet lag got the better of me. So, I have the opportunity now to say to you that… Congratulations on your championship, young blood. You earned it. And with my signature shooting move too.”

  Mark laughs gently.

  “Thank you, Sniper. I wouldn’t be as unstoppable on the court if it weren’t for you. So, thank you.”

  Al smiles saying, “Don’t owe to me much. You owe Cesar too for teaching you and Justin how to play ball.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right, Sniper. He done me a great good, sir.”

  “He’s a good kid,” says Roger. “You owe him much, you better not return good with evil but return good with good.”

  “Will do, sir,” Mark replies.

  They chatter through the night until a doctor comes to them. Al stands and walks towards him and the two of them talk. They finally go over to Mark to give him the news.

  “What is it, doc?” says Mark.

  “I’ve got good news and bad news,” says the doctor. “Well, the bad news still is a good news. It depends on how you look at it. The good news is that your father is stable, he has good vital signs. It’s a miracle he survived the crash.”

  ‘A miracle’, Mark thinks.

  “What’s the bad news, doc?” Mark says.

  “The bad news is that he’s in a coma. Like I said, depending on how you look at it, it’s as good as a good news. The bills may be the one that will get you into trouble.”

  “I’ll handle the bills, doc,” says Al. “We’ll keep him here until he wakes up.”

  “Sniper—” says Mark.

  “It’s ok, Splash,” replies Al. “I’ll help you get through this. As Christ would do, I do.”

  Mark stands and gives Al a warm embrace.

  “Thank you, Sniper. Thank you for helping me.”