Not Him

54

The woman stood up tensely, while squeezing her hands that had started to break out in cold sweat. Fear was mastering it right now, as if it was dealing with something extremely terrifying. His hesitation came again, somewhere to lose the courage he had gathered before.

“Mr Kim.” Shortened leg. The man behind the table stopped his activity for a moment, then looked straight at the woman in front of him.

“It will arouse suspicion if anyone sees you enter my room, miss Hwang.”

“I want to talk, about―“

“―uang?” the man, Kim Jongmin, had a brief guess.

“You said you would help me. I need more money for my sister's treatment.”

“Isn't that enough I gave you back then? You want to blackmail me, eh?”

Once again Hwang Miyoung squeezed his hand tightly, but this time it was not because of tension like that for a moment, but because he was angry. It was as if the old man was talking. What he had done was too great to be exchanged for a certain amount of won that might have meant nothing at all to the man.

“I won't give you anything else, Miss Hwang. My promise is to pay off your debt to make up for your house seized by the bank. That's our only deal, isn't it? I have nothing to do with you anymore.”

“Master Kim Jongmin!” Hwang Miyoung harshly mentioned the name, momentarily forgetting the respect he had shown to someone who had a higher position than him. He continued, “I've sacrificed myself to do your wish. I even betrayed my superiors with false testimony that kept him imprisoned. Do you think the money you gave me was worth what I did? My sister is seriously ill, and I really need that money.”

“Deal is still a deal. I won't give you anything more.”

“I could have corrected my testimony, and it would have cost you.” Miyoung tried to threaten.

Kim Jongmin was a little jolted to hear it, but a moment later he was still able to show his cynical smile, “Oh huh? I have a little doubt. If you do, won't you get dragged in too? Remember, miss Hwang, we hold the dead cards to each other. We better keep each other secret.”

Hwang Miyoung was silent, the man's remark was correct. If he reported the man's rot, he would also be dragged away for giving false testimony that caused an innocent person to feel wronged.

“You better get out soon, before anyone sees you here.”

That woman can't do anything. He turned around, stepping violently towards the exit. His breathing rose and fell, feeling very tight because it was holding back the crying. Everything that had happened to him this time was really too much for him. He can't face this alone.

.....****

“I always hope that the one standing at the altar with me is you, not someone else.”

*

Hwang Miyoung walked gontai down the aisle of the hospital, stepping towards a room. His steps were heavy, as if there were iron chains wrapped around his feet at the moment. His breath tight―maybe for him now there is no more air around him that can give life. Only bad luck and suffering are immediately present to fill his life, is not it the same life is meaningless anymore? Maybe escaping this world is the best way out.

Suicide. He would have done it a long time ago, if none of his angels were still there and needed him. He would've run away from all this, if the girl wasn't with him.

Miyoung realized, the only thing that makes him still survive is because of his little sister. The spirit of his life, the source of his happiness. He had no one but his sister―after the departure of their parents in an accident a few years ago―and he had to stay strong for the little girl.

His steps stopped right in front of the door of a room. He sighed many times in order to calm himself down, then wiped away the remains of tears on his face. He knew his makeup had worn off from crying earlier.

Miyoung opened the door, then went inside. Still holding back tears, the woman walked closer towards the bed. There lies a man, someone who means a lot in his life.

“Seoyoung-ah.” He quietly stroked the face of the sleeping girl. Miyoung's voice choked when she called her name, it felt tight when she found her beloved sister was now asleep in the boundary between life and death.

“Eonnie scared. Eonnie can't go through this alone.” he started sobbing. His voice was raucous, so illustrating his sadness.

“Why don't you wake up and comfort Eonnie? Do you not love me anymore?”

Miyoung hoped Seoyoung would wake up and kiss her cheek immediately, saying, “Everything will be fine, as long as I am always with Eonnie”, as long as I am with her, as the fourteen-year-old girl usually does when she sees Miyoung grieving. But that can only be an illusion now. Her sister can't wake up―not now.

Miyoung again wiped away the flow of tears on her face. The woman then came out of the room.

“I'm fine.”

“You're already going?” asked again, Miyoung just nodded in response to her words.

The man, Jung Yunho― who works as a doctor at the hospital― smiled at a glance, “Then see you next time.”

The man was just about to open the door, when he heard Miyoung's voice calling his name, “Doctor Jung!”

“Ya?” the man turned his head back, looking at Miyoung curiously. But Miyoung just kept quiet and looked at him doubtfully.

“There's something I need to talk about. Can we talk now?” said the woman finally, after a pause of a few seconds. Doctor Jung removed his grip from the door handle, then nodded in agreement. “Please to my room.”

Miyoung then follows Jung's doctor from behind. There was something he wanted to talk to the young doctor about, and it concerned his sister.

“Please sit.” Dr. Jung invited him, after he sat in his chair. “What do you want to talk about?”

Miyoung was silent, she was trying to convey what was bothering her mind at the moment. But finally the woman also dared herself to talk, “Can... Can Seoyoung's treatment be stopped?”

“What?” Doctor Jung gave a surprised shriek, his eyes perfectly rounded after hearing the woman's words. “You mean, take off his medical devices and let Seoyoung die? Are you crazy, Miss Hwang?”

Miyoung's hands shook violently. He couldn't believe something like this could be on his mind.

I've gone mad. Yes, it is true, doctor. I've gone mad.

“He's been in a coma for two years. I feel sorry for him, it is better for him to leave quietly than to suffer like that.” Miyoung started crying. His heart ached saying this, but he couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't see his sister become an undead like that. He can no longer.

Jung Yunho really could not believe such a thought could cross the mind of that woman. “You love him, don't you?”

“Very. Precisely because I love him, then―”

“Many patients can still wake up after being in a coma for years. You just need to be patient and pray.”

“But I can't be patient anymore, I can't. Anyway.” Miyoung stopped her sentence, her throat as if choked, unable to make a sound.

“What's up? Say.” Doctor Jung waits for Miyoung to continue with her words.

“I already have no cost for the treatment. It will be free.”

Doctor Jung stared concernedly, he took a quiet breath then stretched out his hand to give the lady a handkerchief. “If it's about cost, maybe I can help. You can't despair like this.”

Miyoung accepted the handkerchief hesitantly, “I don't want to trouble anyone. You don't have to help me.”

Doctor Jung looked at him angrily, “Stop thinking like that! I did this too for Seoyoung. She's been thought of as my own sister.”

“I don't want to owe you.”

“Nona Hwang, don't be narrow-minded. You think I'm gonna demand your buds? I told you, it's for Seoyoung.”

“Why are you so emotional, doctor? You have nothing to do with us. You don't have to involve yourself in this.”

“I'm the doctor!” doctor Jung snapped at Miyoung, leaving the woman silent for a moment. “Sorry, I got carried away by emotions.” Doctor Jung said softly, after realizing the look on the woman's face in front of him looked surprised. Of course he was emotional, how could the woman not want to consider his kindness? He sincerely helps, but Miyoung too close herself.

“I excuse me.” Miyoung stood up, then lowered her head briefly before finally exiting the room.