Pay With Your Heart

People soon filled the field, ranging from old to young, most especially women and children. They were all present either to receive the resources brought to them or the free medical health care provided. 

Everyone was busy one way or the other, especially Mrs Lee, who was busy educating some young ladies on financial literacy. She had always loved educating young ladies in becoming smart money women and independent women, sharing ideas on improving their financial status. This was something she had always loved doing.

From where she stood, she looked exhausted, and Eun-sun took note of it. Eun-sun hurried over to her with a water bottle as soon as she was done with her lecture, which the women enjoyed.

"Mother, why don't you take a rest for now. You look exhausted." Eun-Sun said, a hint of concern written over her face, but just like she expected, the stubborn woman shook her head.

"It's okay. I'm used to this." She replied.

"I know, but you should rest. Your health-"

"It's fine." Mrs Lee cut her short.

She gulped down the bottle of water, but she was surprised when she saw Eun-sun paying her a weird look.

"What is it?" She asked, raising a brow at Eun-sun, who looked like she had seen a ghost or something more horrifying.

"Mo-mother your nose." Eun-Sun stuttered. Being confused over why she was acting strange, Mrs Lee asked, "What happened to my nose? I -" Her words slurred when she felt the liquid dripping out of her nose. What was -

"You're bleeding!" Eun-Sun blurted out. Her voice was quite loud as she was stunned by what she saw, but Mrs Lee reflexively covered her mouth.

"It's nothing. I'm fine." She whispered in a hushed voice. Her eyes scanned through their immediate environment to see if anyone was within earshot. When she was sure no one was close, she let go of Eun-sun's mouth.

"Mot-"

"Handkerchief?" She interjected Eun-sun. Eun-Sun snapped herself back to reality and immediately whipped out a handkerchief from her pocket. Strangely she had stepped out with one today.

"Here." She panickly passed it to her. But while she waited for Mrs Lee to receive it, she noticed her hands trembling while trying to reach for it.

"Mother?" Eun-Sun panicked as she reached for her hand when she felt her wobble. Her hands quickly held her steady.

What was happening? Eun-Sun's heart raced drastically as her eyes scanned the place for help.

"I'm fine," She said with a weak smile, but Eun-sun didn't believe her. This woman was always trying to downplay everything. What was she going to do now?

Noticing the distressed and frightened look on Eun-sun's face, she stubbornly grabbed the handkerchief from Eun-sun's hand and wiped off the blood dripping down from her nose. "Please call Jae-Hyun." She said.

Eun-Sun helplessly stared at her, not sure if calling Jae-Hyun was the right thing to do right now. She couldn't leave her there and call Jae-Hyun, who unfortunately was attending to people on the other side of the field. She couldn't even call him on the phone because she didn't have his number.

How did she not have his number? She got vexed with herself.

Should she call Dan-Han? Her eyes scanned across the field, but there was no sign of him. He was here minutes ago!

Seeing Eun-sun's hesitation and how disoriented she looked, she said, "Call Jae-Hyun. I'll be fine." She assured her, but the pale look on her face spoke otherwise. She wasn't fine at all. She tried not to grit her teeth at the pain surging inside of her.

Eun-Sun finally nodded. She helped her sit before running towards Jae-Hyun, who immediately picked up a few things and jerked to his feet when Eun-sun mentioned Mrs Lee's name. It was as if he had been expecting a distress call.

He cussed and frowned when he saw how she looked, and she still managed to smile at him. It wasn't the time to smile.

She just didn't know when to stop. He hissed.

He opened his mouth to say something to her, but he clamped it shut. There was no need to talk to her. She has chosen this path for herself, and it was unfortunate that she was dragging him and Eun-sun along with her.

He was tired of talking and having her tell him a thousand reasons she decided to keep her family in the dark and suffer this way. Here she was having a hard time, while no one knew about it.

The displeased look on his face did not dissipate as he helped her into one of the tents that was being used for storage and examined her.

"How is it?" Mrs Lee asked when she how angry he looked.

"You're not looking good." He coldly replied, and she nodded. He was angry, and she knew it. She didn't blame him. It was natural for him to hate her decision, but this was what she wanted.

Jae-Hyun administered an injection and gave her a pill before examining her one more time.

"I can't believe you brought all this. You care too much" Mrs Lee smiled in an attempt to liven up the mood, but that only angered Jae-Hyun more, but he couldn't scold her. He bit his lips as he packed up his stuff.

He paid her one last look before turning to Eun-sun, "Make her rest." He said before turning away, leaving behind a very confused Eun-sun.

That was all? A pill and injection? She was bleeding! Didn't she need more than that?

Though it wasn't the first time, she had seen Mrs Lee bleed from her nose. As a matter of fact, that was how they met. And she could remember how the stubborn woman had refused to go to the hospital at the time too.

She looked at Mrs Lee before chasing after Jae-Hyun.

"Jae-Hyun, wait!" She called out, making him halt. He turned to her with that same angry look on his face. He didn't say a word, and Eun-sun took that as her cue to go ahead.

"Don't we have to take her to the hospital?" She inquired.

"Does she look like she wants proper medical care?" Jae-Hyun coldly asked back. He sighed when he realized he had sounded rude and was venting his frustration at the wrong person.

"I -" Eun-sun stuttered as she didn't know what else to say.

Jae-Hyun sighed when he saw the helpless look on her face. "I'm sorry, but I can't help it. She's still stubborn even at this point, and I can't say stay put anymore. She's slowly fading, and at this rate, I think her body will shut down soon, and she might not see the end of the month.. I think it's about time we do the right thing."

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