Lisa walked briskly toward the security area after wrapping up her review of the building plans, her mind still on the guard’s earlier mention of someone looking for her. There had been a sense of urgency in his tone, something that tugged at her curiosity and concern.
As she neared the booth, her eyes swept over the area. The security guard stepped out immediately, looking a bit flustered as he saw her approach.
"Where is she?" Lisa asked, her voice calm but carrying a firm edge.
The guard swallowed nervously, meeting her sharp gaze. "Architect, the woman—uh, she already left. I tried to get her to stay, but she was in a hurry. Said she’d be back, though."
Lisa’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of frustration creeping in. "Did you get her name?" she asked, her voice growing cooler.
The guard shifted uneasily, scratching the back of his head. "I—uh, I’m sorry, Architect. I didn’t think to ask. She seemed really urgent and upset. I should've—"
"Yes, you should’ve," Lisa cut in, her tone clipped but not harsh. "You know it’s important to get details, especially when someone’s in a rush. It’s hard to trust people these days."
The guard winced slightly at the reprimand. "I’m really sorry, Architect. It won’t happen again."
Lisa sighed, her mind racing. Whoever this woman was, she had been desperate enough to leave without even waiting. That kind of urgency didn’t sit well with Lisa.
"If she comes back, bring her directly to me. No exceptions," she said, her voice laced with quiet authority.
"Understood, Architect," the guard replied, nodding quickly.
With a curt nod, Lisa turned on her heel, the familiar tension of uncertainty gnawing at her as she walked back toward the construction site.
--
In Hyeong’s hospital room, the soft beeping of the machines filled the silence, a constant reminder of the delicate situation. Irene sat beside Hyeong, gently holding his small hand, her eyes clouded with concern. His pale face and shallow breathing tugged at her heart, but there was a fragile hope she clung to.
Jennie stood by the window, her arms wrapped around herself as if to hold herself together. She stared out, lost in thought, the tension in the room palpable. After what felt like an eternity, Jennie finally broke the silence.
"I spoke to Dr. Lim," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "We talked about... the possibility of Lisa being a match for Hyeong."
Irene turned to look at her, her expression softening with hope. "That's a good news, Jennie. It’s a step in the right direction. Have you considered his suggestion?"
Jennie sighed, her body language tense, as if holding the weight of the world on her shoulders. "It’s not that simple, Irene. There’s so much between us… things I don’t know if I can face again. But at the same time, I hate seeing Hyeong like this. I don’t want him to rely on transfusions for much longer. It’s not sustainable."
"I know it’s complicated," Irene said gently, "but this is about saving Hyeong’s life. If Lisa’s a match, that could solve everything. You don’t have to go through this alone—I’m here, and I’ll help you, no matter what it takes."
Jennie nodded, her lips trembling as she tried to hold back tears. "Thank you, Irene. But I can’t make this decision without talking to Jiyong. It wouldn’t be fair to him. He has as much of a say in this as I do, especially when it comes to involving Lisa."
"I understand," Irene said, her voice calm. "But don't wait too long. Time’s running out, and every day we wait is a day Hyeong’s condition could worsen."
Jennie’s gaze dropped to the floor. "I’m scared, Irene. I’m afraid of what Jiyong will say, afraid of what this could mean for us. But more than anything, I’m terrified of losing Hyeong. He’s all I have left, and if something happens to him…" Her voice cracked, tears filling her eyes.
Irene stood and crossed the room, gently placing her hand on Jennie’s arm. "Whatever decision you make, Jennie, I’ll support you. But just remember, Hyeong comes first. You’ll get through this—together."
Jennie wiped away a tear, her resolve hardening just a little. "You're right. I need to do what’s best for Hyeong. No matter how hard it is, I’ll face it."
Jennie stood on the balcony, the cool evening breeze brushing against her skin as she leaned on the railing, trying to clear her mind. The city lights below flickered like distant stars, but her thoughts were far from the peaceful night. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, hoping the fresh air would ease the tension coiling inside her chest.
Her mind, however, wouldn’t let her rest. The weight of the situation bore down on her, and her thoughts drifted inevitably to Lisa. After all these years, the idea of reaching out to Lisa again felt surreal. How could she even face her? Lisa, the one who had been there for her once, the one whose absence had left a void. Now, she might be the only person who could save Hyeong.
*How do I even approach her?* Jennie thought, anxiety gnawing at her. *What would I say?*
It wasn’t just about seeing Lisa after so long—it was about what Lisa represented. Jennie feared not just rejection, but the emotional complexity of the situation. Would Lisa even want to help after everything that had happened? Or would the history between them make this even more difficult?
Jennie’s grip tightened on the railing as her thoughts shifted to Jiyong. The knot in her stomach tightened further. How could she possibly convince him? Bringing up Lisa, someone from their past, would undoubtedly stir up emotions Jiyong had long buried. She knew him—his pride, his protectiveness over their family. Asking him to consider Lisa as a donor for Hyeong felt like a betrayal of their shared history, a wound reopened.
She sighed deeply, her breath shaky. The thought of discussing this with Jiyong felt like walking into a storm. He would feel insulted, possibly even angry, that Lisa might be the answer to Hyeong’s survival.
But no matter how much the thought of that conversation terrified her, Jennie’s resolve never wavered. *I have to put Hyeong first. No matter how hard it is, no matter what it costs.* That was the one truth she clung to. Hyeong was all that mattered. His life is above everything else, including what she faced with Lisa, along with Jiyong's potential anger.r.
*I’ll face whatever I need to face. For him.*
Determined, Jennie straightened up, her gaze focused on the distant skyline. She knew it wouldn’t be easy. Convincing Jiyong would be a challenge, and confronting Lisa after all this time would bring up emotions she wasn’t sure she was ready to deal with. But none of that mattered. She would do whatever it took, face whoever she needed to, to give Hyeong a fighting chance.
Taking one last deep breath, Jennie stepped back inside, her mind set. *For Hyeong, I can face anything.*
YOU ARE READING
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...
