It Started with a Wedding

Torture

Sandy's side of the story

She came to her room. It feels like all the energy was drawn out of her body. Sandy sat at the end  of her bed and stare at nothing for a few minutes. She couldn’t believe that Julian’s mom would ask that kind of thing from her. It's almost the same as telling her to rip her own heart from her chest but a voice in her head said she’s just desperate to save his life. When she gaze at her bed, she saw the phone from her bag. She read his message with the picture of sunset.

We spent the day by the beach.

I want you to see what my eyes are seeing right now so

I took the picture of the scenery for you.

I promise that I'll take you here one day and we'll watch the sunset together.

Friday seems a long wait. I already miss you.

Can't wait to have you in my arms....

Sandy smiled bitterly. These past few days without him are indeed long. A lot of things happened giving her overwhelming blows to her heart and mind. She dialed his number.

                “Hi…” Jared answered the phone.

                “Hi…” She tried her best not to give him a hint of the problem that she's facing.

                “You’re not yet asleep?” He asked.

                “I just want to hear your voice…” She admitted.

                “Me too..I’m glad you called…” He said. With the sound of his voice, she could say that he’s smiling right now. He started telling  things about his day. He cheerfully told her how Aidan had a hard time talking to an American who approached them for a direction, that Max(Changmin) is still a food monster, and he also mentioned that Keith suddenly disappeared last night with a Japanese girl while Lawrence(Yunho) never won their card game. She miss him so much and she stayed still listening to his stories while smiling but she can’t help her tears from falling. They won’t stop so Sandy covered her mouth trying hard not to make a sound.

                “Doctor Han, how’s Julian’s condition?”

Sandy decided to talk to his doctor.

                “I’ll be honest Ms. Shim. It’s not good. The hematoma is deteriorating his health in a rapid phase. He badly needs to be operated because the clock is ticking.  I don’t get why the patient keeps on refusing the surgery. Medication can’t stop it and if we continue to delay the Craniotomy, I’m afraid that the situation would go worse. His body could not survive the surgery then.”

                “You have to eat Julian…you’re body is too weak at the moment…” Auntie is doing her best to convince him to eat but he is not listening. He just closed his eyes and doesn’t want to speak. He won’t listen to you either. He got a very strong will but his body shows the complete opposite. He’s thinner. His face and lips are so pale. He doesn’t have life on his eyes. He’s determined to die if you will not give in. You can no longer tolerate this torture so you left the room. She went to the hospital garden and sat to the bench there. After a while, Kian, who’s also there to visit, sat next to her.

                “Sunbae…” He is worried too like all of them.

                “Am I that bad? I just want to be with the person I love….I just want to keep what’s making me happy but why is it this hard? I’m doing my best to manage everything together but now it’s falling apart…Am I too greedy for not wanting to lose them both?” YShe utters. He puts his hand to her shoulder.

                “Kian, I’m so confused right now…I don’t know what to do…I’m afraid…” She put her face into her palms and cries. Kian rubbed her back for comfort.

Jared's side of the story

                “I’ll be there tomorrow…3 pm..I'll see you there right?” He confirms.

                “Hm.” She said.

                “We have a lot to catch up for….promise I make it up to you for being away for this long…”

                “Just come back safe…”

                “Sandy, when I come back, we have to talk things about us..I have something to tell you.” 

He’s planning to propose. It’s going to happen this time around.

                “Yeah..we need to talk..”  She agrees.

                “I can’t wait…see you tomorrow then?”

                “Okay.”

There’s a big smile flashing to his face after hanging up. He’s very excited to see her and ask her to marry him.

Sandy's side of the story

                “Sandy, when I come back, we have to talk things about us…I have something to tell you.” 

He seems serious. She could say that the “talk” that he mentioned has something to do with the ring that she saw. Is he going to propose? No! Jared don’t….She closed her eyes tightly.

                “Yeah..we need to talk..”  she answered.

                “I can’t wait…see you tomorrow then?”

                “Okay.”

Her grasp to the phone tightens. She needs to make a decision now.

                “Julian…” she sat on his bedside.  He looked at her.

                “Your operation was all set. It will be tomorrow..”

He didn’t say a word but his lips parted so she nodded carefully for confirmation. Sandy took his hand and bring it to her face.

                “Just promise me that you will live. Assure me that you’ll be back..” she said.

He tried to answer but he failed to make a word. Slurred speech is one of the symptoms.