^^ JUNGKOOK ^^

She was there, my best friend, the person I love, talking with Mark. She was surprised to see us, and she was horrified. She never expected us to come and see her.

I swear my heart broke when I saw her in a wheelchair.

"Shanshan..." A whisper escaped Lily's lips before pacing towards her to hug her. "Why are you doing this to us?"

Min Ho and I watched with sadness while both ladies reunited. They were hugging and crying.

"Please forgive me, unnie," Shanshan cried.

"Don't worry. I won't scold you."

"Be mad at me. I deserve it."

I wanted to run to her, but I was feeling terrible and afraid... afraid that she was still mad at me for what I did, but still, I needed to see her.

I observed her face. She was pale and yellowish. She obviously lost weight after coming here. My heart ached. "Why? How can something like this happen to her?" She looked pitiful yet trying to be strong, which made my heart hurt more.

My fingers closed into a fist. Not able to take it anymore, I ran away, leaving Min Ho, who was standing beside me.

I was running out of control outside the mansion and only stopping myself in the flower garden to catch my breath. I was crying, huffing heavily as my chest lets out the pain. I bent and held on to my wobbly knees for support.

"W-whyyyy... why her? Why?!"

The words from the letter came back to my mind.

JK,

My precious bunny.

While writing these words, I'm already breaking into tears. I am sorry for always leaving you. In the end, I am the one who keeps breaking our promise. I'm going to leave you for real now.

I never want to say goodbye. Goodbye is a hurtful word. But I can't do anything. I am bound to say goodbye to the world and to my precious best friend.

To tell you what I truly feel, I want to spend many, many years with you. I want to cherish every single moment I spend with you. I just want to stay on your side and experience many things with you.

When I die, I hope you will remember me always, for I will never forget you. Do not exchange your best friend with other people, or I will haunt you in your dreams.

After I die, smile, and don't be sad, for you know that I am resting in peace. Think of our old memories and be happy.

You are the best thing that came into my life. I love you and will always love you.

-Lee Shanshan

Every phrase, every word was all stupid to me.

"She's not going to die! Please, please, please give her a chance! Please let her live!" I wept, putting my hand all over my face.

It took me several minutes to calm down and get back to myself. My eyes were already dry, red, and swollen from crying. I sniffed, wondering now how to face Shanshan. I stayed on the ground, my head bent between my legs while thinking.

But then, I heard the sound of wheels coming from behind me. "Why did you run away?"

I hesitantly turned to Shanshan, seeing her moving on her wheelchair by herself.

"Shanshan..." I gulped. Seeing her like that made my heart drop.

"Why are you crying?" She stopped right in front of me and stared at me with a sad smile.

"Shanshan I..." I went on my knees to level my height with her while having difficulty in expressing my thoughts.

"What."

"I... I'm sorry for everything," I spoke, my voice almost a whisper. "It's my fault. I am your best friend, but I never asked nor cared whether you're okay. I should have-"

"JK, it's not your fault." She cut me off and cupped my face with her pale hands. "It's not your fault."

I just bit my lip and shook my head.

"Please. I don't want anyone of you blaming yourself because of me. It's my fault for not telling you earlier. Stop blaming yourself, please?"

I didn't answer.

I waited for Shanshan to speak, but instead, I felt a gentle peck on my forehead and was pulled into her embrace.

I returned the hug. "Don't leave us, Shanshan. Stay."

Why am I so hardheaded? Until now, I'm still telling her to stay.

She rubbed my back. "I'm not going anywhere."

Of course, that's not what I meant.

"Don't... don't die." I sighed and closed my eyes.

She grew silent after that. I knew she couldn't say yes.

^^. . . ^^

After some time, Shanshan's stepbrother showed us around the massive mansion while she went back to her room to take a rest.

Roger was a bit arrogant and talked in words like he was older than us, but I just brushed it off, understanding that he grew up rich and spoiled.

"For your stay, you can each pick a room downstairs on the left-wing of the mansion. If you need anything, our maids are on standby and don't look for me. I don't like entertaining other people's small business." He spoke while leading us downstairs on their spiral staircase.

Min Ho and I exchanged glances while listening to him. Lily followed behind him with her hands on her back while admiring the murals on the walls.

"So Roger, which rooms are we going in for our stay?" Lily asked after we arrived downstairs.

"Just pick any room you want!" The kid answered, turning his back and leaving us. "Take a rest, and let's meet each other for lunch."

His voice echoed through the hallway as we were left dumbfounded.

"As in any room we want? Okay, that's great!" Lily grabbed her bag and started to walk away.

Min Ho also followed while I watched him pace after her.

"What are you doing, Min Ho?" Lily asked, noticing that he was following her.

"I'll choose what you choose!" His voice echoed.

"Are you crazy? You're not sharing a room with me!"

"But the kid said choose whatever we want!"

"Yah! Stop it!"

The two bickered at each other in the distance while I was amusedly chuckling at their playfulness. I took my luggage too and decided to go upstairs...into Shanshan's room.

I pushed the door open to see Shanshan lying on the bed with two maids standing beside her and a doctor assessing her. I got worried. Just seeing the man dressed in white made me feel like there was something wrong.

"Is... is she okay?" I asked, putting my bag away and going beside the bed.

"Yes. She is fast asleep right now. She needs to take more rest."

"Ah," I put my hand on my chest. "I thought something happened because you're here."

The doctor smiled. "It's my job to visit her daily and check on her."

"Oh, thank you."

The doctor and the maids left after a few moments, leaving us alone in the room. I sat on the bed and quietly looked at Shanshan, her angelic face and beauty dominating her sick appearance.

"So cute," I whispered, trying to comfort myself from the misery I felt for her. I let out a deep sigh and started to pray hard. I was definitely begging in my mind.

"Please heal her. I beg You. Don't take her away from me."

^^. . ^^

^^ Photo source: IWM BUZZ.com https://www.iwmbuzz.com/music/celebrities-music/3-emotional-moments-bts-jungkook-cried/2020/11/15 ^^

^^ Photo source: Koreaboo https://www.koreaboo.com/stories/bts-member-quiz-results/ ^^