"Hello welcome to NamjooPlease youtube channel. So today I will answer one of your questions about 'Why most of the time I am in a hospital room?'"

Jiwon-Watching the same video again?

Jiwon said, smiling at his son, Kyungsoo. He smiled back, shaking his head

Kyungsoo-Different video but... Same girl
Jiwon-She is a Cystic Fibrosis patient too?
Kyungsoo-Yeah. She just revealed it in the video I'm watching

Jiwon nodded. Kyungsoo was also a CF patient. He just admitted to Jaeguk Hospital to perform a medicational trial in attempt to get rid of the bacterial infection he had in his lungs

Jiwon-I need to leave for work but I will surely come back before anything else
Kyungsoo-Sure, don't worry about me
Jiwon-Remember...
Kyungsoo-Six feet apart. Yes mom
Jiwon-Good boy. Bye

Kyungsoo waved at Jiwon. As soon as Jiwon shut the door, Kyungsoo kept back his laptop and got off from his bed

Kyungsoo put on his mask and gloves before leaving his ward room

Being a CF patient didn't stop Kyungsoo from being an a free-spirited teenager. He was lucky not to have a CF patient in his school so he could socialise well

Until his lungs condition got worsened

Kyungsoo-Ah the air is so fresh out here

Kyungsoo the morning air from the rooftop. He looked down from the 11th floor. The cars and vehicles seemed small from there

Kyungsoo-I cannot wait for the drug test to succeed. I will get the hell out of here!

Kyungsoo yelled excitedly

"Ehem!"

Kyungsoo turned around when he heard a voice from behind. 10 feet away from him, stood a girl in purple dress, wearing gloves and holding a purple diary in her hands

Kim Namjoo

Namjoo-What are you doing here?
Kyungsoo-I'm taking a fresh air. Why, I can't be here?
Namjoo-It's not like that. But considering to your condition... You are a CF patient too?
Kyungsoo-I am
Namjoo-Then you cannot be here

Kyungsoo laughed sarcastically. Who the hell made that rules?

Kyungsoo-What about you leaving this place? I got here first
Namjoo-I have always been here alone in the past five months
Kyungsoo-I guess we need to share this place from today on

Namjoo-Are you dumb? We are both a CF patient
Kyungsoo-Then what? This rooftop ends are more than 6 feet apart. You can stay overthere and I will stay over here. Deal?

Namjoo puffed her lips angrily. She turned around and walked to the other side of the rooftop

Namjoo-Remember. Don't ever come close to me
Kyungsoo-Never

Kyungsoo raised both of his hands. Namjoo nodded. They had made a deal

***

Today when Namjoo came to the rooftop, Kyungsoo was already there. He did nothing but looking out to the busy road down there while sipping his canned coffee

Namjoo sat on the other side, facing Kyungsoo. She got the gut to sketch him from the side. She didn't know what the result could be but she still tried

Kyungsoo-What are you doing?

Namjoo-You startled me!

Namjoo's book was thrown to the floor and it fell at Kyungsoo's feet. He bent down to pick it up

Kyungsoo-Is this me?
Namjoo-Nn.. No!
Kyungsoo-It's me! Wah... You are a great artist
Namjoo-No. Not that level
Kyungsoo-Aish cut the humbleness

Kyungsoo took one step closer to Namjoo but he stopped. They both looked down to the tiles. It was exactly six tiles away = six feet

Kyungsoo-Your book
Namjoo-*took it* Thanks
Kyungsoo-Good work. Keep it up

Kyungsoo smiled before he left the rooftop. Namjoo only could send him off with her eyes

Namjoo-Th.. Thanks

A line of smile appeared on her lips. Namjoo never showed her sketching to anyone. But today Kyungsoo saw her drawing + it was his drawing and he said she did a good job

Namjoo's felt her heart fluttered as if it had wings. She stayed longer on the rooftop to finish coloring her sketching

***

Kyungsoo came out of his room. When he walked pass the lobby he saw Namjoo

She was sitting by the window and busy sketching something in her book again today. She kept looking up to the sky. Perhaps she was drawing the clouds. The weather was nice today

Kyungsoo leant againts the wall while watching Namjoo who was meters away from him. It was a shame that he could not approach her to see what was she doing

Kyungsoo-Are you... NamjooPlease youtuber?

Namjoo glanced over her shoulder at Kyungsoo. She put down her pen and book

Namjoo-Yy.. Yeah
Kyungsoo-Daebak. No wonder you look familiar
Namjoo-Do you know me?
Kyungsoo-I watched your video when you opened up about being a CF patient
Namjoo-Oh

Kyungsoo-You are so brave
Namjoo-Rr.. Really? Do you think so?
Kyungsoo-Hmm *nodded* It's not easy to accept the fact that you are sick. Most of CF patients cannot handle it, like me

Namjoo-It's not that I can deal with it. But I am trying to accept the illness in me. We have chance to recover though. We just need lungs transplant

Kyungsoo-Please don't say that in your youtube
Namjoo-*frowned* Why not?

Kyungsoo-Not all CF patients need lungs transplant. We could still die even after the operation
Namjoo-I don't think it is something wrong to share. I do all the videos to tell CF patients there are still hopes
Kyungsoo-Are you going to be responsible when they find out there is no more hope?

Namjoo felt lump raised in . Why did Kyungsoo had to kill her will and determination to live like that?

Kyungsoo-As one of your subscriber I have the right to say this. Not all CF patients are lucky like you. We have the same disease, but different struggles. Maybe you are struggling to live. Meanwhile I am struggling to die

Kyungsoo walked back to his room and disappeared behind the door before Namjoo could say anything to him

Namjoo got up and went to Kyungsoo's room. But she didn't get in because she couldn't

Namjoo-Do Kyungsoo

She read the name on the tag. She got an idea

***

Kyungsoo browsed to youtube when a notification popped up. It was from NamjooPlease channel. He clicked on the video right away

"Hello guys, welcome back to my channel. So a few weeks ago I met with another CF patient who just got admitted to this hospital. We are quite close by now... I guess"

Kyungsoo chuckled when he knew Namjoo was talking about him

"We had a serious talk last time we met. What he told me was so precious I think. It keeps lingering in my mind. Lucky. He told me I am lucky because at least I have the solution to my disease. Thinking about it again I just realised how lucky I am

However, I don't think those who don't have the chance to survive as unlucky though. I lost my friend in this hospital a month ago. He died but never once he mentioned for being unlucky

Come back to think about it again, some people die at young age although they don't have CF or any other illness. Life is too short to consider it as being unlucky

What I am trying to say is, we gotta enjoy the moment we have while we can. Ever since I was young, I thought my illness has stolen a lot of things from me to live as a normal

But now I will steal from it too. One foot. I will steal one foot in other to be one step closer with someone I want to be with

So how? Are in... Do Kyungsoo sshi?"

Knock! Knock!

Kyungsoo walked to the door to open it. He found Namjoo standing with a huge smile, holding a broom stick

Namjoo held the stick up to their waist level

Namjoo-Five feet apart. Call?

Kyungsoo grinned before nodding his head

Kyungsoo-Call

That night, Namjoo and Kyungsoo escaped from their ward rooms. It was Namjoo's first time breaking the rules but somehow being with Kyungsoo made she fearless

They were holding to each end of the stick. Kyungsoo glanced at Namjoo and she looked back at him, smiling

They stopped at the bridge, looking out to the frozen lake below them

Kyungsoo-I don't expect us to break the rules like this
Namjoo-It's just once in a while
Kyungsoo-Something might happen to you. Based on your videos, you are the type that don't break rules easily. Especially being out here, it can bring harm to you

Namjoo sighed deeply. Thin smoke came out from her nostrils as she breathed

Namjoo-I had a friend, Seungsik. But he died last month. I cried a lot regretting all the things we didn't get to do together. Then I realised, I never got to hug him once. I just thought I was being too strict with myself and it only makes me regret things. I don't want to experience it again

Kyungsoo smiled kindly at Namjoo then nodded

Kyungsoo-Do you want to ski?
Namjoo-It sounds fun

They went down from the bridge to the frozen lake. Namjoo put the stick down and they walked to the middle

Namjoo-Wee!

She cheered happily. They glided round and round like a little kids who just learnt how to ski on ice

Namjoo-Opps!

Namjoo almost fell but Kyungsoo was quick to respond by catching her arm. He eventually pulled Namjoo closer to him

Kyungsoo-Are you alright?
Namjoo-Yy.. Yeah, I'm okay

They looked down to their entangled fingers. Then they laughed

Namjoo-Wow. I don't remember when the last time I get to hold someone
Kyungsoo-Same

Kyungsoo's hand slowly trailed up to Namjoo's face

Kyungsoo-You are more beautiful in real life

Namjoo chuckled shyly. She bit her lower lip before deciding to do something crazy

She tip-toed and kissed Kyungsoo's lips. Kyungsoo was shocked that he couldn't move but Namjoo started to deepen and intensify their kiss

And she pulled away

Namjoo-Kyungsoo, I know this is too sudden and all but... I think I like you
Kyungsoo-Wh.. What?
Namjoo-I love you Do Kyungsoo
Kyungsoo-But..

Namjoo-I know! I know we can never but.. At least I don't want to die before I told you my feelings
Kyungsoo-Die? Kim Namjoo, what are you talking about?

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Namjoo's phone had been ringing ever since they fleed earlier. Kyungsoo wondered who called her but didn't bother to ask. But now he felt more suspicious

Kyungsoo-Who is calling?
Namjoo-No one
Kyungsoo-Give me your phone

Kyungsoo snuck his hand into Namjoo's pocket and took it out before she could do anything. He answered the call

"Namjoo! Where are you? Why didn't you answer my calls? Oh my God. The doctor said they found a donor for you. I want you to get it as soon as possible. I have set the date. Now will you come back? Where are you dear?"

Kyungsoo-Nn.. Namjoo is with me maam. I will get her back to the hospital now
Namjoo-Do Kyungsoo!

He ended the call and grasped her hand

Kyungsoo-Let's go
Namjoo-I don't want!
Kyungsoo-Why?!

Namjoo-I want to be with you
Kyungsoo-If you want to be with me, you must get the lungs transplant! That is the only way for us to be together

Namjoo sobbed. Kyungsoo hugged her tightly. Even though it was another threatening action, he still did it

Kyungsoo-You will be fine. Trust me and do the transplant. Okay?
Namjoo-Fine. But I'm doing this for you okay?
Kyungsoo-Yes. For us

Kyungsoo took Namjoo back to the hospital. As soon as they arrived, the doctor scolded them for not practicing social distancing. Namjoo and Kyungsoo were taken to isolation and they were separated for a week

Thankfully non of them got cross-infection

From. Namjoo
My operation is tomorrow. Will you come and see me?

Kyungsoo looked up to his mom who was talking to his doctor in charge outside his room. They thought he couldn't hear them but the conversations were so clear

Jiwon-Can't you do something?
Doctor-I am sorry maam. But the drug test was the only chance for your son
Jiwon-Oh God. Kyungsoo is only 17 years old. How can he deal with this? My poor boy. He.. Oh my God

Kyungsoo-Mom

Jiwon looked to her side and saw Kyungsoo. The doctor left them alone

Without saying anything, he hugged his mother

Kyungsoo-You will be fine
Jiwon-Oh my God honey. I am so sorry
Kyungsoo-It's not your fault
Jiwon-I love you okay? I love you forever
Kyungsoo-I love you too. Mom, can you do something for me?
Jiwon-Sure. Sure sweetheart. Anything

Kyungsoo beamed at his mother

***

"Namjoo?"
"Dear, do you hear me and mama?"

Namjoo opened her eyes to the angelic faces of her parents. She smiled and then noticed there were a huge tube in that she couldn't talk

Namjoo-Kyung...soo

But she still managed to whisper. Sugyeong glanced at her husband, Joohyuk. Worried on their faces

Sugyeong-Honey, you know he can't be here right? You still need to keep your distance at the moment
Joohyuk-But his mom came by and she gave you this. It's from Kyungsoo

Joohyuk passed a sketch book to Namjoo. She took it with sinking heart when she read Do Kyungsoo name on the book cover

She flipped to the first page and saw a drawing of... Her

She chuckled at Kyungsoo's first attempt to sketch her. Tears rolled down her face

Page by page, his images resembled her even more

Namjoo-Uhuk!

Namjoo's sob became louder

Sugyeong-Kyungsoo wishes to speak through phone with you

Joohyuk helped to plug in the earphones into Namjoo's ears. Then they left the room for Namjoo and Kyungsoo to talk privately

"Kim Namjoo, are you listening?"

Kyungsoo took one step closer to the glass window. He could see Namjoo lying on her bed now. They were on different side

She looked to her side and saw Kyungsoo smiling sadly at her. More tears streamed down her cheeks

Kyungsoo-I heard your operation succeeded. You are seriously a lucky girl Kim Namjoo

Kyungsoo breathed in deeply before getting straight to his point

Kyungsoo-Namjoo ya, when you said you loved me last night, I didn't know how to feel. But now I do. I love you too Kim Namjoo. But sadly, I cannot do it for a long time *sighed* My drug test failed. I don't know when is the time out. Maybe tomorrow, next week, or perhaps right after I left this room

Kyungsoo wiped off his tears with his index finger. He forced a smile

Kyungsoo-But that is not my point here. What I want to say is thank you. Thanks for stealing one foot so we could be one step closer to each other. And I got to kiss you, hug you and fall in love with you Kim Namjoo. I am so lucky to have all that. No, I am the luckiest

Namjoo put her hand on the glass from her side. And Kyungsoo also put his hand on the other side

Kyungsoo-Can you close your eyes?

Namjoo shook her head, crying louder than before. Kyungsoo's heart sank

Kyungsoo-Please Namjoo. Because I don't think I can walk away if you are still looking at me. Please

Kyungsoo begged. At last, Namjoo obeyed. She closed her eyes forcefully

Kyungsoo-Don't be sad okay? I love you... So much

After a split of seconds, Namjoo heard a bip sound. She opened her eyes again and found out Kyungsoo was not there anymore

And that was the last time she saw him

Because the next thing she heard from the hospital nurse, Kyungsoo passed away a week after the day they last met

The End 

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NOTE: THIS BOOK IS A REMAKE VERSION OF 'FIVE FEET APART'

21/6/20