DONGHAE POV

  Throughout my morning schedule all I can think of is Hyukjae and the information I have of him. Being an orphan at the age of 14 along side his 11-year old brother is not easy. Not to mention that maybe that time they don't have enough money to support themselves. The thought of young boys working their hearts out for small amount of money really breaks my heart. Never in my life I want that to happen to my future children.    RING... RING... RING    My train of thoughts was cut by the loud buzz of the phone. Perfect timing eh?!   "Donghae." I answered.   "Sajangnim, Mrs. Lee is here to see you. Will I let her in to your office?" Ji-eun informed me.   'WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?'   "Send her in, Ji-eun-ah. Thank you."   After a beat, I'm faced with a woman in her late forties, well-dressed, and possesses the most authoritative face I've ever seen in my life.    "Mrs. Lee. It's good to see you. Please have a seat." I ask her to seat on the couch infront of my mahogany table. I quickly press a button and ask Ji-eun for two cups of coffee. By the looks of it this old lady will say something really important that made her come all the way here.   "Donghae-ssi, it's been a while since you last visited us, I think that's two months ago. What keeps you busy?" even though her face is kind of strict her voice is the exact opposite, she's a very soft spoken woman like my mom.   I got up from my executive chair and into the couch across her. I'm about to say something when someone knock on the door.   "Come in." I said.   "Sorry to disturb, here's your coffee." Ji-eun puts down two cups of coffee and continues, "If you need anything, just call me." she smiles at Mrs. Lee and leave.   "She's still the sweetest girl, Donghae-ssi. You're lucky to have her." she beams at me as she complements my sister.    "Yes I am. By the way what brings you here? An hour of driving is quite tiring for you." I sips on my coffee, gazing at her secretly.   "Actually I went to Cielo's, Minji's favorite gallery. They'll be displaying few of her paintings in celebration of their anniversary." she said calmly.     Lee Minji. My girlfriend for 3 years. My fiance for three days. She should be my wife by now but sadly she didn't make it to our wedding. She died two years ago.   She's my childhood sweetheart, my first love, my first girlfriend, my first kiss. Minji is a beautiful girl inside and out. Beauty and brains rolled into one. She's the envy of all the girls in high school, the apple of the eye of all male species in college. I courted her when we reached our senior year in high school and before our annual ball, she said YES to me. Leaving the poor girls and boys drool over the Lee couple, our couple name back then. Our relationship continues until college. We make it to the same college though we have different majors. Me in Business and Economics, while she took up Arts particularly Painting.    Everything went on smoothly until one day, on our senior year she was diagnosed with Leukemia and that she's on the third stage already. Her parents did everything to convince her to undergo surgery but she declined, making her mom really sad and disappointed. She's an only child that's why it's hard for them to give up on her just like that.   I pleaded her to atleast undergo chemotherapy and promised her that I'll be on her side every step of the way. She agreed. A month after she was diagnosed, she bravely took the first cycle of chemo. It was hard for us seeing her in so much pain especially after each treatment but we need to stay strong for her.   When the third cycle ended, Minji's condition got a little better so her doctor allowed her to come home for a while but instead of going home to their family house at Gangnam-do, she asked me to drive her to Daegu, where their vacation house is located. We've spent the most wonderful three days of our lives there. I proposed and she accepted. We talked about our future with high hopes that everything we've been facing right now will end soon.   Three days passed and I drove her home. I myself don't want to leave her but I have to attend my thesis defense or else I will not be part of the graduating class. With a heavy heart I left her and went to school.    That was the biggest mistake I ever made in my life! It was past five in the afternoon, the defense was done and I'm about to go home already when Mrs. Lee, Minji's mom called me up saying that my girl is back in the hospital and the worst part is that she's in the ICU, fighting for her dear life. I drove as fast as I could, not thinking about myself anymore. All I know is that my fiance needs me.   I saw her in the ICU bed with lots of tubes connected to her. I held her hand tightly, my heart knows that she'll be gone soon but the guilt I had that time is overpowering my rational thinking. At around 9pm, they had a code blue. All the doctors hurried to attend to Minji. They tried to revive her, 5 times I think but they didn't succeed.   Minji died.    So as my life. My ability to love and trust.    "Donghae-ssi??" Mrs. Lee's voice rang out, cutting the quick flashes of memories.   "Sorry about that. When will this event starts?" I inquired.   "Here." from her bag she handed me two gold tickets for the exhibit.   I pick it up, checking the details.   "Oh this will be three days from now. I'll ask Ji-eun to clear my schedules so that I can go and see the paintings myself. But why two tickets?"   "I assume you'll be going with a companion so I ask for two. Donghae-ssi, I know this not the right place to talk about this but are you dating someone at the moment?"    "I'm not, Mrs. Lee." I answered real quick.    "You know my daughter wants you to find someone to love when she's gone. I think two years is long enough for you to surpass the guilt you felt when she died. It's not your fault, son. Me and Minji's dad wants the best for you." SON she always called me that back then.    "I can't helped it, mom. I felt that if I stayed with her she's still be with us. I'm sorry for being selfish, mom." I ducked down my head, trying my best not to cry infront of her again.   To my surprise she reached for my hand making me lift my face instantly.    "You're not, Donghae-ah. Please stop that thinking. It's eating you up. You need to move on. Be with people more often and who knows you'll meet that someone before your birthday. I want you to be happy." she squeezes my hand. A genuine smile spread across her face making me do the same.   "I will... I will try."    She stayed for few more minutes before she finally bid her goodbye. I accompanied her to her car and for the last time she reached for my hand and mutter,   "It's good to see you again, Donghae-ah. See you at Cielo's. Take care."   "My pleasure. See you then. Be safe, mom." I close the door for her and with final exchange of smiles, she left.    When I return to my office, a smiling Ji-eun greets me with a file on her hand.   "I don't like that smile of yours, Ji-eun-ah. It's too creepy, you know? Is that for me?" I ask her.   "Oppa, seems like Mrs. Lee misses you. You haven't been in their house for a while now. Oh, Leeteuk-ssi gave this. He said you ask this from him yesterday." she handed me the white folder with PJS on the lower left part.   'VERY MUCH OBVIOUS WHY KANGIN HYUNG LIKES LEETEUK HYUNG EVER SINCE. HE'S A PERFECTIONIST IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. SEEMS LIKE OPPOSITES DO ATTRACT.'   "You should call me oppa more often, Ji-eun-ah. Forget the sajangnim. You're my sister not a mere employee here."    "Oh please don't start with me Lee