Tangled Fates: BTOB Sungjae ✔

Chapter 19

Chapter 19, Live It or Leave It

Sungjae:

I blinked my eyes once and then I looked around just to make sure that really happened.

"S-Sungjae?"

I almost jumped when I heard Mari calling my name. I immediately walked towards her and smiled. "Hey, I'm here. How are you feeling?"

She just looked at me with tears in her eyes. I held her hand and kissed the top of it. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, too."

I smiled and looked at her. "Thank you for waking up."

"What did the doctor say?"

"They said you'll be alright but you have to be under observation for a weekㅡ"

"No!" She exclaimed, her eyes wide.

"Why?"

She shook her head many times. "I can't stay here for a week, Sungjae."

"I hope you find this pen before I disappear..."

"Try to remember everything before she disappears..."

Those words echoed in my head. I swallowed. "I don't understand. Why can't youㅡ"

"I don't have much time left." She said, looking away. "I don't want to spend that short time in a hospital."

My heart ached suddenly. "How much time do you have?"

She looked at me then and sat up while I helped her. "You listened to the pen?"

I nodded silently.

She stared at me for so long in silence. "And do you... believe me?"

"I want to believe youㅡand I do, but I'm just... it's still hard toㅡ"

"I know. You don't have to force yourself."

"But you said you'll disappear!"

She held my hand this time. "When I do, you won't remember a single thing about me. It would be like I didn't exist at all. It's... going to be alrightㅡ"

"What? How is that going to be alright? I would forget about you?" I asked in disbelief.

"I think it's better that way. I don't want you blaming yourself forever why I just disappeared." She said softly.

I shook my head. "No, no..." I muttered. "What if I don't wanna forget you?"

There was a long silence followed by that question before she finally spoke.

"Then can you remember me? Remember me from the past."

I felt like crying. I ran my hands through my face and I held her hand tightly. "I want to." I said. "But... how?" I asked helplessly. I could hear the despair in my own voice.

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Mari:

"Get me out of here." I replied.

"But your condition isn't well enough. You need a few days."

"I don't wanna waste my time, Sungjae. Please?"