Pieces Of My Love

Chapter 20

"Yo, what's taking your girlfriend so long," Yuna complained flopping on the couch. 

"I don't know, she's not answering her phone," Lia replied constantly checking her messages every second. Heejin and Yeji both looked at each other with worried looks. 

"Shit, what if it was her heart?" Heejin paced back and forth. Yeji covered her face and deeply sighed. 

"What do you mean?" Chaeryeong asked while Lia did not seem surprised at all. 

"I should not be telling you this but Ryujin has a heart condition, she's been getting treated by the two us for a while now. We are sorry we didn't tell you sooner, Ryujin didn't want to make you worry." Yeji bowed her head finally letting the secret out.

"I'm sorry Lia." Heejin rubbed her back to support her. 

"It's okay, I knew it already," Lia confessed, a tear slowly coming out of her left eye.

"Wait what?" 

"I know. I eavesdropped that one time in school when you guys were talking, I'm sorry about that. When I came home I couldn't stop crying worrying about her. I've done my research about it and it can be really severe, it broke my heart every time I would see her in pain and I would have to act like I didn't know anything.  I know she didn't want to tell me that's why I've been pushing to be with her every day so I can take care of her and watch her." 

Yeji and Heejin patted her back and gave her a soft hug in hopes to make her feel better. Chaeryeong and Yeji who were saddened by the news joined them to support the crying Lia. A minute later, a hard and rushed knock was heard from outside.

"Open up! Please!" The sound of a lady boomed through the whole house. 

"Yes?" Yuna opened the door when the woman came rushing in while being out of breath. "I'm sorry, but your friend Ryujin." 

Lia shot up from the couch and went over to the lady, "What happened to her?" 

"She was beaten by this group of guys and she's in a critical condition. She's been rushed to the hospital near here. I'm sorry to barge in like that." 

Lia felt like her whole world has broken into pieces, she couldn't breathe and all she was thinking about was Ryujin. 

"Lia, it's okay, come on. I need you to focus right now okay?" Yeji helped her up and guided her to the van. The other girls followed in suit hoping that their best friend would be okay. 

"Please, don't make her let go just yet." Lia wiped her tears and tried to regain herself. She needs to be strong for Ryujin, she needs to be strong so that when Ryujin sees her she'll feel better. 

They arrived in the hospital only to see Mr. and Mrs. Shin crying and comforting each other. The girls slowly approached them and gave their greetings. 

"Hey guys, Ryujin is in the surgery room. We haven't heard anything from the doctor." Mr. Shin said. 

"Lia, sweetheart. Come here." Mrs. Shin called for her and made her sit down. She grabbed Lia's hands and wrapped it around her arms and making her lay her head on her shoulder. "I know you're deeply word about her but I just wanted to say thank you. Ryujin has been suffering for years and only you made her feel happier. She loves you so much that the only thing that comes out of her mouth whenever she's with us is you. I trust that she'll be okay and recover. What I need you to do is to be there with her okay?" 

Lia nodded shedding more tears wetting the shoulder of Ryujin's mom. The waiting room was filled with people who were crying and their bodies full of worry. Yeji and Chaereyong both were cuddling beside each other. Heejin and Yuna were also beside each other holding hands. Mr. Shin and Mrs. Shin had Lia in between them. 

5 hours later...

"Who's the family of Shin Ryujin?" A doctor came out, his lab coat drenched in blood, the sight that made Ryujin's parents, girlfriend, and friends scared. 

"We are, doctor." Mr. Shin said. 

"Your daughter was beaten brutally by a bat that broke her ribs and damaged her brain. The good thing is we were able to stop the bleeding in her brain which could've put her in a much more dangerous situation. She's not out of the hole yet because of her heart. Her heart failed us three times as she went flatlined. We had to do open-heart surgery to make her stable. Luckily, our best heart surgeon in the country visited my hospital and helped me. She's in a coma right now and we don't when she'll wake up."

Every word that came out of the doctor's mouth felt like a stab for Lia. She wanted nothing but to see her girlfriend and be there for her. 

"When will she wake up?" Mrs. Shin asked. 

"I wish I could tell you, Mrs. Shin. Her health is still in deep danger and the only thing we can do is put her on life support. It could be months or even years. We really tried our best, Mrs. Shin." 

"Thank you, doctor." 

"You're very welcome. She's in room 510." 

"Room 510. That's the day Ryujin asked me to be her girlfriend".  Reality came through her, "Baby, please be okay." 

"Let's go, girls." Mr. Shin and Mrs. Shin said. 

Lia entered the room and the sight made her knees weak. She covered her mouth trying to stop crying even more. "Oh, baby." Ryujin was lying with all kinds of tubes attached to her, she looked so fragile and weak. Her face was filled with bruises and cuts that made her blood boil. 

"Hello, sweetheart. You look so weak right now and mommy wants nothing but to hug you. Your dad is actually being soft for once and he's extremely worried about you, we all are. So please don't give up on us okay? We love you, honey." Mr. and Mrs. Shin broke down.

"Ryujinnie, you look so bad right now. Wake up soon and I'll buy you your favorite foods. We can go to the park we always went to when we were still kids. I need you to be here with me while I shoot my shot with girls, you're my wingman remember?" Yuna said.

"Oh, you stubborn child. I'll kill whoever did this to you. Please hang in there, Ryujin." says Heejin.

"I didn't fulfill my promise, Ryujin. I promise I wouldn't let anything happen to you and look at where you are now. I hope you can forgive me. I love you, please don't give up." Yeji wiped her tears away. 

"Hi Ryu, we are all worried about you. We miss you already, wake up and give us that whiskey smile we all love. I promise to protect Lia while you're still resting okay?" Chaeryeong gave her a flying kiss.

"Hi, baby. How are you feeling? Your dumpling is right here next to you so don't be scared okay? Please wake up, Ryu. I miss you so much. I miss your smile, your laugh, your kisses and your cuddles, baby. I feel so empty without you here with me. Gosh, you're still so beautiful even in this situation. You made a promise remember? You promised not to leave me. Baby, I'll be waiting for you, I love you so much." She caressed Ryujin's thumb, tears coming out of her eyes. 

Beep...Beep...Beep

The sound of the monitor flatlining startled the family. Fear washed over them as doctors and nurses came barging in the room and rushing to her side. Noises filled the room and they had to go out. 

"I love you and I'm sorry." 

A/N: All for now :)