The trio silently ate, Hyejoo’s cheeks puffing out as she shovled more tteoboki than she could,

“Yah! Hyejoo you’ll choke!”

 

Chaewon wiped some sauce of her lips with a napkin as Yerim laughed,

“Relax Chaewon~”

 

Chaewon sighed and pinched Hyejoo’s cheek as Hyejoo winced,

“You’re lucky your cute!”

 

Chaewon threatened as Hyejoo blushed,

“It’s just, so good!”

 

She gave Chaewon two enthusiastic thumbs up and Chaewon reclined in her chair proudly, 

“What can I say!,” she smirked and winked, “I’m the best!”

 

-

Chaewon cleared the table and gave Yerim the dishes to wash, as Yerim washed the dishes Chaewon slid her arms around her back and placed her head in the nook of Yerim’s neck. Yerim chuckled and whispered, 

“So, Hyejoo huh?”

 

Chaewon hummed contently as Yerim spun around. She peeked at Hyejoo who was indulging in her comic book. Yerim took a deep breathe,

“A month…?”

 

Chaewon pursed her lips, placing her hands on Yerim’s shoulders,

“She….” Chaewon trailed off her eyes tearing, she lowered her head biting her lip, “doesn’t have much time….I want to help but….the surgery’s so…. All I can do is make it the best month she’s ever had,” Chaewon grabs Yerim’s hands, “Will you help me?”

 

Yerim pulls Chaewon in for a hug and pulls away,

“We can’t….she has to go home….”

 

Yerim won’t meet Chaewon’s eyes as Chae runs her fingers through her hair,

“You have to take her home, she can’t stay here, you know that… it’s bad enough you-“

 

“I what?!”

 

Hyejoo was now staring at the pair and Chaewon just pushed away Yerim’s hand as she knelled down to Hyejoo,

“Hyejoo-ah” Chaewon looked to Yerim’s silent pleading and lowered her head, “I think it’s time you go home.”

 

Hyejoo lowered her head and played with her fingers,

“Do I have too?”

 

Chaewon sighed,

“Yeah, we just don’t have the right treatment here but! I promise I’ll stay with you and we’ll go on outings! How does that sound?”

 

Hyejoo perked up,

“I’d like that…”

 

Chaewon smiled and began to pushed Hyejoo,

“Chaewon? Could I ask you a favor?”

 

Chaewon smiled, 

“Anything Hyejoo.”

 

Hyejoo stuttered a bit,

“Would you, really stay with me?”

 

Chaewon laughed,

“Of course!”

 

“24/7 365?!”

 

Chaewon glanced to Yerim bitterly,

“Of course, let’s go home ok?”

 

Hyejoo nodded happily, Chaewon gave Yerim one last disapproving look before wheeling Hyejoo out of their shared dorm.

 

-

 

Chaewon’s phone rang non stop from the moment she stepped into the Son residence.

 

“Are you really going to live there?

 

Chaewon please come home….

 

I’m sorry, but she’s your patient! You can’t just make these decisions for her!”

 

 

Chaewon turned her phone off as she brought Hyejoo to her room.

 

-

 

“Miss. Son.”

 

“Ah Chaewon you’re home, how was the outing?”

 

“I went to the hospital and got tests.”

 

Miss. Son sighed annoyingly,

“And?”

 

Chaewon tightened her fists,

“She needs surgery immediately and even if it goes well she’ll most likely have a month…”

 

“Oh.”

 

Miss. Son said unfazed,

“Oh?”

 

Chaewon’s throat felt as if it was closing,

“As it’s my job to look after her I suggest the surgery.”

 

Miss. Son scoffed,

“I suppose, you do.”

 

Chaewon prayed to whatever deity she could to stop herself from punching Miss. Son,

“I’d like to request my 24/7 care for Hyejoo.”

 

Miss. Son raised her eyebrow questionably,

“And I assume you want more pay?”

 

Chaewon shook her head,

“No, just somewhere to sleep.”

 

Miss. Son shrugged,

“Fine, the room adjacent to Hyejoo’s is open so as you wish.”

 

“And the surgery?”

 

“Aren’t you stepping out of line?”

 

Chaewon bowed,

“My apologies.”

 

Her apology however being laced in sarcasm.

 

-

 

Chaewon poked her head into Hyejoo’s room finding her sound asleep, the robotic hum of machines, and Hyejoo’s light snores filled the solitary room. Chaewon checked the vitals and stats and arranged medications for the morning. Hyejoo groaned and tossed in her sleep causing Chaewon to grab her small hand in hers. She kissed her hand and rubbed her thumb lovingly over her skin.

 

Hyejoo slowly awoke and smiled,

“Chae?”

 

She hummed in response,

“Can I confess something?”

 

Chaewon nodded,

“I want to be…normal. Go to school, have friends, stress out over homework. The whole nine yards. I want to go to prom and have a pretty date to dance with. I want…”

 

Hyejoo began to tear up,

“I want to live Chae…. I don’t want to die not having lived even a little. My whole life has been this room…”

 

Chaewon smiled empathetically,

“Hyejoo you will, you will I promise I’ll do anything to make it happen.”

 

Hyejoo smiled and blushed,

“Anything?”

 

Chaewon nodded,

“Chaewon?”

 

Chaewon squeezed Hyejoo’s hand,

“Yeah?”

 

Hyejoo bit her lip,

“Would you….could you…um.” Hyejoo’s eyes darted around the room, “would you kiss me?”

 

Chaewon let out a small gasp,

“Hyejoo….”

 

“Please…”

 

Hyejoo croaked out,

“I just want to know what it feels like….”

 

Chaewon nodded and cupped Hyejoo’s face,

“You sure?”

 

Hyejoo nodded as Chaewon leaned in a gently kissed her. She pulled away as quickly as she leaned in and Hyejoo looked at her in awe her eyes twinkling,

“Can I kiss you again?”

 

Chaewon smiled and playfully pushed her shoulder,

“Maybe next time.”

 

Hyejoo frowned,

“Tease!”

 

They both laughed but then Hyejoo winced cause Chaewon to begin checking her over,

“I’m fine Chaewon!”

 

Hyejoo smiled,

“Thanks…for making me feel something other than pain…”

 

Chaewon smiled and kissed her cheek causing Hyejoo to blush,

“Ya!”