Me & Her| Lee Felix

1: Soon You'll Get Better

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, or as I like to call it, a pain in my ass is something I've suffered since I have memory. The doctors said that I inherited it from my dad, but there is really no way to confirm since he is dead. I've been in and out of hospitals my whole life which means I barely have friends or a social life itself. Most of the friends I've made are in this hospital: the nurses, my doctors and some other kids that have either died or gotten a transplant. 

I was so close to having one a couple of years ago, but my heart wasn't as bad and a younger kid needed more than me, so here we are again. I've been back in the hospital for three months now. I used to be at home, annoying my aunt, but my heart went bad again so I've been under observation. 

Now is the time for my daily routine. After the morning check-ups, I'd sneak out of the room, steal another jello cup from the nurse's station and sit by the big window to people-watch. You'd think that I'd choose medicine as a future career, because of, you know, the heart thing but I love psychology. I love figuring out how people think and why they think that way, so I cant wait to get out of here to go to college. 

"What have we told you about the jello cups, Ms. Shin?" Jungwoon, one of my nurses, said. 

"Ah, Oppa, it's okay!" I said calming him down. "An extra cup of sugarless jello will not kill me. The heart thing will though."

"Can you stop making death jokes too?" He asked, sitting next to me. 

"Sorry, bud. It comes with the package!"

"How are you feeling today?" He asked, showing me his pearly smile. Jungwoon was the first-year nurse when I came in years ago. He used to be shy and would get embarrassed when I'd make death jokes, but we've both grown together inside this madhouse so he feels like family. 

"I'm okay. Same as usual. How are you? How was your date with nurse Jimin?" I asked, dying to know about his love life, which was more active than mine. 

"It was amazing!" He said, making me giggle. "We had dinner after our shift and then went stargazing. She even grabbed my hand and told me she'd love to do it again."

"Ugh, Park Jungwoon, I love this!" I said, giving him a little push. "I can just imagine your wedding and her in her beautiful white dres-"

"Hey, calm down. No wedding for now!" He brought me back to earth. "I'm too young to get married."

"Oppa, you're almost 30, that is not young!"

"So rude. I'm still in my youthful zone."

The loud sound of the ambulance brought our attention to what was going on outside. Two people were being brought in and so much blood was all over the place. Suddenly I had no more appetite and Jungwoon saw this as my queue to go back to my room. 

"But I just sat down. I thought you were my friend."

"Who said we were friends?" He said, opening the door for me and pulling me in. "Have some rest, I'll see you later."

"If you don't bring extra apple juice next time, don't dare to come in," I said, sitting down on the surprisingly comfy hospital bed. 

I was so out of breath just from walking, and I realized how I might never win over this sickness. Walking short distances feels like I ran a marathon and standing makes me want to puke. I'm only nineteen but I feel so old and broken. 

I sat down to catch my breath and looked at the time. My aunt was coming soon, which means that I have to act like nothing is wrong. Since both my parents died, my aunt, Hana has been my caregiver. I feel so bad for her because she has had to be responsible for me and all my medical bills. We always joke around, that when I finally get a new heart, I'll work so she stops working but only God knows when that could happen. 

10:35 am. The door clicks and Jisung rushes into my room. I'm surprised because I'm hoping to see a short-haired woman and not a tall young man. He looks like he is hiding from someone but I can't really tell who.

"What's wrong, Jisung?" I asked turning the tv off. 

"Jimin has been doing tests on me the whole morning and I'm hiding from her." He says, coming next to me and hiding behind my bed. 

"You're going to get in trouble!"

"What can they do, huh? Kill me? Too late, my heart has been doing that for a long time."

I laugh because it was a good joke, but right there the door opens again and Nurse Jimin comes in catching her breath.

"Have you seen Han Jisung, Hari-ssi?" She asks me.

"He came in but left again." I lied.

"Ugh..." Was the last thing she said before leaving. 

When it was safe, Jisung came out. "I owe you one!"

"I know you do." I smiled at him, thinking about what to take from him next. 

"I'm going out this weekend." He confessed.

My eyes almost popped out of my eyes. Six months had passed since he was admitted and it looks like it was time for him to leave. Jisung is a year older than me and has constant heart failure. Sometimes his heart decides to bother him but he is able to live a normal life. I was so happy for him, though, he told me he wanted to finish a painting he started but couldn't finish. 

"You can finish that painting now, huh?"

"I'll bring it to you when it's done." He said, a bit shy. He has always been shy about his paintings. 

"I'd love to see it, but if it's ugly I'm definitely going to tell you" I joked. 

"Oh, I know you will" He laughed and the door opened again. My doctor came in with a range of expressions on his face. 

"Hari, you are getting a heart".