Hyejoo looked lifeless, Chaewon’s already clammy hands to become numb. 

 

Would this be her fate?

 

The sarcastic dork that read comics and played smash so passionately. The same girl can now barely even lift a finger. 

 

Chaewon knew it was the meds that caused her to be so lifeless and loopy. Hyejoo was strong willed and attempted in her state to speak to Chae, her jaw was slack and her words were just muddled,

“Willibeokay?”

 

Her eyes were floating around the room, looking as light head as she probably felt. 

 

She bit her tongue as she just pretended to not hear her, she calmly her head as she waited for the nurse to implement the second dosage. She knew this could be the last time she would speak to her,

“Hye?”

 

Hyejoo smiled crookedly,

“Shey...”

 

Chaewon laughed are she kissed her forehead,

“Let’s go on another adventure soon, okay?”

 

The tears forming through her blinding smile make it all too real,

“I’ll miss you.”

 

The nurse came in silently, almost mourning as she feed the dosage into the IV. She glanced at Chaewon and Hyejoo before bowing and leaving.

 

The bleak room made her head spin as she watched her Hyejoo being taken away. The emptiness in her whole being was so overwhelming, it almost filled the empty space with a looming terror.

 

Her phone was ringing almost a If  blocking the dread she tasted every minute she waited.

 

The night was even worse, her body was aching but she couldn’t move. She just couldn’t.  Her mind was contradicting itself, remembering her bright eyes then remembering the dulled. Her heart was beating so fast it almost felt like it had stopped. The atmosphere was swallowing her in newly acquired fears. The phone was held in her delicate hands as she gnawed on her lip. 

 

She was more fearful of the number dialed, her eyes burning as she dug her pains into her palm. Her hands shook almost violently as she raised it to her ear,

“Hey.....mom....”

 

She forced out a laugh,

“I know....it’s been...awhile...” 

 

“Well yeah, a year, a year.”

 

She looked at where she was, the large machines, charts, and bland decorations,

“Well....you said when I’d fallen in love, truly-“

 

She chocked back tears,

“I can still love, I’m no different then you...”

 

“I found love in her..... and she doesn’t love me back.....but it’s okay......I found someone I can love unconditionally....”

 

Her face reddened at the thought of the proposition,

“Mom.....it’s not a phase....and I can’t change, not for you, not for anyone, but I-“

 

There was a pregnant pause in her quivering voice,

“I know that I’d like you in my life and running away was selfish....”

 

She smiled as she slumped into her chair,

“I’m Chaewon and I’ve always been Chaewon.”

 

-

 

The night became day and the day became night.

 

That’s when the doctor made his way towards Chaewon. His face was void as Chaewon tried to read him. He placed a hand on her shoulder and kneeled to her. She didn’t even realize she’d began crying and slipped onto the cold floor. He spoke with nothing but sympathy,

“I’m sorry.....we did the best we could, her condition is just too far along. We removed as much as we could but....”

 

The room was spinning even though she was still. The only thing holding her from completely being disoriented was his hand,

“Can I-“

 

He nodded and helped her stand, her knees buckled. 

“Please tell me, will she live?”

 

The doctor shook his head,

“Honestly, not for long. She has a month or less.”

 

Chaewon wanted to vomit but her voice let out a small,

“Then I’ll make it the best month of her life. Can I see her?”

 

He nodded and helped bring Chaewon into a larger room.

 

Hyejoo has a doopy smile on her face and Chaewon tried her hardest to hold on her tears. Hyejoo turned towards Chae,

“See, I told you I was going to die.”

 

Hyejoo’s voice was harsh as the truth filtered through the room. Chaewon’s figure shrunk as she held Hyejoo’s bony hand in hers,

“You still have time....if you take your medicine and follow what I say we can still try.”

 

Hyejoo let out a small laugh,

“I don’t want to go back there.”

 

Chaewon bite her lip,

“Live with me then....”

 

“What? I can’t my mom...”

 

Chaewon cupped as she whispered into her ear,

“What if I told her you died.....?”

 

Hyejoo’s eyes widened,

“Wait what? How...?”

 

Chaewon shrugged,

“I don’t know....let’s wait till you get discharged and we can see.”

 

-

 

Two long and excruciating days passed as Chaewon pounders her plan. Hyejoo has a month left, was she really going to let her slowly dwindle away? She pushed Hyejoo’s wheelchair along the campus as a wild smirk stretched across her face,

“Hyejoo, what if you change your name? Or....”

 

Hyejoo shook her head,

“I’d rather die as Hyejoo. I’m hungry.”

 

Chae laughed completely ignoring Hyejoo,

“I’ll call you Olivia then.”

 

“Olivia? Where did that come from?”

 

Chaewon shrugged,

“I think it’s pretty,” she muttered the last part under her breathe, “like you.”

 

Hyejoo’s stomach rumbled loudly breaking Chae’s rapid thoughts,

“Are you hungry?”

 

Hyejoo nodded,

“Yeah I just said I was.”

 

Chaewon quickened her pace,

“I’ll cook you something at the dorm!”

 

-

The door’s sensor went off as Chaewon pushed Hyejoo into the dorms living room,

“Yerimmie! I brought home a guest!”

 

Yerim’s light voice rang through the dorm,

“Make tteoboki!”

 

“Yes~~~”

 

Hyejoo’s eyebrows were knitted as she watched Chaewon cook,

“I didn’t know you had a roommate......”

 

Chaewon was slicing the cilantro as she paused,

“Sorry Hye, I guess my thoughts have been pre occupied....”

 

Hyejoo opened but closed it when Yerim came bouncing into the room. She gave Chaewon a back hug and rested her head in the crook of her neck,

“Hey Chaewonnie! I missed you~~~”

 

Hyejoo watched Chae’s face redden and pouted. She cleared ,

“Save the PDA please.”

 

Yerim hugged Chae tightly before releasing their embrace,

“Who’s this Chae?”

 

“Hyejoo.”

 

Yerim raised her eyebrow before shrugging,

“Cool! I’m Yerim!”

 

Hyejoo nodded,

“I’m thirsty. Chaewon can I have some water?”

 

Chaewon stopped cooking and got Hyejoo water. She smiled brightly at her while helping her take a sip,

“What would you like with the tteoboki, fish cakes?”

 

Hyejoo’s mouth watered at the thought,

“Yes please!”

 

Chaewon went and continued her cooking not missing Yerim’s sharp glare,

“How long will she be staying?”

 

Chaewon shrugged,

“A month or so”

 

“A month?!”