JiU

The hallway of the hospital never felt so grim until tonight when her seemingly perfect night of a birthday turned into one of panic and worried as her Father collapsed while giving a speech in her honor. She paced back and forth in the hallway in front of the emergency room while her mother and little sister stay seated with sad expressions painted on their faces. The family's bodyguards that stood by several meters from them wasn't exactly making her comfortable. She was about to issue her command for them to leave, but the Doctor's exit from the emergency room was of the utmost importance.

"Doctor, what's wrong with my father?" concern was enveloping her expression as she looks at the family's most trusted medical expert.

"JiU-ah," the Doctor's face mirrored her own as he gently puts one hand on her left shoulder, "Your father is awake now, but I need you to come to my office."

JiU being the eldest daughter in the family, took charge to go with the Doctor, "Mom, Chungha-yah, please go check on dad, I'll go with Doctor Jeon."

Being a dependable young woman that she is, her mother and younger sister trust her decisions. Without a second thought, they both nodded. Ever since she took over the company two years ago from her FatherFather, she had matured even more because the situation demands her to do so. Reliable, capable, and responsible are her key traits as she leads her Father's company to become, two years in a row, the world's top company. Her Father had expressed how much he is happy and very proud of the woman she grew up to be. Her mother and sister shared the same feeling as her Father. She had become her person and independent enough even to state that she doesn't need a man to define any aspect of her life. She can lead, and she has proven it continuously through her work ethic and dedication to both the company and her family.

"Please take a seat," Doctor Jeon gestures JiU to take a seat across him as they entered his office.

"How is my father, Doc?" JiU sits down yet could not find comfort in doing so, "Is he alright?"

"There is no easier way to put this JiU-ah," the 60-year-old Doctor looked at her with sadness and concern. Doctor Jeon had become the family's Doctor for decades already ever since JiU was still a baby, and also one of her Father's closest friends. "Your father has only 9 to 12 months left to live."

"W...what?" like a tidal wave that hits, JiU was overwhelmed and speechless as her eyes fell to the floor. She hasn't shed a tear in three years after that last unfateful incident, but her eyes are brimming with tears as she looks down, confused, and lost after the Doctor's news.

"Minji-ah," the Doctor uttered her birth name softly and gently in an attempt to at least comfort her.

"What is it? Cancer.. or leukemia.. what is it, Doctor?" JiU brought her eyes to face the Doctor's after wiping her tears with her long-sleeved sweater.

"It is an unknown terminal disease JiU-ah," the Doctor wished he could find some way to assure her all is alright, but it would only be a lie, "A disease that slowly deactivates one's vital organs one at a time."

"Wait.." JiU looks at the Doctor with a firm gaze, "This type of disease isn't detected just today, right? So how long have you known?"

The Doctor is impressed at how quick JiU catches on. A terminal disease such as these wouldn't be brought to light unless there were tests taken a first hand. "Yes, that's right," The Doctor sighed once more, "I've known for over three months already."

"Then why didn't you tell me?!" JiU's emotions started to spike as her tone begins to rise, "As our family's doctor, it is your responsibility to inform us about father's conditions."

"Your father made me promise not to tell anyone, even you," The Doctor revealed the truth which stunned JiU.

"Why would he do that?" JiU's tone dropped to almost a whisper, but loud enough for the Doctor to hear.

"He said he doesn't want you to worry and that you should focus on your life ahead instead of caring for an old man," the Doctor relayed what his best friend had said word for word, "He wants you to stay the driven woman that you are and not hold things back for him."

As if the words of the Doctor doesn't mean a thing, she asked, "What should I do to help my father recover?"

"If there is a way, I would have told you," The Doctor replied, "All the medications we can give him are only delaying the inevitable.. there.."

"There is no cure?" JiU stands from her seat as she finishes the Doctor's sentence, "No.. I refuse to believe that bullshit. I have the money and the resources to prove you wrong. Now if you would excuse me, I have my Father to take care of." She turned her heels and head for the office's exit.

"We tried," The Doctor's word managed to stop JiU from opening the door, "The moment we realize his condition, he asked me not to contact anyone about any possible way to come up with a cure, and they all had only one conclusion, there is no cure. But even if there is, it would take years to gain results. I'm sorry, Minji-ah."

Her shoulder felt heavy as each word sinks in like a knife into her skin. "Thank you, doctor," she uttered before slipping out the door. Her breath heavy and her eyes full of tears, she leans against the wall for support before finally crumbling down to the floor. For once in her life, she had never felt so helpless when it comes to her family.

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2 Months Later

An alarm clock goes off at the exact time made, 6.00 am. The once quiet and peaceful room for slumber replaced with a repeated ringing of a blue digital alarm clock beside a big kingsized bed for the world's most successful youngest female. Accustomed to waking up early since she was 10, she is very meticulous when it comes to time. To her, if she wants anyone to be on time the way she wants, she has to be on time herself. Being the way that she was until she is all grown and owning the world's top company, she becomes a CEO that people respect. Other than being meticulous, she is also very strict with work ethic in her company and in anything that she does even if it wasn't related to her work. She will always finish what she starts, won't rest until we gain results. She also believes in the teachings of her parents that if she wants people to do what is required, she has to show the example herself.

Getting up from her bed, she stretched her body like she always does before drinking a glass of warm milk on her nightstand. Being one of the wealthiest families in the world, she around five maids tending to her personal needs. And yet, being the independent woman that she is, her five maids don't have to do much rather than just sometimes accompanying her to shopping talk with them whenever she felt like her day was a little too much to take. Her maids, however, do have their parts to do before she begins her day. One maid will always prepare a glass of warm milk for her by the nightstand just the way she likes it; the second maid will make ready her outfit of the day for work, the third maid is to set JiU's breakfast, fourth maid and the fifth maid will be going with her to her shopping whenever she feels like it. Other than those activities, JiU does everything herself. There is also one other thing that she prefers than anything else is to drive her own, and that is something that cannot be undone even by her own Father. At times she just prefers to be alone in her car and goes to her favorite place. However, her FatherFather would at least send two cars to tail her incase anything happens, but still, she always managed to shake them off when she wants to.

JiU exits her bedroom with her bed made, and her window curtains open wide to welcome the rising sun. Complete with her sportswear for the morning's run, JiU made her way down the stairs to be greeted by her mother and sister in the living room. Chungha is also in her sportswear while her mother sits on her favorite sofa with a cup of warm tea.

"Morning eomma, Chungha-ya," JiU kisses her mother by the cheek and kisses Chungha by the cheek as well, "Ready?"

"You mean ready to beat you this time?" Chungha wiggled her eyebrows at her older sister and nodded with firm confidence, "Definitely ready."

"In your dreams," JiU pulled CHungha's snapback down to cover her face. Chungha whined before sharing a short laugh with Jiu. When they are about to leave, JiU noticed one of her dad's nurse and approached.

"Hwayoung-ssi," JiU stepped right next to the nurse and bowed at the older lady before smiling and pointing at the tray of medications, "May I bring this to father again?"

"Oh, of course, Miss JiU," Hwayoung smiled and handed the tray to JiU, who smiled as she takes it. Whenever JiU has the time in Mornings to bring her Father's medications to him, she would take that time to bring it to her Father, "Please call me JiU, you've been here two months, and you see me every day." The nursed bowed to which JiU replied in kind with a smile and a bow.

JiU brought the tray down the hall of their spacious mansion, meeting a few maids along the way as she bows at them with a smile. She stopped in front of an oakwood two-bedroom door of her parents. A maid that was nearby opened the door for her to enter. As the two doors opened, she could immediately spot her Father sitting up and leaning against the bed's headrest with a book in his hand. She smiled and approached him, "Aboeji," her voice sweet and kind as she calls him.

"Oh?" Her father smiled as he puts his book down to welcome his oldest daughter, "Good morning, my flower."

"Good morning aboeji," She places the tray by the nightstand to give her Father a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "Did you sleep well?" pulling away from the embrace but resting her hands on top of her Father's.

Her father placed a hand on her head with a gentle smile plastered on his old frame, "I slept pretty well last night, my dear, did you?" Her Father then chuckled as he pats her cheek, "I bet you did since this skin is too flawless for women who might have slept too late."

"Aboeji.." JiU whined liked a little girl once more every time she is in the company of her father, "I just take good care of myself like you always want me to."

"Then I am glad to hear that my dear," Her Father smiles and kisses her hand gently.

"So in return, I want to make sure you are well taken care of too," JiU taps the tray she brought in and smiled, "When I return from my morning run, I want this gone okay Aboeji?"

"Alright then, Miss CEO, your wish is my command," the Father joked and saluted the young lady.

"Haha, okay then, love you aboeji," she leaned in and kissed her Father by the cheek and let out a loud MWAH before standing up, "See you soon, aboeji."