I froze in silence with my eyes widened open while continuing to listen to Yunhee talking on the phone.

"Today is the day of his death, please show a little mercy. You know, although he hated you during his lifetime, his soul was purified by death now. You should respect that, President Kim."

What?

Donghwa ....

Donghwa ....

Donghwa's death?

Is he really dead?

Is this true?

When I heard the words "the day of his death", my head was suddenly filled with many thoughts. I tried to think straight, but the more I tried to think about this with common sense, the more this thought made me dazed.

I knew Yunhee though not very well. He was a close friend of Donghwa for a long time and he was an indifferent person.

However, hearing the sadness he was pressing against his neck, it was already confirmed that he was really serious about this startling news.

No matter how indifferent he was, as a close friend who had been through many things in the business world, Yunhee would still grieve. That wasn't making it up.

"President Kim, please think about it carefully. If you don't want to tell Chunghee, then let me do it. I'll go at your place tonight if you agree, and say this news directly to Chunghee ...."

"...."

"President Kim, do you hear me? Please, speak up. I need your approval, you bastard."

"...."

Hearing the startling news, my body instantly stiffened. My chest suddenly became tight, like something sharp caught in my throat. I had trouble breathing and gripped the white blanket that covered part of my body tightly while biting my lip until blood trickled down the corner of my lips without me noticing. It was just to keep me from making the slightest noise, so I injured myself.

My eyes began to mist and become wet with tears, filled with disbelief, sadness, guilt, and despair. I felt my whole heart shattered into pieces until an excruciating pain exploded in my chest as if a knife stabbed right at the wound point of my heart, pierced through my shoulder blade, pulled out, and re-pricked in the same place over and over again without stopping.

I wanted to scream but my lips were locked by a sob.

I wanted to tell Yunhee — scolding him — that never joke about this, but I couldn't. I could only cry silently.

When I decided to break up with him, half my soul was already dead by then. And now, as soon as I heard this news, I felt that my remaining soul at that time had also died.

I just wanted to die tonight too!

At the same time, Daehyun walked out of the bathroom wearing his pajama, while rubbing his wet hair.

"Chunghee, are you ...." He paused and looked shocked.

The smile on his face became gloomy. In fact, he immediately lost his calmness when he saw me sitting on the bed, crying with trembling hands, while stubbornly listening to Yunhee deliver the sad news.

I kept staring at Daehyun without blinking as if there was some truth I was expecting from him.

However, now, I was like someone who had lost both soul and hope within him. I felt the emptiness inside of me was instantly filled with extreme sadness and pain.

Daehyun walked towards me in a hurry. At first glance, there was panic on his face before gradually turning to regret.

He snatched the phone from my hand quite roughly, saw the caller ID just before turning it off, then threw the phone on the bed.

Our eyes met at the saddest point. His clear black eyes became dark and gloomy, filled with grief.

In this feeling of destruction, I wanted to say something, conveyed this disbelief to prove that everything was just a lie. However, when my bleeding and injured lips slowly parted, not a word came out other than a painful groan.

I clenched my fists so tightly and thought that Donghwa was just playing with Daehyun to trick him with this news so he could take me home with him.

I was certainly sure this was just a trick of the two of them.

The two of them must have conspired in this!

Donghwa was great at deceiving. He had many pitfalls. This must be a scam that he deliberately tricked Daehyun and me!

However, when Yunhee's words repeated in my mind, made me sink deeper into a bottomless sadness.

I couldn't help but cry loudly, clutched my chest that felt sore and tight, and buried my face into the white blanket, then let my tears roll down my face continuously.

It was like a dream ... but it was too real to be called a fake ....

Donghwa is not dead ....

This must be a lie ....

Donghwa can't possibly die ....

Donghwa ... Donghwa can't ....

I tried to convince myself that this was a lie once again, but somehow it made me cry even more.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle touch on my arm. I lifted my face and saw Daehyun with sadness in his eyes looking at me sadly.

"Chunghee ...."

He reached out and wiped my tears and the blood on my injured lips. He then embraced me in his arms, so I could hear the sound of his heart beating erratically.

My heart ached for a while and finally became unbearably angry.

I mustered all my strength and pushed his body hard, continuously showing an angry and hateful look.

The overflowing emotions couldn't make me think straight. I looked straight at him, then yelled loudly, "You have no heart! You are heartless! You lied to me! You ... you ...."

Before I could finish my words, I burst into tears again.

"Chunghee, no … it's not like that …."

The sadness in his eyes grew clearer. He then gripped my arms tightly, and said, "It's not what you think ... let me explain — I can explain everything."

I looked at him in disbelief, and spoke desperately, "Explain what? What do you want to explain? Do I look like I need it now?" With a pause, I gulped hard, then said once again with my lips quivering violently, "Why didn't you tell me that all this time Donghwa was dying in the hospital? And now, he ...he ...."

The sobs didn't allow me to finish my sentence.

I felt that of all the pain I had ever felt, now was the most painful.

I am not strong enough for this ....

I can't take it ....

It hurts so much, I just want to die to end this pain ....

"No! No, it's not like that. I never meant it that way." Daehyun started to show seriousness on his face which currently had a lot of emotions. He tried to explain, "Chunghee, I wanted to tell you that he's in the hospital, but I don't know how to say it. I'm afraid that if you find out, something will happen to you."

I looked into his earnest eyes furiously and tried to find an answer that would make me smile at him, but there was nothing. The deeper his gaze, there was only endless darkness in it, which dragged me into this pain.

However, even so, the surprise in his eyes made me understand a little.

Daehyun couldn't lie to himself. Even though he hated Donghwa, he still felt sorry in his heart.

"And regarding the news of his death ... I also just found out about it earlier when I picked up the phone ... I'm sorry ...." He lowered his gaze slightly, showing a sorry expression.

Finishing his sentence, he then hugged me tighter and tighter.

With tears rolling down my face, I held my arm to keep from returning the hug. Then, with a lot of bitterness on my lips that I couldn't express, I spoke with a lingering speck of hope, "Daehyun, please take me to Donghwa now. I want to see him one last time ... please, I beg of you. Let me see him."

However, his act was something I never expected. He suddenly let go of his hands and stood up. Staggering back slightly, he spoke firmly, "No. I can't do that. I can't take you there."

Even though his words sounded firm, there was a fear that he couldn't hide as he said again, "Chunghee, this time, sorry, I'm sorry. I really can't take you there."

I was stunned for a moment. I thought that asking for this would just be a waste of time. Daehyun would definitely never agree to it even if I begged and cried. So, I decided not to beg him one more time.

I wiped my tears that were flowing non-stop using the sleeves of my pajamas, then with great difficulty got up from the bed and was about to step over to pick up my coat hanging beside the door.

Actually, I was having trouble walking, but to meet Donghwa to confirm this news, I forced myself to stand up.

However, as I took two steps, Daehyun suddenly grabbed my waist, holding my body by hugging me from behind. He spoke in the same fearful tone, "No. Chunghee, don't go. I beg you ... don't go, please."