Taehyung got up brushing his pants off, "Wow, this place hasn't really changed a bit since I danced here."

"I would have never guessed you danced," I laughed

He lightly smiled but it wasn't reaching his eyes, "Yeah, my mom kind of made me since I was young..." he paused and said nothing else as if he was thinking hard about something.

"Anyways," he continued, looking over at me, "wanna go get something to eat?"

My heart began beating out of my chest. Oh my god, he's asking me to go eat with him???
"Well...?" he tilted his head forward trying to reach my gaze,

"Oh right YES!" did I really have to sound that excited?? Taehyung slightly laughed at my reaction, "Okay good, I know this really good fried chicken place right near the river. (A/N: Han/Hangang River).

We walked outside and I was expecting to see his motorcycle but instead, it was a shiny expensive-looking black car parked in the lot.

"Where's your bike?" I asked examining the car

"Back at the house, I got a new car today," he chuckles, "I mean...I know you hated riding on it so, this should suit you right?" He opens the passenger door smiling then winking at me, I might as well just die right now because of HIM!



"T-thanks," I said before sliding in.

---

I was so nervous, I can't believe it's just Taehyung and I sitting on the grass staring out into the river with food...that he just paid for...at night. I-is this a date?! Picnic date??

"How's the chicken? Not too spicy hopefully," He looks over at me taking a bite,

"No it's fine, thank you," I nervously smiled at him, he nods and turned to look back out into the river view watching boat lights sailing away into the dark. I was taking small bites since my nerves were getting the best of me.

We sat quietly eating and observing the peaceful area, there were 3 small children playing around with toy swords and a woman who most likely is the mother power walking behind them making sure they didn't go near the river. It made chuckle because it reminded me of Jin oppa, Seoyeon unnie and I when we were young and my mom would scold us whenever we got too rowdy on one of our night walks.

"Your mother," Taehyung spoke, "she...passed away?..." his eyes were on mine.

"My mother?" that question caught me off guard, it's like he knew I was thinking about her,

He nods his head, "Sorry, I, I was just curious, you don't have to answer..."

I don't think I ever really talked to anyone about my mother's passing, not that it hurts me anymore but no one has ever asked me about it, most likely to be mindful but I honestly never really mind.

"Yeah, she um, passed away 9 years ago..."

---

[flashback 3rd POV]
Sangmi came out of the doctor's office with a glum look on her face as she looked down lightly patting her lower abdominal.

"Yeobo," Jungwoo startled her, he was in all smiles walking up to her with 11-year-old Minjoo next to him, "Well what did they say? Any luck this time?"

"Yeah mom, am I actually going to get a little brother or sister?" Minjoo asked excitedly, Jungwoo and Sangmi have been trying for over a year to have another baby...so far it's been unsuccessful.

Sangmi had a delay reaction and slowly smiled, "ah, I believe so," she smiled with her eyes closed...knowing it was a lie.

*Later in the year*

Sangmi was helping Minjoo with her ballet lessons even though she wasn't feeling too well, "Minjoo-ya honey, I need you to move more with passion,"

"I am mom, geez!" frustrated Minjoo sassed, it was the beginning of puberty for the soon to be preteen. Sangmi tries to smile through the pain she was ignoring in her pelvis area, still having a lot of patience for her daughter

"Okay okay, let's take it to the top again,"

Minjoo groans, "I really don't feel like it mom,"

"Please Minjoo,"

"mommm!" she whines,

"Honey," sweat started forming on Sangmi's face as she was trying to plead with her daughter, the pain was getting stronger, more unbearable,

"Mom NO! I just want to go home!" Minjoo yelled. Suddenly Sangmi collapsed to the floor clutching her stomach, the pain was strong she needed to get help.

"MOM!!" Minjoo screamed running to her

****************
Jungwoo didn't have anything to say, he was speechlessly lost in his thoughts as Sangmi was laying in the hospital bed looking pale. 'How could this have happened?' he kept thinking repeatedly, he was so upset that she would hide it from him.



"Yeobo," Sangmi whispered, Jungwoo slowly shifted his tired eyes to look at her, "I'm sorry."

'Why didn't you tell me??' is what he wanted to ask, so desperate for an answer, but he couldn't. He was so hurt, so scared.

"Mr.Kim, your daughter would like to come in," A nurse said opening the door revealing a teary-eyed Minjoo. Jungwoo got up from his seat walking over to Minjoo, "Let's talk outside for minute kiddo," he says trying to sound cheerful.

Minjoo couldn't stop her tears from flowing as she was clueless about what was going on. "What is happening to mom?!" she sniffled.

Jungwoo crouched down to look at her, wiping away her tears, he deeply sighs, "Your mother is sick Minjoo."

"Like a fever?" she quietly sobs

He shook his head, "Uh, no honey...it's...much worse."

"What do you mean dad?"



"Your mother," he sighs, it was hard for him to tell her, "Your mother has cancer, um, ovarian cancer,"

Minjoo's eyes grew wide as she remembered learning about cancer in one of her textbooks from her health class. Most of what she remembers is that...most of the treatment is never promising.

"she's...she's not going to get better?" she asked,

"I don't know sweetheart, it's stage 3, I--, I don't know. But, we, you and I, we have to be strong okay? Gotta be strong for mom." he lightly smiles at her pinching her chin.

*****
[Minjoo's POV]

It passed another year and mom's health wasn't getting any better. I spent most of my days going to school and being at the hospital for mom, I basically live here now. Mom used to could walk around the hospital with me when she first got here but she grew weaker and lost a lot of weight so she's always in bed, mostly sleep. Whenever she's awake I try to talk to her as much as I can telling her about my day in school and stuff dad and I did. She wasn't as talkative as she was before though and she also doesn't look the same anymore. She's been doing chemotherapy and lost her long black hair.

"Minjoo-ya" Nurse Sohee enters the room, "You know you can't sleep here tonight, you should go home and get some sleep,"

"Please just this one last time, I promise I won't ask again,"

"You said that last week," she chuckled, "but...okay fine."

I bowed to thank her, as she left I scooted my chair next to mom's bed getting ready to do homework just to pass the time as mom continues to sleep.

***
"honey," I heard mom whispered, I slowly opened my eyes realizing I fell asleep on my textbooks on her bed.

"Mom, sorry," I mumbled rubbing my eyes, "are you okay?"

She was very weak looking but her smile was always convincing that she was okay, even if she were in pain. She opened her hand for mine, I reached to grab it. It was cold.

"Yes but I'm thirsty could you get me something to drink?" she asked

"You have water here mom,"

She shook her head, "I'm more in the mood for Yukult" she smiled

"Oh, yeah there's a machine around the corner down the hall, I'll be back then," I got up and walked to the door

"Minjoo-ya" mom called out to me, I stopped halfway out the door looking back at her,
she held up her frail hand signaling with her fingers '1,4 and 3' ...1 4 3 was our thing meaning I love you, she taught me it when I was very young.

I smiled back at her signaling 1 4 3, "I love you too mom."

I left walking down the hall to the vending machine only to see there weren't any Yakult in, I sigh in disappointment I didn't want to go back emptyhanded to mom, "Excuse me do you know where I can get any Yakult?" I asked a hospital staff walking in my direction,

"Yakult? Ah yes, there's some in the cafeteria it's on the other side of this floor."

"Thank you" I bowed. I quickly walked to the other side of the cafeteria finding more vending machines with snacks and drinks. I spotted some Yakult and bought 5. I felt so pleased to have successfully found some for mom knowing it well satisfy her craving, I power walked my way back to mom's room it felt like it took me forever to scavenge this drink. I got closer to her room...only to find dad sitting in front of the door with his hand on his forehead, the expression on his face...

Mom's room door was closed,

"Dad?" I slowly walked to him, he didn't react, I guess he didn't hear me, "Dad?" I said louder, he quickly looked over to me then stood up

"Dad I'm about to give these to mom, the nurse said I could sta--,"

"Baby," he cut me off, his voice was so deep,

"What dad?" I asked really nervous, "...how's mom?"

"M-mom, she uh," he licked his dried trembling lips, "...she passed away hon..."

"What? no I was just with--, dad she's alive, she told me to get these, I, I have to give these
to mom, she's craving dad,"

I tried to go near the door but dad grabbed my shoulders forcing me to look at him, "Mom is gone honey, she's...gone."

---

I felt Taehyung's gaze as I was looking down at my chicken in front of me, "She...she did it on purpose." my words were getting softer, "she must've knew um, she knew she was going to pass soon...and didn't want me to see her go like that. So...she purposely sent me away."



(A/N: BRB gonna go cry!)

Notes

All this week I will be updating!! sorry for the delay!