My Ex-Girlfriend Regrets Dumping Me

15 – Terminal Patient (5)

It had been a year since Ha-yeon and Gun-yul broke up.

It felt like one year had passed since Ha-yeon’s cancer treatment started.

As the days went by, Ha-yeon’s condition improved, and now she had even stopped the cancer treatment.

“If you look here, the tumor has significantly shrunk, and as I mentioned before, we can proceed with the surgery now.”

On the day the surgery date was set, Ha-yeon and her aunt hugged each other in the hospital room, crying uncontrollably.

Now they felt hopeful that they could finally escape from the hospital.

“Ha-yeon… You did well… You’ve done well up until now. Just endure a little longer. You understand, right?”

“Yes… sniff… Thank you. Aunt. It’s thanks to you.”

“No, it’s not. You did well yourself… What did your aunt do…”

Of course, there was still a possibility of the surgery failing.

Although Ha-yeon was anxious, she didn’t show her anxiety in front of her aunt.

Because it was obvious that her aunt would also worry along with her.

And it turned out to be less bitter than anticipated.

The surgery was successful for Ha-yeon, very easily, as if it were the scenario of a movie or documentary depicting the recovery period of a terminal cancer patient. Ha-yeon’s recovery progressed amazingly smoothly.

“The surgery was successfully completed. Now, you can slowly prepare to be discharged while we monitor your condition.”

And now, only discharge remained before her.

—

“Ha-yeon! Come out and wash your hands, let’s eat!”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing her aunt’s call, Ha-yeon swiftly got up from the bed. The fact that she was at home felt like a dream. It was her familiar childhood room, yet for her, it felt strangely unfamiliar. Well, it had been almost a year since she last saw the scenery of her own room.

Drawn by the aroma of food wafting into her room, Ha-yeon opened the door and went to the living room. Then, she was pleasantly surprised by what she saw.

“Auntie, what is all this? Why did you go through all this trouble to prepare so much food?”

It was a feast, a table set with an abundant display of food that could break its legs. In accordance with the diet plan instructed by the doctor, the dining table was arranged as splendidly as possible. Even Ha-yeon, who had lost her appetite due to long-term hospitalization, found herself salivating at the sight of the dishes in front of her.

“It’s the day Ha-yeon gets discharged from the hospital. As an aunt, I should do this much. Go wash your hands quickly and come. Let’s eat together.”

“…Yes. Thank you, auntie.”

Today was the official day of Ha-yeon’s discharge from the hospital. Perhaps her aunt was even happier about Ha-yeon’s departure than Ha-yeon herself. Her aunt, who had taken care of her with utmost dedication throughout the year, no longer felt unfamiliar. She truly gave off a parental vibe.

Following her aunt’s words, Ha-yeon washed her hands and took her seat at the dining table.

“Eat a lot, Ha-yeon.”

“…Yes.”

They started their meal while engaging in an affectionate conversation.

Laughter continued to fill the table, and it was a time when they should be happy.

That was until her aunt brought up one word.

“…So, what are you going to do about Yul? Are you going to end it just like that?”

The moment she heard that name, Hayeon felt as if she was returning from a dream to reality.

It was like waking up abruptly from a blissful dream.

Hayeon’s hand suddenly weakened, almost causing her to drop the spoon, but she quickly regained strength in her fingers and didn’t let it slip away.

…Did I confess to my aunt for no reason?

No one else knew, but her aunt knew that they had broken up.

And that Hayeon still missed Geon Yul.

The fact that she cried every day in the hospital room while looking at Geon Yul’s photo.

And the fact that her phone background was still a picture of the two of them.

Having watched over her for a year, her aunt couldn’t be unaware of Hayeon’s emotions.

“…Aunt.”

Hayeon called her aunt’s name as if she didn’t want to talk about it.

But adults’ meddling was not easily resolved.

“Aunt knows too. This is meddling. But Hayeon, think carefully. There aren’t many guys like Yul, you know?”

“I know.”

“Now that you’ve been discharged… Wouldn’t it be better to contact him now and apologize, clearing up any misunderstandings?”

Her aunt held Geon Yul in high regard.

She had heard multiple times that it’s rare to find such a sincere and patient guy in this day and age.

Hayeon also thought that it wasn’t entirely untrue.

As the woman who had been with him the longest, she knew there was no better man than him.

But that was a different matter altogether.

“…But how can I face Yul again? What dignity do I have left?”

She ended it with a single phrase, saying she was tired of their five-year relationship.

And she did it heartlessly, turning her back on him.

…Can she turn his heart around now?

Wouldn’t he despise her? Wouldn’t he scorn her?

If not, at least, would he still feel something for her?

To be honest, I was afraid to confirm it.

“…Sorry. Aunt was just worried. The two of you couldn’t even survive in the past.”

“…It’s okay.”

Aunt took back her words as she saw the mournful face of Hayan, who seemed to shed tears now.

It wasn’t a day to be depressed like this.

“Okay. Let’s eat first and think about it later. Yeah?”

Aunt forced a bright voice and laughed.

The joy of being discharged had long disappeared.

But Hayan may have already known at that time.

The fact that she would never give up on him.

*

A long time passed since the discharge.

Hayan focused on recovering her health and forgot everything else.

She had to regain the weight and muscles lost during cancer treatment.

She started with light walks and gradually increased the intensity to running.

With proper rest and help from her aunt, she managed her diet and her health improved even more.

“You look better now. Hayan. You gained some weight and your hair has grown a lot?”

“Yes.”

The image of the sun in front of the mirror regained its former beauty.

After about 10 months, Hayan’s hair, which had fallen out due to cancer treatment, grew to near short cuts.

Her body had fully recovered to the point where she could resume her daily life.

And her period of leave due to hospitalization was coming to an end.

In fact, when Hayan was hospitalized, she had intended to drop out and disappear, but her aunt had insisted on a leave of absence.

But now that her health had returned, it was hard to deny that her aunt’s decision was right.

And at dinner that night, Hayan told her aunt.

“Aunt, I’m going back to school now.”

“Really? You worried so much, but it turned out well. Yeah. You should go to school.”

Seeing her aunt’s happy expression, Hayan thought her decision was right.

Now that she had escaped the danger of death, it was time for Hayan to look to the future.

Instead, she may have to live harder than others from now on, as she had taken a leave of absence.

“…But will it be okay?”

Her aunt sent a concerned look, and Ha-yeon knew what that worry was about.

There was only one reason why Ha-yeon hesitated to take a leave of absence.

It was because of her concern about meeting Gun-yul at school.

In the end, Ha-yeon couldn’t call Gun-yul and clear up any misunderstandings.

So if they happen to run into each other, it would be really awkward.

Ha-yeon felt a sense of guilt towards Gun-yul.

Because even in the past year, she had regretted and felt depressed about her choices.

Only her aunt, who had witnessed her struggle from the sidelines, could understand that feeling.

“I’ll be fine.”

If things went as she expected, Gun-yul would have completed his military service and returned to school.

But their majors were different, and if they don’t meet, it would just end.

“Probably, it will be okay.”

Within Ha-yeon’s words, there were small conflicting emotions.

The fear of meeting Gun-yul and the desire to see him again.

And the faint hope that by meeting him and apologizing for what happened back then, they could return to their original relationship.

She didn’t know that this weak expectation had taken root somewhere within her.

…And now, that small hope has shattered completely.

*

“…Ugh.”

When Ha-yeon woke up from her sleep, it was already dark outside.

Her head throbbed with a hangover.

The scattered soju bottles before her reminded her of what she had been doing until just a moment ago.

She had drunk heavily and ended up falling asleep right there like an alcoholic.

The reason being that her little hope had completely fallen apart.

When she was miserably avoided by Gun-yul on the street.

When she saw how he treated her as if she were anyone else, no, worse than anyone else.

That’s when the small beacon in her heart flickered and went out.

“…I tried to give up.”

In truth, Ha-yeon had thought she could give up on Gun-yul.

However, emotions didn’t always work as one’s heart desired them to. When she first saw him at the beginning of the semester, and when she came across him on the crosswalk today, Ha-yeon felt her heart race just by seeing him, and thus, she devoted herself to apologizing to him thoroughly. “What do I do now, Yul?” She instinctively knew since the moment she saw him that she wouldn’t be able to give up on him again.

Even now, the fact that he wasn’t by her side felt overwhelmingly empty.

It had only been two years of separation, but the time without him was so painful for her. However, he was different. He was with another woman, a cute girl with short, bright, bobbed hair. Was she his girlfriend? Did he forget about her completely, unlike herself? She knew it was a selfish emotion since she was the one who left him, but she couldn’t understand why she still felt upset seeing him with the girl.

Maybe it was just a coincidence and they were working on a project together or something. So there was no guarantee that they were lovers, but she hoped they weren’t, hoping that there might still be a chance for her to dig into his heart. As these thoughts swirled in her mind, once again, Ha-yeon felt self-hatred creeping in. Then, just as her mood hit rock bottom: Ziiing! Her phone vibrated from her pocket.