Tiffany POV

Silence.

That's all I hear during my sleepless nights. I couldn't sleep nor even close my eyes. And the same, my eyes are always full in tears.

     "Starting this day, we will be together.

     "Then… it will be forever."

Yes.

     "I will not allow us to be separated again."

Yes, we won't be anymore.

     "I love you."

I love you.

     "I love you."

I love you.

     "See you."

That was my last memory of him. Yet, those were the lines that keep on haunting me since he, the love of my life, Yuri, died in a car accident.

I got myself out of bed and took a shower, hoping for the cold water will help on washing the pain away. But, who am I kidding? It can never fade away. It's like a deep burn on my skin which can never be healed... a dagger struck on my heart which can never be pulled out.

Yuri's gone. My everything's gone.

---

I walked out of my room. When I passed by my dad's study room, I heard him conversing with my mom. I was not supposed to eavesdrop but, as soon as I heard her mention Yuri's name, I absentmindedly stopped.

"Yuri deserves a decent funeral, Jae." she said.

"How many times do I have to tell you that man's death has nothing to do with us?! Why would I agree for paying a stranger his funeral service?"

"He was your daughter's lover."

"The hell I care about that! Did I even gave my consent for her to love that man? And to think he's the son of my worst enemy? Do you think I'm out of my mind, Elise?"

"Yunho's already dead. Why do you have to hate the child too?"

"It is not enough that he's dead... You can never convince me to lower my pride and give a ing sentiment to that family."

"How about considering your daughter's feelings, at least?"

"..."

"Stephanie's totally crushed right now, Jae. She's falling apart. Haven't you still realized the mistake you have done?"

"Don't blame this on me. He's the one who attempted to murder his foster father and not me. He's the one who tried to escape from that prison and not me. What happened to him is not any of my fault. Do you understand?"

"It's not about that."

"Then what?!"

"You deprived your daughter her happiness."

He scoffed, "Toys can be replaced. I can buy her anyone she wants to love or to marry, Elise."

"...You know nothing. You don't know how much it hurts to lose the one you love the most, Jae. You don't know."

---

I headed to the garden as my usual routine. Yes, it's a routine of nothing. Doing nothing but stare over nothingness. I don't really know how to continue my normal life after all that happened.

My mind could no longer think straight. It always drifts away. No motivation. No inspiration. No objective. No goal. No meaning. It's like, time has stopped for me.

Investigate, find someone to blame... That can be a head-start to continue my life but... I am... I am already tired. I am tired of fighting. I am tired of everything that's going on. I just want my life to... end.

"Stephanie?" my mom called as she went out to the garden.

"There you are." She came nearer and sat on the next chair beside me. And the same, she looked at me in so much worry.

She wiped my tears away. "Good morning."

"..."

"Anyway, I have good news for you."

"..."

"Your father finally agreed to give Yuri a decent funeral."

"..."

"I already called Greg to start arranging everything for Yuri's wake, by the way. Perhaps, we can already go there later."

"..."

She stared at me. Now I see sympathy on her eyes as she caressed my face with her left hand.

She then snapped again, "And also, I... I went to the police station. One officer there told me that Yuri's case was suddenly been lifted too."

"..."

"I don't know what happened but, its great news too, isn't it?"

Great news... The only great news is if you tell me this is all nothing but a nightmare...

She stood up. "Come. You need energy. I already prepared breakfast."

"I."

"…"

"I don't want to eat."

"But---"

"I will get ready now. I'll be back in few minutes."

"Okay..."

---

I arrived at the funeral where my mother set Yuri's wake. She, Sehun, and Sunkyu went along with me.

"This is largest available room in this funeral home." my mom said. "Hopefully, this will be enough."

"This room is actually bigger than should be, I think. His parents were killed mercilessly when he was young... His grandmother died years later too... He has no family anymore to pay a visit."

She held my hand, "Well, you are here. And Sunkyu too. You two were his family. Besides, I believe he gained lots of friends too."

I smiled faintly, "Yeah…"

"I already booked rooms at the nearest hotel here, by the way."

"Is it okay if I stay here until the end of his wake?"

"I…" She hesitated at first yet, agreed in the end. "S-sure you can. They have a room available for sleeping here." She pointed at the door on the right.

Sunkyu then nudged me. "Umma, me too." he said with his voice cracking up.

I caressed his cheek, "Yes, of course." And immediately, he hugged me tight and sobbed again hard. The same as I, Sunkyu has been crying nonstop for the past days too.

Soon after, Yoong has arrived at the place. He bowed at my mom and greeted. She returned the same. He and Sehun greeted each other too. Then, afterwards, he gazed at me.

Sunkyu rushed towards him and hugged him tight. He then carried him on his arms and that made the former sob harder. "Appa... Appa... Appa..." he murmured.

I stood and went near them. "Hey." I greeted.<