Sooyoung’s POV

What the heck?

Did I hear her right?

Is she just playing a prank on me again?

If it is then it’s not funny.

I let out a chuckle and placed both my hands on her shoulders.

“You are just joking right?”

Yoona just stayed silent and stared at me with tears b in her eyes.

No...

It can’t be true...

“Tell me you’re joking.”

“...”

“Tell me!”

I squeeze her shoulders tightly which made her groan in pain.

“Soo...It hurts...”

Her cracking voice made me loosen my grip on her and fall down on the chair near the door.

My legs are shaking. It could no longer support me for now. My mind went blank. My chest tightens. My heart shatters into pieces. My breathing became erratic. And my eyes...began to express its sadness with tears.

“Soo...”

Her voice automatically made me lift my head up.

“I’m so-”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

My voice is cracking now.

I cannot handle looking at Yoona right now.

It hurts too much.

“I don’t know how because I know in the end you’ll still be crying like what you are doing right now.”

“Can you blame me?”

“...”

I used all my willpower to stand up and walk towards her without breaking eye contact.

“I love you Yoona...and seeing you hurt...makes me hurt also.”

“...”

I took a step closer to her.

“...I don’t want you to leave...”

“...”

I stopped in front of her and cupped her cheek.

“I can’t imagine a life without you...”

More tears began to fall down her eyes as she pulled me in for a kiss.

“...I don’t want to hurt you...”

“Then why are you doing this to me?”

Yoona is rendered speechless once again.

“Yoona I love you...”

“I know...I love you too...That’s why...I’m setting you free...”

My eyes widen and my world completely shattered into bits of pieces.

“What are you t-”

I am cut off with Yoona’s coughing.

Sh*t!

I rubbed her back and tried to soothe her.

But...

She fainted in my arms.

“Yoona!”

“Let’s get her to the hospital!”

I turn around and saw Yuri and Jessica with worried faces.

“When did you get here?”

“It doesn’t matter now. We have to get her to the hospital.”

I nodded at Yuri’s commanding voice and carried Yoona bridal style.

“Call the ambulance.”

I jump off the chair when I heard the emergency room door open. The personal doctor of the Im family came out with a small smile upon his face. Thank God, it mustn’t be serious and Yoona is okay.

“How’s Yoona?”

“She’s fine Lady Choi, she just fainted due to fatigue.”

*Sigh*

“Thank God.”

“Thank God indeed.”

When I was about to ask something again, we heard loud footsteps coming our way. I turned around and saw Uncle Im, Siwon oppa, Krystal, and my younger sister Sulli running towards us. They stopped in front of us and tried to catch their breaths.

“Is Yoona alright?” Uncle Im asked.

“She’s alright Uncle.” Yuri answered and got up from the bench.

“Thank goodness! We were so worried about her.” Siwon oppa said.

“We came here as soon as we heard the news.” Krystal said.

I nodded at Krystal and walked closer to my younger sister to ruffle her hair.

“Where’s mom and dad Sulli?”

Sulli let out a pout but didn't stop me from my actions.

“They are left behind since we rushed to get here, but I’m sure they will come here in no time.”

*Nods*

“By the way, how did you get in here?”

“This is owned by Uncle, remember?”

“Oh right...”

Everyone is talking to one another now along with the doctor who answered their questions. I only watched them with relief coursing within me. I thought I was going to lose Yoona there.  I let out a sigh and felt a hand tug my sleeve.

I turned around and saw Yuri with a smile upon her face.

“Do you want to buy coffee?”

“Sure.”

“Here.”

“Thanks.”

I held the cup of coffee in my hands and took a sip on it. We are now in the hospital’s balcony watching the busy streets of Korea at night. Jessica texted me that Yoona is transferred already to the private room when we bought some coffee at the cafeteria in the first floor. Going up from the main floor, we decided to stay here at the balcony first to get some air.

“I thought I was going to lose her earlier.”

I could feel Yuri looking at me even if I’m still looking at the streets in front of us.

“Gladly you didn’t.”

“I know.”

I finished my cup before throwing it at a nearby garbage bin before looking at Yuri who watched my whole movements.

“Yuri?”

“Hmm...?”

“Do you...still love Yoona?.”

Yuri’s POV

“I...”

Geez...

Does she have to ask that?

“I...”

Sooyoung let out a small laugh and intertwined our hands.

“...You still do...do you...?”

“...”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind.”

“...”

“Besides, she’s your ex. It’s natural for you to be still in love with her. And if you were the one who held her and comforted her on her lowest times...then she would have still been yours. ”

The smile she is giving me...

It is hiding so much pain inside...

“No, don’t say that.”

“Why?”

“I was the one who left her to pursue my dancing career remember?”

“...I...”

I squeeze her hand and leaned my head on her shoulder.

“I was foolish back then. I didn’t know what I got until it’s gone.”

“...”

“At first, I was angry and jealous when I knew about the two of you when I came back...right?”

“Yes, you said so.”

“You’re right but, it made me think for a long time and found how you fell deeply in love with each other. The look in the both of your eyes is so pure of admiration, concern, comfort, and love for each other. I may have owned her first back then, but she chose you. She loves you Sooyoung. And you are the same. And I...don’t want to break that.”

“Yuri...”

I lift my head up from her shoulder and placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Stop worrying Sooyoung.”

“But-”

“I admit that I still love her and my care for her will never die...but...I don’t have the right to be with her again since I dealt her so much pain...especially when I broke up with her.”

Sooyoung let out a sad smile.

“You know when we are together from before until now, she would still accidently call me Yuri?”

My eyes widen at what she said.

My heart’s pace became faster.

Did I hear her right?

“What-”

“Do you know when she sleeps at night she would call your name?”

What...?

“And do you know every time I look in her eyes, I could see that she still loves you.”

No, I refuse to believe it.

I’m not getting my hopes high.

Or else I will be crashed and burned.

And will end up hurting my friend too.

“That’s nonsense Sooyoung. She clearly loves you. The way she looks at you-”

“I know she loves me.”

“But then why-”

“But she still never got over you even after all these years.”

I was left speechless.

“She can’t completely love me since she still has you inside her heart.”

Sooyoung’s POV

I know I’m just hurting myself by saying these things to Yuri.

But I just want to tell her the truth since she deserves to know.

The truth that has hurt me for a very long time...

“Sooyoung...I didn’t know...”

I only stayed silent and look at the streets of Korea once again.

Moments passed, and I decided to speak up again.

“How far is she?”

“Who?”

“Yoona.”

Yuri let out a sigh and threw her cup before leaning on the railings.

“She’s in the third stage.”

What?

It’s already that worse?

“Does...everyone we know...know about this?”

“Yes.”

“But why did you keep this secret away from me?”

Tears began to brim in my eyes as Yoona filled my mind.

“Yoona asked us. She doesn’t want to see you hurt. She said to me that she can’t bear to see you sad. She loves you too much that seeing you cry because of her will cause her so much pain.”

Yoona...

She’s also hurting along with me...

I...

I really want to see her now...

And pull her in an embrace...

And tell her...

I love her...

“Yul...”

“Yes...?”

“I know you since for how many years and I know what you will do.”

She furrows her eyebrows and looks at me confusedly.

“What do you mean?”

“What I meant was...you are planning to take her abroad to treat her without me knowing...don’t you?”

Her eyes widen and she bit her lip.

Bingo.

I really am right.

“How did you know?”

“We’ve been together for so long Yuri. I know what you will do. I know what you like. I know your habits. I know everything about you. So don’t get surprised when I already hunched what’s your plan.”

I let out a smile.

“Don’t worry, I’m not mad.”

“But I-”

“Actually, I’m going to take it as a challenge.”

Yuri lifts her brow and looks at me confusedly again.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll let you take my Yoona abroad so that you could catch up with things and I will be staying here. But when the both of you will come back, I will make sure that I will win her heart completely over you. I’ll make sure she’ll forget her feelings for you. But...”

“But what...?”

“I also want you to try to win her over.”

Her eyes widen again.

Gee...

If she continues doing that then her eyes will fall off.

Gross...

Forget what I said.

“Soo-”

“I’m giving you a chance. You said you still love her right? Then fight for her. You can’t easily give up just because I’m your friend. Love should be fought for, am I right?”

I let out a smile while she on the other hand lets out a chuckle.

“You’re right.”

She curls her hand into a fist and smiles at me.

I got the idea and copied her actions and bumped my fist with hers.

“You’re a great friend Choi.”

“The same goes for you Kwon.”

“But I must warn you that I am not planning on backing down.”

*Smiles*

“I am not planning to back down either.”

“When we’ll come back, this fight between us will be fair and square.”

“Just make sure it is cheater.”

Yuri let out a laugh and pulled me into a hug.

“I love you Sooyoung.”

I could only smile and wrap my arms around her.

“I love you too Yuri.”