Red String | Tomorrow Fanfiction

02 - Good Bye, Dad

Year 2015

Jihyeon walked through the hospital corridor after finishing her college entrance exam. Then she felt the same aura, like when her aunty and her grandmother died. "No." She whispered in fear. Then she rushed to his dad's room and found some of their family come and some of the doctors were present there.

"Dad?"

Seoyeon, her mom, lifted her head and saw Jihyeon, "Jihyeon-a." She pulled Jihyeon and moved closer to her husband's bed. "Doctors said that your dad can't last much longer. We should be prepared." One of his dad's secretary speak out about her dad's condition.

Jihyeon shook her head, "Not now. Jihoon oppa is still in New York. Dad can't go. Not without say goodbye to Hoon-ie oppa." Then she ran out of the room, go to the rooftop.

On the rooftop, she turned on her phone and tried to call Jihoon. Then she saw some messages from Jihoon that he just booked a flight to Seoul and will arrive at least tomorrow morning. Then Jihyeon saw a woman who just saved a patient who tried to suicide. Jihyeon feels familiar with her appearance. "Mikyung imo" She whispered.

Jihyeon rushed to the woman without her realizing. She pulled the woman and then said, "Please... please make my dad stay alive 'till tomorrow. I don't want Jihoon oppa to miss this moment again. Not in this life. Please."

The woman, looks confused. "What are you talking about, miss?"

Jihyeon looked at her, "You are a grim reaper, right? You tried to save my aunty 6 years ago. I beg you to let my dad stay alive only until my brother arrives. He already missed dad's last moment on his past life."

"What? His past life?"

*

Jihyeon walked slowly to her dad's room. The words from the woman she just met kept ringing in her head.

"I don't know what you are talking about, miss. But extending someone's life beyond our capabilities. Even just for a minute."

Jihyeon didn't enter the room. Instead, she sat on the chair nearby. Shortly after, she heard strange sounds followed by the footstep. She looked towards the source of the sound and then found a tall man that she saw 6 years ago when she was hospitalized after her grandmother's funeral.

The man felt seen then looked at Jihyeon. He looks surprised that Jihyeon looked at him. For a minute, they just stared at each other in silence. He then arrived in front of the Jihyeon's dad's room. Jihyeon sighed, then closed her eyes while the tears flowed out.

Just before the man walked forward into the room, Jihyeon spoke out. "Can you collect my dad's soul by tomorrow morning? I beg you, Mr. Grim Reaper."

The man who wears all black turns around and looks at Jihyeon. "She can see me?"

"You may be wondering why I can see you, right?" Jihyeon asked as she could hear the sound inside the man's head.

Jihyeon sighed, "I also don't know why I can see you and the other man or woman who wears black attire. Mostly I saw your kind in hospital especially in emergency room. I had a normal life until 6 years ago when my aunty took her own life in her apartment. Her name is Lee Mikyung. At that time, I heard a similar voice like yours. I saw a woman who had long black hair and a man with her. Then I heard the same voice when my grandma, Jung Hyejin, died 6 years ago. Since that time, I can feel when someone's life is near the end. I can hear weird sounds, the footsteps, and the voices that said their soul already collected. Then I assume I can see the thing that we called grim reaper."

Jihyeon noticed that the man walked towards her and now stopped in front of her. She lifted her head and looked at his face. Suddenly, Jihyeon feels dizzy and her vision getting blurred for a second. She seemed to have adapted to that kind of situation. Jihyeon just closed her eyes for a moment until suddenly she heard familiar voices called the man who exactly looked like him as 'Park Joonggil'.

"What are you talking about?" The tall man who she called 'grim-reaper' asked her.

Jihyeon opened her eyes, "I beg you to extend my dad's life until my brother arrived tomorrow morning, Mr. Grim Rea... no, Park Joonggil-ssi." The man looks shocked when Jihyeon calls his name.

*

Jihyeon holds her dad's right hand as her mom holds the other hand. Some of the family and the doctors are present in the room. Then they heard the door open, and Jihoon walked inside. Jihyeon smiled a little, then whispered, "Jihoon oppa here, dad."

As Jihoon walks towards them, Jihyeon noticed that her dad opened his eyes. Jihyeon looks confused and then calls her mom.

"Where is Jihoon?" He asked.

"I'm here, dad." Jihoon answered as he stood beside his mom. "Sorry for leaving the company to you, my son. You can start your own business if you want." Jihoon shook his head, "You know I love to work with you, dad. I will continue to work here. For me, for Jihyeon, for mom. There's no need to feel sorry, dad."

"Seoyeon-a... my beautiful and lovely wife." He searched for his wife. "Yes honey, I'm always here."

He smiled, "Thank you for your love for me. Sorry I've troubled you all this time. I wish we could have more time together." Seoyeon nodded as she cried.

Then he looked at Jihyeon. He caressed Jihyeon's face, "My lovely daughter. Sorry if I can't give you much of a happy time. I wish I could walk you down the aisle, but it looks like I should ask Jihoon to replace me." Then he looked at Jihoon. "Yes, dad, I will choose the best man for Jihyeon and walk her down the aisle." Minho chuckled as he heard Jihoon's response.

He looked at Jihyeon again, giving the signal to her to move closer towards him. "Thank you for giving me the chance to say goodbye. Love you, my lovely daughter, Lee Jihyeon." Jihyeon is no longer able to hold back the tears. "Love you too, dad." Shorly after, Minho closed his eyes. At that moment, they all know that he is gone.

"Lee Minho, born 4:00 a.m., on February 10th, 1950. The soul is collected." Jihyeon heard Park Joonggil's voice.

Jihyeon walked out the rooms and sat on the nearby chair. Then she heard the footsteps out of her dad's room and walked past her. "Thank you," She whispered.

*

Park Joonggil escorted Lee Minho's soul to the big beautiful place. "Where is it?" He asked. "This is Jumadeung. You will go through several processes before entering heaven." Joonggil explained.

"I will go to heaven? Will I meet my family?" He asked.

Joongil stopped then turned his body, "Your family? May I ask who?"

"My dad, Lee Byungho. My mom, Jung Hyejin. And my little sister, Lee Mikyung."

With his stoic face, he answered, "You can meet your parents. But for your sister, your fate with her has been shattered after she committed suicide. She just killed herself, and now she serves her punishment in hell for her choice to end her own life."

Minho looks stunned and then sighed, "What my daughter said is true."

Joonggil does not give any response then continuing his duty.