| ** Don’t Forget Me (FTTS and Click-B) Finshed *Contact me at: Shinhwa_jjang@hotmail.com Prologue Hwanhee leaned back on the bench in the big church. He glanced around to see if anyone else was there. Well, there was Brian, his best friend. Ho Suk, a skinny little guy that was kinda their friend/tag-a-long. Yun Suk... now there was a guy that they could look up to. But why were they all there? Their schoolmate's grandmother died. She had no parents, but she lived with her grandmother. But a week before, her grandmother had suddenly gotten a stroke and went into the hospital. But her old frail body couldn't take it. She died after a few moments. SooJin, their classmate, cried and cried so much that all the people in the school, even though they hated her, came to her grandmother’s funeral. They were all at the funeral now. Even some people that Hwanhee didn't even know had came. And Hwanhee almost knew everyone in the school. He closed his eyes and almost slid off the bench. 'Aish... bbalee ggeun nah yah jeeh... I have singing lessons!' he thought. He didn't even know why he was here. His mother, who had been friends with SooJin's mom, dragged him here. He opened his eyes when he felt his mom tapping him on the shoulder. "Yoon Suk ah! Ihl uh nah!" Hwanhee stood up and asked, "Is it done?" His mom shook his head and said, "We're just giving our respects rite now. Stand up, it's our turn!" Hwanhee rolled his eyes and groaned. He shuffled his feet and got in line behind Ho Suk and Yun Suk, who were almost crying for SooJin's grandmother. He rolled his eyes again and crossed his arms. He waited and waited to see this famous SooJin. After all, he didn't like to look at girls... not after what happened with... He stepped up to the coffin and said a silent prayer. He went around to get a good look at SooJin. What he saw, it surprised him... a lot... Chapter 1 He shook his head and shook her hand. She didn't even look at him. Soojin... she was such a young thing. Her hair was tied back with a black scrunchie, but it wasn't enough to hold back all her hair. Her front bangs curled around her forehead, making Hwanhee look at her with interest. He cocked his head as Soo Jin burst into tears. Not wanting to be in front of her when she did, he moved on. He looked back to see Brian, Ho Suk, and YunSuk each peck her on the cheek. They gave her a hug. 'Must be close friends...' Hwanhee thought as he looked at SooJin turn red at the touch of Brian. He turned back to the face the front and walked out of the church. He put his hands in his pockets and waited for Brian to come out. When Brian DID finally come out, he was crying. Ho Suk, as usually was following him. Hwanhee groaned and said, "Brian ah... ddoh geh gah nuh leul..." Brian acted different today. Usually, he nodded his head and groaned as well. But today, he shook his head furiously and mouthed, "He's been hurt the most." Hwanhee nodded slowly and was confused. How could have Brian known SooJin, but never introduced him to her? She was kinda cute. But this was not the time to think about that. Her only living relative had died. Where was she gonna go now. Right then, he saw her dab her eyes with a tissue, with Yun Suk leading her. She was stepping out of the church to go to the gravesite. She sobbed into his shoulder, and YunSuk patted her. His eyes started to form tears. She had been such a nice girl... what was going to happen to her? HoSuk, Hwanhee, Brian, and YunSuk were all thinking of the same thing. Where will she stay?? Who will she stay with?? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I'm sure that everyone here had known her well. As a person that..." The speaker spoke to a crowd that wasn't even listening. The focus was centered on SooJin... the poor girl that was left without anyone to take care of her. They eyed her, muttering to themselves about who she was gonna stay with... who was going to take care of her... SooJin suddenly looked up and held her hand up to the speaker. The speaker stopped and everyone turned to look at her. She stepped up and said, "Please... i don't think my grandmother would like everyone crying over her dead body. Can you guys just please go home? So i could just get this over with... Burying her... please..." , Her small voice pleaded with the adults, and one by one, they all left. The only people that were left were Hwanhee, Yun Suk, Brian, and Ho Suk. All of them except Hwanhee crowded around her, hugging her. "It's okay Soo Jin ah... don't cry." Hwanhee just stood there, feeling like an outcast. But when Soo Jin looked up and pierced her eyes right through Hwanhee... he felt as if he had known her all his life. The words... they scared him. Soo Jin, standing on the other side of the small hill, gasped as her eyes went wide. Her hands flew to a small locket around a chain at her neck. She mouthed, no... barely whispered one word. No one heard her, but Hwanhee did. Even though he was the farthest away from her, he was the only one that heard her... She said, "Oppa..." Chapter 2 Hwanhee looked up suddenly and looked at SooJin. He frowned, but slowly walked toward her. The people surrounding SooJin felt a change in her. They gave her space and watched as Hwanhee and SooJin slowly walked toward each other. “Oppa…” SooJin was muttering as she was walking. Hwanhee shook his head more, but kept on walking. When they were a foot away from each other, they stopped. SooJin looked down at her locket and opened it. She looked at the picture inside. She compared it to the guy in front of her. It matched perfectly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “SooJin ah… hal mu nih gah gahl gguh gaht eh…” SooJin shook the small head of hers and said, “Hal mu nih… gah jih mah… Nah lang eeht ssuh yah jeeh…” Her grandmother took her hand and pressed the locket into her hands. “This person… this man… the only person that can help you now… Your oppa…” Those were her last words to her. SooJin cried as the doctors took her away from her. Her only living relative. Her grandmother, her last words, it had startled her. What did she mean by her oppa? She had no brother. No sister. No parents. No one now… She opened the locket to find a small picture of this “oppa.” She carefully fingered the picture and it fell out. “Oh no…” She bent to pick it up and on the back, something was scrawled. She squinted her eyes to look at what it said. When she finally carefully studied it enough, it said: Hwang Yoon Suk. SooJin’s… She couldn’t read the last word, because of the fading ink. She put it back in the locket, and pressed into her palm. It left an imprint of a heart on her skin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SooJin stepped forward and whispered, “hwang Yoon Suk…” Hwanhee looked up in surprise. No one called him by his birth name anymore. In school, he was called Hwanhee. Even his teachers and his parents called him that. This little girl that he was suddenly attracted to had called him Yoon Suk. He peered at her closely and asked, “Do you know me?” SooJin put a finger to her lip and pointed to the picture in her locket. Hwanhee became excited and said, “hey… that’s me!” SooJin nodded her head slowly and took the picture out. She pointed to the back and made Hwanhee read it. Hwanhee squinted his eyes and slowly read: Hwang Yoon Suk. SooJin’s… He looked up at her in confusion. “SooJin… what? What am I to you?” Soojin sighed and said, “I… my grandmother… before she died, she gave me this. She told me that you were the only person that could help me now. I’ve studied this picture day and night. I know it well enough to have recognized you without the picture. But I couldn’t see you while we were shaking hands because I was crying too much.” Hwanhee looked at her and asked, “But how can I help you?” SooJin shrugged and said, “that’s what we have to find out. My grandmother said that you were my oppa. But I never had a brother, or a sister before. I was an only child… an orphan.” Hwanhee didn’t know what to do. This girl was claiming to be her sister. He was an only child too. He raised his eyebrows and said, “Then.. maybe she was right…” At this moment, Brian, Ho Suk, and YunSuk came over and asked what was going on. Hwanhee and Soojin explained it to them. They shrugged and said, “Well, we have to go now. So I hope you can figure things out.” They left in one care and Hwanhee looked after Brian. How could his best friend have ditched him? For HoSuk and YunSuk too… He turned back his attention to SooJin and asked, “Then you want to go to the hospital and take a blood test or something?” SooJin shook her head and said, “First… I want to get to know you first.” They got into Hwanhee’s car and drove off. SooJin asked, “When’s your birthday?” Hwanhee cleared his throat and said, “January 17, 1982.” SooJin turned to face him and said, “What?” Hwanhee said, “January 17, 1982.” SooJin turned to face forward and took a deep breath. “But… that’s my birthday…” Chapter 3 Hwanhee stopped the car and asked, “What?” SooJin said, “that’s my birthday too.” Hwanhee shook his head and said, “It doesn’t make sense. First we have to believe that we’re related in the first place… or something. And now, we’re twins?!” SooJin tried to hold back a tear and answered, “But… think about it. I have nowhere to go. If you ARE my twin… or brother… can’t I live with you?” Hwanhee shook his head and said, “Are you crazy?? I barely even know you!” SooJin answered in a soft voice, “But…” Hwanhee started to get into the traffic again and said, “No… and no buts about it.” SooJin and Hwanhee continued the ride in silence until Hwanhee asked SooJin, “Where’s your house?” SooJin looked at him and said, “Remember… I don’t have a house anymore. That was my grandmother’s. They had to sell it for all the bills she had.” Hwanhee raised one eyebrow and said, “So, you have nowhere to go?” SooJin shook her head and Hwanhee smacked his forehead. “Then… let’s go to the hospital and get those blood tests.” Hwanhee suggested. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The nurse peeked out of the room and said, “Hwang Yoon Suk… Hong SooJin.” Hwanhee put down the magazine he was reading and went inside with SooJin. ‘Hong… hwang… so alike…’ he thought as he went in. The nurse made them sit side by side and two doctors came out. They held something in their hands. SooJin gulped and asked, “Is… is that for us?” The doctors nodded and SooJin hid her face in her arm. Hwanhee looked at her and thought, ‘Should I hold her hand? Should I?’ The needle bore into Hwanhee’s arm first and he winced a little. He could feel the blood going out of his arm. He watched in amazement as he watched the tube fill up with his blood. Now, it was SooJin’s turn. She shook her head and said, “Let’s just go home… please?” Hwanhee grinned and said, “You have no home to go to remember?” SooJin put her head up and stuck out her tongue at him. Hwanhee smiled and reached out for her hand. SooJin was so surprised that she didn’t even feel the needle pinching her skin. “Neh.. dah dweh sseum neeh dah…” SooJin looked at the container with her blood and gasped. She buried her head in her hands again. Hwanhee and SooJin went outside to wait for the results. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Hwang Yoon Suk shi?” Hwanhee stood up and looked at SooJin, who was now sleeping. She was curled up in one chair, with her pale face standing out from the black wall. He went in the room and left SooJin there. “Yoon Suk shi?” Hwanhee nodded and said, “Neh…” ”Geu lum… SooJin shi neun?” ”SooJin is sleeping outside. I think we should let her be. Doctor… what are the results?” The doctor said, “So, you tell me that you found out your birthdays were on the same day?” Hwanhee nodded and the doctor went on. “How about time?” Hwanhee shook his head and said, “But… the results.” ”Yes… the results. They show us that you ARE related… in fact, brothers and sisters. The tests also show that you MIGHT be twins…” Hwanhee shook his head and said, “But how?” The doctor walked over to a cabinet and said, “I believe that you, Hwang Yoon Suk were born here. Let me look at your records. They might be different than you know yourself.” Hwanhee was all confused now. He had a twin… a person that he shared his feelings with. Someone that understood him. And it just had to be a little girl that he had met today… no he couldn’t call her little anymore. They were the same age. “Hm… your parents were Hwang Jong Min and Hwang Min Hee, correct?” Hwanhee nodded and asked, “what about SooJin’s records?” The doctor held up his hand, but kept his eyes on the folder. “It says here that you were born with a little sister. A little girl that came a minute after you did. But your parents, who couldn’t financially support her at that time, decided not to keep her. They left her here and someone adopted her at a very early age. So she doesn’t remember anything about being left here. And you.” ”Then… that means her grandmother that died… she isn’t her grandmother… Right?” The doctor nodded and said, “Right. And she IS your sister… so I suggest you take care of her.” Hwanhee thanked the doctor and walked out. He found Soojin sitting up, with her knees curled up against her stomach. “What did he say? Are we related?” Hwanhee plopped down on the chair next to her and answered, “I’ll get you an apartment. We’re twins.” SooJin gasped and whispered, “Oh my gosh…” Chapter 4 Hwanhee stared straight forward as they were driving to look for an apartment. He muttered something like, “I have to get to singing lessons…” SooJin looked up and said in a soft voice, “Uh… oppa… you can go. I can walk, I really can.” Hwanhee glared at her and said sharply, “I'm not your oppa. I don’t even know you.” SooJin stuck out her bottom lip and looked down at her hands. Hwanhee almost felt bad… almost. He was more confused than sorry. How could his parents have left her like that? And to see his mother… his beautiful mother… It was her daughter. And she had known it hadn’t she? Unless… something else had happened. Something else had happened that his own mother didn’t know her own daughter. He drove crazily around the other cars as they honked and yelled at him. SooJin’s eyes got wide at the sight of the numerous cars and asked, “Can… could you slow down a bit?” That only made Hwanhee go faster. ‘How could this little girl tell him what to do?’ he thought. But after that thought, he remembered that it was his twin. But… it just didn’t make sense. He made a note to himself to ask his parents about this. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “But you don’t understand. I need an apartment now!” Hwanhee yelled to the real estate manager. “I'm sorry… we don’t have an apartment available just now. Come back tomorrow,” he answered. Hwanhee rolled his eyes and bit his lip, trying not to yell. “Sir… my family is one of the most respected families in this town. If you don’t give me an apartment right this minute, I'm going to…” SooJin stepped forward and quietly said, “sir… thank you for your business. I'm sure we can find an apartment somewhere else. Thank you.” She turned to grab Hwanhee’s arm and to leave. But Hwanhee wouldn’t budge. SooJin gathered up all her strength and pulled him out. When they finally were out, Hwanhee glared at SooJin and asked, “Why did you do that? I was this close to getting you an apartment… somewhere to stay for the night.” SooJin shook her head and said, “But… I couldn’t see that man sweat under pressure from not being able to sell an apartment.” Hwanhee shook his head and said, “Get in the car.” SooJin got in and asked, “Where are we going?” Hwanhee didn’t answer and looked straight forward. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “HWANG YOON SUK! WHY ARE YOU SO LATE!” the instructor yelled at him. Hwanhee peered straight into her eyes and said, “For your information, I just came back from a funeral. This girl’s grandmother’s funeral, in fact…” he held up SooJin’s hand. “I spent the whole day trying to look for an apartment for her.” The instructor looked at him from slit eyes and asked, “Is this true young lady?” SooJin, found speechless, just nodded. She looked around to see where she was. It was apparently a recording studio. There were headphones and microphones hanging from the ceiling. There was a large tinted window, and she peered into it. Hwanhee grabbed her arm back and firmly said, “Go outside and watch.” SooJin meekly went out and stood in the corner, watching her twin brother sing. “Oh neul hal ooh uh ddeun nah yo geun cha nahn nah yo…” Hwanhee started singing. SooJin closed her eyes and let herself fall into the music. But it wasn’t long until the door opened and the sound of footsteps made her open her eyes. “SooJin ah… what are you doing here?” ”Oppa… what are YOU doing here?” ”Singing lessons with Hwanhee… you?” ”I came with… Hwanhee…” ”I see. Wow, it’s unusually for him to talk to girls. Even get close to them. And the thought of him driving you here…” Hwanhee suddenly stepped out and said, “YO! Brian… wassup dude!” Brian laughed and said, “I see… Trying to take my SooJin away from me…” ”Your SooJin?” SooJin shook her head and said, “No… I'm no one’s SooJin.” Brian laughed and put his arm around her and said, “Nope… you’re mine.” SooJin blushed and turned redder when Brian stooped down to kiss her on the cheek. Hwanhee raised his eyebrows and asked, “Is there something going on between you two?” SooJin shook her head and collided with Brian’s nodding head. They both laughed and Brian said, “Naw… I just like to tease her a lot.” Brian patted her back and said, “Well, I have to go inside. Singing lessons for Hwanhee… rapping lessons for me,” he smiled. SooJin nodded her head and closed her eyes once again. She fell into Brian’s raps now. Even though it wasn’t as beautiful as when Hwanhee oppa was singing, it still had its own musical ring to it. “Girl, I know what you’re thinking when you sleeping at night. You think I'm stressing but baby I'm alright. You’re like an angel watching over me, I was blind…” After a few minutes, Brian stepped out and said, “Break time for me… but Hwanhee doesn’t like to take breaks.” SooJin nodded and motioned him to sit next to her on the couch she was sitting on. Brian took a seat and asked, “So… what happened today? Hwanhee didn’t sing as well.” SooJin told Brian everything that happened. The trip to the hospital… the new about twins… Brian asked, “Are you serious? Hwanhee and you are twins?” SooJin nodded as Hwanhee came out. He stared at the both of them and asked, “You told him…” SooJin nodded and Brian asked, “Why? I can’t know… your best friend can’t know that you have a sister?” Hwanhee shook his head and went back into the recording studio. Brian put his arm around SooJin and said, “It’s okay… Hwanhee’s like that. He doesn’t like girls. Not after what happened to…” SooJin looked up and asked, “What happened?” Brian smacked his forehead and said, “I can’t tell…” SooJin put on her puppy face and whined, “Oppa… come on…” Brian sighed and started out with his story. “Hwanhee wasn’t always single you know… he had a girlfriend once. A chunsah I tell you. She was the love of his life. Her name… JiHae. She was the Hwanhee’s life.” Chapter 5 “I think it was his sophomore year. Hwanhee decided to ask this girl out that he had been eyeing all summer. He gathered his courage and asked her. Of course, having the “handsome” face that he has, she said yes. They were the best-known couple in the school. JiHae didn’t want to seem proud of her boyfriend and kept it a secret. But Hwanhee, he was proud. He told everyone. They went out for a year and a half I think… JiHae decided to break up with him. Hwanhee didn’t eat for two weeks. I don’t even know how he lived. JiHae’s face was never seen by anyone after that. When I called her house, because I got worried for Hwanhee, her mother told me that she had died from cancer about 3 weeks ago. She burst into her tears. When she told me the date, I calculated and found out it was a day after she broke up with Hwanhee. I guess she knew she was gonna die. She didn’t want to give hurt to Hwanhee. But she did… by dying.” SooJin sighed and said, “So… oppa doesn’t like girls anymore?” Brian shook his head and SooJin said, “But… I’ll make him like girls. Because I'm a girl. And I'm his twin sister.” Brian shook his head again and said, “SooJin ah… you don’t understand. Every girl he saw… in the streets, in school, anywhere… he would walk by with his head down.” SooJin put her head down as Brian got up to go back in. SooJin sighed and decided to take a walk outside. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She felt a tap on her shoulder and a small voice ask, “SooJin eeh?” SooJin turned around and came face to face with Ho Suk. “Ho Suk oppa… thank you for coming to the funeral. I'm sure … grandmother… would have liked it.” Ho Suk nodded and hugged her. “Oppa… I…” Ho Suk put his finger to her lips and looked into her eyes. “SooJin ah… heem neh ah laht jeeh? Nuh yeh geut eh oppa gah ih jah nah…” SooJin nodded slowly and wondered to herself, ‘Why was oppa acting like this? He was always cheerful, looking at the bright side of things.’ “Oppa… I came with Hwanhee oppa to watch him take singing lessons. And Brian oppa’s up there too… I have to go…” Ho Suk pulled back and said, “Okay…” As he watched SooJin go up the stairs, he started to cry. ‘SooJin ah… do you know how much I love you? How much I care? But your heart is towards Brian right now… I know that. Brian, Brian, Brian. That’s all you talk about. When will it be me SooJin ah? I’ve been your closest oppa since 3 years old… until Brian came along. Him and his stupid American ways. SooJin ah… do you remember, that cold winter night… when you made me promise to marry you? I still remember… And I will keep that promise. My heart stays with you, SooJin…’ He walked away, alone, his heart longing for SooJin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Brian, what did she say?” ”She’s hurt Hwanhee. You have to do something. Forget about JiHae.” Hwanhee started to red in fury and raised his voice, “Never say that again Brian! I WILL NEVER FORGET ABOUT JIHAE!” He stormed out of the room, taking his jacket on the way. SooJin, coming up the stairs, couldn’t see Hwanhee until it was too late. SooJin and Hwanhee collided, sending Hwanhee and SooJin to the ground. SooJin was the one to get up first. “Oppa… are you okay? I'm sorry!” Hwanhee got up and answered, “I'm fine,” as he dusted himself. SooJin stood back as Hwanhee walked out, passing her with a mean glare that made SooJin sink back. Out of nowhere, Brian came out. “I saw that. All of it. SooJin ah…. Understand okay? Understand that he can’t let go.” SooJin nodded, but thought to herself, ‘I'm going to make him like me. No matter what it takes.’ Little did she know, it would take all of her. Chapter 6 “Hurry up and get in the car,” Hwanhee said. SooJin wrapped her jacket around her and told herself, ‘Hold it in SooJin…’ She got in the car and waved to Brian goodbye. Brian waved back and as he watched them leave, he thought, ‘Hwanhee better be good to her…’ Back in the car, Hwanhee and SooJin drove on without either of them saying anything. Soojin finally asked, “What about the apartment?” Hwanhee shrugged and answered, “Guess you have to stay at a friend’s house or something.” SooJin shook her head and said, “But all my friends are away… on trips. It IS summer vacation you know…” Hwanhee glared at her and thought, ‘She disgusts me.’ He said, “Then I guess the only choice is left is on the streets right?” SooJin gasped and her eyes grew wide in amazement. “But… but… I can’t…” Hwanhee grinned at her stupidity and sighed. ‘Why did God put me with such a stupid sister?’ But out loud, he said, “Guess you have to stay at my house then… But first, I'm gonna have a little talk with my parents.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW? SHE’S YOUR DAUGHTER! AND YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOU CAN KEEP HER FOR ONE NIGHT!” Hwanhee yelled into the face of his parents. “Honey… we never knew about a sister…” his mom said, really looking confused. Hwanhee glanced from his mother to his father. “I guess you didn’t know either?” ”I… I never knew such thing. Who would have dreamed that there would be a twin of you?” Hwanhee steamed with anger and said, “Well, whatever you say, she’s staying with us.” ”Honey… are you trying to tell me that your heart has a place for this little girl?” ”Mom!! IT’S NOT JUST SOME LITTLE GIRL!! IT’S SOOJIN EEH!! YES… THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE PERSON THAT DIED!” His mom was taken aback and said, “Hwanhee yah… I didn’t know that you spoke that way…” ”Well, I do!” He stormed out of the house, heading towards the car, where SooJin was waiting. When he got there, he heard her humming the song Day by Day that he had been singing in the recording studio. He quietly listened to her humming as they turned to words. Her sweet voice quietly sang out, “Oh neul hah loo uh ddeun nah yo gwen chah…” She abruptly stopped when she saw Hwanhee standing there, above her. “I… I'm sorry. I didn’t know you were…” Hwanhee blankly said, “Get out of the car. My parents said you can stay.” ’Why does he talk to me like I'm some dog?’ SooJin thought. Hwanhee dragged her into the house. His parents stared at SooJin as if seeing her for the first time. Hwanhee presented her in front of his parents and said, “This is SooJin. You’re daughter.” His father shook his head and said, “Yoon Suk ah… we never had a daughter before… are you sure she’s your sister?” Hwanhee started to boil and answered, “Appa… didn’t the doctor say? Didn’t he say that we were twins? That she was born a minute after me? That you couldn’t financially support her back then, so you put her up for adoption? Isn’t that what he said? Well, let me tell you, that’s what he said! And that’s what I believe, because RIGHT NOW, I just heard her singing. And I can tell you, that’s a voice of an angel. Exactly like mine.” With that, he stormed out of the house, heading towards nowhere. Nowhere he knew. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hwanhee leaned against the tree. Of course, out of all places, he had to come here. JiHae’s grave. He sighed and placed the roses next to her grave. “JiHae yah… jahl eeht sseun neeh? Today, I went to a funeral. It was much like yours. I found out I had a twin sister today. I also finished Day by Day recording. Jahl heht jeeh? Nuh neun nah geeh dah leeh myun suh moh heht ssuh?” He looked up to the sky, as if looking for an answer. Hwanhee closed his eyes tightly as tears formed in his eyes and dropped onto the petals of the roses. Chapter 7 “SooJin ah… tell us about yourself.” ”I… I was born on January 17, 1982. My father and mother died when I was 7. My grandmother has stayed with me since. But she died, and I don’t have anywhere to go now. I guess you left me…” her voice died out as she said the last words. Hwanhee’s parents looked at each other and said, “SooJin, we know you’ve been hurt. But we assure you that you are not our daughter. You could stay with us… but you’re not our daughter. You have to face that. No matter what Hwanhee says.” SooJin looked up but didn’t say anything. She had a feeling she WAS Hwanhee’s twin. No, she knew it. She finally said, “I know I'm Hwanhee’s twin. I'm sure of it. Please, think about it.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. and Mrs. Hwang were in their room, having the most important conversation of their lives. “We can’t let Hwanhee know. We can’t let anyone know.” ”Don’t you see that they’re old enough now? They old enough to handle the truth!” “The truth of what? That their parents died? That we’re their aunt and uncle?!” ”Sh! Not so loud. They might hear us!” ”What do you mean! I could talk as loud as I want! Hwanhee’s not even here and SooJin is sleeping!” “But we have to let them know. My sister’s last wish… it was to found her lost daughter. And we did. But what do we do with her? She doesn’t even know!” “Then let’s keep it that way!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Next morning* “SooJin… Hong SooJin! Wake up!” Hwanhee yelled into her door. Inside, she finished getting dressed and said, “I am up!” When SooJin and Hwanhee had eaten breakfast, Hwanhee told her to get her jacket. SooJin got it and asked, “Where are you taking me?” ”Just follow, don’t ask.” SooJin got in and stayed quiet until Hwanhee turned on a CD. It immediately played Day by Day. Soojin’s face lightened up and she started to hum along. Hwanhee started to sing, and SooJin joined with her sweet soprano. They made a beautiful sound together. After that song, Hwanhee looked at her in amazement. He asked, “Where do you want to go?” SooJin wondered for a moment, and answered, “Oppa…” ”Don’t call me that.” SooJin quietly suggested, “Uh… I'm not sure…” Just then, Hwanhee’s cell phone rang. “Hello? Hwanhee speaking.” ”Hwang Yoon Suk shi?” ”Neh…” ”We need you to come to the hospital right away. With Hong SooJin. Thank you.” Hwanhee hung up and stared at the phone. He had heard to bring SooJin to the hospital. He shrugged and said, “SooJin ah… the hospital told me to bring you there. Let’s go.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Hwang Yoon Suk?” ”Neh!” Hwanhee ran in, leaving SooJin behind. The same doctor as before came and said, “Hwanhee shi… Nice to see you again.” ”What is it, doctor? What’s wrong? We’re not twins?” The doctor shook his head and said, “I’m sorry… it’s bad news. We have to take SooJin’s blood test again.” ”Why?” ”We… need to check up on something.” Hwanhee cocked his head, but stood up and motioned SooJin to come inside. Soojin slowly got up and moved towards the room. The doctor came in with a needle in his hand and SooJin’s eyes grew big. “Are you going to… give me a shot?” The doctor shook his head and said, “Blood test.” SooJin tightly closed her eyes shut and prayed that she wouldn't die. Suddenly she felt the warm hand holding hers. She opened her eyes to see Hwanhee's face smiling at her. She smiled back and in awhile, the doctor was done. She sighed in relief and said, "Oppa... thanks." This time, Hwanhee didn't say: Don’t call me that. He just smiled and said, "You're welcome." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hong SooJin, Hwang Yoon Suk shi." They both went in this time. The doctor had his hands folded, and he motioned them to sit. "Just as I thought..." "What doctor?" "Bad news for you guys... I know that you just found each other, but one of you have to go." "What do you mean?" SooJin asked. "It's you Soojin shi. We have found your blood was diagnosed with cancer cells. You only have a few months to live. I say around 3... or 4... Even 5 if you're lucky." It took awhile for Hwanhee and SooJin to register this information in their heads. SooJin had cancer. Chapter 8 SooJin was the first to recover from this shock. “Doctor… 3 months? 3 months is the most I can have?” The doctor nodded and patted Hwanhee’s back. Hwanhee pulled back immediately at the touch of someone’s hand. He took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. He stayed that way for a minute until SooJin gently tapped him. Hwanhee came back to reality and walked out of the room as if he was in a daze. ‘His sister had cancer. His twin sister… if she had cancer, wouldn’t he have cancer? But how could SooJin have cancer? It didn’t make sense,’ he thought. SooJin stopped in front of him, causing Hwanhee almost to fall backwards. SooJin said, “Hwanhee… I… I don’t think we should tell… your… parents.” Hwanhee shook his head and said, “They’re your parents too SooJin ah… Don’t forget that. They just don’t know it.” SooJin stepped back, looking surprised. He was so nice now. After he found out that she had cancer. After he found out that his twin sister had only 3 months to live. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Do you think we should tell them?” Mr. Hwang nodded. “I think they’re ready for it. If we don’t tell them now, it will affect them more later.” *ding dong* “Sh~ I’ll say it. You’ll mess up the whole thing!” Mr. Hwang nodded again and went to open the door. Mrs. Hwang greeted Hwanhee and SooJin’s gloomy faces. Mr. And Mrs. Hwang watched them as they both plopped down on the couch. They looked sideways at each other and Mrs. Hwang went over to them. “Hwanhee yah… SooJin ah… we have something to say to you.” Hwanhee looked up and said, “We do too. You might as well go first. Can’t be as bad as ours…” Mrs. Hwang raised her eyebrows and said, “Won’t be too sure about that.” SooJin glanced up at her and asked, “What is it?” Mrs. Hwang sighed and said, “You see… Hwanhee yah… SooJin ah. Your mother… she was Mr. Hwang’s sister.” She waited awhile for this information to register into Hwanhee and SooJin’s heads. They just watched her and she went on. “She died 6 months after she gave birth to you. She couldn’t financially support you, Hwanhee was right, and she signed up SooJin for adoption. I guess a family named Hong adopted you and named you SooJin. We took Hwanhee in. Your mother… she died of cancer. Her death wish was for us to find her lost daughter. It was you SooJin. Before, we were suspicious if you WERE Hwanhee’s sister. But we never said anything. You guys wouldn’t remember. So when Hwanhee came in, dragging you, we KNEW that you were his sister.” Hwanhee didn’t look confused, but his face was more of anger. He stood up and grabbed SooJin’s hand. SooJin stood up and Hwanhee started to yell. “IS THAT WHAT WE GET? IS THAT WHAT WE GET AFTER ALL THESE YEARS? THE TRUTH? THE TRUTH THAT YOU’RE NOT OUR PARENTS! SO WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO TELL US IS THAT WE’RE ORPHANS? THAT WE HAVE NO ONE EXCEPT EACH OTHER?” Mrs. Hwang and Mr. Hwang looked down at their feet and Hwanhee stormed upstairs, into his room. He grabbed a suitcase and SooJin watched him. Without turning around, he said, “SooJin, pack now. Pack all the clothes you can into a small backpack or something. Or find a suitcase. Pack some money too. Everything.” SooJin immediately went into her room, not wanting Hwanhee to get mad at her. She was done in a short while, and when she went into Hwanhee’s room, she found him closing his suitcase and grabbing his wallet off the desk. She just stared as Hwanhee grabbed her suitcase and his. He went outside and said, “Come on.” SooJin followed after him, passing an astonished Mr. And Mrs. Hwang. They gaped at them with their mouth open. Hwanhee just passed them without any acknowledgement as SooJin tried to ihn sah. But Hwanhee pulled her away and dragged her into the car. He left the house… the house he had stayed in all his life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “You’re the young man that was searching for an apartment the other day…” ”YES! I AM! NOW GIVE ME AN APARTMENT NOW!” ”Well… there is one available. Do you plan to stay in one room?” Hwanhee looked sideways at SooJin and started to yell again, “SHE’S MY SISTER! NOW HURRY UP! I DON’T HAVE ALL DAY!” The man typed something into his computer and made Hwanhee and Soojin sign at a couple places. He finally gave them the apartment key and the address. Hwanhee stormed out without even saying bye or thank you. But SooJin followed him, not forgetting to yell, “Goh mab seum neeh dah!” “You didn’t have to be so mean…” ”Well, people like that shouldn’t be accepted into this community.” ”But, he was just doing his job.” ”I don’t care…” Hwanhee swerved crazily as SooJin desperately tried to grab on to the seat. “Drive more carefully!” Hwanhee looked at her laughed out loud. SooJin looked confused and asked, “what?” Hwanhee shook his head and soon enough, they arrived at the apartment. They went in, to find an empty desolate one-room apartment. There was a small room in the corner and a kitchen. They living room was small, but big enough to fit two people. The bathroom consisted of a small sink, bathtub, and a toilet. That was all, but it satisfied Hwanhee. Hwanhee said, “SooJin ah. First of all, unpack. Then we’re gonna go out to buy some blankets. Or something to cover us while we’re sleeping?” SooJin nodded and sat down to unpack. Then she looked up and asked, “But where will I sleep?” ”You’ll sleep in the room. I’ll sleep in the living room. Now unpack.” After SooJin was done unpacking, she followed Hwanhee into the car. They went to a cheap eeh bool gah geh and Hwanhee paid for two thick blankets and two thin ones. He also convinced the shop owner to give them two free pillows. They finally agreed and Hwanhee walked out of that shop with blankets and pillows. He got in the car and dusted his hands. “Well I guess it’s time for the super market now.” SooJin peered closely at him and he asked, “What?” ”Where did you get all the money for this?” ”I brought my wallet. I stuffed it at home with all the money I had. All the money I had hidden away… for later. But it was an emergency. I think it totals up to about 1000000 won (about 8000 dollars). The apartment was 400000 won(300 dollars), so I have 600000 won(about 500 dollars) left. The eeh bool was only about 100000 won(about 100 dollars), so that totals up to 500000 won (about 400 dollars) left.” SooJin gasped and said, “Do you think that’s enough? I mean… to live here forever?” Hwanhee shook his head and laughed. “You and I will have to get jobs somewhere. Somewhere I can keep an eye on you. So… you know… effects of…” Hwanhee’s voice died out and SooJin tried not to cry. They finally arrived at the market and they bought only what they needed. Rice, some ban chan, water, and plastic spoons and forks. It cost about 25000 won(20 dollars). They went to the apartment, their home… their home… Chapter 9 *3 weeks later* “Oppa! Eehl uh nahseh yo! Joh eun ah chim eem neeh dah!” Hwanhee rubbed his eyes and started to laugh at SooJin, who was dancing around him. He reached out his arm, trying to trip her. SooJin, knowing that Hwanhee was going to this, jumped up, leaving Hwanhee to swipe his arm back and forth. They both laughed as SooJin collapsed onto the floor. They both ate their breakfast and went off to work. They had gotten a job at the flower shop. Of course, Hwanhee had quit his singing lessons. He barely got to see Brian anymore. He didn’t even think that Brian knew that he had moved out. ‘Oh well, he’s probably too busy to care… but SooJin… doesn’t he like her?’ he thought. They drove to the flower shop. It paid well. It paid about 36000(30 dollars) won a week. It was enough to support Hwanhee and Soojin. It had for the past 3 weeks anyway. With SooJin’s talent of putting beautiful flower arrangements together, and Hwanhee’s talent of advertising, delivering, and convincing people, especially young girls, to buy flowers, they were a great team. Business in that flower shop boomed up. Their pay might be increased if it kept on going at this rate. It was the third hour of work and they were about to go on their lunch break when a young man came in. He was looking down at the flowers and SooJin or Hwanhee couldn’t see his face. He looked up and said, “Do you have yellow roses…” His eyes grew wide and SooJin gasped. Hwanhee just stared, pretending not to recognize him. SooJin hugged him and said, “HoSuk oppa!” Ho Suk turned red and said, “SooJin ah… how long has it been?” ”Uh… 3 weeks I think. How’s it going? And who are the yellow roses for?” ”My mom… it’s her birthday. She likes roses… yellow ones. Could you arrange 2 dozen of them really pretty for me?” SooJin nodded and started to get to work. Ho Suk frowned and asked, “Hwanhee… Long time no see.” Hwanhee quickly nodded, as if to acknowledge his presence. SooJin gave him the ready flowers and said, “That would be 30000 won (25 dollars).” Ho Suk paid and took out a piece of paper. He asked for SooJin’s phone number, and she glanced at Hwanhee. They didn’t have a phone. The only source of communication they had was Hwanhee’s cell phone. Hwanhee nodded and SooJin gave it to him. “It’s Hwanhee oppa’s cell phone number. We don’t have a phone.” ”We?” ”We.. Hwanhee oppa and me.” ”You guys live together?” ”He’s my cheen oppa… didn’t Brian tell you?” Ho Suk closed his eyes and shook his head. ‘Brian again…’ he thought. SooJin suddenly remembered something and asked, “Ho Suk oppa… can you do me a favor?” ”Sure… what is it?” ”Can you tell Brian to call at Hwanhee’s cell phone? Please?” Ho Suk closed his eyes and opened them again. He grabbed the flowers and quickly walked out. He left SooJin behind, saying, “Tell him oppa! Thanks!” Ho Suk shook his head and thought, ‘SooJin ah… Please… I love you. Please… forget Brian.’ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hwanhee answered his ringing phone. “Hello?” ”Hello? Hwanhee neeh?” ”Brian!” Right when he said this, SooJin came running out of the bathroom, toothbrush half sticking out of her mouth. “BRIAN OPPA!” Brian laughed on the other line and said, “Yeah… it’s me SooJin ah!” SooJin suddenly remember that she was brushing her teeth and went back into the bathroom. She quickly finished up and rinsed her mouth. She ran out and grabbed the phone from Hwanhee. “Hello? Oppa?” ”Yea… how have you been?” ”Okay… did Ho Suk oppa give you my message.” Brian was silent for awhile and said, “No… I called on my own.” SooJin frowned and said, “Oh… Well, since you called. Oppa? Can you come over? Please~ The address is…” As SooJin told Brian her address, Hwanhee doubled up on the floor with laughter. His sister was so cute when she talked to Brian. As if she was hurrying things… as if she needed more time. ‘But she DOES need more time… There’s only about 2 months left.’ He thought. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *knock knock* SooJin got to the door before Hwanhee could even get up. She opened the door and threw herself into Brian’s arms. “OPPA! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!” Brian patted her and laughed. “I missed you too… SooJin ah… let me look at you. Wow… you’ve got thinner. And paler.” SooJin looked back at Hwanhee and shook her head so lightly that Brian couldn’t notice. But Hwanhee did. He knew that she didn’t want Brian to know… not yet. Brian sat down on the floor, and SooJin plopped down next to him. They stroke up a conversation as Hwanhee just listened. His best friend had changed. He wasn’t HIS best friend anymore. He was more like… the guy that his sister had a crush on. When he looked at him, his heart ripped in half… knowing that Brian would be so sad with the knowledge of SooJin’s cancer. He was so into his thoughts that it took SooJin to clap her hands twice in front of his face to bring him back to reality. Hwanhee shook his head and said, “what what?” Brian and SooJin laughed and SooJin said, “I said… do you want to go to a picnic? Just three of us… we could go to the mountains. I’ll make you guys… mah sheen neun bab.., please!? The air will be good too since…” Her voice stopped as she realized it was too late. Brian looked from Soojin to Hwanhee and asked, “Since what?” Hwanhee and Soojin both said, “Nothing,” at the same time. That only brought more suspicion to Brian. “What!” ”Nothing!” ”Tell me… Hwang Yoon Suk… tell me now.” Hwanhee and Soojin both knew it was too late. SooJin held up her hand and said, “I’ll tell him… Brian oppa… I… I only have 2 months to live now… that’s the most.” ”What?! WHY!” ”I… I have cancer… When we found out, it was too late. That’s why I’ve been getting thinner and paler everyday…” Brian was speechless. This angel of his… HIS angel… he looked into her eyes and she looked away. This was impossible. The girl of his dreams… This couldn’t be happening. But it was… and Brian knew it. Chapter 10 SooJin took a deep breath and smiled. “The air is so fresh here… It’s good I suggested this place. Then we couldn’t have tasted my mah sheen neun bab.” Brian and Hwanhee weakly smiled. They had been hiking for the past hour now. SooJin was still full of energy, knowing that this would be the last time hiking. Hwanhee said, “Do we have to wait longer to taste your famous bab?” SooJin nodded her head and Brian decided to make his move. Brian sighed and walked to SooJin. SooJin looked up at him and said, “You have to wait too oppa… you’re not special.” Brian shook his head and cupped her chin in his hands. “I know SooJin ah… I don’t want your bab. I want you. I know I'm not special in your life… yet. Can I be special SooJin ah? Can I be special to you?” SooJin looked into his eyes and saw the love that she had been looking for. Not the kind of love in Hwanhee oppa’s eyes… but love. She nodded and hugged Brian. Brian smiled and buried his face into her hair. She was so beautiful… and he didn’t even want to think of the day she died… SooJin finally pulled apart from him and said, “Let’s eat my mah sheen neun bab now… okay?” They nodded and waited until SooJin prepared the necessary things to make bab. She said, “It’s going to take long. Can you guys set up the tent… I'm kinda tired.” Hwanhee nodded and got to work. Brian decided to help and finally they made a tent. SooJin thanked them and went in to lie down. After 5 minutes, she came back out. Hwanhee asked, “You’re not sleeping?” SooJin shook her head and said, “I can’t sleep… I can’t… I start coughing…” Hwanhee remembered the doctor’s words the day before when he asked him if it was okay to go hiking with SooJin. He said, “It’s okay, but SooJin will have trouble sleeping. She’s too sick now and the effects are showing. She’s also going to get really cold for the next few weeks… until she dies. Keep her warm.” Hwanhee closed his eyes and said a short prayer to himself. God… please… don’t let SooJin die… not yet. I need to do so many things with her. Please… let her live. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They had decided to let SooJin sleep in the tent and Brian and Hwanhee would sleep in their sleeping bags outside. A little past 1 A.M., SooJin came tiptoeing out… looking for Hwanhee. She shook the lumpy figure outside of the tent and whispered, “Oppa… oppa… can you wake up?” Hwanhee groaned and said, “What?” ”Oppa… I know I sound foolish. But I'm scared. Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?” Hwanhee was fully awake now and said, “Yeah sure.” They both went in the tent and Hwanhee fell asleep slowly. SooJin, knowing she was safe in her brother’s watch, fell asleep immediately. Hwanhee soon woke up and looked at SooJin. She was smiling, as if having a happy dream. He quietly pulled up her blankets up to her chin and went outside. He stood out there, looking at the stars. He prayed for SooJin to live for a month… At least a month… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hwanhee and Brian woke up before SooJin did. They prepared the breakfast and waited for SooJin to wake up. When she wouldn’t come out, Hwanhee told Brian that he would go inside to check up on her. Hwanhee went inside and tried to be quiet as he went in. He stopped when he saw SooJin, kneeling down. It seemed like she was praying. She was whispering, “Please… please don’t let me die. What did I do wrong? Please… just for one more month…” Hwanhee quietly stepped back outside. He stood by the tent, and quietly said a prayer of his own. “Please… one more month…” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Oppa! What’s for breakfast?? Even though we’re camping, we’re gonna have breakfast right?” Brian nodded and Hwanhee gave her a cup of coffee. “Here drink this first.” SooJin gratefully accepted and said, “Thanks… oh… it’s so good! Who made it?” Brian raised his hand and said, “I did teacher!” They all laughed and SooJin rubbed her arms. “I’m so cold! Aren’t you guys cold? Br~” Hwanhee looked down at the floor and said, “Here… you could wear the extra sweater I brought.” He went to get it and SooJin put it on and said, “thanks oppa…” She accidentally brushed his hand and exclaimed, “Oppa! Your hands are so WARM~ How are your hands so warm? Oh… probably the coffee huh? But still, they’re so WARM!” Hwanhee laughed and rubbed SooJin’s hands together with his own. Brian thought to himself, ‘SooJin ah… You’re everything to me. If you leave me… I won’t be able to live. Don’t leave me now.’ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Back at SooJin and Hwanhee’s apartment* “Oppa…I know you don’t like me to talk about my cancer… but how long do you think I’ll be able to live?” SooJin and Hwanhee were both in the living room, listening to Day by Day. Hwanhee shrugged and said, “I don’t know… Let’s go ask tomorrow.” SooJin nodded, and also put her hand to her forehead. She grasped Hwanhee’s arm and squeezed it. Hwanhee turned to look at her and asked, “Are you okay? SooJin ah… gwen chah nah? SooJin ah…” SooJin nodded lightly, but couldn’t keep nodding. She fainted into Hwanhee’s arms. Hwanhee was in hysterics and starting to yell, “SooJin ah!! AH POOH JEEH MAH! SOOJIN AH!” He put his ear to her chest to hear a faint heartbeat. He quickly carried her to his car and rushed to the hospital. During the ride, he said, “SooJin ah… don’t die on me… please…” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Will she be okay doctor?” The doctor nodded slowly and said, “I think she will have to stay here for awhile. These are just the beginning of symptoms. Being cold, not being able to sleep, fainting constantly. But her body is still young and strong. It will hold…” ”For how long?” ”I say… about a month.” Hwanhee closed his eyes and stormed out of the room. He ran into SooJin’s room and watched her as she breathed heavily. He thought to himself, ‘SooJin ah! Why do you have to be sick?! We just met! You’re my sister! Why do you have to be sick! I hate you for that you know…’ He burst into tears and went out to dry them. He thought, ‘Don’t die on me… please SooJin ah… don’t die on me…’ Chapter 11 Hwanhee was leaning against the bed, sleeping, when SooJin woke up. She glanced around to see that she was in a hospital room and looked down to see Hwanhee oppa’s face. He looked so gentle, so sweet, so innocent. And now, he was dragged into this mess because of her. Because of his twin sister he had met a month before. She stroked his head gently and whispered, “Oppa… I'm sorry. I'm sorry you have to see me like this. Soon, I’ll get all better… and I’ll show you the real me okay?” Hwanhee rubbed his eyes and when he saw that SooJin was awake, he jumped up. “SOOJIN AH! WHEN DID YOU WAKE UP!” SooJin smiled at his caring and said, “Just now… oppa… have you been here long?” Hwanhee shook his head and said, “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re awake now. Are you okay?” SooJin smiled and started to giggle. Hwanhee gave her a blank look and SooJin explained. “A month ago… you were… you didn’t want to face that you were my brother… let alone that you were related to me. Now… you care so much.” Hwanhee sat down on the bed and caressed her cheek. “SooJin ah… I will always care for you. Always. I’ll always be here okay? Don’t ever forget that. If something happens, just say my name. I’ll be here.” SooJin nodded and the doctor came in. “Hong SooJin shi? You will have to stay here until next month.” SooJin looked down at her hands and asked, “But doctor? Isn’t a month all I have? To live?” The doctor nodded and said, “I'm sorry… That’s all this cancer is going to give you…” Hwanhee and SooJin looked at each other and SooJin asked, “People could visit anytime right doctor?” The doctor thought for a minute and said, “But… only Hwanhee can stay here overnight. No other people… I mean… you don’t have other relatives do you?” Hwanhee shook his head and SooJin looked at him. ‘Brian oppa…’ she thought. Hwanhee knew she was thinking about Brian and asked, “But doctor… people can stay all day right? Just not overnight?” The doctor nodded and SooJin’s face brightened up a little bit. Hwanhee smiled at her happiness and decided to call Brian right away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian ran across the polished hospital floor. He looked for the room that SooJin was in. ‘SooJin ah… I'm coming. Wait for me… just wait… I'm coming.’ He thought as he finally found the room. He knocked once before rushing in. He looked around for SooJin and asked, “Where is she!” The only person there was a nurse, gathering SooJin’s sheets. “Oh… SooJin shi is talking a walk with her brother.” Brian ran outside. He searched frantically for the beautiful face he had come for. When he couldn’t find her, he finally yelled, “SooJin ah!!” Everyone turned to look at him and when they saw that they didn’t know him, they turned back to their personal business. A small faint voice shouted, "Oppa! Over here!" He looked to see where the voice had come from. He found SooJin underneath a tree, waving at him. Hwanhee was standing above her, waving at him. Brian walked over and said, "SooJin ah! You're okay right?" SooJin nodded and grabbed his hand and said, "Oppa... guess what? You can stay here the whole day... you just can't stay overnight." Brian smiled and held her hand tighter. "SooJin ah... can't we just say I’m marrying you soon?" SooJin shook her head and said, "It's too late oppa... I'm gonna die in a month." Hwanhee bit his lip, but exploded with anger. "SOOJIN AH! HOW COULD THAT COME OUT SO EASILY OUT OF YOUR MOUTH?? WE ALL LOVE YOU AND YOU WON'T LEAVE US. I WON'T LET YOU. YOU'RE MY LIFE YOU KNOW THAT? I HAVE NO ONE IN THIS WORLD EXCEPT YOU AND BRIAN! DON'T EVER SAY THAT AGAIN!" He stormed away, leaving a flabbergasted Brian and Soojin to look after him. Brian held her hand and whispered, "He just met you... and you... Don't worry. He'll get over it. Don't worry okay?" SooJin nodded and said, "I hope... i hope that he's not always going to be like this... not until the last day. I don't want to leave you guys like this. I'm already sorry i have to..." Brian shook his head and said, "Don't ever be sorry SooJin ah... Don't ever be sorry. We all love you okay?" He cupped her chin in his hands and he smiled at her. He looked into her eyes and gave her the sweetest kiss. SooJin pulled back slowly and said, "Oppa... You and Hwanhee oppa are the only people i love... Remember that okay?" Brian nodded and hugged her tightly... and he wished he would never have to let go of this beautiful chunsah. Chapter 12 Brian went outside after SooJin had feel asleep to look for Hwanhee. He found him with his head buried in his hands. He sat next to him on the bench and asked, “Hwanhee yah… You know… this is hardest on SooJin eeh. She had a great life before this all happened. If she hadn’t seen you… I don’t know what she would be though. You are everything to her you know that right?” Hwanhee looked up and asked, “what about you?” Brian shrugged and said, “You’re her brother… that means more than her boyfriend right?” Hwanhee looked away and thought about it. ‘I have to act strong. If SooJin eeh was going to act strong, and Hwanhee was going to act like a total wimp… that wasn’t right. He had to act strong. For SooJin, for himself… for their mother… for their father…’ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Oppa,” SooJin said as she tried to get up. Hwanhee motioned for her to lie back down. SooJin reluctantly lied back down and said, “Sorry…” Hwanhee shook his head and said, “For what? I should be the one that’s sorry… I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you. You only have a month left… I shouldn’t part from you with that kind of relationship between us. Or else I wouldn’t be able to live. No… I don’t think that I’ll be able to live anyway… if you were gone. SooJin ah… do you have to leave?” SooJin nodded and said, “Uhmmah died from cancer too. I think I got her genes… or something…” Hwanhee took a deep breath and said to no one in particular, “Why did uhmmah have to give that gene to you? Why not to me? It would have been much easier for both of us… you and me.” SooJin shook her head and said, “But oppa... you have a great life. You have girls lining up for you, a great best friend, great friends like HoSuk oppa… YunSuk oppa…” Hwanhee interrupted and said, “But you have Brian…” SooJin shook her head and said, “You have more people that would miss you than me.” Hwanhee looked at her and said, “I don’t think so… it seems to me that that one guy HoSuk has the eyes for you. I’ve seen him around. And YunSuk… he might have something for you too.” SooJin shook her head and laughed, “HoSuk oppa… no… YunSuk oppa… I don’t even see him anymore. Where is he anyway?” Hwanhee shrugged and said, “Don’t you think we should tell HoSuk to visit sometime?” SooJin nodded and said, “YunSuk oppa too!” Hwanhee nodded and said, “Alright… I’ll call them today.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HoSuk ran through the hospital, with YunSuk and his friend running after him. “HoSuk ah! Johm chun chun hee gah!” HoSuk shook his head and kept on running. Yunsuk and his friend finally gave up as HoSuk desperately tried to find the room. YunSuk turned to his friend and said, “SangHyuk ah… it’s okay. He likes this girl?” SangHyuk frowned and said, “HoSuk… he likes a girl? Wow… surprising…” YunSuk laughed and nodded. HoSuk had seemed to have founded the room and was walking back in front of it. YunSuk walked over to him and asked, “HoSuk ah… this is the room right? What are you doing standing here?” HoSuk started to sweat and shrugged. He knocked on the door and when he heard a: Come in, he opened the door and peeked his head in. He was greeted with Brian and SooJin tickling each other and playing with each other. HoSuk was taken aback and said, “I… I'm sorry. I’ll leave now.” SooJin said, “No… oppa thanks for coming. Is YunSuk oppa here?” YunSuk jumped out in front of HoSuk and put his arms out. “SooJin ah! You okay?” SooJin nodded and asked, “Who’s your friend?” SangHyuk came forward and YunSuk said, “This is my friend SangHyuk…” SooJin stuck out her hand and said, “Hi! Just in case you don’t know… I'm SooJin.” SangHyuk’s face brightened up and said, “Oh… the girl that Ho…” HoSuk jabbed him in the ribs and chuckled. He twirled his finger around the side of his head to indicate that SangHyuk was crazy. SangHyuk glared at him and SooJin and Brian laughed. HoSuk looked at SooJin with a longing for her. He thought, ‘SooJin ah… So, you went to Brian? I knew that you would never come to me. I'm not good enough for you. You… you’re perfect in everyway. And the only person for you is Brian… I know that. That’s why I'm not saying or doing anything right now.’ He sighed out loud, and YunSuk, SangHyuk, SooJin, and Brian turned to look at him. HoSuk tried to look away and said, “Never mind…” They all shrugged and went back to talking. HoSuk just continued to look at SooJin with his longing eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "SooJin ah... do you think... you'll get better?" Hwanhee asked. Brian cast a sideways glance at him, but Hwanhee avoided his gaze. SooJin shrugged and sighed. "Probably not. Oppa... don't ask me that okay? I want the last moments with me to be happy ones." Hwanhee nodded his head and said, "Alright." He went to hug her when SooJin jumped up and pushed him away. Hwanhee crashed to the floor and knocked over Brian. They both sprawled to the floor. They heard SooJin making vomiting sounds. Brian and Hwanhee glanced at each other and ran over to the bathroom. They both patted SooJin's back and she continued to vomit. After she rinsed her mouth, she said, "Sorry... suddenly I just..." Hwanhee and Brian nodded and hugged her. SooJin wished that she could stay in their warm arms forever... Chapter 13 Brian and Hwanhee had fallen asleep. Even though the doctor had known that Brian wasn’t a relative… he didn’t wake them. He had a feeling it was going to happen today… Brian woke up with, startled. He had fallen asleep… he wasn’t supposed to. He looked at Hwanhee and shook him, “Hwanhee yah… wake up. We fell asleep here. I wasn’t supposed to.” Hwanhee groaned and said, “it’s okay… it’s not like you’re gonna get arrested…” Brian shrugged and went in the bathroom to wash his face. He looked in the toilet and saw that SooJin had plugged the toilet with her vomit. He smiled and shook Hwanhee again. “Clean up the toilet. SooJin had vomited again. He ran up to SooJin and shook her. “SooJin ah!! Did you vomit again? Why did you have to vomit again!” He shook her more, but she wouldn’t wake up. Brian frowned and shook her more. Hwanhee came over and asked, “What’s wrong?” ”SooJin won’t wake up.” Hwanhee frowned and said, “She always wakes up so easily. Wait… let me try. SooJin ah! WAKE UP!” he yelled in her ear. SooJin didn’t flinch but kept her eyes closed. Hwanhee and Brian looked at each other and held up their fingers… one… two… three… “SOOJIN AH! WAKE UP!” SooJin didn’t flinch a muscle. Hwanhee slowly bent down to check her chest to see if it was beating or not. His ears heard nothing… He shook his head and moved back. Brian watched in astonishment. This couldn’t be happening. Not when they were so happy… Brian closed his eyes and tried not to cry. But Hwanhee WAS crying. His tears were coming from his eyes like a flood. He ran over to the doctor’s office and started to scream at him. “I THOUGHT YOU WERE A DOCTOR?? ISN’T IT YOUR JOB TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE? ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY’RE SO HAPPY?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! KEEP HER ALIVE! MAKE HER LIVE!” The doctor shook his head and said, “I'm sorry… I know how much you loved her. She… There is nothing we can do for her now. She’s gone.” Hwanhee collapsed to the floor, shaking his head in grief. His SooJin… his sister… his only living relative… she was gone. Now... he was all-alone in this world. Meanwhile, back in the room, Brian was leaning over SooJin. He couldn’t believe she had died. She had left him. He shook her a little more. He gave her a nudge. She wouldn’t budge. Brian finally started to lightly slap her and said, “SooJin ah… nah yeh sarang… eehl uh nah… bbalee… Hwanhee’s so worried. Wake up!” SooJin didn’t move and Brian put his ear to her chest. There was silence. Brian shook his head and collapsed to the floor as well. His Soojin had left him… the only in the world that made him happy… she had left into another world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hwanhee and Brian struggled to sit still at the funeral. They didn’t want this… SooJin wouldn’t have wanted it either. Not all this fuss about her dying… But a lot of people had come. But most of them were girls obsessed with Brian and Hwanhee. They were disgusted at them. When they were called up to receive the sympathy from the others, Hwanhee and Brian reluctantly got up to shake hands with everyone. HoSuk, YunSuk, and SangHyuk came up and shook hands with them. HoSuk, who had always loved SooJin, shook Brian’s hands. He looked into his eyes and thought, ‘Brian… you’re a lucky guy…’ He went on and YunSuk hugged Brian and he whispered, “SooJin’s at a better place now…” SangHyuk came forward and gave Brian and Hwanhee both hugs. He said, “I didn’t know her that well… but she seemed like a sweet girl… I'm sure she loved you both very much.” Brian and Hwanhee nodded quickly and kept on shaking hands. They were both in a trance, glancing over at SooJin’s body… her beautiful body… They had arranged it so beautifully. She was in a light blue dress, bringing out her brown hair. There was no makeup on her… her being naturally beautiful. Her hands were carefully folded over her stomach. Brian sighed and kept on shaking hands. After the funeral, they went to the gravesite. Hwanhee and Brian stayed still through the whole program. When she was being lowered into the ground, Hwanhee couldn’t take it any longer. He knew what he had to do. He knew he was going to do it… even without Brian. Chapter 14 He ran back to the apartment quickly, without any doubt. He didn’t want to change his mind. He had made his decision. He ran to get a pencil and paper. He scrawled down a note to Brian and quickly mailed it to him. It would get to him… way after… He grabbed a jacket and went out to his car. He opened the door and quickly drove to a nearby beach. *this is a very very good time to put on Fly to the Sky’s 2jib’s song: Don’t Forget Me track 11* He walked along the shore, thinking about all the times he had spent with SooJin. That time when she had said she was going to make him the mah sheen neun bab… The coffee we drank on that camping trip… The happiness that you received… all because my hands were warm. You couldn’t even sleep because you were scared. I prayed for you… when I saw you like that. Just for one more day… Don’t be so cold up there Hong SooJin… dress warmly. And I'm sorry about the time when I got mad at you for being sick… *Don’t forget me my love is true. I will always remember you. How could I forget you and live like this? You are always inside my heart… won’t you stay, don’t you leave me now. I'm gonna see those eyes again… As I sit, think back to all the times we had. Sentimental things, they bring, They make me think of all you said Never letting go, you’re always on my mind Ever since that day you went away Now I'm crying everyday. I'm seeing visions of your love As you watch from heaven up above. I know you’re shining down I wish you were around But you’ve gone away. To a place where someday You and I will meet each other, and Forever, I pray that we’ll always be together.* SooJin ah… don’t forget me… I'm here… and soon… I’ll be there. Please SooJin ah… hold on… I’ll be there… *turn off music* Hwanhee slowly looked out into the horizon. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the salt water. He slowly put one foot forward. He put the other one in front of the other and kept on going. He was getting closer and closer to the water. Soon, his bare skin touched the cold water and he shivered. But that’s not what he thought about… What he thought about was SooJin. Hong SooJin… he whispered her name over and over… as he went in deeper and deeper into the water. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian frowned as he turned the envelope over and over. Why would Hwanhee mail him? When he could always call him? It was weird, but he decided to open the letter anyway. He took out a quickly scribbled note. His eyes grew wide as he read it: Brian… Hey… I can’t take it anymore. This is after the funeral. That’s why you didn’t see me around. I'm heading towards the beach. Towards the water… in the water… to SooJin eeh… Nahn gahn dah! See you there soon okay? Remember, you have to stay here… Fulfill what SooJin and I can’t fulfill… You stay there Brian Joo. I’ll tell SooJin eeh hi for you. That you love her. That she will be the only one in your life. Geu lum… nah gahn dah! Ahn Nyung! Brian gasped. He looked at the date scribbled on top. This had been mailed two days ago. That meant that Hwanhee had been dead for 2 days… unless they got him out. Unless he was somewhere in the hospital. He picked up the phone and dialed all the hospitals in the city. He always asked if there was a young man that came in that was found near the ocean. They all said no and Brian knew that Hwanhee was with SooJin, safe and sound. He grabbed his jacket and ran towards his car. He drove quickly to the beach and when he got there, he slowly got out. He put his hands in his pockets. He looked out into the horizon and sighed. So, Hwanhee had gone… he had gone to his sister. Hwanhee’s beloved sister… but HIS beloved chunsah… the only girl for him… He looked out into the beach and then up at the sky. He let the breeze run through his hair. He closed his eyes and thought about SooJin and Hwanhee’s faces. He smiled and thinking about their happiness together in heaven made him happy on earth. He looked up at the sky and whispered, “SooJin ah… Hwanhee yah… I'm coming soon. I might have a few more years. Have to accomplish some things for you guys right? But whatever you do… don’t forget me. SooJin ah… Hwanhee yah… don’t forget me… I'm coming. Don’t forget me… ever.” He walked back towards his car, kicking the sand as he went. As he turned on his engine, he longed and waited for the day when he would be able to be with SooJin again… his beloved chunsah… Only… if they didn’t forget him… End ************************************** |