As the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Minju jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead as she struggled to shake off the remnants of a restless sleep.

The scene from the previous night haunted her, replaying over and over in her mind like a cruel mantra. She couldn't shake the memory of Taesung lying motionless on the operating table, his life slipping away despite her best efforts to save him.

She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by his final request. Take care of her. The reason for Taesung's attempt on his own life remained a mystery, a puzzle that Minju couldn't unravel no matter how hard she tried. But she knew that she couldn't ignore his final plea.

Eunseo watched the brunette breathe deeply, trying to comprehend the morning in a fazed state. Sighing silently, she said, "I bought you some food." She gestured at her study table. "I heard what happened and figured you might not have the capacity to get food on your own. You still need to eat."

As she slipped on her white coat, she said, "I'll be back with lunch. So, just rest. Call me if you need anything." She flattened her lips into a gentle smile.

Minju nodded. "Thank you," was all she could articulate.

Eunseo returned a nod and headed out of the room, leaving the girl alone.

The first thing Minju does is look for her phone, wanting to find the person who brings her peace amid a mental crisis.

However, there was nothing. Nothing from Yujin, no messages, just nothing. Not even the usual Good Morning text which the brunette felt was a little off.

Thinking the girl was busy with her presentation, she decided to freshen up a little bit to keep her mind off things.

However, as minutes and hours went by, there was still no reply from the girl. Minju called but to no avail. So she kept waiting, letting the girl focus on her presentation, not knowing how it usually goes for Yujin.

Minju wanted to tell the girl what had happened the previous night. She wanted to tell her everything about it in hopes Yujin could lighten the weight on both her shoulders and chest.

—

As evening came, Eunseo stepped out of the shower after her shift, seeing Minju all curled up into a ball on the bed, for once, aimlessly scrolling TikTok.

She never watches them. Said it was boring and a waste of time. Which in turn, is the best way to kill time.

"Are you okay with the night shift?" Eunseo was slightly worried. "I can cover for you, I'm not that tired." She ruffled the towel against her head.

Minju rose from the bed, shifted the blanket aside and got ready quietly. Eunseo watched her walk past her, towards the bathroom as a cold gust of air flew past.

Feeling the heavy atmosphere, the older girl could tell that something was wrong. But she concluded last night was indeed something difficult to get through alone.

So, she decided to tag along with Minju on her night shift in case anything happened because the girl barely ate her dinner. Maybe a spoonful of rice or two.

Walking through the connecting bridge, her hands in her coat pockets, Minju asked, "Why are you following me?"

"I'm not following you. Just," Eunseo let out a pleased sigh. "Trying to do a little more before this internship ends." She smiled with her teeth and earned a scoff.

"Not because you think something might happen to me?"

"You didn't have to state the obvious," the older girl said. "I'm your roommate. So, technically I have the responsibility to make sure you're back in the room in one piece."

Minju chuckled. "I'll be fine."

As they walked past the lobby, a familiar figure strutted through the entrance and towards the receptionist. Eunseo wondered if dust got into her contacts but Minju knew it was Yujin at first sight.

"Isn't that Yujin?"

A hum reverberated in the brunette's throat as they both watched Yujin jog towards the other building. Before Minju could process what was going on, Eunseo dragged her along hastily, following where Yujin was heading because she knew Yujin was the cure to whatever was going on inside Minju's head.

Their footsteps slowed when they realised where Yujin was leading them. Down the hall were doors that lead to individual mortuaries where families have privacy with the deceased.

Eunseo's grip loosened around Minju's wrist as she turned to the girl. "She didn't tell you anything?"

The brunette stood there all lost and silent, wondering why Yujin was there and why didn't she say a word about being here.

Not receiving an answer, Eunseo said, "Let's just wait out here." She brought the girl to sit on the bench of chairs.

Minju's eyes were constantly stuck on the door of the room Yujin entered. It was also a room where Taesung's body was admitted.

It can't be.

But everything Taesung said, every little thing he did, his habits, his thinking, were too similar to that of Yujin's.

There's no way.

A while passed before people started exiting the room Yujin entered, along with the doctors. The last to appear was the younger girl who briefly conversed with the adults, who seemed like relatives, before catching sight of Minju.

Their eyes met for a long second but Yujin was too caught up with the adults. Having to leave with them, she couldn't help leaving a message for Minju.

The brunette shifted her gaze to her phone screen when a notification appeared.

My Ahn Yujin: I'm sorry for missing your calls. Everything's all over the place right now. I'll call you when things settle down a little.

Minju looked across the hallway to see the younger girl giving her a small smile, one forced yet told her many things, before Yujin walked through the front exit with her family.

—

Pacing around wards, Minju's mind was caught up with Yujin over the fact that she witnessed a devastating scene in the operation room. Why was the girl here? Why did she enter that room? Who were those people?

Gyuri spotted her walking aimlessly down the hallway and caught up with her footsteps. "Why are you here? I told Dr Kim you'll be resting for the night."

"I'm okay," Minju assured.

"I know you are. But still, you need to rest." Gyuri stopped her from walking. "I saw her," she said. "Yujin. And you won't believe—"

"I know." Minju met with her gaze. She flattened her lips. "Just let me finish my rounds for tonight."

"Are you sure?"

The younger girl nodded and said nothing more before walking away. Gyuri let out a deep sigh as Eunseo, who had been trying to keep herself away from Minju so the girl could breathe, stopped next to her.

"How was she?" Gyuri asked the roommate.

All Eunseo could do was sigh. "I would've gone crazy if I were her," she said. "She saw everything. And now she knows that the man is her girlfriend's father."

Gyuri sighed heftily "I just hope she doesn't blame herself for it."

—

As the night draped its sombre veil over the funeral hall, Minju stood by the entrance, her gaze anchored on Yujin amidst the dwindling crowd. The dim glow of the flickering candles cast shadows across the room, adding to the solemn atmosphere that hung heavy in the air.

She couldn't help but worry about how the younger girl was coping with the weight of the day's events.

Gyuri and Eunseo stood by her side, offering silent support and understanding, knowing that it wasn't easy for Minju to come to terms with witnessing Taesung's death either.

As the last of the mourners left and the funeral hall grew quiet, Minju finally found an opportunity to approach Yujin.

The younger girl sat alone by the altar, her gloomy silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. Her shoulders were slumped, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames before her. She hasn't said a word other than bowing to people who came to pay their respects.

Yujin's mother walked up to the girl, dressed in the same mourner's gown and told her, "I'll be in the family room. Kijun (Yujin's stepfather) will be here soon."

Yujin nodded, watching her enter the room before shifting her gaze onto Minju who quietly sat next to her. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, but the sight of Minju's steady gaze brought a sense of calmness to her tumultuous emotions.

Gently, without a word, the older girl reached out and took Yujin's hand in hers. Minju then interlaced her fingers with the girl's, giving her hand three gentle squeezes.

"I'm here," Minju whispered, her voice a soft murmur against the quiet of the room. "You're okay," she assured, more than she could be assured herself.

Yujin's expression softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she dropped her head onto Minju's shoulder, her hand squeezing back in acknowledgement.

The older girl could feel the soft tremors coming from Yujin's body as her eyes moved towards the portrait sitting on top of the altar. Looking at Yujin whose gaze remained lost in thin air, Minju used her finger and gently brushed a piece of bothering hair away from the latter's face.

They have the same eyes, was what Minju thought.

At that moment, with Minju's steady presence by her side, the weight of grief felt a little lighter, the darkness a little less daunting. Yet her touch floode