April 2026.

Continuous beeping sounds filled the room. The girl lying in bed shifted as her eyes fluttered open, slowly, as if she’s not used to them opening. Her vision went from blurry to its usual clarity, and she began looking around. She was alone.
What happened? All that she could remember was that she was going home from a company dinner. She tried to lift her arm, but she realized that there was no weight to either of them, as if she was floating in air. Confused, she pushed herself up, with ease, and dangled her leg at the edge of the bed. She stared at her hand, realizing that it was giving a translucent glow. What was happening? Is she dreaming? With questions inside her head, she slowly stood up on her feet. Still feeling dazed, she caught a shadow from behind her.

“No way.”

Her eyes grew big as she looked at the bed she was in moments prior. Or more specifically, to the person lying in bed right now.

With various medical apparatus attached, laid down unmoving, was no one else but herself.

_____

Jiyeon opted to sit at a chair adjacent to the bed, her gaze focused on the person lying in bed. Her brows scrunched up in confusion. She’s been staring at her own body for almost thirty minutes now but nothing has changed. She tried to recall the most recent of her memories, and it occurred to her that the taxi she rode as she was going home had been involved in an accident, after that, nothing. 

She tried to look around the small room she was in. Why was she alone? Aren’t patients supposed to have guardians with them? And it’s not like she’s alone in life either. She has been married for 5 years now, and as far as she is aware of, her relationship with her husband has always been good.

“Hmm, maybe he’s tired from work?” She tried to reason with herself but she also felt her heart ache. “I wonder if he’s getting along well with Yeeun…” the woman remembered her sister, her little sister who is so fragile that she cannot even take care of herself, and is, until now living with her ever since Yeeun finished university, but she has no complaints. Yeeun has always been a sweet little sister despite having a different father. So she thought that Yeeun will have no problems in getting along with her husband, they both were great people who always radiated energy - leaps and bounds different from her gloomy self.

Coming to the conclusion that she cannot do anything in this state and that she has no other clues, she decided to just stroll around the hospital to find someone she could talk to.

_____

Jiyeon was awakened by the noise of the door being opened rather harshly. She didn’t realize that she had fallen asleep, she thought that ghosts- souls- whatever she is, didn’t have the need to do so. She looked up and her face brightened as she realized who just entered the room. “Yongmin!” She grinned widely in glee as she took small steps towards her husband. “Hey, why are you only coming now?” It appeared as though Jiyeon was sulking, but of course, she didn’t reach his ears. “As I thought, you can’t really hear me huh?” She sighed with this confirmation. What will she do now? Will she forever stay like this? 

The woman heard her husband sigh, “Ah, I feel so guilty. He might be feeling devastated now, look at those dark- oh his eyes aren’t dark” she knitted her brows and observed the man in the room. He was wearing a white long sleeved polo that was folded up until his elbows, and black jeans complimented by an expensive pair of branded shoes that she’s never seen before. Jiyeon’s gaze landed on his face that looked so soft that it may be compared to a baby’s . 

In conclusion, Yongmin looks his best right now, and that confused Jiyeon - by a lot.

Her confusion did not last long because the door to her room opened again, and she smiled when she recognized who it was - Yeeun. The shorter woman was about to walk towards the younger, but she did not expect Yeeun to take long strides straight to Yongmin. If that was unexpected, the next thing that happened shocked her even more.

Yeeun is hugging Yongmin. Her little sister is hugging her husband. From behind. Jiyeon’s mouth went agape, she did expect that the two were close but not to this point. Is that normal? Hugging your brother in law like that?

Jiyeon continued to observe the two, her heart beating faster with every second the hug lasted.

“Oppa” Yeeun called, and she moved from giving a back hug to hugging his sides, with Yongmin lifting his arms so he could hug her sideways.

“Hmm?” He hummed as he looked down. Jiyeon neared them so she could take a peek at his face, when she did, she felt her world crashing down. Yongmin looked at Yeeun like how you’d look at a rare piece of treasure. If eyes could physically take the shape of a heart, maybe Yongmin’s would be in that form right now. He stared at her so lovingly that Jiyeon felt like maybe she’s the one intruding, maybe she’s actually the mistress, and Yeeun has always been Yongmin’s significant half. Because if Yongmin loved her, why has he never looked at her like that? 

Or maybe Yongmin realized that Yeeun was better than her in all aspects? That Yeeun has a lot more to offer, is prettier, is a ray of sunshine, and is kind to everyone? Doubts began filling up Jiyeon’s head.

“What were all those years for?” Her mind traveled back to when she first met Yongmin, to when he confessed, to when he proposed, and to when they were reciting their vows.

She wondered, “Where did we go wrong? Where did I go wrong?” 

Jiyeon felt tears threatening to escape from her eyes, after all, shouldn’t she be happy for them? Because they realized that they made each other happy? Jiyeon thought that if being together would lift them up because she’s been absent from their life, then she would accept everything with open arms.

“As long as they're happy.” She consoled herself as cried her eyes out quietly in the corner of her room.

_____

Small hiccups escaped Jiyeon’s mouth, she had just finished crying, but a barrage of hiccups followed. The same thing always happens whenever she cries, so she rarely does. 

The pair were now seated beside the patient’s bed. Steeling herself, Jiyeon took a deep breath and walked closer to where they were. “It doesn’t matter Jiyeon-ah, as long as the people you love are happy right?” She whispered to herself, to make herself believe. She mustered up a smile even though she couldn't be seen by the other two.

“Oppa, is there any news?” Jiyeon tried to read the other woman’s expression, she didn’t know how Yeeun’s feeling right now as she had a blank look on her face. Jiyeon wondered what she was referring to.

“No, not yet.” Yongmin also wore a serious look, making Jiyeon’s heart race, were they talking about her? Was her condition that severe? Will she never wake up? “I think we need to wait for a few more months, so the insurance could reach 600,000,000 won” Jiyeon wasn't sure if she heard him right. Insurance? 600,000,000? 

“Just what the hell is happening right now?!” She couldn't help but blurt out in disbelief. Jiyeon may be dense, but she wasn’t dumb. She clearly understood what the two were talking about. She walked until she reached Yongmin, and tried to grab him, but of course, it was to no avail. She could not touch living beings, making her feel more frustrated as she could only listen to their nonsense. Her grip on the hospital gown turned her palms white.

“That’s actually a lot of money” Yeeun said, clearly surprised. 

“Hah! You know how your sister is, she’s always lived frugally and brought her money to either the bank or the insurance companies, it’s no wonder she looks like that, she did not even bother buying anything to make herself presentable, tsk.” Yongmin leaned against Yeeun and continued rambling. “She was never attractive from the start, but it became more apparent now that we’re older. Heck, if someone told me that she’s in her 40s, I’d believe them in a heartbeat.” Jiyeon couldn’t believe her ears, Yongmin has always told her that she did not need to put in the effort, and that he has always loved her for who she was, that’s why she did not focus on bettering herself and poured her efforts into building their family. Jiyeon knew that she was rather plain - appearance wise. She always had her hair up in a neat ponytail, always wore shirts and jeans to work, she does not even bother applying sunscreen on her skin.

“That’s true” Yeeun agreed, “I’ve always told her to take care of herself, but she never listens to me” she even pouted, and Jiyeon could only stand in disbelief with the lies. She doesn’t remember her sister saying such things, ever.

“I think that’s why I’ve always been drawn to you, not only do you care a lot about other people, but you also never forget to watch yourself, really, why did I have to meet you after her? We could have been married with kids now don’t you think?” Yongmin put an arm around Yeeun and pulled her close, and Jiyeon did not know how to feel. It was all too much for her. She did not know whether to be angry, or sad, all she knew was that she wanted to get out of there, fast. So she ran away.

_____

Her feet brought her to the garden behind the hospital, the area where patients were free to roam around in, accompanied by either their guardians or medical personnel. Jiyeon envied them, but whether it was envy over being able to walk around, conscious, or them having important people with them, she did not know.