𝚃𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝙵𝙴𝙴𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚆𝙷𝙴𝙽 [𝙴𝙽- 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴 𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙼]

Chapter 142

24 hours left

I secured the straps of my boot and picked up the bandages from the bed. Taking all of it to the cabinets, I dumped it beside the medicines.

My heart was racing. My stomach was churning like it did when my results were announced but I hadn't seen it yet. Fear, despair, and hope all at once.

And in the midst of all, I glanced at the lowest drawer. My hand closed around the cold handle. I trusted them so I shouldn't be doing this. I could always count on Jake, Sunghoon, and now Heeseung as well to manage others.

Right?

There it was- the question mark. I wasn't sure. They were so unpredictable that thinking of even Jake made me a little uncomfortable. It was always better to be safe. Prevention is better than cure.

I took a deep breath and opened the drawer. I took my purse out and opened the pocket diary full of people's phone numbers. And wedged between the pages, was the letter from MS.

I unfolded the letter, reading it once again to see if I felt anxious about destroying the evidence. I didn't. I sighed with relief and picked up my phone. And in doing so, I saw the message from my grandfather mentioning the train details for tomorrow.

Konark Express - 12 PM

I bit my lip and punched in the phone number from the letter. The 10 digits were burned into my mind by now. I had memorized it because of how much time I had spent staring at it the day before yesterday. I saved the number on my phone and proceeded to write it down in my phone book as well. God, I hoped that I wouldn't have to use this number ever.

Folding the letter, I put it back in my diary and into the purse. I shut the drawer and texted my grandfather back that I'd meet him directly at the train station. He responded with shock and confusion as to why I would come alone when he was going to pick me up. I said he didn't have to bother. And he just sounded resigned in the texts saying I had grown up so much.

I closed the chat and was met with the wallpaper of the boys and me. We were in front of that cottage resort- the final picture we had taken from our trip. Our so, so beautiful trip. My favorite fairytale that I was never going to forget my entire life.

I took some time to look at each of their smiling faces. My entire life I had studied so much just to settle down quickly. Buy a house with my own money. Make my parents proud of me when I give them my first paycheck. It had mostly been about materiality though. When I saw something expensive that I liked, I'd get a boost of motivation to study more and do well.

Now I had more material things at my disposal than I had ever dreamed of. But the desire to have a well-paid job had shifted into a greater ambition- to achieve the highest possible position in my field. And the root of it all was in my phone's wallpaper, the people who were currently lounging around in the living room.

They were my new motivation. I needed to push myself as hard as I can for them. And to do that, I needed to have this conversation.

I pocketed my phone and went out of my bedroom. Jake and Sunoo were in the living. As soon as they saw me, soft smiles painted their features.

"Hey, darling," Jake said when I approached them. "What's up?"

"Uh well...where is everyone else?" I asked him.

"Maknaes just be the other suite," He said slowly. "Hoon and Heeseung must be around as well."

"Jay Hyung is out to get something." Sunoo rolled his eyes. "The delivering services are out for a while."

Jay wasn't here. This was good. I could handle these people first before moving to him later. It was necessary to have a one-on-one talk with him instead of the whole group.