Seasons With You.

Winter (2)

January -

Jinki typed away at an old computer. He filed papers and made phone calls. He fell bored out of his half-sober mind. His head still hurt from last night and the haunting thoughts of Jina lingered. He stared at the white computer screen, blinking away at nothing.

"Hey, Jinki. Lunch break." A coworker tapped his cubicle wall. Jinki nodded in response. Getting up from his chair, his phone rang.

"Yoboseyo?" He answered, confused.

"Is this Lee Jinki?"

"This is."

"We are calling from the hospital, your wife has been rushed in." Jinki took a while to process what he was hearing. He thought they'd made a mistake, but it was him they asked for.

"I think there has been a mistake. I don't have a wife." Jinki spoke slowly.

"Yoon Jina is not your wife?" Jina. His mind fell fuzzy at the name.

"Ji-Jina? She's in the hospital?" Jinki began panicking, pacing back and forth in his space. His hair gripped in his hands.

"Jinki-sshi, what is your relation to Yoon Jina?" The receiver remained calm.

"Uh-Um-" Jinki felt choked up, he couldn't find the words to say.

"Sir, please. We need to know now."

"Boyfriend. I'm her boyfriend." He began sweating, endless questions ran through his brain.

"I see. Do you have her parents' contact information? Any relatives?"

"No. No, Jina only has me." The woman on the other line didn't respond. "Why is she in the hospital?"

"She fainted and hit her head against something hard. Your neighbor was the one who called for an ambulance."

"Okay, I'm on my way. Tell the halmeoni that I'm coming." Jinki quickly hung up and ran to his boss' office. Knocking harshly on his door, he felt as if his knuckles could bleed at any moment. "Sir, Sir please open up."

"Jinki? Why are you still here? It's time for your lunch break." His confused boss stood at the doorframe. The other employees stared at Jinki.

"I'm taking the rest of the day off. Jina's in the hospital and I'm going to see her right now." Jinki struggled to put his coat on. "I'm sorry, but I need to go now."

"Jinki, give me a call when you're home. I'll catch you up on the work." His boss helped Jinki with his sleeve and smoothed out his shoulders.

"Thanks Boss." He bowed politely before sprinting down the stairs and to his car.

Fumbling with his keys, he barely managed to get in and start the engine. As he backed out of the parking space, he thought about one thing only: Jina.

-

Jinki rushed to Jina's room, the halmeoni stood outside.

"Annyeonghaseyo Halmeoni, why didn't you go inside?" Jinki caught his breath. Her bony, wrinkly fingers ran repeatedly over her knuckles. Her lowered eyes wandered the floor, confusion and fear ran through her face.

"They wouldn't let me in. I wanted to wait for you so you could go in and tell me if she's all right." Jinki lead her to the chairs that sat quietly in the hospital hallways.

"Wait here and I'll be back quick." Jinki hurried into the room - hoping Jina was okay. "J-Jina?"

He heard soft sobs as he entered the stuffy room. Tubes ran down her arms and her hospital gown was way too big for her. Her eyes were bloodshot red and tears ran down her tiny face.