~ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴜɴᴛᴏʟᴅ: ʙᴛs~

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Seohwa’s POV~

The hospital smelled of antiseptic and fresh chemicals, a scent I had grown used to over the past year. My health had taken a toll since last year, when I was diagnosed with blood cancer. It freaked me out at first. I had a little daughter. I couldn't imagine anything happening to me. I was her only parent.

But then, I gathered my courage to fight my disease. I was fortunate enough that when I got diagnosed, it was just the initial stage. So, there was a chance for me to get better and recover. I was very careful in taking care of my health and taking my medications in time.

It was my checkup day. I held Junghwa’s tiny hand as we walked through the hallway, her small fingers intertwining tightly with mine. Seokjin walked beside us, his arms trembling a little but he managed to keep his usual protective demeanor in full display.

"Are you okay, Seohwa?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

I smiled reassuringly, nodding a little, "I'm fine, oppa. It's just a routine checkup."

Junghwa tugged at my hand, a cute pout decorating her pink lips as she stared at me with her doe eyes, "Eomma, I will go with you!" she insisted.

I chuckled and shook my head," No, baby. You can't come with me..."

Her eyes turned sad as she looked down and murmured, "But... I want to go with you..."

Seokjin patted her head and knelt down to her height, "Hey! Eomma has to go alone, okay? The doctor and the nurses are...," he made a fake darkened expression, "scary..."

Junghwa's eyes widened and she gasped, "Really...?"

Seokjin nodded, "But don't worry, sweetheart!" he showed his fake biceps, "Your strong, handsome daddy will protect you! So, stay with me," he winked.

Junghwa nodded and hugged Seokjin, "My daddy, my hero!"

I chuckled seeing their cute interaction. It always made my heart swell with love when I see them like that. Seokjin loved Junghwa more like a father, than like an uncle.

I bent down and gently kissed Junghwa's forehead, "I'll be back soon, baby. Stay with daddy, okay?"

She nodded and grinned. Seokjin stood up and pulled me in his embrace, sighing heavily, "You will be... all okay. I know you will be," he pulled back and cupped my cheeks, "Be strong, my baby."

It made my heart clench seeing his eyes watery. I nodded and whispered softly, "I will be, oppa."

The nurse called out my name. I glanced back and nodded at the nurse.

I gave my daughter one last smile before following the nurse inside the examination room.

»»————>

Jungkook’s POV~

Hospitals. I hated them.

The cold, sterile environment always made me uncomfortable. The strong scent of antiseptic and chemicals made me sick to my stomach. I almost wanted to throw up. If it weren't for my fiancee, Kiko, dragging me here, I wouldn’t have stepped my foot inside!

"Jungkook, please...," she reminded me, her hand intertwined with mine as we walked towards the private ward.

I huffed and looked down. I hate my life! First of all, I'm stuck with the woman whom I can never love and secondly... I'm at the place that I hate the most!

She tugged at my hand lightly, "I'll be quick, I promise... Just ten minutes and I'll be back," she looked at me with pleading eyes, "Please... This is the least we can do for Aunt Hyejin."

That was her mother's youngest sister. She got into an accident a day prior and Kiko was all whiny since then to come here.

I ran a hand through my hair, “Yeah, yeah. I'll stay here outside," I murmured, exasperated.

Kiko gave me a cheeky grin. She kissed my cheek and walked away from me, towards the medical room where her aunt was.

I huffed and looked around to find a seat for me. I sat on an empty seat. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and started scrolling through it, mostly through the emails I received on a daily basis.

Close to me, a man and his daughter were sitting. Their playful laughters and giggles filled the hospital ward.

"So... What do you want me to bake for you when we get home?" the man poked his daughter's cheeks.

"Muffins!" the little girl squealed. I couldn't help but chuckle at the kid's cheeky behavior. I watched their lovely interaction from the corner of my eyes.

I observed the little girl carefully. She was tiny, looked no older than five or six. She was wearing a cute pink dress, with a teddy in the centre. But then suddenly, she turned her face in my direction and something about her made my breath hitch. It wasn't just her presence that struck me — it was her face.

I could feel my heart slamming against my ribs as I stared at her with wide eyes, my gaze filled with a hint of panic and horror.

Same doe eyes, same button nose, same heart-shaped lips with a cupid bow, same soft, rounded cheeks...

She looked like… me!!

My throat went dry and I almost choked on my own spit.

Am I hallucinating?

I wanted to scream in horror. How can it be...?! H-How does she look like... M-ME?! I could feel my head spin as I stared at her longer. WHO IS SHE?!

Kiko, unaware of my sudden distress, walked towards me with a smile, but I remained rooted to my spot, staring at the little girl as if she were a ghost.

"Honey?" Kiko called me out.

Her voice made me snap out of my daze as I turned my head to her, my expression dumbfounded, "Y-Yes...?"

"I'm done. Let's go home now?" she touched my shoulder lightly.

I winced even by her gentle touch. I nodded hesitantly, my gaze still lingering on that little girl from the corner of my eyes.

I got up from my seat, ready to walk out of the hospital, that's when I heard that little girl squeal, "Eomma!"

I involuntarily turned my head to her direction again. The little girl’s eyes lit up as she spotted someone approaching from the hallway. My gaze followed hers, and that’s when... my entire world shifted.

S-Seohwa...?!

»»————>

Seohwa's POV~

My face had turned pale after I received the dreadful news from the doctor. I was in stage four now. And... there was no turning back. There was no treatment...

I dragged my feet towards where Seokjin and Junghwa were sitting. How am I supposed to face them now?

When I came into their view, I could see how Junghwa's eyes lit up. It made my heart clench.  She jumped from her seat and ran towards me, squealing, "Eomma!"

I forced out a smile and pulled her into my embrace, tightly. Junghwa kicked her legs and kissed my cheek as she hugged me tightly.

Seokjin rushed to me after Junghwa and stood beside me, his eyes filled with concern and anticipation. He stared at me intensely. I just looked down, not daring to look into his eyes.

"Seohwa...," he called out, his voice utter soft. I sighed. I knew he must have already sensed that something was wrong. After all, he could always read me like an open book.

I met his eyes, after gathering my courage. He didn't say anything but I knew what he wanted me to tell him, just by looking at his eyes. I let out a heavy breath and shook my head.

Seokjin's eyes widened with panic and disbelief as he whispered breathlessly, "W-What do you-"

"Mr. Kim Seokjin?" the doctor called out his name from the examination room, gesturing him to come there. He, wasting no time, rushed into the medical room.

I swallowed hard and let out a shaky breath. I couldn't imagine Seokjin's condition when he would be told the truth. What about Junghwa? How will I tell her?

Why is destiny so cruel?

»»————>

Jungkook's POV~

S-Seohwa...?

As soon as my eyes landed on her, I staggered back. It was too much for me to process.

I watched her approach the child, her expression soft, filled with warmth, but there was something odd in her expression, as if her smile was forced. She picked up the little girl in her arms and hugged her tightly.

Eomma...

That word echoed in my mind, growing louder, stronger, made me unable to hear anything except it.

Eomma...

Seohwa was the kid's mother.

My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out the hospital's noise. I stood stiff and just stared at them like a creep. I was too shocked to even move an inch.

I couldn't breathe properly. I couldn't think straight.

My gaze shifted to the man who stood beside Seohwa. I instantly glared at him. But then... I noticed how similar he looked to Seohwa.

And then it struck me.

Seohwa had an older brother, Seokjin. It must be him. It can't be her husband.

I felt something inside me shatter.

The realization crashed over me like a tidal wave, pulling me under it, leaving me gasping for air. I felt the ground beneath my feet slip, making me fall in a treacherous hole.

Seohwa's daughter.

My daughter.

That is my daughter.

The pounding of my heart grew deafening. My ears rang with an unpleasant monotone. I clenched my fists, my mind racing with a million thoughts. My eyes welled up as I stared at them longer.

How come I not know? Why didn’t she tell me? How long had she kept this from me?

My entire body shuddered with the weight of the truth. A truth that I deserved to know.

Kiko’s voice snapped me back to reality as she shook me lightly, "Honey?" she looked at me, confused. "What’s wrong?"

I looked at her and shook my head, "Nothing..."

I turned back and bolted out of the hospital. The image of Seohwa and her daughter — my daughter — kept playing in my mind.

I deserve to know this. I deserve to be with MY daughter!

»»————>

Seohwa's POV~

It had been a week. The world around me had been feeling heavier than usual. My body, my breath —everything — weighed me down as if there was an unknown force pulling me towards it. I often felt dizzy, almost passing out at times. I was having difficulty breathing, my breaths were slow and shallow.

"Seohwa..."

Seokjin’s firm yet gentle voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see him, his brows furrowed with concern as he placed the dinner in front of me.

He sat across from me, taking his own plate of food. He glanced at me for a moment and sighed, "You barely eat your lunch at work, nowadays..."

I forced out a smile, trying to convince him not to worry much, "I-I...don't feel hungry much... I have lost my appetite."

He scoffed, "Stop lying. You're a terrible liar."

I huffed, picking up the chopsticks but not moving my hands to eat. We both knew the truth — I wasn’t getting better. My body was growing weaker as days passed by. The constant fatigue, the pain in my chest— they were all warning signs.

Seokjin huffed and stared at me intensely. The expression plastered on his face was one that I couldn't decipher. "Resign from the job," he said all of a sudden.

I froze at his words. Is he being serious?! I gasped, "What?"

“You heard me right,” he said, his voice firm,“Quit the job, Seohwa. Stop pushing yourself like this.”

I shook my head immediately as I stared at him in disbelief, "No! Are you out of your mind, oppa? I need this job!”

He let out a sharp breath, speaking louder this time, "Have you checked yourself in the mirror? You can barely keep standing! Look at how pale you are!" He sighed, "Why can't you understand? Doctors are suggesting you complete rest! And...," his jaw clenched as he spoke the rest, "Working in the same company as that bastard is affecting you more!"

"Oppa!" I groaned, "Don't bring him into this matter. W-We barely talk," I lied, trying to shake off the remnants of the argument we had after that late-night meeting. "I can't resign! I need money."

"Is money more important than your health?" he snapped, his voice filled with worry, "What about Junghwa? Huh?"

That made my heart clench.

"I'm doing this for her," I whispered, gripping my chopsticks tighter, "I need to make sure she's secure… even if I'm not there anymore. So that, you don't face any difficulty in raising her."

Seokjin’s eyes widened, "Don’t you dare say that...!!" I noticed his face turning pale, "J-Junghwa is young! She needs you! She needs her Eomma! She needs a parent!"

I swallowed hard, looking away. He was right. Junghwa was just six. It would be a trauma for her to live without me. But what could I do when fate had brought me to such situations?

He shook his head, "If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for her. Talk to...," his voice turned colder as he mentioned Jungkook, "Talk to him. Ask for a resignation.”

I sighed, being frustrated.

I knew Seokjin had a point. It was his protective side, being an older brother and an uncle. He was worried for me and Junghwa. And he was so stubborn that I was sure it was beyond my abilities to convince him.

And that left me with no other choice...

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What do you think will happen in Jungkook and Seohwa's next encounter?

And... Do bring a pack of tissues from the next chapter 🤧🤧. I'll make sure to make you all leave sobbing.

Stay tuned! 💜