Shin only wake up 16 hours later, an hour later than the doctor’s prediction. We were all panic and worried, but Dr.Bryan patiently assured us that there is nothing wrong with her condition. She is too weak to speak anything, and she spends the rest of the evening laying on the patient bed.

I am staying with her all the time. The next day, I gave her a light message, I help her rubs her arms and legs with warm towel, I hold her hand while she is sleeping, I went to the nearest florist to bought her favourite flowers ; I do everything that I can do for her.

My heart hurts every time I look at her. Seeing her laying down on the bed the whole day, I couldn’t help but think of the worst condition that might happen. But every time I think of that, her smile just give me hope. Even when she is very sick, she still could give me that cheerful smile of hers. With only that smile, it raised my hope. She will definitely get better.

The next afternoon, the news of her sickness is no more a secret. Somehow her ballet teacher just managed to found out that Shin is sick, and she came to visit. Her teacher told her that she wouldn’t ask Shin to join her concert if only Shin had told her about her condition.

 “No, seonsaengnim.” Shin flashed a smile. “Joining your concert was the best decision I have ever made in these few years.” She said.

Shin’s health has recovered little by little that she can sit on the bed by herself the next day, and she can do some things by herself the next couple of days.

I am still visiting her everyday in the hospital, until a week later.

She turned cold on me.

“Why do you come here everyday?” She asked.

I put the flower bouquet on the desk beside the patient bed. “I want to see you.” I replied, taking a seat beside her.

“You don’t need to do that. You’re just wasting your time.” She doesn’t look into my eyes while talking.

“I can’t go on a day without seeing you.” I said. “And I’m not wasting my time. I am more than wiling to do this.”

For a long moment, neither of us said anything.

“Shin. Did something happen?” I asked.

“Nope.” She simply replied. “You should go home now, it’s quite late.”

I took a glance at the clock. It’s just 8:23PM.

“I’m tired, I want to sleep.” She said. “You should go home.” She repeated as she shifted her body, getting into the position with her pillow.

I went to the hospital earlier today to see her. But what happens isn’t what I expected.

“Min Jung doesn’t want to see you.” Shin’s eomma said. I can feel my heart skips a beat as I heard her said.

Clearing my throat, I calm myself before I asked, “Waeyo? What’s wrong?”

Shin’s eomma shook her head. “I don’t know either. She just told me not to let you in.”

“How’s her condition? Is she okay?” I asked again.

“She’s totally fine, don’t worry.” She pats my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Kyuhyun-ssi. I know you want to see her, but...”

“Gwaenchanahyo, eommoni. Maybe she just needs some time to be alone.” I forced a smile. “Just tell me when she needs anything, I’ll be here.”

Shin’s eomma looked surprised. “You’re not going back?”

 But Shin doesn’t want to meet me the next day.

And she still doesn’t want to meet me the next next day.

She doesn’t want to meet me the next few days either.

 I still go to the hospital everyday, hoping to see her. I sit alone on the cold waiting chair near the room’s door. I am waiting. As long as I am close to her, I’ll be fine. I’ll keep waiting.

“Min Jungie still doesn’t want to meet you today.” Shin’s eomma shook her head.

It’s the eighteenth day today.

Although I still feel sad and hurt, but I won't stop hoping. I am a little bit getting used to it now. “Alright, then I’ll just wait.” I told her. “Have a good day, eommoni.” I bowed.

“Kyuhyun-ssi, don’t you feel tired waiting like this everyday?” Shin’s eomma took a seat beside me.

 “Not everyday, I didn’t come on the tenth and eleventh day, right?” I tried to joke.

 “It’s only two days, and it’s because of your schedule. I know celebrities are busy. But you’re coming here everyday.”

 “We don’t have many schedules now.” I replied. “Rather than staying at the dorm worrying, I’d rather stay here. Even if I can’t see her, at least I am close to her.”

Shin’s eomma flashed a grateful smile. “Alright, I have something to do right now, but let’s talk again tonight, okay?”

Shin’s eomma and I decided to have dinner together in the hospital’s canteen. The foods didn’t taste that great, but both of us don’t want to go anywhere far from the hospital.

We have our dinner while talking, and she joked that her tastebud is getting adjusted to the hospital’s foods. Shin’s eomma is a really warm and easy-going person. I could tell that she is very close to Shin just like a friend from her stories.

 “Oh, Kyuhyun-ssi. There’s something I would like to ask.” She said.

 “What is that, eommoni?”

 “Although I am not very sure whether you have told Min Jung this, but I would like to know first. Even though, the answer is very obvious.” She shrugged.

 I let her continue.

“Kyuhyun-ssi, do you like- aniyo, do you love my daughter?” She asked.

I could see this question coming, but I didn’t expect that she would ask that for real.

It’s too hard to say anything, even more to confess in front of her eomma, so I just nodded and said, “Yes.”

She smiled upon listening to my answer, and she said, “I’m glad to hear that. Because even though she never told me, I know she has the same feelings for you.”

“I hope I can hear her saying it personally to me someday.” I replied.

“Anyway, Kyuhyun-ssi. When you first saw Min Jung for the TV show filming, do you think it was really the first time you guys met?”

“Aniyo. I somehow remembered to have known her in my school days, but I couldn’t remember much.” I confessed. “I had an accident back then in 2007, and I didn’t lose any of my memories, but I don’t know why I can’t remember this one… until Min Jung helped me.” I said, remembering the days when Shin and I went to our old school together.

“But you still can’t remember much?”

I nodded. “Did I forget something important?”

Shin’s eomma smiled again. “Ah… I don’t know whether I supposed to say this, but… you’re my daughter’s first love.”

I knew Shin and I were quite close back then, but do we have that relationship during our school days?
            Shin’s eomma took a sip of her tea before she starts speaking. “As I remember, Min Jungie was in the third year of Junior High School and you were in the second year of Senior High School when you two first met.” She tells. “Min Jung lost the necklace that I gave her, and because it was a cold, winter day, no one wants to be outside and helped her to find her necklace. But you did.”

As Shin’s eomma talked, I tried to remember and in a sudden, like a lightning, those memories flashed past my mind.

I decided to do all my homework at school today so I can play computer games freely at home. I glanced at the clock before I walked out of the classroom. It’s 6:09PM.

Buttoning up my coat, I walked quickly so I could arrive home faster.

It’s so cold outside, and only a few students left at school. Yeah, who would want to be outside at this weather?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 I was only a few steps from the school’s gate when I realized that the gate is locked and the ahjussi in charge is not there. Ah, I should go by the back gate then.

My body shivered as I walked. It’s so cold and the snow has starts falling.

I continued to walk, but then I thought I heard someone sobbing as I walked pass the backyard. I stopped, and turned my back. I still can hear the sobbing.

Could it be… a ghost?

Should I run now?

But what if it’s really a ghost? The sky will also turn dark in any minutes now…

But again, what if it’s a person? I couldn’t leave him/her alone…

Bracing myself, I decided to walk towards the backyard.

“Aish, where is it. It should be here…” A girl mumbled as she squatted down, groping around on the floor, obviously looking for something.

I couldn’t see her face as she is looking down, busy searching for something. I am sure she doesn’t even notice that a stranger is staring at her.

“Hey.” I squatted down too. “What are you looking for?”

“A necklace.” She replied without even lifting her head.

“How does it look like?” I asked again.

 “It’s a silver necklace with my name on it.” She doesn’t lift her head too, this time.

Weird, don’t people usually get so friendly when someone wants to help them?

“It’s so cold right now. I’ll help you.” I decided. “What’s your name?”

“It’s Min Jung.” She finally shows her face.

Her eyes are dark brown, and those are one of the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. She has a pretty lips, and her supposed to be fair skin looks really red, especially her cheeks. Her bangs look messy, but overall, she looked cute trying so hard to look for her necklace.

“Why are you looking at me?” She rubs her nose. “You said you want to help me.”

In a normal situation, I would think that she is being rude but now, I could only think that she is like this because she is worrying her necklace so she wants to find it as soon as possible. Her face doesn’t look like she is arrogant, though.

“Ah, right.” Was all I that could say.

I started groping around looking for her necklace, and after struggling with the cold for a couple of minutes I found something shining near the swings. I pick it up and saw “Min Jung” name symbol on it.

“It’s this one, right?” I waved the necklace in the air and shouted.

She ran towards me and grabbed it from my hand. “Aish, chajatta! I finally found it!”

I couldn’t help but smile seeing her looking so happy like that.

“Jeongmal, jeongmal kamsahamnida. I thought I would lose it.” She said. “Kamsahamnida…uh, I’m sorry, what’s your name?”

“Kyuhyun. It’s Cho Kyuhyun.”