Yoojin's eyes wandered around the dimly lit room that she was currently in before her eyes fell fixed to her mother who was sleeping peacefully in the middle of the room.

Her chest fell up and down smoothly, she was in deep sleep; only this time around her arms were all injected, wired up with fluids being the only help of her being alive. Yoojin let out the biggest sigh she had ever released. Her hands trembled as she hesitantly held her mother's hands in hers.

It was cold, frail; it felt so fragile that Yoojin was too scared to hold it. Anger boiled up inside Yoojin, she felt like she was going mad, if they weren't in such room and place she would've thrown everything upside down to take out her anger.

She hated the situation, she hated that her mother was sick, she hated seeing her mother the way she was and most importantly Yoojin hated herself. She wanted to pull each and every strand of her hair, hit herself, make herself feel pain, she wanted to do anything to release her anger.

Why did she let her mother overwork herself to the point that she was so wrecked, battered, almost lifeless? Why Yoojin didn’t take the past doctor's words seriously instead of agreeing for her mother to keep on working? Looking at the state her mother was in, Yoojin couldn't help but to bring all the blame to herself. It was all her fault.

Yoojin was walking towards her home with her hands filled of plastic bags from the supermarket. She had finished her early jobs and decided to hit the supermarket for food supplies that she realized her mother and her were running out of.

A group of students around her age, or if not younger, ran past her, laughing and shouting out happily while they joke around. One of the guys decided to jump on another guy's back making the guy that got jumped on fell to the ground, startled with the sudden weight.

The whole group saw and cracked up laughing.

Yoojin looked down on the ground, her long fringe hid her face. She broke into a smile, a cold and bitter one. She was like that a few years back, smiling with her small group of friends from school, wearing school uniform and enjoying her youthful life, but now, now she's working at such a young age, she's trying to balance bills and debts on her own, she didn't go to school, she had no friends actually if Mrs Jang the lady next door count as a friend then maybe she did, but then again Mrs Jang was over 50.

Yoojin cursed under her breath remembering her old memories.

Yoojin was in a happy small family that consisted of her mother and father. Her father was rarely seen due to him working inside a company and her mother ran a bakery and restaurant under their name. It was all good until the company her father worked in became bankrupt and the boss/owner ripped off his entire worker making them, as well, moneyless.

The restaurant and the bakery needed to get shut down because of the bills that cost them to keep running were getting higher and higher and harder to pay off. It was then her mother started to overwork herself to keep their family going, to keep the house they were living them theirs, for Yoojin to continue school and much more.

In the end they left their old house and moved in to their new house that Yoojin and her mother was currently still living in. Her father gave up after a while, he gave up on the life he called a living hell; he divorced with Yoojin's mother and left them without a trail.

Ms Baek started to work extra hard as she was the bread and butter for Yoojin, of course Yoojin quit school after elementary because of the school fees were beyond their limits, she had no choice anyway. Due to the extra work her mother does, it didn't end up to well.

It's been around for a while, Yoojin's mother's sickness that is. She fell sick far too many times, she had fainted, had constant headache, coughing till blood came out and vomited way too much. It wasn't normal, it wasn't something that was considered normal of course, her mother was ill but she refuse to say anything about it.

She needed a treatment, but Ms Baek would always refuse the offer, but eventually gave in one time when her body was too weak to function for everyday movement. Dr Shin, the doctor that checked her mother up said that her body needed time to heal, her mental state wasn't in a good condition as well doubling up the trouble, she was way to weak due to exhaustion and blood pressure, but whatever the doctor offered to Ms Baek she would not take it or listen to it.

Yoojin remembered her mother standing up and cutting the doctor's words when she was in the middle of the things that could heal Ms Baek; she said that it was all useless, that she wouldn't afford it anyway.

Yoojin remembered pulling her mother back down to the seat but nothing could compete to Ms Baek's stubbornness. Ms Baek didn't listen of course and couldn't to work her off, even doubling up the work load from before with no rest which then lead to her to being raced to the hospital.

Yoojin was pulled into Mrs Jang's car the moment she reached her home, she didn't even had the time to set the bags inside the house and everything was frantically thrown onto the backseat by Mrs Jang. Everything was confusing Yoojin but she had a complete breakdown when Mrs Jang explained to her that her mother was at the hospital.

Apparently Ms Baek was walking around the park when she met Ms No, a friend of hers. They chatted together but she Ms Baek just fell to the floor, shaking like she had a seizure or an attack, whatever it was it happened for a short time before Ms Baek was knocked out cold on the ground. Ms No called the ambulance and she was raced to the hospital.

"Luckily the ambulance was quick..." Yoojin whispered, "Luckily you were with Ms No umma. Imagine if you were alone at home, you won't be able to be saved soon enough"

 A soft click of the door opening made Yoojin to turn her attention towards it. Mrs Jang and Ms No walked inside, careful not to wake Ms Baek up.

"I'm alright" Yoojin said, knowing that one of the ladies would most likely ask her anyway since their eyes screamed of pity, slightly bothering Yoojin, she figured that she could save their breath and tell them in advance, even if they didn’t believe her words, they were so far from believing Yoojin.

"Thank you" Yoojin gave Ms No a small smile the moment the two were front to front.

"It's no big deal honey. I just did what I needed to do" Ms No rubbed the girl's back comfortingly.

Silence took over them and the three didn’t seem to mind it. Mrs Jang was inspecting the small hospital room, looking through every nooks and crannies out of curiosity while Ms No seemed a bit down and sat on the stool looking over at Ms Baek.

Mrs Jang told Yoojin earlier that Ms No was still shaken after seeing her friend fall onto the floor and starts to have a seizure. It was a horrible sight, something that could make you traumatized seeing it in person, Yoojin understood that feeling, till now she still wasn't used to seeing her mother react like that.

The doctor came a few moments later. He fixed his glasses upwards and walked towards Yoojin. The two ladies, Mrs Jang and Ms No,  refused to go back home even if it was getting late, they told Yoojin that they would only go back to their home when Ms Baek wakes up.

Yoojin stood up; welcoming the doctor, their past talk from earlier was still clear on their minds.

"Have you thought about it?" He asked her after they exchanged their greetings. Yoojin nodded without hesitation.

Before she walked into the rooms she had a talk with Doctor Woo who was in charge of taking care of her mother. He had asked her about their past and explained to her in detail about her mother. He recommended for her mother to stay in the hospital for a while for treatment and also they were trying their best to figure out the triggers of her occasional attacks, just like the one she had the lead her to the hospital.

"I hoped you’re leading to allowing your mother into treatment. Her body, Miss Yoojin, her health, everything is a risk. She might be closed to shutting down because her body can't take it anymore. Your mother doesn't even look like she eats well enough" The doctor glanced at Ms Baek who looked terribly ill. Yoojin heart broke a little after hearing the doctor’s words.

"It wouldn't be like this if she was treated just like what Doctor Shin offered"

 "We didn't have money at that time... In fact we still don't" Yoojin answered, voice soft as a mouse. She was embarrassed about her family's money problems but it was more tiring and frustrating rather than embarrassing. Some say that money can't buy you happiness, but in their case money is what they needed, as well as a miracle.

"But I promise doctor that I'll try my best to pay off my mother's stay here at the hospital. I'll pay for the bills of the treatment" Yoojin's hands fluttered around her unconsciously, she was in a state of panic with the thought of the doctor refusing to not treat her mother because she won't be able to pay him.

"I'll do everything but it will take some time. Doctor I'll pay you little by little, please, please save my mother"

Doctor Kang let out a sigh; it was always hard on him when he sees the patient’s family begging him almost on their knees. Yoojin was a tough one, she was young, she looked as weak and skinny as her mother but her eyes fired with determination. He didn't want to let her down just like any other patients he had and has, he could never say no.

"I'll trust your words... Your mother is in good hands" He replied after giving Yoojin a smile to reassure the teenage girl. Yoojin almost hugged the doctor out of joy and relief but held herself back in the end. As the doctor headed towards the door Yoojin bowed countless of times, saying thank you over and over again until he was gone from the room.

Mrs Jang awoke the moment the doctor entered the room, she had heard everything and felt bad seeing her friend's daughter like that. She felt so useless and a horrible person because she knows she won't be able to help them, she was also in need of money but she still wanted to help the Baek's as they have done so much for her and her family.

Mrs Jang stood from her seat, approaching the girl slowly. "She'll be fine" Mrs Jang assured the girl. Yoojin nodded although not fully believing it. She stuffed her hands in her pockets, to keep the tremble mess from showing. She didn’t know why she was shaking, she didn’t know why she couldn't breathe, she didn’t know why she felt like going sick – all she knows was it won't stop unless she does something to it.

"I hope so" Yoojin whispered, and she really did.

Flashback:

The twelve year old Yoojin stepped onto the small building. Walls were painted light blue, some spider webs could be seen on the corners of each room, the windows were arched and on the outside was lined with plants various of kinds. It was indeed small, it was no denying it, there was really no need to check walk inside further to get the final impression, the moment you step foot you can tell that the land mass fell short.

Ms Baek turned to her daughter after telling two guys that was helping them move their furniture turned to go back to the truck. Ms Baek bit her lips lightly, she was a little bit worried that her daughter didn’t like the new house, to say that she wants to go back to the old one but instead her daughter caught her eye and she smiled brightly.

“I love it mum!” Yoojin wasn’t lying; it reminded her of a cottage she once saw in that fairy-tale show that she watched a few years back. Cottages were amazing, they were so unique and Yoojin always dreamt of having one.

Relief washed over Ms Baek and Yoojin hugged her mum, feeling her bony structure under her palm but pretended she never did and smiled brightly again. Her mother returned the smile.

Ms Baek placed a box down on the ground, her back had to arch and it pained her. Electrifying pain tingled all over her body then attacked her head, she couldn’t help but to gasp out loud, clutching the sides of th box to help her stand upright or else she would’ve been sprawled on the floor.

 Yoojin just waved goodbye to the delivery guys that helped them moved their furniture and when she entered the house again, she was next to her mother’s side in a flash. Yoojin panicked and slowly let her mum sit on the floor, ignoring the pants that her mother let out, telling her that she was fine, telling Yoojin to forget about it. Her mother was nowhere near fine, Yoojin knows that and she felt a prick in her eyes when she could tell she was about to cry after seeing her mum in such a state.

Ms Baek gently placed a hand over Yoojin, telling her to let go and she did. The lady stood up on her own with the little bit of strength she had and smiled at her daughter who watched in worry.

“I’m fine dear. Why wont you listen?”

Yoojin shook her head, stubborn, “because you’re not. You’re nowhere near fine mum”

Ms Baek sighed and twisted her body to the side, then to the other side, feeling as if her bones would break if she continued to do it but she still pushed herself after seeing Yoojin slowly believing her little by little.

Yoojin was so busy watching her mother’s torso, scared that it might snapped that she missed the scrunch of pain on her mother’s face – the closely tight eyes, the firmed mouth as Ms Baek bit her lip tightly having a slight feeling that it would bleed soon and the furrowed brows and wrinkled nose.

“I’m fine Yoojin” her mother breathe, heart racing due to extreme exhaustion. The girl looked up at her mother who nodded slowly, letting the topic go.

That night Yoojin was still thinking about it, the way her mother sounded so much in pain, but she looked fine. Maybe she was fine? Maybe she wasn’t? Yoojin was so confused that she couldn’t sleep. She turned her body around and faced her mother who was slightly snoring, already in deep slumber. The daughter slowly and lightly brought her hands to brush her mother’s forhead, letting her hair fall out of her face, then her hands travelled to the dark circles under her eyes, feeling her heart torn. Her mother looked so tired, she looked so pale, so sick and Yoojin could do nothing about it. She hated being young, she hated not being able to help her mother. What could a twelve year old really do? She couldn’t even work until she was about fourteen. That’s two years far, Yoojin couldn’t wait that long, she couldn’t let her mother swivelled up and exhaust herself any more.

Without knowing her mother awoke from her sleep after feeling her daughter’s light touches. Yoojin’s eyes sparkled in the dark night, closed to crying. The mother reached to tuck in the strands of her daughters hair, then cup her small face in her hands. “What’s wrong baby?” Ms Baek whispered. Yoojin closed her eyes and buried herself into her mother’s embrace, wanting warmth.

“I’m scared of losing you too mother. Dad already left us, what am I supposed to do when you’re gone as well?” Yoojin hiccupped, “don’t leave me…”

Ms Baek gave her forehead kisses, humming a tune and rubbing her back, “I won’t leave you. I can never leave you, ever. I won’t be able to forgive myself if I left you like what your dad did”

That made Yoojin bawl, she lost all of control of her emotions and hugged her mother tightly, feeling the bony structure even more, making her cringe at the weird feeling. She wanted her mother to get better, with whatever her sickness was. She wanted her mum to be okay once again, healthy and not become stick and bones. She missed her old mum, the mum that was always happy and laughing. When would that old mum return?

“I promise baby” Ms Baek pulled away and offered her pinkie.

Yoojin looked at it and her mother smiled at her, “promise”

Yoojin connected their pinkie together and fell asleep in her mother’s embrace.

End of Flashback

Her mother would never break that promise, she wouldn’t, and she shouldn’t. Yoojin sounded selfish but she was scared that the promise was so close from breaking. It lied in such a thin ice. Ice that was so delicate and thin that in a matter of time that ice would break soon enough.

Yoojin went on her knees, kneeling in front of her mother, not really caring if Mrs Jang and Ms Stone sent her weird glances, thinking that she was crazy. One hand prompt her mother’s pinkie up, the other hand interlocked the pinkie together.

A promise is a promise.

But then again… some do say that promises were meant to be broken.

.

Author's Note:

I edited this chapter, and I'm in the process of editing the edited chapter which meas that everything would be all over the place for a little while. Anyways, i changed everything to 3rd POV, just to let you guys know...

omg, look how pretty Park Hwan Hui looks. ^O^

Poster is made by rOsEjOOng :D Once again, i'm really grateful for this. I remember when i asked many people for a poster, she was the only one who said yes. So i'm really thankful ♥