Disclaimer: I do not own Boys Before Flowers.

A/N: It's been a very long time since I've written, I know. I've been writing this story for several weeks now and am already at the eleventh chapter, and I've given myself quite the headstart before posting to test if I'll be committed to it. (And obviously, it's turning out quite well!) I'll be posting the first three chapters at the same time, and the next chapters will each be posted every weekend – well, hopefully. This is my first spin on BOF, so I'm hoping you all enjoy it.

Charades

Chapter 1

"I am truly sorry, sir. There was nothing we could do."

His ears were ringing. He could hear everything and nothing at the same time. He knew it was sensible to cry, but although his eyes were wide, they refused to moisten.

"His stroke–"

"Alright," he cut the doctor off. His voice was calm. "Just let me see him."

The doctor hesitated, but seeing the look of determination in the man's eyes, he proceeded to open the door for him.

There he was. The man lying on the operating table, who, until a few hours ago, used to be a smiling and happy person, was now gone forever. If Ji Hoo only knew their supper that night was going to be the last, then he would've at least told him everything he had always wanted him to know.

He tried to whisper something, but it came out as an incoherent wheeze. He tried again and again but his voice refused to cooperate. He grabbed the corpse's hand and knelt to the ground.

He let go of his grandfather's hand, as well as his own dam of tears.

4 Years Later

It had been four years since Professor Yoon's death and so much had changed since then.

For one, his small clinic – which was now headed by his grandson, as written under his will – had transformed into the new Yoon Family Hospital. Although the annex was still under construction, the hospital had already started its business proper three months ago. It hadn't been easy, but Ji Hoo finally achieved his dream of earning on his own.

Another change would be Ji Hoo's own physical build. He had lost everything – his parents, his first love, his soulmate, and finally, even his own grandfather. Not wanting to think about his losses, he always kept himself busy. Hitting the gym was the easiest way to forget. Gone was Ji Hoo's rather skinny, lean build; his arms, abdomen, and thighs were now more defined and muscular. He had also done away with his rather long hair and now kept it short and slicked back. His face hadn't changed much, except for the fact that it looks more sculpted than before because he rarely showed any emotion anymore.

Finally, the surgeon's personality had changed as well. Ever since Jan Di and Jun Pyo's wedding that had occurred a few months after his grandfather's death, he had cut off his connections with the F4 and Jan Di herself. He changed his phone number and refused to let them see him when they tried to visit. His secretary was also in strict orders to do away with calls and letters from any of them.

He didn't know why he did it. But he did.

Ji Hoo was in his private office, contemplating on his desk. It was his grandfather's death anniversary. It was already getting dark and he was still arguing with himself as to whether he was going to visit his grave or not. He had gotten better that year. Stopped crying himself to sleep. Stopped having nightmares. He even had the strength to finally rip and throw away his fake wedding photos with Jan Di, and he didn't even feel anything when he did.

He had gotten better. He was afraid that visiting his grandfather would make him remember everything, feel everything, and spiral down to that depression again.

He sighed, looking at his family picture on his desk.

"Grandpa," he said out loud, caressing his finger on his grandfather's smiling face. "I don't know what to do anymore. Grandpa, I'm sorry."

He didn't even know what he was talking about or what he was sorry for. It wasn't his fault that the love of his life left him, or that his remaining family passed away as well. He was okay, he was fine.

But it still didn't feel right.

"Grandpa," he called again. "I really don't know what to do. Please, give me something. A sign, anything."

He laughed inwardly at himself as soon as he said it. A sign? He was being pathetic.

Slightly annoyed with himself, he let go of his family photograph and started packing up. His working time was over; he didn't need to stay any longer. He also decided against visiting his grandfather to just head home.

He turned the lights off and stepped out of the room, heading down the stairs. Before reaching the last step however, the familiar voice of his secretary called him.

"Mr. Yoon! Yoon Ji Hoo!"

Ji Hoo looked behind him and found her running down the staircase towards him. When she reached him, she was out of breath. "Mr. Yoon..."

"Eunhee," he greeted coolly. "I was just leaving early."

"Mr. Yoon," Eunhee started again, innocently fixing her dark hair and black dress. Ji Hoo knew the girl had a crush on him (as well as most of his nurses, naturally) but had decided against telling her off and just pretended not to know. After all, she was too young to feel more than an infatuation for him, and she was doing a very good job in her duties as secretary.

"There's an emergency, sir," she continued, her voice taking a serious tone. "A woman was shot...ran to the ER by herself...they called for surgery...said you might still be here..."

Ji Hoo's eyes widened. There had already been several ER cases in the new hospital but this was the first shooting incident. The nurses were right to call on him. He started running down the hall towards the ER, leaving Eunhee out of breath, half because of her run and half because of him.

"She's stable. Good job, everyone."

The surgeons and nurses in the room all heaved sighs of relief. That was a close one. The patient had suffered a dangerous shot to the left chest, barely missing the heart. With Dr. Yoon's guidance, she was able to be operated on without much complications.

Ji Hoo was removing his bloody uniform just as one of the nurses was rolling the patient off to her own room. He stopped her before she reached the doors.

"Sir?"

"Did she say who did this to her?" he asked in a monotone.

The nurse shook her head. "No, she came here on her own. We don't know how and why, we just rolled her off in here because she seemed to be bleeding to death."

"Did you call the police?"

"Yes, sir."

He nodded. "Alright."

The nurse started rolling her again but Ji Hoo stopped her once more.

"What's her name?"

"I didn't hear it quite clearly, sir," the nurse replied shyly, "but I think she said it was Ha Neul." She bowed. "Sorry sir, but she really needs to be brought to her room. You probably also need your rest, it's getting pretty late." She bowed one more time before leaving.

Ji Hoo knew she was right. That surgery was pretty tiring and it was already midnight. He picked up his satchel and started to walk.

As he reached his white motorbike, however, he started thinking about what he had called on his grandfather.

Give me a sign.

Ji Hoo laughed bitterly to himself. He had no intentions whatsoever to turn into the hopeless boy with big dreams he once was. A girl bleeding herself to death couldn't possibly be the sign he had asked for. Even if it was, what the hell was it supposed to mean?

With that thought in mind, he rode his bike and left the hospital.