Chapter 13

“I don’t see what else there is to do.” Mrs. Choi spoke into the phone resignedly, “Yes. Yes, I’m sure.” Now her voice held the hint of tears & her voice quivered, “My poor baby.”

Yuri sat at the table, listening to this one sided conversation. As much as she hated Sulli at the moment, Yuri couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She was tired & there was a pile of used tissues on the table that Yuri had used to wipe her stuffy nose. She hated colds & she had an exceptionally bad feeling about this one. This was her first real cold after being diagnosed with aids.

“Yuri, what am I going to do? Jaejoong Oppa died. I killed him.” Sulli rushed into the kitchen & tried to crawl into Yuri’s lap. Her eyes were large with fright, her once-smooth, long, perfectly-cared-for hair was tangled & knotted & her carefully-manicured fingernails were ragged & bitten.

Yuri rolled her eyes but said patiently, “Sulli, he isn’t dead. Now, please get off of me?”

Sulli looked up, lips quivering, “But I saw him. I killed him. Yuri, will he come back & haunt me? Will he?” She clutched onto Yuri’s arm tightly in fright while Yuri yelped in pain.

“Sulli. I...No, he will not come back to haunt you.” She tried to speak in a soothing tone. After all, Sulli was a deranged & insane delinquent or as the doctor called it, mentally unstable. Yuri was ashamed to admit but she liked her cousin better this way. It felt safer.

“Yuri!” Sulli yelled, as she got up for a warm drink, trying in vain to clasps her hand, “Come back! I don’t want him to die!” Yuri distangled her cousin’s hand, looking ruefully at her scratched arm as Sulli began to scream at the top of her lungs.

Mrs. Choi put down the phone & went to her daughter, “Shhh.” She whispered, crushing Sulli against her , smothering the wail. Mrs. Choi glared accusing at Yuri, “She’s going to go.”

Yuri had gotten used to these evil looks but sighed nevertheless. Her aunt would never believe her that she wasn’t responsible for Sulli’s insanity. Was it supposed to be her fault that Sulli had hit Jaejoong with her car? No matter what she had tried to tell her aunt, Mrs. Choi remained cold towards her, “Oh. I’m sorry.” Yuri paused, coughing “But maybe they can reviver her...er, revive her to normal.”

Mrs. Choi immediately teared up & hugged Sulli harder, “My poor baby. Mommy doesn’t want to send you to the mental institution but you will have a chance to get better.” Actually, the psychologists exact words were, ‘She has a slight chance of improvement’, but a slight ray of hope was better than none.

Sulli wailed, “No! I’m sorry! I never meant for him to die!” She moaned, not giving any indication she understood what her mother had just said.

“Dr. An want me to bring her there now but our car’s broken. I supposed it was from that silly crash you got her into. I have no idea what to do.” Her voice rose an octave, panicking, while Sulli glanced around, startled “Jaejoong Oppa can come pick her up, I’m sure.” Yuri said quietly, not wanting to set her aunt off again. She was well aware of how easily her aunt could be provoked these days. As for the crash...well, she could let that pass as long as she knew the truth. There was no point in getting her aunt angrier than she already was, “Jaejoong?” Mrs. Choi humphed, well aware that he was that good for nothing young man that was the accomplice in getting Sulli into the state she was in now. However, she knew there was no other choice & nodded.

“I’m glad you are here.” Yuri said gratefully, as Jaejoong walked through the door, “Do you feel better?” She wanted to check over him inch by inch to make sure he was okay.

Jaejoong smiled, taking her hand, “I’m alright, no lasting damage. Is Sulli still...well, is she better?” He hated Sulli more than Yuri did, if that was possible, for Yuri didn’t know about the phone call & Jaejoong didn’t intend to enlighten her but in a way, he felt responsible for Sulli’s illness.

Yuri sighed, “No, she has to go to the mental institution. There’s no help for her here.” She told him, as Sulli entered the room, not even recognizing Jaejoong, “Yuri! I want him here with me!” She whined, clinging onto Jaejoong’s arm.

He looked startled, glancing helplessly at Yuri & she couldn’t help but giggle at his cute, puzzled expression. The laugh faded away as Mrs. Choi came in, looking extremely serious.

“Yuri.”

“Yes, auntie Eunbyul?” Yuri asked curiously.

“I’m sorry, Vicki. I told your mother I would take you in when she died but I don’t think its possible for you to stay here any longer.” Mrs. Choi said crisply, not looking sorry at all. In fact, if Yuri didn’t know any better, she would have thought her aunt was glad to have her gone.

Yuri stared uncomprehending as Jaejoong winced at Sulli’s tight grip, “I’m afraid I...I don’t understand you.” Yuri stammered, ‘If she kicks me out, where am I going to go?’ She sneezed, followed by a non-stop bout of coughing.

“I don’t know if I have the energy to take care of you with my daughter gone & all.” Mrs. Choi looked at her coldly before leaving the room.

Stunned, Yuri sat down on the couch while Jaejoong struggled to escape Sulli’s strong grasps, “Sulli, go find your mother.” He finally ground out.

Sulli smiled blankly, “Okay.” & left the room, laughing.

“I’m sorry, Yuri.” Jaejoong said gently, sitting down next to her & taking her hands in his again.

“What am I going to do now?”

“Yuri?” Jaejoong tilted her chin lightly to make her look at him. She blushed faintly, “If you don’t mind, would you care to move in with me for a while?”

Yuri stared at him, “I couldn’t.” She trailed off, as her mind raced ahead of her, ‘& why not?’ Her mind asked her, ‘He will find out. That’s why not.’ ‘But its not like you have a choice!’ The sensible part of her mind yelled.

“There’s enough room if that’s what’s worrying you.” Yuri hesitated, ‘Why not?’ She asked herself again. Before the other part of her mind could retort, she nodded & Jaejoong sighed in relief, ‘Yuri’s going to come live with me.’ His mind sang happily.

“So darling, how do you feel?” Mrs. Choi asked Sulli, as they settled her into her new room. Yuri eyed it.

‘This doesn’t look like a hospital room at all.’ She thought. A small bed sat in the corner with safety bars on the side, preventing the occupant from falling off. There were large-print books & puzzles scattered all over the floor.

“She will have everything she needs.” Dr. An proclaimed in his jovial tone, as if living here was a great honor that everybody hoped to get, “She’s going to be around other...well, other girls like her.” He said cheerfully. Jaejoong’s smile quickly turned into a cough as Mrs. Choi glared at him. Yuri poked him playfully in the ribs, getting him to hush up.

“I want to be with Jaejoong Oppa!” Sulli wailed, flailing her arms to escape her mother’s gentle but firm grasps.

Jaejoong turned crimson as Dr. An laughed again, “Little girl, you will be with your dear young man as soon as you get better.”

Mrs. Choi smiled tearfully, “Thank you, doctor. We entrust her to you. Please take good care of her?” With a sob, she tried to swallow midway, making it sound like a strangled whoop instead.

Dr. An looked momentarily troubled before turning back to Sulli, “Let’s go meet the other kids now, shall we, Sulli?” He took her hand like she was no more than a willful toddler & with a cheerful goodbye at Yuri & Jaejoong, led Sulli off.

Yuri coughed violently, eyes watering.

“Are you okay?” Jaejoong thumped her back gently, waiting for the cough to subside.

She nodded presently but was soon in another coughing fit. It racked her body & she could hardly stand, much less walk.

“Come on, let’s get you home.” Jaejoong said worriedly, eyeing the body that was shaking so. He wrapped a strong arm around her waist, helping her walk. She clung to him, coughing non-stop. Jaejoong marvelled at how he could finally offer her something after all she had given him. Friendship, happiness & above all, love. Everything he hadn’t had until she came into his life.