Seri's house
She follows them till the door. She locks the door as they leave. Her phone vibrates and a light flickers in her heart. 'I knew you would call when you'd get free.' She thinks. She runs towards her phone, but as she sees the phone screen her heart sinks.
It was Doctor Oh. She picks up the call. As soon as the call ends, she hurriedly grabs her purse and scarf. Wearing the scarf, she locks the door. A taxi was already waiting for her. She closes her eyes, mutters something under her breath and then crosses her heart. She sits in the backseat.
(Seri's POV)
I know I'm scared, those old fears run through my head, I hear the taunting laughter of years past when I was a punchline of jokes. I know I'm scared when these bad memories cut loose their chains and invade my confidence, eroding the person I have built since those dark days. I want to run away, but instead, I remain where I am. Let's face it, there is really only one thing I can do: Pray.
Cloveland Hospital, Seoul
"Ma'am, we're here. It will be 10,000 won." I am cut off from my thoughts when the driver says. I quickly pay for the ride and rush towards the hospital entrance. I stand outside the wide entrance with automatic glass doors. Ambulances were lined up outside, paramedics were wheeling patients and doctors were going in or coming out. I don't want to go inside. It's not like I'll see anything that will make me happy. I was warned about it. I pull my scarf till my nose. I look like Rudolph when I cry. I wipe my tears with my own sleeves. I walk to the reception and give my card and get the wrist band.
"The patient was moved to Room 98. You'll find it on the 2nd floor near the emergency exit." The receptionist tells me. I slightly bow and then try to find my way towards the room. I press the lift button. In a fraction of second it opens, I walk inside. I press the button. The glass elevator stops on the second floor. I walk out.
Room96. Room 97. Room 98. There it was. I stand outside the door and press my wrist band on the screen beside the door. It beeps. I slide the door and the sight finally makes those saline water drops escape my eyes.
Grandma was there on the bed. Her body looked so frail. The only sound in the room was of the ECG monitor beeping. I enter the room closing the door. Dr.Oh was there. He was sitting on the armchair beside her. I stand beside Dr.Oh.
"A refractory seizure, to be precise. Her medicines are...harming her instead of curing." He says looking into my eyes.
I was at a loss of words. Seeing grandma's condition like this was heartbreaking. My head starts to throb.
"Dear, you know I soon have to go for performing surgery."He says with a regretful expression looking towards grandma.
"She still has to go for surgery after a week."He says standing up. He keeps his hands on my shoulder and makes me sit on the chair he was sitting on.
"Thank you for everything. You can go, I'll be fine." I say in shallow gasps because my breath was ragged.
"I'll be back." He says, looking at me for the last time before he left. I hold grandma's hand in my hand. I could feel her bones, her nerves, blood vessels. I remove my scarf and keep it beside her. My face in my heads.
"Grandma, remember this scarf? I love it, why don't you wake up and weave more like this for me? I am waiting for you, I am waiting for you to scold me for my mistakes. I want you to keep your hand on my head. Please wake up. You were correct about everything, sorry I didn't listen to you, but please wake up."
I keep my head beside her.
"You have been sleeping for too long. I want you to wake up, remember you have to cook Japchae, I have been craving it for long. You know it's my favourite food. You know I only like it when you make it. So won't you wake up and make me some Japchae?"I say.
"Halmi, you know Zeal left me, you won't right? He had said he wouldn't leave me, but he left, halmi. He left me with his memories. He left me with his face stamped in my brain. Halmi, every time my phone rings or a notification pops, I look for him. Am I that bad? Why do people leave me, halmi? It wasn't his mistake, it was my fault." I say. I look away, I knew my face had turned red. Tears escape from the sides of my eyes, so I cover my face with my shaking hands.
I wipe my cheeks. I can't stop... I can't stop. Why can't I stop crying?
That's what happens when you love someone, right? You can't live when they leave you. Their happiness becomes a part of your own. Just seeing them makes you want to live.
"Halmi, he was nice to me, I just stepped my boundaries, he helped me, it's my mistake I got used to it. I hate myself." I sink my head on the damp bedside. I am bad. I am very bad, that is why people don't stay with me. I hate myself.
"Hey, What are you doing here?" A boy says to a boy had been standing outside room 98 for quite a long time. "Heya", the boy repeats but the other boy doesn't reply. "Are you ignoring me?" the boy asks."Hey, I am not desperate for your attention. I am going. Bye." He says with frustration in his voice. He waits for some time, thinking the other boy would say something or at least look at him. "Really?", the boy says in exclamation, as the other boy still hadn't given any response. "Hey, Min. Wait, are you stalking an old woman?", the boy says.Min looks at him with an annoyed expression.
"Geez, can you shut up?" Min finally says.
"I am looking at that girl." Min says pointing towards Seri.
"I can't see a girl."The other boy says.
"Ji-hun, your name really doesn't suit you, you neither have wisdom nor intellect. Are you blind?" Min asks getting more annoyed.
Ji-hun makes a weird expression on this.
"Why.."Ji-hun is cut by Min, "Give me your card."
"Finally, I was feeling thirsty, let's go and drink something together." Ji-hun says producing his credit card.
Min smacks him on his head.
"Hospital Card."Min says.
"Oh" Ji-hun searches his pocket. Min looks at him anxiously. When Ji-hun finally takes out his card, Min takes it and puts it on the lock. The door opens.
"Hey Min." Ji-hun says frustrated, nothing was making sense to him.
"Shhh." Min tells him to stay quiet. "Did she cry a lot?" He thinks as the bedside was still damp.
"How can she fall asleep like this. How old is she?"He thinks.
"What are you doing? Are you abducting her?" Ji-hun almost shouts as Min picks her up.
Min looks at him with a death glare. He would've have killed Ji-hun with his hands if he hadn't had Seri in his arms. He was carefully supporting her, with one arm under her knees, and other around her back. Her head was touching his chest, his heart. He could feel her soft breath on his face. "Oh god, what are you doing to me? What is this feeling? Why am I finding it adorable?" Min thinks.