WHAT IF???

Chapter 64: The Repeating Saga

Sam's flashback ended abruptly, her heart heavy with the memory of Song's tragic last moments. Neung's voice broke through her thoughts, filled with a deep sense of regret. "As the eldest, I failed to protect Song from Grandmother," Neung confessed, her voice trembling with guilt. "And I failed to protect you when you agreed to marry Kirk and leave Mon."

Sam looked at Neung, tears welling in her eyes as she absorbed her sister's words. Neung continued, her determination evident despite her sorrow. "But now, I want to make it up to you. You must listen to me, Sam. Don't forget Song's final words to you."

Before Sam could respond, the doctor approached them, a calm yet serious expression on his face. "Your grandmother is stable," he informed them. "But she still needs to be monitored closely."

Sam nodded, the doctor's words barely registering as she thought about Neung's plea and Song's final, desperate advice. She knew she had to find the strength to follow through, to honor Song's memory and protect her own happiness.

The next day, Mon paced anxiously, her frustration mounting with each unsuccessful attempt to reach Sam. "Why isn't she answering?" Mon muttered, her irritation growing as she checked her phone again.

Yuki, noticing Mon's agitation, stepped in to offer some reassurance. "Mon, calm down," she said gently. "Maybe Sam is still busy at the hospital. You know how things can get there."

Mon sighed, her worry evident in her furrowed brow. "I just need to know she's okay," she said, her voice tinged with both concern and frustration.

Yuki placed a comforting hand on Mon's shoulder. "She'll call you as soon as she can," she said softly. "Just try to be patient. Sam knows you're here for her."

Mon nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "You're right," she conceded, though the worry in her eyes remained. "I just hope everything's okay."

Days stretched on, and Mon's anxiety grew with each passing hour as she still couldn't get through to Sam. Desperate for any news, she reached out to their friends, hoping someone had spoken to her.

"Have you heard from Sam?" Mon asked Jim, her voice tinged with worry.

Jim hesitated, glancing at Tee and Kade before responding. "We haven't, but maybe she's just overwhelmed with everything at the hospital," he suggested, trying to sound reassuring.

Mon wasn't convinced. "It's been days, Jim. Something doesn't feel right. I need to see her."

Jim exchanged a glance with the others before replying. "Mon, maybe it's not a good idea to go to the hospital right now. You remember the last time you had a confrontation with Grandmother. It might just make things worse."

Mon's anxiety spiked, but she knew her friends were trying to protect her. "I can't just sit here and do nothing," she argued. "I need to know if she's okay."

Tee chimed in, trying to calm the situation. "Mon, we'll figure this out together. Let's try calling Neung again. Maybe she can give us an update."

Kade nodded in agreement. "We just don’t want you to get hurt again, Mon," she added gently.

Yuki placed a calming hand on Mon's arm. "We understand, Mon. Maybe we can try calling Neung again or ask someone else at the hospital. Just give it a bit more time."

Mon reluctantly agreed, though her heart ached with the need to see Sam and ensure she was safe. "Okay," she sighed. "But if I don't hear from her soon, I'm going to the hospital. I can't wait forever."

Mon's anxiety had reached its peak when she decided to call Neung directly. The phone rang a few times before Neung answered, her voice sounding tired.

"Neung, it's Mon," Mon began, trying to keep the urgency out of her voice. "How's everything at the hospital? How's Grandmother?"

Neung sighed softly. "Grandmother is being discharged soon. You don't need to come, Mon. Everything's under control."

Mon bit her lip, her main concern still unresolved. "How is Sam? Why hasn't she been answering my calls?"

"Sam is okay," Neung reassured her. "She's been really busy with everything going on here."

Mon couldn't hide the worry in her voice. "But why isn't she answering me, Neung? It's been days. I'm really worried about her."

Neung paused, sensing Mon's distress. "Mon, I promise Sam is fine. She's just overwhelmed with everything right now. Give her a bit more time. She'll reach out when she can."

Mon sighed, feeling slightly reassured but still uneasy. "Alright, Neung. Just... please tell her to call me as soon as she can."

"I will, Mon. Take care," Neung replied before the call ended.

Mon hung up, her worry not entirely alleviated but feeling a bit more hopeful. She knew she had to trust that Sam would reach out when she was ready, but the waiting was agonizing.

Mon's anxiety bubbled over as she shared her fears with her friends. "This is how it started before," she said, her voice trembling. "Sam began ghosting me, not answering my calls. And then, before I knew it, she left me for good."

Yuki, Jim, and Kade exchanged worried glances, trying to find the right words to comfort her.

"What if my worst fears are happening again?" Mon continued, her voice breaking. "What if Sam can't refuse Grandmother's demands? What if she's being forced to stay away from me?"

Yuki reached out to squeeze Mon's hand reassuringly. "Mon, we're here for you. Sam loves you, we all know that. There has to be a reason for her silence."

Jim nodded in agreement. "Maybe she's just trying to handle things on her own. But I understand why you're worried. We need to find a way to get in touch with her."

Kade added softly, "Let's not jump to conclusions. We know how controlling Grandmother can be, but Sam is stronger than before. She wouldn't give up on you so easily."

Despite their comforting words, Mon's heart was heavy with fear. "I just can't shake this feeling," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "What if I'm losing her all over again?"

Despite their reassurances, Mon's anxiety lingered. The thought of losing Sam again, of history repeating itself, was almost too much to bear. She clung to the hope that this time things would be different, but the fear gnawed at her heart, refusing to let go.

As Mon's mind raced with worry, a torrent of anxious thoughts flooded her consciousness. "Is everything happening all over again?" She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Grandmother was behind Sam's sudden silence, pulling the strings from the shadows once more. The fear gripped her heart, tightening its hold with each passing moment.

"What if Sam can't refuse her?" Mon's thoughts spiraled, painting bleak scenarios of Sam succumbing to Grandmother's manipulative tactics. The prospect of history repeating itself filled her with a bone-deep dread, threatening to engulf her in a sea of despair.

"After all we've been through," Mon mused bitterly, "will I be left with nothing but heartache again?" The thought was unbearable, a heavy weight pressing down on her chest, suffocating her with its crushing inevitability.

Determined to quell the rising tide of anxiety, Mon made a decision. "I have to go to Sam's house," she resolved, her mind made up. "I need to see her, to make sure she's okay. I can't just sit here and wait for the worst to happen."

With newfound determination coursing through her veins, Mon rose to her feet, her steps fueled by the fierce resolve to confront whatever challenges lay ahead. She would face this uncertainty head-on, refusing to be consumed by fear and uncertainty. For Sam's sake, and for her own, she would fight to protect the love they shared, no matter the cost.