A Blessing In Disguise

1 + 1 = 1 (Part 2)

Chaeyoung tried to open her eyes, but it felt like her eyelids were bearing the weight of the entire world. She struggled to wake up until she finally managed to see a blurry vision of her husband, who was looking at her eagerly, waiting for her to regain consciousness.

"Don't tell me you've been waiting like this the whole time," Chaeyoung smiled weakly, raising her hand for him to hold, which he did immediately.

He looked at her with anxious eyes, showing how much he longed to see her. Bringing her hand to his cheek, he gazed at her with tears in his eyes.

"Why do you always make me worry?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"I'm sorry, this time it's not my fault," she chuckled softly.

"Just stop putting yourself in danger. You know I can't bear seeing you like this."

"I'll be careful, I promise," she reassured him with a sweet smile, but then remembered, "Babe! What about Jihyo-unnie? Where is she? What happened to her?"

"She's in the next room. The doctor said she needs extra care because she hasn't eaten for the past couple of weeks."

Now that Jihyo was safe, there was one pressing question that needed to be asked.

"Who is the person in prison?" Chaeyoung asked, struggling to sit up.

"Her twin sister, Park Jisoo," Suga replied. "It's been her all along. Jihyo has nothing to do with it."

"How long has she been deceiving us?"

"I don't know the specifics. The police are still investigating her mother. We'll find out soon," Suga said, pulling the blanket over Chaeyoung. "Now, you need to focus on getting well."

"Will this really be over? I don't think I can handle any more trouble," Chaeyoung sighed wearily.

"It will be over. You have nothing to worry about."

"Babe!" she called softly.

"Yes?"

"I want to see Jihyo," she said, beginning to move out of bed.

"I know I can't stop you, Mrs. Tenacious, but please be careful," he said as he helped her stand. "I'll take you there."

"It's been a while since you called me that," Chaeyoung smiled.

With slow, cautious steps, Chaeyoung and Suga reached Jihyo's room. They stood together beside her bed, where she avoided their gazes, feeling ashamed about what had transpired.

"I know it's a silly question, but how are you feeling?" Chaeyoung broke the silence.

"How can I possibly feel? Shame, guilt, grief... I don't have enough words," Jihyo uttered weakly.

"Unnie, it's not your fault. You know that. You have no reason to feel this way."

"She's my twin, Chaeyoung-ah! You don't know what it's like to have a twin who is nothing like you," a tear escaped Jihyo's eyes.

"Was it her who was friends with me?" Suga asked.

"No, it was me. But when she saw you months ago, she fell for you, and that's when my suffering started."

"You've been chained up for months?" Chaeyoung sighed deeply.

"Yes, I was only allowed to attend schedules that Jisoo couldn't attend instead of me," Jihyo explained bitterly. "You can't entirely blame my sister when Mom encouraged her every move. She's always been the spoiled one like we weren't identical twins. Eversince elementary school, she's always been the queen bee but I was just the fat girl who was good at nothing. The world never knew I existed, it was only Jisoo whom they cared about. Remember when I changed my name from Park Jisoo to Park Jihyo? No names were actually changed. It all happened when I was accepted into JYP. Mom did her best to switch us and make her go instead of me, but she never had my voice or my determination. That's why it wasn't easy for her to take my spot in JYP. There were times when I wondered why was she laying low for a long period and did nothing evil but it was only the silence before the storm. Mom and she were scheming all along to bring us to this point. Sizing your company was her goal; she's been in cahoots with Mr. Min from the start. Why? To get to Suga. She was consumed by a toxic, one-sided love, and I've been footing the bill all this time. In the past, no one knew about Park Jihyo, but now it's the reverse: everyone knows only Park Jihyo, but they don't know the evil Park Jisoo hiding behind her."

"I spoke with her earlier today," Chaeyoung said. "We struck a deal that if she publicly apologizes, I'll drop the case."

"Please don't," Jihyo cried, attempting to sit up. "Please, I don't want her out again. I've had enough of her nonsense. I beg you, let her rot in there."

"Don't worry, unnie, we've got this. You won't suffer anymore, I promise."