The Last Boy Scout

45*

Jin Yung watches Jimin as he breathes in and out, falling into a deep sleep. He looked so hurt when he was sleeping; the way he was curled up into a tight ball and how his hands were tucked under his pillow as if he was... hiding something.

Jin Yung couldn't sleep if Jimin already fell asleep before her. He would usually sing to her or stroke her hair and tell her everything would be alright and vice versa. Jin Yung pulls the covers over her and wraps her arms around him. She guessed being in Busan would make him happier, but she guessed wrong.

(Earlier)

Jin Yung waited patiently outside the doctor's office. She tapped her foot on the shiny floor and laced her fingers together. The smell of hand sanitizer and medicine lingered in the heavy air. The hospital was a sad, quiet place.

Jimin was with the doctor for about fifteen minutes; who requested a few words with him after visiting with his Eomma in the hospital room. Jin Yung knew this was hard for Jimin. She just wanted to do something that would make him happy.

Jin Yung slowly gets up and makes her way down the hall to where his Eomma was situated. She pokes her head through the large doorway. Jimin's Appa sat on the leather sofa beside the hospital bed, next to the frail body of his wife. He looks up as Jin Yung steps into the room and gives a small bow. "Annyeong," she forced herself to give a tiny smile.

He smiles back weakly. "Jin Yung, where is Jiminnie?" His father looks exhausted. His hands were wrapped around his wife's arm which was hooked onto IV fluid.

"He's talking with the doctor," Jin Yung replies. She looks down at the floor. It's somewhat awkward in situations like this, especially when you don't know what to say but you still want to help somehow.

"I'm going to go check on him..." abeonim gets up and walks out the door, leaving Jin Yung alone next to Jimin's mother.

Jin Yung stands next to the bed and stares into her eyes which were peacefully shut. Jin Yung reaches out to touch her arm gently, and was surprised when she opened them all of a sudden.

"Jin Yung..." she whispers in a hoarse voice. "Thank you for being here... with me." She coughs and Jin Yung felt tears start to collect at the corners of her eyes. Being here beside the poor woman brought back memories of the frequent trips to the hospital Jin Yung made to visit her dying grandmother. Every time she would visit, her grandmother would tell her a story until she fell asleep, and Jin Yung wasn't sure if she was sleeping or if she passed. Then the day came when her grandmother lost her memory, and would refuse any help from the nurses or family members. It was sad knowing she died alone.

Jin Yung squeezes eommanim's hand tightly; the way she would hold her grandmother's. "You are so beautiful..." eommanim reaches out to stroke Jin Yung's face. "Adeul-ah chose wisely..." she smiles and coughs again. "Jin Yung... take good care of him, alright? It's almost time for me to go... all I ask is that my sons are not sad. Especially Jiminnie. Is that too much to ask?"

"No," Jin Yung places her other hand over the other. "It's not too much to ask; I will take good care of him." Jin Yung smiles.

"Promise?"

"I promise..." and that's when Jin Yung lost it; tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Just standing there holding the sick woman's hand was too much.

"My love... why are you crying?" She reaches out to touch Jin Yung's wet cheeks. "Please don't cry... not over me..." she brings her into a warm hug.