The Hired (Completed!)

Chapter 22

(A/N: PLEAAAAASE! Play 'River Flows in You' of Yiruma right after you read this Author's Note up until the end of the chapter. Please, I swear! It's a good song, you won't regret it. ^^)

---Flashback---

*Narrator's POV*

"Guys, listen up. This is very important for you to know before you all start. It's about my daughter, and I want you all to pay attention to what we are going to tell you. Hyang Soon, my son, if you may?", Jo Eun's dad called for Hyang Soon who's sitting right next to him, sadness were plastered among their faces which reasoned and contributed to the increasing tension of the atmosphere surrounding them. The six men tensed even more because of that.

Shin Young, on the other hand, already expects what the eldest guy has to speak. That is, he already knew the message behind the faces of these two people in front of him before everyone else and he couldn't bare hearing it for the second time around. It would only bring him more pain hearing it especially that he's expecting from Jo Eun's dad that it wasn't too serious to deal with.

"Uhm, Jo Eun-ah... She has a serious health problem. We discovered it just a month ago and more than that, she also has a serious psychological problem that was.. Pretty much impossible for a treatment. A long term treatment might help though, but the doctor told us that there's only a little chance for her to overcome such psychological problem. And about her health--", as Hyang Soon started to speak, Ja Hoon, who's sitting right next to Ji Hyun, gulped a bit harder than earlier before their meeting begins because of the sudden impact of Hyang Soon's words. He could not believe himself that a lively girl like Jo Eun that he's been up to for a year was actually facing a more serious problem more than he does. And this made him cut Hyang Soon's words for a moment.

"W-what do you mean 'little chance'?", he stuttered. Cold sweat running down his forehead and even in his spine but he could care less. He knows that right now, there's no time for him, and for each of them to take things lightly.

"*sigh... Right now, we still aren't sure what exactly he's saying since he still haven't done studying about it yet. What he only told us last week is that Jo Eun's suffering from a serious trauma.", Hyang Soon said, a hint of sadness escaped his mouth. He felt more than sorry for his younger cousin for living such a cruel life without her knowing. Jo Eun's father basically couldn't tell her since it'd only add to the huge weight she's been lifting since her childhood.

Long story short, her biological mom suffered from kidney failure right after she graduated from kindergarten. At that time, some financial problems were already occurring. Although the company which her dad was running receives money and whatnot, it's still not enough for the great expenses being used for her hospitalized mom. Worried, Jo Eun's dad kept it untold and only him and his wife knows about it, and so as his and his wife's kin excluding Jo Eun.

Recalling the past conversations they've made...

*flash back years ago*

"... 여보(honey), do you think Jo Eun will be fine if.. If I --", Eun Ae's eyes started to get teary, her chest as well is beginning to pump painfully because of the fact that she's already got only few months to live.

"Shhh, don't say that, honey. Don't ever say that again. You're not going anywhere, you're not gonna leave just like that, alright?", Hanzo gave her hand a squeeze while his other hand's stroking Eun Ae's head.

"*sigh, I know. But.. What if something happened to me? Didn't the doctor said--"

"Honey, look. Look at me. What the doctor said doesn't matter. You need to live. For me and for our daughter. Promise me that, will you?", his eyes gave up afterwards because of the overwhelming situation that's happening so fast. He knows that there's only a slight chance for her to survive, but even so, he can't just let her negative side discourage her more.