8 Years later.....

“Mom, do you want to eat?” asked N to Anna.

Anna had been lying on the bed since yesterday. She was feeling under the weather.

“Hakyeon-ah...” said Anna

N was surprised. Anna never called him with the suffix (-ah) since Gijeong died.

“yes, mom?”

“would you please leave me alone?” asked Anna

“mom....”

“please. I beg you. Leave me alone, and don’t ever visit me ever again.” Said Anna weakly

“mom, please. I won’t leave you.” Said N

“don’t you hate me?”  asked Anna

“no. I never hate you. I love you, mom.” Said N

“but, I abuse you every time. You must resent me.”

“well, sometimes I do resent you. But, I always remember the times when you taught me patiently about how to speak when I had trauma.”

“but that was years ago.” Said Anna. She started to cry.

“but if it, weren’t you and dad, I must have been a mute person.” Said N

Anna cried.

“mom, what’s gotten into you? Did something happen?” asked N

“no.. I just regret something.”

“no, mom. You don’t need to regret anything.” Said N as he smiled

“Hakyeon-ah, I hope you become a great person till the end.” Said Anna.

“mom, why are you saying these things?” asked N

“hahhaaha.. I don’t know. I must be crazy..  You have a morning class, right? It’s time for you to go to university, goodbye Hakyeon...” said Anna

“are you okay if I leave you?” asked N

“I’m fine. Don’t worry and go”

“alright. If anything happens, just call me right away mom.” Said N

“I will.”

Then, N went to the university. He was 19 years old that time, so it was his first semester. He entered the university with the money he got by winning the swimming competition. He joined swimming competitions and he always got the first place. He even won the national swimming contest, and he would go to the international swimming event several months later. He went to the Howon University, department of music and art. Wonshik was also in the same department as his. He was his childhood friend.

“hey N.” Said Wonshik

“hello.”

“oh, what’s wrong? Why do you look so down?” asked Wonshik

“I’m fine.”

“come on. You are always like this.” Said Wonshik, pouting

“hahaha.. You’re cute, Wonshik.” Said N

“I know.” Said Wonshik

“alright, alright.”

                                                                   -----------

N walked home quickly. He couldn’t help but worry. He felt as if something bad happened.

Then, after he got home, he went straightly to Anna’s room.

“oh, she is still sleeping.” Said N as he heaved a sigh of relief.

Then, he prepared the meal for lunch. He heated the porridge that he made this morning and he boiled the eggs. After that, he went to Anna’s room and woke her up

“mom, wake up mom. You’ve been skipping meals since last night. You should eat now.” Said N as he placed the tray on the table beside the bed

However, Anna didn’t wake up.

“wake up, mom. You can sleep again after you eat.” Said N. Then, he touched Anna’s hand and he realized that the temperature of Anna’s body was low.

He placed his hand to Anna’s forehead. It was cool. He realized that her face and her body were pale.

“mom, wake up, mom.” Then, N shook her shoulder

N started panicking when he didn’t get any response. Then, N checked her breathing. Anna didn’t breath. N was really shocked and he checked her pulse in her neck. There was no beating. Tears began to flow from his eyes.

“mom, it isn’t funny. Wake up, mom. Wake up.” Said N

“mom!!” screamed N

“mom, please... Please wake up.. How could I live without you? It’s better if you beat me everyday. It’s okay. It’s okay as long as you are alive and healthy. Mom, please. Wake up!” said N as he cried loudly.

N didn’t give up, he did the CPR and he called the ambulance.

                                                                                                     -----------------

“I tried my best, but I can’t save her. It’s too late to do the gastric lavage” Said the doctor

 “what?” N kneeled down and he cried

The doctor squatted down and she touched his shoulder.

“why did she die?” asked N

“I assume that she died of drug overdose.”

“pardon me?” asked N

“yes. I assumed she died by drug overdose. If you want to test it to be more exact, then we can test her gastric in the laboratory.”

“but I never see her took any drugs these days.”

“I’m sorry to ask this, but did she suffer from depression or mental illness?”

“uhm, yes. I think she was depressed. She was always sad after my father died.” Said N. Tears ran down his face.

“then that might be the reason why she overdosed on drugs.” Said the doctor

N stayed silent.

“will you permit her deceased body to be tested in the laboratory?”

“no.” Said N

“alright. Then, I’ll leave. I’m sorry for your loss. We will move the patient to the morgue soon.”

“yes, thank you.” Said N

“you are very welcome.” Said the doctor then she stood up and left.

N cried louder. His heart ached so much. He was really sad.  Then, he went to the ICU.

“mom, why did you do this to me? Why?” asked N. He cried again.

                                                                                                -----------

“father, are you okay? Father, please.” Said Leo as he helped the nurses pushing the hospital bed

Jung Jun Kwang got shot in his stomach and he was bleeding so much.

 “please wait outside. You aren’t allowed to enter.” Said the nurse

Then the door closed.

N looked at him. He still waited her mom to be moved to the morgue. He was on the outside of the ER. Then, Leo sat in front of N. He bowed his head.

N felt sorry for him. Then, he approached him and he touched his shoulder, wanting to comfort him although he himself was still sad of grieving.

“are you alright?” asked N

Leo looked at him and he just nodded

“Oh, you sure?” N was surprised, knowing how strong he was. He thought that Leo was crying.

“yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”

N realized that Leo’s voice was really soft and then he remembered his long lost brother. He used to have a soft voice as well.

“what’s your name?” asked N

“why do you want to know?” asked Leo coldly

“uhmm.. no.. I’m just curious.” Said N. He felt uncomfortable by Leo’s respond.

“do you know that curiosity may lead you to danger?” asked Leo

“oh? Yes, maybe. But, why are you saying that?”

“why are you so nosy?” asked Leo with his expressionless face

“I’m sorry.  I just wanted to comfort you.” Said N

“there’s no need. I don’t want to be comforted. I’m fine.” Said Leo

“yes, I see. Then, I’ll leave. Have a good day.” Said N.

Then, N left.

After N left, Leo felt something strange. He felt sorry for acting cold toward him. However, that was for the best in his opinion. He didn’t want people to get involved with him.

                                                                                -------------------

N missed Leo. He missed his biological parents as well. He missed Cha Gi Jeong. And he missed Anna. He missed his family so bad.

“why did they all leave me alone? God... Can I just leave as well?” thought N

“but if I leave, how about Leo? Is he still alive? Is he doing well?” thought N

                                                                                      ---------

“father, are you alright?” asked Leo after his father was conscious. He was moved to the ICU.

“how could you bring me here, huh? What did you say to the nurse?” said Jun Kwang

“I said that you were robbed and got shot by the robber.”

“that’s good.” Said Junkwang as he heaved a sigh of relief.

“are you alright, father?” asked Leo. He couldn’t help but worried.

“I’m fine. I’m always fine, so don’t ever bring me here again without my permission, you understand?”

“yes. But, who was it, father? Who shot you?”

“you don’t need to know.”

“but I am your son, and I’m already 17. I’m an adult” Said Leo

“Hahaha... I know. Uhmm... Well, he is just my enemy.” Said Junkwang

“why do you have so many enemies?” asked Leo

“you know better, don’t you?”

“father, until when do we have to live like this?” asked Leo

“until the end of the world, hahaha..”

“I’m serious, father.”

“do you regret living with me?” asked Junkwang

“sorry? No. Not at all.” Said Leo

“are you sure? It looks like you aren’t happy living with me.”

“I’m happy, father. At least I have someone to rely on after my brother and my uncle abandoned me.” Said Leo

“Leo-ya....” said Junkwang

“father, just call me Taekwoon. I want to be your real son”

“alright Taekwoon-ah.” Said Junkwang

“yes, do you have anything to say?”

“yes. I want you to do a favor for me since I still have to rest here for several days.”

“sure, what is it?”

“I want you to find someone named Anna Kimberly.”

“Anna Kimberly? Who is she?”

“don’t ask any questions. Just do what I say, alright?”

“but, how do I find her?”

“you can use any means to find her. I don’t care whatever the methods are, just make sure not to hurt her. I have to bring her alive.” Said Junkwang as he smiled slyly.