Hana Seo’s POV

“You have… three months left to live.”

The doctor folded his arms and looked at Hana gently.

For a moment, the world went silent.

Hana clenched her fists.

“That’s not fair…”

She didn’t want to cry in front of him, but her throat burned and her eyes blurred.

“I recommend you take a few days off work and think about how you’d like to spend your remaining time,” he said softly.

“I… thank you, doctor.”

She bowed slightly and left the room.

Outside, the rain poured heavily, soaking her clothes as tears finally fell. No one could tell which drops were rain and which were hers.

Before the wedding, Kang Minjae had promised her he would love her until death.

That promise broke the day he raised his hand against her.

“What do you mean you’re leaving tomorrow?”

Minjae stood up slowly, his smile gone.

“I told you for months,” Hana said softly while folding her clothes.

“It’s just a business trip.”

“No. You didn’t,” he snapped.

She paused. “Why are you so angry? I’ll be back in three weeks—”

“You crazy hag!”

Suddenly he was behind her.

She didn’t even have time to turn before he pushed her onto the bed.

Hana had decided not to go on the trip after all and that was how things had been in her marriage with Kang Minjae since that day. He was controlling and toxic and a completely different person from the man who took wedding vows with Hana. He chose what clothes she should wear. He checked her phone every night. He warned her to not contact her parents. He beat her cruelly everyday and called her crazy when she cried. She felt it was just a phase so she held on to him. She wasn't sure how to feel anymore. From then on, Life was a blur...a dark huge blur. It felt as if the day was repeated over and over. As if the energy and life was being sucked out of her so.. she ran. She divorced Minjae but it took at least 2 years for him to sign the papers. And now she was free. At least Hana thought she was. Because of the stress and Minjae who consumed her, she grew a small tumor inside her brain but ended up finding out too late. Now she had 3 months to live.

Three months.

“What a pathetic life,” she whispered.

The taxi stopped in front of her.

“Where to, miss?” the driver asked.

Hana looked out the window at the grey sky.

“To the country, please.”If there was one place Hana could feel free, it was the country. Her hometown, where her family lived.

Jiho Park’s POV

“I wasn’t expecting to see you, Jiho,” Aunt Seo said, placing platter after platter of food in front of him.

Jiho smiled weakly.

He didn’t have parents of his own, but Aunt and Uncle Seo had always felt like family.

“There’s no need for—”

“Eat,” she interrupted.

“You must be tired from working so hard. Our famous writer,” she added proudly.

Jiho knew she had already told all the neighbors.

Uncle Seo sat down.

“Where’s Jang Haein?”

Jiho’s smile faded.

On the third day of his marriage, he had found her in another man’s arms.

He had sent the divorce papers that same night.

He couldn’t bear to hear her voice again.

Before he could answer, a knock echoed through the house.

“Who could it be at this hour?” Aunt Seo stood up and opened the door.

“Hana?”

Jiho’s chopsticks froze in midair and memories came flushing in.

Hana's pov

As soon as Hana's mom opened the door, Hana rushed into her arms and hugged her tightly as if she might dissappear.

"Hana." Her mom rubbed her back gently and a bit worried.

"Who is it?" Hana's father rushed from behind.

As Hana pulled away and wiped her tears, she heard another footstep approach except it wasn’t her brother ...but Jiho.

"Jiho." She whispered. The last time she had seen jiho was when they were kids. When Hana topped the board exams, she got a chance to study in the city. So she left home. As time flew by, she became more distant with her parents, and especially with Jiho. . Jiho had always been a brat, he probably still was.

Years ago..

“You see that cloud?” Jiho asked, pointing to the sky.

Hana followed his hand. “That one?” Hana asked.

“Yeah. That one.” He giggled.

“Why are you laughing?” Hana questioned.

“It looks like Aunt seo when she’s angry.”

“But it looks like Shrek,” she teased.

“Exactly.” He giggled evilly.

“Jiho!” Hana exclaimed, sitting up from the grass. They were lying in her backyard.

“Hana! Jiho!” her mom yelled from inside. “Come inside, kids! It’s going to rain soon.”

Present day

"How are you--

Before Jiho could finish, Hana gave him a tight hug.

Jiho’s pov

Jiho took another sip of his beer and threw his head back in a sigh. To Hana, Jiho was a friend ..but to Jiho, Hana was everything. She was a spoiled brat. Yes. But somehow she had managed to crawl her way to his heart. He'd crushed on her their entire life but when he met Jang Haein, things took a turn. Especially since Hana left home and never returned. And now she was back. That spoiled little brat was back. But he'd never imagined her coming back in tears.

"Can I join you?" Hana's voice appeared from behind.

"Do i have a choice?"  Jiho handed Hana a beer as she took a seat next to him.

"I heard you got married." Hana sipped her beer. Jiho was silent.

"It didn't last long." Jiho chugged his beer down.

"Jang Haein cheated on me. We're divorced now." Jiho faced Hana who was now choking on her drink.

"Search it up if you want." Jiho was silent again.

Hana's pov

Since Hana returned home, her parents were cooking nonstop unpon her arrival. She was waiting for the perfect moment to break the news. It had been so long since she came home and now that she did, she had to tell them she was sick. It was unfair. How could she have the heart to do so? Watch theirs break?

An article popped up on the first search, "Jang Haein cheated on her partner, Jiho Park.. with co-worker Kang Minjae".

"Kang Minjae" Hana's finger moved over the name back and forth. Kang Minjae. That bastard ruined her life and was enjoying his with no regrets.

"What's wrong?" Jiho asked noticing her grip on the phone.

"Marry me." Hana impulsively said. Jiho’s face turned pink.

"What!" He immediately stood up.

"The man who Jang Haein had an affair with... is my ex husband, Kang Minjae." Jiho’s face turned sour.

"So, Marry me Jiho." Hana stood facing Jiho.

"Because while I'm going to die, he's enjoying his life." Her voice shook. Hana believes the only way her soul will rest in peace is if Kang Minjae pays for what he did. Silence filled the balcony until..

"What did you just say?" Hana's mom stood there with her voice breaking.