The Choice I Made

CHAPTER VIII: One Foot Out

Damn this stiff neck. I murmured to myself as I massage my neck while walking towards the arrivals lobby where Belle is waiting for me.

After staying for another day in Paris, I've decided to come back to Korea and continue what I started. Mom and Dad dropped me off the airport with genuine smiles plastered on their faces. I now realize how long I haven't seen those smiles.

I arrived in Korea as correctly as I calculated. I booked a 10 a.m. flight in Paris so that I'll land in Korea two in the morning where people are deep in their sleep. I contacted Belle to fetch me, being the most trustworthy coordinator she is.

I spotted her as soon as I stepped out of the sliding door.

"Why did you leave without notice? You worried everyone," she scolded me when I approached her but she still hugged me tightly. Her voice that of a mother worried for her lost child.

"I'm so sorry eonni. I just had an urgent thing to settle in Paris and I didn't have time to notify you," I replied dryly.

She appraised me one more time but didn't say a word. Her face a picture of relief.

"Eric's sick. He's in the hospital," Belle said as a matter of factly while driving. I was not feeling well because of the rough flight so I let Belle drive.

"Really? Why?" I must really care for Eric because I got distressed after hearing he's not well.

"Since you left, he hasn't eaten anything. I figured you probably had a rift because you went MIA and Eric is suddenly on hunger strike."

"I'm sorry eonni to put the burden on you."

"I won't say it's okay because it's not. I was dead worried for both of you. I don't know what's the reason why you guys fought but I wish you two would resolve it ASAP," she said, clearly being concerned for us.

I just nodded in response because I don't know what to say. After that, we fell to our own thoughts.

The silence stretched on until we arrived at the hotel. I quickly proceeded to my room and had a shower. I've decided to visit Eric in the hospital and make amends. It would probably heal him faster than any medicine could offer.

"Eonni?" I knocked on Belle's door.

"Come in," she said after opening the door.

"Are you going to visit Eric?"

"Yeah. I'm bringing fresh clothes. He texted a while ago saying he wanted to get discharged but I am yet to see if he's really okay to leave the hospital."

"Let me do it," I said firmly. "I also need to talk to him."

Belle stared at me for a second and said, "Okay then. Here, I packed something for him. Make sure he eats that." She passed me the box she was holding.

"Sure thing. See you later, Eonni."

***

I don't know why I'm nervous but I have to inhale and exhale three times before I turned the door knob to Eric's room.

The first thing I noticed when I entered was the way Eric was staring at me. It's like I'm the last person he's expecting to see.

"Hi," I whispered and put the box and the bag I was holding on the foot of his bed and sat beside it. "Are you feeling better? Belle said you were on hunger strike."

"Yeah, I'm a bit better now," he replied with a still confused face.

"That's good," I said looking at him and realized how tired he looks. It's funny how five days can change a person's appearance. He looks ten years older than his real age.