“My first wish is for you and I

To be happy like we were today

The second wish is to always be together

Even after several winters”

Red Velvet – Wish Tree

The room was left in an awkward silence when the nurse left, after readjusting the IV on Junmyeon’s wrist and renewing the drugs supplied through the IV drip. Mina took a seat beside him on the edge of the bed where he was already sitting.

“Is it still hard to breath?”

Junmyeon shook his head.

“Does your throat feel like it’s swollen?”

“I got the medicine...it’s not such a big deal like hyung was saying.”

“Junmyeon,”

Suddenly an octave lower, her voice sounded serious. It made him turn to face her.

Recalling Jessica’s words, she couldn’t help but place her hand on his left knee. “Does it still hurt? When it gets cold?”

“A little.” He replied, curtly as usual. “It’s alright. I’m used to it.”

“All because of me.” Mina wiped the tears away with her free hand. “How long were you in hospital because of this?”

“About three months. Or slightly longer. One month here in Seoul, and the rest in the States.”

“All alone?”

“I had a caregiver.”

“Oh god...” she whispered, unstoppably tearing up again. “If only I visited you when you called me...”

“Why don’t you ask about the good memories?” he asked, his eyes fixated on her hand on his knee. “Probably Jess told you everything.”

“When we were little? The first time we met?”

He nodded. “It was my first time having an ice cream. Abhuji couldn’t afford anything other than ramyeon or rice and kimchi those days... And that ice cream you gave me was my first meal in about two days.”

Mina listened in silence, and he kept on talking.

“And the day my puppy died, I went home and told abhuji that omma had sent me an angel from heaven because doldollie was taken away. I guess I probably saw you as an actual angel. Because you were practically glowing in my eyes.”

And he placed his hand on hers, and gently squeezed it. “I have lot’s to tell you...just don’t know where to start. I mean I was never planning to tell you anything.”

“Why Junmyeon? That’s exactly what I wanted to ask you! Why didn’t you tell me anything? At least after we got married?”

“Why make myself a fool in front of you? If you’re planning to leave me one day, why would I bother bringing up the past and hurt myself?”

“For once, forget every single person outside this room. Forget everyone else and tell me everything you’ve always wanted to tell me. About your childhood, the hard days, your stay in USA, about your work...about the things you want to do with me...”

And I will stay.

The girl thought.

I’ll hear everything you have to say, and I will stay, not just this night.

“I think Jess did the right thing.” Junmyeon began. “Since you know everything, I feel less suffocated now. I wish I had told you everything earlier.”

“It’s alright. I’m glad that I know everything at least now.”

“It took me long enough to realize this... or actually it took me long enough to convince myself.”

“Realize what Junmyeon?”

“That I can’t force anyone to love me.” he raised his head and looked at her. “I’m sorry for going back and forth with my words...just consider me not being in my right mind Mina.”

“What...” the girl felt herself almost stuttering. “What are you trying to tell.”

Don’t tell me to leave. I don’t want to run back to Chanyeol.

He lowered his head to look at the wedding band on her left ring finger.

“I’ll be alright without you.”

And he raised his head again, to meet her eyes.

“I won’t throw any stupid tantrums and make scenes again. I’m gonna get a grip of myself. So you don’t have to stress yourself out because of me.”

Out of nowhere, Mina was remembered of her mom’s words from her childhood, which had been long forgotten, since they were said years ago.

“Omma why did appa marry you?” the little Mina had asked, at the party for her parent’s tenth wedding anniversary. “Was it because you were pretty?”

“It’s not because I was pretty Mina-yah...” he mother had explained with a smile. “There were lots of other pretty women out there.”

“Then why omma? Appa is handsome like a Prince! So why?”

“It’s because he loved me. And I loved him as well.”

“Why did you love him?”

“Because I felt him here.” she placed her hand on the little girl’s chest. “When you love someone so dearly, you feel them here. And once you feel it there, it will never leave your heart.”

That was because where her mom had pressed her palm back then, was hurting right now, for the person sitting next to her.

“Junmyeon,”

He held what he was going to say next, and looked back at the girl who was staring at him.

She had uttered his name without thinking, and when she was the glint in his eyes, the girl couldn’t help but close the space between them with a hug. She pulled him closer, and encircled her arms around his neck. It took him a while before he hugged her back, running his arms around her waist. And she started caressing his head, running her fingers through the shirt black hair at the back of his head.

I’ll make up for everything Junmyeon... I make up for all the pain you’ve been through...

“Would you be alright without me Junmyeon?”

She felt him hum against her shoulder. “We can still be friends. We’ll care for each other in need. That way we won’t lose each other.”

She heard him sigh, as he made himself more comfortable by leaning his head on hers.

“Trust me. I’ll be fine.”

And she continued to his head, for longer than she could keep track of time, until the strength of the drugs took over, and he drifted off to sleep on her shoulder.

His hands slid down her waist, losing their hold.

“Junmyeon?” she whispered.

He hummed in reply, and slowly opened his heavy eyelids.

“Get some sleep. The medicine is making you drowsy.”

“It’s alright... I can stay awake.”

“Just get some sleep.” Mina drew apart from him, and held him by the shoulders. “We can talk again tomorrow.”

“I gotta work tomor-”

“Forget work for once and get some rest while you’re at it!” Mina frowned. “Lie down. Now!”

* * *

Mina’s mom woke up with a start, hearing her phone ring. “Oh Mina-yah,” she answered the call in a lowered voice, so that her husband wouldn’t wake up. “What’s the matter darling?”

“Omma, can you come down?”

“Come down? You mean you’re here?”

“I’m in the living room.”

And her mom came hurrying downstairs, hastily tying her dressing gown over the night dress. Mina was sitting on a couch, and she went to sit beside her.

“What’s wrong dear? What made you come here at this hour? It’s almost three in the morning!”

“Omma...” the girl broke into sobs, making her mom horrified. “What should I do?”

“Yah...stop crying Mina! And tell me what’s wrong!”

After a while, when the girl was calmed down again, she began talking. “If I tell you the actual situation, will you help me sort this out without judging me?”

“Mina... I’m your mother darling. I’m the person you can trust the most! So tell me what brings you here at this hour. Is it Junmyeon?”

The girl nodded.

“What about him?”

“It’s about him...and Chanyeol as well, omma.”

Her mother’s face grew solemn within seconds. “Are you still having feelings for him?”

“Can you put the business aside for a moment and answer me?”

“I will. What’s going on between you three?”

“I... I happened to know, well Amber has given evidence as well, and I almost heard it from Chanyeol himself...”

“That he’s eyeing your inheritance?”

Mina paused for a second. “Yes omma.”

“And Junmyeon?”

“I just got to know that... that he’s done lots for me, he’s been there when I didn’t even know...”

“You only got to know today that he loves you?”

The girl shook her head. “Well I kinda knew that before. But letting go of Chanyeol isn’t easy omma. And I met him today, and the things he said...” he face grew darker as her mom was watching.

“Here, let me make something for you to drink.” he mom suddenly stood up from the couch. “Have you eaten? What about dinner?”

The girl shook her head.

“No lunch too I suppose? Come here, have something to eat first and we’ll talk.”

After having the sandwiched and hot chocolate her mom made, Mina had a long talk with her mom, and in the end, her mom asked the girl to go to bed, so they can talk further in the morning. “But omma,” Mina opposed. “You didn’t help me find a solution! How can I go to sleep with all these problems in my head?”

“Mina, my dear,” her mom took her hand, and smiled, a smile that was way too carefree given the situation. “I see the solution just within you! You shouldn’t be wasting so much energy when you know the answer yourself!”

“What do you mean I know? I really don’t know what to do omma!”

“For the past two hours,” He mom started explaining. “How many times do you think you mentioned that you have to be in the hospital by the dawn? How many times do you think you asked me what’s good for a person who’s just recovered an allergic reaction? You asked me to make porridge for him, then said you’ll make it yourself and asked me to teach you...then you were wondering whether he’ll need any clothes or other necessities, you said more than a dozen times that you have to be there before he wakes up... Do you