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18

Chaeyoung's POV.

I stepped into Unnie's room, the familiar space feeling heavier than ever before.  The everyday familiarity had vanished, replaced by a profound weight of emotion.  The moment I crossed the threshold, tears welled, overflowing uncontrollably.

Unnie.

She was engrossed in her beloved book, the scene both comforting and heartbreaking. I remained rooted to the spot, paralyzed by a wave of emotion so intense it stole my strength.

A bucket of ice water seemed to crash over me as her gaze finally landed on me.  The coldness in her eyes mirrored the chill that spread through my very core.

"Who are you?" Her voice, hoarse and unfamiliar, sent a tremor through me.

My knees buckled, softening beneath the weight of her words and the years of pent-up emotion.  I collapsed to the floor, tears cascading down my face like a torrent.

"Oh my God, Chaeyoung, are you okay?!" A cry of alarm pierced through my distress.

Huh?

I looked up, meeting Jeongyeon's wide, frightened eyes.

"Wahh, I'm so sorry! It was a joke! Oh my god, can you stand?"  Jeongyeon's face was contorted with apology, her body shifting as if to rise.

Had I just been pranked by a four-year comatose patient who'd just woken up?

I quickly wiped away my tears, scrambling to my feet.  "I'm leaving," I muttered, turning my back on her.

"Whoa, whoa, wait! I was kidding! Please, come here," her voice, laced with genuine pleading, stopped me.

A smile tugged at my lips.  She was still the same Unnie I knew, even after four years.

I slowly turned, meeting her pouting expression.  "Come here, baby Chaeng Chaeng," she coaxed.

My own lips curved into a matching pout, tears still clinging to my lashes.

"Please?" she mouthed, her eyes pleading.

I moved towards her, and as I neared, she opened her arms.  Four years of waiting culminated in this moment.

I fell into her embrace, the dam of pent-up emotions finally breaking.  I cried, releasing the torrent of grief, relief, and joy that had been building within me.

"You grew up beautiful, Chaeng," she murmured, kissing my head and gently stroking my back.

"I-I'm so happy you're finally awake, Unnie," I choked out, my face still buried in her shoulder.

"I'm happy to see you again, too," she replied softly.

We remained there, locked in an embrace, for what felt like an eternity, catching up on lost time.  Mostly, it was me talking, recounting stories I'd told her countless times during her long sleep.

"Oh shoot, I forgot! Wait here, Unnie," I said, suddenly remembering Mina was still waiting outside.

I found Mina asleep on a bench, her head resting against the wall.  She'd waited for over an hour.

A smile touched my lips as I gently nudged her awake.

"Mina Unnie," I whispered.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Chaeyoung? What time is it?"

"Past midnight. Sorry to keep you waiting," I apologized.

"It's fine. Did you two talk?"

"Yeah…"

"That's good," she said, her voice filled with quiet satisfaction.

"Mina Unnie, can I introduce you to her again?"

Mina beamed and stood, smoothing her clothes. "Sure."

We returned to Unnie's room, Jeongyeon watching us approach.

"Jeongyeon Unnie, this is Mina Unnie. Mina Unnie, this is my sister, Jeongyeon," I introduced them.

Mina smiled warmly at Jeongyeon. "Nice to meet you, Jeongyeon Unnie."

Jeongyeon, momentarily mesmerized by Mina's beauty, stumbled slightly before managing a reply.  "I… um… nice to meet you too, Mina-ya."

I noticed Jeongyeon's gaze linger on Mina, but pushed aside the observation, overwhelmed by the joy of seeing Jeongyeon so well.

"You'll start rehab tomorrow, Unnie. The doctor said it's best to begin right away," I told Jeongyeon.

"Really?  But how?  Coma patients usually rest for a month before rehab, right?" Jeongyeon asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Chaeyoung…" Mina began, her voice filled with quiet pride, her gaze fixed on Chaeyoung.  "…took care of your limbs. The doctor said your bones and muscles are healthy because of the daily exercises Chaeyoung did."

A blush warmed my cheeks; it hadn't seemed like a big deal at the time.

"Wow…" Jeongyeon breathed, looking at me with wonder. "My no-jam bro did that for me? For four years?"

Mina nodded, a warm smile gracing her lips.

Jeongyeon opened her arms, and I instantly returned to her embrace.

"I love you," she whispered, showering my face with kisses.

"Ugh, Unnie, you just woke up, and you're already being gross," I protested playfully, though I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm not gross! You cleaned me every day," Jeongyeon retorted, her laughter echoing mine as she finally released me.

Mina watched us, a quiet observer of our unique bond.  She understood the depth of our connection.

After an hour, Mrs. Son hadn't returned.  Though I longed to stay, Jeongyeon insisted Mina and I go home and rest.  After a brief, playful argument, I relented.

"Okay, we'll go home. But I'm visiting you tomorrow morning, so your lonely ass won't be too lonely," I declared.

"Yes, ma'am," Jeongyeon replied, a playful grin on her face.

Mina and I left, heading home, our hearts full, our spirits buoyed by the reunion that had just taken place.