Broken Guitar Strings

Chapter 34

(ALLIE'S POV)

Me: Hey you weren't at school today either

Me: are you okay?

I was about to put my phone down when I heard 2NE1's "Come Back Home" start playing. "Call from Park Chanyeol."

I immediately accept. "Hello?"

"Allie?" Chanyeol's voice sounded...low. Not as enthusiastic as he normally speaks.

"Yeah? What's wrong?"

He paused for a few seconds before speaking again. "My...my mom's in the hospital. She and the driver got into an accident."

Oh my gosh. I put my hand over my mouth. Why haven't I seen this on headlines of newspapers or on the media? Or...have I just not been checking the media lately?

"Oh my gosh, Chanyeol. I'm so sorry. What's her condition right now?"

"ICU. Nerve damage along her right arm to her shoulder has been confirmed." Oh, no.

"Do you know how long it will take her to recover?"

"She'll probably be able to leave the hospital after a few months, but she'll need a lot of follow-up treatment for her nerves. Healing them takes time and a very detailed, thought out process. And that's just it. The engagement plans will be paused. Are you happy now?"

"Chanyeol, I hope your mother gets better. But why would I be happy that we'll get engaged later on?" Allie, you know. It's because you like Lay.

"Because...because. You love Lay more than me. I'm willing to accept that. But if you don't want to get engaged at all, I'm not going to force you to. You'll just have to talk with my parents. And your parents. And provide a damn good explanation."

"Chanyeol-" He hung up me.