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"Come on, let's eat," Mina said, her voice bright as she saw Chaeyoung enter the house.

Chaeyoung walked into the kitchen, stopping short at the sight of the table laden with an abundance of green vegetables.

"Whoa…" she breathed, her eyes wide.

Mina had prepared a feast of various greens; even the drinks were a vibrant green. Chaeyoung watched, mesmerized, as Mina turned, carrying another pan of steaming vegetables.

"What are you doing? Sit down," Mina urged, her excitement bubbling over.

Chaeyoung slowly sat, her gaze still fixed on the mountain of food.

"Uh… do I have to finish all of this?" she asked, scratching her head.

Mina nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Oh, eat this first, it's healthy," she said, placing a generous portion of steamed broccoli on Chaeyoung's plate.

Chaeyoung ate in silence, a quiet awe replacing her initial surprise.  She ate everything, until the plates were clean. Mina smiled, watching her eat, enjoying her own meal.

Midway through dinner, Mina spoke, her voice calm but firm.

"We're going to the hospital tomorrow."

Chaeyoung dropped her spoon, her eyes locking onto Mina's.

"Mina…" she whispered, her voice laced with apprehension.

"I don't take no for an answer. We're going," Mina said, her eyes fixed on her food.

Chaeyoung closed her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"If you were my girlfriend, maybe I'd still be healthy now. Look at all this," she said, gesturing to the food, a hint of self-deprecating humor in her tone.

Mina looked up, her expression serious. "Date me, then."

"Su—…what?" Chaeyoung stammered, clearly taken aback.

"I'll keep you healthy," Mina said, her tone unwavering.

Chaeyoung smiled, shaking her head. "This is delicious, unnie."

"Then finish it all," Mina replied, her eyes twinkling.

Chaeyoung smiled, nodding, and continued her meal.

 

Mina's POV

We went to the hospital for Chaeyoung's checkup.  I could see the fear in her eyes with every word the doctor spoke. I held her hand under the table, and she squeezed it tightly.  The verdict was stark: she needed to be admitted.

The walk back to the car was silent. I let her be.  In the parking lot, she stopped behind me.

"Unnie," she said, her voice soft.

I turned around.

"Can we not just…" she began, her words trailing off. I knew what she meant.

"No, Chae. All you need is to take the medication and be admi—"

"Please, I don't want to," she interrupted, her voice trembling.

"Chaeyoung, please, just be strong, okay? You can do this," I urged, trying to sound encouraging.

She snapped, her voice sharp with pain.

"Unnie, I've only got a month or two to live. Why do I have to be here!?" she cried, her eyes flashing with anger and despair.  "I don't want to die in this place, hearing those beeping machines. I don't want to be here!  For the four years I've spent in this place, I've never found it comforting! Can I just die somewhere I would love?"  Her face was flushed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Seeing her like this, my own resolve faltered.  The pain was almost unbearable.  But I needed her. I needed her to live. I would gamble everything on it.

"Why do you keep saying you'll die, Chaeyoung? You won't, okay? Please… just listen to me," I pleaded, my voice thick with emotion.

She stepped closer, gripping the hem of my jacket.  Her forehead rested against my shoulder, her voice barely a whisper.

"Why are you doing this for me?"

I wrapped my arms around her waist, tracing my fingers along her back, pulling her close.

"Because I want you to keep coming home… to me."

 

I woke up to an empty bed, a sudden fear gripping my heart. I jumped out of bed and rushed out of the room.  I found her on the veranda, silhouetted against the night sky.  Relief washed over me.

"Why aren't you sleeping yet?" I asked, my voice soft.

She turned, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Hmm, I can't really sleep nowadays."

I stood beside her, watching the stars together, the silence comfortable.

"Hey, Mina," she said, using my name for the first time in a while.

I hummed, a soft smile on my face.

"Do you like my sister?" she asked, her tone casual, yet the question hung heavy in the air.  I frowned.  What was this about?

"Nevermind, don't answer i—"

"No, I don't like her that way," I interrupted, my voice firm.

"For real?"

"For real."

Lost in her eyes, our gazes locked, our hearts speaking a language beyond words.  We both smiled.

I moved closer, cupping her face in my hands.  I felt her fingers gently tracing my back.  Tears welled in my eyes.  I buried my face in her shoulder, stifling a sob.  Her hug tightened, her scent filling my senses.

"You smell good," she murmured, her voice muffled against my clothes.

"What kind of smell?" I asked, my voice thick with emotion.

"You smell like my girlfriend," she chuckled, and I looked up, startled.

"You're dating someone!?"

Her laughter filled the night air.

"You smell like vanilla jasmine," she said, sniffing my clothes again. "I like it."

My face burned, my heart pounding in my chest.

"I like it too," I whispered.

"What?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Strawberry," I paused, my voice barely audible. "You smell like strawberries."

"Come here, then," she said, opening her arms.  I eagerly embraced her.

"Now I'll smell like you," she whispered, a giggle escaping her lips.

"Yeah," I replied, my heart overflowing.

We weren't dating, not officially, but…  The feeling was undeniable.  Coming home to her after a long day, falling asleep in her arms after studying, the comfort of her presence when I felt overwhelmed—it was all a silent testament to the depth of my feelings.  Even the loneliness I felt seemed to dissipate when she was near.  As long as she was with me, I was the happiest woman alive.  It was enough.  For now, it was enough.

 

Third Person POV

"Come home. We need to talk."

The cold, stern voice of Chaeyoung's mother sent a shiver down her spine as she answered her phone.  Before she could respond, the call ended.

"Who was that?" Mina asked, stirring in her sleep.

Chaeyoung pulled the blanket over Mina, her heart heavy.

"My mom… she wants me to go home."

Mina sat up, instantly understanding. "I'll go with you."

Chaeyoung shook her head. "No need."

"But—" Mina began, but Chaeyoung cut her off.

"It's fine. I can handle her now," Chaeyoung said, forcing a smile.

The doorbell rang. Chaeyoung stared at it for a long moment before finally pressing the button.  Her sister, Jeongyeon, opened the door, her expression strangely subdued, far from the warm welcome Chaeyoung had expected.

In the living room, her parents sat facing each other, their expressions tense.  Her father offered a hug, then returned to his seat. Her mother's gaze was sharp, unforgiving.  Chaeyoung stood silently, bracing herself.

"Jeongyeon told me you haven't been to school for weeks. Where have you been?" her mother demanded, her arms crossed.

Chaeyoung remained silent, unsure how to respond.

"Are you being a disappointment again?" her mother continued, her voice laced with disdain.  "Or are you continuing to be a disappointment?"

"Mom… at least let Chaeyoung speak," Jeongyeon interjected before leaving the room.

Her father sighed. "What's going on, Chae?"

Her mother scoffed. "She's probably just bitching around again. Tell me, are you?"

Chaeyoung chuckled, a nervous sound.

Her mother shot her a look. "How dare you?"

"You don't listen anyway, so what's the point?" Chaeyoung retorted, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips.

"Chae, don't disrespect your mother like th—" her father began, but Chaeyoung cut him off.

"Why, Dad? Does she even respect me?"

"Why yo—" her mother stood up, her face contorted with anger.

"I've been living hell because of you!" Chaeyoung yelled, her voice breaking.

"Chaeyoung!" her father shouted, his voice sharp.

"You've been giving me shit for years! Blaming me for the stupidest things, and you, Dad!" Chaeyoung's voice was laced with bitterness.  "When things got too shitty, you left!  But did I ever blame you? No! I just let you ruin me until you were satisfied! And now I'm completely ruined!"

Her mother lunged at her, landing a slap across her face.

Jeongyeon rushed in, shielding Chaeyoung from her mother's wrath. "Mom, stop! What are you doing!?" she cried.  "Chaeyoung, just shut your mouth!"

Her mother's voice was filled with rage. "This! This is what you're good at! You hurt me until you're exhausted! Every time I do everything to save your fucking daughter, all I receive from you is hurt! But did I ever question you!? No! I just let you ruin me until you were satisfied! And now I'm completely ruined!"

Just as her mother was about to strike again, a group of people burst into the room.

"Stop!" Dahyun yelled, pulling Chaeyoung away from her mother's grasp.

"Y-you… what are you all doing here!?" her mother shrieked, her eyes wide with shock.

Her father remained silent, watching the unfolding drama with a stunned expression.

Her mother let out a bitter laugh. "Ah, are you the ones who've been teaching my daughter bad things? Aren't you? Huh!? Is this fun to you!? Does your parents even teach you!?"

"Shut up, Mom!" Chaeyoung snapped back.

"Unnie, what are you all doing here?" Chaeyoung asked, her eyes wide as she saw her friends standing behind her.

"We got you, Chae," Jihyo said, a reassuring smile on her face.

Mina stepped forward, taking Chaeyoung's hand.

"Stop it, Mrs. Son," Nayeon said, her voice calm but firm. "Did you know that this abusive behavior can land you in court? We have documented Chaeyoung's physical injuries over the past few months, with witness testimony from Ms. Myoui Mina here."

"And we have plenty of evidence—from the hospital's CCTV footage over the past four years—of your abuse," Nayeon added.

Mrs. Son fell silent, her face paling.

"You've been abusing… our daughter… for how long!?" Mr. Son roared, his voice filled with fury.

"I…" Mrs. Son stammered, her face a mask of fear and guilt.

Chaeyoung chuckled, a bitter sound.  "I knew everything, Mom. That day when Jeongyeon unnie and I were hit by that car, you knew who was driving. You didn't press charges because she was the daughter of one of your biggest investors. Somi… The reason we broke up is because I couldn't blame her. I was used to receiving the blame from you. But it was suffocating, Mom. Why didn't you choose me? Or unnie?"

Her mother remained silent, her head bowed, pride warring with guilt.

Chaeyoung sighed, stopping her friends from speaking. "Stop it, unnies. Thank you. You've all done so much for me. I can't burden you anymore."

She turned back to her mother. "What's the point of bringing you to court when I've only got three months to live? And besides, no matter what I do… I still love you, Mom. Because the day you called me ugly, shitty, and all those things no daughter wants to hear… I never stopped loving you, Mom. I just stopped loving myself."

Chaeyoung squeezed Mina's hand tightly, taking a deep breath.

"Mom… I'm diagnosed with leukemia," she said, her voice steady, her face betraying no hint of the turmoil within.

Jeongyeon, Mr. and Mrs. Son stared at Chaeyoung, their faces a mixture of shock and grief.

Jeongyeon rushed to her sister, gripping her shoulder. "Y-you… you're kidding, r-right?"

Chaeyoung smiled sadly at her sister.

Jeongyeon gasped, her voice choked with emotion. "I… w-why? Why are you… No, no, this can't be. I can't… tell me, you're not dying, right?"

"Sorry," Chaeyoung whispered.

Jeongyeon burst into tears, followed by Tzuyu and the others.  Chaeyoung's parents stood frozen, trying to process the devastating news.

Her father finally spoke, his voice thick with emotion.  "My… my child is what? …What is she saying? What are you saying, Chae?"

Her mother was consumed by guilt, unable to undo the damage she had inflicted.

.

.

.

.

.

 

Mina's POV

"Hey, Chae, sorry we can't be there," Dahyun said over the phone.

"Geez, it's fine. Exams are going on, right?" Chaeyoung replied, her voice light.

"Yeah, damn, I think I'm gonna fail, bro," Dahyun whined.

"Nah, I'm not worried about you failing. Momo unnie tutored you all night, right?" Chaeyoung teased, winking.

I laughed, joining in on the lighthearted banter.

Dahyun's voice turned shocked. "Y-yah, it's not like that…"

"HAHAHAHA, fine~," Chaeyoung replied, her laughter infectious.

"I'll be going now, okay? Take care. Me and the girls will visit you after the exams!" Dahyun said.

"Okay, good luck!" Chaeyoung replied, ending the call.

She turned to me. "Oh, by the way, Mina, don't you also have an exam?"

I hesitated, unable to meet her gaze.  The nurse entered the room.

"Ms. Son, we'll be starting now."

Chaeyoung smiled, a faint, bittersweet expression. "Guess it's time."

Today was the start of her therapy.  Her parents had agreed to cover all the medical expenses—a form of atonement, perhaps.

Chaeyoung had been pale and weak lately, collapsing unexpectedly at times.  It was agonizing to witness her suffering.  But I was determined to be there for her, every step of the way.

Flashback:

"Oh, Mina-chan, we're already here. Are you already there?" my mother's voice chirped over the phone.  They had finally arrived from Japan.

"Yes, Mom. Is Dad there?"

"Yeah, this old man is too excited to see you," my father's voice boomed.

"Mina-chan~," I laughed at my father's affectionate tone.

"Alright, see you~," I replied, hanging up.

I rushed to my parents' place as soon as the cab pulled up.

"Okasan, otosan~!" I embraced them tightly.

"Wah, our baby is still a baby," my mother said, her voice filled with affection.

We shared a meal, catching up and laughing.  Seeing how open and supportive my parents were, I decided to ask them a crucial question.

"Mom, I want to stop my studies for at least a year."

My parents paused, their expressions turning serious.

"Can I ask why is that?" my father asked.

"Are you going to shift courses?" my mother inquired.

I shook my head. "No."

"Okay, what is it, sweetie?" my mother asked, her voice gentle.

"I want to take care of a friend," I said, my voice soft.

My parents exchanged a look.

"Is… that a no?" I asked, my voice laced with apprehension.

"Tell us about this friend," my mother said.

I took a deep breath, a smile gracing my lips. "She's a good friend, a warm friend… a friend I don't want to lose. That's why I want to take care of her. If I lose her, I wouldn't know what to do."

A long silence followed, and I waited anxiously for their response.

"Hmm, alright," my father said, his tone surprisingly nonchalant.

I blinked, my eyes widening. "What?"

"I'm letting you take care of Son Chaeyoung," my father said, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"H-how?" I asked, tears welling up in my eyes.

"I own a hospital, remember?" my father said, gently wiping away my tears.

"Yes, dear. We'll support you and your friend," my mother said, hugging me from behind.

"That's also why I came here. I brought Mr. Hakazawa with me," my father added.

Mr. Hakazawa—the top doctor in my father's company.

Tears streamed down my face as I bowed my head in gratitude to my parents.