Final Chapter: The Good End

Jonghyun is trying very hard to help his patient.  He saved that boy a few weeks ago, after he was said to be best died.  He did the operation, it was a success, but the boy never had woken up.  Jonghyun has been hoping for weeks since then, to see the boy wakes up and speaks again, but he never wants to imagine the condition.

            Right now, he is struggling to keep the boy under control.  The boy’s heartbeat increases rapidly and his breathing is uneven.  Looks like the boy is suffering, but he is actually trying to wake up.  This is the second time after he arrived just in the afternoon.  But, just now, the condition of the boy is not as exaggerate as this.

            While the boy’s relative, Lee Jinki is waiting anxiously outside, feeling very nervous of the unknown condition inside the room.  But one thing he is very sure, there is one doctor that is very reliable.  Jinki pust all his trust and believe on him, hoping for the best, and never has expecting the worst from him.  He keeps praying, tireless.  He only wants one thing, Minho is safe.

            He somehow still feels very restless, maybe because his girlfriend is still not there, just yet.  He hopes that she will arrive very soon, because he believes she has the power to keep him calm although in a very difficult situation.  However, keeping his faith on the young doctor, he is still able to stay calm.

            Little did Jinki know that the young doctor in the room is putting himself into cardiac arrest.  Jonghyun is trying his best to help the boy to gain his consciousness.  He has to admit that the boy’s condition really is challenging his professionalism as a neuro doctor.  He really panic sometimes, but to keep his reputation and to save the boy, he keeps himself under control.

            Jonghyun has to tell himself that if anything unexpected happens, he has to get ready.  Anything, including death.  But, he keeps that as the least possibility to happen.  Based on Minho’s medical report from the operation until now, Jonghyun could tell that Minho is a very strong person that really wants to hold onto his life.  He believes that Minho will wake up eventually.

            The condition in Minho’s ICU room is a chaos.  The doctors, lead by Jonghyun, are trying their best to save Minho.  While the nurses keep helping them and stay by their sides.  Minho’s case is extraordinary.  For someone who should just be dead, survived, and now are struggling to wake up, it is just a miracle.  They really want to see him alive and speak to them.

            That’s why Jonghyun is trying his best.  Not only him, Jessica and his other mates are also putting a very high hope in Minho’s case.  In addition, Jinki and Emma are also really depending on the medical specialists to bring Minho to life.

            And finally, after a few minutes of worry and chaos, condition comes back to normal as Minho’s heartbeat and breathing is under control.  And for the first time after a few weeks, the eyes open by itself, revealing the dark brown iris of the owner.





            Emma is scared to death by the sudden event that occurred just now.  She doesn’t want to believe it.  But, she has to.  It is very abrupt, and that is too much to absorb by Emma.  Just now Eunhyuk checked on him, telling her that there was no pulse can be detected.  Emma started to worry.

            Donghae was unsatisfied with Eunhyuk and checked on Minho himself.  Then, his face turned white, as white as snow.  He looked petrified.  He shook his head, and told Emma something that made her worried even more.

            “I think...I think...Eunhyuk...was right,” Donghae stuttered when he told that.  Emma couldn’t stop her tears anymore.  She took her phone and dialled the ambulance, straightaway.

            And now, here she is, in the ambulance, together with Minho and the medical assistant.  She couldn’t chase away the thought that Minho is already died.  She doesn’t want to.  But, half of her heart says that Minho’s dead, which makes her hate it so much.

            The medical assistant did say that Minho has died just now.  But, after he called the hospital, he changed his word.  He told her that Minho is just in a very weak condition.  He is supposed to rest enough before he can play sport as usual.  Emma could feel that he is lying, but she just keeps that at the bottom of her heart.

            When they reach the hospital, the medical assistant takes Minho to the emergency room.  Emma could only watch Minho been dragged away with her eyes.  She sits on the chair provided there.  She could only think of one person, her brother, Jinki.

            “Yes, Emma?” he answers straight away after it rings.

            “Jinki...” Emma’s voice trails away.  She tries to hold her cry, but fail.

            “Emma...why?” Emma could hear Jinki’s voice sounds worried at the other side.

            “Minho...” again, Emma speaks only one word.

            “Why?  What happened to Minho?” Jinki’s voice suddenly is raised to the highest volume.  She doesn’t know whether he is worried or surprised, maybe both.

            “He collapsed...” Emma says.

            “What?!” Jinki shouts on the line, and that almost makes Emma’s eardrum torn.  But, Emma doesn’t care.  She wants to speak to her brother.  She wants him to be by his side.

            “Jinki...” she calls his name.

            “Emma!  Where are you right now?” Jinki asks.

            “I’m at the hospital,” Emma says.

            “Emma-” Jinki is about to reply when Emma cut his words.

            “Jinki!  Please!  I need you here...please...” Emma seems to beg to Jinki, thinking of he might be busy with works.

            “Yes, Emma...I’m coming.  I’m coming over there.  Don’t worry...” Jinki says in a very soothing voice.  Emma calms down.

            “Okay...I’ll wait here,” Emma says.

            “Emma...” Jinki calls her.

            “Yes?”

            “Promise me you won’t do anything that harm yourself.  Please...I love you,” says Jinki.

            “No...no, Jinki.  I have you...” Emma says.

            “See you in a minute,” Jinki says and cut the conversation.

            Emma sits there calmly, at least after talks to her brother.  She really wants him to accompany her as soon as possible, because she doesn’t know how to act already.  She just sits down alone passively.  But, like a miracle, exactly one minute, she hears a voice.

            “Emma?” his brother calls her name, and there he is just a few meters away from her.  She stands up immediately.  It is weird, Onew can be here just in a minute time, but, she needs him.  She doesn’t care.

            “Jinki!” Emma shouts together with a few people.  Both Emma and Jinki turn towards the unknown voices.  They are Taemin’s and Key’s.  Emma looks at them.

            “Sorry, Emma.  But, can we have a talk with Jinki?” Taemin asks.  Puzzled, Emma nods slowly.

            Taemin and Key drag Jinki to a place out of Emma’s hearing.  Key brought Taemin to the hospital right after Taemin called and told him that Minho’s microchip experienced short-circuit and malfunctioned.  Taemin detected that through his own laptop.  Key immediately called Jonghyun after that to inform about that.

            “Jinki!  Minho...I mean the cyborg’s microchip malfunctioned due to heavy uploaded information,” says Taemin.  Jinki looks at him.

            “Then?” asks Jinki, also confused.

            “It ‘died’ right in front of your sister!” Taemin says.  Jinki’s eyes open very wide, but then he nods calmly.

            “How’s Emma?  She’s okay right, at least from my observation,” Key is more concern about Emma.

            “She’s okay, Key.  Now, both of you have to listen to my story,” says Jinki.

            “What?” Key and Taemin say synchronously.

            “Minho is waking up.  Jonghyun is trying to keep him under control right now,” says Jinki.  Now, it is Key’s and Taemin’s turns to be surprised.

            “Really?” Taemin says.

            “That’s great.  Emma will be okay!” Key says.

            “But, I’m still waiting for Jonghyun’s call,” says Jinki.

            “Right...while waiting...erm...I think Emma needs you,” Key says.  Jinki nods and quickly walks towards Emma.  Emma immediately hugs him and cries.  Jinki comforts him, doing his best as a very loving brother.





            “Minho...” Jonghyun says once he opens his eyes.  He looks confused.

            “Jinki...Emma...” Minho says the two names first.

            “Yes...Minho.  They are here, but outside the room.  I have to check on you first,” says Jonghyun.

            “Dr...Jonghyun?” Minho asks confusedly.  Jonghyun smiles widely and then looks at Jessica who smiles brightly.  Then, he looks back at Minho and nods.

            “Yes, Minho,” says Jonghyun gently.

            “I hear you everyday...” Minho says with a very soft voice.  Jonghyun chuckles.

            “I’m glad you make it.  I’m glad you wake up,” Jonghyun smiles.  Minho smiles back.  It is a very weak smile, yet, very genuine from him.

            “I hear you everyday...how can I not wake up?” Minho says.  Jonghyun smiles.

            “This is Dr. Jessica,” says Jonghyun while showing Jessica.  She nods and smiles sweetly.

            “She saved you after the accident,” says Jonghyun again.

            “No, no.  He’s the one, I was helping,” says Jessica while secretly punching Jonghyun at his back.  Jonghyun winks at her.  Jessica chuckles.

            “Okay...I want to check on you first before I can allow the others to come in,” says Jonghyun.  Minho nods.

            Jonghyun asks him to move his left body side and right body side to check whether he has nerve malfunction.  Luckily, he has no other problem accept that his left body side response is a bit slower.  Jonghyun says that it will get better over time.  Then, Jessica helps him to check on his pulse and blood pressure.

            After a few minutes checking, both of them satisfied with Minho’s condition.  Jonghyun nods to Jessica and Jessica quickly calls Jinki’s phone.  It is prohibited to use phone in hospital, but none of them obey the rule anymore.  The excitement gets over their professionalism.

         



            “Come on!  Minho is waiting for you!” Jinki says excitedly.  Emma is confused, but still following his brother to the respective room.  Taemin and Key are also following, being more excited than her.

            “Oh!  I can’t wait!” says Key while walking as fast as he can.  Taemin only smiles, but Emma could tell that he is happy.  But, why is everybody so excited while she is alone in this confusing mode?  They enter the room to see Jonghyun and Jessica waiting beside Minho’s bed.

            “Hey, Jinki!” Jonghyun comes to him.  Jinki hugs Jonghyun immediately.

            “Thanks.  Thanks a lot!  I don’t know how I can thank you!” Jinki says.

            “OH MY GOD!  Is that you Minho?!” Emma shouts in surprise.  Minho nods and smiles towards her.  Emma rubs her eyes a few times.

            “I thought...I thought....you were died...It was like...right in front of me just now?!” Emma says.  That makes the condition even worse.  Minho is puzzled too.

            “I’m here...just wake up...I don’t understand...” Minho says softly but it is enough for the whole room to hear that.  A very tense situation is created throughout the room.

            “Anybody want to explain this?” Emma asks with a very threatening voice.  Jinki swallows hard.

            Jinki looks at Jonghyun.  Jonghyun looks at Key.  Then, Key look at Taemin.  Taemin looks at Jinki.  They end up looking at each other, sending signs through their eyes on who should explain.

            “Let me explain,” a very soft voice says.  Jessica comes to rescue.  All of them sigh.





            At last all their problems are solved.   All of them keep going on with their lives, living towards a better life.

            Emma and Minho are cleared about the real situation, about the robot and everything.  Emma almost fainted when she heard about that.  But then, that was the reality.  Minho starts to follow Emma to work, captures photos of artefacts and archaeological materials.  They work together and that makes Emma very satisfied with her life.

            Moreover, her relationship with her brother is getting better.  Onew has been very good towards her and knows how to divide his time between works and family.

            Speaking of which, he is going to marry Taeyon very soon.  Emma feels happy for him.  At least, there’s someone very reliable to take care of Jinki.  Emma is glad that Taeyon will be her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

            Jonghyun and Jessica are now together.  They confessed their feelings towards each other and accepted each other.  They are now working together happily and they plan to join the medic team of the World Aid to help at war or at place of natural disaster.  They want to contribute towards the humanity.

            Key is pursuing his Master in Psychologist, specifically in women psychology.  He is going to University of Leicester in United Kingdom to get his Degree.  Amber is not following.  She continues her study at Netherlands in Engineering.  They promise to get married right after both of them get their Master in study.

            Taemin is now a well-known student and soon-to-be a robot engineer.  He is known widely throughout the world for his cyborg.  It is a hit, for him to create a very human like robot that is controlled only by a small microchip in the brain.  Making ‘Minho’ as his first prototype, it shows a success.  As promised by Onew, he gets his own satellite to locate all robots invented by him.

            He is very young, yet talented and many companies are ready to hire him to the topmost rank.  The most important is, no girl can resist his hotness.  Girls always try to attract him, but only one managed to catch his heart, Suzy.

Chapter 14: The Game

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

            “Very sure, my dear.”

            It has been about the thousandth times, Emma asks the same question, and Minho gives the same answer.  Minho calls Eunhyuk for a soccer game and they promise to meet at the usual place and time.  Last time, it was humiliating for her, but Emma doesn’t care anymore.  She just cares about Minho.

            She asks again and again whether he is really sure with the game, but seems like Minho’s answer is always staying with the game.  Emma is worrying about him.  For a person who is recuperate after a major surgery, that type of sport should be too risky.  Emma is now no longer encircled in her own stupidity and sane enough to understand the real situation; the pro and contrast if Minho involve with the game.

            “I...I’m just worried about you,” Emma says.

            “Why?” Minho asks with his brows knitting.  He doesn’t understand.

            Emma looks at him.  She sighs.  She thinks she has back to normal, but seems like Minho is not in his real self.  Minho, the real Minho always thinks rationally before he does something or making a decision.

            “Minho, you just undergone a major surgery...no...two major surgeries...a few weeks before.  It is risky to play again in this meantime,” she says rationally.  Minho sighs.

            “Emma, please.  Just this one.  I want to prove to you that I can play this, please.  I failed to make it last time, and I know you were unhappy,” says Minho tenderly.

            Emma looks on the grass, thinking the best way to speak to him.  She knows that last time was her mistake.  She was not in her right state of mind to think clearly on the consequences.  At that time, all in her mind was too childish, wanted the real Minho to come back to her without concerning about the risk.  But, not now.  She is completely sane.  No more destructive behaviour.

            “Look, Minho.  Last time, it was my fault.  I was insane, I had to admit that.  I gave so many problems to you, to Onew, and to Key.  So, I hope you just forget what I said right after you woke up from your coma until the last meeting.  I’m...very sorry,” she says.

            “No...Emma.  No.  It was nobody’s fault,” Minho says calmly.

            “So, can you just forget the game?  I’m afraid you’re not in your best condition to play any sport yet,” she says.

            “I won’t.  I’ll continue with the game,” Minho says while looking at nothing.

            “Minho-ah...” Emma tries to persuade him in the best way.

            “Emma...just this time...I play today because I want it.  I love soccer and lost to Eunhyuk last time was a nightmare to me.  So please...just this time.  If I win this time, I will dedicate the winning to you.  If not, you’ll stay with me, right?” asks Minho, while looking deeply into Emma’s eyes.

            Emma looks at him with watery eyes.  She nods.  How can she leave him, when he is one of her sources of happiness?  She is happy that she can see more of the real Minho here; his competitiveness, his drama and all that.  But, she is also worried that he is really up to the game.  What if something happen?

            “I’m glad...I’m happy that you want to win for me, but...I am happier if you would just forget it.  I am more worried about you.  You are not in your best condition to play,” says Emma.  Minho looks at him.

            “Emma...please...just trust me this time,” Minho says.

            Emma wants to counter his words, but then, Minho does the only thing that can shut her up.  He kisses him.  Emma is shocked by his action.  He uses her weakness.  Emma will never speak again once Minho kisses her.  She just nods to agreement, to trust Minho this time and let him go on with the game, although her heart disproves her nods.





            Jonghyun moves as fast as he can.  He was about to sleep just now when suddenly his phone rang from his bedside table.  The sound was annoying, but he was sure, a life was waiting to be saved.  Tiredly, he pushed himself up and took the phone, and brought it to his ear.

            “Doctor,” a nurse voice came into his ear as his brain interpreted it.  He shook his head to overcome his sleepiness.  The voice was calm, or pretended to be calm Jonghyun could tell, made him more anxious.

            “Yes?” he asked patiently and professionally handled the situation calmly.

            “Your patient, Choi Minho made a sign of waking up just now.  I just want to tell you this.  Perhaps you want to know.  But, after all, the situation is under control,” the nurse said.

            “His breathing and heartbeat?” Jonghyun asked, calm but worried.

            “It went out of control a few times, but otherwise, he is still in a stable condition.  We are still watching over him,” the nurse said again.  Ignoring his tiredness, Jonghyun got down from his bed.

            “I’ll come over,” he said before he ended the conversation.

            His thought drifts away as the light turns green, indicating permission for him to go on.  He is driving as fast as he can, still obeying the rules on the road, including the speed limit.  Once in a while, he glances at his watch.  It’s afternoon, but he feels so sleepy.  The only thing that he was able to do before he went out from his house just now was to drink a full mug of coffee.  Staying at the hospital for last night to finish his shift makes him so tired.

            He enters the gate of the hospital and parks his car at his respective parking place, available only for doctors.  He sighs before he turns off the engine and gets out from his car.  After carefully closing the door, Jonghyun is now walking towards the main door of the hospital.  He immediately goes to Minho’s room and he could see many doctors and nurse are there, ready for any abnormal sign that can brings to death.

            Minho is fighting to wake up from death.  He is struggling his best, but too much can bring his breathing and heartbeat to abnormal and the result may be fatal.  The doctors and the nurse are getting ready if there is anything dangerous to the patient.

            “Jonghyun, I thought you just left the hospital,” says Jessica, who is staying among one of them.

            “Yeah...and now I’m back,” Jonghyun says while shrugging.  Jessica nods, understanding the situation of the doctor.

            “How’s he?” Jonghyun asks.

            “He is under control.  Don’t worry, will you?” asks Jessica then.  Jonghyun smiles and nods, but says nothing.  He turns to a nurse.

            “Can you please contact his relative by the name, Lee Jinki?  The number is in the file,” Jonghyun says.  Jessica looks at Jonghyun calmly.  She believes Jonghyun is able to handle everything.

            Jonghyun looks again at Jessica.  He smiles very assuring and that is enough to tell her that everything is okay.  But then, the calm situation is broken by the sudden loud beeping sound from the machine.





            It is afternoon and yet, Emma is spending her time outdoor.  It is just beyond her control.  She wants to be there, cheering for him while he is playing.  She ignores the hot sun and the uncomfortable sweat, just for him, only for him.

            But, today is different from the day before this.  She is almost thinking that she is dreaming.  She thought before that Minho is still recovering and needs time to be all out, like himself again, but, she thought wrongly.

            “Minho-yah!  Go!” she shouts on top of her lungs.  She is happy for being able to see him in this sport again.  Her worries are flushed away by the extravaganza show from Minho.  Emma could see the real him.

            Emma watches the real Minho today.  Minho plays like a World Cup player today.  Sometimes, Emma doesn’t even believe her eyes.  Minho is just too excellent.  Emma continues shouting as Minho is now bringing the ball towards the goal.  It looks like he is going to kick it and make another goal.

            “Minho!  Minho!” everybody is shouting right now.  Oh God, her boyfriend is so famous that everybody knows his name.  Emma is proud of Minho’s performance today.

            Minho plays some tricks in front of the goal.  The other players are getting confused, but otherwise still defending their goals with all their might.  But, somehow, Minho is unexpectedly great.  He shoves the ball into the goal and that’s it.  Even the goalkeeper is failing to guard the goal.  It is already 5 to 0.  Four goals from Choi Minho.

            After a few minutes, the game ends with the victory on Minho’s team.  Emma cheers loudly, proud of his boyfriend, or the least she could say, more than proud.  She doesn’t know how to describe how happy she is.

            “Yah, congratulation!” she says excitedly once Minho is right beside her.

            “Thanks,” Minho says.  Emma gives him a bottle of water and Minho quickly grabs it from Emma’s hand.  He takes a big gulp and Emma gives him a few seconds for him to quench his thirst.

            “Hey, good game.  I mean, fantastic!” Emma says joyfully.  Minho smiles widely to the compliment.  But, that is not enough for him.

            “Is it the game or is it me that is fantastic?” Minho asks, as the main purpose is to tease her, and to see her blushing.

            “Fine, Minho...it’s you.  The game is fantastic but you’re damn fantastic!” she says while her cheeks flush a red tomato.  Minho smiles at her, convinced by the words.

            “Thanks a lot, sweetheart.  Thanks,” says Minho as he pinches her cheek.  Emma looks on the green field to control her heart from fluttering even worse.

            She is embarrassed even worse when Minho’s friends including the other team come and congratulate him.  Emma hides her face by looking at another place.

            “Yo, Minho!  Congrats!  That’s the real you man!” Eunhyuk high-fives Minho.  Minho does the same.  They exchange a very happy smile.

            “Yeah!  You did great this time!” Donghae says while does some hand gestures with Minho.  Emma just looks at them, doesn’t understand guys’ body language.  So, she just keeps herself in silence.

            “Thanks guys, for giving me the chance to play again.  You know...I was suck in the last game.  So, this is sort of paying back your time,” Minho says.

            “It’s okay, Minho.  Actually, you don’t really need to pay back our time.  We know that you are recovering,” Donghae says while smirking admirably.

            “Yeah.  I don’t think there’s any need of paying back time.  But, yeah.  Still, great performance today, Minho!  Hope you’ll keep it consistent,” says Eunhyuk.

            “Sure!  It was great playing with you guys!” Minho says excitedly.

            After a while talking, laughing, joking and congratulating each other, Eunhyuk and Donghae walk to their team.  Minho walks towards Emma stunningly.  Emma waits for him with a smile.

            “Looks like you are a hero today, dear,” Emma says sweetly once Minho reaches her.

            “I’ll take that as compliment?” asks Minho.  Emma chuckles.

            “Sure.  You deserve that,” Emma says while shoving a towel to Minho.  Minho smiles sweetly and takes it from Emma.

            “Emma, thanks a lot,” Minho says in a very deep voice.

            “Why?” she asks.

            “For your patience and staying with me, have faith in me.  Thanks a lot.  Not all girls are like that,” Minho says.

            “I’m glad staying by your side,” says Emma.

            “I’m glad that I know you,” Minho says.

            “Minho...of course.  I’m glad too.  I mean...I love you,” says Emma.

            “I love y-” without finishing his words, Minho ends up with sudden unconscious.  Emma almost pulls herself into cardiac arrest.

            “Minho!”

Chapter 13: Relationship

“Emma, you alright?” asks Onew during their breakfast.

            “Yeah, I am.  You?” she asks back.

            “I’m great,” Onew says, trying to cheer up the morning mood, which he believes will help to make their days.

            “Where are you going later?  Work?” Emma asks again.

            “Yeah.  I’ve been on holiday for a few days already.  It is better for me to get back to work,” Onew says while feeding himself a toast.  Emma nods.

            “Yeah, sure,” she says with a smile, showing that she is okay that he is going to work.  Onew tries to capture her eyes, to make sure she is okay with it.  They show the same thing as she says.

            “Good.  What about you?  How is your work?” Onew asks her sister.  She has been working as an archaeologist for two years already, and being a really good archaeologist.  She stops for a while after the accident, but then she get back to work when she stops her frequent meeting with Minho.

            “It’s great, get back to work.  Well, at least I can see my friends again.  And I love it when I found something valuable to the history,” says Emma.  Onew knows that his sister has this sort of passion to history.  But, too deep into history can cause calamity especially when she always reminisces her dark past into her memory.

            “Well...that’s great.  But, you have to know that sort of work...going to cave, climbing hills and mountains just to find artefacts, historical buildings or fossils...that works are belong to guys.  I mean they suit guys better,” Onew says.  He never really agreed when Emma said two years back then that she wants to be an archaeologist, but seeing her passion, he had to.  And Emma warned him not to raise the matter again.  But he just did.

            “Onew, we promised not to br-”

            “Yeah, yeah, sorry.  Yeah...you can enjoy your work.  I know you like it.  I just...well... Expressing my thought.  So, my words just now...just forget it, will you?” Onew tries to calm his sister when he receives a death glare from her.  He knows her sister is sensitive when it comes to her work, but he just want to tell his opinion, that’s all.

            “It’s okay.  You don’t have to worry too much.  Currently, we just stay in the lab and study the artefacts found.  You know...carbon-dating classification.  That sort of thing,” says Emma.

            “Owh...when are you going today?  You want me to send you work?” asks Onew.

“Well...I’m on a leave today,” says Emma while eating her cereal.

            “Really?  Then, what are you planning to do?” asks Onew.

            “Perhaps...going out with Minho,” Emma says excitedly.

            “You guys okay?” Onew asks.

            “Yeah...we already talked to each other a few days ago.  Through phone though, since both of us are busy,” Emma says.

            “Oh really?  So you are dating this evening?” Onew asks, hoping that this time, there won’t be anything happen.

            “Onew...I think you are already late for work,” Emma tries to change the topic as her cheeks are flushing red due to Onew’s question.  Onew chuckles seeing her act.

            “Emma...I’m the boss.  So, it is up to me when I’m going to be at the office.  Moreover, I don’t have meeting this morning, or anything important,” Onew says while laughing a small laugh.  Emma rolls her eyes.

            “Whatever, Onew,” she says.



                                                       

            “You know?  He survived the surgery.  But, his life after that was different.  Brain tumor isn’t good.  There’re many things he can’t do.  But, he continued to live on, to move on.  And he succeeded in his life,” says Jonghyun while holding Minho’s hand.  He receives a squeeze from the patient and that makes him smile.

            As usual, everyday, Jonghyun would check on his patient, and he is the special one.  Jonghyun will always spend his time to speak to him, and tells him story about survivors out there, giving Minho an everlasting inspiration.  He wants to see the younger stay alive and wakes up one day.  He isn’t expecting for a thanks though, he just wants his patient survive the hard life.

            “You’ll wake up, won’t you?” he asks.  Minho squeezes back.  Jonghyun feels relieve, because of the boy’s spirit, even though he isn’t yet fully gain his consciousness.  Anyhow, he doesn’t want to put in too much hope.  Not that he doesn’t trust the boy, he just prepares.  Anything can happen, even at the very last minute.

            “I want to see you wake up one day.  Because you’re the only one that can correct the things here.  It has been a bit chaos these days,” Jonghyun says while chuckling.  He knows Minho cannot see him, but he hopes the sound will be able to make him know what he is doing.  And when Minho squeezes his hand, he knows he is right.

            “It is time for me to go.  See you tomorrow, okay?” he says and he puts back Minho’s hand on the bed.  He gives the chance for his eyes to look at Minho for another time before his legs make a move.

            He walks towards the door.  He opens the door and steps outside.  Then, he closes the door with a sigh of relief.  He never has been feeling this relieve for a while.  But, now he believes and keeps up the faith in seeing Minho comes back to life.  While he is thinking about that, suddenly he hears sobs.  Someone is weeping.  He looks at his left and finds Jessica is crying.

            Jonghyun could tell that Jessica is tired, due to her work, but he believes that is not the thing that makes her legs very feeble.  She is weeping while she walks, and it looks like she is going to fall on the floor very soon.  With much concern, Jonghyun runs towards her and holds her in his arm.  He gently drags her to the nearest waiting seat.  He seats together with her.

            “Jessica...” he calls her while she continues crying on his shoulder.  No answer.  Not a single word comes from the female doctor.  She weeps.  Jonghyun is getting confused.  He never sees her in this condition.  Jessica never cries.

            “Jessica, why?” he asks.  He wonders why a strong girl like her cries in a sudden, and looks very weak.

            But, there’s no word from her.  She continues with her sob.  Jonghyun let her cries.  Her face is still on his shoulder, and Jonghyun could feel his white coat get wet.  He just let her be in that way, cries until she feels strong enough to speak.  He strokes her head, trying to calm her down.

            After a while, Jessica stops weeping.  Jonghyun stops stroking her hair.  She lifts her face and wipes the tears with her hands.  Jessica knows that she looks messy, but she doesn’t know, in Jonghyun’s eyes she looks adorable.  He smiles while looking at her face.  Without Jonghyun asks for it, Jessica starts to tell the story.

            “The kid that I am supposed to save, he died, after a few days unconscious,” she says with a cracking voice.  Jonghyun knows Jessica can cry again anytime, but he knows that he will be there for her.  Jonghyun stays in silent, as a sign that he will hear anything that she wants to tell.

            “I know...we have to be professional, but seeing the boy died at such a young age, I’m getting emotional.  You know...he is my patient and seeing him dying is heartbreaking for me.  I...I just can’t bear with it,” says Jessica.  She starts to cry again, but not as bad as before.

            “Jessica...yes, as doctor we have to be professional.  But, we are just human.  We have the right to feel sad.  You can cry if you want, cry until you feel all the grief gone,” Jonghyun says gently while looking at his mate.

            Jessica has been working in ER unit for years.  She faces with a lot of death of her patients.  Working is Emergency Room is a disaster; because your patient can even die while operating.  But, all this while the sweet girl is so professional, especially in handling her own grief.  Jonghyun can see the sadness all this while, although she forcefully carved a smile on her face.  She hides her sorrow, always been like that.

            But today, Jonghyun see a different side of her.  She is crying unhide.  She is so weak that Jonghyun could see her legs are trembling.  She will not make it even to stand up.  Her knees are too feeble.  The boy must mean a lot to her.

            “Who is that boy to you?” he asks Jessica while gently wrapping his arm around her shoulders.  Jessica looks at him.

            “A brother, who supposed to be finishing his elementary school soon,” she says while tears are fighting to stroll down her fair, smooth cheeks.  Jonghyun nods.  It is hard, he knows.

            He has been thinking the same thing when he got Minho as his patient.  A brother who still have a lot to explore in his life; the thought makes Jonghyun really want to see him wakes up want day, and continues his journey of life.  Thus, he tries very hard to keep him alive, although his case is very rare; one in a million.  Minho should have died, he knows, but he saved the boy because he really thinks Minho is his brother, that is still young and has to experience life.

            “It’s hard I know...and it is not a crime to feel sad,” Jonghyun says and goes on, “But, if a doctor continues to weep like this, how would the other survive?  Jessica, you have other patients to look after.  You have to move on.  Their lives are depending on you.  You wouldn’t want another patient to die, would you?” Jonghyun asks, in attempt to soothe her down.  The only thing wrong is he is soothing her in a very ‘doctor-ish’ way.  Jessica managed a small laugh.

            “Jonghyun...you never really know how to persuade a woman, aren’t you?” Jessica says, now managed to give a sad, yet genuine smile.  Jonghyun looks at her, confused.  Then, he chuckles while scratching his head.

            “I...just doing my job as a friend,” Jonghyun says.  Jessica smiles, while her heart shouting to be more than Jonghyun’s friend.

            “Yeah...thanks a lot for your concern.  How about your patient, huh?  How is Minho right now?” she asks.

            “He’s alright.  Hey!  You know what?  He started responding to stimuli yesterday,” Jonghyun says.  Jessica’s face turns bright.

            “Seriously?” Jessica asks animatedly.

            “Yeah.  And he responds too.  Hold his hand and speak to him, he will squeeze your hand,” Jonghyun tells her.

            “Really?  I’m going inside,” Jessica says while standing up.  She quickly walks towards Minho’s room, but suddenly her wrist is grabbed by somebody.  He turns to see Jonghyun.

            “Thanks...err...thanks...you helped me a lot...from operating Minho till taking care of him.  Thanks a lot,” Jonghyun says.  He tries to make it professional, but he doesn’t know what makes him really shy to thank the girl.  He feels something different with this girl.  Jessica smiles a very sweet smile.

            “Thanks for making me happy too.  Jonghyun...” Jessica says while walking nearer towards him, “I love you, Kim Jonghyun,” she kisses him on his cheek and runs to Minho’s room, leaving Jonghyun in shock.

            He holds his cheek and can feel the warmness, as he let Jessica’s last words processed by his brain.  He looks at her as she enters the room, with a smile carved on his face.





            “Emma!” Minho calls her.  Emma turns to him and he quickly snaps a photo of her.  He then smirks naughtily.

            “You are photogenic.  Your photo comes out very nice even though you’re not yet ready,” Minho says, praising Emma.

            “I know, right?” says Emma, jokingly.  She smiles at him.  Emma is going back to her old self, little by little.  She slowly becomes the sweet Emma after she gets back to work.

            “How is your work, dear?” asks Minho while stroking Emma’s long hair.  Emma is still smiling.

            “Great...I feel happy to be with friends again.  And I don’t feel really depressed anymore,” says Emma.

            “I’m glad to hear that you’re happy.  That makes me happy too,” Minho says.  Emma chuckles.

            “Minho...I’m sorry for our last meeting.  I’m really sorry.  I was emotional,” Emma is seeking for forgiveness.  She has gone far extreme.  Just because of soccer, she left him behind.  When she thinks back about it, she feels embarrassed.  She was acting crazy last time, which is far from herself.

            “It’s okay Emma, it’s okay.  I don’t mind.  You have the right to feel that way,” Minho says while looking at her.

            “No, no, Minho.  I’m serious.  I’m really sorry...” Emma says very tenderly.

            “If you really want to hear that I forgive you, then yes...I forgive you.  But, there’s nothing to be sorry okay?  I understand,” Minho says soothingly.

            They walk together and find a place to sit.  Then, they sit together on a bench, under a shady tree in a park.

            “Days have been great for you?” asks Minho while snapping a few photos of birds on the tree’s branch.

            “Yeah...I enjoy my life,” Emma says.

            “How is Onew then?”

            “He’s great too.  He got back to work this morning,” Emma tells him.  Minho nods and then looks at his camera.

            “See?  These birds.  They are couple,” Minho shows a picture of two birds together on a branch.  Emma smiles widely to the photo.

            “This is nice,” Emma says while taking the camera from Minho’s hand.  Minho gives it to Emma.  While Emma is admiring his photo, he takes out his laptop.  He still has a few photos to be edited.  And the photo of the birds will be his masterpiece too.

            He scrolls down the album to see the photo he has edited.  Just to make it as sample.  He loves seeing it, not because of the perfect photo; with perfect angle, focus and light, but because of the person in the photo.  He never captures picture of other girls, it is only Emma.  Other than that, no picture of human.  The others are picture of scenery, plants and animals.

            He opens one by one photo, browsing the file.  He smiles alone when he sees the photos.  He loves the girl in the photos.  He doesn’t know since when he loves her, but he is sure about his feeling.  He knows exactly that the smile makes up his day, the eyes drive away his grief and the lovely face opens up a bright day for him.  He smiles to himself, forgetting that the girl is right beside him, watching him looking at her own pictures.

            Emma is touched.  She can see that all those pictures are her pictures.  She loves the fact that Minho captures only her photos, but seeing him admiring the photos makes Emma’s heart flutters.  She feels glad and that brings out the tears of happiness.

            “Minho... Are you really in love with those photos of mine?” asks Emma.  Minho is shocked when he knows Emma is watching him and that makes him feels the heat fills up his face.  He looks at her calmly though, hiding the tingling of his own heart, showered with love.

            “I’m not in love with the photos,” he says calmly and he could see Emma’s cheeks flush red, maybe because she thinks she is wrong, but Minho continues, “But, I’m in love with the person, Emma,” he says.  The words consciously hit her in her head, and send the chill down through her spine.  She feels her cheeks are already hot.

            “Prove it,” Emma says, while Minho is getting closer to her.

            “I will.  I’ve gain my strength.  Let me play soccer again and this time, I promise to win for you, only you,” Minho says while getting closer and closer.

            Emma closes her eyes and before she could say a word, she feels his lips touch hers.  She feels grateful and thanks God for another good day she had.

Chapter 12: Hope

It has been two days after Onew had a high fever, but he still doesn’t get back to work.  Putting full trust on his secretary, Taeyon, he tries to solve some other matter that is more important to his life right now.  Everything is involving his only and beloved sister.

            Onew thanks Taemin for helping him in making the robot, and in order to make it perfect.  A few days ago, he was told by Emma that Minho didn’t know how to play soccer.  Isn’t it weird and suspicious enough?  It is his skill and yet he forgot how to play soccer?  That should be impossible, because skill is not something to remember.  But, he could still breath in relieve because his sister doesn’t notice that?  Or does she?

            However, it is Taemin again who get the headache.  Working day and night, just to make sure everything is under control and won’t raise any suspicion in her sister.

            “Taemin, I’m sorry,” says Onew when he sees Taemin yawns for the umpteenth times.

            “It’s okay...why should you say sorry?  I’m okay, really.  You’re the one who should rest,” Taemin advices him while getting back to his work.

            “You’re the one who work, why should I rest?” says Onew politely while looking at the younger boy.  He wishes he could help, but the cyborg is not in his proficiency.

            “Onew, you just recovered two days ago.  I’m afraid you may collapse again if you push yourself to hard,” says Taemin with a slight hint of laughter.  His fingers are dancing vigorously on the keypad of his laptop.

            “I’m okay, really,” says Onew with his dazzling smile.  He watches the younger works really hard to make the cyborg perfect.

            “Do you really need to make him great at soccer?” Taemin asks without looking at him.

            “Huh?”

            “Do you really need to make him great at soccer?  Or just as good?” asks Taemin again, looking at his laptop’s screen.

            “Minho is great at soccer,” he says as he shrugs, “But, if you think that is a burden, just make it good.  That is more than enough,” Onew continues with a pity gaze at the younger.  He works really hard.

            “I’m just okay with that.  I’m just afraid the cyborg will collapse,” says Taemin.

            “Huh?” Onew couldn’t understand.  Why would the cyborg collapse?

            “Well...the microchip...if there’s too many information uploaded, I’m afraid there will be short circuit,” Taemin says.

            “What will happen then?” Onew asks nervously.

            “The robot will ‘die’.  There’s nothing controlling the brain, the most vital organ in human’s body,” says Taemin.  Onew lost his words.  That will make it worse for his sister.

            “Then?”

            “If this Minho ‘die’, the only way is to implant new microchip with the same data again,” Taemin says expertly while shrugging.

            “What can we do now?” Onew asks nervously again.  What if there is no other way?  Minho won’t be good at soccer.  And then, her sister will get more suspicious and eventually find out the truth behind this.  Then, she’ll know the real Minho is fighting to live.  She’ll probably commit suicide again.  Shoot.

            “I’ll compress the file.  That is the best way.  But, I don’t know how long it will last.  This is my first try though,” he says while looking at Onew.  Onew nods.

            “Whatever it is as long as she won’t get suspicious by it,” says Onew, giving up.  Taemin nods.  He gets up to attach the wire to Minho’s head.  Then he clicks a few buttons before the information uploaded to Minho’s microchip.

            He inserts everything; basic skill of soccer and many World Cup videos of soccer.  He hopes the information will help Minho to get a grip at soccer.  If not, Emma can get suspicious and eventually knows the real thing.  She will know that the Minho is unreal.  That is when the whole problem will start again.  He just wants to help Onew to prevent it.

            After a few minutes of information transfer, the cyborg is ready to get back to work.  Taemin looks at Onew, as though asking for permission to switch on the robot.

            “Onew, you want to switch it alive now?” asks him.  Onew thinks for a while.

            “No, I don’t think so.  Keep it that way until I call Emma.  For now, I want to go to the hospital to visit the real Minho,” says Onew.  Taemin looks at him innocently but at the same time, giving a hint that he wants to follow.

            “Can I go with you?  I want to see Jonghyun,” says Taemin while cutely scratching the back of his head.

            “You don’t have class?”          

            “No,” he shakes his head vigorously.

            “Okay then,” says Onew with his brotherly smile.

            They walk out from Taemin’s house, stepping to the desolate highest floor of the creepy, old apartment.  Till now, Onew still wonder why Taemin chooses such a place, but thinking rationally about it, it will help Taemin to concentrate on his work.

            Onew drives them to the hospital.  He drives carefully and Taemin is amused on how careful his driving is.  He feels protected and safe with the older guy.

            “Emma sure is very fortunate to get a brother like you,” says Taemin suddenly, breaking the silence among both of them.  Still focusing on the road, Onew frowns at Taemin’s words.

            “Why suddenly?” asks Onew.

            “Well...I feel safe with you.  Well...you know...all this while I only have Jonghyun,” says Taemin.  He admits himself that he loves to act childish when he is with Jonghyun.  That is because only Jonghyun will treat him well although he behaves very badly.  Onew chuckles to Taemin words.

            “Yeah...he’s good though, I admit that.  A very dedicated doctor and brother,” he says.

            “You too...very good brother,” says Taemin.  Onew chuckles.

            “We’re here,” before Taemin has the opportunity to voice his words, Onew previously informs that they have arrived at the hospital.

            “Oh,” he ends the conversation with that only word and they get out from the car.





            Key walks towards his brother’s room.  Nothing to do, he is not as busy, thus he comes to have a chat with his brother, only if he is not busy.  He arrives in front of the room.  A plat written with his brother’s name, Kim Jonghyun and his position, Head of Neurological Department, is attached to the door.  He knocks on it, just to ensure whether he is in or not.

            “Looking for me?” a voice suddenly comes out from his back.  He turns to see a tired face smiling at him.

            “Jonghyun!  Oh yeah...I’m looking for you...in case you’re not busy,” says Key excitedly after seeing his brother.

            “Yeah...I’m free...Well...at least for now,” Jonghyun says jokingly and both of them laugh.

            “Jonghyun!  Key!” another voice comes from nowhere calling their name.  They recognize the voice, and synchronously turn their head to the owner of the voice.  They find out what they think are true, it is Onew.  But, he is with Taemin, the engineer boy.

            “Hey!  Guys!” Key exclaims while Jonghyun just smiles.  Taemin runs when he sees Jonghyun and throws himself towards him.  He gives the older a big warm hug.

            “Jonghyun!” he exclaims as he hugs him.  Jonghyun hugs back.  After a while, Taemin could sense Key’s envy gaze and he let go of him.

            “Well...urmm...J-Jonghyun...you look so tired.  Are you okay?” asks Taemin a bit stuttering.  Key feels guilty knowing the boy stutters because of his prey gaze, but he couldn’t help.

            “I ask you when is it he is not tired?” Onew jokes and they laugh together.  It is true though, being a doctor is tiring, especially when you are a specialist.  You will always be needed.

            “We want to visit Minho, can we?” asks Onew.

            “Sure, let’s go,” Jonghyun replies with his dazzling and melting smile.

            “Can I join you guys?” asks Key.

            “Why not?  Let’s go Key,” Jonghyun says while pull his brother’s hand to walk together with him.

            They enter the room and the first thing the register is the sound of the machine.  It is beeping but otherwise, the room is very quiet until they almost believe there’s nobody inside.  But Jonghyun knows the most what is inside.  A boy is lying lifelessly on the bed, without any real effort could be seen physically for him to get up.  But, actually is mentally fighting to live.

            The sight of him always touches him deep into his heart.  The boy is strong though, to be able to live until that day.  Supposedly, he dies in the first place when the accident happened.  It is so terrible, that he shouldn’t have survived.  He doesn’t know what odd the boy carries with him but, all Jonghyun care is the boy is alive, and it has been his responsibility to make sure he will wake up.  For now, he is still unable to do it.

            Jonghyun sighs and feels the sudden headache stabs him, very acute, but he is still able to handle.  He stops walking out of sudden, closes his eyes and massages his temple.

            “Hey...are you okay?” asks Taemin.  Jonghyun opens his eyes.

            “Yeah...I am,” says Jonghyun as he smiles and walks towards Minho’s bed.  He tries to sound as cheerful as he can and he wrings Minho’s hand, squeezing it, hopelessly thinking he will transfer some strength for the boy to wake up.

            “Hye...there.  It is me, again, Jonghyun, your doctor.  This has been...I don’t know how many times I’m here already.  I want to see you wake up.  Hey, you know what, I bring someone here,” Jonghyun says, pathetically.  The others hear that.  Onew’s tears are threatening to fall.  Taemin is touched although he doesn’t really know the guy.  Key is already having his tears on his cheeks.

            “Hey, the day is bright today.  I’m sure you’ll see it one day,” Jonghyun says again.  He doesn’t want the solemn and sorrowful condition around the room affecting his patient.  As a doctor, he shouldn’t be so emotional, especially when it comes to his own patient.  All this while he had been so professional, but not Minho.  But still, he doesn’t tear up though.

            “Let me check you today,” says Jonghyun.  He starts his work.  Checking on the blood pressure, the breathing and the heartbeats of the boy.  While doing his work, he tells Minho some story of other patients, who recover, hoping that will inspire the boy.  He did that almost every day.  Finishes with his work, he pulls Onew and asks him to sit at the chair beside the bed.

            “Talk to him...as cheerful as you can,” Jonghyun whispers into his ears.  The other watches silently.  Onew looks at Jonghyun with teary eyes.  Jonghyun nods, telling him to do it.  This is the first time he gains strength to visit Minho here, and just in a second he feels all his strength gone seeing Minho’s condition.

            “Hey...this is Onew.  You remember me, right?  I miss you, so much.  Please brother, wake up, please...” unintentionally, tears breaks down and strolling down his cheeks.  He squeezes the hand harder.  Jonghyun pats his back, signalling him to be patient.

            Onew feels his heart sinks.  He cries.  He brings the hand to his lips and kisses it.  He doesn’t want to lose Minho.  He is hoping he will wake up.

            “I...I miss you...w-wake up...please...tell...m-me...you’re a-alive...” he says with his sobs contaminating his words.  Jonghyun watches the scene tranquilly, while Key and Taemin already sobbing silently at the other side of the bed.

            Out of sudden, Onew feels somebody grabs his hand, no, replying his squeeze.  The hand squeezes back.  Onew is shocked by that but says nothing.  He stops all his movement to make sure the squeeze is from Minho.  He looks at Minho carefully.  The sudden strain in Onew’s movement catches Jonghyun’s eyes.  He notices the older guy.

            “Is there anything wrong, Onew?” Jonghyun asks as he narrows his eyes.  Onew looks at him clueless.

            “I...I feel like Minho...” Onew’s words end there.

            “Minho what?” Jonghyun asks again as Onew’s words faded.  His mind excites to the highest alert point, but he maintains calm.  The others, Key and Taemin are straining too, noticing there’s something to do with Minho.

            “He...squeezed my hand, just now,” Onew says, still clueless and with his eyes fixed on Minho.

            “Excuse me, Mr. Onew,” the sudden formality in Jonghyun’s words cause Onew to know the need of him to let go of Minho’s hand.

            “Minho...I’m your doctor, Jonghyun,” says Jonghyun as he squeezes Minho’s hand.  Then, electric shock runs down his spine, as Minho squeezes back.

            “God, he can hear me...and respond,” says Jonghyun.  As fast as lightning he grabs a small torchlight from his white coat’s pocket and opens Minho’s eyelid.  He torches Minho’s eyes and he could see the respond.  The pupils decrease in sight, to avoid excess light entering the eye and damage the system.

            “He responds.  The activity of his brain is enhanced!” Jonghyun exclaims as a smile decorating his handsome but tired face.

            “Huh?” the three of them look at the young and genius doctor in front of them.

            “Glasgow Coma Scale...Scale compromises three tests: eye, verbal, and motor.  It is used to monitor a coma patient.  Minho shows responses in motor.  His body starts to move, and respond to stimuli, although he still doesn’t open his eyes or produce any sounds.  That is a good sign of recovery,” states Jonghyun, while happily squeezes Minho’s hand again.

            “Minho...you’ll try your best to wake up, won’t you?” he speaks to Minho gently while squeezing his hand.  Minho squeezes back.

            “See?  I told you.  He responds to the stimuli.  He hears me and could sense my touch,” Jonghyun says while looking at the three of them.

            “It is a good sign, isn’t it?” asks Onew, voice cracking but with a very contented face.  Jonghyun nods calmly and let go of Minho’s hand.

            “You’ll continue encouraging him, promise me.  He starts to respond to your voice and your touch first,” says Jonghyun.  Onew nods before he runs to Jonghyun and hugs the younger tightly, until it is a bit suffocating.

            “I...I don’t know how to thank you...I just...don’t know,” says Onew with his cracked voice.

            “Hey...Onew...it’s not me.  It is Minho himself.  He is the one who fight,” says Jonghyun humbly.

            “But, you play your role very well,” says Onew.

            “Yeah Jonghyun.  It is true that Onew’s voice triggers his response, but it is you that gives him the zest to live, to hold on.  You speaks to him every day, and inspiring him to live,” says Key.

            “And Jonghyun, not to forget, you saved him from death.  You operated him and keeps him fit until now,” Taemin says.  Jonghyun is moved by that.

            “Well...urmm...Taemin, Key, don’t you want to try?  With Minho?  I mean try to get the respond?” asks Jonghyun, quickly changing the topic.  He is not used to be complimented.

            “Yeah!” Taemin says excitedly as he runs towards Minho.  He holds his hand gently.

            “Minho...I’m Taemin.  A new friend.  Huhu.  You have to wake up to see me, your new friend,” he says.  Minho squeezes back.  Taemin almost jumps out of contentment.

            “He responds to me!” Taemin says excitedly.

            “Yah!  Let go!  It’s my turn,” Key says, pushing Taemin away.  Key quickly grabs Minho’s hand and squeezes it gently.

            “Hey...I’m Key.  A new friend too,” he says and receives a squeeze from Minho.

            “He responds to me too,” Key says.

            Key and Taemin starts to act immature.  They are pushing each other, trying to talk to Minho and tell story to him.  Onew laughs seeing their act.  Jonghyun just smiles.

            “Be careful.  Don’t harm my patient,” Jonghyun says as he shakes his head.

            “We won’t,” Taemin and Key says synchronously.

            Onew laughs again and shakes his head.  He never thought the other two prodigies would act immature.  All this while, they only show their professionalism.  But, somehow, Onew get to learn the other side of him.  He chuckles again.  Then, he turns to see Jonghyun almost fall asleep while standing.  He quickly catches him.

            “Hey, doctor.  You need rest,” says Onew with a slight hint of worry.  Jonghyun chuckles when he knows that he almost fall asleep.

            “Yeah...I think so.  If you want to be here...you may stay.  I’m going back to my room,” Jonghyun says while looking at his watch, “My shift is over today.  So, I think I want to sleep,” Jonghyun says again.

            “Why don’t you just go home?” Onew asks, frowning.

            “It’s the same.  I always have to run back here when I’m on-call,” he says.  Onew shakes his head.

            “Let me accompany you to your room.  I’m afraid you’ll fall asleep while walking.  That will be a very big problem,” Onew says while puts his arm on the younger’s shoulder.

            “I’m okay...really,” Jonghyun says with a smile.

            “Don’t be stubborn, doctor.  Just follow,” Onew says.  Jonghyun keeps quiet, smiles and just follows the older.  The two of them leave the other two who are still talking happily to Minho.

Chapter 11: The Old Time

“Minho-ah...you’re back to your normal self...well...I think so...” Emma says.  It is quite unexpected, the sudden change in Minho.  She knows something is wrong, but the blissful feeling outweighs her suspicion towards him.  As long as she knows Minho will always be with her, it is enough to make her goes blind.  She won’t see the wrong anymore; it is always right when it comes to the real Minho.

            “You like it?  Then, I’ll always be like this...just for you...only for you,” Minho says romantically, and Emma is expecting it from him.  She knows the real Minho is always like that, filling her days with romantic words from him.  Sometimes, Emma really thinks that Minho could be a good dramatis or a poet.

            “How could you change in such a very short time?  I just told my brother the problem yesterday.  And I did plan to deal with you today...but suddenly you changed!” she says excitedly.  That is just something irony; she wants Minho to change to his normal self, and yet, she is the one that is unchanged.  The sweet, matured and polite Emma is still not yet back to her normal self.

            “The sudden change is only for you, for all I know is I want to always make you happy,” Minho is being romantic again and Emma loves it.  She knows that the accident changed her life a lot; she did learnt a lot.  She knows that her love towards Minho is unconditional, and she really appreciates him for coming into her life.

            “You are always trying to please me, aren’t you?” Emma says, almost laughing, because she finds Minho is throwing the romantic words without ending.

            “Not to please you, but to love you,” he says, hopelessly romantic.  Again, Emma has to laugh.

            “I love you too!” says Emma.  The only thing different from Emma is she sometimes act childishly and immature, really different from her real self.  She doesn’t realise, of course, but her brother really hopes she will turn normal.  A sweet and mature person and the most imperative is the one who being polite, that is the real Emma.

            They walk together down the street, holding hand, as though they never want to let it go.  They hold each other so tightly, that if someone ever sees, they will think that their blood circulations are already stopped.  As though God want to prevent it from happen, out of the blue, Emma’s phone ringing, making both of then release the tight grip.

            “Hello?” Emma says without looking at the caller ID.

            “Yah!  Emma!” Emma quickly recognizes the voice.  It is Eunhyuk, a good friend of hers.

            “Eunhyuk?” she says happily.

            “Yeah...I heard that both you and Minho are already out of the hospital,” he says.

            “Yeah...we are,” Emma says with a big smile at her face.  Minho looks at her questioningly, since he doesn’t know what is happening on the line.  He is thinking; doesn’t Emma notice that he is jealous, the moment he heard Eunhyuk’s name.  He knows Eunhyuk is his friend too, thus, why would he contact Emma instead of him?

            “I’m sorry...I cannot come the day you’re released,” Eunhyuk says.

            “It’s okay...I had a very good time with Minho, it is enough,” says Emma.

            “Yeah...hey!  Would you like to play soccer this evening?  As usual...” says Eunhyuk.

            “Oh really?  Hey!  I think we would like to go for that.  Where?” asks Emma.

            “Usual place, usual time!”

            “Okay!  See you there!” Emma says excitedly and she hangs up.  She puts her handphone in her handbag.

            “What’s up with Eunhyuk?” asks Minho.  Emma can smell jealousy surrounding them.  It tenses up the condition.  Emma chuckles at the sight of unsatisfied face of Minho.

            “Hey!  Are you jealous I spoke to Eunhyuk?” Emma asks him teasingly.  At least, she knows that Minho really loves him.

            “Well...to be honest...I am,” says Minho.  Brilliant.  Taemin is a good robotic engineer.  He managed to programme the robot to act like human.  All the feelings are natural, love and jealousy, they aren’t made.

            “Minho...It is just Eunhyuk...he invites us for soccer this evening,” says Emma excitedly.  Minho and she always hang out with Eunhyuk and his gang to play soccer together.  Emma is not playing though, she cheers for Minho.  She is always a good supporter.

            “Really? Wow!  We’ll go together then,” says Minho.  Programmed by Taemin to know that he fancies soccer, he gives a good respond to that.

            “I know, Minho.  I know.  You always love soccer.  We’ll go together this evening,” she says.





            “Yah!  Minho!  Go!” Emma cheers for him.  Emma is clearly frowning.  She really unsatisfied with Minho’s performance today.  He never sucks is soccer, but today he is.  She doesn’t understand why, and she needs explanation for this.

            Again, when the soccer ball lands near his leg, he kicks, but it is not powerful as it usually is.  The most embarrassing is that he aims for his teammate, but the ball goes into different direction, towards other team.  Emma shouts helplessly from her seat.  She is very angry.  Minho never sucks in soccer.  Never!

            Anyhow, she continues to give her endless support to Minho, hoping a miracle will happen and Minho will score at least one goal.  He is not yet doing that for this game.  It is such an embarrassment if there is no goal from him, because he never does that.

            The moment comes.  Minho is perfectly in front of the goal, when the ball is passed to him.  Emma is watching, with high hope that Minho will kick a goal.  However, it is all ruined.  Minho stops the ball in such an imperfect way.  Then, he kicks it, also very flawed.  The ball moves slowly towards the goal.  Of course, the goal keeper is able to stop the ball and at that time, Emma screams frantically.  Minho sucks, she thinks.

            After a few minutes, the game ends.  Emma is dominated by the feeling of embarrassment and she quickly walks away.  With no direction, she follows where her legs bring her.  But, suddenly somebody catches her hand and she turns only to find the person that she loves so much, who embarrass her.

            “What do you want?” Emma asks without looking into her eyes.

            “Where are you going?  Why do you leave me?” he asks.

            “Minho, what happen to you?  You never suck at soccer!” she starts to raise her voice.  Minho looks at her in disappointment.  Emma notices that in his eyes.

            “I don’t know.  I love soccer.  But, I don’t know why...today...I’m suck...” Minho says while looking at Emma, hoping that she will look back.  However, there is no sign that she is going to look at him.

            “Yeah!  You know it right?  You’re suck!” says Emma sarcastically.

            “Then, what does it have to do with you want to leave me?” asks Minho.  He loosens his grip on Emma’s wrist.

            “Nothing...it is just so embarrassing.  All this while, I always support you at the supporter’s seats.  And always, I will be proud of you.  But, today...it is just embarrassment.  It is humiliating to support the always-strong Minho,” Emma says while looking on the ground.

            Minho feels the disappointment stabs his heart.  It is so painful when the words come out from her mouth.  Minho just keeps quiet.  He doesn’t really have anything to say.  But, a voice suddenly comes from his back.

            “Emma...you shouldn’t do that to him,” Eunhyuk says.  Emma looks up, directly towards Eunhyuk as though Minho is invisible or nowhere near them.

            “He just met with a terrible accident.  He is still recovering.  Even for an athlete, it takes time to adapt to the sport,” says Eunhyuk optimistically.  It is true; Eunhyuk is also surprised by Minho’s awful performance today.  It is as though the Minho is not Minho.  However, he takes that positively.  Maybe it is because of the terrible accident.

            Emma thinks of that.  Maybe what Eunhyuk says is true.  She keeps be in silence for a few seconds before she looks at Minho.  She bows once and then just keeps her track.  At least now she can think of her destination.  She just wants to go home.





            She sits in her room, looks out the window enjoying the view outside.  After she reaches home, suddenly it is raining heavily.  The weather understands, she thinks.  She feels sad, why Minho changes a lot.  After one is fixed, another one happens.  She knows something is wrong with Minho, but she doesn’t know what.  And she doesn’t want to make any speculation.

            The view of the Earth wetted by the rain somehow calm her down.  Maybe it is because of the mood.  It is cold outside.  Probably, that it the reason she is cooling down inside.  She continues to look at the beauty created by God.  She admires it.

            Her calmness is disturbed when suddenly there is a knock on the door.  She is surprised for a while because of the soft sound come from the knock.  She stands up, leaving her comforting chair and walk towards the door.  Expecting the maid; probably want to call for tea, she opens the door.  But, she finds her brother behind the door.

            Onew looks at her with sincere look in his eyes.  He is probably just came home from work, still with his shirt and loosened tie, with his coat half-folded and hanged at his right hand.  At the same time, the same hand holds his briefcase and his laptop bag pack is placed single-strap on his left shoulder.

            Emma is quite surprise to his brother.  She never expects that her brother’s first destination after work is her room.  That is something unbelievable.  Moreover, they just quarrelled yesterday.  And, one of the maids told her that he was unwell yesterday.  What the hell is he doing at work?  Shouldn’t he rest today?  Well, at least that answers the question why Onew looks very exhausted, he is sweating in this cold weather.  She still holds onto the door knob, while staring at his brother, undecided on what to do.

            Onew, on the other hand, looking at her sister who stares at him as though he is an alien.  He knows, exactly, her sister’s feeling.  Flabbergasted, by his sudden emergence.  Well, he can’t help himself.  He came home, asked if she is home and a maid told him that she was home a while ago.  The maid told her that she was home red-eyed, teary eyes.  He feels responsible towards her, although his heart is shouting inside telling him to rest.  His head is throbbing, maybe because he forces himself to work with his unhealthy condition.  He cannot stand any longer, feeling like fainting, he speaks to her sister.

            “Emma, can I come in?” he asks gently, hoping his sister is not too shocked to just ignore him and closes the door.  Emma comes back to reality and quickly notices the pallor at Onew’s face.

            “Yeah, sure.  Why not?” she says, releasing her hand from the door knob to lend a hand to Onew.  Onew doesn’t tell to help, but seeing his condition, Emma knows he needs it.  She quickly takes the bag pack from the left shoulder while Onew is struggling to stand up himself.  She supports him, and leads him to her bed, putting aside his bag pack, briefcase, and his coat.  She lays him down on the bed and takes out the tie from his neck.

            “A maid told me yesterday, that you’re sick.  I’m sorry...” her voice trails off.  She looks at Onew who are closing his eyes.

            “Why should you say sorry?  You’ve done nothing wrong,” Onew says while chuckling feebly.  He opens his eyes then to look at his sister.  He notices sorrow in her face and that hurts him too much.  He loves his sister, really loves her.

            “I’m sorry for yesterday.  I shouldn’t act so rude.  I’m very rude towards you and Taeyon.  I know...because of me you fall sick,” Emma says.  Onew chuckles again.  He painfully pushes himself to sitting position.  His head is throbbing even more.

            “It is not because of you,” he says while stroking Emma’s head gently.  Emma notices that Onew’s hand is very hot.  She quickly touches his forehead and a feeling of panic rushes inside her body due to the excessive heat at Onew’s forehead.

            “Oh God!  You’re really ill.  You have high fever here.  Why should you go to work knowing yourself is unhealthy?” she says while pushes him to lie on the bed.  She adds another pillow under his head, hoping that he will feel comfortable.  Then, she notices that Onew is shivering too much.  She pulls the cover up to Onew’s shoulder.

            “Feeling better?” she asks.  Onew nods.

            “Tell me, why you still go to work?” she asks again.   Onew keeps quiet to that question.  He doesn’t want to give Emma the same answer. He always tells her that his work is piling up at the office whenever Emma wants to spend time with him.  He doesn’t want to say that again.  He sighs, the only thing that he could do.

            Emma quickly understands the situation.  Her brother is taking care of her feeling.  She knows that.  She feels guilty.

            “Stop worrying about me, will you?” she says.  Onew keeps quiet.  Emma walks towards her closet and finds a small towel.  She quickly walks to her bathroom to wet the towel.  She wipes Onew’s face with the wet towel, hoping to reduce the heat.

            “Emma...look.  I’m okay,” Onew says, struggling to speak while she wipes his face.

            “No, you’re not.  Stop worrying about me and just worry about yourself, will you?” Emma’s eyes start the stagnant tears.  She wipes and wipes, doesn’t realise that she does it roughly.  Onew quickly grabs her wrist, to stop her.  He is very worry about Emma when he sees sorrow in her face.  He knows something is wrong somewhere, he needs to know.  Emma stops when Onew grabs her wrist.  She stares at him with tears in her eyes.

            “Now...tell me what’s wrong.  Don’t say you’re okay.  I know something is wrong here.  I can see it through your face.  Tell me,” says Onew.  He is still lying on the bed, has the urge to sleep straightaway.  The pain in his head won’t tolerate this time, he just need to rest.  But, his sister is his priority.  He wants to know what cause the sadness.

            “I...I...just...nothing,” she says.  Guilty is overwhelming her.  She knows that Onew is not in his best condition, but she still makes him worry.  She doesn’t deserve to be treated kindly by Onew after what she has done to him yesterday.

            “Emma...it is not nothing.  Tell me why...” Onew holds her hand.  She looks at her, who is sitting beside him on the bed.  She looks down on the bed, with tears already strolling down her cheeks.

            “I...” she shakes her head, while her voice is trailing off, replaced by the sound of her sobs.  That makes Onew pushes himself to sit again.

            “It’s Minho, isn’t it?” asks Onew.  She nods, only nods.  She doesn’t want to speak.  Emma feels embarrassed to speak about Minho again in front of his brother.

            “Why is it now?” he asks her sister gently.  His eyes are almost closing, but he controls his feeling to sleep.

            “I just miss him, the old him,” she says.  Onew pulls he sister and gives a hug.  Emma can feel the heat from Onew’s body.  He is really ill, really ill indeed.  But, she needs comfort, and this is the first time Onew really comforts her, and she wishes they can stay like that forever.  That time, she knows that she really misses his brother too.  She cries on his shoulder.

            “Tell me what happen,” Onew knows something is happening with the fake Minho.  Maybe Taemin already fixed the problem, but another problem may rise.  And Onew could tell that Emma is suspicious about this.  He doesn’t want Emma to know that the real Minho is still struggling to live.  He knows the consequences.  His sister is not in a very good state of mind, she might do anything.

            “He doesn’t know how to play soccer.  It humiliated me to be his supporter this evening,” upon hearing that, Onew gives out a small laugh.  If his whole body is not aching right now, he would laugh a merry laugh while rolling on the floor.  Luckily, his fever holds him from laughing like a maniac.  There, Emma once again is showing her immature side.  Onew feels like he is treating the old Emma, the small Emma.

            “Really?” he asks while smiling weakly, at the same time really hoping that the real Minho will wake up.  If he does, all this problem won’t rise.  He just needs the real Minho, then the problem is all gone.

            “Yes.  He is not like himself anymore.  I feel like something is wrong with him, as though that is not the real Minho.  I wonder maybe he is somebody else,” says Emma.  Onew tries to hide his shock.  He doesn’t want Emma to know the truth.  She will hurt too much then, to know the real Minho is still fighting to live.

            “Emma...it takes time.  He is still recovering.  And Emma...I know you love him not because of soccer.  You are just upset.  Give him time, will you?” says Onew.  Emma nods.  Somehow, she managed to hold her sorrow.  For the first time, she receives so much care from Onew, and it makes her forget the problem.

            “Yeah...I should give him time, right?” she looks at Onew and smiles.  Then, she notices cold sweat trickling down her brother’s face.

            “Onew...you need to rest,” she says while pushing Onew to lie on the bed and adjusts the pillow for him before continues with her words, “I’ll call Dr. Jonghyun,” she says.

            “Emma, I’m okay, really.  I just need to rest,” Onew says.  He could feel the pain in his head is intolerable, but he doesn’t want his sister to worry too much.  She is not in a good condition herself.

            “Just rest okay and let me take care of you, will you?” Emma says while putting the wet towel on his forehead.  Onew just watches her while she is making a phone call to Jonghyun.  From their conversation, Onew know that Jonghyun will come.  He is glad that he knows Jonghyun, a very dedicated doctor.  The only doctor that Onew finds never knows the meaning of tired.  He knows that Minho will one day wake up, because he has faith in Jonghyun.  The young doctor is talented.

            Emma then calls the maid to let her knows about Jonghyun’s arrival.  She also gives the maid Onew’s bag, briefcase and coat to be taken to his room.  She informs the maid that Onew is sick and she will take care of him.  She informs them that Onew will sleep at her room that night.  Then, she calls Taeyon to tell her about that.  Taeyon is glad; Onew was very stubborn and stay working just now, and now Emma is calling telling that he will rest tomorrow.  Taeyon tells Emma not to worry because she will handle all the work at the office tomorrow.

            “Don’t worry, Onew.  I’ve taken care of everything.  Just rest.  I’ve told the maid to cook porridge and soup.  You’ll eat after Jonghyun treats you, okay.  Then, take your medication and sleep,” Emma says.  Onew chuckles.

            “Emma...you reminds me of mom,” he says, remembering his late mother.  Emma crawls on the bed and sits beside Onew.

            “Yeah...I miss mom.  I miss mom and dad.  And I miss you,” Emma says and that makes Onew feels guilty towards her.  He knows he has ignored his sister for a few years already.

            “I’m so sorry...” Onew says.  Emma looks at him.

            “I miss you.  Can you sleep here, with me tonight, like the old time?” she asks childishly.  Onew is chuckling again.

            “Do I have any other choice?  Besides, you want to take care of me.  Sure...I miss old time too,” Onew says.  Emma lies down beside him, enjoying the cold evening with his brother.  Together, they wait for the doctor to come.