Mirage

51

In Eric's and Jia's point of views, Sunwoo was crazy.

Jia almost launched a murder upon seeing the boy sitting with his ex - alone, in the waiting area. It was just an insane thing to comprehend, considering that Haeun was battling with her life.

But, Sunwoo knew he needed to do this. He needed to issue a proper apology to Jiyeon, he needed to clarify everything behind his actions that might have given her a bad idea.

"She fell for me first", he started, gulping a lump as his eyes fixated on the floor. He could hear a scoff from her next to him, so he continued before she could say anything. "I thought she was crazy, I treated her so bad, just like how I treated you".

Did not know from where Sunwoo get the courage, his eyes were locked with hers. Too many rare emotions tinting that Jiyeon could not find any words to backfire.

So she listened.

"Haeun didn't know about you. If she knew, I believed she'd stop chasing after me. After all, she was considering a breakup after you met her", Sunwoo pondered, the past had come to him in a flash, embracing him with an abrupt sadness. "I'm only granting one of her wishes".

"What wishes?"

"Her bucket list, to experience dating before she dies".

Sunwoo noticed the grew of her eyes, he could tell that Jiyeon did not expect to hear this either and nothing could leave her mouth at this rate.

"I rejected her with humiliation on the day you argued with me about a scandal you heard about me", Sunwoo chuckled, he felt truly dumb for acting hastily that day. "But after that, my life felt incomplete. A fragment had been missing and I didn't know what had made me feel so. Until I realized-"

"She's the missing fragment", Jiyeon said, cutting Sunwoo off. She sighed as she looked up to the ceiling and let out a teary cackle. "How powerful she is to make you feel something you've never felt with me".

"Jiyeon, I'm sorry", finally he made it. He managed to say something he suppose to say long time ago.

It was not a simple sorry, Jiyeon could tell. It was full with regrets she wished she knew in details.

"I came to your game earlier", she admitted, catching Sunwoo off guard. "I'd always come though you despise. It killed me knowing that she would be there, replacing my spot. I wanted to confront her but Jihoon stop me".

She paused, slumping back to the chair.

"You know, I've always cursed Haeun. I've been wishing for her to disappear from this world, I did wish to see her die, but.." she trailed off, her eyes seemed sweaty, like she did not mean it. "I never knew she's suffering".

A small laugh escaping her lips as well as a loner tear from her eye.

"Kim Haeun that I know would never let anyone see her suffering", Sunwoo painfully smiled, he already missed his girlfriend.

It was then Jiyeon rose up, standing tall in front of Sunwoo in which the boy needed to look up at her.

"You and Haeun are sharing a pure love. Both of you have completed each other, I must say that's good", she pursed her lips briefly before she continued. "It comes to my realization that I can't be Haeun. I can't do the same and so, I'll accept my defeat".

A faint smile appeared on Sunwoo's face, his heart that was beating nervously earlier seemed had calmed.

"Kim Sunwoo", Jiyeon called but pause as if this was the last time she would call his name. Their eyes met again, this time both were soothing. "I wish for the best for Haeun. I know this is the most crucial time for her and I hope she wakes up. For everyone who loves her, and for you".

Sunwoo somehow was taken aback. This was what he wanted, this was what he needed.

The comfort.

Not Younghoon who he needed to hear those words from, but Jiyeon - someone who did not have any attachment to Haeun and understand his current feeling.

It was Jiyeon all along.

"You forgive me right?" Sunwoo asked, rising up on his feet. "I just need to hear that".

Jiyeon chuckled, for a brief moment she was in a deep thought. How powerful Haeun was that she managed to bring this side of Kim Sunwoo - his best side.

Something she herself had failed.

"You're forgiven, ex- boyfriend", she nodded, flashing a smile. "Next time we meet again, please allow me to smack you on the head".

Both lightly chuckled as Jiyeon walked backwards, treating herself a view she might need to forget forever. She sincerely wished for the best though it was barely predicted.

Soon after, Sunwoo found himself walking back towards where he originally was.

Trailing the hallway, he felt himself getting surrounded by good vibes as he no more being embraced by guilt.

Until he heard something that had halted everything in his world.

"CODE BLUE!"

His feet had lost all the energy to walk, the picture of the nurses and the doctors rushing past him felt like a dream.

He wished he did not see this, he wished this was not what he had in mind. But, when he saw all the people rushing into her room where her family members were asked to wait outside, he fell on his knees.

"H-Haeun", a loner tear escaping, rolling down his cheek before it crashed on the floor.

Harin came to soothe him, kneeling down in front of him.

It was different- her eyes, as if they no more sharing the same feeling as earlier.

"Sunwoo, she's suffering", she said whilst holding back her tears. "We have to sincerely let her-"

"No", he calmly retaliated, looking at her with wet eyes. "I can't let her go".

"I understand what you feel, trust me we all feel the same", Harin placed her hand on his shoulder, passing the warmth she wished he could receive. "I promise Sunwoo, I will love you like my own even after she's gone. I see Haeun in you, all the time".

Those words never comforted him, it only gave him heartbreaks.

His heart became more shattered when he glanced over her shoulder and met eyes with Eric and Jia who seemed to give the exact look as Harin.

Why everyone seemed had given up on her?

The boisterous sound from the room which had signalled that the battle to bring Haeun back to life had not ended yet. Even the sound from the machines could be clearly heard, Sunwoo bite his lips. He was in a dilemma.

Never once had he ever imagined to have weights put on his shoulder. But, he was not a person who would be wavered.

"No", he shoved Harin's hand off of his shoulder, certain with his decision. "I won't let her go".

"Sunwoo..."

"No!" he cried again, clasping his hands together as if he was praying. "Please come back Kim Haeun!"

Everyone knew it was not promising but Sunwoo would keep having faiths on her when everyone had turned their backs. He promised himself to always be there for her, and now he did though he also was not sure what the universe had prepared for them.

And that was how Kim Haeun existed as the bright and lovely girl whom he loved, hated and resented.