Chapter Text
***
The hall that was previously filled with the sounds of panic and worry and the cries of her brother became silent without a sound. Even her brother who was sitting beside her didn't make a sound, not even a sound of crying. He just lowered his head. His hair covered his downcast face.
Seokkyung sighed before looking around her. Now the only ones in front of Rona's room were her and her brother. Minhyuk had returned to his grandfather's house, Jeni and her mother had gone somewhere. Seokkyung's gaze fell on the seat near the nurse station. There were two guards hired by Logan like they were having a discussion about something. She looked towards Rona's room. Previously, the nurse had been in and out of Rona's room several times, raising concerns about Rona's condition.
The sound of footsteps approaching them caused Seokkyung to look away from Rona's room to find out whose footsteps were. Her mother jogged with a slightly panicked face with Logan running behind her.
“Omma?” She stood up to greet her mother who had just arrived in front of her.
“Oh, Seokkyung-ah.” Her mother patted her on the shoulder before she directed her eyes to Rona's room.
“The doctor told us that Rona's condition was past the critical period and just waiting for her to wake up. Although we still need to be cautious, I'm sure she will be fine. You don't need to worry.” Logan told them.
Seokkyung nodded in understanding but she wanted to confirm the news that Jeni told them earlier about Rona's father. Seeing the bags under her mother's eyes and how tired Logan's face was, she seemed to have gotten the answer.
“Dr Ha… is it true Dr Ha…” Even so, she still wanted to make sure.
Her mother closed her eyes briefly before touching her hand. “Yes, we're just about to have his funeral.”
“Is it Ms Cheon's?” She asked for the possibility of the cause of his death.
“Yes, although she's nowhere to be found in the scene, I've seen her when I had a video call with Dr Ha.” Her mother answered it by nodding her head.
She wanted to curse her ex-teacher but the first thing that came out of her mind was someone who was now lying unconscious in her room, “Rona… What will happen to Rona?” She asked empathetically. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her brother flinching after her question.
“Rona still has us. We will be her family. Do you mind?” With a gentle voice, her mother made a request to her.
“Not at all! Don't worry. I won't be jealous anymore.” She shook her head.
Yes, for sure she was willing to become her family. It's the least thing she could do for Rona as redemption after what she had done to her.
“Good, I hope you now treat Rona like your sister.”
“OK.” She then looked over at her brother and a small smile spread across her face. Maybe in a few years, Rona will truly become her big sister. After everything is over, after no one could separate them again, after no one could hurt them again. Then she remembered about Ms Cheon.
“Then what is your next plan for Ms Cheon?” She asked her mother.
Her mother then turned to Logan before looking at her again, “We had planned something to catch her shortly after Dr Ha's death, but considering Rona's current state, I think we will wait until she's improved. Is it okay, Logan?”
“Yeah, we can postpone it.”
“But what if Ms Cheon runs away?”
“Eunbyeol wants to help us. Cheon Seojin won't just run away leaving her daughter.” Logan answered her question.
“You don't have to think about it. Just leave it to us. Now all you have to do is help me take care of Rona. Forgive me, I'm too busy to-.”
Seokkyung shook her head. “Don't worry, omma. I'm even more worried about you and want to help you more. Remember, we are waiting for you to come home.” She held her mother's hand with both of her hands.
Her mother answered with a small smile before nodding which she responded with a smile too. Her mother then looked at her brother who was seated beside her and crouched down in front of him.
“Seokhoon-ah. Look at me...” Their mother stroked her brother's head. But he kept his head down.
“Seokhoon-ah… Please look at me.” Their mother then lifted Seokhoon's face before wiping away the tear marks on his cheeks and smoothing her brother's messy hair.
“Omma…” Her brother's dejected face was shown, his bagged eyes looking at their mother sadly.
“Seokhoon-ah… it's nobody's fault, especially not yours. So please stop blaming yourself.”
“But omma, it's better for me to blame myself than I have to see Rona blame herself.”
Seokkyung quickly turned her head away, and without warning her tears fell down her cheeks. She recalled the incident in Rona's room before this.
“Oh, Seokhoon-ah. My son…” Their mother hugged her brother.
***
“Rona-ya, breakfast is ready.” The call of her name made Rona open her eyes. She looked around and found her mother already sitting on her bed. With a touch on her face, her mother smiled at her. “Come on, let's have breakfast!”
She followed her mother into the dining room. There was already someone sitting whose face was blurry. No matter how hard she squinted her eyes, she still couldn't see him clearly. But she still sat at the table with them as she used to do it every day. She could see her mother joking with the man. And somehow, she smiled at the scene before her.
“Rona, today you're going home right?” asked her mother.
“Home? Isn't this my home? Our home.” She looked around confused by her mother's question.
“No… this isn't your home anymore.” Her mother shook her head with a smile.
Rona was still confused.
“Hurry! Finish your food. We have a little time to be together.”
Even though she hadn't understood what her mother meant, Rona still did what her mother said. And it's true that after breakfast the three of them spent time together chatting, joking and laughing. Perhaps.. more precisely, Rona was the third person who watched her mother and the stranger talk, joke and laugh. But even though she only watched them, she also felt joy and happiness. Her smile widened seeing her mother look so happy.
“Rona-ya, it's time for you to go.”
And just like that, time seemed to go by so fast. She wished she still had more time with them.
Just as she was about to express her wants to be together a little longer, her mother took her hand and led her towards the door. And with the blurry man, the three of them walked out of the place she felt was home.
And the moment she stepped out, she found an unfamiliar sight to her. There was an endless lonely path in front of her. A path surrounded by flowers, of all kinds and colours. She looked at her mother.
“Rona-ya…”
But before she could ask her mother what's it all about, a voice calling her name was heard from the end of the path. She tried to find the owner of the voice but found nothing. Then she looked back at her mother who she had just realized was wearing a simple white dress.
“Omma…” Rona was still confused with everything. But her mother seemed to guess what she wanted to ask then held her shoulders.
“Rona-ya, I'm sorry.” Her mother then stroked her hair. Her teary eyes matched with a sad smile that started to show.
“For what?” And Rona didn't like it.
“I can only take you up here. At first, I wanted to accompany you to walk until the end, until you have everything you dream of. But it seems I can only get you up here.” But her mother although looking sad, still trying her best to keep her voice away from shaking.
“Rona-ya, please come back home.”
She heard the voice calling her again.
“Your place is there while I must stop here.” Her mother told her while holding her hands. Although there was sadness shown in her smile, there was hope shined from her mother's eyes.
“Then I want to end up here too, with you. I don't want to go home. This is my home.” Without realizing it her tears fell. Her mother was the first one who had teary eyes yet Rona was the one who cried first.
“No dear. You have to pursue your dreams. Didn't you promise me to sing on the Italian stage?”
“But who do I sing for if not for you? If you're not there with me, then I don't need that dream anymore.” She shook her head as she reasoned to her mother why she wanted to be here instead.
“Sing for the person you love the most.”
“But you are the person I love the most.”
Her mother paused for a moment. A smile, this time not a sad smile but a lighter one crafted on her face. Her mother then touched her cheek, “No, I'm your past. Your future is there.” and her mother brought her hand off of her cheek to point to the end of the road.
“Rona-ya.”
The voice that was heard like an echo grew clearer in her ears.
“Look over there. He's been waiting for you.” Just like what her mother said, the figure of a man appeared at the end of the path. The one who constantly called her.
“No, omma...” Now she was starting to understand what her words mean, her tears started to fall.
Her mother then pulled her and brought her to her arms. She could feel her mother's feelings when she hugged her, warm but sad at the same time.
“Forgive your mother for leaving you like this, my dear daughter. But I know you are very brave and strong. So, never give up on your dreams no matter the obstacles you will face.”
Rona cried in her mother's arms. She didn't know what was going on with them but she knew this was goodbye. The parting she never thought she would experience so soon.
A hand was stroking her hair. She then looked up. The face of the man who had eaten with her was still blurry but she felt like she knew him already. The man then hugged them. And Rona's cries grew louder.
“Rona-ya, come on! Let's go home with me.”
Her mother then released her hug. “He keeps calling you. It's time for you to go. Always remember, we are both here to support you. Don't give up, keep running.”
“Yes, run Rona. Never be afraid to fall. And if you fall, don't cry about the injuries. Heal it and get ready to run again.” The blurry man who was also wearing a white shirt stroked her hair for the last time.
“Run, my daughter. Promise me to keep running for your dreams.”
Deep inside, she wanted to live here with them but Rona knew this was not her time yet to be with them, and her mother won't let her. There's still a long journey for her and she must fill it by pursuing her dream. Not just for her but for her mother. Rona nodded with tears still flowing from her eyes. With a smile, although her tears still falling from her eyes, she held her mother's hand.
“I promise.” After she saw her mother's nod, she turned away facing the path. She started to take steps, then walked until she felt the urge to run. She then ran. Running toward someone waiting for her at the end of the lonely path. Someone who constantly called her.
Getting closer to that person, Rona stretched out her hand to reach his hand. A white light blinded her.
***
Rona opened her eyes and kept blinking as she was not getting used to the surroundings. A single tear rolled down her face.
A dream
Had she just been dreaming? But why does it feel so real?
“Oh! You're awake?” Someone dressed as a nurse was now in front of her, standing beside her bed. Rona then averted her eyes and looked around her. An infusion tube was attached to her hand. And the sound of beeping from the device beside her bed told her where she was.
A hospital?
Why was she in the hospital?
“I'll call the doctor. Do you need anything?” She heard the nurse ask her.
Rona shook her head and then looked at her surroundings again.
“Can I ask something?” She asked the nurse who was getting ready to leave.
“Of course. What do you want to ask?”
“What happened to me? Why am I here?”
***
Seokhoon walked quickly towards Rona's room. His sister followed him from behind. His other friends, his mother, and Logan were already in Rona's room. Together with his sister, he happened to be at home after attending Rona's father's funeral.
Not long after they've walked, he saw people he knew standing at the door of Rona's room instead of inside. A question popped into his head as he didn't figure out why they were still outside.
“Why are they outside?” Seokkyung asked him the same thing.
“Omma?” His sister directly asked their mother as soon as he and Seokkyung got near them.
“Oh, you're here.” Their mother greeted them with confusion shown on her face too. He guessed she didn't know either.
“So everyone is here already?”
They all nodded at the nurse's question.
“Okay, wait a moment.” The nurse then entered Rona's room and saw Rona's doctor standing up after the nurse whispered something to him. Soon the doctor came out to meet them.
“I'm sorry I gathered you all like this. Instead of having to tell you one by one, maybe I should just gather you and tell you at the same time.”
Still didn't understand, he turned to his sister who shrugged her shoulders in confusion. Likewise with Minhyuk towards Jeni. Seems they all were confused. As for him not only confusion there's a slight worry inside him.
Perhaps seeing the confusion they all showed, the doctor chuckled.
“Don't worry. Ms Bae's condition is better than yesterday and even this is beyond my expectations because she was only in a coma for 24 hours, but there is something you should know.”
“What's that?” Even though she was told not to worry, Jeni's mother still asked in a worried tone.
“Soon you will know. Come with me. But please don't speak until I tell you to.”
“Okay.” They answered in unison.
Rona's doctor then walked in and they all followed behind him.
“Rona, as I said I brought your friends and family.”
Seokhoon finally met Rona again. He hesitated to go inside, in case Rona would become hysterical again when she saw him. However, with a half-sitting position, Rona looked at him for a moment when they were in front of her bed with a different gaze. A gaze he couldn't read. The same goes for the others, Rona only glanced at them before looking back at the doctor who was now beside her bed.
“Family? They are not my family.” Rona looked at them confusedly.
“Ro-” His mother was about to say something to her but Logan touched her hand and shook his head.
“Yes, you're right. They might not be your biological family but for them, you are part of their family.”
“I don't understand.” Rona still looks confused.
Not only Rona, he and the others also didn't understand what was going on.
“Try to look at them one more time. You really don't remember them?”
Rona's doctor's statement simultaneously surprised them all. Even more when Rona shook her head.
“Rona-ya? You don't remember me? It's me, Jeni!” Jeni then walked up to Rona and held her hand. But Rona pulled her hand instantly before shaking her head again.
“Sorry. I genuinely can't remember.” Rona answered while holding her head. Her action brought him to worry more.
Seokhoon saw her doctor and then took her hand from her head. “Don't force yourself to remember. And it's fine if you can't remember it yet. They'll introduce themselves. Who knows, you might remember it naturally.”
A little gasp sounded beside him which he knew came from his sister waking him to reality. With Rona's actions and the words her doctor told her, he now understood. Rona had forgotten them.
Compared to him who was still in shock, Jeni who was standing beside her bed came to her senses more quickly which could be seen by her calm demeanor after nodding as if realizing her mistake. “It's me Jeni, Yoo Jeni. I'm your best friend. Your closest friend.”
“And I am Jeni's mother. We lived together for a while. I treat you like my own daughter.” Jeni's mother came beside Jeni, adding her daughter's introduction.
Seokhoon, who was standing second from the end, could only watch what was happening in front of him. He didn't expect that something like this would happen where Rona didn't remember him.
His eyes then looked at Rona who soon returned his gaze. Their eyes met for some time. The eyes that had previously stared at him with anger turned into eyes with a normal gaze, or it could be said indifferent.
“Oppa?” Seokkyung slightly pulled the hem of his shirt.
He then turned his gaze to the side, towards his sister. “Huh?”
“It's your turn.”
He then looked at Rona again who was still staring at him. He cleared his throat, and let out a breath as the nervousness suddenly overtook him.
“Joo- Joo Seokhoon… I'm Joo Seokhoon.” He answered while giving a smile.
“And you're my?”
Boyfriend
He really wanted to reply to her with that answer but he had to know his own place and remind himself that his current status was her ex-boyfriend.
“Seokhoon is my son. Your mother is my best friend. Seokkyung and Seokhoon are my children who are also your friends.” His mother answered for him.
“Yes, we are all schoolmates. Me, you, Seokkyung, Seokhoon, and Lee Minhyuk.” Jenny added.
“Lee Minhyuk?” Rona asked Jeni.
“Lee Minhyuk here!” Minhyuk who was standing beside him raised his hand in a cheerful tone. There was a feeling of displeasure in Seokhoon's chest to see Minhyuk behaving as if he was looking for attention from her.
Unexpectedly, a smile suddenly spread on Rona's pretty face. “I remember you.”
“What?” He was surprised to hear Rona's statement. Not only him, the others were too. Even Minhyuk was also surprised.
“You remember him?” Rona's doctor also looks surprised.
“Yes, I remember him. He's my fiance. He asked me to marry him.”
“WHAT?!?”
***
“Seokhoon-ah, it's not-”
Before his friend said something, Seokhoon grabbed Minhyuk's collar and pushed his friend against the wall shortly after they left Rona's room.
“What does all that mean?” He didn't care about other people's views of him seeing him suddenly push Minhyuk.
“Let me go, Joo Seokhoon!” He could hear an annoyed tone from Minhyuk's plea.
“What? A fiance? How?” But he didn't want to let go before he got the answer he wanted.
“Seokhoon-ah, stop it.” His mother's hand he felt was grabbing his shoulder.
“Please stay out of this, omma.” He asked his mother while still glaring at his friend who was just standing there looking at him, sighing without saying anything.
“Why don't you say something?” He pushed Minhyuk once again before chuckling, “Is that why the last person with Rona was you? Is that the reason why you could go in and out of Rona's house freely as if it's nothing unusual? Is that why she wrote me a letter because she had found someone new and the letter was just something out of courtesy? Since when you two have been fooling around behind me and LIE TO ME?” He shouted and expressed all his emotions.
“HOW COULD YOU-!” Minhyuk pushed him away before he felt a punch on his cheek afterwards. The punch from his friend was strong enough to make him down, touching the floor behind him.
“Oppa!”
“Seokhoon-ah.”
“Lee Minhyuk!”
“Stop it both of you!! Why are you two doing this? This is not the time to fight!” Before he could counter Minhyuk's attack, Logan prevented him by standing between him and Minhyuk.
“Ouch.. it hurts.” Minhyuk shook his hand that he used to punch him before looking back at him who was trying to stand up. “Whoaa… I never thought that there will be a day I'd punch a Joo Seokhoon.” The look of disdain shown by Minhyuk annoyed him even more.
“You need to stop too, Lee Minhyuk!” Jeni pushed Minhyuk away from him. But she was being ignored as Minhyuk looked at him furiously.
“Hey, Joo Seokhoon. I know right now you're very jealous. But don't look down on Rona like that! Of all people, you should be the one who understands Rona the most!!!! What? Find someone new? Oh, I really hope Rona finds someone other than you because you're showing more that you don't deserve her!!! YOU FUCKING SHIT!” Minhyuk shouted and cursed at him angrily.
“Instead of provoking my brother, you should just explain what Rona meant by saying that you asked her to marry you?” Before he could give the response, Seokkyung was the one who spoke, annoyedly.
“Tch…” Minhyuk ruffled his hair in despair before facing them all, “Yes it's true that on the day of Rona's accident, I asked her to marry me-”
“YOU!!” He wanted to hit Minhyuk but was stopped by Logan.
“But that was just a joke. She… Rona… was sad because you were still ignoring her. Even after knowing that your father was not the one who killed her mother, you still ignored her, acting like you don't know her.”
Seokhoon immediately fell silent, he didn't expect that the attack Minhyuk gave was some piercing words stabbing his chest.
“And that moment… I'm also unlucky in love.” He could see Minhyuk glancing at Jeni, “That's why I told her if we are both single and hopeless romantic at 40 then we should get married. But of course, it's just a joke.” Minhyuk ended his explanation.
“That's it? There's no hidden meaning in it?” Seokkyung asked suspiciously.
“No! Nothing at all.” Minhyuk answered before looking at him and saying in a low tone, “All of you know that Rona loves only one person.”
Minhyuk's answer made the atmosphere quiet. Seokhoon, who was previously filled with anger, now only silently looked down ashamed. The emotional outbursts caused by his jealousy were really out of place, especially after what he did to Rona, he should be thanking his friend for being there when Rona needed someone she could rely on. Maybe he deserved the punch from Minhyuk, not only for saying some garbage words but for everything he had done to her.
He looked at Minhyuk who was still shaking the hand that was used to punch him before walking towards Minhyuk. Probably knew that he wasn't going to hit Minhyuk. Logan, who previously held him back, now let him.
“I'm sorry, Lee Minhyuk. My jealousy is eating me alive.” He held out his hand apologetically to his friend.
“Tch, you and your jealousy. This is the reason why I don't want to be the one who makes Joo Seokhoon jealous. Because you acted stupid if you're jealous.” Minhyuk replied while tidying up his clothes before shaking his hand.
He chuckled hearing that, “I'm still jealous tho. She only remembers you.”
“Oh, crap!”
***