43 – Cypress Mosaic

Around ​the ​time ​of ​his master’s graduation, ​Elian ​had ​been ​living ​a whirlwind of a ​life.

The ​joy of passing ​the NCMHCE on ​his ​first ​attempt ​was ​short-lived; ​to officially obtain ​his ​counselor’s ​license, he had ​to complete thousands of ​hours of ​field supervision.

Elian ​chose a ​local community ​center ​in ​Chicago as his ​training site. ​It was a place ​where he had already ​been continuing his field ​training since ​before ​graduation.

Operated by government grants and donations, ​the center was always ​understaffed, ​and ​the ​working ​environment and treatment ​were poor. ​The ​pay was more ​of ​a transportation allowance than a ​salary, making ​it ​practically equivalent to ​volunteering.

There ​were ​advantages, ​however. ​Since the ​counselors ​who applied ​did so knowing the environment, everyone was ​passionate about their ​cases, and the ​center was always full ​of energy. ​The fact that ​a ​wide variety of ​cases were received ​was another ​reason ​Elian decided ​to ​continue his ​training ​there, as ​there ​was ​much to learn ​as ​a counselor.

For ​several ​months, ​the ​days passed in such a blur that he hardly knew how time was flowing.

Around that time, his mother’s [unauthorized copy]health was deteriorating rapidly, [Read on Read BL Novels]so he had to take care of her before and after work.

A housekeeper looked after the house while Elian worked. Since the Belloti family, who had helped each other whenever needed, had moved to New York, Elian had to handle the situation alone.

Even on the two days off he was given per week, it was impossible to truly rest. But that didn’t matter.

What pained Elian the most was that his mother’s symptoms were worsening by the day, yet the exact cause remained unidentified.

One holiday morning in late autumn, after he had grown somewhat accustomed to the work at the center, Elian sat with a cup of coffee by his side, checking his emails with a dark expression.

Subject: Response to Inquiry Regarding Clinical Trial Participants

Dear Mr. Elian,

Thank you for your inquiry.

We express our regrets that your family member is experiencing difficulties due to health issues.

However, please understand that information regarding our research participants cannot be provided externally in accordance with strict confidentiality and ethical regulations.

The research in question was conducted in compliance with all relevant laws and ethical standards. Accordingly, we inform you that this institution bears no legal responsibility regarding this matter. Furthermore, no cases of side effects related to this research have been reported to date.

If a medical causal relationship between your family member’s deteriorating health and the research in question is proven, you may raise the issue through legal procedures at any time.

We wish your family member a speedy recovery.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

North River Biomedical Research Center

Elian stared intently at the email window.

No matter how many times he read it, it was nothing more than a cliché response; there was no satisfying answer to his inquiry.

The other party was even subtly implying a warning, suggesting he take legal action if he had evidence.

It felt as if hope were slipping rapidly through his fingers. Elian dropped his head deeply. His golden hair cascaded down. His hair, which usually seemed full of life as if it had soaked up the sunlight, seemed lifeless in that moment.

Elian’s mother had been employed at the Chicago Life Science Institute.

While researching ‘Pheromone Nervous System Stabilization,’ she came across a recruitment notice for external clinical trial participants through the institute’s network.

‘Clinical Trial for the Development of a Treatment for Pheromone Dependency Syndrome’ — also known as Project CRESCENT.

She took an immediate interest in the announcement.

Not only was it highly relevant to her [Read on Read BL Novels]own [unauthorized copy]field of research, but above all, it was a treatment for the illness Elian suffered from.

“Elian, I analyzed the samples sent by that company, and it looks quite promising. Maybe you won’t have to take stabilizers anymore!”

His mother’s eyes had been full of anticipation as she grabbed Elian’s hand and smiled brightly.

The method of participation in the trial was simple.

Participants would take medication delivered periodically and measure their pheromone secretion patterns using a provided portable device, with the measurements automatically recorded in an application.

For the first few months, there were no problems.

However, as time passed, changes slowly began to emerge.

It started with a decline in physical strength.

“I think fatigue has built up because I’ve been too [stolen content]immersed visit our sitein my research lately.”

His mother attributed the increasing fatigue to her excessive workload at the time.

However, her condition did not improve even when she adjusted her schedule to get sufficient rest. Rather, as time went by, other symptoms were added.

Her weight dropped noticeably, she suffered from indigestion, and she frequently felt dizzy. Sometimes, she even lost consciousness and collapsed. A person who had been so vibrant became lethargic, and her immunity dropped, leaving her with constant colds.

When his mother first collapsed, the two of them discussed it and decided to stop taking the trial medication.

When she collapsed a second time, Elian urged her to get a health check-up.

However, the test results showed no particular problem.

The doctor suggested they monitor her progress, as it might be an autonomic nervous system disorder.

An autonomic nervous system disorder — it [Read on Read BL Novels]was practically the same as saying [visit our site]there was unauthorized copyno clear cause and no definite cure.

Elian had no choice but to suspect Project CRESCENT.

First, he tried to contact the people who had managed his mother’s trial progress via phone and email countless times, but he was ignored. He received only repeated answers stating that information could not be shared with participants who had discontinued the trial. Soon, it became impossible to even reach those numbers.

This time, Elian attempted to contact the company called North River Biomedical itself.

However, the shipping address from which the trial medication had been delivered was not the company’s actual address. Only after going through three or four shell corporations and paper companies was Elian finally able to get the real phone number and email address of the enterprise known as North River Biomedical. It was not an easy tracking process for an ordinary citizen like Elian.

From this point, Elian’s suspicions grew in earnest. The thought that a legitimate company would have no reason to hide its identity in such a manner would not leave his mind.

However, the calls did not go through. Only automated guidance messages followed.

He began sending dozens of emails. — After participating in the clinical trial of Project CRESCENT, a participant is suffering from health abnormalities. We need the company’s help. Please provide detailed information on whether there are other participants showing similar side effects and if the trial is truly safe. The trial must be stopped immediately.

The response he finally received was [unauthorized copy]the email currently on his laptop screen. An Read on Read BL Novelsevasion of unauthorized copyresponsibility in a cliché and formal tone.

That email only solidified Elian’s suspicions.

He could only think that they had pushed forward with the trial knowing the possibility of such side effects, and therefore had tried to thoroughly hide the company’s identity.

“Elian.”

Elian turned his head at the frail voice coming from behind him. His mother, wearing a cardigan, was walking out of the bedroom. He quickly stood up, approached her, and supported her.

“Why did you come out? You should have called me.”

“It’s not good to just stay lying down. I should move at least this much.”

As he helped his noticeably thinner mother to the kitchen, Elian could not stop his worried gaze.

“Is there something you need? I’ll get it for you. Please sit down.”

“Then shall I try a cup of coffee too? The aroma is so lovely.”

His mother spoke while looking at Elian’s mug on the dining table.

Because her gastric function had declined significantly, coffee was not beneficial for her. However, after a brief hesitation, Elian smiled instead of nagging. He didn’t want to rob her of even the simple pleasure of a cup of coffee.

“I’ll brew it weak for you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Listening to the sound of Elian brewing coffee, his mother quietly admired the winter scenery outside the window. On that day, her condition seemed a bit better.

“Mom, would you like to listen to some music?”

“That sounds nice. Shall we listen to Liszt for the first time in a while?”

“You mean ‘Liebesträume,’ right?”

Elian asked with a smile to confirm, and his mother turned to him and nodded.

“It will suit today’s weather. Even though it’s winter, it’s so clear that everything seems to be seen exactly as it is.”

Liszt’s Liebesträume No. 3, ‘Dreams of Love.’ It was a piece that both his mother and Elian loved.

Elian went to the turntable and played the music.

The piano melody, descending carefully as if slowly catching its breath, spread softly through the space. It felt as if he were appreciating the flow of the spreading coffee aroma through notes. At that time, before Elian suffered from the side effects of the stabilizers, he too could savor the scent of the coffee.