mixnine. woo jinyoung

XXI. No Regrets

My jaw dropped as Soomin shyly stepping into the Hush's practice room. She chose After This Night like Ryujin, but I guess she found that going against her would be a disadvantage.

Everyone clapped and whooped as Soomin sat down, honestly, with her in the room, I got ten times more nervous because she was only two spots below me, and has more experience than me.

Our coaches came to check how we've been doing, with the dance coach coming in first. We practiced the choreography like we learned, and Soomin was trying to follow along in the sidelines. She was catching on dangerously quick.

After an hour or so, Soomin learned almost all of the dance. It took me hours just to remember it.

The dance coach was satisfied with our dancing other than Yujin who seemed a bit behind compared to the rest.

The vocal coach, Suran, came and we started our lines. I felt that Hayoon would shine the most during our performance, this song fit her perfectly.

Soomin was taking other people's lines, as the request of the teacher. I had around the same amount of lines as Hayoon, which was good.

I sang one of my parts and when I finished, Suran didn't look satisfied at all.

"Soomin, try this part."

Soomin sang my part, and Sudan nodded in satisfaction. "Let's switch these."

I sighed and nodded. Soomin is a lot better at singing than me, I hope I can manage to get 1st still.

"Why are you sighing Jihyun?" Suran asked.

"...I'm just disappointed in myself."

"That Soomin is taking your lines?"

I looked at the floor.

"I'm changing it for the best of the performance, not you, okay?"

I nodded in understanding.

Once the vocal lessons were over, Suran left the practice room.

"Good job guys." I said, and everyone replied with good jobs as well.

"Someone's phone is ringing." Hayoon said, holding up the object in her hand.

"Oh--that's mine." I said, taking it. I exited the practice room and picked up the call from the hospital. She must be awake now.

"Hello?"

"Hi Jihyun, this is the doctor taking care of your mother."

"Yes. Hello."

"...we would like you to come to the hospital as soon as possible. We will speak more then."

"Is she awake? Can I talk to her first?" I asked excitedly.

"...we will speak it once you arrive at the hospital." The doctor said.

My heart dropped. Why doesn't he sound happy? She can't be. She has to make it.

Negative thoughts filled my mind, and I imagined the worse scenarios.

Did it go wrong?

I hung up immediately and rushed back to the practice room to gather my belongings. I exited, ignoring my teammates concerned questions, as my head was not clear enough to answer.

I took the bus to the hospital, and once I arrived I ran inside.

"Hwang Jihyun, your mother is in room 201." The front lady said once she saw me. I nodded and headed to the room.

I stopped in front of the door and knocked. When I enter, she'll be awake, happily smiling at me. She will be.

The door opened, revealing the doctor. "Hello, Hwang Jihyun."

"Is she awake?" I asked eagerly.

"...I'm sorry."

"Why? Why?!" I asked.

The doctor moved to the side, revealing my mother.

She was laying on the bed, eyes closed.

My heart dropped.

"...she's sleeping right?" I asked quietly.

"We cured her of the disease, but she is stuck in a coma."

Coma?

"A...coma?" I asked hollowly.

"We aren't sure of when she will wake up, ever."

Ever?

My chest heaved up and down as I tried to control my breathing. I ran to my mother, and touched her cold hand. "Mom...why aren't you awake yet?? You can hear me right??? This is a joke right??"

"I'm afraid not...miss." The doctor said.

I choked back a sob as tears streamed down my cheeks. My heart felt like it was being stabbed. "Mom..."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

I turned to the doctor. "S-she's not dead!! She can't be!! She's only sleeping!!"

"She's going to be sleeping for a very long time." He said.

My sobs slowly turned into loud cries. "MOM!!!!" I lightly shook her body. "Pl-please wake up!"

"Please don't leave me." I whispered emptily. "I still have so many things to tell you, and to show you, please don't leave."

No one responded to me. When I thought my cries were slowing down, all it took was a look at my lifeless mother on the bed to make it come crashing down again.

I felt like my insides were getting dug out, or leaving my body like the tears coming out of my eyes. What have I been fighting for? If someone who never has done anything bad to this world like my mom gets taken away, why should I try?

I should give up.

_

My eyes shot open and I bolted up. Was that a dream??

I didn't bother looking at my surroundings and scrambled for my phone that was on the nightstand. I tried to look for evidence that I didn't visit the hospital. That I didn't see my mother's lifeless body in a coma. It hurt so much--it still hurt.

Doctor Kim Junoe-- last call 4 hours ago.

I sighed heavily. Of course it wasn't a dream. I felt so empty now, like I cried my entire life out of me. I scanned my unfamiliar surroundings. "Where am I?" I sighed. "Whatever." I laid back on the bed. I was too tired to wonder, I didn't care anymore.

I heard the door creak open, and I immediately closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. Whoever that was, I didn't want to bother with them, as I didn't feel like doing so. I heard footsteps and a quiet "clank" on the nightstand.

The footsteps neared the bed, and I felt someone pull the blanket to cover my body fully. They shuffled away, sitting on the sofa, the one I assumed I saw earlier. A small sigh was heard from them.

It was quiet, and I couldn't take the curiosity and opened my eyes. I was greeted by a shocking sight.