Gone

Episode 10: Gone

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"I didn't do anything," Yoonah said with a soft grin, but I knew that wasn't true.

I leaned close, close enough to feel her fading warmth, and whispered against her ear, "You gave me your heart."

Her smile faltered for a second before blooming even brighter. "You were always the only one I loved. Always. I tried dating—boys, girls, the in-betweens—but none of them were you. And besides…" She giggled through her tears. "Your agenda's too full of boys for me to compete anyway."

I laughed, but it came out like a sob. I couldn't say anything else. I just held her, tight, like I could fuse her into me and make her stay.

Then the doctor walked in, clipboard in hand, voice too chipper for the grief sitting heavy in my chest. "How are you feeling now, Mr. Kim?"

I looked at him, eyes empty. "Physically? Perfect. Emotionally? Torn to pieces."

He nodded kindly. "We'll discharge you, but come back if anything feels off, okay?"

I nodded, and he left. Just like that. Like it was a normal day.

Then Jiang entered, her perfume reaching me before her arms wrapped around me. "My darling," she murmured, kissing my cheek, smoothing my hair. Her voice trembled. "I'm sorry… I couldn't stop any of this. I had to let Yoonah make her choice."

She took Yoonah's hand and kissed it gently.

"I used to think you were a bad influence on my son," she confessed, her eyes red and raw. "But truth is... I always saw you as a daughter. I just didn't know how to love you properly. And now that I finally do… you're slipping away."

Yoongi—my beautiful, brave Yoonah—squeezed her hand in return, even while her skin had started to lose its color.

Just then, Grandpa Woo showed up with a small smile and a walking stick. "Ah, my bunny," he said, reaching for me. "Your father's here too, of course. Where else would we be?"

And sure enough, Old Woo followed him in, placing both hands on my shoulders, solid and warm. "I'm sorry I wasn't the father you deserved."

I gave him a teasing look. "Wow. You do know how to say sorry."

He rolled his eyes. "Don't push your luck."

We all laughed—even me. Just a little.

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At the mansion...

Time was slipping like sand through fingers. There was only one hour left before Yoonah would go... permanently.

I wanted to give her something beautiful. So I set a table for three. Candlelight. Wine. Roses. I even played her favorite ballads in the background.

Because even if she was dying... I wasn't letting her go without a final date.

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We sat in my room, Tae on one side, Yoonah beside me. We joked. Ate. Took tiny sips of wine like kids pretending to be grown. She laughed at Tae's teasing. I tried to pretend I wasn't watching the color drain slowly from her lips.

My phone buzzed.

Four minutes left.

Yoonah's breathing was changing, turning softer. Slower.

Tae noticed it too. His voice was low, gentle. "Yoonah... you can make one last wish. Anything. I'll grant it."

She looked at both of us. Then shook her head. "I shouldn't."

"Please," he said, gently insistent.

Finally, her voice wavered. "Can Kim… kiss me? Just once. Like I'm his girlfriend. Until… I go."

Tae froze.

"I'll be okay," he said before I could even speak. "Yes… it'll hurt. But please, Kim… give her that."

I nodded. Reached across the space between us and lifted her gently to her feet.

I kissed Tae softly first, a promise, then turned to Yoonah. I placed my hands on her waist and tilted my head just enough. My lips met hers. Soft. Steady. Like saying goodbye through skin.

She kissed me back like she was storing it deep in her soul.

Two minutes passed, then she broke the kiss. Smiling.

She reached for Tae, and he came forward immediately, wrapping her and me both in his arms.

"Th… ank… you," she breathed.

And then she stilled.

Yoonah was gone.

---

Tae caught me as I collapsed. He laid me gently on the bed, then picked up Yoonah's body like she weighed nothing. I watched him carry her out of the room in silence, my body frozen. No tears. Just emptiness.

Downstairs, I heard Jiang and Ran-jin crying.

But I couldn't bear it. I rolled over, burying my face into the pillow.

Hours passed. Or maybe minutes. I didn't know anymore.

Tae came back. Slipped into the bed behind me and hugged me from behind.

"Babe… just rest. We'll figure out everything tomorrow," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck.

His chest was bare beneath my cheek. When did he undress? I couldn't even ask.

"When did you get back?" I finally whispered.

"About thirty minutes ago," he murmured.

I nodded. Wrapped my arms around his torso, buried my face in him.

He stroked my hair gently, like he was keeping me grounded.

But sleep wouldn't come.

"Aigi…" I whispered.

"Mmm?"

"She's really gone?"

"Mhm."

"She's happy?"

"Mhm."

"She wanted this?"

He hummed again and kissed my forehead. "She wouldn't want you to suffer. Try to rest."

I closed my eyes. Tried.

But my leg found his body—his lower body—and... wait.

He was hard.

"Aigi…"

"Yeah, babe?" he answered, eyes still closed.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," he mumbled.

"Then why the hell are you hard?"

He opened his eyes in shock. "I thought I got rid of that minutes ago..."

He moved to get up. "Let me go deal with it—"

But I grabbed his wrist.

"Aigi... I'm your boyfriend."

His eyes softened. "But you're not okay. You just lost someone. I can't be selfish."

I pulled him toward me. Our bodies pressed together. His hardness brushed against me.

"Kim..." he groaned.

"Yes, daddy," I teased with a little smirk.

He closed his eyes, exhaling like he was about to lose control. "If we do this, I hope you won't regret it later."

"I won't," I whispered.

And then his lips were on mine. Not hungry. Just full of ache and unspoken love.

He didn't rush. His hand slid under the covers, finding my trembling waist, pulling me beneath him. His kisses traveled to my throat, then lower, trailing warmth across the skin that had been so cold just hours before.

He touched me like he was trying to make me feel alive again.

And slowly... painfully... it was working.

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