You Make Me | Lee Eunhyuk

25

As Jiwon caught sight of her brother standing guard outside the surgery room, a sense of relief washed over her. Despite the chaos that engulfed them, Jaeheon's unwavering commitment, evident in the way he held his jingum at the ready, filled her with pride. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about his dedication to their group's safety and, more importantly, to Jisu's well-being.

After attending to her wounds in the washroom, Jiwon found herself lost in thought. Each wipe of the napkin revealed unblemished skin, yet she couldn't shake the feeling of detachment that gnawed at her. The fear lingered in the back of her mind, taunting her with the possibility that she was becoming the very thing she feared - a monster. But amidst the turmoil, she clung to hope, praying that Jisu's recovery would somehow bring some peace.

When Eunhyuk approached her after the surgery, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to her inner turmoil, Jiwon felt a flicker of warmth in her heart. His presence grounded her, a reminder that they were united in their struggle, no matter the challenges they faced.

"The surgery is over. We're waiting for Jisu to wake up," Eunhyuk's voice broke through her daze, drawing her attention back to the present. She turned to him, offering a tired smile.

"That's good. She's strong. She'll be okay," Jiwon reassured herself as much as she reassured him, her voice soft and gentle.

As she hugged Eunhyuk, seeking comfort in his embrace, he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something wasn't right. Despite her attempts to appear strong, he sensed her inner turmoil, her silent struggle against the fears and doubts that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Jiwon," Eunhyuk's voice was hesitant, his eyes searching hers for reassurance.

But before he could utter another word, he felt compelled to speak from the depths of his heart.

"I love you," he confessed again, gently cupping her cheek.

Jiwon leaned into his touch, her heart swelling with emotion. "I know you do. I love you too," she whispered.

"No, I mean it. I love you. And I need you to stay with me," Eunhyuk continued a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "You used to say we'd live together, with Eun. You'd cook, and I'd clean, and together we'd make sure Eun has a happy family around her until she's sick of us."

Jiwon's eyes welled up with tears at his words, a mixture of joy and sorrow flooding her heart. How could she be a part of such a future now, when uncertainty loomed over her head? All she could do was nod, silently acknowledging his words.

"Maybe it's just me, but I feel like you're drifting away from me," Eunhyuk confessed, his voice tinged with concern. "I'm here for you, so please, I need you to be strong. For yourself, for me, for the future I just talked about. Please, promise me you will."

Jiwon nodded solemnly, "I will, I promise," she vowed.

"I will try atleast," she thought.

A day passed as the tenants anxiously waited for Jisu to wake up. Life went on as calmly as possible under the circumstances. Jiwon tried to spend time with the other women on their floor, who seemed much livelier than she felt. Their company did help. They were typical older women—nice, slightly judgmental, and passive-aggressive—but nothing Jiwon couldn't handle.

They complimented her youthful appearance and immediately advised her to stop doing sports to avoid making her arms look "manly." They questioned her relationship with Eunhyuk, a topic that made her blush but which she chose not to elaborate on. Despite the gossip and unsolicited advice, it was a breath of fresh air.

The mood shifted, however, when Ms. An, the kind lady married to the convenience store owner, mentioned she had begun showing symptoms of infection. The vote to isolate her outnumbered the vote to let her remain free, a decision that broke Jiwon's heart. It felt deeply unfair that she walked around hiding her own secret while Ms. An was essentially being locked away. Maybe she really was a selfish monster.

Jiwon hugged Ms. An before she went into the isolation room. "I know you'll be fine, Ms. An. You're strong. Thank you for being kind to me," Jiwon said, trying to infuse her words with as much hope as she could muster.

Ms. An smiled weakly. "Stay strong, dear. We'll get through this."

Jiwon nodded, holding back tears. As the door closed, she felt a heavy weight settle in her chest.

She went to the empty room she had grown to like and tried to distract herself with small tasks, but her mind kept wandering back to the situation.

Later that evening, Hyunsoo found her sitting alone, staring blankly at the wall. "Jiwon, how are you holding up?" he asked gently.

She shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek. "It's just... it feels so unfair. Ms. An is in there, and I'm out here, hiding my own secret."

"You're not a monster, Jiwon. Just like how you tell me that I'm not. You're doing what you think is best. We all are."

"I feel like a hypocrite," she whispered. "I'm walking around free while she's locked away."

"You're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together, okay?" he said holding her arm to reassure her.

She nodded, feeling a bit of the weight lift off her shoulders. His words, though simple, gave her a sense of solidarity she desperately needed.

The tenants of the apartment complex had settled into a semblance of normalcy, a way to keep everyone sane amidst the chaos. They gathered in a room that had been decorated to feel more like home, their faces relaxed and cheerful, creating an illusion of peace.

Jiwon and Eunhyuk walked side by side, their hands intertwined. They occasionally let go when they encountered someone, but the time they spent together was increasing, and neither needed an excuse to be with the other now. Eunhyuk felt at ease with Jiwon by his side, while Jiwon memorized every detail of his face.

"You're really handsome, you know that?" she said nonchalantly, tilting her head.

"So suddenly?" he asked, surprised.

"Well, it's not sudden," she shrugged.

"Well, in case I didn't tell you, I think you're beautiful as well," he said, kissing her temple. Jiwon giggled and hugged his arm as they continued walking.

"Oh, by the way, I'm not very good at this stuff, but I didn't ask you. Can I be your boyfriend?" he asked, a bit nervous.

"Aw, you're so cute," Jiwon fawned. "Of course you can be."

The two lovebirds enjoyed their time together a bit longer before they had to part ways for their respective duties. The peace they felt was almost like a honeymoon, almost too good to be true, but Jiwon wasn't complaining.

As they finished their walk, they approached the room where the tenants were relaxing and overheard a conversation.

"Wow! Is this Korean wine?" someone exclaimed.

"It's at least four years old," Gilseob replied.

"Yuri left earlier. Should we finish it before Eunhyuk comes back?" they heard Eun's voice, almost causing Jiwon to laugh out loud as she stood next to Eunhyuk in the doorway.

The tenants giggled together until Gilseob noticed Eunhyuk standing there, looking at Eun. Jiwon stood behind him, her hand covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

"Just don't forget your duties," Eunhyuk said calmly before walking away.

"No alcohol, Eun," Jiwon said, wagging her finger. "No."

She quickly caught up with Eunhyuk and kissed him on the cheek before heading in her own direction, the brief moments of peace giving her strength for whatever lay ahead.