Secrets | KOOKV

Forty One

The silence was deafening.

Jungkook opted not to say a word as he carefully sat on the chair next to the hospital bed where Yeri was sitting, back resting on the headboard as her eyes lingered on the view of the night sky from the window of her room.

Neither was brave enough to start a conversation, one that they'd been dodging since that morning after Jungkook had talked to the doctor in charge of Yeri's condition.

It was hopeless, her case was.

Two years ago, Yeri successfully won her battle against cancer- that which started from the tumor found in her brain.

Unfortunately, the recurrence of cancer cells happened and was detected late.

"We should reschedule our marriage, Jungkook." Yeri uttered, finally breaking the silence.

Jungkook didn't respond, feeling hist heart ache from Yeri's words. He knew exactly what she meant, and it hurt him.

"Let's do it next week." Yeri added, finally glancing to Jungkook to meet his gaze.

The moment their eyes met, Jungkook felt his throat going dry as tears threatened to fall from his eyes.

Yeri had accepted her faith.

And even in her darkest times, Yeri chose to think of Jungkook and what's best for him.

"Yeri.." Jungkook trailed off, feeling his voice breaking.

"We must do this, Jungkook. We can't let our efforts be in vain." Yeri said, reminding him of their goal since the beginning.

"That's not what's important now. You have to focus on getting better more than anything else."

"I'm not getting better!"

Yeri's voice echoed in the room which immediately turned silent as the two of them finally broke into tears.

"I'm not.. and we both know that." Yeri whispered through her sobs.

It's been tiring, fighting a battle with no assurance of winning.

She thought she had won, but fate said otherwise.

"Let's face the truth, Jungkook." She said, clasping her trembling hands.

Jungkook lowered his head as he cried, feeling his heart clench in pain.

They were each other's person.

Seeing Yeri like this had brought back the pain he had felt when he had lost his mother.

"We have to do this before I die.. or else—"

"You promised we'd live." Jungkook uttered, not wanting to hear Yeri's words.

The sorrow in his voice was evident which had Yeri smiling through her tears.

"We did. I did.. but this is as far as I can fulfill that promise." Yeri said, reaching her hand to clasp Jungkook's own.

"So, let's move our wedding date the soonest possible time, okay?" She added with the same smile she had back when Jungkook felt like giving up.

"I'm sorry." Jungkook whispered, bringing his lips to kiss Yeri's hand.

"I'm sorry..." He repeatedly said, tears cascading down his eyes.

He felt so bad for Yeri because everything she did was for him.

This marriage— that of convenience was something both of them had been dragging for a long time.

They've been working together to achieve the same goal— for Jungkook to have power over the Jeons.

Starting from agreeing to be engaged, everything was going according to plan.