Adam hurried back to his father’s bedside, carefully placing the pill into the old man’s mouth. Everyone held their breath as the seconds ticked by.
And then…
“Pfffffffttt!”
A loud, unmistakable fart echoed through the room, breaking the tension like a popped balloon.
Everyone’s eyes widened, the seriousness of the moment shattered in an instant. All heads turned away from the old man, their shocked faces now locked on Noah.
Adam, still processing what had just happened, hesitated before saying, “Noah, this is…?”
Noah coughed awkwardly, his gaze shifting to the ceiling as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Ahem, well, that’s just a… side effect of the pill. Don’t worry.”
“A side effect?” Adam asked, confused but too polite to sound skeptical.
“Yeah, yeah,” Noah continued, trying to maintain his composure. “You see, his entire body relaxed, including his… bowels. So that… led to, uh…” He trailed off, waving his hand dismissively as if it were no big deal.
Before anyone could respond, the old man suddenly coughed, startling everyone. A small, wriggling parasite flew from his mouth, hitting the floor with a faint thud.
Noah was the only one who saw the parasite. Noah swiftly bent down and scooped up the parasite, sliding it into his inventory before anyone noticed.
Amelia rushed to her grandfather’s side, grasping his wrinkled hand in hers. “Grandpa? How are you feeling?”
The old man blinked, his eyes slowly regaining focus.
“I’m feeling better, I suppose. But why are there so many people here? You should’ve woken me up before inviting guests. Isn’t that a bit rude?” he added with a teasing smile.
The room froze for a second before bursting into relieved laughter. Amelia’s eyes welled up with happy tears as she leaned into her grandfather, feeling his warmth.
Adam approached his father’s bedside, his voice gentle. “Dad, your heart failed while you were asleep. We had to perform emergency first aid.” His voice cracked slightly, the reality of the situation still weighing on him.
The old man looked around the room, eyes lingering on Noah, then Dr. Ray; who stood frozen in disbelief.
His sharp intuition kicked in, already sensing who had really saved him.
“So, who saved me?” he asked, though the question was more of a formality than anything.
Adam put his arm around Noah’s shoulder, his gratitude evident. “This young man here, Mr. Noah. Our family cannot repay you enough. You’ve saved two lives in this household.”
The old man’s gaze locked onto Noah, his eyes filled with appreciation. “Thank you, Mr. Noah. If there’s ever anything we can do to repay you, just let Adam know. He’ll take care of it.”
Noah smiled and nodded, keeping his response simple. “I’m just glad you’re feeling better, old man.”
Then, with a mischievous grin, Noah added, “How about we play chess?”
Dr. Ray, standing at the edge of the room, looked dumbfounded. “He just recovered from a near-death experience, and you want him to play chess?”
Noah didn’t even spare the doctor a glance, his eyes still focused on the old man in front of him. The tension in the room shifted once again as everyone waited for the old man’s response.
A glimmer of interest sparked in the old man’s eyes. He smiled, his old competitive nature surfacing. “I would love to play chess with my savior,” he said, his voice carrying newfound strength. “Adam, help me up. Amelia, prepare the chess set.”
Adam moved to assist, but Noah raised a hand, stopping him. “No need, Mr. Adam,” Noah said calmly. “I think your father can manage.”
Adam blinked, confused, and the old man furrowed his brows. “But, Mr. Noah, I haven’t walked since my illness. I’ve been in a wheelchair for over a year now.” His voice wavered with uncertainty.
Noah’s grin widened. “Not anymore, old man.”
The room fell silent, everyone watching intently as the old man processed Noah’s words. Slowly, with a determined glint in his eyes, he began to push himself up. Amelia rushed to his side to offer support, but he gently waved her off.
“I’ve got this,” the old man said, his voice stronger now.
With a steady breath, he stood. The sight of him standing on his own two feet, without help, sent a wave of shock through the room.
Dr. Ray’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How… how is that possible?”
Adam looked between his father and Noah, struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. “That pill…”
Noah nodded, his expression calm but confident. “He’s cured now. His health will continue to improve gradually.”
The room buzzed with astonishment, the tension finally melting away into awe and relief.
Noah grinned again, this time with a twinkle in his eye. “So… time for that chess game?”
The old man chuckled, feeling his strength return. “Time for chess indeed,” he said, with a deep sense of gratitude and excitement in his voice.
Amelia quickly fetched the chess set, her heart racing with excitement and disbelief at what she had just witnessed. The others, still trying to absorb the miracle before them, stepped aside to give the old man room. His hands, once frail and trembling, now gripped the chair as he sat upright, his posture confident and proud.
Noah, still standing by with a casual air about him, glanced at Adam and said, “I told you. Nothing to worry about.”
Adam nodded, though his mind raced with questions. He couldn’t bring himself to ask any of them—not now, at least. His father was standing after a year confined to a wheelchair, and somehow Noah had cured him with a pill. But how?
Noah moved towards the chessboard as Amelia set it down on a small table beside her grandfather.
The pieces were already arranged, the black and white soldiers standing tall, awaiting orders. The old man eyed the board, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he sat down.
“Black or white?” Noah asked, cracking his knuckles as he prepared for the game.