Under the sky in room 553 I discovered you and I

Part 15

Now that is the real, final ending." Said Yeji, pretending to close a non-existent storybook in her hands. The child pouted, face scrunched up adorably. "So they both left you for their happy ending? Miss nurse, that is so unfair for you!" She petulantly whined, kicking at the sheets. Yejionly laughed as he reached in to stop her.

The laugh died down into a small, empathetic smile that didn't reach the nurse's eyes. "It's okay. I knew my place." She paused, unsure if she should say the rest. She did anyway. "I knew what I was getting into."

It was the truth. Jimin was the closest thing to a best friend she ever had. Naturally, for her hopeless self, she began to notice things even the older herself didn't. How bright her smiles were when they weren't fake. How she would always laugh at her jokes and squeeze her hands whenever she reached for them. How warm herhugs were when they laid in her bed during sleepless nights, Yeji sacrificing her morning shift just so Jimin could have a good night's rest.

To Jimin, it was just Yeji being a good friend in her time of need. Naturally, to Yeji, whom has never known what it was like to be so close to someone her entire life; nor had she ever fallen in love—it was something more.

Something more that she knew wouldn't be reciprocated from the get-go. Yet, still, feelings bloomed inside her. Feelings that were so hopeless as she watched the female she was in love with struggle to open her eyes for another day, longing for someone else that had long departed.

Someone that wasn't her.

Yeji sometimes cursed at how the world worked in such mysterious, cruel ways. How merciless it was for fate to let them all meet, just for them to end up as broken pawns to a lifelong game of chess.

"Miss nurse, did you like the older girl?" The little girl spoke up. Oh, how a voice so innocent could hold such damage as her words pierced straight through his heart.

The smile on her face turned sorrowful. "Yes. I did." Do. But it's no use now. "Did she know?"

Yeji shook her head. "No, she didn't. We were just friends." The nurse's expression was now crestfallen. "At least that's what it was for her. And I'm fine with just that."

The little girl pouted again, tiny hands clenched into furious fists. Yet, she didn't say anything more. "Reality is so bad, I prefer my storybooks."

This earned a small giggle from the nurse. "If I could say the same, I would too." She reached in, giving the child a gentle pat on her head. She relished in a satisfied sigh.

She hadn't paid attention, but something about the girl began to grow more and more familiar to her with each passing second. She was so certain she'd never met a child that looked like her before in the past ten or so years of working at this hospital. So, how?

Standing up, she clapped her hands together in resolution. "Story's over, let's take you back to your room. It's almost dinner time too." At the mention of time, she turned to glance at the room clock on the adjacent wall.

5:53pm. They had seven minute before she had to be down by the cafeteria for dinner.

Oddly enough,Yeji felt as though something flitted past her eyes in the split second she had blinked. When she looked again, nothing was out of place.

But why did it feel like something shifted? Must be the work fatigue. I should get coffee after this.

Brows furrowed at the sudden bewilderment, Yeji shook her head and tried not to think much of it. She didn't notice the enigmatic change behind the child's once innocent face; now staring at her like she saw right through her when she turned to her. Hair rose at the back of Yeji's neck.