HERE COME THE REGRETS

E L E V E N

Seungcheol sat on the table with three other people on a 4-Michellin star restaurant, barely touching his dessert as he looked at the two people in front of him and his wife. They were talking in terms that seem utterly unfamiliar to him, but one thing's for sure, it was something serious and he has an idea what it was about.

"There is a 90% chance that he is a qualified donor but we cannot assure that, Jeonghan," said Vernon Choi, a Pediatric consultant who was originally from New York, now assigned in Shanghai, China for research, flew all the way to Seoul just to meet with Jeonghan to discuss his patient who was a son of one of their colleagues, suffering from a common disease but it was taking their time and effort because it was a big issue. "I am not sure of how old he is but we have to secure a lot of legal paperworks here."

"This is why we are here, Vernon," Jeonghan said as she placed her glass of Milkshake on the table, feeling worried than ever. "I need to hear your side because if we cannot do this, I don't know if the kid would still survive for another year. His GFR is declining rapidly and I'm surprised he still isn't in medication – well given the fact that his blood pressure is fluctuating, who knows what's happening to the boy right now?"

"But even if we are going to insist on it, are you sure his parents will allow it?" the third person in their lot spoke, which made both shut both Vernon and Jeonghan from arguing. Seungcheol met this man a few times already but didn't seem to bother knowing him, although he was one in Jeonghan's circle of connections. "Given the fact that we have no right to trespass into his medical records and not even a court ruling can do over that, still the same, we cannot do it unless there is parental consent."

Seungcheol scoffed as he looked at the other direction, looking sharply against the sides of his eyes, insides burning in annoyance. He knew it was not a place where he can just stand up, grab hold of the wine from the bucket, and walk out of the restaurant – his wife was there, talking to him directly and even looking at him as if they were the only people arguing.

It's not like he's not interested but it's the fact that he was Jeonghan's ex-boyfriend who she had longed for years which gave him a hard time, deciding whether or not he should take a move on impressing her. He was thankful enough that it didn't take him so much time to have Jeonghan, but getting rid of the pain he inflicted in her was tedious, not to mention the numerous times that she called him in the middle of the night because she can't sleep or having nightmares.

These feelings was once suppressed for her sake, but the moment he first met the man in a certain occasion in Venice, he felt his blood boiling in anger as all of the memories of Jeonghan crying flashed before him. He had to maintain demeanor, and gave him a platonic greeting.

He was Dr. Joshua Hong, a practicing anesthesiologist and a highly sought adolescent consultant, from Los Angeles.

Jeonghan looked at her husband who seemed to be squeezing her hand tighter than usual. She took a glance at him and seems like he was a little off – looking down at the wine glass on his other hand, with a seemingly aggravated expression on his face. She doesn't have to ask; having known her husband for years has given her hints of how he acts especially in occasions like this.

"Like I said, it's imperative that we should consult the parents of the source before we proceed in doing the next steps," Joshua insisted as he picked his glass of wine from the table. "Even if he is the most compatible source for this operation, still there is a great risk against it – legally and morally. Come to think of it, Jeonghan."

Jeonghan looked straightly at those eyes and she knew she had to decide.

"Look, if this works, I won't hesitate to fly to Seoul again to support you. I'd support you all the way," Vernon said, reassuring the anxious female with a small smile.