Her condition worsens after that.

She coughs up more petals now. After a particularly bad coughing fit, Joohyun scolds her for not telling her and proceeds to book her a doctor's appointment.

🥀

"The Hanahaki Disease is an illness born from one-sided love, where the patient usually coughs up their love's favorite flowers or flower petals. The only cure is to have that love reciprocated, or to somehow wipe away all one's memories of their beloved person. The infection can be removed through surgery, but the feelings disappear along with the petals, never to return again."

🥀

Sooyoung gets an X-ray to see the extent of the damage in her lungs.

The disease was in its early stages, however, she would have to either get an operation within the year or have her love reciprocated. If she opted to do surgery, the doctor advised her to do it as soon as possible as to minimize the extent of her injuries.

🥀

She spends time with Joohyun after the appointment.

The older woman had urged her to tell her everything. She was desperate to know when she got the disease. And who she got it for.

Sooyoung doesn't answer any of her questions. Joohyun didn't need to know that the person she was sharing a dorm with was responsible for it.

She didn't need to know that Sooyoung wasn't going through with the surgery either.

🥀

When Sooyoung gets home, she finds Seungwan asleep on the couch.

Sh