Mr. Bitter's Sweetness | So Junghwan ✓

Chapter twenty two

"Get dressed, we're going somewhere," Junkyu said, shaking me awake. I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes.

"Where?" I asked.

"We're going to see a doctor. Your heart isn't okay, right? Mom told me to go with you for a checkup."

"Okay, thanks. But I know I won't be here much longer, bro. I only have two years to live.  My previous doctor told me," I said, my voice laced with sadness.  I didn't want to die yet.

"Let's stop this drama. You're not going to die, okay? Now, take a shower and get dressed. I'll wait for you for breakfast," he said, leaving the room.

I took a bath and then got dressed.  I joined Junkyu in the dining area, and we both started eating. I don't know why I piled so much food on my plate, but I did.  After I filled up, I began to eat.

"Hey, your plate has twice as much food as mine. Are you that hungry?" he asked.

"I don't know. I just felt like eating."

"Don't tell me you're pregnant!" he said, and I choked on my food.

"I was just kidding," he said, laughing.

"Let's go," Junkyu said. We both got into the car, and he started driving.  After a while, we arrived at the hospital.  It was far from the hospital where Junghwan was, and I didn't want to see him, not until I died.

We had some tests, and then the doctor came back.

"Gladly, everything's fine now," the doctor said, leaving me confused.

"What do you mean, doctor?" I asked.

"You're still at risk. It doesn't change the fact that you only have a few years left," the doctor said.

"Is there anything we can do to make her life longer?" Junkyu asked. I was already resigned to my fate, but Junkyu didn't seem to give up hope.

"Actually, there is," the doctor said.  A spark of hope ignited within me.  Was I hearing this right?  Was there really something that could be done?

"What is it?" I asked, my voice trembling with excitement.

"There's an operation you can get, but it's not available here.  Countries like America offer these types of operations, but they're very expensive."

"If that's the case, we don't have a problem with the payment. I'll tell Mom about this. This is really good news," Junkyu said, hugging Cindy tightly.

"When did you become a kind-hearted person, Mr. Junkyard?" Cindy teased, her eyes sparkling.

"I'm just happy to know that I can still be with my prettiest cousin living on Earth," he said, smiling at her.

Suddenly, Cindy's weight felt heavier in his arms. He looked down and saw her eyes were closed.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked.  She didn't respond.

"Gosh, what's happening to you again?" Junkyu muttered. He carefully scooped her up and rushed to the emergency room.

"What happened to her?" the nurse asked.

"I don't know. She just passed out," Junkyu said.

"She just needs to rest. I'll call the doctor," the nurse said and left.

Junkyu stayed by Cindy's side, waiting for her to wake up.  Finally, her eyes fluttered open, and the doctor arrived.

"Congratulations to the both of you, you're having a baby," the doctor said, his words causing a shockwave through the room.

"We're not a couple. We're cousins," Cindy said, her voice full of confusion.

...

"Woah, I still can't believe that, bro," I told her, my mouth hanging open in disbelief.

"Oh yeah, now it's here, you gotta believe it, bro," she said, her face a mixture of shock and amusement.

"I was just kidding about that earlier," I said, shaking my head.

"Who's your boyfriend?" I asked, trying to sound casual but my voice betrayed my curiosity.

"I'll go and punch his fucking face!" I blurted out, before I could catch myself.  I wouldn't actually do that, though.

"It's Junghwan," she said, her voice quiet.

"Junghwan, huh? I'll find him and kick his..." I trailed off, stunned.  Junghwan? Was I hearing this right?

"So Junghwan?!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening.

"Oh, wow! You remember your accomplice. Congratulations!" she said, her voice laced with teasing sarcasm.

"Really? It's him? Woah, I can't believe this!" I said, my mind racing.

"I'm so excited to be an uncle! You need to look at my face every time so that the baby would look like his handsome uncle, okay?" I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Eww, no never! Why would the baby look like you? I'm the mother," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I want it to look like me, bro."

"Then you should be the one to bear a child, bro," I said, forcing a laugh.  I knew my joke sucked as always.

"Remember that I said I almost died? That's why I wanted to be away from him."

"Why did he want to kill you? I'll kill him for you," I said, half-joking.

"Hey, crazy, that's not what happened. He saved me from a murderer. Now he's the one who's in critical condition.  I don't want him to see me again. I always bring trouble into his life," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Ugh, I really didn't want to see anyone cry.  It pissed me off.  I admit I'd enjoyed seeing her cry before. But she was my cousin. I had to comfort her.

"Hey, ugly, stop crying," I said, trying to sound tough.

"That's very comforting, Junkyard," she said, wiping her tears.

"Wanna eat something?" I asked, trying to distract her.

"Yeah," she said, nodding.

"But you'll be the one to pay for it," I said, with a mischievous grin.

"Okay, I don't care. I just want to eat," she said, her voice cracking.

"Fast food? It's not going to be good for you," I said, trying to persuade her.

She ignored me and walked towards the fast food counter.