LitN: Running Through The Night

I

ACT I

THIRD PERSON

"I regret to inform you that you have been diagnosed with heart cancer," the doctor slowly breaks the news to his patient before him. He begins to show her the results of the X-ray they did from a couple days ago, and her heart did display have a tumour. "And you have three months left to live."

She stares directly at the doctor with a somewhat dazed expression. Although she had been experiencing extreme heart pain, she didn't want to believe it'd end up this way. She had been dreading this appointment because of potentially receiving such news, and she had hoped that she would've been able to live. However, the Heavens weren't in her favour.

It takes her a moment to process the news before she let out a disheartened, "Oh." She grinds her sharp canines against her bottom lip.

"Ms Yang, we need to get this treated right away. You're at stage 3, almost stage 4. Your symptoms will be more painful and severe soon. We could attempt to make you live longer by a few more months..." After that, she could not bear to listen anymore.

The rest of her appointment was a blur that morning. Her doctor was trying to explain to her that the hospital could attempt treatment, but there was still no way she going to live. What was the point then?

She found herself slowly walking out of the hospital from that appointment, wondering how her seemingly prosperous life turned upside down in under an hour.

Her parents made sure she grew up with privileges and happiness only for this to happen to her. She didn't know how she was supposed to tell them that the daughter they loved so much was going to leave the earth before they did.

She had always been ambitious and a hard worker. Like, just when she felt like her efforts in high school for her future paid off, she gets told she was going to die anyway. What the hell?

She adjusts her collar as she forces herself to have enough strength to take each heavy step.

It didn't help her mood that it was very humid. The climate had been much more awful than usual lately. It was as if global warming had been slowly getting worse and worse. Her mom said the climate used to not be this extreme, but everything became this way after she was born. She never got to experience perfect weather.

Her life subjectively was going so well. Where did it all go wrong? She is a student in one of the best universities, she has a supportive family, a lot of money, her own apartment, and a well-paying part time job. Was this the universe tormenting me for being so fortunate?

Her trail of thought is interrupted when she feels an impact from the left side of her body. She almost trips due to this, and she gasp. Her fate was sealed until the said impact catches her, holding her in his arms.

She looks up to apologize to the person, but a lump forms in her throat when they lock eye contact. He was majestically handsome. His eyes were narrow with a pointy nose, and he had such thick eyebrows. Even with these sharp facial features, his face was round and lips plump to balance them out.

"Sorry," his deep voice echoes through her ear drum. He was very tall, as well. She wondered if he was real or not. There was no way someone could be this perfect. He lets go of her and takes a few steps back. I found her, he smirks before walking away.

What the hell just happened? She watches him walk away, wondering if she should chase after him for his number.

"My baby sis! How's it going? What are you doing here?" Her older brother appears out of nowhere, throwing his heavy arm around her. Great. He was one of the last people she wanted to see right now. He was a doctor in this hospital, and he happened to be on break at this moment. With his other hand, he drills his fist into the side of her head.

She looks around for the guy she just bumped into, but somehow, almost too magically, he disappeared.

"Yah!" she annoyedly yell, attempting to push him off. Unfortunately, he easily overpowers her no matter what. Although he was much older than her, he acted like he was mentally stuck at eight. "Stop!"

Though he was acting all playful, there was a hint of worry in his face. "Not until you tell me why you're here!" He knew he had to pester her to answer his burning questions. It was illegal for him to ask her doctor, his coworker, what her diagnosis was, so this was his only way to know.

He removes his fist from her head, but he maintains her under choke hold. She groans in annoyance, "Can't you mind your business?"

Now, he sounds more firm. "I'm your older brother, Yoojung. I care about you. If there's something wrong to the point you're visiting a hospital, you need to let me know." He finally lets go to look her directly in the eyes, placing both hands on either side of her shoulders. "So?"

She thought she could escape by walking away, but he holds her firmly in place. Unfortunately for her, Dawon is quite strong. Shit, she thought to herself. There's no getting out of this without answering. "Uh, it's because..." he raises his eyebrows, patiently waiting. Shit, shit! "Gyuri's pregnant."

Gyuri, her childhood friend. Sorry, I have to throw you under the bus. No, she's not pregnant, but she's currently suffering a baby fever. Naturally, this was the first thing she could come up with!

Dawon gasps, "Yoojung! Why would you tell me that?!" She has known Gyuri for most of her life due to attending elementary school together, so her brother obviously knew her well. He felt like he raised the both of them together.

"You're the one who forced me to say it!" Yoojung smoothly lied, though she quickly began regretting her decision. To save Gyuri's dignity, she attempts to blab. "Well, we're not sure if she's pregnant. It's only a test! Yes, we went to a doctor! They're more accurate than drugstore pregnant tests, you know?"

Finally, Dawon lets go of her. He begins to think out loud, "I didn't expect this of Gyuri. She and her boyfriend have only been dating for three weeks, right? That naughty girl. She thinks she can become rebellious after turning twenty!"

She slowly blinks and exhales out shakily. What did I do? "That's why you mustn't tell anyone, oppa." There was no turning back from this, so might as well maintain the lie. Again, sorry, Gyuri.

"I think we should change the topic before I turn protective," he harshly gulps. "Wanna go get ramen? I'm on break anyway. It's on me today."

Finally, she smiles. Her older brother has always been the generous type. "Sure." Then, he throws his arm around her once more to lead her to the nearest ramen place.

As they make our way, she couldn't help but turn aroundr to where she saw the mysterious man. Something about him was so endearing and charming. It was unfortunate that she may never see him again.

Dawon whistles, "Woah, look at the sky." She does so, and her eyes widen. Cloud iridescence. I've seen that before when I was seven. The two Vampire beings. Were they a dream or did my encounter with them actually happen? Who knows.

Sighing, she reverts back to listening to Dawon's rambles.