The Story of Us

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After saying good bye and assuring Taeyeon that she’s okay Tiffany went inside her condo. As soon as she closed her door she found all her strength fading, draining away like grains of sand in an hourglass. Tiffany found herself crying on the floor with her back leaned against the door.

 

Tiffany

 

Tears… I don’t know if they should be called tears when the pain and sorrow behind them is beyond what anyone else in this God forsaken world could ever possibly imagine. My tears will never stop to fall and if all my tears are spent then may be I’ll just continue weeping blood. How could everything that Yuri and I ever shared end so quickly. We worked hard and treasured our relationship but it seems that destiny just won’t let us be.

 

I remember the first time I met Yuri…

 

I was just 7; it’s been only a few days since we started living in Seoul. Me and my two older siblings Michelle unnie and Leo oppa were born in America but our mom always dreamed of coming back to Korea. Finally umma’s wish came true when appa got promoted and became the Officer In Charge and General Manager for Ford’s entry into the Korean car industry. On that faithful day that I met Yuri I was out in the front yard kicking and chasing after my favorite pink hello kitty ball. I was so amused chasing after my favorite ball without knowing that I had kicked it all the way towards the street.

 

“Hey kid! Watch oout!” I was literally stopped in my tracks when someone’s arms wrapped around my waist, stopping me from stepping into the street.

 

“Nooo!!!! My ball!” I protested and struggled as I tried to pry off this person’s hands off of me.

 

I started crying as I watched my ball bounce around as it got hit by a passing car and then went further out into the opposite side of the road. I gasped and continued to watch helplessly as my ball got trampled by this big bus. After watching my ball getting squashed I found no sense in struggling and instead I cried even harder, it was my favorite ball and I just lost it forever.

 

“My ball! My favorite ball!” I bellowed as I squatted on the pavement and buried my face in my palms.

 

“Hey kid I’m sorry about your ball, but are you crazy?” I couldn’t help but get angry, despite of my endless tears I got up and confronted this raven haired kid with a weird hair do. She had this top knot or some sort of ponytail on top of her head, revealing her forehead.

 

“What do you mean I’m crazy? I was just playing with my ball!” I took a step closer to her and my tiny fists were already clenched into a ball. I was seriously ready to put her lights out.

 

“Well genius you could have died if you crossed the road!” She raised her hands up in the air and continued explaining why she stopped me from going after my ball.

 

“You could have been squashed like your ball ya know? And what should I tell your mom and dad if that happened huh?” She pointed out, with her eyebrows scrunched together. Her chocolate brown orbs locked intensely on me, pleading that I heed to her reasons.

 

“Fine… but what about my ball!” I knew she was right but still I can’t help but continue wailing over my ball.

 

“Hey, come on stop crying… I-I… hey come on… ahhh…”

 

“Tell you what kid, uhhh… I’ll buy you any flavor of ice cream you want if you stop crying, neh?” She was no doubt trying to get me to calm down and stop crying and the very instant that I heard her say ice cream I couldn’t help but look at her.

 

Her impish grin couldn’t hide the fact that she was hoping I would finally cheer up and stop crying. Then again my eyes wandered towards that top knot looking thing on top of her head, it looked like a coconut tree sprouted on top of her head. It might be mean but I couldn’t help but laugh a bit.

 

“Yah! W-why are you laughing? Is there something on my face?” She began to panic and took the hem of her Mickey Mouse shirt and wiped her face with it. I continued laughing as her ‘top knot’ swayed around as she continued rubbing her face.

 

“Yah! Seriously what’s wrong?” She gave up finally and cutely pouted. I couldn’t resist chuckling but afterwards I stopped and pointed meekly at the thing on top of her head.

 

“ Hhmmppphh…. Meanie~! *merong* hmmpphh…” She finally got what I was laughing about and puffed up her cheeks.

 

“I did it myself ya know!” she crossed her arms over her chest and pouted cutely. I couldn’t help but laugh after seeing her pouting cutely, I didn’t even realize that I was already eye smiling.

 

“Omo! You have the prettiest eye smile I’ve ever seen!” She said with half a squeal. After hearing what she said I couldn’t help but blush.

 

“T-thanks…” I couldn’t hide my blushing cheeks but I didn’t realize I wasn’t the only one who was blushing.

 

“Hey… I’m Yuri by the way…” She reluctantly introduced herself then reached out her hand. I looked at her and despite her flushed cheeks she flashed me once again her impish grin. Even until this day when I look back I just couldn’t forget the way she looked at that moment.

 

“Tiffany… I’m Tiffany.” I took hold of her hand and shook it, I was about to let go when she started pulling me along with her.

 

“Let’s get you that ice cream!” I looked at her but she kept on smiling, something about her infectious smile got to me, I didn’t resist and let her continue dragging me along with her.

 

Ever since that day Yuri and I became inseparable, we became the very best of friends and we always did things together. We always included each other in decisions we made, our friendship became so strong that even our families have a close relationship. Often times I stayed with Yuri and her folks and she also does the same and stay with me and my folks. Yuri and I shared many firsts together, we learned how to ride a bike together, dance classes, summer camps, and she eventually became my first love.

 

Yuri and I were 14; I was spending the holidays with her and her family. I was spending it with them since I couldn’t go with my family to visit Leo-oppa in California for the holidays. My commitments at school just got in the way so I ended up missing the trip to America. It might be wrong but secretly I was so happy because it meant I could spend the holidays with Yuri.

 

When we entered high school Yuri started attracting boys and girls alike, it came to a point where the quality time that I get to spend with her gets interrupted because of her admirers. Sometimes on our way to school her admirers would wait for her in front of the school or when it’s lunch time she gets confessed to or serenaded and even when we’re on our way home guys and girls would appear out of nowhere with cheesy gestures or a bouquet of flowers. It really got me so worked up I mean even her locker is full of love letters and sometimes her desk would have piles of chocolates, flowers or stuff toys. There was even a time where boys and girls would approach me and ask me to help them with Yuri. At first I was annoyed but then I felt something… my annoyance just somehow turned into jealousy. I thought may be I had misplaced feelings or may be I’m just feeling that way because I might lose my best friend. I somehow fooled myself into thinking that way but I was so wrong and it was on that day that I realized my true feelings for Yuri.

 

Last day at school before the winter vacation.

 

Yuri and I were done packing our things inside our bags; I have just finished putting on my coat. I was going over my things again when Yuri came to me…

 

“Hey MiYoung-ah you should wear this you might catch a cold.” I literally froze on the spot when Yuri gently wrapped a pink knitted scarf around my neck. She even fixed my hair after she was done with the scarf.

 

“There isn’t it nice MiYoung-ah? I made it myself you know!”

 

“Are you okay MiYoung-ah? You’re looking a little flushed?” I didn’t know what to think let alone say, I was stiff as a board and it certainly didn’t help when Yuri brought her face closer to mine no doubt checking why I wasn’t saying anything. I couldn’t help but close my eyes and squirm a bit.

 

“MiYoung-ah… yah! MiYoung-ah you don’t like the scarf I made?” Yuri kept on tugging on the sleeve of my coat, I might have been closing my eyes but I bet she’s doing her own puppy dog eyes and since she’s even using her aegyo, without a doubt she was giving me her pleading puppy dog eyes.

 

I opened my eyes and there she was pouting and a bit teary eyed, she thought I didn’t like the scarf she made but it wasn’t like that… I-I was just too flustered being in close proximity with her… made my heart pound ten times harder and her intoxicating scent was so enticing that right then and there if I had no self-control I would have pinned her down and kissed her forcibly.

 

“Yul, it’s not like that… I do love it, I-I was just too surprised to say anything.” She began dancing and smiling dorkily.

 

“Look! Look MiYoung-ah I even embroidered something on the scarf look! Look!” Yuri showed me an end of the scarf, I was surprised, there was a heart embroidered into the scarf and it had YulTi embroidered inside the heart.

 

“YulTi?” I looked at Yuri, she just grinned as I continued to look completely dumbfounded by the word.

 

“YulTi, you know… Yuri plus Tiffany equals YulTi! I could have gone with YulMi but I liked YulTi better kekeke”

”Oh! So YulTi is our names combined together! Kyaaa~!” I started squealing happily as I savored the warmth and softness of my new scarf.

 

“But what is the heart for Yul?” I playfully asked. I saw a distinct shade of pink on Yuri’s cheeks.

 

“I-its… uhmmm… love… Yuri loves Tiffany…” She nervously explained.

 

“Really? Yuri really loves Tiffany?” I asked, hoping that she validates and affirms what she said.

 

“Yes, Yuri loves Tiffany because her heart only belongs to Tiffany.” I smiled and got teary eyed after hearing her words. I know she meant every word she said but I don’t know if she really means that she feels the same way as I do.

 

“Yuri loves Tiffany! YulTi! YulTi! YulTi!” She began dancing dorkily again and made a heart sign with her hands over her head as she continues shouting. I don’t know exactly if that was real but to me it felt real.

 

We were both dancing like dorks when all of a sudden…

 

“Excuse me… Yuri-ssi can I talk to you for a moment?” Yuri and I stopped dancing and looked towards the door.

 

“Donghae-oppa?”

 

“What is it that you’d like to talk to me about?” My heart suddenly plunged after seeing Donghae. He’s only been Yuri’s biggest crush… little by little my smile was snuffed out like a candle in the wind.

 

I wanted to tell Yuri don’t go, don’t talk to him! I wanted to grab Yuri and just run away because at that moment… Yuri walked away from me and went towards Donghae. I didn’t know what to do and I felt like I’m trapped in quicksand. All I wanted to do was get out of the room and try not to hear the words that could possibly break my heart into a million pieces.

 

“Ahmm… Yuri-ssi I really like you and I was wondering if you’d like to go out on a date with me?” Yuri smiled sweetly after Donghae asked her out. My heart clenched and like the proverbial calm before the storm I felt that the words I dreaded to hear would come out from Yuri’s lips.

 

“Donghae-oppa I would love to—” That was more than enough, I couldn’t take it anymore. All I could do was grab my bag and run past Yuri and Donghae.

 

I ran with all the strength I had and as I ran past Yuri I realized that my tears were flowing out and trailing behind me as I sped out of the room. From the corner of my eyes I could see Yuri, she saw me crying. I continued running down the hall and down the flight of stairs. As I ran haphazardly I fell down about halfway down the stairway. I felt pain in every inch of my body after the fall but the pain in my heart was far worse that what my body endured. I didn’t want to get up; all I wanted to do was cry not because of the fall but because of my aching heart.

 

“MiYoung-ah! Oh my God! MiYoung!” I heard footsteps and the sound of Yuri’s voice resounding from the top of the stairway.

 

Go away… Yuri, go away… leave me be…

 

“MiYoung! MiYoung please say something! Are you okay? My God! MiYoung speak to me!” Yuri tried to turn me over but I resisted, I know she could hear me whimpering and sobbing but I just don’t want to talk to her.

 

She tried to help me up but I pushed her hands away. My back was turned towards her as I slowly got up. I managed to stand on my own two feet but then I started to tip over again, I thought I was going to fall but just like when we first met… Yuri’s hands became wrapped around my waist. I could hear her crying and the sound of her breath hitching. I tried to struggle and break free from her grasp but she continued to hold me in place.

 

“Yuri… I’m fine. You can let me go now.” I coldly said to her.

 

“No! MiYoung-ah no! I’ll never let you go!” Yuri yelled as she tightened her hold on me.

 

“Please let me go… I can’t take it anymore Yul…”

 

“MiYoung-ah! It’s not like what you think! Please MiYoung-ah!” She cried as she tried to explain herself.

 

“Yul… please just let me be… I don’t want to hear it anymore.”

 

Suddenly she loosened her grip from my waist, she spun me around so that I would be facing her then in an instant I found myself pinned against the wall as she looked at me intently despite her red and tearful onyx eyes.

 

“No! MiYoung, listen to me. I love you! You might think I was joking or that I didn’t mean it but I swear I do love you and only you!” Her hands cupped my cheeks and despite of her tears, she looked at me with utmost sincerity.

 

As we continued staring at each other, my heartbeat tripled, she started leaning in towards me. Inch by inch her lips drew closer to mine and I could feel my heart doing somersaults and if it sprouted wings I’m sure my heart would have flown away from my chest. Then finally our lips met and I could feel everything around us come into a standstill. Her lips pressed on mine, the intoxicating scent and taste of her cherry bubblegum flavored lip gloss drove me wild. The mind numbing sensation is beyond what I could ever imagine but I knew it was only the tip of the iceberg. All of a sudden she started moving her lips, caressing, nibbling and gently massaging my lips. The kiss we shared went on for what felt like an hour but in truth it was just 7 minutes but it was 7 minutes in heaven. Our lips finally parted when we both felt the need to breathe in precious air.

 

“Do you believe me now?” Yuri asked as she ran her fingers down my jaw line. My lips curved into a smile and my cheeks for the nth time radiated a certain shade of pink.

 

“Yes I believe you, and I love you too Yuri!” I felt so happy that I cried tears of joy, Yuri quickly wiped them away and I couldn’t help but flash the loveliest eye smile I could show for my new girlfriend.

 

“Hey why did you run anyways?”

 

“Pabo you told Donghae you’d love to go out with him!”

 

“Aish… you should have just waited for me to finish! I was gonna tell him that I would love to but I’m already taken.”

 

“Ohhhhh”

 

“Pabo! MiYoung-ah!”

 

“Oh just shut up and kiss me Kwon Yuri!”

 

It was the best day of my life; it was the beginning of our relationship. I was so happy back then and I felt like I was on top of the world. I truly felt like the luckiest girl in the world, I had the girl that I wanted and if I’m lucky I’ll be able to live out the rest of my days with her. But I guess some things aren’t meant to be. Yuri and I worked hard on building our relationship and we nurtured it until we eventually got the nod from our parents. But why is this happening? After all our hard work after everything that we’ve been through why must it come to this? Yuri is this really where our rainbow ends? Yuri tell me?

 

Yuri

 

Was it wrong for me to set her free? I began doubting my decision, it’s not easy but I knew that this was the right thing to do. Tiffany has always been by my side and I’ve always been at hers. I know I caused her pain and that the decision I made hurt her in ways I could never imagine, but what choice do I have left? If only I didn’t have this kidney disease then we wouldn’t be hurting right now.  

 

After sending Tiffany away with Taengoo escorting her, I found myself alone in this empty room and the silence is no comfort it is suffocating, drowning my aching and torn heart. The air around me feels like a cage and all I could do is watch as everything around me crumble down like a castle made of sand.

 

Then slowly my mind drifted off to past events…

 

3 months ago… it was a cold morning in November when I started feeling this rather sharp piercing pain from time to time. But this morning in particular was rather strange.

 

“Yul, what’s wrong? You look rather pale, are you coming down with something?” Tiffany eyed me curiously, examining my face and no doubt worried about my current state.

 

“I-It’s nothing MiYoung-ah, I just probably need some more rest… I’ve been a little sleepless lately.” I tried my best to hold it in. The searing pain I felt on my sides is completely unbearable, the pain is comparable to being stabbed repetitively but I can’t let Fany see me like this. So I it up and held it in.

 

“You don’t look so good, I guess you should take it easy and rest for the day, okay babe?” Fany said as she ran hand on my forehead before laying a kiss. I could only nod as I settled down on our bed.

 

“Just get some rest and don’t do anything stupid okay Kwon Yuri?” I chuckled a bit and nodded with a reasurring smile. Tiffany can be a hand full when she’s in her Manager Hwang mode all I could do was nod and show her an okay sign.

 

“I’ll be off to work then okay? I’ll see you later, babe~!” We shared a short kiss before she made her way out of our room.

 

I watched as she fumbled around and looked for her car keys, I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. Seriously she claims to be organized but sometimes she seems to forget where she placed her stuff.

 

“Hun, if you’re looking for your keys it’s at the center table in the living room.” All she could do was look completely clueless and reply with an “OH!” Aigoo… MiYoung-ah.

 

“Well… I’m off to work! Kekeke” Fany laughed sheepishly and scratched her head before stepping out of our room.

 

After hearing the sound of her Ford Fiesta backing up on the driveway, I finally stopped holding it in and began squirming and writhing in pain. I tossed and our bed as huge beads of sweat appeared on my forehead. At each second that passed I felt the pain increasing. I didn’t know what to do; I took my phone and called up my older brother.

 

“Oppa… please I need your help… can you come over quick…” I gritted my teeth and growled due to the extreme discomfort I felt on either side of my abdomen.

 

“Y-Yul, what’s wrong? Where are you?” My older-brother Yesung panicked; thank god he picked up his phone.

 

“Oppa, I’m here at my place, please get here fast and don’t you dare call Tiffany!” It was at that moment that I started keeping a secret from Tiffany. At that time I didn’t really know what was going on inside my body.

 

However, after Yesung-oppa took me to the hospital, things turned for the worst. What I hoped to be just a minor health problem turned out to be something life threatening. I couldn’t help but cry tears of sorrow as the doctor gave me the news.

 

“Ms. Kwon, I’m really sorry but it seems that you’re suffering from a rare form of Kidney disease. If left untreated your kidneys would start to fail and you would have 12 months at most to live.”

 

After hearing what Dr. Rowland said, I felt like leaping from a skyscraper. It was at that moment that I felt my whole world tumbled down like a house of cards. All my hopes and dreams shattered in an instant, like a mirror broken into a million pieces. What will become of me and my life? Is this where it ends? What about me and Tiffany? What will become of us? Will I die? Will I make it past this? I felt my mind getting pulled in different directions. My thoughts overwhelmed me; all I could do was cry in utter defeat.

 

“Dr. Rowland, please tell me what are our options, I-I don’t want to lose my sister! Please tell me, what can we do?” Yesung-oppa was already crying, He’s always been strong, ever since our dad died he’s done all that he can to support me and our mom. I always looked up to him because he’s always been strong, but seeing him cry like this hurt me even more.

 

Dr. Rowland cleared his throat; Yesung-oppa looked at him anticipating and hoping for a solution.

 

“Mr. Kwon, if Ms. Kwon is to survive, she needs to undergo surgery.”

 

“That’s great! All she needs is undergo surgery, and she’ll be okay, right!?” Yesung-oppa was somewhat relieved, I on the other hand felt like there’s a catch, like there’s more to my condition. I couldn’t help but feel that way after hearing Dr. Rowland’s rather apprehensive and grim tone.

 

“Actually, Mr. Kwon the surgery is probably the easy part, after the surgery she needs to undergo more treatment in order to rehabilitate her kidneys. Otherwise, the surgery could only extend her life for a good number of years. In most cases there’s a good chance of a relapse and that’s what we’re hoping to avoid in your sister’s case.”

 

“Relapse? Wait can you just be straight forward with Dr. Rowland? If I undergo surgery as well as the treatment would that mean I get my life back to normal or I have to wait and see if this damn disease would once again rear its ugly head or not?”

 

After hearing what the doctor said I couldn’t help but finally explode. For a second, I thought that the surgery and the treatment would put this damn thing to rest but it hardly seems to be the damn case! Dr. Rowland hesitated for awhile but he sighed once again. Yesung-oppa wrapped his arm over my shoulders, he tried to calm me down and settle me back down unto my seat.

 

“Ms. Kwon, I know that all of this is hard to understand and at best frustrating, but the thing that you must understand is that in the end what we’re hoping for is that your kidneys could somehow recover and completely fight off the disease. In the end surgery and treatment could only do so much for you. What we can’t predict or guarantee is how your kidneys would fare after the surgery and treatment. If all of that fails then we’re left with only one option and that is kidney transplant.”

 

Yesung-oppa’s face sank the moment he heard everything that Dr. Rowland said. I could only do so little than close my eyes in surrender. Oppa and I know too well that a kidney transplant would be too costly and that we simply can’t afford it. Oppa once again started crying, he knows that it would be hard to source enough money for the surgery and the treatment; moreover if everything comes down to undergoing a kidney transplant, he knows that it would take a miracle for us to pay for the entire operation.

 

After spending hours at the hospital and talking to Dr. Rowland, Oppa and I left the hospital. It was right after that day that I realized how dire my situation was, I wanted to tell Tiffany about everything however I knew it wouldn’t make things any better for both of us. Either way I came to a realization that I wouldn’t be able to spend my entire life with her. I knew that I had to set her free.

 

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Special thanks to pchan4156 for pointing out some inconsistencies, Updated Chapter 8 and 14.

 

Hello everyone sorry for the unexplained and unannounced hiatus. Truthfully I'm going through a rough time, a lot of personal troubles and fears regarding my dad and my brother's health... I'm such an emotional wreck right now. Also I was unable to retrieve my manuscript after my pc bailed out on me. Needless to say all the material I had written for this story is gone. Anyway here's a long and overdue update. Thanks for supporting this fic and please drop by and leave your comments. I'll update again when I get the chance. 

 

-AnDroGeNie-