The more days the doctors could not tell me what was wrong with Aeri, the more I worried about her. A problem with her immune system was what they had told us recently, but they couldn't elaborate since they weren't a hundred percent sure about it still.

The doctors had informed us that it could just be a light problem, yet it did not make me feel any better. I wanted a solid result I could assure myself with.

Doctor Seokjin had advised me to be patient as they looked into Aeri's case. This was probably what he meant back then, though he himself was as clueless as the other doctors. They still had to administer a few tests.

"Taehyung, I told you, I'm fine," I said and heard a sigh from the other end of the line followed by shuffling noises.

"Have you eaten?"

"I have."

"Really?"

Just then, the door opened revealing Somi-ajumma.

"Really," I responded firmly. "You could ask Somi-ajumma if you don't believe me."

Somi gave me a thoughtful glance and I returned it with a small smile and mouthed 'Taehyung'.

After convincing Taehyung a hundred times that I was fine and he didn't need to postpone his work just to be here, we hung up.

Aeri was still sleeping, her right arm wrapped in a cloth to secure the IV attached to her. Lately, Aeri had not been drinking her milk nor had she been eating any solid food we tried to feed her with. In order for Aeri to get the nutrients her body needed, especially now that her health wasn't in its best, we had no choice but to resort to pumping fluids to her body.

And every time they opened that cloth, I felt my heart being squeezed. The child who had brought so much love and sunshine to my life was wrapped in a cloudy haze. She did not deserve this.

"Kyungmin, don't you think it's time for you to take a walk out for fresh air?" My head snapped up to Somi. "The garden's scenery might help you refresh your mind."

I gave it a thought as I observed Aeri, only making me more hesitant to leave her. Soothing her hair, I rested my head beside her, my eyes not leaving her face.

"Kyungmin..." Somi-ajumma stood behind me and held me on my shoulders, trying to comfort me as much as she could.

I had grown so weak that this small gestures were enough to emotionally crush me. A tear had fallen down from my eye without consent.

"It's just...so hard to see her like this."

Somi rubbed circles on my back and I blocked my face with both hands, elbows leaning on Aeri's bed, to muffle my sobs.

Wiping away the tears, I turned back at Somi-ajumma and looked up at her.

"You need to be strong for Aeri. She will be okay. Soon, she will be back to her usual self, being cheerful and bringing joy to everyone. You just got to hang in there." Somi-ajumma had confidence when she told me this, and then she hugged me.

The door suddenly swung open and there stood Doctor Seokjin, shooting me an encouraging smile the moment his eyes landed on me.

"I am guessing she is still confining herself here as well?" Doctor Seokjin asked Somi.

"You know her," Somi meaningfully answered. Before I got to know anyone of them, they had already been close to each other. Hence, the familiarity.

"Kyungmin-ah," Doctor Seokjin called my name thoughtfully. When I glanced up at him again, I noticed the empathy in his eyes. "Go take a walk even just for a minute, get some fresh air."

I breathed out and smiled. The smile you make when you appreciate people's kindness but also feel like you didn't really deserve their continuous concern.

"If you don't, then I'll just cheer you up with my jokes."

Without second thoughts, I stood up from my seat. Maybe too fast, causing the chair to creak against the tile in a low screeching sound.

Doctor Seokjin gawked at me with a finger pointed my way. "I am offended."

And that was when I could not take it anymore and the curve on my lips broke into a soft chuckle.

"I guess I'll just go out for a walk," I told him as my laughter subsided.

"Aigoo, this child," complained Doctor Seokjin. "You should feel honored to hear my jokes."

"It's fine, your majesty. I'm afraid I'm not worthy to hear them."

Doctor Seokjin mumbled incoherent noises under his breath and glared sideways at me.

"See you later, Doctor Seokjin, Somi-ajumma." I waved over my shoulders, leaving the room.

But upon closing the door, I felt alone again.

Just seeing these familiar hallways sent chills down to my spine.

This was the same place where my parents had died, the same place where they told me they couldn't make it, the same place where Mina-unnie also...

I sighed heavily. No. I shouldn't be having these thoughts.

After a few turns, I finally reached the hospital garden. There were a few patients outside, most of which were old people in wheelchairs. A few kids ran around.

I pulled my jacket tighter, feeling the cold breeze. The sun still had a few hours before sunset, yet the sky was already painted with dark blue and lilac hues as if it would rain anytime and the same time it wouldn't. As if the sky was in doubt.

I sat on an unoccupied bench, cupping my elbows as I observed the scene in front of me. All sorts of noise aside from those coming from nature being blocked out. It made me feel like an invisible embrace held me tight.

Minutes passed, and I decided it was time to go back inside. Despite the consolation this place had given me, my thoughts still went back and forth to Aeri.

Just as I shuffled on my feet, a kid, probably around five, held on my hand and looked up at me with a grin.

"Can I help you?" I nicely asked.

He spread my palms and placed two small white daisies. Then, he smiled widely at me again.

"Halmeoni told me that girls shouldn't frown and when they are sad, we should do our best to make them smile," he innocently told me. "My sister likes flowers and she always smiles when she sees flowers. I wish she could wake up soon so she could see flowers again."

I secured the daisies on my hand as I crouched down and hugged the boy tightly, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. Holding on his shoulder, I distanced myself a bit from him.

"Your sister will be happy to know that you're waiting for her." I swallowed the lump on my throat.

Unlike me, the boy's smile stretched wider. "Halmeoni also told me that! She said my sister will soon wake up and we'll play again."

"You two will," I softly told him, nodding my head. "Can you tell noona your name?"

"My name's Jeonghan," he cheerfully replied.

"Thank you, Jeonghan," I whispered, closing my eyes.

"Jeonghan! There you are. I told you not to bother people," a voice called out. The lady then turned to me with an apologetic expression and bowed politely. "I'm sorry if my son had bothered you."

I stood up and waved my hand at her. "No, no. He didn't bother me. I actually want to thank him for talking to me."

The mother just smiled at me, then to her son. Our small talk had somehow turned into a conversation about her daughter. Though, she had not elaborated how her daughter got into a comma, and I did not pry over it.

Somehow, at least a part of my heavy heart eased. Whilst Aeri was in her current state, the only way I could help right now was to be her strength.

I knew that even before, yet I had truly comprehended what it meant only now.

With an enlightened mind, I sauntered back inside the hospital. I should not be disheartened; Aeri would soon be fine, and everything would go back to normal.

I reached for the door, only to retract my hand when a guy caught my attention. I snapped my head to him, brows raised in wonder.

"You're Kim Kyungmin, right?"

My heart dropped when I realized who this person in front of me was. My fingers quivered a little, and I retreated my hands behind me so he wouldn't notice.

His face was indeed familiar, yet there was something different about it. He used to have a radiant aura around when I first saw him. Now, all that was lost, and instead, his presence felt standoffish.

Perhaps he figured a response from me was not coming anytime soon. He offered a polite smile.

"I'm Aeri's father."