Niel's POV

Is that birds chirping or people yelling for emergency?. I opened my eyes slowly. The blurry vision of people in white outfits became clearer. I tried to sat up straight. Ah... how long I've been sleeping on this cold hospital seats? I looked around... nurses and doctors were talking to each other. What were they so busy about? They're all rush in to one room in front of me. Room 501. Byunghun-hyung... I stood up and rushed to the window.

The helpless child inside it was gasping for air while one nurse covered his little face with one massive oxygen mask. The others were busy checking up his pulse. God... what have I done to this kid... I drove him to the hospital last night. He fell asleep so peacefully along the way, not until we were about to reach the hospital, I felt his grip over my hand weakened. He passed out, and everything went fast after that. He lost a great amount of blood because of the cold. If I didn't selfishly set him up to confessed maybe all of this wouldn't happened. He knew it when he ran away from the hospital but he still did it. He risked his life for me. That's just... so wrong.

I held down my tears and turned my back. I saw one petite lady approached me. She still wore that quirky Prada sunglasses. She stood before me with arms folded sternly.
"Ahn Daniel", she sighed.
"Mrs. Lee...", I wiped my tears and looked at her, she didn't even took a glance to her son inside the room.
"Your cheek still hurts?", she tilted her head. I touched my cheek, she slapped me hard last night, knowing that I was behind all of her son's critical condition.
"Y-yes", I answered hesitantly. I couldn't blame her, if I could, I'll asked all the nurses and doctors to slapped me hard. It would feel much better.
"Good for you... Follow me", she said as she lead me to hospital cafeteria. We sat by the window, next to one pond full of kois outside. Today was the first week of November. After a wild wind yesterday, it was quite weird to witnessed a scorching sun greeted us.

She ordered one espresso and I sipped my hot tea.
"How cold it was, when you're sleeping outside his room last night?", she asked me, put off her sunglasses. Her eyes were wet and swollen.
"It was... quite cold", I replied.
"Yeah? wasn't as cold as what Byunghun experienced I supposed...", she scoffed.
"Mrs. Lee... I..."
"Took him away from the hospital while he was receiving his blood transfusion? half dragged him through the windy and cold pavements? Whatever your reasons are, I won't accept it", she sighed.
"You're right. You can blame me as much as you want, seriously... it would make me feel better. If I could just... drain all my blood and gave it to him... I...", I covered my mouth as the my voice trembled by the tears.

"He held my hand last night... it was so cold...", I looked up, hoping that my tears would just go away.
"Didn't you say it yourself, he's a strong son", Mrs. Lee leaned forward.
"Yeah, but he was standing alone there... behind those smiles I know that he was tired...", I sobbed. The tears flooded and wet the clean white sheet on our table.
Mrs. Lee just sighed and rubbed my shoulder gently.
"We have to believe him", she whispered.
"God... I couldn't see him inside that room"
"Yah... Daniel~!", she called my name fiercely.

I looked into her eyes.
"We should be strong for him. So he could depend on us", she said.
I gulped and wiped my tears. I nodded convincingly.
"Especially you, Daniel... while you're asleep, he called for your name you know... it wasn't me, it wasn't his dad nor his brother, it was you. I was angry, I have to admit that... he asked me weakly; 'Mom, where's Niel? you didn't kill him did you?'"
I chuckled; "I thought that you would though".
"How could I kill someone that my son really loves?", she said, kept her serious face.

"Mrs. Lee... I'm really... really sorry. I know it won't change anything, but please, forgive me", I looked deep into her eyes. Those red eyes that glimmered, about to be flooded with tears again.
"Cut off the sweet talks. I hate it", she said as she took out one cigarette.
"Mrs. Lee~! you can't smoke here", I grabbed her hand right away.
"Ah", she looked at the no smoking sign beside us.

She then took me to the rooftop to accompanied her smoking. We talked about various things from my play and even her business trip to Europe some time ago. I talked about Byunghun-hyung's junior high, she only knew as far as Taehyun spread the issue that Byunghun-hyung had a contagious disease, she didn't know about Minsoo. I didn't tell her though, Byunghun-hyung must had his own reason not to tell her so. Though Mrs. Lee was such a rude lady, she was actually quite fun to be with. Maybe like her son, she was hostile to protect her vulnerable self.

"Daniel, you see Byunghun first, I'll stay here for a moment", she said while took another cig from her pocket.
"Alright... don't do something dangerous, Mrs. Lee...", I smirked.
"Yah... you think I will jump off here? I'm not that weak", she slapped my head. Ouch. Seriously, like mother like son.
"O... Okay", I took a g