One Hope ∞ Nishimura Riki

Chapter 24: sick

Black out

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Jungwon POV

I knew about Ella's physical condition, but I also knew that Riki didn't, or rather I lied to him about it. I'd just been called to tell me that he'd collapsed from the shock of Ella's illness.
What should I do? I knew I had to take care of them. My maknae , and my love. But I was totally lost, I felt like I was doing nothing right and acting selfishly. All this to keep Ella with me, when the only thing she wanted was to be with him.

I went to the hospital and when I got to the room where Riki was, I saw him still asleep. I entered but I dropped my keys on the floor and startled him awake.

"Where she is? I need to see her."

"Riki, calm down. She was just sleeping, nothing happened. You must have had a nightmare." I lied, again.

"What do you mean? She's not well, she could die any day now. I have to protect her, at least stay with her before she dies. Spend what little time she has left."

"No, it was just a nightmare. She's okay, don't worry."

"Stop lying to me. You're always lying to me. I consider you a brother, a best friend, someone I can trust and you lie to me. You know what? Forget it. I'm going to her and don't hold me back."

Riki stood up and left me without any gaze.

—

Riki POV

I left the room where Jungwon was. I had to see her. So I made my way to her room. With relief she was asleep. So I entered and sat next to her.

I took her hands, it was icy cold. She was asleep, she was fine, wasn't she? So why was my heart telling me otherwise? Was it just a nightmare like Jungwon says?
The nursery appeared.

"It is true?" I asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ella's condition."

"Stop kidding yourself, she's not going to get better like that, of course she's sick. But one thing I can tell you Riki, is that she'll be all right, I promise I'll save her and cure her."

"Please, I need her in my life. More than anything, I need her."

—

I stayed with her in her room watching TV while holding her cold hands, suddenly someone entered the door and it was Jungwon.

"Why did you lie to me? Why did you make me think it was all a dream? A nightmare?" I asked.

"I don't want to hurt you. Think of it as a nightmare. You have to enjoy every moment with her. You have to pretend that she's fine and do everything you can to save her. You have no right to be sad or angry with her because of her illness. I pretend not to know but I have known for over a month now. I was so sad too, but I pretended that nothing happened. Because she wanted to have a good life and not be pitied."

"Can she survive?"

"She'll survive. She's strong Riki. You know it more than me. "

I looked at him, feeling lost. Should I be delusional of face the reality that she was ill? I left the room to take some air and left Jungwon alone with Ella.

—

Ella POV

I opened my eyes and saw Jungwon. He was there. Yes. But not Riki. So he was really gone?
He left me again. I tried to trust him. But once again he proved me wrong.

"Where is he?"

"He leaves just to take some air, he doesn't feel well. He'll be back soon. Don't worry."

"But why are you suddenly here?"

"I want to see you, I miss you."

"Thank you Jungwon. Thank you for being here with me once again." I looked at him smiling, and I suddenly thought of what Riki told me last time.

"But Jungwon, I have a question. I'm taking the advantage of the fact that you're here to ask you something. Riki doesn't want to tell me . What's happened the day of my accident?

"Oh that day? It's actually quite long."

"I don't care. Take as long as it takes to tell me. Don't worry."

"In fact that day you came to the agency I remember. I took you to the manager's office. He didn't notice you were at the agency. It was Jake who told him. But at the same time, we heard that there was an accident in front of the building. And we're rather curious, so we went to see, and he recognized you. Riki recognized you. I remember the way he was running to you and hugged you while crying. He didn't want to leave you. And because of that, everyone were taking videos and photos of you two. So you have become famous as the girlfriend of Nishimura Riki."

"Can you show me that photos and videos?"

I didn't know if I really wanted to watch that.

"You really didn't see any of those?"

"No."

He took out his phone and after searching for a few minutes he gave me his phone. A tear rolled down my cheek. A girl lying on the ground and a boy holding her.
I was so surprised to see Riki crying while hugging me, with my blood on his hands. My blood in his hands.
He seemed devastated. It broke my heart to see him like that.
I scrolled through the photos and came across the video. The video of the accident.

"Someone call the ambulance, she must live.' 'Sorry I didn't keep my promise. I promise you I will protect you. I promise you that I will come back and stay with you together, so please don't die. If you die I can't keep my promise . Ella please wake up."

I felt that my heart was pounding. I suffocated and breathed heavily as my tears rolled on my cheeks. I couldn't stop crying.

Riki I'm so sorry to take so much time to forgive you. You always thought about me when I though about myself. Sorry for being selfish.

—

Jungwon POV

I couldn't lie to her anymore. So I told her the truth.
I showed her the photos and videos. I didn't to look at her. I was scared of her reaction. Then I saw her crying. While listening to the video. Just hearing Riki cry gave me shivers and broke my heart, so Ella must have felt horrible pain.
I tried not to look at her anymore, I didn't know what to do.

Then I heard her breath changing quickly. I grabbed the phone and tried to calm her down, but to no avail.
For sure , she was having a heart attack again.

I shouted for the nurse when Riki opened the door at the same time. He widened his eyes seeing the critical situation and the state she was in .

He ran towards her and grabbed her hand. He tried to calm her down. I gave him some space, he was going to help her.

"Ella look at me. Everything is fine. Don't worry everything is okay. Breathe calmly. Look at me. Squeeze my hand as hard as you can."

She breathed more and more soflty. She seemed to be slowly calming down.

I looked at him surprised. The nurse who had heard the call was there too, looking at him almost speechless.
He could save her. He could protect her. He could repair her heart.

I smiled at him. They looked at each other. For the first time I could feel what love is . What reciprocal love could do. It could change things.

It could save lives.

I left them alone. I left them love each other for good now.

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