Irene entered the hospital room quietly, the soft hum of machines and hushed conversations filling the space. The first thing she noticed was Jiyong, standing by the window, his back rigid, speaking into his phone in a low, intense tone. His shoulders were tense, as if the weight of every word was pressing down on him.
Her gaze then shifted to Jennie, seated beside Hyeong's bed, her hand gently resting on his. Jennie’s voice was soft, trying to keep Hyeong’s spirits up, her words filled with tenderness, though Irene could see the exhaustion etched in her features. Across from her, Wendy was doing her best to entertain Hyeong with playful antics, her exaggerated expressions pulling small giggles from the boy. Despite the gravity of the situation, Wendy’s efforts offered a brief respite from the tension in the air.
Irene felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The room was filled with warmth and love, but she knew what she had to say could shatter that fragile peace. The thought of bringing up Lisa, of reopening old wounds, filled her with dread. But Hyeong’s life was at stake, and Irene knew that no matter how painful, they couldn’t ignore the possibility of Lisa being a match for his bone marrow.
She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and approached Jennie with quiet determination. "Jennie," she said, her voice soft yet insistent. "Can we talk for a moment? Outside?"
The urgency in her tone was unmistakable, and Jennie glanced up at her, worry flickering in her eyes. With a small nod, she gently squeezed Hyeong’s hand and turned to Wendy. "Wendy, can you stay with Hyeong for a bit?"
Wendy nodded, giving Jennie a reassuring smile. "I've got him. Don't worry."
Jennie followed Irene out of the room, closing the door behind them. Once they were in the hallway, Irene turned to face her friend, her expression serious.
"Jennie, I've been thinking about our options for Hyeong," Irene began, her voice trembling slightly. "And I spoke with Dr. Lim. He mentioned that biological parents are often potential matches for HLA types. I know this is difficult, but we need to consider Lisa as a potential match for Hyeong."
Jennie's eyes widened in surprise and a hint of fear. "Irene, I appreciate your help, but involving Lisa is too complicated. I don't want to burden her with this," Jennie said, her voice firm but tinged with something deeper.
"I understand how you feel," Irene said gently, "but this is about Hyeong's life. We can't afford to ignore any potential matches
We need to consider every possibility. Lisa might be his best chance."
Jennie shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "What if she's not? Did you even think of it? After what happened in the past, do you think I have the face to ask for help from her? I denied Hyeong to her, and now I'm going to ask her for help. You don't understand, Irene," her voice trembling.
Irene was taken aback but quickly recovered. "Jennie, I know this is hard, but you can't change the fact that Lisa still Hyeong's biological father. Lisa might be the key to saving Hyeong. We owe it to him to explore every option, especially one that could be right in front of us."
Jennie looked away, her hands trembling. "I can't do it, Irene. Not after everything."
The decision stunned Irene, but she quickly composed herself. "Jennie, if Lisa knew she could save Hyeong, don’t you think she’d want to help? She deserves to know and make that choice herself."
Jennie's frustration flared. "Irene, it's not that simple! Asking her to go through this would be incredibly selfish. I can't do that to her."
"But Jennie," Irene pleaded, "we're talking about Hyeong's life. You have to consider every option. Lisa might be the best chance."
Jennie shook her head, her resolve unwavering. "I won't do it, Irene. It's too much to ask. We’ll stick to the bone marrow registry. End of discussion."
With that, Jennie turned and walked away, leaving Irene standing there, speechless and frustrated. The hallway seemed to echo with the finality of Jennie's decision, but Irene couldn’t shake the feeling that they were missing an opportunity, no matter how complicated it might be.
On the other hand, Jiyong stood hidden in the shadows of the hospital hallway, his heart pounding as he overheard the heated exchange between Irene and Jennie. Every mention of Lisa's name sent a wave of anger coursing through him. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Jennie's insistence that they couldn’t involve Lisa, despite Hyeong's dire need for a bone marrow match, felt like a betrayal to Jiyong. The mere thought of Lisa reentering their lives, even if it meant saving their son, was unbearable. For Jiyong, the past was something he had buried deep, and he intended to keep it that way.
As Jennie wavered under Irene's persistent urging, torn between her loyalty to Jiyong and Hyeong's life hanging in the balance, Jiyong felt his anger boil over. He couldn’t let her entertain the idea of involving Lisa. The past had to remain buried, no matter what.
Jiyong, who had been eavesdropping from the hallway, could no longer contain himself. His frustration erupted, and he stormed out of his hiding place. His footsteps were heavy, and his face contorted with fury. The hospital doors slammed behind him, the sound reverberating through the sterile corridors, drawing the attention of passersby.
Outside, the cold night air hit him like a slap to the face, but it did little to cool the rage seething inside him. His mind raced, replaying the conversation he had overheard. The image of Jennie and Lisa in the same room, dredging up the past, was too much to bear. He couldn’t allow that—he had to stop it before it spiraled out of control.
As he paced along the dimly lit street, Jiyong’s thoughts churned with desperation. He needed a plan, something that would protect his family from unraveling. The thought of losing Hyeong was crushing, but the idea of Lisa returning was equally unbearable. The life they had built, the fragile peace they had maintained, hung in the balance.
But for now, all Jiyong could do was walk, trying to channel his fury into a solution. His breaths were ragged, his hands clenched into fists. He knew he had to act fast. The stakes were too high, and time was running out—both for Hyeong and for the future he was so desperate to protect.
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Instant Regrets Book II
Fanfiction( You're reading Book II ) When Jennie family discovered the truth about her relationship with a married woman, they were unable to accept it, and she brought shame upon them. To preserve the Kim family's reputation and status, her father made a dra...
