Chapter 10

I sank back against the wall, holding the back of my hand over my mouth, trying to make sense of it all.

"W-what? No, that can’t be right. She said she wasn’t going to die. She said…"

The young nurse shook her head, exhaustion stamped into every line of her face.

"Believe me, I'd give anything to tell you otherwise. I... I can't… She wasn't..."

The nurse covered her face with her hands and started crying, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Sunggyu, being the gentleman he was, embraced her and let her vent.

Her sobs, muffled though they were against Sunggyu's chest, were still loud enough to alert the others that something was very wrong.

Sungyeol buried his face in his knees, and Dongwoo patted his back sympathetically, dashing tears out of his eyes.

I could see Woohyun and Hoya clenching and unclenching their fists, faces turned towards the ceiling.

A well-meant attempt to keep from crying.

A failed attempt... tears rolled down their cheeks.

Sungjong, thank God, didn't wake up, although he frowned in his sleep and murmured something about "_______ -noona..."

Sungkyu was busy trying to console the poor nurse, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

I couldn't believe it. This had to be one massive prank.

Despite your initial shyness, you'd gotten a taste for pranks.

The flour bombs with Sungjong, the spiked drinks with Sungyeol.

The icing smudged on cheeks.

The sudden disappearances and reappearances.

All accompanied by barely stifled giggles or outright laughter.

Time to unmask your latest trick.

I pushed off the wall and walked into the OR.

I don't know how I did it, but I managed to get halfway to you before someone shouted.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be in here!"

Oh, I beg to differ.

A male nurse attempted to get in my way, but I just shoved him out of the way to get to you.

Pandemonium broke out then, centering around me.

Nurses and doctors tried to restrain me, but I shook loose of them.

I got close enough to touch your hand one last time before I was dragged away.

It was cool... lifeless.

You didn't sit up and start laughing... Got you, L-oppa!

This wasn't a prank...

As my legs betrayed me and sent my knees crashing to the ground, I heard heart-wrenching sobs in the distance.

"_______, no! You can't leave me like this! You promised!"

I was still wondering who was crying out like that when I felt a stinging sensation in my arm...

And my world went black.