Chapter 82 - The Two Lonely Souls in the Rain

Jiwon stared at the pictures. He lost count of how long he was motionless. Was it seconds? Minutes? Or hours? He could not tell. All he did was stare at the green eyed woman's picture. 

She looked younger and was smiling widely. He used to feel a sense of pride whenever she smiled at him. But why did he feel so hollow now? Why was her smile felt like it was stabbing his heart with a thousand knives? 

Tears would not come. At that moment, he felt nothing. No sorrow. No joy. There was no feeling left in him. What does one do when they lose someone close to them? Do they cry? Howl their eyes out? How should he react?

But did he deserve to cry for her? Would she have died if he was not so stubborn? Would she have died if he never existed? 

"It was quite sad," the nurse said in a small voice. "Ms. Sohee was well respected in this area. Their daughter fainted when she saw their...bodies."

The last words seem to have stirred something in Jiwon.

"Daughter?" he questioned.

"Yes," the nurse replied. "Poor thing. She is around your age. Came rushing to the hospital when she heard the news. Upon seeing her parents' bodies, she fainted in shock. Her state was so pitiful."

"Where is she?" Jiwon demanded. He did not know why, but he had to meet her. He did not dare to apologize to her because he could not forgive himself. But he wanted to protect Ms. Sohee's last remnant. 

"I think I saw her going towards the hospital's park," she pointed east. "It's right next to the East Wing."

"I want to go there," Jiwon said. "Now."

"But it's raining outside!" the nurse protested. "I'm sorry I cannot allow that."

Jiwon grabbed her hand. "Please," he pleaded. "I beg you. I need to talk to her."

The nurse was in a dilemma. She did not want to jeopardize a patient's health but seeing the plea in the boy's eyes, she could not help but melt. He must have suffered a great loss to make such a request. 

"Please," he begged. The nurse pursed her lips.

"Alright," she agreed. "I'll take you there."

She grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and led him towards the East Wing's park. When they reached there, she stopped right at the park's entrance.

It was raining heavily outside. Jiwon could barely make out a figure in the distance, all by herself in the rain. Upon reaching closer, he saw a pale skinned girl seated on the wet grass.

"I'll go and get an umbrella!" the nurse shouted over the rain. Jiwon nodded and watched her walk back in before paying attention to the girl. 

She did not pay any heed to the fact that she was getting drenched. Her eyes looked distant and lost. There was no indication that she noticed him at all. He was only a few feet away from her. Looking around, Jiwon saw that there was an umbrella stand near one of the pillars. 

He picked it up and began to wheel himself towards the lonely girl.

….

*Present Time*

"We'll have to take him off his life support," the doctor announced.

Mirae was shocked at those words.

"You can't do that!" she exclaimed. "He can still recover! It's barely been three weeks since he's been in a coma. People woke up from coma after years and you want to pull him off life support only after a few weeks?"

"It's not our decision, ma'am," the doctor said apologetically. "It's KJ's own decision. According to his will, he made it clear that in case of any accident which may leave him in a life threatening situation which requires life support, then it must be cut off within 30 days of the incident."

He handed Mirae the will. She snatched it from his hands and read it. Each and every word angered her. How can he even think of doing this?

"I refuse to agree to this!" she declared.

"Ma'am, you are not his guardian," the doctor reminded her. "KJ made this will and handed it to his lawyer. He informed us about this today. Besides, if KJ does not wake up within nine days, we'll have to carry out his will."

Mirae was shell-shocked. She looked at KJ's unmoving body. There was no improvement in his condition and they were running out of time. 

"I'm sorry, ma'am," the doctor apologized. "Now please excuse me."

He bowed and exited the room. Mirae stood there, speechless. For the second time in her life, she felt alone. Why did she always lose the people she cared about? First it was her parents, then it was Grandpa Kwon and now her friend, KJ. 

The pitter-patter of rain made her turn. The windowsill was full of water droplets. 

It's exactly like that night, she thought. She walked towards the window, watching the rain drops. For some unknown reason, she opened the window. 

"Will...will you show up again tonight?" she whispered.

….

*Past*

Mirae sat there in the rain, uncaring and unmoving. The cold wet water was making her shiver but she did not care. Her mind was in a daze and she could not fathom anything around her. 

Suddenly an umbrella landed over her head. Startled, she looked up to see a boy standing over her, holding an umbrella.

"Can I sit here?" he asked in a hollow tone. 

Mirae did not say anything. The boy took it as a yes and sat beside her on the grass. He did not talk to her, but held the umbrella above their heads.

"You'll hurt your hands," Mirae said after a while. "I don't need the umbrella. You can use it."

"I've been through worse," the boy smirked ironically. "This pain is nothing."

Nonetheless, Mirae held the umbrella too. It was the least she could do for the stranger who was accompanying her during her grief.

"Did you lose someone too?" she asked quietly.

"Yes," he replied. "You lost someone too, didn't you?"

"Yes," Mirae answered. 

They sat together in silence.

"It hurts…" Mirae suddenly said. 

"Sorry, I'll hold the umbrella," the boy said but Mirae shook her head. Mixed with the rainwater, were her own tears. She broke down, burying her head in her knees. 

"It h-hurts," she sobbed loudly. The boy did not say anything, but patted her lightly on the head. "It won't s-stop h-hurting," she cried.

"It will never stop hurting," the boy said. "It's what makes us human. We feel things. Happiness, pain, anger, guilt. We feel it all. As long as we have these feelings, the heart will never stop hurting."

"You speak as if you're in a lot of pain," Mirae said ruefully, looking up. His cold hand reached up and wiped her tears.

He gave her a cryptic smile. "I'm always in pain," he said as he got up. He left the umbrella to her and was about to walk away when Mirae caught his wrist.

"What's your name?" she asked. Even though they were talking for a while, she could not fully see his face in the dark, rainy night. It was only when the lightning struck at that moment, when she saw his face.

Her green eyes were locked on a pair of grey ones.

"Park Ash," he replied.

….

*Present Time*

A flash of lightning broke Mirae out of her reverie. The rain had not stopped. Her face was showered with rainwater but her salty tears were also mixed with it. She did not realize, she was crying.

A hand reached out for her cheek, wiping away the tears from it. Startled, Mirae looked to her side. 

Ash was standing there, a small smile etched on his face. 

"I'm back," he smiled at her. Mirae did not say anything but pulled him closer, meshing their lips together. It was not like their usual kisses when they hungered for each other. It was a pure and innocent kiss which only solidified their love for each other.

"Welcome back," she whispered.