Heretofore

XIII

Vicissitudes of life don't come knocking at doors. Rather, they burst forth without even asking for your permission. They enter without warning, stealing your joy in trade of heartaches.

And that's what happened after a few weeks. It was during the time when Eunhae had just received a letter stating that she passed the audition for the grand recital. Right after her dismissal, she got a call from Mrs. Lee.

"Mom?"

"Eunhae? Sweetie, where are you?"

"I just got out from my class. Why?"

Sensing that the voice from the other line was tensed, her heart beat nervously. "Mom? Is something wrong?"

"It's...it's Chanyeol."

"Ch—Chanyeol? Why? What happened?"

"Mrs. Park called a while ago and said that Chanyeol was in pain." She explained. "He collapsed and was admitted to the hospital."

Just by hearing that he was in pain, Eunhae felt suffocated. "Mom, where? What hospital?"

"I'm outside your school. We'll go there together."

Right after she ended the call, Eunhae dashed outside of the building as she struggled to fight the nervousness inside her heart.

During their ride to the hospital, Mrs. Lee talked yet Eunhae was too nervous to understand what she's saying. She just sat there, trying to steady her breathing as she clutched her chest.

As soon as they got inside, the smell of antiseptics entered their nostrils yet Eunhae was so much in a hurry that she didn't have time to notice them.

Chanyeol's parents were outside the Emergency Room when they arrived. Mr. Park's face was flushed, obvious that he was fighting his tears while embracing his wife who keeps on sobbing.

"Auntie!" Eunhae said as they arrived. There were so much worry and despair all over her face.

"Oh, Eunhae." Mrs. Park sobbed and hugged the girl along with her mom.

"W—where's Chanyeol?" Eunhae asked.

"He's inside." Mr. Park said. His voice was gruff—obvious that he's stressed out.

"Minji, what happened?" Mrs. Lee asked Chanyeol's mom as she gently rubbed her back.

"I was washing dishes that time when he called me from his room. I knew there's something wrong just by listening at the sound of his voice and then when I walked inside..." She started to sob once again. "...h—he was crying and...and there were patches of blood on the bed sheets...and he was puking again and again."

Eunhae's lips trembled and tears flowed from her eyes just by hearing her explanation. She couldn't bring herself to imagine what just happened to Chanyeol.

"Oh I was so scared and I didn't know what to do...then I called the ambulance and...and Jinho."

"Oh dear," Mrs. Lee mumbled as she empathized with her friend.

"Honey, it's alright." Mr. Park said as he hugged her once again. "He'll be alright."

"Oh Chanyeol, my poor Chanyeol," Minji wept as her husband's shirt got soaked with her tears. "It's much worse than what happened two years ago...our boy's in so much pain."

"Shh,"

"Why does it have to come back...w—why does his sickness have to come back..." She sobbed. "I'm not ready to let him go, Jinho...I don't think I'll ever be."

Hearing her cry of despair, Mr. Park took a deep breath as he tried to comfort his wife although he knew that deep down, he was afraid too.

"Chanyeol..." Eunhae cried as she felt her heart got overwhelmed with fear while Mrs. Lee embraced her child.