The last day of our thirty days had arrived, and I couldn't ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach. Today, a decision needs to be made. Would we continue our relationship or go our separate ways? There was no doubt that I still loved Sana with all my heart, but the uncertainty of her feelings was what kept me on edge.

Part of me was terrified that she might decide it is best to end our relationship. The thought of saying goodbye, especially when my days were numbered, was like a sharp, heavy weight pressing on my chest.

But there was another nagging concern deep within me. What if Sana would want to continue our relationship despite my limited time? How can I ask her to endure the pain and heartache of watching me deteriorate, of ultimately losing me? The idea that she might choose to stay with me out of unconditional love made my heart ache in a different way.

My thoughts came to a sudden halt as Sana walked into Chan's restaurant. Finally, we're here, together.

She sighed in mock relief as she settled into her chair. "Thank you very much for not standing me up this time," she said.

"Well, I couldn't stand you up this time," I said with a smirk. "I've already paid Chan for the entire place. It's ours for the night."

"Oh, yeah?" she raised her eyebrows. "If you had stood me up, then it would have been a waste of money, hmm?"

"Exactly," I teased.

Chan finally arrived with their dishes, placing them gently on the table. "Here you go," he said with a warm smile. "I hope you both have a wonderful evening. If you need anything else, just give me a shout or something."

Sana and I exchanged grateful nods as he left us to enjoy our meal. It was comforting to know that we had the entire place to ourselves and, of course, Chan at our disposal for the night.

"So, how's your heart these days?" I asked.

She gently set her fork down, leaning back in her chair. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before she began, "You know, these days have been one hell of a ride. It's been wonderful to spend time with you again, but it's also like revisiting the past, with all the ups and downs."

With a contemplative expression, she continued, "At times, I feel overwhelmed by the uncertainty of our future. It's hard to escape the fact that we've been through so much, and now we're facing this life-altering decision."

She continued, her gaze never leaving mine, "Sometimes, I feel a sense of apprehension about the future and the uncertainty it holds. It's challenging to disregard the ups and downs we've faced."

I nodded, showing my understanding. "I understand what you mean. And these thirty days have been an incredible gift."

"Hmm. How about you? How have you been handling all your part-time jobs?"

I chuckled softly, feeling her warmth envelop me. "Well, my jobs have been... interesting, to say the least. As you know, juggling between them can be a bit of a circus act, but it keeps me busy and on my toes."

Sana laughed along with me, the melodious sound filling the restaurant. "But I have to say, you're pretty impressive at it," she said.

"It can be hectic, but it's worth it, especially when I get to look forward to evenings like this with you."

"I'm glad to be part of your busy life, Dahyun."

"Me too, my love," I smiled.

"How was it when we broke up? When you had to try living your life on your own for a while? I'm just curious... I mean, how did you manage to go on every day without having me around?"

"Well, you know, those days were... something. At first, I was like, 'Great, I can finally watch all the cheesy dramas I want without judgment!'"

"Oh, I see," she laughed.

I nodded, grinning. "They kept me sane during those lonely nights. But then, I also had those moments where I'd see something funny or exciting and turn to tell you," I said, "...only to realize you weren't there."

When she went quiet, I could feel she was sorry for me. Her eyes flickered. "And of course, I spent a lot of time with Max, taking him out for walks, trying to be a responsible babysitter."

"You really care about Max, huh?"

"Yeah, I do. He's such a bundle of energy and a handful, but he's also a sweet kid. And having him around made those days a bit less lonely."

"Hmm," she hummed, bobbing her head.

"You know," I admitted, "I don't think I ever truly got by on my own. I always missed you, always. Every day, I wished you were there with me."

"Honey," Sana began, "I used to complain about those things, about the promises you didn't keep, the little habits that irked me. When we were apart, I had time to think about everything."

"When you promised we'd get married, but it never happened. That was frustrating," she said, and I could see it in her eyes, it still pained her. "And suddenly, it wasn't just about your promise. It was about all those little things that used to annoy me."

Sana leaned forward, her expression thoughtful. "You never took things seriously, even when they were important. Don't even get me started on how you could turn any topic into a joke." She continued, "You were always running late. Our plans would be set, but you'd make us late every time. And you're incredibly messy, baby. You have no idea how much time I used to spend cleaning up after you. You left your things everywhere. I mean, it was like a treasure hunt to find my stuff when you were around."

I nodded in agreement as she mentioned each of these points. I had a tendency to procrastinate, leave my belongings scattered around, and indeed, I had a habit of being late, much to Sana's dismay.

She concluded, "But despite all of that, I realized that I missed it. I missed you. It's what makes you, well, you."

"God, I was such a terrible girlfriend," I admitted with a playful grimace. "I mean, who leaves their socks in the living room, and why on earth did I always have to be fashionably late?" I started mocking myself.

"You were a handful, that's for sure," she teased. "But you were my handful."

I smiled at her, grateful for her understanding and her willingness to accept me, flaws and all.

"Dahyun, I need you in my life," she said. "I need you back, and I want us back. Let's not break up."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. I was stunned, my heart racing as I absorbed what she had just said. The weight of her words was immense, and I found myself wondering if this was what I truly wanted to hear.

As her hopeful eyes searched mine for a response, I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "I... I think... I think we should break up," I said, my voice irresolute.

I knew better than to let my own feelings and desires cloud the judgment I had made over the past thirty days. My impending death was an undeniable reality, and I couldn't bear the thought of causing Sana more pain in the long run. I wanted her to have a chance at a future free from the constraints of my mortality.

Sana's reaction caught me off guard. She chuckled, assuming it was another one of my goofy pranks. She playfully said, "What the... Dahyun, your prank totally failed! You're supposed to make me laugh, that's how pranks work! Don't think of something so serious," she said. "Come on, we should probably talk about what to do tomorrow."

"Sana," I said. "I'm serious. This is not a prank. I think it's best if we break up."

"What are you up to?" she asked. "Are you trying to make me cry? Because if I cry, no... if I cry... will this prank finally be over?"

"Babe, no," I muttered as I reached out to gently hold her hand, which she immediately took back to herself. "I don't want to see you cry, so don't do that."

Sana shook her head and abruptly stood up, pushing her chair back. "Hey, no, don't leave." And each time, my voice grew louder and more desperate. "Sana, don't go!"  But she seemed distant, lost in her own thoughts. I couldn't let her walk away like this.

"I have cancer!" I shouted louder than I had ever shouted any word before. "Sana, I... I'm dying."

Tears welled up in Sana's eyes as she stared at me in disbelief. "What's wrong with you? If you don't love me anymore, just say that! Don't make up reasons like that to break up with me!" she yelled, her voice breaking.

I could see the hurt and confusion in her eyes, and I realized that I had chosen the hardest path. I had wanted to protect her from the pain of losing me, but in doing so, I had may have created even more of that.

"Why else would I have let you break up with me the first time like it was the easiest thing to do? It should have been the hardest choice, Sana!" I exclaimed. "I would never willingly break up with you if I had the choice. But I thought that if you left now, you could move on quickly and eventually forget about me. And when I'm gone, it wouldn't be as painful for you."

I continued, "It was never about not loving you or wanting to be apart from you – it's the opposite. I love you too much to see you suffer!" Tears streamed down my face, and I continued to speak through the emotions that threatened to choke me. "It was because I love you so much that I thought I was doing the right thing. I wanted you to have a chance at happiness, a future where you don't have to think about me anymore."

I paused to take a shaky breath, my eyes locked with Sana's, pleading for understanding. "But now, seeing you here, in front of me, knowing that you could now be gone from my life forever, it's breaking my heart even more," I said. "I don't want to lose you, but I thought it was the right thing to do for you, Sana."

It was in this quiet moment, with the soft rustle of curtains in the breeze and the muffled sounds of life outside, that I let my heart break. The pain was real, raw, and inescapable. I held onto it for a while, just to feel the depth of what I had lost, to understand that it wasn't a dream or a fleeting moment. It was my reality, and I needed to accept it, even if it felt like my world was falling apart.

"I thought it was what you needed, even though it's the last thing I wanted," I said, to bring this to a definitive conclusion.

"No," she said. "No, Dahyun. I won't let you break up with me. your cancer... and your sloppy decisions. But no, this isn't happening. Are you stupid?"

Confusion etched across my face as I tried to comprehend Sana's vehement reaction. "You think pushing me away means caring for me? No, Dahyun." She continued, her voice filled with frustration and genuine care, both at the same time. "You're my partner, and we face everything together. Your pain is my pain, and your joy is my joy. Don't you dare think you can decide what's best for me without considering how I feel. I love you, and I'm not letting go."

"I didn't sign up for an easy love, Dahyun. I signed up for all of it—every bit of joy, pain, and uncertainty that comes with being with you." She took a deep breath, her eyes reflecting both frustration and determination. "So, I won't let you rob me of my choice, of the time we have left. We face the uncertainty, the pain, and the heartbreak—everything that comes our way, together. Because I love you. Cancer or not, I love you," she said. "I love you, Dahyun."

"Sana, I'm trying to protect—"

"I already said no!" Her eyes bore into mine. And she said, "I don't need protection from you. I need you! I need you to fight with me, not against me. If you think breaking up will make it easier for me, you're wrong. It'll crush me. It'll be a wound that won't heal. So, stop this nonsense."

Ah, Sana and her stubborn ways. It's like trying to teach a cat to fetch. You throw the idea, and it just stares at you, unimpressed. But that's what I love about her. She's not one to back down, even when faced with my questionable decisions.

I swear, if stubbornness were an Olympic sport, my girlfriend would be the undisputed champion. I've lost count of how many times I've tried to reason with her, present a logical argument, and she just smiles that infuriating smile of hers. It's like arguing with a brick wall, but a cute brick wall, if that's even a thing. Yep, it maybe it's a bit exasperating at times, but it's also endearing. How can you not smile at her determination, even when she's dead wrong?

And the way she talks, it's like a waterfall of opinions cascading down. No pause button, no rewind. Once she starts, you better brace yourself for the verbal deluge. It's both frustrating and adorable. A unique blend that only Sana could pull off.

So, here's to the girl who never met a point she couldn't argue, the one who could turn a casual conversation into a debate. Maybe I'll never win those battles of logic, but in the grand scheme of things, surrendering to her stubborn charm doesn't seem like a bad idea at all.

"Well," I sighed, my voice carrying the weight of resignation. "If that's the path you're dead set on taking, fine."

"But," I continued, her voice softer now, "can you do me a favor? Come back here, wrap your arms around me, and let's seal this chaotic exchange with a hug and a kiss, okay? My vocal cords are complaining from all the yelling, and I could really use the comfort right now."

Sana hesitated for a moment, her expression torn between frustration and a touch of amusement. Finally, she let out a sigh and stepped into my waiting embrace. "You're lucky I love you so much, or I'd still be mad," she mumbled against my shoulder. "Did you know you're such an idiot?" she teased, but her tone was affectionate. I couldn't help but chuckle, relieved that the tension was starting to dissipate.

"Guilty as charged," I replied, holding her a bit tighter. "But you love this idiot, don't you?"

Sana pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting mine. There was a gentleness in her gaze, a flicker of something more profound. "More than you know," she whispered, and with that, she leaned in, planting a soft, lingering kiss on my lips.

I want to bottle up this moment