Beautiful Goodbye
CHAPTER 22: Sealak-alak

       This is the second day, counting since he entered the hospital that is always crowded like a market. Wander to and fro with a different face expression in every minute. A common sight, considering that many people come and go. While in the corner of Seongyu hospital park, which was far from the crowd; the most quiet spot, Sohyun sat face to face with his book—which he got from Eunjung this morning. The girl was swept away by Erin Morgenstern's hand. The Night Circus, suitable to be devoured when the mind begins to saturate with the lines of reality life in the boring afternoon. He felt too late to read the novel that was published in 2011.

     "Le Cirque des Reves." He muttered the name of the wandering circus slowly while combing to the next page. Immerse yourself in a fantasy that momentarily makes him forget reality. Absolutely impossible and absurd, he thought as he was treated to a story tethered on the first page. But over time, the more he dissolved, to spend half the book in one read, although there are actually some that he wants to criticize the plot presented in the novel in his hands.

       This place is his favorite, secluded from the grandeur of the international-scale hospital, a maple tree stands firm, and, spliced a small canopy in the form of a circle with a minimalist model bench that only fit two butt of the entrants. Rarely are there hospital residents who want to spend time in his place to stop, they know this is a spot that he always goes to every time he visits the hospital. As if this was only intended for him, even though this was clearly made available to the public. They were scared and Sohyun hated it. Not that there are none, but it is very difficult to find people who care about their presence. Sohyun has been ordinary, if he is often invisible. Except for someone who had been watching the woman for a long time from a distance. The figure of a man who recently got to visit the hospital after college.

      "Come out, I know you're there!" Sohyun called without turning to his reading which explored the 108th page. To be honest he had known since the beginning of being here, but the longer, he began to get uncomfortable being noticed which he thought was more like being stripped naked.

       The man who was clearly not Taehyung walked over to him. Standing behind his body. It's Jungkook. Who knows since when the more want to know what is concerned with Sohyun.

       Jungkook snorting sejemang self-organizing. This is strange, it feels strange if he is close to Sohyun who incidentally he once made a toy lover even for a moment.

       "Hi, Kim Sohyun," he said nervously.

      Sohyun closed his book, then looked up to see Jungkook who was now standing, scratching his neck. Turning his wheelchair to the right side, in order to freely see the strange expression on the man's face.

      "Don't look at me like that!" amuk Jungkook looked away.

       Sohyun who had just gotten a burst of such kind just chuckled, before his mouth let out a sound. "What brings you here?" said ask.

        "Guild a friend."

        "really?"

         "You don't believe my words?"

         "Yes. Too awkward. Don't you know, lately there's someone who's been tailing me? And now the man shows up here. You know who I mean, right?"

          "No! I don't know what you mean."

         The beards of his head after hearing the answer came out of Jungkook. There was no longer a sweet-talking Jungkook in front of him, and this was the original trait he liked rather than the months-long theatrics, Sohyun taste enough. Enough dialogue with his ex. So with his book still demanding to be read quickly, he intends to return to his room. Because there's nothing important to talk about with a guy like Jungkook.

         "Where are you going?" Jungkook made a sound again, just after Sohyun turned his wheelchair.

         "Inner. Your presence suddenly made me not focus on reading."

         "You blame me? So I'm a bully you think?" Jungkook did not accept.

         "No. You misunderstood."

         "What lounge? I'm not done talking!" His long hands, grabbing the handle of the chair, forced Sohyun not to go anywhere before he finished completing his intention to come to this place.

         Sohyun finally relented, he followed the words of what the man was about to say, to hold it this way. "Now speak. I don't have much time, so tell me what's going on?"

        "Yeri looking for you?"

        "You've never been to class this week, Mr. George is also a lot of urgency because you don't also give news. Yeri is worried that your position as a pianist will be replaced by someone else while the show will be held in the near future."

        Sohyun seemed to be thinking, not about the upcoming orchestra performance. But Yeri, the only friend he had at the university. Disillusioned. The feeling he now feels. He wanted to not believe it, but it was hard. Yeri betrayed her by telling her identity, to the point that many criminals were searching for her and ended up in hospitals like this. Sohyun did not intend to blame, Yeri would not be that easy to tell just anyone if not for being forced.

       Jungkook who felt ignored frowned, patting her on the shoulder, Sohyun was not surprised, just glancing at her glance before spurring his wheelchair again.

        "You really weren't taught manners huh? At least respond to what I just said, not go away!" He screamed while holding back the wheelchair.

         Sohyun stopped, forcedly. "Tell Yeri, tomorrow I'll go to class as usual."

        "That's all?"

       The girl nodded her head. "Is there anything else you want to ask me?"

       Jungkook actually hesitated, compared to what he had said to Sohyun, there were things he wanted to know from Sohyun's own mouth. Ever since hearing the conversation of Yoon eun and an unfamiliar stranger, making his mind chaotic; the fog.

        "If it doesn't exist, I'll go ..."

         "Wait a minute!" Jungkook exclaimed again, this time louder and stern. Carefully, his mouth moved, forming a particle of the word that read, "Is it true you ever fell off the hospital roof?"

        Sohyun. "You hear anything about me, Jeon Jungkook?"

          "It ... it doesn't matter, now answer, is it true? Is that because you can't walk?" His tone became more urgent, curious.

           "You must know something .. yes, it's true."

            "Because someone pushed you?"

            Now not only the presence of Jungkook, the sensitive questions made Sohyun increasingly uncomfortable and quickly wanted to leave.

          "Jungkook ... It looks like you've started to get curious about my life" he said. "Please keep the secrets you know well. That event is long gone, please do not involve yourself further. I just want to live my life in peace."

           Not a single answer came out, Jungkook was stunned by everything he heard. He can reply more sarcastically to women who slowly disappear from his view if the shock does not hurt him. But his tongue was a hoax, Jungkook was inexhaustible, with Sohyun's fiil.

🔔

        On his way to his room, Sohyun is surprised by Soyoon's presence. The little girl he had met was huddled under the bed in the pediatric room. It was only eleven steps, it only took eleven steps for him to reach the little boy's body. Somehow, Sohyun who used to be indifferent now walked—turned his wheelchair, approaching Soyoon who sat in front of the toilet alone with her white stick.

        "When have you been standing here?"

        Soyoon was flabbergasted when Sohyun's voice disturbed her hearing senses. His feet jumped in shock, suddenly the voice greeted him. "Is that you, Eonni?" tanyanya make sure, hopeful. Soyoon was afraid that what she just heard was only limited to her imagination, due to missing Sohyun too much. A little gift that God gave her.

       "It's me, Kim Sohyun."

       The little girl jumped up in excitement, hitting her white cane to find Sohyun. He was finally able to meet Sohyun after two months. He was amazed when his wand hit a hard object. It feels familiar. "So you're in a wheelchair again?" said guess.

         "Yes." Yeah."

         "Why?"

         "I'm paralyzed."

         "What?" Soyoon stopped asking. Sohyun's last reply slightly added to the width of his gaping mouth hole diameter. He did not understand, two months did not meet, suddenly Sohyun said he was paralyzed, while his inspirational figure had only experienced a little problem, and was still able to walk back.

         "You haven't answered my question, why are you standing here alone?" Sohyun shifted the conversation, focusing on his first question.

         "I'm running away."

         His forehead was confused. Soyoon was used to running away, just that this felt awkward to him. "What's the matter again?"

         Soyoon did not answer, precisely what happened, the tiny stuffing came out creating two lines of tear flow, making Sohyun more and more convinced something had happened to the child.

🔔

        Hope disappeared. Those words slightly disturbed Sohyun's heart niche. The little girl who had just cried in front of him had just complained pessimistically to him—loses her despair. 

         Just like back then, when Soyoon came to the same hospital, she asked to go into Sohyun's room, forcing her to sleep together until morning, when her parents returned to Seoul, she said, leave her with the nanny. Sohyun understood the feeling of the child. Feeling isolated and not considered around. Blame Sohyun who is a pundit, not good at expressing his concern for naive girls like Soyoon. He is still firmly in his calm and flat stance.

        "Sir ..." Soyoon.

        "Why can you be so sure if I can see one day?"

        Sohyun smiled faintly. Questions tickled, he thought. "Let's know, that belief just pops up."

         "Sister isn't just comforting me, is he? Or feel sorry for me, because I didn't get a corneal donor?" some Soyoon shriveled, sluggishly moving on the bed.

           "Not both," Sohyun replied that he never left looking at Soyoon who was lying next to him.

          Sohyun wanted to be a big brother.

        Once upon a time, Sohyun had dreamed of being a great big brother to his younger siblings. The call from Soyoon, he liked it very much. Then, he watched, recalling the last film he watched, My Annoying Brother. Sometimes, he imagined what if he had the opportunity to become Go Doo Sik in real life, taking care of Doo Young, the younger brother. He thought, sometimes he needed to comedy on the stage of a giant opera of God's design. He is too serious, need serotonin intake that can breed the side of humor that he himself. But .... Isn't it too sudden? He is done with his search. Going through a dozen years, only to find out who he is and what he wants to live like, here are the complicated goals he wants to achieve.

        But...is it possible for him?

      "If that day comes, I wish you were the first person I saw."

      Sohyun smiled at a glance. Seemed forced to stop wandering and just focus on the little boy, Soyoon chattered again.

      "Why aren't your parents?" tanyanya.

      "So much more attentive than they are."

      "I didn't do anything for you. Meet us twice, and you dare say I'm more attentive than your parents?" Sohyun. While the little girl was silent, it might feel wrong with her words.

         "Soyoon ..," he whispered. "If you can't see your parents' kindness through your eyes, then use your feelings. Even though you have never heard them say dear, and are grateful for your presence, you can still use your other senses to feel it. They love you in different ways. If not, how could they have kept you up until now?

       "Don't think they're doing that is just a formality between parent and child. Do you remember my words, that anyone deserves to be happy? Happiness that we wish, not necessarily in the direction of goodness was the opposite."

        Perhaps the sentence was too heavy for Soyoon to understand, but Sohyun would still say it his way. Soyoon proved to be dumbstruck, devouring another sentence that whispered softly to his right ear slowly.

       "They're still your parents, Jang Soyoon."

       Sohyun ended it with a gentle swab on the back of the boy's hand. A mother who loves her daughter. To be honest, he never talked all this time other than with Taehyung, sometimes Sohyun berated himself who was very easy to say this and that, maybe he seemed patronizing and seemed heartless.

       Soyoon's smile expands. She's shy. Why is it so easy to be prejudiced. I am so thankful to meet Sohyun.

       "I'll pursue my goal of becoming a reliable ballerina. Brother has to watch me dance on stage someday, huh?" So he said, when he found his mood improved again. He was more confident, when the day would soon come to him, he would soon see his world covered in darkness changed light.

       "I'll try if I'm not busy" Sohyun chimed in with a distinctive tone. Soyoon did not like it to the point of saying it full of force. "Anyway must! What's your job to say all busy?" soyoon.

       "Aren't you tired of talking all the time?"

       "Are you tired of my voice?"

       Sohyun. "No, I'm glad you could be this big. I'll keep it, remember your voice and appearance today well."

        Soyoon ber-oh, unconscious, maybe today is the last time their meeting that always chatted on the bed Sohyun all night—a veiled meaning.

🔔

         A pocket is in hand. Sturdy jeji flanked Taehyung who just arrived and wants to visit Sohyun soon.

Since yesterday, just like Jungkook who does not want to miss a visit to the hospital. The relaxed-looking man in his faded red T-shirt walked through the hallways of the ninth floor.

        His smile widened, knowing his destination was near. But something caught his eye. A person, a female figure seemed to be standing near the door of Sohyun's ward. The gesture showed doubt.

      "You who?" Taehyung asked before going inside.

       The woman apologized. Feeling what he was doing drew suspicion, especially on Taehyung who had just reached the deep fold on his forehead.

        "I'm Miss Jang's personal nanny."

        "Whose Miss Jang?" Taehyung.

🔔

        Slowly the door leaf moved, opened and closed by the hand that was about to visit. His eyes rotated around, paying attention to the impermeable space of the friends.

        With great difficulty, Sohyun finally arrived at the room the doctor was in, at his night break. He was indeed disrespectful this time, coming at night without the knowledge of Jaehyun who was busy with documents in his hands.

       "It's night, Miss Kim."

       Jaehyun's voice boomed inside, with his eyes still focused on his new patient's data. Sohyun ignored, still forced into—terus to spur the pace of his wheelchair. The girl was in front of Jaehyun, giving a calm look.

     "Rest to your room. You're not afraid your name's getting ruined the night you come here, or you want to test it out by teasing me?"

      Sohyun snickered, going to Jaehyun's trash talk. "There's something I want to tell Doctor Kim."

      "Why not tomorrow morning?Didn't I always routinely visit your room?"

        His head shook slowly, a sign of disapproval. "Can you help me talk to Doctor Woo?"

      Jaehyun frowned, ignoring the paper he was about to read. Manatap iris Sohyun straight. "Why talk to Doctor Woo? Are your eyes in trouble?"

      "No. So far my eyes are fine."

       "Want to?"

      "Just want to consult him, because suddenly I want to donate my organs."

         Jaehyun was dumbfounded, giving a sharp look towards Sohyun.

        "Are you crazy?" the satirical sentence came out as well. Sohyun had expected it long ago.

      "I just need your approval as the doctor who's been handling me. Not now, Doctor Kim, wait until the time of my death is announced."

        "Fuck all you say!" Jaehyun. "Is it because of Jang Soyoon, because that little boy you really want to die?"

          "Isn't this overkill?  And please don't bring Soyoon, it's purely my wish."

            "You'll be able to heal .. And Soyoon will get a new cornea without having to go through you, she'll be able to see again."

             "You think I don't know what you're hiding? You two .... Why do you and Mom lie to each other about me? It should have been from the beginning, you're honest if I had no hope of living."

           "Sohyun—"

          "I'm not done talking!" sohyun.

           Jaehyun was stunned, he really dared to bet, if this was the first time his eyes saw the wrath of Sohyun. No, he found a calm and flat look; sohyun looked frustrated.

            Same is the case with Taehyung who rigidly stone in front of his brother's work door. Rungunya has heard all. At first he was confused, did not find Sohyun in his room, it was precisely there, found a girl wrapped in a blanket on Sohyun's mattress. Until he found the woman he was looking for inside, his tears broke.