“What are you talking about?” Jiyeon’s dad bursts out and he’s really not in the mood of joking with his friend.

            “I’m serious.”

            Mrs. Lee couldn’t stand on her feet anymore. His knees are too weak and her husband quickly grabs a chair for his wife.

            “I can’t believe this…” She mumbles under her breathe. Her eyes stream with tears and that upsets both of Mr. Lees.

            “I’m sorry, Hana,” L. Joe’s dad apologizes to Mrs. Lee. “I have to do this. I know what L. Joe’s like and I don’t want to him live mindlessly when I’m gone. He’s not strong enough and I want him to be with someone he loves when I’m gone.”

           
            “Stop saying when I’m gone! Gosh!” Hana chokes on her sobs as she holds tight of her husband’s grip.

            “Does L. Joe know about this?” Hana’s husband, Shinhwan asks as his right hand clutches onto his hip.

            “No,” Mr. Lee shakes his head in regret. “Not until I die.”

            “Why won’t you tell him?!” Shinhwan bursts out again, feeling really angry at his friend.

            “Sir,” Mr. Seokjin reprimands Shinhwan’s attitude. “Don’t yell at him. The doctor says he can’t deal with any kind of loud noise right now.”

            “I don’t care what the doctor says. He’s not being sane. Why don’t you tell your son about this? Would that make you feel good, letting him knows the truth when you’re ing gone?”

            “I can’t just tell him right in the face that I’m dying!” Kyumin suddenly erupts into tears and he swiftly wipes his tears. “I love him so so much that I feel I’ve let him down when I found out I’m gonna die from a heart cancer, okay. He’s lost his mom at such a young age and I don’t know how to tell him that he’s about to lose his dad as well!”

            “He won’t like it when he knows you’ve been struggling all alone in this battle. He would want to be by your side, I’m sure of that.”

            “I don’t know…” Kyumin cries and Shinhwan approaches his bed to hug his friend.

            “Trust me,” Shinhwan says. “You have got to let him know about this.”

            “I’ll think about it,” Kyumin mumbles.

            “Do you even hear yourself?” Shinhwan lets go of his friend and he stares him deeply into his red eyes. “This is not fair for L. Joe. This is going to crush him.”

            “I don’t know how to break this news to him.” Pause. Kyumin tightens his grip and nods. “But, as you say, I have to tell him. And I will. But that is not what I want to talk about.”

            Shinhwan sighs, harshly through his hair. First the dying news, now the wedding plan. “What ever makes you so sure that L. Joe’s gonna be okay when he’s married to my daughter?”

            “I don’t want him to be all alone when I’m gone. He needs someone he feels belonged to when I’m gone.”

            “Why her?”

            “I like her,” Kyumin simply comments. “L. Joe likes her as well. I see no reason for me no to let them two be together.”

            “I don’t know,” Shinhwan shrugs. “Wedding is such a big matter for someone so young. They’re both still nineteen. How can you be so sure that this is the right thing to do?”

            “L. Joe has been so close to her and he feels really comfortable when he’s around her. He feels familiar. And I want that familiarity to remain even when I’m gone, and the only way to do this is to make sure he owns the familiarity.”

            “It’s my daughter you’re talking about. Not some house you’re buying!”

            “Sir, please,” Mr. Seokjin interrupts again. “Please don’t yell.”

            “Shut up!” He snaps at that annoying stranger. “And who are you anyway?”

            Not even bother to explain the identity of Mr. Seokjin, he proceeds, “I think Jiyeon as my daughter as well, Shinhwan. I do think of her feelings as well, her future even. But I need to consider L. Joe’s future as well. I’m his dad. I can’t be by his side for long now. This is all I can do.” Kyumin’s shoulders are shaking as he utters the words painfully. To think that he’ll die in one more month, the feeling just gets even dreadful by minutes.

            “I don’t know what Jiyeon’s decision is gonna be. She has her own plans. I’m not sure if that involves marriage, I’m sorry.”

            “I’m sure Jiyeon’ll gladly accept this offer.” Suddenly Hana speaks into the strained conversation between her husband and Kyumin after minutes of silence. She can’t bear this talk any longer. “Honey, look,” she says as she cups her husband’s face lovingly. “Our daughter has the kindest heart of all. If she were here, she wouldn’t even dare to think twice. I know she’ll do it. Think about L. Joe, honey. He’s about to lose his dad and he doesn’t even realize it. How do you that makes him? I see this whole thing from a mother’s point, and maybe, just maybe Kyumin is doing what’s best for her son.”

            Shinhwan breathes slowly as he looks into the eyes of his beloved wife and reluctantly, he nods. “Yeah…” His voice sounds drained.

            Kyumin looks up to those two wonderful people and he cries when he hears Hana says, “Don’t worry about this. Just take care of your health. And your promise as well. Tell L. Joe about this whole matter. I don’t think he learning about the news from someone else instead of you is a wise thing.”

            “Thanks a lot.” Kyumin wipes his tears.

* * *

            Today is Christmas Eve and Jiyeon has already made plans with her mom to go shopping for tomorrow’s joyous day. Her mom would even let her pick her own Christmas gift. That morning, when she wakes up, she feels delighted to have something important to look forward to. She takes her showers, dresses up for the trip later and she heads downstairs. She enters the kitchen to find her mom baking a meat pie. Meat pie is like a must-have appetite on Christmas Eve dinner.

            “Smells good,” she genuinely compliments.

            “Thanks, sweetheart. Go sit at the table. I’ll serve us breakfast.”

            “Is there anything I can help you with?”

            “I’m all done, honey. But thanks for asking. I hope you’re not being this sweet because I let you to pick you own Christmas gift.”

            Jiyeon only grins at her mom when she says that. Her mom laughs at her silliness and insists her to go sit at the table. Breakfast is coming up.

            “You know me too well,” she comments before she leaves the kitchen. Her mom looks at her and sighs. She sure hopes for the same. Kyumin will break down if Jiyeon decides to decline his offer.

            “Where’s dad?” Jiyeon asks when she realizes the seat her dad usually sits is empty. At this time in the morning, he would normally be the first to be at the table.

            “He has got some work left to do before he can get off work completely for this Christmas’s holidays.” Hana lies to her daughter as she puts chicken sandwich on her plate. She doesn’t make eye contact with Jiyeon. She simply doesn’t know how to tell her that his dad is at hospital, accompanying his friend in his final days. She almost breaks into tears when she thinks about the whole thing again; about Kyumin’s fatal sickness, about L. Joe and certainly her daughter.

            “But it’s Christmas Eve. Company was supposed o let all the workers off the hook for while.”

            “I know sweetheart,” her mom fakes a smile at her. “I promise you he won’t be long. He’ll be back before we get to the mall. He promises me to join us later for this evening’s shopping trip.”

            “Really?” Jiyeon’s eyes brighten at once. “Great.”

            “Now eat your sandwich, sweetheart.”

* * *

            L. Joe receives a call from his dad in early morning when he’s first done with his morning shower.

            “Hello?” He starts.

            “L. Joe, it’s me,” His dad’s voice sounds husky in a low tone.

            “Yea, dad.” Then he pauses for while, collecting all the pieces.” Wait you’re not home?”

            “Yes,” Kyumin chuckles. “You see, I got an urgent call from company this morning and I need to get back to work for a while.”

            “Seriously.” L. Joe really hates this. How could his dad possibly be at office, indulging himself in his works rather than be at home and spend time with his son on Christmas. “Dad, I can’t believe this. Do you honestly think your work is a lot important than your own son?”

            “Son, no.” Kyumin shuts his eyes and when he reopens them, tears trickle down without alarm. “I’ll promise you we’re gonna spend our Christmas together. We’ll have our Christmas dinner at your favorite place. And I have a surprise for you. The best one. It’s for your Christmas gift. I’m sure you’ll be thrilled when you first open it tomorrow morning.”

            “Dad,” L. Joe blurts out, annoyed. “We can’t do that unless you’re home.” Then he cuts dead his phone conversation and throws the phone on his bed but it bounces off and down on the floor.

            Feeling really upset and drained, Kyumin places the phone on his bed. Then he looks up to his right, where Shinhwan sits. He lets out a big sigh and blames himself for all this mess. This is not a mess. This is the truth.

            “Go home,” Kyumin says under his breathe. “You need to go home. Jiyeon and Hana are waiting for you. I can’t do this to you.”

            “Hana understands me. Don’t worry. Have you taken your medication?”

            “I have,” he smiles, a very short smile. “It’d be nice to sit a home, by the fireplace at this time talking to my son. It’s been while since we last talked you know.” Kyumin then ponders out in the window and stares at the falling snow. Some crashes against the glass window, and sits there on the panes. He suddenly misses the snow. This is, after all his last Christmas.

            This is his last friggin’ Christmas.

            “Let’s go home. I’ve promised L. Joe loads of things. But I can’t do that, unless I’m home.”

            “What…” But Shinhwan knows better than to argue his friend’s points. He smiles cynically. “Then I have to kidnap you.”

            “And I won’t hold it against you, my friend.”