- I have the documents. I know which doctor took care of my sister. - Let in by Jungkook, Chanmi's brother entered the apartment, holding a brown envelope in his hand.
- I knew you would be useful for something - the brunet stated, patting him on the shoulder. Jin threw him a warning glance, so he stepped back.
- How did you manage to do that? - asked the redhead. - You didn't do anything stupid to get this information, did you?
- I simply found the right man to do it for me. Rowoon's cousin works at the University Hospital. I started snooping around from that place because they have had the best doctors there for years. The man searched the medical records in the year I specified and found documents about Kim Chanmi's successful heart transplant.
The girl put her hands to her mouth, looking shocked.
- How is this possible? After all, it's not true... Your biological sister is dead, and I am her replacement....
- Something is on my mind, but it seems silly and fictitious, so you won't believe me, so it's best if we find this doctor first. He knows the truth since he issued those documents," Jungkook said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jin looked at him with interest.
- What do you have in mind?
- I suspect that this doctor no longer works at the University Hospital?
- He retired ten years ago.
- So let me hire an investigator to find him. We don't have time. We must discover the truth before it's too late. The death clock is ticking over Chanmi's head - he declared.
The redhead looked sadly at her friend as he put his arm around her.
- We will save you, Cha Cha. Everything will be fine.
- I trust you, Chansung.
- So you trust me too? - Jungkook smiled widely from ear to ear.
- I trust you too - she replied, rolling her eyes. - You proved to me that I should.
Chanmi lay on the couch in the living room, resting her hand under her head and staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts revolved around the mystery of Kim's family. She wanted Jungkook to find the doctor who performed the heart surgery on her real daughter twenty years ago as soon as possible. If it was successful, why didn't the child survive?
Strange...
The girl didn't understand any of this, and there was also the matter of the contract with the devil in which she was entangled.
From her perspective, it was all complicated and sick.
She raised her head when Jungkook returned to the apartment. He sat down on the couch where she was lying, placing her legs on his thighs. She furrowed her eyebrows as he looked at her with docile eyes.
- Aren't you getting too worked up? - She asked him, and he only shrugged his shoulders in response. - You've really been acting like I'm your girlfriend lately.
- If you were my girlfriend, I would kiss you to death. I'm still patiently waiting for the privilege.
- To death you don't have to because I'm going to die soon anyway - she replied gloomily.
The brunet grimaced. He looked at her with depressed eyes, fearing that eventually that time would come, and he would not be able to help her.
- I wish I could meet that devil and ask him to take me instead of you.
Chanmi fixed her puzzled eyes on him. She couldn't believe that this sentence sounded so serious in his mouth. He looked as if he said it from the bottom of his heart. Was he really so much in love with her that he was able to give his life for her?
- Why do you like me so much? For what? All this time I've been pushing you away and treating you like an enemy.
- I told you that my heart was already beating harder when Chansung told me about you. When I saw your picture, I saw an angel. You are my type, which is why I lost my head for you so much. I adore you, and even if I never manage to win your heart, I doubt I will have such strong feelings for another girl in the future.
The redhead still couldn't believe the ease with which he spoke about what was on his heart. He wasn't embarrassed, but she was.
She shifted her gaze to her friend, who walked down the stairs. He sat down in the chair next to her and smiled at the sight of them.
- You two look nice together - he declared, pulling his phone out of his pocket. He took a picture of them, capturing Chanmi's surprised face and Jungkook's smiling face on it.
- I want a picture with you, Chansung - the redhead said, rising from the couch.
- Forgive me, but because of the way I look, I hate looking in the mirror, let alone getting photographed.
- Say what you want, but in my heart you will forever remain the most handsome guy on earth. I thought so as a child, and I won't change my opinion - she declared, sitting down on her friend's lap and snuggling into him. She threw the phone to Jungkook, who looked jealous. - Take a picture of us.
Frowning his eyebrows, the brunet carried out this command reluctantly, making no secret of the fact that he was angry with his brother.
- You have to accept that for her, I will always be number one - Chansung said in an amused voice.
- Exactly - the girl confirmed.
It was a moment when each of them could at least for a moment forget the unpleasant experience. Chansung smiled in his friend's embrace, forgetting that he considered himself a burned monster. Chanmi was happy, not thinking about the fact that death was waiting for her outside the door. Jungkook lived to see the moment when he could spend time with his brother and the girl he loved in this way.
He placed his phone on the bench, delaying the selfie by ten seconds, and positioned himself behind them, sticking his head between them.
It was by far the prettiest photo he had managed to take, as the three of them were in it, happy, spending time together.
*
In her dream, Chanmi was again in that terrible place. She circled in the underground, eventually reaching the room where the statue of the devil was located. With frightened eyes, she looked at the statue, which evoked a monstrous fear in her.
It seemed to her that in that semi-darkness she saw a silhouette moving.
- Is there anyone here? - She asked, slowly walking in that direction. - Why are you hiding from me?
She took two steps back as a girl stepped out from behind the statue. At the same time, a light flashed in the room, and Chanmi looked around with fear in her eyes. The young woman who walked toward her was of a similar age to her. Gorgeous, with black hair that reached her knees in length. She had a milky complexion and large eyes. She looked like a doll.
She did not speak. She simply walked up to the redhead and touched her face with her hand. She looked at her with an apologetic gaze, and her eyes shone with tears.
- Who are you?
- Chanmi - she declared voicelessly, with a movement of her lips. - Let me die.
The girl woke up with her heart beating hard. It was the middle of the night, and she was in her room.
She raised herself to a sitting position and combed her hair back.
Was it possible that the girl she met in her dream was the real Chanmi? Was there a chance that she was really alive after a successful heart transplant operation? But why did she ask to be allowed to die?
She didn't understand any of this.
She got out of bed and left the room. She headed to the kitchen to get a drink of water. However, she did not expect to meet Jungkook there, who was sitting at the table drinking whiskey.
- Can't you sleep? Why are you drinking alcohol in the middle of the night? - she asked. He was frightened of her, as he jumped up in his chair.
- I can ask you the same thing. Can't sleep?
- I was awakened by a nightmare. I need to drink some water. - The brunet nodded, looking sad. - What's going on? - She sat down across from him, holding a glass in her hand.
Jungkook rubbed his face.
- I'm just tired of not being able to do anything to help you. My heart breaks when I think about the fact that one day I will wake up, and you won't be breathing.
Chanmi would never have guessed that this boy could have a sensitive side. He was distressed about her, afraid that one day he would lose her. He stayed up all night thinking about what he should do to help her.
- You are making me start to feel uncomfortable. Go to sleep, Jungkook, please. I feel bad about it - she declared, taking a sip of water.
He lifted his face and looked into her face with broken eyes. It destroyed her. He looked as if he were about to cry.
- I won't fall asleep worrying that something will happen to you. I want to keep watch.
- So sleep next to me, if it helps you - she suggested, and noticed that his eyes widened in disbelief. - But only sleep. If you don't cross the line, you have my permission - she added, rising from her chair. She put the glass back in the sink and returned to her room. She didn't have to wait for him for long because before she closed the door, he appeared on the doorstep.
- Are you serious? - He asked, looking at her with glassy eyes.
- This is the first time I'm completely serious about you. Get in - she said, letting him inside.
The brunet looked confused as Chanmi lay down on the bed against the wall and uncovered the quilt, telling him to lie down next to her.
- Shouldn't I sleep on the carpet?
- Do you take on a different personality at night? You are acting strangely, Jeon said.
Jungkook obediently lay down next to her, still not believing that this was really happening. For a moment, he felt like he had drunk too much and was daydreaming.
He lay next to her, looking into her eyes. She didn't turn her back to him, she just watched him.
- Do you know that my heart is beating like crazy right now?
- That's good, as long as it beats, it means you're alive - she replied jokingly, smiling slightly. She closed her eyes, feeling sleepy. - Now be quiet and sleep.
- And can I hug you? - He asked in a whisper.
- Don't cross the line, or I'll kick you out - she threatened him.
- Alright, then I'll just fall asleep politely next to you.
Chanmi tilted one eye and noticed that Jungkook was trying to fall asleep. She watched his face for a while, having to admit that he was very handsome.
No wonder Jieun had lost her head for him so much.