"추억" - Part XII

HURTFUL PINKY PROMISE

"Are you okay now, Yoori?!", Minsoo asked Yoori who sat in the back with Yoomi while driving. 

"A bit, yeah, thanks!", she said while wiping her tears. "Thank you so much for accompanying me until this late, Yoomi, Minsoo. Thank you too for informing who that girl is. But still, I'm so sorry for ruining your used to be happy moments"

"Yoori. That's really not a big deal. The most important thing for now is you calming down", Yoomi said.

"I am now. Thanks, Yoomi. About Ahreum... I..."

"Don't worry, Yoori. I know Byunghun since we were kids. He won't hurt you"

"Easy to say, Minsoo"

"Well, it's up to you, Yoori"

They arrived at Yoori's house as the rain started to pour really hard. They bid goodbye to Yoori as she went in to her home. Yoori then laid on her bed, thinking about what Minsoo just told her. She just knew that Ahreum was Byunghun's first love and she was the one who made Byunghun turned into a player. Byunghun wanted to cover his pain after being dumped by Ahreum, so he became the greatest player for the entire 3 years. Minsoo also told Yoori how Ahreum broke Byunghun's heart. It was indeed hurtful for Byunghun. But when Yoori recalled Minsoo's words about her changed Byunghun back into his old self, made her heart lighter than before. She didn't know how to do tomorrow if she met Byunghun. Holiday would be ended in a week and they would be busy as seniors. They would take the test for College Entrance. 

Byunghun already laid on his bed, kept imagining Yoori's mad face. He didn't want to hurt her. He loves her so much. His love is more deep than that time when he loved Ahreum. It felt like he found himself in Yoori's soul. He didn't want to make Yoori suffered like what he got from Ahreum 3 years ago.

FLASHBACK

"Ahreum!!!", Byunghun called her name for the last time in the airport. She was ready to fly to America with her family. She felt sad to leave the boys, especially Byunghun. They were her only good friends since kids. She turned her head just to see Byunghun caught his breath up.

"Byung-"

"I want to tell you this before you go!!"

"What?!"

"I... Wait.... I LIKE YOU!! I know this is late but I really like you since we were kids. Do you w-"

"Sorry"

"Eh?!"

"I'm so sorry, Byunghun. I can't accept your feeling"

"WHY?! I'm okay with long-distance relationship!!"

"I.. I can't do that. I don't like to be in LDR. And to think about it, you are my best friend. So I can't. Sorry"

With that, Ahreum went in to the waiting room, left the shocked Byunghun with his friends. Byunghun's knee became weak and he kneeled down, made Chanhee and Niel supported him. He broke inside. Many girls were go after him but why his crush didn't have the same feeling as him. 

FLASHBACK END

Suddenly, Byunghun's phone rang. It was from Yoori. He picked it up as faster as he could.

"Byung-"

"YOORI!! Thank God you called me"

"Uhh.. You're not mad at me?!"

"Of course not!! It was my fault though. Sorry"

"Hey, I was about to say that!! Hehehehe.. Sorry too, Bbyung-ah. Sorry for making a misunderstanding between us"

"Nah~ that's okay. Are you home now?!"

"Yes. You?!"

"I'm home too. Oh?! Yoori, wait a minute. I have another call. Wait"

"Okay"

Byunghun picked up the other call in his phone. It was from hospital. He got heart-attack after hearing the caller said that Ahreum was in a hospital, fainted. Byunghun turned off his call, forgot about Yoori who was still waiting on the other line. Yoori still could hear Byunghun's worry and unstable voice. She called his name but Byunghun couldn't hear her. As Byunghun started his car's engine, Yoori became panic. What actually happened with her boyfriend there?! She didn't want to hang-up her call so she listened over the phone.

Byunghun arrived in the hospital and he asked the nurse there where Ahreum was. Yoori who heard that felt something stabbed her heart. She hung up the call. She laid on her bed and she closed her eyes, once again cried. He still cared for her even tried to look for her in the hospital. It wasn't Ahreum's fault though if Byunghun still cared for her.

The nurses showed Byunghun the place Ahreum slept. She was unconscious and there, he saw she used oxygen. The doctor said that she was found drained in front of a restaurant. Then, the doctor asked Byunghun if he knew her family because the doctor wanted to tell something to her family. Byunghun noticed that something was wrong with Ahreum. He asked the doctor to tell him instead of her family, with a promise that he would tell her parents afterwards.

***

He walked out from the doctor's room unsteadily. He sat in one of the bench there. He couldn't think what he should do. He didn't dare to tell Ahreum's parents that their daughter had a serious disease. He walked back to Ahreum's room. He saw Ahreum had wake up. Ahreum saw him and smiled a bit. Byunghun walked closer to her bed.

"I supposed that you finally know that something is wrong with me?!", she said with a blank expression.

"Ye- WHAT?! YOU KNEW?!"

"Of course. My entire family know it too. Hahahaha"

"Stupid!! How can you still laughing like that when your life is in dang-"

"Ssshh!! I don't want to talk about this annoying disease", she put her finger on Byunghun's lips.

There was a long silent between them since they felt so awkward around each other after what happened a couple of hours ago. 

"Sorry for bothering you this late", Ahreum broke the silence.

"It's okay. But why this hospital called me??"

"Uhhh.. Because your phone number still on my #1?! Hehehehe"

"Pabo~", Byunghun stroked Ahreum's hair. He smiled.

"Eiiii~ You have Yoori already!!"

"Ah~ OMO!!! YOORI!!! She called me!!", Byunghun looked into his phone. Of course, it had hung up by Yoori. He was busy texted Yoori to apologize but then Ahreum took his phone away.

"Byungie, may I ask a simple request?!"

"Uhh?!"

"Can you be my boyfriend?! Just until I leave this world?!"

"KIM AHREUM!!! STOP THAT!!"

"I'm serious, Byunghun and it's true that I will leave you and my family!!! JUST IN A MONTH!!!!", she cried.

Byunghun looked deep into her eyes. She was hopeless. Yes, it's true that Ahreum just had a little time to enjoy in this world. He kept thinking until he hugged her. He whispered to her, "Yes, if that's what you want. But please stop mentioning about your "last" time, okay?! I will be mad!!" And he got a weak nod from Ahreum. Now, Byunghun just need to talk to Yoori. He just hoped Yoori will understand this situation.

"Byunghun-ah.... Pinky promise?!", Ahreum asked him.

"Pinky promise!!", he linked his pinky finger to Ahreum's and gave her a smile.

"Thank you so much. I love you too, Byunghun"

"Huh?!"

"These words.... I really tried hard to hold these words back then when you confessed to me. Sorry"

Byunghun just shook his head and asked her to go back to her sleep. He wanted to meet Yoori at that time but Ahreum held his hand tightly, not letting him go. He then fell asleep there by holding Ahreum's hand.

***

Next morning, the doctor said that Ahreum could go home but she still had to be careful of her health. Byunghun accompanied her to go home as her family wasn't there for her. He carefully took Ahreum's hand and led her to his car. 

The whole day, Byunghun stayed at Ahreum's home since there was no one in her home. She was alone. Byunghun's friends tried to reach him but he couldn't be contacted since actually they had appointment today to go to amusement park. 

"No need to look for him. He must be with Ahreum", Yoori said with a blank expression. All eyes looked at her. Disbelief. How could Yoori guess like that. Yoomi and Sina looked at her pathetically. They pat Yoori's back but then Yoori smiled. "LET'S HAVE SOME FUN!!!", she shouted.

All the time, Jonghyun stayed by Yoori's side while Niel and Sina were lost - nowhere to be seen, Changhyun, Yoomi and Chanhee were having their own time and Minsoo, he just sat on the bench since he doesn't like amusement park. But of course, his eyes were locked onto Yoomi - took a guard of her. When they played the non-dangerous ride, Minsoo would join them. Niel and Sina would have their little time together as Niel put his hand on Sina's shoulder and would kiss Sina's cheek. Minsoo did the same, put his hand on Yoomi's shoulder and hugged her. Their 'simple' engagement rings could be seen clearly there. It made Yoori missed her Byunghun. Byunghun might do the same as Niel and Minsoo if he was there with her.

"Mind me to act as your boyfriend for a day, noona??", Jonghyun asked Yoori. He knew that Yoori missed Byunghun. 

"HAHAHAHAHA!! No need, Jonghyun. Thank you so much for your care!!", Yoori awkwardly hit Jonghyun's arm then left him alone. She accidentally bumped into Chanhee's back.

"Sorry, Chanhee"

"Clumsy Yoori is back. Here, let me hold your hand so you don't fall", Chanhee took Yoori's hand. Yoori blushed. She remembered the first time she met Chanhee. 

The day was over. They were back to their home but before that, they stopped by in a shopping mall to had a dinner. They were talking happily until Chanhee spotted Byunghun with Ahreum walking hand-in-hand. Chanhee wanted to block Yoori's vision but he was too late. Yoori saw them with angry look. She ran into them, followed by Yoomi, Sina, Minsoo and Chanhee. She cried hard seeing how her boyfriend hugged other girl and not her.

Both of Byunghun and Ahreum got shock when suddenly Yoori stood in front of them with her puffy eyes. Ahreum clinged into Byunghun's arm and Byunghun didn't budge - made Yoori's heart more broken. Minsoo and Yoomi were there finally, reached Yoori. 

"Take care of Ahreum first. I need to talk to Yoori now", Byunghun told Minsoo and Yoomi as he dragged Yoori with him to the nearest emergency exit.

"Have fun, Lee Byunghun?! DO YOU HAVE FUN BREAKING MY HEART FOR THE SECOND TIME?!"

"Listen to me!"

"RIGHT!!! JUST GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST LOVE!!! WE ARE DONE!!!", Yoori wanted to run away but Byunghun's grip on her arm was so tight.

"JUST LISTEN TO ME, JUNG YOORI!!!"

"WHAT??? WHAT??? WHAT????"

"I LOVE ONLY YOU OKAY?! Please believe in me!!"

"Believe in you?! How?! By looking at you spend your time with her everyday while you saying you love me?! IT'S ALL BULLSHIT!!!!"

"C'mon, Yoori!! Grow up!! Please believe in me!!! Believe in me like Yoomi did to Minsoo!!"

"Easy to talk!!!"

"Yoori, I beg you... Please please believe in me!!"

"Sorry, Byunghun... We are really done. I'm leaving"

Yoori left Byunghun alone. Minsoo took Yoori home while the others didn't know anything. Yoomi and Sina were back to the restaurant pretended that everything was okay while Chanhee still there, looked at how pale Ahreum was until Byunghun was back. Chanhee eyed him but he just mouthed that he would text him.

Both of them cried. Both of them felt the pain in their heart. Both of them didn't want to be separated. Both of them still love each other. 

-To Be Continued-