Final Chapter

Kang San

Kang San didn't know what he did wrong, he didn't know what happened as to why Min-Jee stood him up. It's been two days since their supposed date and he didn't know whether he would call or her or not. He wondered why she didn't show up, she was the one who asked him out in the first place, so why didn't she show?

Kang San fished out his phone and stared at it for a while, his mind elsewhere.

"You should call her, I know you've been wanting to" a hand grasped his shoulder, turning to see who it was Kang San made a shy smile.

"I don't want to bother her, maybe I was too much?"

Jan Di made a chuckle, "ah little brother, you worry too much! You wouldn't know if you didn't ask her" she then ruffled his hair, amused to see her brother baffled by love.

"How would you know I'm talking about a girl? I haven't told you anything big sis" nervously Kang San scratched the back of his head, glancing at his chuckling sister every now and then,

"It's so obvious! You know if it weren't for the things that are happening right now, I could actually help you" she mused. She was right, he somehow felt guilty that he was worrying about a silly little thing when there was Ga Eul who's dealing with life and death. It made him feel petty.

"I'm sorry big sis, I shouldn't be worrying about these small things when Ga Eul will be having her surgery today"

"Oh don't be silly! She would want you to worry about your own problems. I'm not, I know she's strong" Jan Di tried to joke but it was obvious that she was worried. There were bags under her eyes, her mouth looked pale and her complexion made her look like a ghost, but she was smiling; she was trying to at least.

"Give her a call little bro, she would want that. Trust me" she then patted his back and headed back inside the hospital.

Kang San made a smile, if his sister said it then maybe he should give it a go; there was nothing wrong with asking. So he slid open his phone and made a call.

"So you didn't show up because you were nervous?" Kang San asked as the strolled around the hospital's garden.

Min-Jee made a guilty look, nodding shyly. "I didn't know what to do, it would be my first real date and… I got nervous, I'm so sorry! I meant to call but-"

Kang San had faced her and placed both his hands on the each side of her shoulders. His smile reaching his eyes, "it's okay, I'm glad it wasn't because you didn't uh... like me"

Her eyes widened, she then slapped his chest "Oh don't be silly! I like you of course! I just didn't know what to do! I felt very nervous, I haven't felt that way before"

"So uhh… do you want to… uhh…" he was lost for words, now he was the one who looked nervous. His hands were sweating and he kept biting the tip of his mouth.

"I would love to try it again, this time I promise to show up" she finished for him, her smile grew bigger by seeing his relieved expression. She then pulled him into a hug, surprising him even more.

"Oh Ms. Min-Jee you never fail to surprise me" he whispered into her ear.

"I hope I'll always will" she beamed as she felt the beating of his heart grow louder by the second.

So Yi Jeong

When Ga Eul finally agreed to have the surgery everyone felt relieved. Planning everything took a lot of time, it took two days for Jun Pyo to contact one of the best doctors, then a few more days to have Ga Eul's surgical team from Japan, after that it took a week of planning on how to remove it, and soon the recovery treatment. It was a stressful few weeks but everyone stood strong, today was finally the day of the operation, and Yi Jeong didn't know how to feel about it just yet.

The whole room was quite, everyone seemed to be out of words. Everyone's head hung low. Jan Di was pacing back and forth and chewing her nails uncontrollably, which was not a good thing. Woo Bin was sitting in a corner staring at the floor and Jun Pyo was talking on the phone. Ji Hoo was talking to Ga Eul's parents about the risks of the operation while the dear So Yi Jeong was trying not cry, trying to be strong as he slammed his hand on the wall, frightening the tough Jan Di.

"What are you doing Yi Jeong! This is not the time to be violent! We have to be strong for her!" Jan Di scolded as he continually hit Yi Jeong who didn't seem to care, he let her; he didn't care anyway. It felt like the atmosphere turned cold and he lost his life.

"There's still a chance she could live! This operation can help her Yi Jeong, Jun Pyo found the best neurosurgeon in the world to operate on her, she'll be okay... she'll be okay." Jan Di assured Yi Jeong or more like herself, she bit her lip and stared blankly at the young potter and burst into tears.

"We're not giving up! Not for Ga Eul..." she whispered as she was soon in the arms of her husband, he soothed her and rocked her back and forth while she sobbed in his arms. It was hard but it was much harder for her, Yi Jeong stared at the hallway, they were waiting for her to come through, they wanted to see her before her operation though she insisted that it wasn't necessary, she told them she had it before and she was used to being alone during the operation, she didn't want to burden them.

It took a few more minutes before Ga Eul's bed came rolling in the hallway, there she lay in a hospital gown, ready to undergo surgery to try and remove the tumour from her brain. She was pale, and she looked like she lost a lot of weight but Yi Jeong didn't care, she still was the most beautiful girl he laid eyes on. He tried to make a smile when Ga Eul's bed was stopped in front of them, she tried to smile brightly, like there was no problem in the world and it soothed him a bit. She was always able to brighten his day just by smiling and she continually does even if she's sick. Everyone surrounded her bed, giving her each a hug.

"You better come out alive Ga Eul or I'll kill you." Jan Di said to her best friend as she wiped her tears and made a chuckle. Ga Eul smiled at her best friend and assured her.

"I'll try my best" she said. Yoon Ji Hoo soon came after along with her parents, he smiled at the young lady

"I'll be with you the whole time" he assured her, Ji Hoo was allowed to enter her operating room as he was head of the department of neurosurgery. Jan Di complained that she wasn't allowed to be with her best friend due to the fact that she was not a neurosurgeon, she was paediatric resident and it was out of her speciality.

Nishikado-san and Makino-san, both who we learned are her friends from Japan smiled at her sadly, Makino was controlling herself from sobbing as she gripped Ga Eul's hand tightly. "I will see you after okay? Look I made you dangos!" she sobbed up. Nishikado was holding her by the shoulders, soothing her. "And you're still not done with your training"

Ga Eul smiled brightly as best as she can, her heart melting. She was glad both of them were here, she knew they were both buy in Japan but still they found time to be with her for these past few weeks, even if she declined to go back to Japan with them.

Ga Eul then tried her best not to cry when her mom and dad hugged her so tightly that it felt like they wouldn't let go, she hated seeing them crying.

"Omma Appa! Please stop crying, everything will be okay, I promise" she said to her parents, finally letting her go, her mother whaled, she cried and cried and it broke her heart.

"Omma stop crying, if you cry I'll cry" she chuckled as she tried to lighten up the mood. Her parents soon sat on the corner as her father soothed her crying mother.

Woo Bin grinned at her, "Don't leave just yet Chu Ga Eul" he said as he held her hand, and tightened his grip on hers.

"We still haven't finished our coffee mission" he mused as Ga Eul made a soft laugh, too tired to even breathe, "You still owe me a caramel macchiato" she replied.

"I'll find the most expensive one just for you" he said as he tried to cover his tears, "you better" she joked.

Yi Jeong smiled at the scene before him, Woo Bin and him had worked it out weeks ago and it was nice seeing how close Woo Bin is too Ga Eul without him being jealous.

"I'll give you time for your man, I don't want him punching me later on for having more time with me than him" Woo Bin said as Ga Eul tried her best to laugh, Woo Bin made way for Yi Jeong who smiled at her, "Hey there"

"Hello to you too Yi Jeong" she smiled as she held out her hand for him to hold. He held on "Ga Eul, promise me you'll not give up okay? Promise me you won't ever leave again! Please..." he immediately exclaimed as he placed his head on hers, their nose were touching and tears flowed freely from his eyes

"I'll try Yi Jeong" she whispered as tears started to come from her eyes as well, she tried to hold them back but she couldn't, it was too painful for her, everything was too painful for her, this is why she had to leave, she didn't want to see them in tears when it come to this point, she didn't want to burden them with the pain of her leaving them behind, forever...it was easier back then because she knew she had a chance but now, it was a risky procedure. It had a 17% percent survival rate, it shattered her heart, she also she knew it would shatter there's more.

*flash back* 2 weeks ago

Chu Ga Eul

"Ga Eul...you have to tell them! This is important to them too!" Ji Hoo exclaimed as he heard Chu Ga Eul asking him not to tell him the mortality rate of the operation.

"I won't tell them because they won't need to know Ji Hoo-sunbae because I'll survive it" she said.

"You wouldn't be so sure! They have to know Ga Eul...after everything you've kept from them...from us." He said as he stared at the country bumpkin, she had made her decision, it was final and nothing will ever change her mind.

"If you don't tell them I will" Ji Hoo said as he made a sigh when he saw no change in Ga Eul, he was about to leave her and tell the other when she spoke. "You're my doctor Ji Hoo, this is confidential and I don't want others to know, it's your obligation to fulfil this confidentiality agreement, you're my doctor!" she said, he held the doorknob and opened the door but then he turned his head to face her and said "but I'm also your friend"

*end of flashback*

'Ji Hoo didn't tell them' she smiled, he fulfilled her wish of not telling them, if they did know they wouldn't be agreeing on this operation, the operation that they convinced her to have in the first place. She made eye contact with Ji Hoo and mouthed a thank you and turned back to Yi Jeong who was now sobbing on her shoulder.

"Yi Jeong-sunbae..." she whispered, he heard her say his name and faced her once again, their heads resting on each other while their hands intertwined.

"Promise me you'll try to be happy Yi Jeong...promise me you'll find your soul mate" with her words Yi Jeong stiffened, he knew her words, she was saying goodbye.

"Don't say that Ga Eul, please don't say that... you're my soul mate Ga Eul, you always have been" he said.

Ga Eul smiled, she knew that her time is cut short, she had wanted more time yet time didn't allow her wish, she was robbed she thought; she had made plans, she had dreams and she had finally found her soul mate but it was all too late, her clock has ended, the last grain of sand has fallen and now she was dying, she was dying and yet she wasn't finished. She won't be able to have her own elementary school, she won't be able to send her kids to school or that she won't be able to spend any more time with the man she loves.

"Promise me Yi Jeong, please" she repeated but Yi Jeong refused.

"No, you'll live, you will have a long happy life...with me, we'll have a big house, we'll visit all the places you want and we'll have beautiful children! So no Ga Eul I won't promise to be happy, I won't because I know I couldn't if I don't have you in my life. Do you want me to suffer Ga Eul? You want me to lose the will to live? I'll do anything you want Ga Eul just please...live" he said, continuous tears rolling down his cheeks as he cupped his hand on her cheek. Ga Eul pursed her lips as she stared at the man in front of her.

"Yi Jeong sunbae" she said, she was lost for words, she had never seen him like this, it was new to her and it ached her heart that she was the cause of it, she's the cause of his pain.

"Please Ga Eul please... I can't live without you Ga Eul please...please..." he begged desperately. Ga Eul stopped pushing back her tears and cried, it was all too much.

"No matter what Ga Eul please live...we have so much to do!" he continued to plead, he stared at her with tears in his red puffy eyes and pale cheeks, she could see that he was exhausted, there were bags under his eyes and it looked like he hasn't eaten, Ga Eul tried her best to smile as she whispered to Yi Jeong.

"I'll live, no matter what" with her words Yi Jeong smiled and kissed the top of her head; he closed his eyes. "No matter what" he whispered to her, slowly he faced her again and stared at her, trying his best to memorize every detail of her beautiful angelic face, he was caressing her cheek when she whispered a request.

"Now kiss me" she mused, hearing her request he smiled through the tears and made a chuckle. This was not like her, she was a shy and private person but he was glad she made the request and so he closed the gap between them and kissed her slowly, trying to savour this moment, the feeling of her lips on his, the way her body reacted to the kiss and the way he could feel her smile while he kissed her.

"You better kiss me that way when I wake up" she joked while she held him.

"No matter what Yi Jeong" she said, Yi Jeong smiled and wiped the tears with the use of his other hand. "No matter what" he repeated her words, soon after their tearful conversation the doctors came and said that she needs to be ushered in to be able to start her operation. He held her hand tightly and kissed her one last time before she was sent in. Yi Jeong held back the tears and made a deep breath; he sat on a nearby chair and hoped for the best.

Ji Hoo

The white prince was not at ease, he looked calm but he felt the exact opposite not after the argument he and Ga Eul had two weeks ago and earlier today. It ached his heart to be keeping secrets from his friends, especially to Yi Jeong who he had known since pre-school. He knew how the potter would react if he knew about Ga Euls plans. He was more like the Gu heir, always letting their temper get the best of them, he knew Yi Jeong would lose his control if he knew what Ji Hoo knew. Ji Hoo was felt sweaty all over, he was wearing a mask and scrub cap making it so much hotter and uncomfortable for him, it made him harder to breathe as he stared at Ga Eul who was laying down the operation table ready to be put on anesthesia. For a moment he wanted to feel at ease so he asked her one more time. Removing his mask Ji Hoo uttered Ga Euls name. Calling her attention Ga Eul looked up from the table.

"Is there any chance that you'll change your mind about the paper?" Ji Hoo asked with a hint of pleading, he wanted her to say she had changed her mind that she wanted to tear the paper up or burn it or at least disregard it. But she wasn't, Ga Eul shook her head and made a reassuring smile.

"It's for the best Ji Hoo sunbae, you'll understand soon" she said before another doctor had placed the mask on her, making her fall into a deep slumber.

Ji Hoo sighed with disappointment and took a step back to make room for the doctors involved in her surgery. The doctor beside him looked up to him and called his attention by asking him if she was absolutely sure about her decision after the surgery, and the only thing he could do was nod.

He thought it was a rash decision, that she was just overwhelmed about the mortality rate and that she was not thinking it through. She haven't told anyone about her decision, he wouldn't have known it too if it wasn't for him being her consult. She was hurting them all over again with her decision, he knew that everyone would be heartbroken again if they hear about it. It was a matter of life and death and yet she still didn't want any of them involved. She was so selfless that she didn't want anyone shouldering her pain with her. He tried to keep an act, and make it seem that everything was okay but this secret is killing him. 'Why do this Ga Eul?' he thought as he stared at the unconscious country bumpkin on the table.

'Why do you still want to keep secrets from us?' he thought once more, as though he was communicating with her through his mind.

"Why sign the damn DNR?" he managed to whisper.

finally finished! hope you guys like it! so that was the end for no turning back! thank you all for sticking with this story and reading through all the errors, and grammars and spellings etc. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! leave all your thoughts and criticisms! I would love to hear from you for one last time.

p.s this chapter was written months ago and I finally finished it when I saw how unproductive I have been, if you felt that it was rushed or cut short, I do too but sad to say this is the ending of their story :(