Byul waited outside the ER as she covered her face with her hands, crying

*Your haraboji’s heart rate dropped, he’s in the ER now…come fast* those words ringed in her mind

“Did you say all those because you were leaving?” she cried as she remembered her grandfather smiling brightly at her

BYUL’s POV

If you leave, what do I become?

If you leave, how do you expect me to live alone?

Why is everyone leaving me one after the other?

I just wanted someone I could call my own…someone I could call my family.

Why are you leaving me in a coma, where I am neither alive nor death?

Why do I have to face all this alone?!

END OF POV:

Later, the doctor came out of the ER as Byul and Song ajhumma stood up

“How’s he? Is he better?” Byul asked as the doctor looked at Byul

“Mianhae Byul-ah” the doctor said as Byul looked at the doctor

“b-bwo?” she muttered
“His illness at such an old age caused his heart rate to decrease…he’s in a coma right now. There’s nothing we can do, but we’ll keep him under examination for a few days” the doctor said and walked away bowing

“B-bwo?” Byul muttered collapsing to the floor as the ajhumma supported her

“Byul-ah” she said put her around her

“Haraboji…haraboji andwae…you can’t” she cried as the ajhumma patted her

“Everything’s gonna be alright” she said

“Haraboji…” Byul cried.

LATER:

Byul looked her grandfather sleeping peacefully, surrounded by tubes and things she had never seen

“Haraboji” she muttered
“Byul-ah, have some food” the ajhumma said as Byul shook her head

“Ajhumma, you should go home…it’s pretty late” Byul said

“Kwenchanna, my son is on his way here, don’t worry” ajhumma said

“You have a son? But it’s okay ajhumma…I can—”

“Aniya you can never manage such a situation alone…Byul-ah, I know what my son went through when his grandpa died…I don’t want you to go through that alone” ajhumma said when Byul hugged her

“Geumawo” she sobbed as the ajhumma her hair lovingly 

“Should I tell your boyfriend about this?” ajhumma asked as Byul shook her head

“I can’t reach him…I’ll tell him later” Byul said as the ajhumma nodded.

“Eomma” a voice called as Byul and the ajhumma looked at the guy

“S-Sunbae” Byul muttered as Mino smiled at her

“Annyeong, we meet again” he said

“So you have met? Meet Song Mino, my son” ajhumma said as Mino smiled at her

FLASHBACK:

Few weeks ago:

“Eomma, do you have to go for the night shift again? I was planning to drop by since we don’t have schedules tonight” Mino sighed

“I have to, son, but appa will be at home so you can have dinner with him” his mom said on the phone

“Eomma, where are you?” Mino asked

“I am near Byul’s house”

“Byul….ah~ that haraboji” Mino asked

“Neh son, I need to go now” his mom said

“Arasso eomma, take care” Mino said hanging up.

He smiled as he stared outside the window while humming their song “Empty”

*We’ve met, Im TaeByul*

He thought about the encounter he had with Byul that day

*But is that Mingyu really her boyfriend?*

                                                                                ______________________________

Byul woke up beside her haraboji who was still sleeping

“Good morning haraboji” she smiled as she opened the curtains and took out her phone and dialed Mingyu

*The number you are trying to reach is not reachable—*

“Are they so busy?” she muttered when
“Good morning hoobae~” Mino sang walking inside with instant noodles

“N-neh? Good morning sunbae” Byul smiled a bit as Mino looked at haraboji

“Good morning haraboji” he smiled as Byul looked at Mino

“You need to eat if you don’t want to be sick…yaaa~ you even skipped food last night” Mino said as Byul looked at him
“K-kwenchanna…I am not hungry” she said waving her hands frantically

“I didn’t give you a choice, kajja let’s eat now” Mino said as Byul looked at her haraboji and then at Mino

“It’s really okay” she muttered sitting next to Mino
“That’s more like it…ramyun tastes best in the morning” Mino said as Byul nodded awkwardly

“yah we should be less awkward around each other, I’m afraid I’ll be dropping often with eomma now” Mino said

“It’s really okay…both you and ajhumma shouldn’t bother” Byul said as Mino smiled eating the noodles

“Eat up TaeByul~” he smiled as he remembered what his mom told him the night before

*Byul-ah, she may look very strong outside but inside she’s broken. She always misses her boyfriend and her late parents. Her haraboji…he won’t live long…so Mino-yah, though I know you have schedules, I want you make time and I want you and me to the family she’s always longed to have*

*I’ll be a family to you Byul…you won’t ever be alone* Mino smiled.

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