𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘, 𝐈 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔

seventeen.

- ͙۪۪̥˚┊❛ [CHAPTER SEVENTEEN] ❜┊˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
﹉﹉﹉﹉﹉﹉﹉﹉

IN WHICH SHE
FINALLY DECIDES
TO GIVE UP.

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BLINDING white lights are what jieun first sees when her eyes flutter open. the room she's in is quiet, the only sound there being of a faint beep. she blinks a couple times to adjust to the light quicker and looks around the room. she looks towards her right where she feels someone grabbing onto her hand. jieun sees beomgyu holding her hand, his head resting on the edge of the bed. her eyes widen slightly when it finally dawns on her that she's currently in the hospital. jieun slowly starts sitting up in an attempt to not disturb beomgyu but to no avail. he stirs awake from his slumber and yawns, pouting as he blinks a couple times, staring at jieun.

he gasps, finally realizing that he's staring at a very much awake jieun. "jieun!" beomgyu flings himself on the girl, hugging her tightly. jieun smiles at him. she raises her hand to pat his head, but her hand never comes into contact with his hair. instead, jieun's hand is midair when taehyun walks in with two cups of coffee in his hands. he puts the cups down and jumps on jieun afterwards. she can feel tears land on the shoulder blade of her gown.

"oh, i see that you're awake, miss kang."

all three of them whip their heads to see the doctor walk in. they all notice the grim look on his face.

the doctor pinches the bridge of his nose. "ah," he sighs, "i feel bad for having to ruin the atmosphere..."

taehyun and beomgyu stare at the doctor, fear settling in their chests. they hold their breaths in, waiting for the doctor to continue.

"miss kang, you need to get surgery or else you will die. i'll be leaving now, and i'll inform your parents that you're awake. they already know that you should be taking the surgery." with that, the doctor leaves, shutting the door behind him.

taehyun starts sobbing. he grabs jieun's hand, staring down at it while his tears fall onto her hand. "jieun," he says, hiccupping. "please get the surgery. please. i'm begging you."

beomgyu swallows the lump in his throat, waiting for jieun to speak.

there's a sad smile tugging jieun's lips upwards the slightest bit. she hugs taehyun, playing with his hair as he continues to cry. "i've known yeonjun for such a long time, taehyun."

upon hearing her words, taehyun starts crying harder, his whole body shaking.

he doesn't want to lose his sister.

his best friend.

"i don't want to forget about my best friend, but," she says, "my little brother is the most important person in my life. a best friend is replaceable, a brother isn't. i'll get the surgery, taehyun."

beomgyu and taehyun leave the girl alone in the room. she stares at the phone she was left with for a few seconds, finally mustering the courage to unlock it and send a text to a certain someone. her chest feels heavy as she types the words that she never dared to imagine to ever... say. she sighs and looks up at taehyun and beomgyu, smiling at them as they enter the room.

ji
don't blame yourself for what happened yeonjun

ji
it's my fault, ok?

ji
i just want you to know that i love you, choi yeonjun

ji
always have

ji
i'm sorry that it had to be this way

ji
i wish you all the happiness in the world

ji
and i hope that you're able to find someone else to replace me

ji
goodbye yeonjun

yeonjun stares in confusion at the text messages jieun sent him. he bites his nail, wondering what in the world is happening right now. he hadn't seen jieun since the morning. he sighs, falling backwards onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. he wonders if jieun's alright. his mind wanders back to the commotion that took place earlier that day while he was... yeonjun feels his stomach begin to form knots, his throat growing dry. he shakes his, trying his best not to think about it. alas, his efforts go to waste when he starts coughing and cherry blossoms fall from his lips. he wipes the blood off the corner of his lips with the back of his hands, and stares at it.

yeonjun grabs his phone, typing a message. he slips his phone into the pocket of his jacket before heading out of the dorm. yeonjun shivers as he walks over to his car, thinking that it was much colder that day than any other day he's lived through.

yeonjun
i'm not quite sure what you mean by that ji. but i wanted to tell you that i've had hanahaki since last month ever since we saw your friend, beomgyu, with haein that night after i picked you up from work. i confessed today and got rejected lmao. i made up my mind just now to get the surgery, so i won't be able to talk for a bit. i'll see you when i come back from the surgery, ji :)
MESSAGE UNABLE TO BE DELIVERED !

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UNFORTUNATELY,
I LOVE YOU.