"Here Jin-Ae, have some coffee"
"Thank you Unnie"
Jin-Ae gladly took the cup of coffee from Seju's hands; the two of them are currently at the rooftop of the hospital breathing some fresh air.
"Are you sure it's fine that you're here?" Seju asked.
The news about Jin-Ae leaving mid performance was all over the news now; it spread faster than they thought it would.
"I've already contacted my manager unnie, and she said its fine."
They just stood there looking at the city lights, Seju doesn't know what to say to Jin-Ae, she was worried that the latter might be super stressed because of the things happening.
"Unnie…"
Seju just looked at Jin-Ae. The latter was holding her coffee with her two hands while looking at it.
"Why?"
From just one word, Seju already knew what Jin-Ae was talking about. It carried all the questions running in Jin-Ae's mind.
"Yeonhwa unnie always carries all the hardships by herself; we're family right? So why does she always have to carry it alone? It's not like I can't take care of myself…"
She doesn't know what to say to Jin-Ae, because she too asks that herself. Even before when they were in middle school. Yeonhwa always carries her problems alone, not even talking to anyone about it. Even to her and Seungjae.
She just hugged the younger girl and let her cry in her arms.
"I don't really know Jin-Ae… I don't know… but maybe she has a good reason why she has to carry it alone"
She was thinking the same thing as Jin-Ae. But she knew Yeonhwa probably has her reasons, she want to believe that Yeonhwa has her reasons; reason why she suddenly left, and reason why she's hiding from Seju.
Seju felt her phone vibrate on her pocket while she was hugging Jin-Ae.
"Wait a sec Jin; I have to take this call"
"Hello?"
"Seju, Mrs. Ahn is already awake"
Seju was delighted to hear the news
"We'll be there"
She ended the call with Sejeong and told Jin-Ae the news
"Jin, your mom's awake"
Jin-Ae almost fell on her knees when she heard the news. The two of them abruptly went down to the patient's room.
When they were in front of the room they heard someone screaming, and when they entered they saw Rohanne with a syringe in her hand, while Sejeong was trying to calm Mrs. Ahn
"Get away from me!"
Mrs. Ahn was screaming at Rohanne's face and throwing whatever her hands touches, it was a pretty chaotic sight for Seju and Jin-Ae
"Ma'am please calm down!" Sejeong exclaimed while she was holding Mrs. Ahn on her shoulders, attempting to stop her from throwing stuff
"Ma'am we're just here to give you a shot for your ECG" Rohanne exclaimed while trying to get ahold of Mrs. Ahn
"No! Just get lost!"
Jin-Ae Immediately ran to her mother and calmed her down, and fortunately Mrs. Ahn finally calmed down but she was still giving Rohanne and Sejeong glares
"Mom, you need to listen to your doctors" Jin-Ae explained but her mom seems like she was not listening to her.
"Jin, call you Uncle and Yeonhwa. Tell them to pick me up here, I don't want to stay here" She was begging Jin-Ae but the latter just looked at her mom with disbelief.
"Mom, Uncle's gone…"
Seju was shocked with the news she heard
'Yeonhwa's father is dead?'
"No! He's not! He's just in Canada; He'll be back when he's done with his business trip!"
The people inside the room looked at the patient with pity.
'I'm sorry…'
"Mom! Uncle's dead! And he's not coming back!"
"What are you blabbering about Jin-Ae! Your uncle is still alive!"
"Mom…" Jin-Ae can't help but feel pity at her mom's current situation. She felt tired, and stressed.
"If you don't want to call your uncle, call Yeonhwa! She'll pick me up from this place!"
"Mom, Yeonhwa Unnie can't pick you up… She's already gone…"
Seju's mind went blank, she froze in her place and she can feel her hands getting cold.
"Both of them are gone…"
Seju's knees were trembling; she can't process the information she heard
'It can't be true, right?'
"Jin…"
She called Jin-Ae, the latter just looked at her with a sad expression, and she didn't want to be the bearer of bad news… But she had to.
"… Is it true?" Seju asked
'Please say no… Please say no…'
She was wishing that it was just a joke, that this was just all a bad dream; that she just slept while she was on Duty. But…
"Yes, Unnie… Uncle Daehoon and Yeonhwa Unnie died in a car accident in Canada…" Jin-Ae said
The tears that were welling up in Seju's eyes fell.
"W-What?"
'No… This can't be true…'
The news she heard shattered her heart. Yes, she was mad, but she didn't expect this. She didn't expect that she'll hear about her best friend like this.
Sejeong and Rohanne just looked at the three of them. Rohanne feeling guilty, hearing the words out of her cousin's mouth.
"They died 7 years ago…"
'That was the last time I saw Jin-Ae and Auntie…'
"That's not true! Daehoon and Yeonhwa are still alive! Yeonhwa just went to Canada for treatment!"
'Treatment?'
Questions kept piling up in Seju's head, she can't cope with it right now
"They'll be back soon!"
'First Seungjae, now Yeonhwa? Did I do bad deeds to deserve this?'
Seju just wanted to rip her ears off. She doesn't know what to feel at the moment. She was mad at Yeonhwa because she just vanished without even saying anything.
'I still need to strangle her… I still need to get mad at her… I still need to yell at her… I still need to hug her… I still need to forgive her… I still need to say… I still need to… I still need to say what I feel about her…'
Her knees felt weak, she didn't wait for 10 years just to hear this news. No, she can't accept it
'She doesn't have the right to die… She doesn't have the right to leave…'
"I'm sorry Unnie…"
While Mrs. Ahn was still calm Rohanne and Sejeong took this opportunity to inject the shot for her ECG. While Rohanne and Sejeong were busy tending to Mrs. Ahn; Jin-Ae hugged Seju and lead her to sit on the couch nearby
"What happened to Yeonhwa?" She calmly asked. Jin-ae gritted her teeth. She doesn't want to lie to Seju. But her cousin already asked her a favor. She looked at Rohanne who was looking at the two of them.
"We'll be going…" Sejeong said, she was about to go out of the room when she saw Rohanne still standing beside the patient looking at Seju. She immediately pulled Rohanne outside and closed the door behind them.
She looked at Rohanne with pity.
'It's so obvious that she liked Seju…'
"You're like someone I know…" She scratched her nape and then dragged Rohanne outside the hospital
Rohanne looked at her with mixed emotions in her eyes.
"Where are you taking me?"
"We're drinking…"
Rohanne suddenly stopped which made Sejeong stop on her tracks too almost falling on her butt; the latter looked at her with irritation in her eyes
"Why did you stop?!"
"We can't drink! We're still on the clock!"
Sejeong just rolled her eyes and then looked at Rohanne in disbelief.
'She's dumb…. she really is… she is…'
"Dumbass, we're not drinking Alcoholic drinks! I know we're still on the clock" Sejeong replied and held Rohanne's hand and dragged her again.
For someone smaller than Rohanne, she was wondering where Sejeong's strength comes from.
They stopped in front of a convenience store; Sejeong let go of Rohanne's hand and entered the convenience store with a smile on her face. Rohanne confused on what's happening.
"I won't open the door for you" Sejeong mouthed from inside the Store.
Rohanne didn't really have any other options so she entered the store. She wanted to go back to the hospital but Sejeong went out of her way just to drag her here.
"So what are we gonna drink if we're not drinking any alcoholic drinks?"
Rohanne asked while looking around inside the store, meanwhile Sejeong has been hoarding snacks and drinks in her arms.
"I brought you here to help me"
Rohanne looked over her shoulders and saw Sejeong carrying snacks and…
"Chocolate drink?"
She went ahead and carried some of the snacks for Sejeong.
After paying for it they went back to the hospital and headed for the rooftop, of course Sejeong told the Interns and the Nurses that if they needed them they'll just be in the rooftop.
"So… this is your definition of drinking" Rohanne asked as she opened a carton of the chocolate drink
"I don't drink beer or any alcoholic drinks; instead I drown myself in chocolate drinks and snacks"
Rohanne was looking at the back of the bag of chips that Sejeong was eating.
"Do you know how many calories, the—"
"I paid for them right?"
She was cut off by Sejeong who was looking at her with annoyance.
'Scary…'
"Y-yeah…"
"If you don't want to eat you don't have to…"
Instead of replying Rohanne just looked at Sejeong and smiled
"So why did you decide to 'drink'?" Rohanne said with matching air quotes to tease Sejeong. But the latter looked serious.
"Because I want to…" She said and took a sip from her chocolate drink "And I thought you needed it too…" She said as she was munching on one of the chips she bought.
The news she had heard earlier, she didn't expect it.
Yes, she knew Yeonhwa; they were classmates back in middle school. And they were on the same grade and section along with Seju. The trio, Yeonhwa, Seju and Seungjae were famous at their school, she was also a close friend of Seju, so there's no way she wouldn't know about the three of them and the tragedy that occurred.
And Yeonhwa… She liked Yeonhwa. The latter and Seju were the only people that genuinely talked to her without a hidden agenda, unlike the others that just wanted to be her friend because she's the daughter of a government official. But Yeonhwa was different from Seju, even though she was cold, she knew how to care for people around her, that's the personality Sejeong really liked about Yeonhwa.
But she knew Yeonhwa liked Seju, only a fool wouldn't notice how Yeonhwa would treat Seju differently. So she decided to just let it go. But when she saw Yeonhwa on the Gym that day, when Seungjae publicly confessed to Seju, she knew she needed to comfort Yeonhwa, but she didn't have the courage. So she just let her go.
When she gathered the courage to confess to Yeonhwa, news came to her that Yeonhwa already flew to Canada. She was a little too late.
She buried her feelings for almost a decade… And now the news she heard… She just can't help it... She has still feelings for Yeonhwa whether she bury it or not. Her feelings will always be there.
"Yeah… I do…" Rohanne replied as she leaned on the railings
She was snapped back to reality when she heard Rohanne speak. She looked at Rohanne who was looking at the distance, the city lights reflecting in her eyes.
Sejeong can't help but see the resemblance of Yeonhwa and Rohanne.
They stood in silence watching the city lights. They're not talking to each other but it wasn't awkward; more like a comfortable silence, just their presence is enough to comfort each other.
"Sometimes you don't need to drown yourself in alcohol to forget your problems… You just need comfort from another person who's having the same difficult times…"
Rohanne looked at Sejeong who's still busy drinking her chocolate drink while looking at the city lights; she smiled.
"Yeah…"
===
Jin-Ae and Seju were in the garden, When Mrs. Ahn fell asleep they took the chance to step out a bit and talk.
As soon as they sat on a bench, Seju asked Jin-Ae
"W-What happened to Yeonhwa?"
She's determined to know what happened, even if she knew it would break her heart into a million pieces. She needs to know… She needs to know what Yeonhwa's reason was… For leaving them… For leaving her.
"Yeonhwa Unnie went to Canada to study… She was with Uncle Daehoon. Then one day they both had an accident, that was seven years ago. Another car crashed into them with high speed, the car where Uncle and Unnie was, was crushed due to the impact. They were both dead on arrival."
"I'm sorry…"
'That might be the reason why Auntie was like that…'
"It's not your fault Unnie, you don't need to apologize…"
Seju looked at a distance, trying to suppress her tears again.
"I know Yeonhwa Unnie left you without saying a word… But she has her reasons"
Seju looked at Jin-Ae with pleading eyes, trying to ask the latter to tell her what Yeonhwa's reason was for leaving her. Jin-Ae was about to tell Seju when her phone suddenly rang.
"Sorry Unnie, I have to take this call…" Jin-Ae stood up from her seat and talked on the phone in the distance
As soon as Jin-Ae was gone she let her tears fall without hesitation.
"Yeonhwa…"
The person she cared for the most… The person she loved the most… The person she missed the most… The person she hated the most… Was gone…
'She left me again… for the second time… without saying goodbye…'
===
When Jin-Ae left Seju on the bench she answered the call from Rohanne
"Unnie…"
"How's Auntie?"
"She's already fine; she was asleep when we left"
There was a long pause on the other line all Jin-Ae can hear was the background music, The latter knew what Rohanne wanted to ask.
"You wanted to ask about Seju Unnie?"
Rohanne was still silent, indicating that she was waiting for Jin-Ae to speak.
"She's devastated…"
Rohanne clenched her fists.
"Unnie are you sure this is the right thing to Do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Telling her that you're dead, even though you're alive and kicking."
"Jin, It's for the best…"
"But you're both hurting…"
"After what happened, I already lost the chance to show my face in front of Seju. She's hurting so much because of me…"
"You're so dumb, My God…"
Jin-Ae rolled her eyes and pinched her nose bridge
"Wha—"
"You're hurting, she's hurting, you're both hurting, you just both need to give each other a second chance. That's all you need, a chance"
"I can't… You know why I can't…"
"But Seungjae oppa is already dead! If Seungjae Oppa is here he'll surely tell you the same thing. He wants the both of you to be happy."
"Jin… Let's just… Let's not talk about it…"
Jin-Ae heard the call ended. She can't help but to feel pity for her cousin
'Guess I'll just support her on her decisions'
===
Seju decided to go back to Rm 1023 where Jin-Ae's mom is. She wanted to check on her. As soon as she entered the room she saw Mrs. Ahn sitting on her bed. She smiled and walked towards her.
"Hi Auntie! Do you still remember me?"
Mrs. Ahn looked at Seju with empty eyes.
"Seju!"
Mrs. Ahn smiled as soon as she recognized Seju, she hugged the latter and conversed with her.
"Seju, can you call Yeonhwa? I really want to get out of this place…"
Seju looked at Mrs. Ahn, Pity was visible in her eyes but she smiled.
"I'll call Yeonhwa for you Auntie, but it might take long…" She said while still smiling.
"Okay"
She was about to stand and go out of the room when she noticed that Mrs. Ahn's heart rate was slowing down.
"Auntie? Are you okay?"
"I'm just a little Dizzy…"
"Auntie!"
Mrs. Ahn fainted in her arms; Seju immediately called the others to assist her.
"What happened?" Doah asked as soon as she entered
"She's in syncope, her HR is slowing down" Seju explained to Doah
Rohanne and Sejeong barged in, in the room too and checked the patient.
"HR is at 35, and PAV and QRS are moving separately!" Seju said as soon as she noticed
"Complete AV block…" Sejeong said
"This could lead to Myocardial Infarction…" Rohanne said, she stood there as she watches her Auntie, on the verge of dying. She was snapped back to reality when she heard Seju
"This is no good! Get me the pacemaker!" Seju yelled, Soah immediately went out and get Seju a pacemaker
Doah and Sejeong were fixing the leads, while Rohanne was still standing. Not sure what to do
"Dr. Baek! What are you doing there?!" Doah said that made Rohanne snap her head towards them.
'I need to get my act…'
She immediately helped Doah and Sejeong with fixing the leads
When they were in a middle of commotion, Jin-Ae suddenly entered the room.
"What's happening?! What's happening to my Mom?!"
She was on the verge of tears when Rohanne walked over to her and calmed her down. Seju noticed that Rohanne's hands were trembling; it was the first time she saw Rohanne tremble and looked so nervous.
She just shook her head.
"Is it connected?" Seju asked
"It's ready doc" Soah said
"Pulse?"
"It dropped from 40 and is still slowing down…"
Seju then placed the pacemaker on Mrs. Ahn's chest
"Okay, pacing" Seju said
Soah pressed a button from the defibrillator a couple of times, but it seems like it's not working.
"A little more…"
Soah pressed the button again, but still nothing's happening.
"Pulse?"
"Seju it slowed down more… It's not working…" Doah said, she's also didn't know what to do.
"Dr. Baek…"
She called Rohanne, but the latter was just looking at the patient. The expert cardiologist, was frozen in her place, her hands still trembling, she's panicking…
"Dr. Baek!" Doah yelled which made Rohanne snap back to reality.
They suddenly heard a loud beeping.
"It's V-fib!" Sejeong exclaimed
When Rohanne heard that she suddenly shoved Seju and Doah from her way and checked the patient
"Ready for CPR!" She confidently said
She started pumping Mrs. Ahn's chest while the others were getting the stuff she needs.
"Paddle"
Sejeong handed the Paddle to Rohanne
"200! Clear!"
All of them took a step away from Rohanne
"Dr. Baek no response!" Sejeong exclaimed
"Charge to 300! Clear!"
Doah increased it but it's still not working.
"Still nothing!"
Jin-Ae started panicking too, crying and screaming her mother's name, in hopes that she would get heard.
"360! Clear!"
This time it worked
"Rhythm is back…"
Everyone let out a sigh of relief, it was a critical situation.
"Good Job everyone"
Jin-Ae immediately went beside her mother and held her hand.
"Mom… Please stay strong…"
Jin-Ae thanked everyone inside the room.
"It's our job to save our patients…" Sejeong said as she smiled at Jin-Ae
They all smiled at Jin-Ae except for one person; Rohanne looked like she underwent an intensive operation, beads of sweat was evident on her forehead and temple.
They all walked out of the room and left the mother and daughter to have their moment.
While walking Doah walked beside Rohanne and tapped her shoulders.
"If she didn't have her ECG she might be on her way to heaven already… But Cardiovascular Syncope usually happens to patient with heart problems… and as I can clearly recall she has no record of any heart problem in her chart… how did you know Dr. Baek?"
They all looked at her, waiting for her answer. She was a bit hesitant but she still answered.
"I just happen to know…"
===
"Unnie you should go home, I heard that your boss also told you to get some rest"
Rohanne came back to her Aunt's room after they had a quick meeting. She wanted to take care of her Aunt at least every time she's available.
"No, I'll stay…"
"No. Go Home. Eat. Sleep. Rest. Heck, you could even have a drink. Go empty your head." Jin-Ae was worried for her unnie.
She knew that her cousin was already restless. And now she's going to stay at the hospital even though she was ordered to go home and rest? That's a no-no to her.
"If you don't want to go home I'll drag you out…"
"But…"
"Just go home! If Seju Unnie saw you here what would you say?!"
Rohanne looked at Jin-Ae, contemplating what the latter said, but she brushed it off, she needs to look after her aunt.
"You're supposed to be dead right?"
Rohanne just looked at her cousin
"Then that's that… If you wanna stay dead, act like one!"
"Is that supposed to be a joke?"
"No. So just go home~"
Jin-Ae was pushing Rohanne out of the room, and when she was out she was supposed to say something but Jin-Ae shut the door in front of her. She heaved a heavy sigh and walked away from the room.
She went home and lay on her bed. She placed her right hand on her face as if she was feeling if her eyes, nose, lips and other features were still there.
After the accident, her father died, and she was a complete mess, she had fractured bones and shards of glasses damaged her face, she was almost unrecognizable. The family that was also involved in the accident, the one who was responsible for the accident, they decided to adopt her.
She was hesitant at first but when she heard that their daughter died on the same accident she agreed to it. They paid for her surgeries and rehab. After the surgery her face was slightly changed, it was still her; she was still recognizable, but she knew that when Seju sees her she won't be able to recognize her. She dyed her hair blonde to add to the foreigner vibes.
The company that her father left to her in Canada, she decided to temporarily transfer the rights to her adoptive parents, but when she wants to handle it she's free to do so while the branch in Korea is currently handled by Jin-Ae.
When she went back to Korea with her father's corpse, her Aunt didn't recognize her. When her aunt heard the news that her father died, she was devastated and depressed to the point that she drowns herself on alcohol, and her depression lead to serious mental illness…
It hurts her to see the person who look after her suffer like that.
She stood up and stared at the mirror in front of her.
"You're still okay right? You're okay… You're fine…"
She whispered as she touch her reflection in the mirror
"You're still fine… You're fine…"
She was about to lose it when she heard her phone ring. It was Seju.
She immediately answered it
"Se—"
"You! I hate you!"