Hyeyoon POV.

Everything happened so fast. I still remembered how we rushed back to the hospital, Seok-woo was driving at high speed like crazy, and we arrived at the hospital fifteen minutes later. Both of us stormed to the ICCU section to find his sister and mother were crying.

The doctor then walked to us, passed the news, and Seok-woo froze. He numbly walked closer to the nearest wall and leaned his long body to it as if he needed support more than before. I saw Jaeyoon reached to hug his wife and let her cried her tears out on his torso.

Still in shock, Seok-woo needed time to process when I slowly approached him and patted his shoulder, telling him to come to his mother. She needed comfort more than anyone as she weakly walked to the nearer couch and slumped down there.

I led him to his mom, and finally, Seok-woo could regain from his state. He kneeled in front of his mom and hugged her tightly. Letting his mom poured her emotion out on her son's shoulder.

I could feel tears rolled down my face upon seeing the scene.

Seok-woo, the man I love, and his family have lost a father figure. He lost his father, and his mother lost her husband. His father passed away.

Unable to witness the whole scene, I retreated and excused myself quietly.

* * *

They held his father's funeral a few days after his death. Seok-woo was busy since then. I knew he needed to prepare for everything. I silently watched him from afar as I saw him busily talking to a few people in the corridor. He went back and forth, and sometimes he had Jaeyoon by his side to help him.

I understand his current situation. I did try to contact him a few times, but I didn't utter any protest when he was unreachable again for days. It was understandable, and when I met him today, I wanted to cheer him up and told him that I would always be there for him.

It was nearly 9 PM. Most of the guests left already. I stayed till I saw his family members were about to went home, too.

"Hyeyoon?" Seoran called me. I immediately got up and bowed to her and Seokwoo's mother beside her. "You're still here? Are you waiting for Seokwoo?"

I nodded, "Yes. He seems so busy,"

"He will be here soon," Seokwoo's mother comforted weakly, and I nodded. They excused themselves, and I bowed again as they leave.

I stood there leaned my back on the nearest wall as I waited for Seok-woo.

"You're still here?" I heard a familiar voice behind me and immediately turned to see Seokwoo stood a few meters away. He took his suit off, so he was now only in his white shirt with his tie loosened.

Seok-woo sat on the nearest table and poured Soju into a cup and drank it in one shot. He ran again for a second cup, finished it in one go. I walked toward him and sat in front of him. He was about to pour another cup, but I held him.

"Take it slow, Seok-woo," I told him, and he put down the Soju. He let out a deep sigh. I took mineral water and gave it to him.

He was staring at the bottle I gave him at first. He opened the lid and finished almost half of it. There was a long silence. I let Seokwoo drifted into his deep thoughts as I kept him company. He stared at the bottle I gave to him blankly and let out a deep breath a few times.

"Hyeyoon," he called. I looked up at him.

"Yes?"

Seok-woo looked at me back, and his eyes twitched a little. I frowned upon seeing the view.

"What's wrong? Do you need anything?" I offered him help as he might need something.

But the look on his face was troubled. Sometimes I hoped I could read his mind whenever he turned silent and kept his thought all by himself like this. Seok-woo could be so private at times, and the only thing I could do was wait for him to open up and told me his concern. 

I reached out and held his hand gently. I expected nothing but his comfort. Seok-woo shut his eyes tightly as if he was trying hard to get a hold of himself. He slowly pulled his hand, gaping himself from me, and leaned his body against the wall. I confusedly look at him but stayed calm. 

He let out a deep sigh then confessed straight on the point, "Hyeyoon, I think I need a break," he sounded.

I was taken aback for a few seconds. Blinked a few times to process what he just said, I repeated his words, "A break?" as if I was heard it wrong. 

He cast down his gaze, staring at the floor blankly, avoiding my eyes.

"Yes," he replied in a short answer.

I was dumbfounded for a second, then asked him again, "Was there something wrong?" I asked him carefully. At a time like this, I understand Seokwoo needed his time to collect himself again. The sudden death of his father had broken his heart; moreover, when I heard that his mother collapsed a few times, still unable to accept the situation.

Seok-woo shook his head and let out a heavy breath. "I need some time. I'm sorry," he sounded weakly.

I was both confused and trembled. I knew Seok-woo was having a hard time. I tried my best to be there, accompanying him. But I also understand if he needed his time alone.

"I still don't get it," I sounded bitter. It was so hard for me to utter the question, but I had to. I took a deep breath then said, "Are you breaking up with me?" I managed to ask him in the end.

Seok-woo sighed and massaging his temple as if to hold himself. "It's up to you to take it that way. I hope you understand," Seok-woo tried to explain as much as he could, "For now, I need to focus more on my family. My mother is now my priority. She needs me more than ever,"

I stayed silent as he continued, "You know, my sister already has her own family. My mom will be alone," he still avoiding my eyes as he kept looking down.

"I understand," trying hard to hold back my tears, I reached out to grab his hand. "Take your time as much as you want. It's fine. I know you'll need to prioritize your family first from now. I'll be fine. I'll wait-"

"Don't wait," he cut me off. I was stunned and looked at him confusedly.

Seok-woo then stared at me right in the eyes for the first time in a while. The look on his face was incomprehensible. He looked at a loss. He gazed blankly, and his eyes twitched. "What?" I tried to confirm what he said once again. I wondered if he knew what he was talking about, considering he might not be in his right mind right now. 

He threw his gaze in another direction, avoiding me again. He sounded firm, "Just, don't wait for me, Hyeyoon. I can't promise you the uncertainty," his tone was dark. I couldn't decipher what he was thinking right now.

"What do you mean?" I asked him finally. "Seok-woo, I don't know what you are talking about right now. We can discuss it later. I don't mind waiting,"

He shot me a glare, as he was trying to convince me that he meant every word came out from his lips, "I don't want you to waste your time waiting for something uncertain. Don't wait for me, you can do whatever you want to do, I won't stop you, Hyeyoon," he took a deep breath. 

He continued, "Meet someone else better than me, Hyeyoon. Or someone who can guarantee your happiness. I'm sorry, I might be unable to make you happy when we're together. I often made you cry, though," he exclaimed. I was dumbfounded. I never expected he would say those things. 

I was speechless. I didn't know how to respond to this sudden breakup. I could feel that I started to lost focus. I wanted to ask him whether I had done something wrong, but I did nothing but wait for him. Bewildered, I had to gather my broken pieces to stare at him, with tears started brimming in my eyes. 

There was a sudden idea that popped out in my head. I said it without a second thought, "Am I a burden to you, Seok-woo?" I couldn't help but ask, and I asked him the question. "Was it because of those messages I sent to you that disturbed you that much?"

He shook his head. "No, it's not that," he denied. He sighed again and looked at me with his tired eyes, "I never thought of you like that, but please, understand, Hyeyoon. Can't you get what I say? I had explained it enough to you," he frustratedly ran his fingers through his hair.

"But why are you saying all of this? Is there something that happened? I don't mind if you're honest with me, Seok-woo," it was inevitable to suspect there must be something wrong.

Though I didn't want to think about this, I had to and let out the question for the last time, "Do you have someone else in mind, Seok-woo?" I bravely asked him as I remembered about the girl named Seorinah that appeared a few times already these past weeks.

Seok-woo's eyes widened. He was nearly going insane and almost yelling at me but managed to hold himself. He gritted his teeth frustratingly. "No, Hyeyoon! Would you please, stop?" he slightly raised his voice. I jolted to see him got angry for the first time and shouted at me. I shut my mouth tightly, and I was offended, to be honest.

My lips began to tremble, but I tried hard to get a grip on myself. A single tear escape from my eyes; I couldn't help it. I let it slipped once, then wiped the next tears that were about to fall.

Seok-woo completely turned his gaze away from me now. He didn't look at me neither tried to reach me. I gaped in disbelief at how things had turned out. Utterly broken-hearted as I saw him throwing his gaze away, I straightened my position. 

Okay, then.

I shut my eyes tightly. This was the end of us. Didn't want to embarrass me more; begging and crying like a baby in front of him, I said my final word to him.

"Alright then, I'm sorry," I didn't know why I was apologizing. I just blurted out unconsciously as I gathered my things and was about to leave. I stared at him for one last time, but Seok-woo was still looking away. 

He didn't want to see me?

I got up from my seat and left with my heart broken into pieces.

* * *

"Kim Hyeyoon, wake up!" I heard a loud voice rang through my ears, and I covered it with my pillow. Buried my face on my bed, I needed more sleep. I couldn't sleep all night.

"Let me sleep more, Jeein," I hoarsely responded to Jeein.

The girl then sat on the edge of my bed and shook my body slowly. "Are you not feeling well? Your voice sounds weird," there was concern in her tone. I started crying again, silently. "Hyeyoon?" Jeein called me as she began to hear my low sobs. She forcefully pulled the pillow and saw me in tears. She helped me to sit and hug me immediately.

"What's wrong? What happened, don't cry," she tried to soothe, and somehow, it worked. I felt slightly better as I realized that there was someone who truly cares about me. It was Jeein. 

"Is it Seokwoo?" Jeein guessed. I didn't answer, yet the girl knew ahead even before I could say anything. She angrily cursed, "I'll kick him in the ass, that jerk!" 

"No," I cut her off.

"What do you mean 'no'?" Jeein spat out. "I knew this would happen. I had a feeling,"

"What feeling?" I sounded again after I stopped sobbing. Reached out a tissue to wipe my wet face, I stared at her, waiting for her explanation.

Jeein sighed. She was hesitated at first but then shook it off and told me, "But are you sure you're okay to hear this?"

"I'm fine, spill it out," I reassured her, and she continued.

"Actually, I saw him with a girl one day in a café. At first, I think it might be just something related to his college or something, or he just hung out with a friend, but it turned out he was seen with that girl more than once," Jeein paused to see my expression. But I just nodded to her, telling her to continue.

"Uh-and Youngdae told me, he also saw him with that girl on the other day," Jeein sensed the panic in my eyes, and she immediately stopped.

"I know her," I stated. Jeein looked at me, confused, "She was his ex, I assume. I never had the chance to talk about this with him, and we broke up last night,"

"What? You guys broke up?" Jeein shouted, and I nodded.

Jeein was silent for a moment. Then she got up. "Got up, Hyeyoon, let's go," she pulled me.

"Why? Where are we going?" I was reluctant. She still pulled me to get up, and I got up from the bed.

"Wash your face. I'll talk to that guy. I can't let him do this to you, Hyeyoon. He can't act so selfishly asking you out and break up with you as he pleased. Now got up, we have to talk to him!"

I held my hands up to her and stepped back. "No, Jeein,"

Jeein won't budge. She still insisted that both of us came to his place and talked to him, "What? Why?"

"He already explained to me his reason, and now I felt bad to him. He lost his father recently, Jeein. And he said he needs time alone. He said he needs to focus on his family for now," I paused and saw Jeein quietly listening to me. "I was accusing him last night, and he got mad. I was wrong. Now, I'm feeling horrible," I sighed. "Just let him be. He needs some space. If we talked to him now, it would only worsen the situation and his mood. Let him be,"

Jeein loosened herself and dropped back to my bed. She sighed before uttered her words, "Sometimes I feel that you may be too good for him, Hyeyoon," she sympathized.

I snorted upon hearing her statement, but she convinced me with her following sentence, "You're just too kind to him sometimes, I don't get you, really," she sounded a bit frustrated, but I just shrugged in response.

"There was some adjustment to his character at first, I admit. But as we spent more time together and gradually knew him better, got me used to it," I followed her and sat on the edge of my bed beside Jeein.

"You know that bastard well, huh?" I chuckled upon hearing Jeein addressed him like that.

"Yeah, sadly, but yes. I know him that well," I hope; I quietly said it inside. I wished I did know him that well.

"Okay then, I trust you, but promise me, if things got bad or ill to you, let me know. Don't keep it to yourself, will you?" Jeein reached and held both my hands. I nodded to assure her, and she sighed in relief.

Then I remembered something. The due date for my scholarship application was near. I had to meet Prof. Lee today.

I stared at Jeein and decided to tell her that I planned to study abroad. The decision I made last night. Everything was like a turn of events for me. I was about to turn the offer down, but as for now, I think that was probably the best.

"Are you sure?" Jeein asked me weakly, and I nodded. "Where would you go?"

"Melbourne,"

"Australia?" Jeein exclaimed and shouted. I needed to cover my ears. "Wha-why didn't you choose Antarctica? It's farther," she pouted.

I chuckled and felt a lot better after talking to her. I think I was going to miss her a lot. "I won't be long, maybe two years or more, and I'll be back," I stated, and Jeein seemed not convincing at all.

"I'm going to miss you," she was about to cry. Jeein hugged me. "When will you go? Why did you tell me just now! Bad girl!" she smacked on my back.

I coughed and caressed her back in return. "In two months, I think? I'm still not sure. I'll ask Prof. Lee today,"

Then Jeein started to cry loudly.

"Jeein?" I pulled back and looked at her worriedly. "What's wrong?"

"You are so mean. You didn't tell me in advance that you're going abroad, and now you're leaving that fast?" Jeein was still crying.

"I'm sorry, I thought I might turn the offer down, but I changed my mind," I wiped her tears with a tissue, and she angrily snatched the paper and threw it to the floor.

"Because of that Kim Seok-woo jerk, now you're going to leave me alone," Jeein could act so childish at times, but she's my best friend. I hugged her again and shushed to calm her down.

"I'll be back, I promise. We can have face time, or maybe you can go to Melbourne for a holiday. You can visit me anytime," I comforted her, and Jeein was still sobbing.

After some minutes, Jeein began to calm down. She released the hug and wiped her tears. I waited till she stopped crying then got up.

"Where are you going?" Jeein stared at me and followed me when I walked to the bathroom.

"Campus, I have to meet Prof. Lee. Do you wanna come?" I asked her to come with me to the campus, and Jeein nodded quietly.

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A/N:

Hello there everyone
Have you been well? I'm sorry I was just able to upload another chapter today.

Thanks to everyone who still patiently wait for this update. Here I provide you a double update. Hehe.

After been busy for weeks, I finally got my days off, and it was so relaxing. I can write again and finished two chapters in one go.

I hope to be able to finish another chapter soon before my work started. LOL

And Happy Ied Mubarak to all my Muslim friends out there... ^^

Till we meet again in the next update. Thank you for all your support.

Love you all.