"Ow! Ow! Seju staaaph! It hurts!"
"You're really annoying me right now Baek Rohanne!" Seju said as she was dragging the taller woman behind her back to the latter's room.
Everybody in the hospital kept looking at the two of them, but Seju doesn't mind. She just continued pulling Rohanne's ears, it almost got rip off but Seju is still holding onto it.
As soon as they arrived at Rohanne's room she made the latter sit on the bed but still she was pulling her ears.
"How many times should I tell you that you should rest?!"
"I'm already okay!"
"You just woke up yesterday! How are you okay?!" Seju said as she pulled Rohanne's ears
"It hurts! Help! Anyone?! Sejeong?" Rohanne looked at Sejeong with puppy eyes, but the latter just looked away. "Traitor!" Rohanne exclaimed looking at Sejeong with contempt in her eyes.
'Oh God, she's being childish again…'
Sejeong just rolled her eyes and looked away; she can't help but laugh at Rohanne's childishness, the latter always act childish around them but she can't really get over it.
'The Duality of this woman…'
When they are just chilling Rohanne is always childish but when it comes to work she's like the most professional person they know, the patients and other people look up to her.
'If only they knew how she acts…'
She kept laughing at the situation, but also she felt sorry for Rohanne.
"Ow! Are you planning to rip my ears off Seju?"
"I will if I had to!"
Rohanne gave Sejeong her puppy eyes again, pleading the latter to save her from the depths of hell.
Sejeong just heaved a sigh and decided to stop Seju from pulling on Rohanne's ears because it might really detach from the latter's head.
"Now, now, Seju. I know that, that asshole needs to rest but you pulling her ear off isn't helping either" Sejeong reasoned out
Seju just looked at her and released Rohanne's ears.
"Ah finally!" Rohanne immediately caressed her ear that was getting pulled by Seju, her eyes getting a bit glassy.
"Stop being so worrisome Seju, she ain't gonna die from that stab" Sejeong said as she took a glance at Rohanne who was looking at her while she was talking to Seju.
"Yeah! Stop being so paranoid and over reacting! I'm well and alive! Don't be such a drama queen!" Rohanne exclaimed her eyes getting watery.
Sejeong just sighed and shook her head
'Oh God… She's making Seju more annoyed'
Seju snapped her head at Rohanne shocked at what she just heard; her mouth and eyes wide open.
"What did you say?! Paranoid? Drama Queen?!"
She glared at Rohanne and started to hit the latter.
"Ow! Ow! Seju! Ow! I'm sorry!"
She pleaded but Seju just kept hitting her. Sejeong tried stopping her, but Seju was ignoring the both of them.
"Seju stop hitting her!"
Sejeong held one of Seju's hands but the latter kept hitting Rohanne using her free hand.
"Seju! Stop it! Ah!"
"Paranoid? Drama Queen? You didn't even know what I was feeling as I watch you get stabbed in front of me! I felt so helpless"
She released her hands from Sejeong's grips and continued hitting Rohanne
"I felt so fucking helpless! I can't do anything, as I watch you bleed! Damn you! I thought you were dead! You don't know how much tears I shed or how hurt I was… You don't know… You don't know how important you are to me…"
Sejeong and Rohanne just let Seju vent her anger out; it took some time for Seju to get tired, she still kept hitting Rohanne but this time it turned weak and slow. Rohanne noticed that Seju's shoulders were shaking, a sign that the latter was crying.
"Hey… I'm sorry…"
Sejeong felt like she was being a nuisance to the two so she decided to just leave them be. As soon as she exited the room she closed the door shut and then leaned on it.
She let out a sigh as she held her chest.
'Damn these fucking feelings, I swear to God!'
Jealousy… That's what she feels right then and there, as soon as she saw Rohanne's expression softened for Seju, she felt a pang in her chest.
'Last time I was the fourth wheel now I'm the third wheel? Am I supposed to be proud of myself for leveling up?'
She let out a bitter chuckle as she walks away from the room.
Meanwhile, Seju was still venting out to Rohanne
"I'm sorry…"
It pains Rohanne when she sees Seju cry. It's like a part of her is hurting as well.
Rohanne cupped Seju's cheeks and let their eyes meet. Using her thumb, she wiped the tears that were continuously falling from Seju's eyes.
"I'm so sorry…"
Seju removed the woman's hands on her cheeks. She sat on the bed beside Rohanne; she was catching her breath as she talked softly in between her sobs.
"I thought I would lose you…I can't bear to lose another one…"
Rohanne just looked at Seju while the latter was crying.
"I've been losing important people and I can't bear to lose another one…"
Seju just kept on crying her eyes out and Rohanne tried to comfort her.
"Especially now that you're turning to be someone very special to me…"
Rohanne's eyes turned saucers as she heard that she was special, she felt giddy, but at the same time guilty.
She can't help but lock the other woman in her embrace. Seju rested her head in Rohanne's shoulders as she cries her eyes out.
"I'm so sorry…"
Rohanne can't say anything else, she kept apologizing for making Seju cry, thinking that maybe she can ease the latter's agony by apologizing. She felt nothing but guilt, from their middle school days until now, all she gave Seju was tears and suffering.
"Please don't leave…"
In between Seju's sobs, she kept telling Rohanne not to leave her. The latter just hugged her tighter.
"I won't and I have no plans…"
Since the day that she met Seju when they were in primary school, she always find herself saying yes to every request Seju asked. She tried. She tried so hard to say no to Seju, but she can't. She can't deny the fact that Seju had that kind of effect on her.
Since the day that she left for Canada she promised herself that she would forget Seju, but how can she do that when everything she sees reminds her of the woman.
She has promised herself that once Seju and Seungjae was already official she would bury her feelings deep down and never to dig it up again, but now, now that she's just at Arm's length, all her feelings came back.
She thought she already moved on but just seeing Seju in front of her brings back the feelings she have long buried.
'Why do you have this much effect on me?'
"Promise?"
"I promise…"
'I'm so stupid…'
She felt guilty, her conscience is eating her. Why is there a voice inside her head saying that they can't be together? That she doesn't have the right to be with Seju. Is she even deserving of being in Seju's life?
"I'm sorry to interrupt…"
As soon as the two heard the voice they pulled away from each other. They both looked at the door and saw Jin-Ae
"Ji-Jin-Ae? What are you doing here?" Seju asked the younger girl
"Oh, I was just about to visit the doctor that saved my mom but it seems like I was interrupting something" She said sarcastically and teasingly.
She gave a quick glare at Rohanne and then looked back at Seju
"By the way, Dr. Park they have been looking for you for quite a while." Jin-Ae said as she flashed a smile at Seju.
"A-Ah… Okay…" Seju awkwardly stood up and headed to the door. As soon as she went out Jin-Ae smacked Rohanne's forehead
"Ow! What was that for?"
"I thought you were going to die! But here you are flirting with Seju Unnie!"
"Flirting? In what way is that flirting?! I was just comforting her!" Rohanne defended,
"Comfort, comfort… You were comflirting her! And you were also the reason why she was crying, you fucker!"
"Ah ah! You're cursing me?!"
"What?! I'm just saying the truth!"
Jin-Ae let out a sigh as she sat on the couch.
"Next time don't be too rash with your actions! You're not superman okay!" Jin-Ae said as she rolled her eyes at Rohanne "I know you're naturally kind, even though you're cold as ice, but be selfish for once"
Rohanne just smiled at Jin-Ae, her little cousin grew so much through the years
'I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me the most...'
She walked towards Jin-Ae and patted the latter's head as if she was a dog.
"I'll be fine"
Jin-Ae just rolled her eyes but she didn't stop Rohanne from patting her head, in fact she missed it. She missed how Rohanne would pat her head whenever she has done something good, or whenever she's down.
She missed her Unnie.
===
All of the nurses, interns and doctors are on standby, they're all in the lounge waiting for the a TV show.
"This is taking long… Give me Dr. Baek now!" Soah exclaimed as she got comfortable in her seat.
Rohanne was invited by a TV program. It was actually a debate program where they invite people to talk about a certain subject.
"I can't believe I'm watching this TV show for her…" Sejeong said. She wasn't really a fan of the show but when they heard that Rohanne was invited they were all excited for her.
After a few more commercials the program was on, everybody in the hospital was intently watching the TV, the invited guest was Lee Jaesom, a famous author who just released a romance novel that sold millions of copies, and also there's Rohanne. They said that the novel involves a heart disease that's why they invited her, a well-known cardiologist.
"Okay so before we start, why don't you introduce the Novel first Mr. Lee?"
Jaesom then let out a grin as he introduced his novel.
"I'm proud to say that this novel is my greatest masterpiece yet. I worked on this novel for years and now, I already released it. This is my greatest hit so far."
The host was holding the said novel and was scanning the book.
"Have you guys read the book?"
Rohanne nodded but the host was still scanning the contents of the book.
"To be honest I haven't read the book but I have ready the summary"
Jaesom just nodded and smiled
"So the story is about a trio, Yunhee, Junghoon and Hangyeol. The three of them are best friends"
"So is it a typical love triangle and betrayal stuff?"
"No, It's a different stuff, Yes, there is a love triangle but there's no betrayal. The twist here is that Yunhee was already in love with Junghoon when the novel started."
"I feel like it's already predictable"
"Hmmm, if you've read the book then you would change your mind. You see here, Hangyeol who was the second male lead didn't pursue Yunhee, instead he distanced himself from the two."
"And?"
"In the middle of the book, Junghoon found out that he had a heart failure and he has a few more months to live. So he broke up with Yunhee and became Hangyeol's wingman, so Yunhee and Hangyeol's love story developed with the help of Junghoon."
"Oh…"
"Near the end of the book, Hangyeol and Yunhee was getting married, and on the day of their marriage, Junghoon was the happiest, but also the most devastated. And on the day of the wedding, while the two were exchanging their vows, Junghoon suffered a heart attack."
The host let out a sharp gasp as he heard the ending
"That's really… Wait did the story end there?"
"Well kind of, Junghoon was rushed to the hospital and Hangyeol was given a letter that was written by Junghoon. I won't say the contents because this is too much spoiler but the story ended with Hangeyol and Yunhee having a child named after their best friend."
"Wow… that was a roller coaster ride, now I need to read the book. I feel like I already read the book just by listening to that short introduction. Now that we've heard the contents to the story. Let's hear what Dr. Baek have to say about Junghoon's illness"
"Heart Failure or also known as Chronic Hea—"
Jaesom cut off Rohanne.
"Oh come on let's stop with all that medical talk, no one can really understand that. Why don't we just start, yes?"
"He's pissing me off just right off the bat…" Sejeong said, everyone watching agreed with her.
"O-Okay…"
The host can feel the tension between Rohanne and Jaesom and even though Rohanne was cut off earlier she was still composed and still smiling. If Sejeong was in there she would've punched that Author right then and there.
"D-Dr. Baek, as a doctor do you think that Junghoon's sacrifice is sufficient when it is stated in the book that he can be cured by having a heart transplant?" The host asked
"I haven't read the book but I think that Author is stupid." Sejeong commented, she isn't a cardiologist but she knew that there is always a solution for those kind of cases.
"But it was also stated in the book that he tried looking for donors but he can't find anyone compatible" Jaesom defended
"In a doctor's perspective, I believe Junghoon is stupid."
"Yep, called it!" Sejeong said as she let out a laugh.
The Host looked at Rohanne, asking her to explain her answer further.
"There are many ways for him to live, there's something called Artificial heart, and that artificial heart can last up to five years and can be used by people who are not eligible for a human transplant or is waiting for one. In that span of five years it's impossible for Junghoon not to find someone he is compatible with. And If I were Junghoon I would've asked Yunhee if she wants to continue her relationship with me or not."
Rohanne just looked at Jaesom provoking him. The latter just gritted his teeth as he looked at Rohanne with disdain. His ego is getting crushed by facts.
"Did you really read the book? I wrote there that Junghoon doesn't want for Yunhee to suffer because if he told Yunhee about his illness he knows that Yunhee would do everything for him even if she suffers. And Junghoon doesn't want that. You call Junghoon stupid but it seems like you're the one who's stupid here."
Rohanne kept smiling at him.
"How can Rohanne just sit there and smile at that asshole?"
"It's a good thing that you're not the one who was invited" Seju teasingly said at Sejeong which made the latter glare at her, She just smiled apologetically at Sejeong and they continued watching the show.
"Mr. Lee have you ever been in love?" Rohanne asked, the guy just smirked at her and the host looked at Rohanne with confusion.
"Everybody here knows that I'm in a relationship with the famous act—"
"Mr. Lee, I wasn't asking you who your lover is, what I'm asking is that have you ever been in love?"
"Yes, of course I lo—"
"It's easy to answer right?" Rohanne smiled at him which made the man grit his teeth and shake with rage.
The host was resisting his urge to laugh. The man was getting roasted.
"Oh my God she's roasting him! She's roasting him!" Sejeong said and let out a hearty laugh.
"With that love Mr. Lee, Did it ever get to the point where you have to sacrifice something big just to fight for it?" Rohanne asked the man so the latter just answered directly.
"No, not yet"
"I have"
The people watching the show from the hospital stopped chattering, Seju looked at the screen intently, looking at Rohanne.
"I fell in love with someone, deeply, and like Yunhee, that person is already in love with someone else, deeply. And like Hangyeol, I know where to stand so I distanced myself. While I was reading your book I sympathized with Hangyeol more, not because of the second lead syndrome or something, but because he loved Yunhee very much, but he knew they can't be. He distanced himself to make way for their love story."
All of them were watching Rohanne as she continued speaking.
"Hangyeol knew that the two were made for each other, a perfect pair, and perfect puzzle. He already accepted it, but then one day he was being pushed by his best friend to Yunhee? Without questioning his best friend?"
She asked sarcastically and then laughed.
"Then he's stupid as well"
"Then what do you prefer, let Junghoon Hurt Yunhee?" Jaesom asked. Rohanne just smiled at him provokingly
"Haven't you heard what I've said earlier? There's a thing called artificial heart, having an artificial heart doesn't mean that you can't love someone. That just means you're living, you're living for someone."
She answered.
"My point is that, I don't believe in 'make-her-fall-in-love-with-someone-else' bull—" She was about to cuss when she realized that she was in national TV.
The people watching in the hospital just laughed at her slip. Rohanne faked a cough and continued speaking.
"I mean, if Yunhee really loves Junghoon, she wouldn't get tired of loving him. Right? And if Junghoon really loves Yunhee then he will live for her, right? Am I right or Am I right?"
She joked that made the host chuckle but one person wasn't happy with her answers.
"Bu—" Jaesom was about to say something when she was cut off by Rohanne again
"It's not only unfair for Junghoon but also for Hangyeol, he deserves to show off you know. Men have their pride and ego right? If I was Hangyeol I would get haunted by guilt if I read Junghoon's letter, that he sacrificed everything just for the two. Not all sacrifices are noble, you know. Some are just plain stupid. Hangyeol would feel like he doesn't deserve Yunhee at that point because if not for Natural causes then Junghoon and Yunhee would be together. And he was not the one Yunhee really wanted. People doesn't fall in love plainly just because of feelings, there are also triggers, so Yunhee easily fell for Hangyeol because Junghoon became that trigger, but if it wasn't for him do you think Yunhee would fall for Hangyeol? I bet no, because she loves Junghoon very much to the point where she can sacrifice everything for him"
The host looked dumbfounded at Rohanne's explanation, as well as Jaesom. The people watching were also shocked.
The host snapped out of it when the director signaled him to say something.
"N-Now that we look at it at a different point of view, Dr. Baek is somehow correct. It turns out that the three of them are just victims. Mr. Lee can you say something about that?"
"But you can't change the fact that Junghoon still dies. From there we knew that Yunhee and Hangyeol were destined for each other" Jaesom confidently said, but Rohanne just chuckled and looked at him clearly pissed
"Now I'm pretty sure you weren't listening to me the whole time I was speaking. You also didn't do a thorough research about the medical world. But yes, Junghoon still dies, it's inevitable."
Jaesome smirked because Rohanne has admitted defeat, but the latter wasn't still finished talking.
"But like I've been saying for the past five minutes, artificial hearts exists and it lasts for five years, and in the span of five years there's no way they can't find a donor. If they still can't…" She paused "Plot armor" She playfully mumbled which made the host and the people watching chuckle "then they should've spent the remaining years together."
Jaesom looked at Rohanne, he can't say anything anymore, but he can't admit defeat.
"So they would just leave Hangyeol is that what you're saying?"
Jaesom smiled, he knew he isn't winning but the protagonist should get the end game right?
"You're really using the plot armor against my claim?" Rohanne said and chuckled, it made Jaesom more irritated than he currently is and made the host laugh and the people watching.
"You see Mr. Lee, I'm not really a great writer or an Author, but if I could rewrite the ending, the best ending would be. Hangyeol dies, no he doesn't even need to die, he willingly give his heart to Junghoon, without a single ounce of regret and hesitation; He donates his heart to Junghoon and the two live happily ever after."
The man smirked and laughed, he was about to say something when Rohanne spoke again
"It's more tragic right? I might even make a fanfic about it." She joked but Jaesom didn't took it as a joke, so Rohanne just stopped laughing and continued speaking
"But that would be the best ending for me. Hangyeol would be very happy to help the two most important people in his life, the person he considered as his brother, and the person he loved the most. Even though it hurts, he won't regret what he did. What's more he would be very happy, because he knew that the two were made for each other. A match made in heaven"
The people inside the set just looked at her; questions were running in their heads.
"Okay, I know what you're thinking, that it was plain stupid. But don't you think that would make everyone happy?"
The host and Jaesom looked at her with a questioning look. As well as the people in the hospital, they were listening intently to Rohanne's explanation.
"Hangyeol loves Yunhee to the point he can sacrifice everything just for the woman to be happy correct? And since he considers Junghoon as his own blood and flesh he wants the guy to have a happy and peaceful life, right? Yunhee's happiness is Junghoon, right? And Junghoon's happiness is seeing Yunhee happy, correct? Do you see Hangyeol in the happiness equation of the two? No, that's because Hangyeol was never in the picture. He was always the third wheel and was never supposed to enter the picture. But because of plot armor, He entered the picture and took the Female lead."
Everybody was silent, not even a background music was played, they were all dumbfounded with Rohanne's explanation.
"If I were Hangyeol I would do that. I love Yunhee so much, that if giving my heart to Junghoon would make her happy I would do it. I would make ends meet for Junghoon to live, I can give all my organs if needed… But no…"
A quick shift in Rohanne's expression was visible, from being all cocky and confident she was now feeling gloomy and guilty.
"…He's already dead…"