Stuck With You

forty

Tzuyu and Chaeyoung rushed to Sana, the other girls close behind.

“Oh my God… is she dead?” Mina asked, her voice trembling.

“No,” Tzuyu replied quickly after checking Sana’s pulse. “She’s still breathing. She wasn’t shot.”

Relief flooded her features as she pulled Sana into her arms.
Sana had only fainted from the blow to her stomach.

Hearing that she was alive, the cousins slowly turned their attention back to the gun, and to each other. Nancy’s gaze dropped to the blood pooling on the floor. Tears streamed down her face.
Her strength gave out. She released her grip on Mark’s hand and stumbled back before collapsing to her knees, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered, covering her mouth.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated.
Jeongyeon and Mina hurried over, kneeling beside her to comfort her.
Across the room, Mark stared at the blood staining his hand. He pressed it against his bleeding stomach, then suddenly raised the gun and pointed it at Tzuyu.

“You!” he screamed. “This is all your fault! You stole Sana, and now my cousin too! Die, Tzuyu! Die!”

Before anyone could react, Dahyun leapt forward and wrapped her arms around Tzuyu, shielding her completely. She had promised herself long ago that she would protect Tzuyu no matter what. Even if it cost her life.

A gunshot rang out.

Silence swallowed the room.
Dahyun stood still, eyes shut tight. Tzuyu froze, clutching her.

“Dahyun…” the girls whispered, tears forming. Momo covered her mouth as she sobbed quietly.

Then a heavy thud. They turned to see Mark collapsing to the floor a few steps away. At first, they thought he’d simply lost strength from his earlier wound. But then Mingyu stepped forward, a gun in his hand.

Tzuyu gently held Dahyun by the shoulders and straightened her.

“You can open your eyes now,” she said softly, flicking Dahyun’s forehead. Dahyun blinked, then quickly patted herself down before letting out a relieved laugh.

“I’m not dead!”

The others rushed over, relief washing over them.

As for Mingyu, he checked Mark’s pulse. “He’s still alive.”

Jeongyeon helped him carry Mark out to the van while the others followed. Tzuyu carefully lifted Sana and drove her to the nearest hospital.

A few hours later, Sana regained consciousness. She was now sitting up in bed, speaking quietly with Nancy. The others had stepped out to buy food, while a few returned to Jeongyeon’s house to inform everyone of what happened.

Nancy stared at the floor, tears falling again.

“I’m sorry,” she began. “I know it’s not enough. I did so many horrible things to you. You didn’t deserve any of it. If I had known things would go this far… I never would’ve helped Mark.”

She broke down. Sana watched her for a moment then gently pulled Nancy into a hug.

“I forgive you,” Sana said softly. “You’re not a bad person. If you were, you wouldn’t have helped me back there.”

Nancy froze in surprise before hugging her back. Pulling away, Sana held her hands.

“About Tzuyu… I don’t think you actually like her. I think you were just carried away by your cousin’s words.”