The Echoes Of Our Secrets

Confession of Unspoken Secrets

"Go on, burn a while."

[In the Hospital Room]:-

As soon as Harin entered the room, strong scent of antiseptics hit her nostrils, the room's sterile silence enveloped her, broken only by the soft beep of life-support machines, as her dad layed there wrapped with wires and bandages.

She took a seat beside her father's bed, her fists clenched and sweats forming on her forehead.

Harin gaze wandered to her father's face, the sight of her father's weakened state left her devastated.

"You're not hurt anymore, right....dad? I'm here with you, you won't be alone,"  Harin clutched her father's hand as she tried to comfort her dad knowing he's not conscious enough to respond her words.

Holding the hands of her father, she remembered the laughter-filled moments, his fatherly advices, and quiet  moments like these where they'd just sit and admire the silence.

"Dad, I'm sorry...I should have been there sooner, you....wouldn't have to go through all this," her voice cracked as warm tears made their way from her eyes and fell on her lap.

But maybe this time, her tears fell like autumn rain with no one to offer a warm umbrella?

"Sung min-ah, here is something-" as soon as Jaehwan entered the room, he stopped when he saw Harin settled beside sung min's bed. Harin wiped her tears as quickly as she could, avoiding eye contact.

She couldn't let anyone know that she remained forever a little girl infront of her dad, lost and vulnerable.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude," Jaehwan said gently.

Harin forced a smile, wiping away the remaining tears, " it's okay, I was just....... remembering."

Jaehwan's gaze fell on Harin's father's frail form," He'll pull through Harin. He's strong," Jaehwan uttered as he patted Harin's head softly.

As Harin's thoughts drifted to her family, she felt a pang in her heart. Her mom's smile and Junho's laughter seemed distant now.

She refocused, her eyes clearing. "I know, Uncle. He's my dad; of course, he'll be strong," with a soft smile of affirmation, she blurted out those words.

"Let me check on the medications schedule, I'll get going now," with a soft nod, Harin stated as she stood up to exit the room knowing Jaehwan needed sometime with his best friend.

With a quiet glance back, Harin softly closed the door behind her stepping into the bright lights of the hospital.

Meanwhile, Jaehwan pulled up a chair, sitting down amidst the hum of machines. He let out a soft sigh, his gaze drifting towards Sung min's still form.

"Life's full of unexpected turns, isn't it?" Jaehwan chuckled a little, his thoughts unraveling, "One moment I was thinking of meeting you properly and the next I was rushing you here. Fate's cruel irony," he added.

"I never wanted to leave you," Jaehwan's voice cracked as he continued, "Leaving you was the hardest decision I ever made. After our argument I was sent away to abroad by my parents along with my wife and my young son, but fate cruelly took her from me, leaving me shattered and alone," his eyes welled up with tears while he bit his lower lip to stop the tears from falling.

"I was left alone to raise my young boy, managing the inherited company abroad and a little child was not as easy as it seemed," the dimly lit room seem to close in around him, it's shadows echoing his not so memorable memories.