The Weight of What I Didn't Know

I took a leave from work, and my company was understanding, letting me rest for a week knowing that my dad had passed away and my mom was in the hospital.

The first few days, I didn't leave her side. I spent hours sitting by her hospital bed, watching her, hoping she would wake up. My thoughts were a mess. The weight of the truth about my family, about who I really was, weighed heavily on me, but I didn't want to think about it just yet. I wanted to wait for her to wake up and hear the answers directly from her.

I felt like I was living in a limbo, unsure of what to believe or where to go from here. But one thing was clear: I had to be there for my mom. She was all I had left now, and I couldn't abandon her, not when she needed me the most.

The room was quiet, save for the soft beep of the machines monitoring her health. It felt like time had stopped. Every minute that passed made me feel like I was suffocating under the uncertainty. I wished I could go back to the simplicity of my old life, before all these secrets came crashing down.

But I had no choice. I had to face whatever was coming next. I just hoped that when she woke up, she would have the answers to everything.

After a few days, Yuna suddenly came to the hospital with some fruits in her hand. I took the fruits from her and thanked her. While I was washing the fruits, Wuchan suddenly came inside too. That was something I did not expect.

I could tell right away that they were feeling awkward around me.

"Congratulations, by the way. Sorry I'm late," I said, trying to break the tension.

"I am so sorry for not telling you about Wuchan and me earlier," Yuna said as she walked toward me and hugged me.

"It's okay. I'm happy for both of you," I replied, hugging her back.

"Condolence about your dad," Wuchan said softly.

The funeral for my dad had been quiet and simple. They did an autopsy before they cremated his body.

Since he had no family, the funeral lasted only a day. It was just me, Aunt Jihyun, and her family. A few of my father's coworkers had also come to pay their respects. It wasn't a big affair, but it felt strange—like a chapter of my life closing, and I wasn't sure what would come next.

"If you need anything, just tell me, okay?" Yuna said, giving me a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine. Thank you," I replied, though I didn't feel entirely fine. I still couldn't shake the feeling that everything was unraveling, and I wasn't sure where I was headed.

"We'll stay for a while. You can rest now," Wuchan added kindly.

"Thank you," I said, feeling a sense of gratitude towards them. I left the room shortly after, needing some fresh air to clear my head.

As I walked outside the hospital, the cold air hit me like a slap, and I took in deep breaths, trying to shake off the heaviness that seemed to cling to me everywhere I went. But no matter how much I tried to distract myself, the thought of my dad's death and my mother still lying unconscious in the hospital haunted me.

An hour later, I received a text from Yuna saying that something had come up, and they had to leave. I quickly glanced at my phone and, while I was a little disappointed that they had to go, there wasn't much time to think about it. My focus was entirely on my mom, and as I made my way back to her room, I suddenly felt a sharp pang of worry. I walked inside, and everything felt wrong. Her heart rate monitor was beeping abnormally fast. My heart dropped into my stomach, and panic set in.

Without thinking, I rushed to the nurses' station, calling for help. My hands were shaking as I dialed Aunt Jihyun's number. "Imo, something's happening to mom! Her heart rate—it's dropping! Please, come quickly!" I said, almost breathless from the panic in my voice.

The nurses rushed into the room, working quickly to stabilize her. I stood there, feeling helpless, watching as they fought to bring her back. The sound of the heart monitor, the hurried movements, the soft beeping, it all felt like it was happening in slow motion.

After what felt like an eternity, my mom's heart rate returned to normal.

I slumped into the nearest chair beside her bed, feeling the weight of the world lift from my chest, though my mind was still reeling from the fear that had taken hold of me.

A few minutes later, Aunt Jihyun rushed in, her face pale with concern. "How is she?" she asked, her voice thick with worry.

"She's fine, Imo," I said, wiping my face as the tears I had been holding back began to fall freely. My emotions were a flood, relief and fear mixing into a tidal wave I couldn't control.

Aunt Jihyun pulled me into a tight hug, her arms warm and comforting. "Thank God," she whispered, pressing me closer to her.

Before we could stay in that moment of relief for long, Mihun entered the room. His usual calm demeanor was replaced with a sense of urgency. "Hyorin, come with me," he said. I was still shaking, still not fully understanding what had just happened, but I didn't question him. I followed him out of the room, my mind still running a thousand miles per minute.

He led me down a corridor and into a small, dimly lit surveillance room. He motioned for me to sit as he started pulling up a feed from one of the security cameras. The screen flashed to life, showing footage of the area outside my mom's room. The image paused at a particular moment, and I saw a figure—a man in a black cap and face mask—standing just outside her door. He was moving quickly, and the footage seemed to suggest he was tampering with something near the oxygen mask.

"What is this? Who is that?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, my stomach churning.

Mihun looked at the screen, his expression serious. "The doctor reported that someone took off your mom's oxygen mask. That's what caused her heart rate to drop."

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine, and my heart raced. "Do you mean... someone tried to kill her?" The words felt too big to wrap my head around.

"Yes," Mihun said, his voice steady. "Do you want to join the investigation?"

I blinked at him, the reality of what he was saying not fully sinking in. "What do you mean? You've been investigating this?" I asked, confused.

"It's a task I've been given. I had to," he said, his tone almost too calm for the gravity of the situation. "But now, I need you to help me."

"By who?" I asked, my mind trying to piece together the puzzle.

"You'll know soon," Mihun replied, his eyes steady but with an air of mystery. "If you join, you'll find out."

I didn't hesitate. "I'll go."

Mihun's gaze softened for a moment, but then he nodded, turning toward the door. "Let's go."

As we walked out of the hospital, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling of dread in my chest. "How about Aunt Jihyun and Mom? Are they going to be okay?" I asked, worry creeping back into my voice.

"Don't worry," Mihun reassured me, his tone firm. "I've sent some men to guard them."

Relief washed over me, but the questions didn't stop. I couldn't get rid of the nagging sensation that something much bigger was happening, and I had no idea what I had just stepped into.