Chapter Two: Of The Things Told
He entered the private ward with fresh lilies in his hands. The nurses stationed there greeted him good morning, which he answered with a small smile. Everyone in the hospital knew that he spoke little and smiled even less, he was one quite doctor but an excellent one.
He graduated in half of the time other people needed and started working in the hospital even while he was still intern with his Grandfather, the renowned Doctor-President Yoon (as the nurses fond of calling him due to his position as President years back), although after he finished all of his education and took over as the head of hospital, his Grandfather preferred to practice in his small clinic rather than the hospital they own due to his frail health.
He asked for a vase from the nurse and arranged the lilies before proceeding down the hallway to her room. The whole private section has been bought for indefinite time to ensure the special patient and her family's privacy and comfort. The hospital practically has to build another private wing for other patients.
He didn't know or remembered how he ended up visiting her everyday. The first time his Grandfather told him that the wing has been booked for a close friend's daughter, he thought it was just another rich family wanting privacy, but as the Head of Hospital, naturally reports are being brought to him daily, he saw the case file titled "Ha Family" on his desk and never gave it much thought because of the common surname.
Until one night after a round around the hospital, he had the sudden curiosity over the patient, by then, she has already been there for 6 months. He remembered reading the report by the reception, stating car crash and deep coma because of the blow to the head. The accident happened in New York, she was healed physically in hospital there but transferred to Korea when the doctors there announced her in deep coma and her parents wanted her to be close by.
He opened the door to her room; if it can be called a room; it looked more like a home. A big soft white bed in the center of the room with medical equipment nearby, there was a comfortable lounge area to the right, a small private kitchen to its left and to the left of the room were glass doors leading to outdoor private garden, which was currently open. He put the lilies by the bedside and walked outside to find her.
The nurse in charge gave him a nod as he walked out and then left them for privacy. He saw the nurse went in before sitting himself beside her. She looked peaceful, happy even… sitting under the sun with her long hair flowing. She simply looked like she was sleeping.
"Good morning…" he smiled at her as he fussed over her, straightening the blanket on her knees and gently brushing her hair. It's funny how he never really spoke much to her before but now he saw her everyday. He never told any of his friends of her in his hospital. Unfair, maybe, but then again, they never knew that she got into accident, her parents kept it in private, not wishing for the media to find out and made this matter blew over their heads and he respected their wish.
She heard his steps and would have smiled if her muscles allow it. He greeted her softly and as he leaned in to fuss over her, she smelled coffee and… croissant? If she were awake she would have demanded for food. Strangely she never felt hunger but it didn't stop her wishing for the taste of food.
He took her hand as his habit now, leaned in close and started to tell her what happened yesterday. He told her of the accidents, of Jandi calling Junpyo "babo", of his breakfast with his Grandfather this morning and his never ending hints of finding love and settling for marriage. It has been a year since Junpyo came home and moved Shinhwa Headquarters to Seoul, their marriage was soon to be held in spring.
She chuckled as she heard about Jandi and Junpyo, there was still this small pang whenever she heard his name but that has lessened and almost gone ever since he came into her dark world and spoke to her softly. She interrupted here and there with her own witty comments but he couldn't hear her. She couldn't help but wonder if he still loved Jandi, somehow she thinks so.
He suddenly recalled the first time he really saw her as who she was, the cheerful and insufferable young woman who almost managed to conquer Junpyo. If only he didn't meet Jandi first, he believed wholeheartedly that his best friend would have fallen head over heels with her. "… remember the time you ate that giant bowl of ramen? I thought you were just bluffing, I was so full simply looking at you eating it!" he chuckled fondly. Ha Jae Kyung surely was not a common rich lady.
She grinned at the memory, truthfully she was so full that night she threw up later on but getting the vouchers for Jandi was worth it. Although she could have bought them but she knew Jandi wouldn't have taken it if bought, but if she won them that would be different.
"… I wouldn't mind if I were to marry you, at least, you are not fake." he suddenly said.
Thud. Her heart stopped as he said that softly as if to himself. Marry him? She rolled her eyes and would have smacked him in the head. He didn't even know her! Come to think of it, she tried to picture his face in her head, but all she can came up with was a fuzzy image of his gaping face as he stared at her eating ramen.
She must have disconnected as she was thinking because the next thing she knew was being lifted from her chair. Held close safely within his strong arms she heard the soft thump of his heart and felt the warmth of his embrace. He put her down on her bed and covered her gently with blanket. She felt his hand brushed her hair and lingering on her cheek… then a very soft kiss was place on her forehead startling her. He had never done that before!
It was almost as if he has the same thought, because he chuckled softly after kissing her and said, "have a good day, Jae Kyung…"
… and Ha Jae Kyung was left alone again, rewinding all the things he told her today, of all the new things she learned of Yoon Ji Hoo…
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