Her attention travelled up to me, standing absentmindedly in my driveway just staring in her direction. A warm smile played across her face as she saw me.
"Oh hi do you live there sweetie?" She asked me, pointing subtly at my house.
"Yes, Ajumma" I said, returning a smile.
"Call me Mrs Kim, what's your name angel?"
"Park Areum" I said, bowing slightly.
"Such a pretty name for a pretty girl"
"Thank you" I said, a smile creeping at the corners of my mouth. My gaze shifted to the boxes in her arms that she was struggling to hold, I placed my bag onto the floor and jogged over to her.
"Here I'll help" I offered, taking the box from her hands.
"You don't have to-"
"It's fine don't worry about it" I said, smiling sweetly at her and she nodded.
"Can you place it in the room upstairs to the left please?" She asked, picking up a box of her own. I nodded and walked towards the front door of the house, stepping inside and following her brief directions. The house was a lot bigger than my own, it had two more bedrooms than my own did on the second floor. I walked to the door of the room and balanced the box in one hand, twisting the foot knob with the other. Entering the room, I placed the box down beside the others and made my way back to the door. A chorus of yelling and giggles echoed down the empty hall outside.
"Jeonggyu!" A deep voice yelled, followed by a series of children's laughs. I opened the door to find a little boy running down the hall, a box in his hand. Followed by the little boy was a taller male with a little girl clinging onto him in a piggy back. When they heard the door open both heads turned to my direction. It was the boy from the class.
"Oh hey it's you, sketch book girl!" He said, grinning at me while the little girl rested her head on his shoulder.
"Aish Taehyung!" Mrs Kim yelled as she walked over to them.
"Why are you playing you should be unpacking" she said, playfully smacking the back of his head and taking the younger girl in her arms.
"Jeonggyu stole my boxes, Eomma" he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Why can't I have you as my child" she said sighing at me. I bit back my laughter as Taehyung pouted.
"I should probably get going" I said, smiling at her.
"Oh yes, sorry I forgot thank you for helping us sweetie feel free to come over anytime!" She said, herding up the two younger children. I nodded and bowed, my eyes peeking over at Taehyung who was watching intently.
I waved goodbye to the little girl as she let out a gummy smile at me, before walking down the stairs and out of the front door. I picked up the abandoned bag I left in the driveway and walked back to the front door of my house, unlocking it. My mom wouldn't be back until 8 so I walked straight to my room, throwing my bag on the floor and jumping on the bed. I slid the window open slightly to let the cool breeze in as I lent against the wall. I pulled out my sketchbook from my bag, remembering the scene from earlier today. I began drawing from my memory, recalling his eyes and his hair. A soft tapping noise brought me out of my focus, drawing my attention to the source of the sound. I pushed the sketchbook forward and shuffled closer to the window, pulling my half closed curtain away to get a better look.
Directly across from my window, was the boy who I now knew as Kim Taehyung. From my window I had a clear view into the room, he was carrying a stack of boxes over to the bed sitting against the wall. A wave of heat rushed to my cheeks as he looked out of the window in my direction, I snapped my head back down to the book and focused my attention back down to it.
-
Hours passed by when I finally heard the front door click open, signalling that my mom had arrived home. I could never help but feel immense guilt knowing I was the sole reason she overworked herself. She worked numerous jobs throughout the day starting early hours of the morning till late nights, trying to squeeze out as much money as she could. After the medical bills began rolling in like the tide, she knew we were too tight on money to afford my treatments. It took a toll on the both of us, finding out I was sick.
[132 Days Before]
"345 days, just under a year" the doctor said in a hushed voice to my mother, who was breaking down like a statue after too many years.
"Until what?" I asked, and that's when I realised I wasn't supposed to be listening. My eyes shifted from my pale, crying mother to the doctor. His eyes were sad, full of pity and sympathy. He sat me down on the hospital chair and began explaining to me that my time was limited and I needed to spend it wisely.
"I'll put it like this, your life is like a timer. In just under a year you will most likely be back here in this hospital, over time your condition will deteriorate and you will become weaker so it is within our interest to move you here permanently when the time comes. We can try experimental treatments but we cannot guarantee that they will be successful."
"So what you're saying is, in just under a year I'll die?" I asked, my voice shaky.
"I'm afraid so yes" I nodded my head, placing it in my hands as I thought.
After that day I isolated myself from everyone including my friends and my mom. I thought if I detached myself, when I die the pain wont be as bad. But pushing my mom away made her worse and I knew I couldn't put her through anymore pain than I already was.
I got up from my bed and exited the room, walking down the stairs to the kitchen. On the counter top was the little white paper bag I knew all too well.
"Eomma" I said, my eyes anchored on the bag.
"Yes?" She asked, turning to face me. I stayed silent until she followed my eyes and looked at the bag on the table.
"I told you to stop buying them" I said, gritting my teeth slightly.
"I know you did, but the doctors advise that we at least try-"
"They don't change anything, it's just a waste of money" I spoke, cutting her off.
"Areum you have to try, they're not a waste!"
"Yes they are! You already over work trying to pay for something that won't fix me, you can't spend money on these Eomma!"
"If its going to help-"
"It's not going to change the fact I'm dying!" I yelled, causing a silence in the room. I hadn't noticed I was crying until the hot tears dripped onto my hand. She sighed and pulled me into her arms, holding me tight.
"Please" She whispered, stroking my hair. I stayed still, silently refusing to make a promise I can't keep.
