A.N.: Hi dearests. Sorry for keeping you waiting but thank you for the patience and support. Hope life's been treating you well. Those hiccups along the way? Treat them as something that helps you grow as a person. Until then. Take care and have a great day!

Disclaimer: I don't own these BOF characters but the new ones.

Published: October 15, 2018

"Yi Jeong Sunbae, it's Ga Eul!"

"What? What happened to Ga Eul?"

"She's at the hospital."

"Which hospital?"

"Shinhwa. Emergency ward. Come quick, Yi Jeong Sunbae."

"I'm coming. I'm coming. Jan Di, keep me informed, please."

"I will, Sunbae."

Yi Jeong dropped everything at work and drove like crazy to the hospital. The thumping in his chest was reaching an anaerobic state that he felt like it would burst out of his chest, the second incident that he felt this way after Ye-Jin's faint episodes.

"What happened to Ga Eul? God, please let Ga Eul be safe." He did not know what was going on but for Jan Di to call him like that, something had seriously happened.

He left his car with the valet at the hospital and sprinted to the emergency ward, almost tripping and a few times collided with some of the people there. When he reached the ward, Jan Di was pacing back and forth in front of a door and there were also a few familiar faces.

"Jan Di."

"Yi Jeong Sunbae." She rushed to him and surprised him by hugging him tightly, crying.

"What's going on? Where's Ga Eul?"

"Sunbae, Ga Eul and her husband… they had an accident."

"What?" His heart stopped beating. No. No. No. Not his Ga Eul. No.

"Sunbae, I'm afraid."

"How… how… how did it happen? How did you know?" His shaking hands rubbed Jan Di's back to calm her although his inside was indescribable.

"I just got to the emergency ward when they were brought in. Oh, Sunbae. They said a lorry lost control and rammed into their car."

No word was able to come out of him and his knees felt like they were going to fail him.

"How long have they been in there?"

"Almost an hour and a half."

"The baby… Ga Eul's baby…"

"We don't know how they are. Nobody has come out of there since they went in."

Not able to stand up any longer, Yi Jeong led the trembling crying Jan Di to the waiting area. All he could do now was to pray hard that Ga Eul, her baby, and even her husband were saved.

A minute later, an older man approached them and took a seat next to him.

"Excuse me, Mr. So Yi Jeong?"

"Yes?" Both he and Jan Di turned to the man.

"I'm Im Joon-Hyun, Joon-Ho's eldest brother."

"I'm sorry for what happened."

The man nodded. "It was all too fast. A witness said that the lorry driver was trying to avoid a dog which suddenly ran across but lost control and then hit their car."

"How is the driver?" asked Yi Jeong.

"Broken legs and a few scratches."

"Any news about them?"

But Joon-Hyun just shook his head.

"If you don't mind me asking, how do you know Joon-Ho and Ga Eul?" Joon-Hyun then queried. It was a surprise for him to see Yi Jeong dashed in panic.

"Ga Eul's my friend and I met Joon-Ho when I first went to the center."

Joon-Hyun nodded again.

"Jan Di, has Ga Eul's parents been informed?"

"Yes, Sunbae. They are on their way. Jun Pyo arranged a flight for them. They should be here in a few hours."

"Those are some of my family," pointed Joon-Hyun to a group of people near the door.

Yi Jeong and Jan Di just nodded.

"I'd better get back to them. Please pray for them."

The two nodded again.

After Joon-Hyun left, Yi Jeong asked Jan Di about Ji Hoo. It seemed that Ji Hoo had been in an operating room since two hours ago and could not be disturbed.

"Yi Jeong Sunbae, I'm worried. What if…"

"No. Please don't say it. Please. She's going to make it. Ga Eul is a strong woman." My Ga Eul is a strong woman.

Ten minutes later a doctor came out with blood all over his scrub and gloves.

"Family of Mrs. Chu Ga Eul?"

Everybody rushed to the doctor.

"Mrs. Chu Ga Eul has a broken left arm, and a deep cut on her forehead and left leg, apart from bruises and scratches. Other than that she's stable."

And a collective sound was heard.

"What about the baby?" asked Jan Di, impatient.

"The baby survives although she's weak and stressed due to the impact."

Everybody sighed again with some rubbing their chests in relief. Jan Di hugged Yi Jeong again.

"Excuse me, Doctor. Did you say she? The baby is a girl?" asked Joon-Hyun.

"Yes, a perfect girl but we will keep monitoring her and Mrs. Chu Ga Eul both closely for a few days."

"And Joon-Ho?" asked one of the family members.

"He's with the other team. He got the most impact from the accident since the lorry hit his side of the car but they are doing their all to save him. I'm sorry."

Gasps and sobs echoed in the area especially from Joon-Ho's mother and sister.

"Mrs. Chu Ga Eul will be transferred to the recovery ward first before the normal ward and we'll inform you when you can visit.

"Doctor, please put her in the best private room and give her the best care," requested Yi Jeong and agreed by everyone else, although it did raise a few eyebrows from Joon-Ho's family members.

"We'll do, Sir. Please excuse me." And the doctor went back to the room.

"Sunbae, she's saved, and the baby too." Tears rolled down her face dampening Yi Jeong's suit.

"Yes, Jan Di. Yes, they are."

Yi Jeong wanted to scream on top of his lung to thank the heaven above for saving Ga Eul and her baby. He did not know what he would do if he lost Ga Eul. She might be another man's wife but she was also his strength even if she did not know it and other than Ye-Jin, she was another reason for him being alive.

They waited though not so patiently for any further news and development of the two people in the emergency room. More of the Im's family members had arrived and gathered together to give comfort to Joon-Ho's mother and sister. His father had passed away three years ago.

Then, the door opened and a different doctor walked out.

"Family of Mr. Im Joon-Ho?"

"We're here."

Again, they gathered near the doctor.

"I'm sorry. We tried our best but couldn't save him. His…"

Cries, wails, and screams erupted in an instant. Joon-Ho's mother started to drop to the floor. Fortunately, a younger version of Joon-Ho was able to catch her while Yi Jeong and Jan Di were struck frozen at the shocking news.

It was chaotic. A few nurses were called in to help Joon-Ho's mother and other family members. Joon-Hyun had taken a seat though still stunned at the revelation. His brother was dead.

Im Joon-Ho was dead. The kind, smart and responsible Im Joon-Ho was dead.

A broken glass had punctured his kidney and another struck his chest just below his heart. The doctors tried their best to save him but he had lost too much blood and in the end, succumbed to his fate.

Im Joon-Ho was dead. Ga Eul's husband and father to her unborn child was dead.

Jan Di cried louder at the thought of her best friend and her unborn child's future without Im Joon-Ho. How would she survive? Jan Di knew how much Ga Eul loved her husband. He was her world. He helped her move on and rose from her heartache after the whole Yi Jeong's fiasco. How was Ga Eul going to cope now? Yes, Im Joon-Ho's family was rich, among the richest in South Korea and money would not be a problem in raising her child for the rest of her life and her child's life. Furthermore, Joon-Ho's family was all nice and kind and treated her as their own but Jan Di knew that it would be hard for Ga Eul. Her husband would not be with her. Jan Di's heart broke for her best friend.

Yi Jeong looked at nowhere, his expression, blank. He did not know what his real true feeling was.

"Ga Eul, Sweetheart. Please. Omma am so sorry. We are so sorry, Sweetheart." Ga Euls' mother did not know how else to calm her only child's down but to hold her hand tightly as tears flowed continuously.

Ga Eul had been crying and screaming her husband's name when they told her about the devastating news. Why was the world so cruel to her and her unborn child? Why was when she was finally happy, this had to happen? Why was her innocent unborn child punished? Why strip away the unborn child a chance to see her father and to live a happy life with her father? How was she going to go through the days after this? How was she going to raise her child without him?

Flashback

Joon-Ho kissed his wife's forehead, nose and settled at her lips as his right hand gently caressed her now visible bulge. They were in their bedroom, getting ready to retire for the day.

"I love you, Sweetheart. With all my heart. You make me the happiest man in this whole wide world," and kissed her again.

"And not in this whole wide universe?" she asked with a teasing smirk.

He laughed and tickled her waist, making her squealed, ticklish.

"Nope. That's for someone's special."

She stared at him wide-eyed.

"I'm not special?" Worry laced in her voice.

"Not that special," he replied and shrugged.

Ga Eul's heart felt constricted and she tried to push him away. How could he? Who was this person that was more special than her? Was he having an affair? How could he be so nonchalant about this? Did he not find her attractive anymore because she was pregnant? Did he find her crazy pregnancy hormones annoying and irritating? But why did he still said he loved her? Why was he confusing her?

Moistures started to gather in her eyes as she tried to search for the answers in his.

"Sweetheart, no. Please don't cry. I was just teasing you."

He quickly pulled her closer and showered her face with kisses before claiming her lips and poured all his love into it.

"Please don't tease me like that again. My heart can't stand it. I love you so much that I don't know what I'll do if you're not with me," she held on him tightly.

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I won't do it again, I promise and I love you more. I'm not going to leave you because you and this one here," he placed a hand on her stomach, "are my world, my universe. I promise," and kissed her forehead.

End of flashback

Her world had crashed. Her Joon-Ho was gone. Forever.

"Sweetheart, please. Don't do this. Think about your baby."

"Baby?" The tears ran down like the rapid river flow and placed her right hand on her stomach.

"Baby, Baby, your Appa…"

Mr. and Mrs. Chu cried with their daughter.

It was a gloomy dark clouded day. One by one the Im family members and many others left the cemetery after giving their final respect to Im Joon-Ho. It was a week after the ill-fated day. The burial ceremony was delayed since Joon-Ho's mother and siblings wanted to wait for Ga Eul to be discharged from the hospital. They did not want her to miss it. They loved her like their own.

Ga Eul was on the wheelchair, wearing a knee-length black dress. Her mother stood beside her.

"Omma, do you mind if I talk to Joon-Ho alone?" The tears had not stopped since the ceremony started.

"Are you going to be alright? And it looks like it's going to rain, Sweetheart."

Ga Eul's heart broke for she did not know how many times now. Sweetheart. It was what Joon-Ho called her.

"Yes, Omma. I won't be long. I just need to be alone with Joon-Ho." Her eyes never left his picture on the tombstone.

"Call me when you're ready to go home."

"I will, Omma," and Mrs. Chu kissed her daughter's forehead before slowly walking away to her awaiting husband at the small hall just a few hundred meters away.

Ga Eul's tears flowed faster and she gripped her blouse over her chest.

"Joon-Ho, you promised to be with me when it's time to meet our child. Our baby is a girl, Joon-Ho. It seems that you got your wish. She's going to be beautiful inside and outside like you."

She paused to rub her aching chest.

"Joon-Ho, you promised to help change the diapers and feed our child. You promised to send our child to school every day. You promised to teach our child the Centre's business. You promised to be with us forever."

She wiped her tears but they continued to fall.

"You lied. You lied to me, to us! How could you leave us like this? Don't you love us? How are we going to live without you? How am I going to survive?"

She crouched down with her right hand over her stomach as her heart crushed more and her cries became louder and louder.

"Ga Eul-yang."

Her body stiffened at the familiar voice and a few seconds later, the person was standing next to her. Slowly, she leaned back and looked up at the person.

"Yi Jeong-Sunbae…"

Yi Jeong froze. It had been a long time since she called him that. He quickly kneeled down and looked at her with sad eyes. It was heart-wrenching to see her pained expression and the fallen tears.

He bravely took her right hand, thanked the heaven above that she did not protest, and gently squeezed it.

"I'm so sorry, Ga Eul-yang. I'm so sorry for your loss."

He had been watching her since she arrived at the cemetery. He was there but stayed at the back. Jan Di and Woo Bin were also present while Jun Pyo and Ji Hoo could not make it for they had other obligations. When the ceremony was over, Jan Di and Woo Bin went to again give their condolences to the grieving Ga Eul and apologized for not being able to stay longer. But Jan Di promised to check up on Ga Eul as much as possible and as soon as possible too.

However, Yi Jeong stayed back. He did not have the heart to leave Ga Eul yet. He felt the need to make sure that she was alright. When Mrs. Chu reached the small hall, he went to them and offered his condolences to her and her husband. Even if the Chus knew what happened between their daughter and Yi Jeong years ago, they had long forgiven him when Ga Eul asked them to. She was happy with Joon-Ho and they did not want their anger toward Yi Jeong to make Ga Eul sad.

As he watched Ga Eul from afar, he could see that she was in pain, emotionally, other than her physical injuries. He understood her feeling. Grief, devastation, and sorrow from the loss of someone who they loved. So he told her parents that he would stay and looked after her and later send her back. It was a risk on his part. Her parents did not agree at first, saying that it might not be appropriate for him to do so. For one, she was not his responsibility. She was theirs. For two, what would Joon-Ho's family say when it was him who sent her home? Before this, they had never seen him around her or Joon-Ho. Why now? They might wonder where her parents were. But Yi Jeong told the Chus that she was his friend and it is not wrong for a friend to offer his help to a grieving friend. He also promised to take care of her while she was with him and to bring her home as soon as possible. He also mentioned that Mr. Chu did not look well, which was true and needed to rest. In the end, Mr. and Mrs. Chu agreed.

"Yi Jeong Sunbae. Why did he leave me and our baby? Why did everyone I love leave me?"

Yi Jeong did not know what to say but to keep holding her hand.

"We were planning to move into our own house after the baby is born."

She had lived at the Im Mansion together with his other siblings. His late father believed that by living together in the same house their family would be stronger and closer. Furthermore, three out of five of Joon-Ho's siblings were directors of the family's Children Centre and it would be much easier for them to operate.

"Some renovation works have started and the baby's nursery will be the first room to be completed. We even argued about the nursery's color. I wanted it painted light blue because I had this feeling that the baby will be a boy but he wanted it to be in pink. He was so sure that we will get a girl and he was right." She then choked and sobbed.

He was not sure why she told him all this but he let her spoke although his heart stung to hear her talk about him and their baby. But he had to ignore that pain in his heart and right now needed to be a good friend for her. He continued to softly stroke her right hand with his thumb.

"Joon-Ho is gone, Yi Jeong Sunbae," and her cry became louder.

Yi Jeong wanted nothing but to hug her and to offer her comfort but he knew that it would not be appropriate. Not right now. So he opted for what he thought was the best. He patted her hand continuously and said, "Let it all out, Ga Eul-yang. Let it all out. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you."

"How am I going to get my happiness and joy now that he's gone? What about my baby? My baby deserves to be loved by her father. My baby deserves all the happiness and joy in this world too, Sunbae."

Yi Jeong heart broke more. Ga Eul's words reminded him of his daughter Ye-Jin. His poor Ye-Jin. Her mother did not want her even when she was still in her mother's womb. Ye-Jin had lost her mother's love. Even if Ye-Jin was still small, he never failed to miss his daughter's sad eyes and longing whenever she saw other children with their mothers. Hence, Yi Jeong vowed that she would get her happiness and joy even if her biological mother was not in the equation. Yi Jeong would do his all to ensure it.

When Yi Jeong thought about Ga Eul's words, her unborn child was fated to be born without her father's presence but Yi Jeong was sure that she was loved by Joon-Ho the first moment he knew about it. True, there was no denying that it was unfortunate for the child but that did not mean that she would not get her happiness and joy at all. Yi Jeong needed Ga Eul to realize that.

"Ga Eul-yang. I am so sorry for your loss but I'm sure that Joon-Ho-shii does not want you to say that. He would want you to be happy with your child. He would want you to continue on with your life. You have your child to think of too. He would not want your child to be sad, would he? So you have to make him proud by making yourself and your child happy too even if without him."

"Yi Jeong Sunbae! How could I be happy when he's not with me? With us?" She let go of her hand from his hold and placed it on her stomach as if shielding the baby from danger and comforting the baby.

"Ga Eul-yang, I don't mean to upset you or be insensitive with your condition but maybe when you are much calmer, please think about yourself and your child's future. I understand how hard it'll be to be without a father. Really, I do. I feel it for Ye-Jin who's abandoned by her own mother, but please think about this for the long term. For your child to be happy, you have to be happy first." He had taken her hand again and she looked at him. Her eyes were still glassy from all the tears. The idea of being happy without her husband was nonsensical.

"If you need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here, Ga Eul-yang."

She nodded weakly then turned to look at the grave again.

"I miss him very much, Yi Jeong Sunbae."

"I know…" He answered in a whisper.

He understood that there was also worry in her. Being a single parent is not an easy task. There will be times when patience runs out and frustrations kick in, threatening one's sanity, questioning why, why, why, why and why? If one is not careful, depression and stress will take over and this can lead to more problems. He had been there. Hence, it is important for the single parent to have a strong support from his or her family and friends.

Yi Jeong wanted to be part of Ga Eul's support system. He would never let her fall and he silently promised that he will help her find her happiness and joy.