RIIZE | Tuesdays with You 《Anton》Completed✔

Chapter 4: A Hidden Truth

It was a typical Thursday, the kind Lola often dreaded. Every year, she accompanied her mom to the hospital for her annual check-up, a routine she had gotten used to. The hospital staff knew her by name, and she was always greeted with warm smiles from the nurses at the reception. But today, something felt different—a slight tension she couldn't quite place.

As Lola and her mom settled into the lobby's soft chairs, surrounded by patients waiting for their appointments, her mom chatted happily with some familiar faces. Lola, however, distracted herself by scrolling through her phone, occasionally glancing at the hospital clock, hoping time would pass faster.

"You girls doing alright?" her mom's friend, Mrs. Yoon, asked, sitting across from them. She had the kind of warm, grandmotherly smile that made everyone feel at ease.

"Oh, we're fine," her mom replied with a grin, adjusting her scarf. "I'm just glad to be here. I look forward to catching up with all my friends!"

Lola smiled absentmindedly, still lost in her phone. But as the conversation around her picked up, something caught her attention—a faint mention of a "sick son" and a "rich couple." She didn't think much of it at first. Hospitals were full of stories, after all.

"Have you seen them today?" Mrs. Yoon's voice dropped to a whisper, leaning closer to her fellow patients. "They come here four days a week. Their poor son... it's a tragedy, really."

Lola glanced up, now curious. Her gaze flicked toward the older woman as Mrs. Yoon continued, "Acute Myeloid Leukemia, the doctor said. They're doing everything they can, but..." She trailed off, shaking her head sadly. "The boy's dying. No cure."

Lola's heart skipped a beat. Her attention was now fully on the conversation, her phone forgotten.

"What's the family like?" one of the other women asked.

"Oh, you can't miss them," Mrs. Yoon replied, lowering her voice further. "The couple always comes in dressed so impeccably. And the son... such a quiet boy. He hardly ever speaks. But you can tell the parents are devastated."

Lola's eyes widened slightly. She felt a strange pull, a nagging feeling that she had to know more.

"They're right over there today," Mrs. Yoon continued, discreetly pointing toward the far corner of the lobby. "Look at that poor mother."

Curiosity getting the better of her, Lola lifted her head and followed Mrs. Yoon's gaze. Her eyes scanned the crowd, eventually landing on a couple—both dressed in sleek gray clothing. The woman's beauty was striking despite the heavy shadow of worry etched on her face. Her husband sat beside her, a strong, silent figure with a hand resting on her knee, offering quiet comfort.

But it wasn't the couple that made Lola's breath catch in her throat.

Standing beside them, slightly hunched, with a familiar posture and unmistakable quiet demeanor, was Anton.

No... it can't be.

Her heart raced as she blinked, certain she must be mistaken. Anton, with his messy hair and soft eyes, didn't fit into this picture. But as she continued to stare, the truth became undeniable. It was him—her Anton.

Lola's stomach dropped, her mind racing with questions. She wanted to rush over, confront him, ask why he hadn't told her. But before she could gather her thoughts, the family disappeared down the corridor, out of sight. She sank back into her chair, her mind swirling. Anton... he had been hiding this from her. She replayed their conversations in her mind, especially that moment when she had asked why they only met on Tuesdays. She had brushed it off, thinking it was just some quirky detail. But now, the weight of that hidden truth crashed down on her.