[Limited time]
"Jimin~ Park Jimin~!"
I fell asleep, face down on my desk, oblivious to the sun setting. Perhaps I was awakened by the woman's voice? When I raised my head, the woman was staring at me.
"Let's eat dinner, Jimin."
It was really pretty.
"Hey, hey..."
Jimin hugged Yeoju and started to rub her cheek like a cat. Yeoju said it was ticklish and dragged Jimin out, telling him to stop and go eat.
"Tsk~ It must be delicious!?"
Jimin couldn't help but smile broadly at the sight of the female lead, who endlessly looked at him with eyes that expected praise.
"After all, there's no one else but you, honey haha"
This couple loved each other more than anyone else. They were living happily together, five months before their wedding.
But their happiness did not last long.
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"I have terminal pancreatic cancer."
The tragedy began the day the female protagonist was given a terminal diagnosis.
"My lady..."
"why."
"Aren't you bored being in the hospital room all the time? With me..."
"What could someone who is about to die be bored about?"
The heroine had changed. Her loving smile was gone, and her cold, frigid demeanor tore my heart apart.
"Lady, I love you no matter what anyone says. That's why..."
"Ugh... Dude, I'm going to die soon. When I die, you'll go find another woman. Please stop telling those obvious lies."
"Hey lady!!"
"It's noisy."
The heroine turned her back. She covered herself with the blanket up to her head and turned away from me.
You weren't like this... We... love each other...
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After about three months, I was exhausted. I gave her an allowance, told her to do whatever she wanted, and sat next to me, nursing her, even though we didn't talk at all.
With hospital bills so overwhelming, and allowances to buy and do whatever I wanted, it was a burden on my own salary.
Even eating one meal a day has become a luxury for me. Do you know my circumstances? I still love you, and I refuse to give up until the very end.
"...Lady, eat this later."
Jimin bought Yeoju's favorite tart. The problem is, Yeoju doesn't even pay attention. She doesn't even show her face, and whenever I come over, she covers herself with a blanket and eats it.
Don't even show me your face. Or at least have a conversation. The only words coming out of your mouth are sharp as blades.
"How long do you plan on coming? Why do you bother me so much every day!!"
It hurts. Every single word you say. And it's exhausting.
"Ha... okay. I'm sorry."
Jimin brushed his hair back and left the hospital room.
"....."
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.
Two more weeks passed. Jimin didn't visit Yeoju. He just sent her some pocket money every now and then.
I don't know if I'm spending money. I feel like I've become a money-making machine, working overtime to pay hospital bills and pocket money.
"...How long do I have to live like this?"
"ah..."
Jimin was unconsciously surprised by his own words. This shouldn't be happening. I'm the only one left by her side. Why did I want this to end so quickly?
"No... this isn't it..."
I blame myself again and again. She's definitely the one I love. The one I loved...
When on earth are you going to let me go?
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"Please pack two of those."
For the first time in a while, I finished work early without having to work overtime. I decided to go see Yeoju, whom I hadn't heard from in a while. I bought her favorite snack.
"Are you going to get angry again today..."
Standing in front of the hospital room door, Jimin hesitated to enter. He hadn't seen her in over two weeks, and he didn't know what to say. He felt like it would only be awkward...
"Hey, did you tell Jimin?"
I hear someone else's voice inside.
"No. There's no way I could talk about it."
"Are you crazy...? How come you didn't tell him, not anyone else!?"
"You know... my purpose."
It was the voice of my friend and female protagonist's friend, Kim Taehyung.
"Does that make sense? He cares so much for you, how could you do something like that to him...?"
"I really don't have much time left. I don't want Jimin's life to be ruined because of me... You can hate me, but I wish you could just forget about me and move on."
"What are you going to do if he finds out you're doing this?"
"That's why you shouldn't get caught."
Taehyung looked at Yeoju in disbelief. It was a wonder that Yeoju, who was so tearful, had escaped detection until now.
"I couldn't spend any of the money he gave me. So I'm saving it. I'll give it back later. Do whatever you want with it. He starved himself because of me and lost a lot of weight..."
"You know that so well..."
"I don't want to be like this either... I don't want to die, Taehyung..."
The female protagonist's trembling voice.
Taehyung gritted his teeth and swallowed his tears.
"I'll be back shortly to answer the phone."
"huh."
Taehyung got up from his seat and headed for the door. But,
"jimin park...?"
Park Jimin passed Taehyung and approached Yeoju. Yeoju quickly covered herself with the blanket.
"Put the blanket away."
"I told you not to come. Why are you here again...!!"
Jimin violently threw the blanket away. Then the female protagonist covered her face.
"You idiot. Do you think I'll be okay without you?"
The heroine said nothing. She tried to stop the tears that wouldn't stop, but it was no use.
"Ugh... Ugh... Why did I come back... How did I survive..."
"No matter what anyone says, you are my one and only wife."
Jimin hugged Yeoju, and she cried, apologizing. The warmth they shared after so long felt warmer than ever.
"I'm sorry, Jimin..."
Their end was brief. But their love was eternal. She spent the remaining time happily with Jimin, and Yeo-ju smiled beautifully until her last day.
Jimin was able to see the woman's smile, which he thought he would never see again.
Lady, please be happy even where I am not.
___
It's a bit fast-paced, isn't it? I held back because I thought I'd end up writing a lot if I made it long๐