HEART LIES

WARNING SIGNS

Her legs no longer trembled on her heels as Sonmi entered the office, nor did she blush when she took a seat in front of Ji-Seong.

"Annyeohaseyo, Seonbae."

Ji-Seong ushered Sonmi towards a chair and went to take a seat behind his desk, "Sonmi, how are you?"

"I'm fine, for someone walking about with metastasized cells," the woman said with a weak smile.

Sa-rang saw right; no woman from their family escaped the mandatory passage of Cancer.

"The cells aren't active; your state is stable."

Ji-Seong could tell his words did no have a positive impact on the woman who gripped the handle of the handbag on her knees a little tighter, "I know, but it doesn't stop me from feeling like a walking time bomb, I'm not even thirty, and I have this weighing on my head like a Damocles sword."

"Sonmi, you might stay like this for years."

"And then one day, when I'm not ready, this disease will wipe me out, let's do it, seongsangnim [doctor/professor]."

Ji-Seong acknowledged the young woman's determination. On this point, Sonmi resembled her mother. The only difference was unlike Sa-rang, she desired to live. Sonmi was willing to try any option which would allow her to stay alive.

Ji-Seong sat adjusted his position on his chair, "are you sure?"

"Yes, Chae Seongsaengnim, you are the surgeon I respect and trust the most. I am aware of the risks, and this seems the most effective prevention method."

"Did you tell Jae?"

Sonmi smiled; hearing Jae's name always had this effect on her," he says I count more; I told him not to propose to me. That I will not be able to carry children, but he's stubborn, you know. I feel as though he's a collateral victim, and perhaps he's suffering more than me. It's hard for me to bear any longer; he deserves better. Jae deserves a healthy fiancée."

Sonmi wiped the tears streamed down with the sleeves of her beige Burberry coat, which became dark brown as it dampened.

Ji-Seong leaned forward to hand the crying woman a tissue, "Jae loves you."

"I don't know why," Sonmi wiped the tears away and pursued, "he loves me so much I don't know how it can be possible it's frightening sometimes, I treat him-," she paused before continuing, "I'm more like my mother than I thought."

"You're her daughter, of course; you have a part of her," Ji-Seong said.

The once fragile Sonmi was now a resourceful young graduate and fiancé, thought Ji-Seong.

Jae forced the doors to her heart, making Sonmi his. Still, a shadow loomed over their happiness.

Cancer invited itself into Sonmi's life, but the woman anticipated and took a shocking decision. The illness had chosen her womb as an inhabitance. So Sonmi decided to remove her ovaries and kept her mind open for a breast mastectomy or any other intervention if the infected cells were to spread.

Sonmi feared losing Jae in the process. She didn't want him to live in suffering to see her undergo massive surgery.

"Don't shut Jae out, Sonmi. Don't do make that mistake," Ji Seong advised.

Sonmi stared at Ji-Seong; he was exactly how her mother predicted he would be. A talented surgeon, the worthy inheritor of the title, the hands of God.

Ji Seong was plentiful, more handsome than ever, yet one could see the sadness behind the curtains of his eyes. The man still partied but didn't fall into excess, he spent a lot of time hiking or mountain climbing, and he traveled a lot during his free time. When at the hospital, his peers were forced to kick him out to give the workaholic some rest.