[Chapter 12] *Pretending* "Say that again." Minwoo turned towards Dani. "Say that again!" Minwoo demanded. "Hwanhee's back." Minwoo's eyes widened. He grabbed Dani by her shoulders and shook her. "Where is he?? Where? Why is he not here right now? Where did he go? What happened?" Minwoo was shocked. He had so many questions to ask his brother. Most of all, he just wanted to see him. He missed his brother so much. "He's been good. He's been taken care of by Brian's cousin. He's alright. Don't worry." "I want to see him." Minwoo told her. Dani sighed. And she hesistated to say something. "What? What is it?" Minwoo yelled. "Let's just go." "I wanna see him too!" Suddenly, Daso ran out from the bushes behind them. "I want to see my darling." "Hwanhee." "Darling." Minwoo and Daso both whispered. They stood there frozen. They hoped they weren't dreaming. He was ok. He fell of a cliff and dropped thousand feet, and he still was ok. Minwoo ran to him and hugged him. "Where have you been, you a$$hole." Minwoo cried on his brother's shoulder. Hwanhee, stood in awe, not knowing how to reply. Minwoo looked up and saw Hwanhee's empty expression. And he heard him ask... "Who are you??" "........" Minwoo didn't know how to reply back. He couldn't simply say, i'm your brother. Then Daso jumped out from the back. "I'm here too! You remember me right? You remember me!!?" Daso yelled desperately, pulling on Hwanhee's arms. Hwanhee slowly shook his head. Minwoo turned around and walked away from Hwanhee. He couldn't stop his tears. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to believe that this was happening. By turning away from Hwanhee, he was running away from this situation, he didn't know how to handle. "Wait! Where are you going??" Daso yelled at Minwoo. "Hold on! He'll remember you! He's just kidding." Daso shouted, she didn't know why. She didn't know why Hwanhee couldn't remember her. She was his second girlfriend. Daso ran towards Minwoo. "Darling's brother! Hold on!" She ran and pulled on Minwoo's arms, trying to make him go back to Hwanhee. Minwoo refused to turn. Daso looked at Hwanhee, hoping to get some help, some expression of sadness. And she saw it. She saw his sadness watching his brother leave. He was kissing the coin. The coin that she gave to him. "Wait....." She whispered. Hwanhee saw Daso looking at him. He quickly put his coin in his pocket. "See! HE remembers!! He does remember!" Daso yelled. "He was kissing the coin! He was!" Daso pulled on Minwoo arms making him look at Hwanhee. Hwanhee couldn't keep his sadness inside him anymore. It was his brother. He couldn't fake it anymore. "Minwoo Hyung..." He whispered and ran towards Minwoo. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Hwanhee cried for the first time in a year. He had to be pretending he doesn't remember anything. He....had to...... And he couldn't show any tears, indicating he knows about his past. But how could he, front of his brother.... "Help..." Brian hung on Dongwan's arm desperately in verge of tears. "Please, he's back. I don't know what to do. You are the only person that could help me." Brian was full of fear. Hwanhee could put him in jail anytime. If he gets back his memory that is. "What am I suppose to do?" Dongwan asked "I don't know....I don't know." Brian was out of his mind. He couldn't calm himself down. Everything was so unreal to him. How could Hwanhee be alive? "Ok, I'll think of something." Dongwan reassured him. "Thanks, I don't know what I'll do without you." "Just go home and rest." Dongwan patted him on the shoulder as Brian left. "Dumb ass..." Dongwan smiled as Brian left. And he got his cell phone out and called Eric. "Eric? This is Dongwan. Great news! Hwanhee alive. Go check what's up with him. Why? Because I'm thinking of a great way to put Brian not only out of business but also in jail." Eric watched Hwanhee go in the hospital. "Why is he going in the hospital?" Eric asked himself and he followed. Hwanhee went into a doctor's room. When he came out, he had a something in his hands. They looked like pills. Eric made sure Hwanhee didn't see him and went in the doctor't room he just came out of. "What was that guy just here for?" Eric asked the doctor who sat there looking at Eric suspiciously. "I'm sorry, but I can't discuss other patient's conditions." "Look, doctor. All I want is to know is what was in his hands." "I'm sorry, but I can't." "Ok, then one thing. Is he suffering from memory loss?" "Memory loss? Oh, no. What gave you that idea?" "Why are you doing this??" Minwoo asked Hwanhee. He avoided the question. "Why?" "There is just too many things, that will be better if I just stayed out of it." "Is it about Dani?" "Hyung do me a favor." "What?" "Don't tell anybody, ok?" "Hell no. I can't do that." "Please." "You don't know how much Dani went through after you left. She waited at that bench that you were suppose to meet her, everyday.... She always sat there waiting for you for 365 days." Hwanhee sat silent. Why did she do that? Why did she wait for me? IT only makes it hard for her... and me.... "Please Hyung..." "........" Brian watched Minwoo and Hwanhee talk outside the cafe He felt the guilt rise in him as he imagined what they would be talking about. Minwoo was probably begging Hwanhee to remember him, to remember what had happened so he could find the person that did this to him. He buried his face in his arms. With all this strength, he stopped the tears in his eyes. And he didn't notice Minwoo and Hwanhee approaching him. "Brian, what are you doing here?" Minwoo told Brian as he tapped him on the shoulder. Surprised, Brian jumped up. "You know my brother right? I found him." "Yeah, we met yesterday, he was with my cousin all this time." Brian tried to stop his trembling voice. He felt his heart jumping. He used all his power in him to not to let it show. HE started sweating as Brian felt Hwanhee looking at him. It felt like thousand needles, stinging his body. He couldn't stand it anymore. He ran away from them. He blocked out the sounds of Minwoo yelling and shouting his name. He was running towards the police station. But suddenly, he heard sirens and soon, bunch of policemen were surrounding him. One approached him with a gun and told him to freeze. Brian was already frozen by the shock when all of this happened. He didn't understand the sight in front of him. Then he put handcuffs on Brian's wrist as he told Brian. "You are arrested fort second-degree murder." [Chapter 13] *Moment* “Get out in five minutes.” Police officer told Dani. She walked in the door, promising herself, she would not believe anything until she saw it for herself. But Brian sat there, wearing a blue suit, behind the bars that separated one world from the other. “Brian...” “Why did you come?” “I’m not believing this.” “You shouldn’t have come.” “Tell me it isn’t true. Tell me what Dongwan said isn’t true.” Brian, shocked looked up at Dani. “Dongwan? Did you say Dongwan?” “……” Brian laughed to himself. “I was so stupid. How could I… how could I…” “It’s true?” Dani asked again. “…..” Silence didn’t give Dani a clue. “Is it true?” This time, Brian nodded. “Why…?” Dani felt her tears on her cheeks. “I loved you too much.” “…” “I couldn’t bare to see you running off with Hwanhee. I just couldn’t. It was all for you… all for you. So please, don’t blame me. The only bad deed I have is loving someone that doesn’t love me…” Brian cried. He knew what he had done. And even though Hwanhee didn’t die, attempt to murder was still a big crime. Also Hwanhee lost his memory permanently because of me, that’s a serious damage. “Deny it.” Dani told Brian firmly. “What?” “Just deny it.” “Why?” “I don’t want to see you go to jail, because of me. Dongwan is the only person saying he saw it. Just say Hwanhee slipped or something. Do that…for me.” Dani reached out her hand inside the bars to touch Brian’s hand. “I’m sorry.” For all the hard times I gave you. For all the heartbreak I made you go through. She wanted to say those words… But her tears didn’t stop overflowing. Brian held her hand and reassured her that, she’s forgiven. Because what I did is what I did. I won’t make you go through that guilt, because I love you too much. No matter what, I always will… And how can I be there for her if I spend my years in jail? I can’t stay in here…I have to protect Dani. ~Meanwhile~ “Are you just going to stand there?” The police officer told BoRi who was standing front of the door that led to the jail where Brian was in. “I told you, it’s ok to go in, even though there is another visitor.” Policeman raised his voice because he was getting irritated that BoRi wasn’t listening to a word he said. She just stood frozen in front of the door. -I couldn’t bare to see you running off with Hwanhee. I just couldn’t. It was all for you… all for you. So please, don’t blame me. The only bad deed I have is loving someone that doesn’t love me…- Brian’s words rang in her head… Dani running away with Hwanhee… Dani running… Then she suddenly had a flashback. ~ His eyes seemed to be aiming nowhere. He moved his hand, trying to search for something. And he whispered… “Dani….Dani….Dani….” BoRi listened to him as she stood up. Then Hwanhee looked at her. He said…. “Dani.” And he smiled. He closed his eyes again.~ No… Dani is Hwanhee’s… No… Can’t be… “You don’t remember anything?” The policeman asked Hwanhee. “No.” Hwanhee replied. “Where the hell is he?!!!” Minwoo yelled who sat beside Hwanhee. “Where is Brian?! I want to see him!” Minwoo yelled angrily. “Hyung, calm down.” “Calm down? Are you out of your mind? Brian is the one that did this to you! And for a year, he faced me, faced Dani, the whole world like he was innocent, like he was feeling sorry for us. And I tell you, that’s evil. “Mr. Lee, we are not yet sure if Brian Joo is really the criminal.” “What? What do you mean you are not sure?” “I mean, Dongwan Kim is the only witness. He has to go through a trial first, then we can say if he’s guilty of attempt to kill your brother or not.” “It sure would help if he remembered, wouldn’t it?” Minwoo asked the policeman. “Of course.” Minwoo eyed Hwanhee. Hwanhee avoided it. Hwanhee knew Minwoo wanted to know the truth. But he wasn’t going to tell him. He couldn’t tell him that Brian was the one. He didn’t know what Minwoo would do. “And another thing, Mr. Joo denies the charges against him.” “What?!!!” Minwoo yelled and Hwanhee was about to also. Hwanhee looked at the policeman to explain to him why he denies it. No, why he is lying. Even after all that happened, he still denies it? Hwanhee felt disappointment. But he still didn’t tell the policeman what he knew. “Hyung, I’ll be back, I just want to go for a walk.” “I’ll go with you.” “No, you stay here.” Hwanhee knew Minwoo would ask questions if he had followed him. And he wasn’t stupid enough to tell Minwoo who surely would tell the policemen. He walked on the street around the Police station. But sight of someone, suddenly stopped him. Dani was sitting on the bench. She was looking up in the night sky. Maybe she was counting the stars. Or maybe she was just looking at the moon. It was impossible to tell with expression on her face. But there was one thing for sure. Her tears indicated her sadness. Dani felt someone looking at her. She turned left and saw Hwanhee, staring at her. She stared back. They didn’t move. They knew the slightest movement would break this moment. After a while, Dani stood up. More tears dropped down from her eyes. She walked. Not towards Hwanhee, but away from him. Hwanhee felt his hand reaching for her, he felt his mouth about to tell her to stop. But he couldn’t. I lost my memories, remember? I have to stick with my plan. Be strong Hwanhee. Dani wanted to turn around. At least for a second. To have another look at Hwanhee whom she waited for so long. Maybe for the last time. I’m going to forget about him. Everything about him. That’s better for me, Brian, and him. She didn’t understand, why her tears wouldn’t stop. She didn’t know, why she was regretting what she had promised herself just now. ~Several Days Later~ In the trial. Dongwan sat in the audience with Minwoo. Brian sat next to his lawyer, whom was pointed by the judge. It was clear to everybody that he was not happy to do the job. Hwanhee sat next to the lawyer Dongwan hired. Hwanhee tried to drop the charges, but policemen wouldn’t let him. They explained that because of Dongwan’s testimony, the government judicial system wouldn’t allow it, and also the media would be furious with the wrong judgement. It seemed that Brian was having a bad reputation because of his failure to carry on his Dad’s company well. Although it was all Dongwan’s fault. Dani couldn’t be seen anywhere. “…..For these reasons, I tell you that Brian Joo is the only suspect that could have attempted to kill Hwanhee Lee. And this is not just something to take lightly because he didn’t actually die. He would have. Mr. Lee was just incredibly lucky. So I insist that the jury, would declare this man, guilty. Thank you.” Dongwan satisfied with the lawyer’s statement, smiled pleasingly to himself. He was sure that Brian would be declared Guilty. “I’d like you to listen to Mr. Lee’s testimony, but I’m afraid that this had damaged his memories. Mr. Lee does not remember what happened.” The lawyer explained. “But with Dongwan Kim’s statement, and Minwoo Lee’s I’m pretty sure you were able to reach your conclusion.” “Wait!” Dongwan stood up from the audience. “Why don’t we still put Hwanhee on the stand.” Hwanhee felt sweat on his back. “What good is that..?” Dongwan interrupted. “Maybe he will remember something when he’s under oath.” “Ok, if you think so.” Then the lawyer told the judge and the jury. “I’d like to put Hwanhee Lee on the stand.” “Objection!” Brian’s lawyer yelled out. “Sustained.” The judge declined it. The lawyer told Hwanhee to step on the stand. Hwanhee feebly stood up. What should I do? I can’t lie… under oath… (author’s note: Lying under oath is also a crime ^^. ) “Do you know this man?” The lawyer asked. “Yes.” “How?” “Um…” Hwanhee stumbles. “He’s my fiancee’s cousin.” “Do you remember what happened in winter last year?” “…..” “Mr. Lee? Did this man attempt to kill you?” “……” “Mr. Lee?” The audience started talking. Dongwan smiled. Brian’s face darkened. The lawyers and jury was puzzled. “Mr. Lee? Answer please.” “No.” Hwanhee replied. “Very well.” Dongwan’s eyes widened. He didn’t believe it. Hwanhee just lied. He lied… under oath. “You could go back to your seat now, Mr. Lee.” Hwanhee took steps down the stand. Suddenly, he fell. He lied on the floor, not opening his eyes. “Hwanhee!” Minwoo yelled and ran to him. Several guards also ran towards Hwanhee. They felt his body was like ball of fire. “Quick, get him to the hospital!” “Hwanhee!! Wake up! Hwanhee!” Ambulance arrived and Minwoo left with Hwanhee. The jury went to their room to decide on their verdict. To Brian, the moment seemed forever. Then the door opened and one by one, the jury took their seat. The jury handed a piece of the paper with the verdict on it. Brian started shaking. Everything, his whole life depended on the words on that paper. The paper was now back in the jury’s hands. The representative said some stuff about how they reached their decisions. But nothing came in Brian’s ears, or Dongwan’s ears. The only words they were looking for was ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ The jury finally got to that part. “We have reached the verdict of….” [Chapter 14] *Broken Promise* “We have reached the verdict of….” Brian wanted the moment to stop. He wished he didn’t have to go through this torture. “Not guilty.” Astonished, Brian sat there. All he could think to do was to… Thank God… “Not enough proof?!!!” Dongwan yelled while he was talking on the phone with the lawyer he had hired. “What the hell do you mean by not enough proof? I’m the witness!” -Well, that’s why it wasn’t enough. Brian denied it, so the jury thought there was a possibility that you might have lied- “Fu*k!!!” Dongwan yelled as he slammed down the receiver. Hwanhee… He messed it up. He messed up all my plans. Hwanhee, you aren’t going to get away so easily with this… “I’m Ok…” Hwanhee tried to convince BoRi who begged him to stay in the hospital one more day. “But you still look so pale.” “It’s alright. I’m really fine.” Hwanhee explained as he stood up. And all of the sudden, BoRi wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him, and burying her face into his chest. “Don’t make me worried. Don’t make me think you are not going to stay with me, stupid.” Hwanhee, surprised at BoRi’s actions asked. “Is something wrong?” BoRi didn’t answer. And she didn’t know why she started crying. Hwanhee felt the tears on his shirt. “…BoRi…?” “Don’t go anywhere, please…” “……..” “Stay with me. I love you and you love me too…right?…right??” BoRi kept repeating. Hwanhee, felt the pain inside. To lie to her… To never let her know the truth… I never have. I gave her happiness by lying to her. Saying ‘I love you’ I’m sorry, BoRi…I’m sorry. “Of course.” Hwanhee whispered, answering her question. BoRi hugged in more tightly and whispered… “Just stay with me…you don’t have to love me…” Hwanhee brushed her hair. She knew…she knew… Hwanhee couldn’t say anything to comfort her. No words came to his mouth. He wanted to tell her, ‘I’m sorry.’ But instead, like a habit he told her, “What are you talking about? I love you.” Just to bring a smile on BoRi’s face. She’s the only person I had now. Lying isn’t a problem anymore. It’s a habit. It’s not hard. Even lying to myself. Dani stared down at the cliff. The same cliff, where Hwanhee and Brian met about a year ago. The cliff, that took Hwanhee away from her, not only for a year, but forever. Next to her, stood the sign that read ‘Danger! Don’t get close’ Still, she ignored the sign, and stood at the edge. The water looked so cold, so bitter and so deep. But peaceful. In there, I wouldn’t have to agonize over the fact that Brian, my fiancee, had attempted to kill my lover. In there, I wouldn’t even feel the pain of losing someone forever. And in there, it wouldn’t be so hard forgetting Hwanhee. I can’t go on… I can’t forget him… It’s too hard. But it’s also too hard to think about him. It’s too hard, to be alive. She took a step closer to the edge, and then another step. She closed her eyes. “WAIT!!!” Someone yelled. She turned back. It was Minwoo. “Hold on, don’t do this Dani.” She stood there frozen, and in tears. “Don’t. Please, walk back here. Please.” Minwoo couldn’t get close, because if he stood by Dani, the ground would shatter into pieces, and both of them would die. “I can’t. I don’t want to.” She cried as she shook her head. Everywhere she saw, appeared the face of Hwanhee. It just hurts too much. “Please, come back.” She turned back towards the water. She closed her eyes, getting ready to jump. “Hwanhee needs you!” Minwoo yelled. Dani opened her eyes. He needs me….? “Hwanhee needs you, more than anything right now.” He needs me… He needs… She turned and ran away from the cliff. As soon as she stepped off the edge, the cliff shattered and fell thousands of feet to the water. “AHHHH~!” Hwanhee yelled as he was slammed against the wall by Dongwan. Dongwan’s hands choked on Hwanhee’s neck. “Get your hands off me.” Hwanhee said grasping for breath. “You think you were going to get away with it? Did you really think you were going to get away with ruining all my plans?” “……….” Dongwan threw Hwanhee on the floor. “Why did you lie! Why did you lie?!!!!!” “……….I, don’t know what you are talking about……” “Oh, really, that’s funny….ha…hahahaha.” Dongwan started laughing sarcastically. “I know everything! I know you remember everything! You know Brian did it!!” “……..” Surprised, Hwanhee avoided Dongwan’s eyes… “Let me ask again. Why did you do it? What do you get from protecting him?!!!” “…..I….I just didn’t want to ruin his life….” Hwanhee started talking. There were tears in his eyes. “She might be better off…..with me….but she’ll be happier with you….and that’s all I want….” Hwanhee also knew it wasn’t easy for Brian to say this…. “Promise me….you’ll make her happy…..” “…………” “Promise me!” Brian raised his voice… “I promise…..” Hwanhee whispered and watched Brian get up….. Brian put on a fake smile….and Hwanhee knew that…. “And another thing…..” Brian spoke… “If you don’t keep that promise…I’ll take it as you want her to be with me…..” Hwanhee nodded…. As Brian turned around….he tried to smile….. Thinking….he did what he was suppose to do…. He was just meant to be….her guide…nothing more….. He smiled…..happy that at least he was something to her…. He also felt his tears on his cheeks…. Hwanhee watched as Brian drove away… -From Chapter 6 “I broke the promise….I don’t have the right to come back…here…and ruin everything… I already ruined one life, the one of the person I love the most, just by being with her. I just wished I disappeared, that I didn’t exist. Then, people would be so much happier….” “So by pretending like you lost your memory, you wished that they would be happier….” “I didn’t want to hurt people anymore….especially when I have…so little….” Hwanhee stopped himself…. “Well, by you doing that, you ruined all my plans….” Dongwan took out a recorder from his backpocket. He pressed the ‘stop’ switch. “And I told you, you aren’t going to get away with it.” (*****Author’s note: Lying under oath is also a crime and in the recorder, Hwanhee had confessed that he lied. Also some of you might be wondering in the recorder, people listening could also find out that Brian is really guilty. But Brian can’t be guilty anymore because he can’t be tried again for the same crime. They said ‘not guilty’ and it can’t be changed.********* ) “He doesn’t even remember me…and he needs me?” Dani questioned. Minwoo opened his mouth to say something, but he held it back. “What is it?” Dani asked again. Minwoo hesitated. “Hyung do me a favor.” “What?” “Don’t tell anybody, ok?” “No, I can’t do that.” “Please.” “You don’t know how much Dani went through after you left.” “Hyung you have to.” “………" “Tell me, please. I want to know. I need to know.” “……I can’t…” “……….” Dani sighed. “Please don’t ask me any questions. But he needs you right now.” “Tell me what you are not telling me!” Dani yelled, frustrated. “Don’t ask me that again!!” Minwoo yelled back. “……” “…….” Silent moments passed by. Dani about to break into tears, wiped her eyes with her sleeves… Minwoo glanced at her. He thought of his little brother. He knew Hwanhee missed her terribly. He might not say it. But it showed on his face ever since they met again. “Please….” Minwoo whispered. “Please stay with him, please go to him. At least for a little while. That’s all he needs. Please…” “For a little while…??” Minwoo nodded. “What do you mean…” Dani asked, afraid of the answer. Minwoo sighed, and began explaining. “He…is…..” [Chapter 15] *Good-bye…for the last time* “He…is…..” “What….what is it….? Dani asked, afraid of the answer. “He is…sick, Dani.” Dani looked at Dongwan like she didn’t know what he was saying. Like something like that can’t happen. “He is very sick…” “Oh my god….” Dani gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. “He is dying…” “No…no…” She covered her ears, trying to block out Dongwan’s words. “Dani, Dani listen.” Dongwan forced her hands off her ears, holding it tight in his hands. He looked straight in her eyes. “He has HIV.” “How…how??” Dani felt her tears. She still didn’t believe what Dongwan was saying….she didn’t know why she was crying. “My parents, my mom had it. That’s why they died.” “Please….please….don’t tell me anymore…” Dongwan held her tight by the shoulders. He felt her shaking uncontrollably. “You need to know…you need to..” “No…NO!!!!!!” She cried, but Minwoo kept on talking. “They adopted me because they knew their baby would have HIV. But they loved each other too much. And they had Hwanhee.” (Author’s note: One of the ways that HIV can be transmitted is if your mom has it, it is passed onto her baby.) “How long…how long does he have left…?” “Not long…not long….” “Why, why couldn’t you just let me live without knowing….Why….” She dropped on her knees, she cried uncontrollably. “Police!” Bori ran to open the door. “Why are you people here?” She asked, in fear. “We are here to arrest Hwanhee Lee.” “What?? WHAT!” BoRi panicked. She pulled on one policeman’s arm. “Get out!! Get out!!” She yelled. But they charged into the house and searched for Hwanhee. BoRi was worried that Hwanhee, who just came out from the hospital, would get a shock and pass out again. And this time, not waking up. The doctor didn’t tell her what exactly it was, they only told her it was serious illness when she begged them. I can’t…I can’t have these men taking him away. I need to care for him…he needs my care…. “He’s in here!!” One policeman yelled from upstairs… “Come on!! Hurry up here!!” He yelled again. Three or four policeman ran after him, BoRi did too in panic. “What do we do?” One of the policemen asked, who seemed to be the youngest. BoRi shoved between two policemen. And she saw Hwanhee, lying on the floor, unconscious. With blood all over his mouth and hands… “Oh my god…Oh my gosh…..” She cried touching Hwanhee’s face with shaking hands… “He’s still alive.” One policeman said after checking his pulse. “Quick! Get him to the hospital!” Minwoo and Dani ran into the hospital. “Where is my brother?? Where is he?!!!” Minwoo yelled to one of the nurse. “Wait…Minwoo oppa….” Dani told him, calming him down. She walked over to BoRi who stood silently crying. “Where…is he…?” She asked, trying to hold her tears back… “He is…he is…” BoRi hesitated. “He is mine….” BoRi told Dani, in tears…almost silently. “Where is he? That’s all I want to know!” Dani cried. BoRi shook her head. The doctors…the doctors told her….this may be his last day… His last day…. And she didn’t want Dani to stay with him… I want to be the one next to him.. Even to his last day… I can’t let her be with Hwanhee. Even if that’s not what Hwanhee wanted. “Dani this way!” Dongwan called Dani. Dani stared at BoRi for a moment. BoRi wanted to hide somewhere away just for this moment. As she watched Dani run towards the room Hwanhee lied in, she slowly crouched down, crying like she never done before. Because Hwanhee was dying. Because she wasn’t the person Hwanhee loved. Because she hated herself for her selfishness… Dongwan sat home. He looked around the house, taking notice of every little furniture in the room. Everything was so valuable in this room. He was satisfied. Brian wouldn’t be able to come back anyway because of all the controversy. And he also gave Hwanhee a payback by telling the police on him with solid evidence. ~Ring Ring~ He picked up the phone. “Hello?” -This is Eric. I have a good news and a bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?- “The good news.” -The good news is that we got Hwanhee out of the picture now because the doctors said he’s dying.- “Dying?! Hahahaha!” Dongwan laughed out loud. “Better than I thought. What’s the bad news?” “The bad news is that….” ~Bang Bang Bang~ Someone knocked hard on the door, actually it was more like banging and kicking. “Who the Hell is that?!!” Dongwan yelled, angry. Andy ran to get the door, and his little sisters and brothers peeked out of their room also. “Eric, I’ll get back to you in a sec.” -But, Dongwan!- Dongwan hung up on him as Andy opened the door. And several men dressed in black, came in the door, charging in. “Who are you?” Andy asked and stood in front of them. “We are ordered to take all these stuff with us.” They said and pushed Andy. Dongwan pushed one of the guys furiously. “What the hell do you think you are doing?!! Get the hell out!!!” He yelled. “Are you Dongwan Kim?” The guy in black asked. Dongwan nodded. “Incase you didn’t know, your company just went bankrupt. That’s pretty stupid. It’s your own company and you don’t know what the heck is going on in it. Guess you haven’t been around much.” The guy scolded at Dongwan, who stood frozen, silently. “Hyung, what is he talking about? It’s a lie right? It’s a lie??!!” Andy asked Dongwan, pulling on his arms. “Take all these stuffs!” The guy ordered and several men started taking everything they could get their hands on. “Hyung, do something!!!” But all Dongwan did was act like he didn’t believe any of this and he yelled… “NOOOOOOO~!!!!” “Go in.” Minwoo told Dani as he opened the door for her. Dani put her hands over her mouth and slowly walked in. She wasn’t brave enough yet, to see him and to be able to tell him good-bye. Don’t go yet…not yet… If you go like this, you’ll never know I loved you, that you loved me. You can’t go yet…. She stood beside Hwanhee. He looked so pale. She never imagined him with the oxygen mask over him. She never imagined him in the hospital. Everything was presented to her all at once… She wasn’t strong enough to handle it. She almost ran out. But when she reached for the door knob. She heard something. Something that made her cry…. “Dani…” It was sound of Hwanhee calling her name. She never knew how much she missed him calling her name. She never knew just simply calling her name would bring such a light in her heart. Hwanhee continued as Dani slowly turned around. “I remember.” He whispered. “I remember everything. I lied to you. I lied….” “Hwanhee oppa….” She murmured his name, wiping her tears. “I remember….you loved me, and I loved you too….And I still do….” “Hwanhee oppa…” She kneeled beside Hwanhee’s bed. She held Hwanhee’s hand, in her one hand. And she buried her face in her other arm… She cried… And Hwanhee watched her… He cried too… “Bring more!!” Dongwan yelled. He was drunk already and there was several bottles of beer lying around the empty house. “Hyung, stop. You had too much already.” Andy told him. “Did you hear me or not! Bring more!!!” “Hyung!!! Are you crazy?! What the hell is the matter with you?!” “SHUT UP!!!” Dongwan yelled as he threw an empty bottle towards Andy. The bottle broke into two pieces, as it hit Andy’s forehead. A blood dripped down the side of his head. Both of them went silent. In the big empty house, the only sound was echo of their little siblings crying in the corner. At this moment, both of them knew. They are back where they started. Where they were at before. Only their Dad was replaced by their “kind” brother, Dongwan…. Brian stood before the door. He checked the room number again and again. It was the right one, but he still hesitated to go in. “Aren’t you gonna go in?” A cold voice called him from the back. It was Minwoo. Minwoo glared at Brian for a second. Then he walked away without saying anything. Brian sighed, then went in the room. Hwanhee turned his head slightly when there was a sound of door opening. He smiled faintly. “I was waiting for you.” He said. Brian slowly walked over to him. “I’m…I’m…” He murmured. He was scared. He was so scared that he was going to go to hell, and still not be forgiven. He looked at Hwanhee. He cried inside his heart. How can I ever be forgiven…? “I’m….I’m….so….sor….” Brian broke down beside Hwanhee’s bed. And he wailed. “I’m…so sorry….” He managed to get the words out between his cries. “I never meant…I just…..” “Nothing happened.” Hwanhee said firmly. Brian looked up at Hwanhee. “Nothing happened that day…” “But…I….” “Just believe it like that….you will…and I will….” Brian held Hwanhee’s hands… “…….thank you…..” He whispered as he cried…. Because Brian knew Hwanhee was telling him, that he was forgiven… Minwoo walked outside of the hospital after seeing Brian. It was already dark. He felt like crying, and if he was all alone, he would probably. But he promised his parents… He promised them long ago… His parents said to him when he was 15. That ‘I’m going to die, and your mom is too…so is your brother….” The only time his Dad allowed him to cry was then. After hours of crying, he told Minwoo… “You cried it all out now, please don’t cry when we leave you….no one likes to see you crying when they are seeing you for the last time.” But Dad…it’s too hard. Hwanhee’s the only one I have left… How can I not cry… He’s the only one…. He got out a cigarette, hoping this would help his grieving heart. Few steps down, he saw BoRi. He sighed, and walked over to her, sitting down beside her. “It ain’t easy huh?” Minwoo told her. BoRi shook her head. “But you know what you have to do.” BoRi hesitated and she shook her head. Minwoo smiled at her scoldingly. BoRi ignored it. Even though she knew what she had to do… With all her heart, she couldn’t…. Hwanhee and Dani sat outside on the grass. The doctors and nurses strongly forbid it, but Hwanhee wanted to, and Dani sneaked him out. “You know what I dream about, every night?” “…….” Dani shook her head. “Remember I told you? It has to be fairly dark, to be able to see the stars? That there has to be some pain, then you’ll be able to know the true meaning of happiness…?” “That’s what you told me on the first day we met.” Dani smiled. And Hwanhee smiled back as he continued. “I dream, every night, that when it’s dark and you don’t know where to go, that I am the star in the sky that shines your way. And I’m the brightest star of all. That Polaris…” Hwanhee pointed towards Polaris. It was the brightest star in the night sky. “……..” Tears formed in Dani’s eyes… “I always hated myself. You’ve been always so much in pain…and hurt…But I couldn’t do anything or give you anything. I only cause you more pain. I always made you cry. I never remember making you smile. I don’t even remember your smile…..” Hwanhee’s eyes also got teary… Even though I try to remember… Why can’t I remember anything I did to bring you happiness… Why can’t I remember your smile…..? “That’s my only wish. To be someone worthwhile for you. And I realized…that’s something I can’t do….alive….” Dani held Hwanhee’s hand tight. “No….you’re wrong. I’m happy…If you are by my side, I’m happy…I am…” Tears kept dropping down her face. She hated herself for only being able to cry in front of him. “Now I’m dying, then I will be able to watch over you…brighten your way, because I’ll be that star in the sky.” ~Slap~ Dani’s right hand was shaking. And Hwahee’s left cheek turned red. Dani bit her lips as she told him. “Don’t say you are dying, don’t say something like that to me….Why….Why are you saying you are going to die..? You can’t make me go through that all over again. If I lose you again…How do I live..? huh? How do I live…??!!” Hwanhee watched silently the tears from Dani’s eyes. The saddest, most painful tears in the whole world… I’ve always only made you cry. I never made you smile… “Don’t you love me? Don’t leave me…please…Don’t leave me…” Dani begged but Hwanhee only put his head down. “I’m not going to promise anything like that…” “……..” “I’m not going to promise anything I can’t keep…anymore…” “That would be better…” Dani cried. “Then I’ll at least be able to have hope.” “I’m sorry.” “No….I can’t listen to you anymore..No…..If you really love me, you wouldn’t be able to say stuffs like that.” Dani told Hwanhee and she ran away, crying. I love you…Hwanhee…I love you… Don’t do this to me… Just lie to me, that you’ll be by my side… Tears dropped down Hwanhee’s face, silently…. He only looked up to see Polaris. It was so bright… So bright… “Hwanhee!” Someone called him. “………” Hwanhee quickly wiped his tears. “You stupid…” BoRi scolded. “Stupid, stupid….” “……….” “I don’t want to…” “?????” “I don’t want to let you be with Dani, even though I know you love her.” BoRi stared at Hwanhee. Hwanhee only avoided looking into her eyes. He only said… “I’m sorry, BoRi….I never loved…” “Don’t say anything…” BoRi stopped him. “I don’t need to hear it…I know…” “…….I’m sorry….” “I’m never going to forgive you.” Hwanhee only smiled… “I know…” Then suddenly, he started coughing roughly. Then he fell on the floor. BoRi yelled and shook him. But he was unconscious. “Dani!! Where are you??!!!” Minwoo yelled around the hospital. Finally, he found her in the stairs.. “Dani!! Hurry up!!” Minwoo yelled. Dani turned around. “You have to at least say good-bye.” Dani took a deep breath, before entering the room. She made sure there were no signs of tears on her face. Dani slowly, step by step, walked towards Hwanhee with Minwoo behind her. She saw Brian sitting in the corner, and saw BoRi next to Hwanhee’s bed, weeping. Dani sat by his bed. He held onto Hwanhee’s hands. And she smiled… She smiled…. “Aren’t I a good girl? I’m not even crying..” She whispered… “Yeah..you look so pretty.” Hwanhee told her… She and everybody else in the room, felt that his breath was getting shorter and shorter every second. Hwanhee’s eyes were opened slightly. And his hand gently touched Dani’s face. “See? I’m smiling now, so don’t think that you’ve only made me cry.” “…….” Hwanhee wanted to say something. But he wasn’t able to. His breath was getting shorter. Tears dropped from Hwanhee’s eyes. “Don’t cry…..” Dani whispered as she bit her lips to make sure she didn’t start crying. Hwanhee, with all the strength left in him, told her… “I promise you…I will never forget you….I’ll remember every part of you…And I’ll protect you….I’ll shine on you…and I’ll keep my promise…I will…you trust me right?” Dani nodded. I can… I can keep smiling like this… If this is only way that Hwanee could leave me, happily…. I can keep this smile even though it’s fake… I will even though my heart is crying….. “Can I leave you? To be able to shine on you…can I leave now…?” Hwanhee took short breath in between his words. Dani felt he was going away from her little by little every second. She promised herself..she wouldn’t cry…she promised herself…. She nodded, smiling. Hwanhee smiled back. And with shaking hands… he took her hand in his….pulled it towards his lips and gently kissed it. “I love you Dani…” And slowly, his eyes closed. He was so happy. That the last thing he saw was Dani’s smile… And the last thing he heard was Dani’s words… “I love you Hwanhee oppa…” And his eyes closed firmly… His lips….still smiling…. “Hwanhee oppa…are you asleep…?” Dani smiled at herself faintly for her stupidity. Once Dani knew Hwanhee wouldn’t be able to open his eyes again, she gently touched his face. And she cried…. All the tears that she kept inside the whole time poured out all this moment… “I love you…I love you…” And she whispered over and over again… The doctors came in and pulled Dani away from Hwanhee. They covered a white sheet over him. The only thing she could do was reproach God for having to take her love away twice already. First Hyesung…and now Hwanhee… (Author’s note: You guys remember? Hyesung was Dani’s first love.) All she could do to comfort herself was… to belive that the people she loved was too kind, too angelic…so God just wanted to see them faster…. “What the heck? Why wouldn’t the fist open?” The doctor yelled out. Dani turned back towards them. Doctor was trying to put Hwanhee’s arm back on the bed, inside the white sheet, and he discovered that Hwanhee’s right fist won’t open. “This is weird….It really won’t open.” “Really? Let me see.” The other doctor tried to open Hwanhee’s fist. But Hwanhee’s fist was closed tightly. Dani slowly walked over to them. With tears still filled in her eyes. Dani put her hand under Hwanhee’s fist. And with her other hand, she gently held his fist. “Hwanhee oppa, it’s me.” She whispered. Then, Hwanhee’s fist loosened and something dropped into Dani’s hand. It was a gold necklace. And on the necklace…there was… A gold star….polaris…. As if it could brighten the whole world… It shined in Dani’s hands…. Like it represented the love between Hwanhee and Dani.. And also like it represented Hwanhee, who is now in the night sky… Brightening Dani’s heart.                                     END *************************************************************