Ever since arriving in Seoul, South Korea; Reina never steps foot outside. From the airport to the hospital, she never adventures what out there. Being admitted to the ICU, nurses, and doctors come in and out to monitor her heart.

“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Flores, My name is Dr. Kwon, and I’ll be your daughter’s main doctor besides Dr. Song and Dr. Yu” Professionally introducing himself, both parents stood up and politely greeted back.

“Dr. Kwon is my daughter doing fine” a hint of fear can be heard in Mr. Flores’s voice.

“Unfortunately, your daughter has entered stage III of CHF. We have tried our best to stable your daughter’s heart until we find the right donor to match with her. In the meantime, we are monitoring her heart at the moment” He reported as he reviews his clipboard. Mrs. Flores held her daughter’s hand as Reina; herself expected the news. It wasn't a surprise that she has fallen worse than before.

“Within a few hours, Dr. Song and RNA Byun will be coming in to check up on you Miss Reina. If any, please don’t hesitate to press the button” With a sincere smile, he left the room.

“Mami, Quiero ir me afuera” Reina requested as her mother push her hair back.

“Okay princesa” She responds as she started to transfer Reina into the wheelchair, her father sat back down while glancing his only daughter. Reina caught her father’s stare and smiled back.

“Don’t worry Pa. Your little girl is a fighter” She reassured him, receiving a chuckle from him.

“Like her father” Leaning back as he watches his wife pushing his daughter out of the room to the small garden which is located beside the hospital. Both girls pass many nurses, doctors even patient who were either recovering or getting treatment. As they turn to the next hall, a little boy who known to shy away from anyone who comes near him.

“Ma, el nene!” Reina pointed out as her mother spotted the small boy. At first, the little boy didn’t notice her or her mother coming, but as he notices their presence, he abruptly stops and ran back to this room.

“Que miedo él tiene” Her mother commented as she continues making her way to the garden. Reina took a glimpse of the small boy hiding behind the curtains.

“I wonder what he so afraid of?” she whispers as she went back looking straight ahead. With a few turns and elevators, they arrive at the garden where the scenery looks beautiful as ever. Patients either sit on the benches or walk around to get some exercise. Both mother and daughter spend most of their time looking over flowers or the catfish in the pond.

“Voy volver, voy atraer nosotros almuerzo” with a kiss on her forehead, her mother left her alone. Reina continues to look over as she admires the fishes swimming around.

“That’s Lion, and over there is Genie since he likes to appear when you feed him” A voice appears as she quickly looks over to find the owner of it. Right front of her is a boy that looks like he could be a model. He stares at her for a moment before smiling her back.

“Sorry to scare you there, I notice a beautiful girl sitting her by herself and could help but come over “He explains as he sat near her. Reina couldn’t decide to cringe at his cheesy pickup line or start throwing punches to his pretty face.

“I may not be a mind reader but either my line was funny or my face is being a punching bag now. In my opinion, I would take the first one” Reina couldn’t help but laugh at the boy’s random behavior.

“Good thing to know I could make a young maiden laugh” He raised his hand towards her.

“Wong Yuk-hei but you can call me Lucas instead” It took a second before Reina reaches out to his hands.

“Reina Flores but you can call me Queen” She replied.

“Queen?” Reina nodded her head; she explains to him that Reina means Queen in Spanish since herself is Hispanic. Lucas found that interesting as he began questioning about herself. Soon the conversation on 'getting knowing each other' expands to each other interest and their life. Reina learned Lucas came to visit his little brother whom just came out recovering from a car incident that happens last month.

“Lucky, my brother is alive which it’s most important after all” He gave a reassuring smile before continuing his talk.

“What about you? My guess from the white gown and the wheelchair, I could say you broke your legs?” Reina shook her head as she gave a small chuckle.

“No? Then could it be something about your spine?” Reina still shook her head, enjoying Lucas guessing her condition.

“Really?! I give up!” He drops his head in defeat.

“I’ll tell you but first look at me” Lucas raise his head to see Reina lifting her hand and place it where her heart is at.

“It happens during my first year of high school, at first I thought to myself it was all the fights I got myself into and the school work that is thrown out. Soon the small headaches became unbearable, my cough became frequently, and my energy would cut short. One night, I fought with some girl who kept talking , so I confront her . It became an argument which led to throwing punches. When I threw my punch and knocked the out, I walk over to give her one of my warnings but as I took a step forward. I immediately out. Soon I found myself in the hospital with my family and friends around, I thought it was the blows I received from the other chick, but in reality, they were told that I develop stage II of heart failure.” She explains as she looks over to Lucas who was giving her that look when everyone first heard of it.

“Do not give me that ing pity look, I may be sick, but that doesn’t mean my personality change boy. I could still stand, walk, run or even fight but due to entering stage III, I’m being treated as a baby by them” Reina laid back, crossing her arm as she muttered of dissatisfaction. Lucas couldn’t help but chuckle on Reina’s grumpiness as he took interest on her change of character.

“It been a month and I’m dying to see what out there than being in this garden all the time.”

“Why not sneak out?” Her ears spike up as she leans over towards him; giving Lucas a good look at her face. Her dark brown eyes, tan skin and plump lips; he couldn't help but memorize her features.

“Can you help me sneak out?” Lucas snaps out his daze and quickly nodded his head. Reina threw her an unexpected smile as she grew anxious about what the outside looked like. 

*Thump… Thump….Thump*

“Great! So how do we do this?” Lucas leans over to her ear and explains the plan were he knows an exit other than the front building since he would help his little brother out to get rid of his boredom. Reina smile grew as she was excited for the next few hours.

-

The nurse removes the needle from Reina’s arm and quickly presses cotton gauze over it.

“So how many pints of my blood you have collected?” She jokes as the nurse place a band-aid over it.

“Don’t be silly; we haven’t collected a pint of it yet” Dr. Song counter back as he reviews her paperwork.

“Yet? Am I secretly donating blood then?” Reina fire back only for Dr. Song laugh.

“Maybe so, you never know “Reina couldn’t help laugh as well. She enjoys her doctor’s company even they just came out of an important meeting or a complicated surgery.

“Everything seems well so Tomorrow we keep checking” Reina nodded as she lay her bed as she watches everyone leaving her room. Her parents went a while ago since they slept over for the past couple of days. Reina waited till the last nurse check up on her, and the lights were off. A couple of minutes has flown by, and a knock appeared.

“Ready?” Lucas appears out the door with a dark hoody and a dog tag dangling from his neck.

“Yup!” Reina jumps out from her bed and pulled her white gown out; exposing her outfit underneath.

“Let’s go!”

-------

Hello, authornim here!

I want to say I spend most of my days writing this so I may not know what everyone thinks about it.

Please comment if you like it or the expectation you think the next chapter is. 

Don't forget to subscribe as well for future updates!