It’s been already four hours since JA was taken inside the operating room. And yet, no one has come out. Her family members who were waiting for her outside were uneasy and anxious about some contingencies. Jareed was walking back and forth, breathing rapidly while Mrs. Mercedez, was just silent, sitting on a long steel chair, clasping both her hands. Meanwhile Jungwon was standing, looking down and crossing his arms.
Another two hours had passed but still nobody went out. Mrs. Mercedez, was becoming emotional and started to get panic.
”Mom, it’s okay. JA will get through this”, Jareed said trying to calm his mom. Jungwon then sat beside her and caressed her back.
“Gwaenchana eomeoni”
Mrs. Mercedez softly cried as she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Mom, please stop crying”, Jareed uttered and pulled her a hug.
Six hours and thirty minutes to be exact, the surgeon went out of the operating room.
They hurriedly ran over and asked about the patient’s condition.
“Susul-eun jal dwisseoyo (The surgery was successfully done)”, the doctor said formally.
“Kamsahamnida, uisa seonsaengnim (Thank you doctor)”, Mrs. Mercedez exclaimed as she bowed her head.
Jareed took a sigh of relief upon hearing what the doctor said. Jungwon as well, was looking delighted as he tapped Jareed’s shoulder.
“Thank you bro, for your great help and support to JA. Thank you for finding a heart donor for her, and for asking your father to put JA on the priority list”, Jareed said, holding back the tears that were about to fall anytime soon.
“Ani, gwaenchana bro (No, it’s okay bro). You know how much I feel for JA, but she only treated me as a brother. It’s okay, for as long as she gets better and she will be happy in her life”, Jungwon responded and smiled sofly.
********
After some time, JA was moved to the ICU for her recovery. She had to stay there for three to five days for her to be closely monitored by doctors and nurses. But she had to be in a breathing machine for six to eight hours until the effects of anesthesia subside.
The visiting of patients in the ICU, was restricted by the hospital, so her family had to wait for her outside until she become stable.
After three days of staying in the ICU JA was already transferred to a private room. She was lying on a hospital bed when her mom and Jareed went inside and approached her.
“Thank God you survive dear!”, Mrs. Mercedez, exclaimed as she hugged her and kissed her cheek.
“Sweetie, it’s indeed a miracle that you were able to survive even if the heart transplant had only 50% survival rate. You’re always a gifted one sweetie and God give you another life to live”, Jareed said as he held her hand and kissed her forehead.
A soft smile formed on her lips while her eyes was focused to Jungwon’s direction.
“Jungwon-ah, why are you standing there? Don’t you wanna give me a hug?”
Jungwon hurriedly went over and hugged her.
“Dahaeng-ida! Neol neomu geokjeonghae J.A-yah. (What a relief! I’m so worried about you, JA), Jungwon said and gently caressed her head.
*********
After 12 days of staying in the hospital, she was already discharged. Jungwon, assisted her, while Jareed was carrying her clothing bag.
As usual she was sitting at the passenger’s seat beside Jungwon while Jareed and her mom were in the back seat.
Finally, they reached their mom’s apartment in Gangnam-gu, after 30 minutes of travel. Jareed accompanied her to the guest room and put all her things. Afterwards, she sat on the bed and leaned her back on the headboard. She gestured her brother to sit beside her, because she wanted to have a chit-chat with him.
“Is Jungwon already in his apartment boo?”, she asked curiously.
“No sweetie. He said he will be going to work, because he’d been absent for two weeks already. You know sweetie, Jungwon did not leave you in the hospital. He stayed there day and night, because he was so worried of you. He just went home for a while to refresh himself but after few hours he was back in the hospital”, Jareed said earnestly.
She clearly understood what her brother meant to say. Even Jareed did not voice it out, but he wanted her to reciprocate Jungwon’s love. She was silent for a moment because she did not know what to answer.
“No, it’s okay sweetie. It’s your personal life and I will not interfere with it. What I just wanted to say is, you should at least give Jungwon a chance, or give yourself a chance to love him”, Jareed explained.
“Uhm by the way, I need to go back to the Philippines tomorrow sweetie. There’s a lot of things to do in the company”, Jareed spoke.
“I understand boo. Thank you”, she responded and hugged her brother.
After a while her brother went out of the room. She grabbed her cellphone and logged in to her official Facebook account. She scrolled and read some posts there, until Josh’s chat head popped up. She tapped it and started reading messages. But she noticed it wasn’t only from Josh. All the kids were sending her messages using Josh’s account. She knew it because right after their messages they put their names.
“Hi, cher how are you?” from Chris.
“Cher, we missed you so much” from Marco.
“Cher, we’ll be waiting for you” from Gillian.
“Get well very soon cher” from Samantha
“We love you so much cher” from Ivan.
“We’re doing good here in our studies cher” from Laila
“We have a new teacher cher, but still you’re the best!” from Jasper
“Cher, when will you be back?” from Mayrin
“We’re trying to learn the piece of your soul cher” from Chezka
“We wanted to sing “One Day In Your Life”, when you come back cher” from Josh
She felt very happy after reading all their messages. She typed her responses to let them know that she is alright and that she will be coming soon.
She logged in to her second account and tried to check her messenger if there’s any message from Zacky, but there was none. She logged out and put her phone inside her bag.
She tried to forget sad thoughts because she was still in the process of recovery and it’s bad for her health to think too much. She laid down in bed and closed her eyes.
*********
She woke up at past eight in the morning. She quickly stood up and took a shower. She remembered her brother’s flight going back to Manila is at 10:00 o’ clock. After she was refreshed, she went out of the room.
“Oh dear, it’s good that you’re awake now, so we can have our breakfast”, Mrs. Mercedez exclaimed.
She looked around but Jungwon was not there.
“Where is Jungwon mom?”, she asked casually.
“He is already at work dear. He said he can’t go with us to the airport, because he had a lot of things to do in the office”, her mother replied.
Jareed was just looking at her and silently smiling as if he was teasing her.
“Boo! I know what’s on your mind!”, she yelled in annoyance.
“Why? Did I say something? You’re overreacting sweetie and you’re blushing as well”, Jareed jested.
She pouted her lips, showing her angry face, while Jareed was just smiling at her.
**********
Two weeks had passed and her attending physician said that she was fully recovered. She felt very glad with the good news because it means she could live a normal life.
“Thank you for always being here for me Jungwon. I really appreciate everything you have done for me”, she said and gave him a warm embrace.
Jungwon stared at her and she exactly knew what it meant to say.
“Mianhae Jungwon-ah (I’m sorry) You are a good person and you deserve someone better than me”, she said softly.
“Gwaenchana J.A.-yah. Algess-eo (It’s okay, I understand) Just be happy okay?”, Jungwon tapped her head and pinched her nose.
How could this man so understanding and kind-hearted? But why she could not love him back as a man?
When they got home she asked her mom if it’s okay to go back to the Philippines.
“Are you not going to stay with me here dear?”, her mom asked her in a sad voice.
She looked at her mom and somehow got pity on her. She knew her mom wanted her and Jareed to live with her in Korea, but she cannot leave her brother alone in the Philippines.
Mrs. Mercedez just nodded and smiled at her.
“I understand dear”, her mom responded, wearing a brittle smile.
“Naneun naeil J.A-wa hamkke galgeoya, eomeoni (I’ll go with JA tomorrow mom)”, Jungwon uttered as he took the remote control and turned on the television.
“Ani, gwaenchana Jungwon-ah (No it’s okay, Jungwon)”, she frowned.
But Jungwon insisted to go with her in going back to the Phlippines because he doesn’t want her to travel alone.
How could this man so good to her, even if she turned him down? Despite the good characteristics he has, still she could not love him back as a man and she doesn’t want to give him false hope because she doesn’t want Jungwon to be hurt. She cared for him and even treated him as her brother.
**********
Incheon International Airport
“Mom, we’ll go now. Thank you mom. Saranghae (I love you)”, she said and hugged her mom tightly. Then she turned her gaze to her stepdad.
“Jal deurogaseyo abeonim (have a safe journey back home, father) Jeoreul jal dwaehaejwoseo kamsahamnida (Thank you for treating me so well)”, she said and bowed her head.
“Jal ga, JA-yah, Jungwon-ah”, her stepdad said as he waved his hand.
“Saranghae JA-yah”, her mom exclaimed and gave her a flying kiss.
**********
After three hours of travel, they arrived at NAIA, Manila- Philippines.
Jungwon held her hand as they disembarked the plane. She looked around. She really missed her country after one month of being away.
She felt really happy now that she’s back home.