But fate had a cruel way of testing even the deepest bonds. One afternoon, as they walked through the crowded streets, Haeoseok suddenly stumbled, his body swaying as he clutched his chest. Before Min Ju could react, he collapsed onto the pavement.
Panic surged through her, her heart racing as she called for help, her voice breaking with fear. The ambulance arrived quickly, but the minutes felt like an eternity as they rushed to the hospital.
After what felt like hours, the doctor emerged, his expression grave but controlled.
"He's stable for now," the doctor said, removing his mask. "But his condition is serious. He will need a heart transplant soon. For now, I will prescribe some medication, but the sooner you find a donor, the better his chances."
Min Ju bowed deeply, her head lowered in gratitude, her tears silently soaking the cold, sterile floor. She forced herself to walk into Haeoseok's room, her shoulders trembling. But he was already asleep, his chest rising and falling with the aid of machines. She sat beside him, clutching his hand, her silent sobs filling the room. Determined not to lose him again, Min Ju threw herself into the desperate search for a heart donor. Haeoseok's parents, despite their age, tirelessly visited hospitals, reaching out to old friends and contacts.
Min Ju's own parents scoured every corner of Seoul, their love for Haeoseok as deep as their daughter's.
Finally, after countless sleepless nights, a glimmer of hope appeared - a potential match.
One scorching summer afternoon, they sat together on a small park bench, sharing a simple bag of peanuts, the sound of cicadas filling the air. Haeoseok cracked a peanut, chuckling at one of Min Ju's silly jokes, when suddenly his face twisted in pain.
He clutched his chest, the peanut slipping from his fingers.
"Min Ju..." he managed to choke out, his face paling as the pain intensified. "It... it hurts... I can't..."
His body trembled, and Min Ju's world shattered around her once again.