"Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" | SaiDa

Dahyun went upstairs for a while to do one of her house chores for today. She went to her room, along with some broom and dustpan with her as she is about to clean her room.

She started cleaning. Fixing her bed, sweeping some bits of dust on the floor, changing the curtain in her window and disposing some things that she doesn't need anymore.

After she opened the cabinet, aside from her nice line-up of clothes and accessories. there was something that caught her eyes the most.

Always has been whenever she visits her closet.

It was a picture album laid just at the side next to the shoeboxes.

She picked it up and it brought it with her as she sits in the bed.

She looked at the title of the book that was written flawlessly by her princess through a calligraphy style.

"Sana & Dahyun's Album Of Memories"

The book was opened, revealing a blank page first. Dahyun flipped it fast because she doesn't even have to see anything in there. 

There, the second page has been revealed to her. It contains, two pictures... but the first one made her smile more.

It was her first picture with this Japanese woman she fell in love with. Her name's Minatozaki Sana.

It was so happy back then that it made her reminisce that memory she had with the woman that captured her heart since Day 1.
                                                                 (FLASHBACK- 7 YEARS AGO)

Dahyun was just sitting in front of a cafe as she just finished drinking her ordered Iced Chocolate Coffee which was her favorite flavor. She was just relaxing her mind after thinking too much of words to place in her own composed song when she furrowed her eyes at something that made her really curious about.

She saw this girl that is walking while switching her gaze back and forth as if she's finding something. Based on her facial expression, it was mixed of irritation and nervousness.

Dahyun then decided to stand up from her seat, wearing her backpack again and finally left the cafe to approach the troubled woman.

"Excuse me, miss?", Dahyun poked her shoulder that caused the woman to turn her head around.

 "H-hi.", the woman greeted, slightly embarassed at the pale skinned stranger in front of her.

"May I ask if there's anything wrong?", Dahyun asked her which you can hear some worriedness in it even if she never even know this woman. "I already saw you going back here for like, 3 times now?", she pointed her index finger from left to right.

"Yeah... I'm lost.", the woman scratched her nape, sighing heavily at how frustrating it is.

"Just like I figured out."

"Sorry, I don't know the directions around here.", the woman chuckled shyly. Dahyun found it cute, just like how she looks. It matched perfectly, she thought.

"So you're not from around here huh?", Dahyun asked her with an interested smile.

"Foreigner."

"Oh. Let me help you then. I mean it's your choice if you want to.", Dahyun offer the woman, adding it with something to lessen how she hurriedly said it to her that might made her surprised. "Trust me, I'm just a music girl who doesn't have an intention to do anything bad to you. Well honestly I can't, I'm too innocent for that. It might not look like it but I assure you, it is.", Dahyun said as she tapped her covered guitar. Her joke earned a small laugh from the woman and that made Dahyun blush as finds out how easy this woman is to appreciate small things.

"Oh well then I guess I'll be really need some right now.", the woman nodded. "I'm actually getting scared a bit.", she expressed it by wrapping herself with her arms.

"So where do you wanna go?"

"Home."

"There's my car, let's go.", then she went ahead first and the woman just followed her from behind. They went inside, with Dahyun escorting the girl by opening the door for her.

Dahyun started to drive away, placing her bag and guitar at the passenger's seat.

"What country are you from?", Dahyun initiated a conversation to lessen the awkwardness.

"Japan.", she answered.

"Woah, you're Japanese?", that made Dahyun gasp in awe. The Japanese woman beside her just smiled at this good samaritan who finds her nationality amazing. " Cool. I haven't met one not until today."

"Really?", the Japanese woman was shocked.

"Yeah. I mean, ofcourse there could be also some Japanese around here but I just don't have a chance to meet one.", Dahyun said. She rotated the steering wheel counter clockwise to make a turn. "When it comes to the foreigner one though, I met one already. She's my friend from Taiwan.", she said proudly.

"Actually I also have my friends here from Japan.", the Japanese woman also shared.

"Where are they?", she asked, side-eyeing the foreigner.

" Home. We live in an apartment together. I actually went out alone because I wanted to explore Korea more but I guess my lack of understanding directions victimized me again so... here I am.", the Japanese woman said, scratching her nape for being embarassed at what she did.

"What about them?"

"My friend Momo went here last year so she knows something around here already." the Japanese woman kinda bragged about her friend.

"Oh. You should ask help for them next time.", Dahyun advised her.  "If I didn't noticed you, there might be a possibility that something bad might happen to you. It's nighttime too. Creeps and punks are around.", Dahyun relaxed her shoulders.

"I know. I'm sorry.", Sana said, lowering her head. She feels bad because her actions even caused a stranger to scold her at how dangerous situation she could've been into.

"It's fine, atleast you learned your lesson. My pleasure to help, anyways.", Dahyun gave her an assuring smile. She just thought she needs to do it because maybe she even made the foreigner sad.

"Wait, where are you guys staying again?", Dahyun asked, looking at the green light from the traffic lights while waiting for the people to cross the street thru pedestrian lane.

"At Gangdong-gu", after the Japanese said that, Dahyun had her eyes raised in surprise.

"Oh wait, I'm just at the next street with you guys.", Dahyun faced her, the look of disbelief is in her face. She never thought that this woman right here is actually her new neighbor who lives near from her.

"Interesting.", the Japanese exclaimed in a way like she just said.

After taking a last turn, Dahyun is now driving at the street she's familiar in.
The Japanese was pointing her the apartment she's staying and Dahyun stopped her car in front of it.

"Here you go."

"Thank you so much uhh....", she was about to finish her words but her face went awkward because she doesn't know what to call on this kind-hearted stranger. Until the latter did it's own move to introduce herself to the Japanese.

"Dahyun. Kim Dahyun. You?"

"Sana. Minatozaki Sana.", the Japanese revealed her name. Both of them had a handshake but it was not only their hands ahich are contact to one another... but their hearts too.

Dahyun thought that Sana is very beautiful. She's trying not to be very obvious but she can't help but to take a look. It's like she got enchanted by the magic of her looks.

Sana thinks the same too as she thought that Dahyun's beauty is pretty unique. She never saw in person a girl like her who is very white yet she still managed to add it with her alluring yet adorable face.

There, the two of them secretly got interested at each other, taking a note of their name through their minds.

"That's a long name.", both of them laughed at the hilarious truth also knew by Sana. "Well... uhh since we just live close to each other, can I... get your number? Just so you know, we can get to know about each other more.", Dahyun asked shyly after pulling out her phone from her pocket. She did this because she doesn't want this as the only day they will the two of them interact personally.

Fortunately, Sana was just too warmhearted and she's looking forward too for her and Dahyun's meet up again so she accepted it. The two then exchanged numbers, typing it and saving it at their contacts. "If you say so. Sure."

"Nice to meet you, Sana.", Dahyun gratefully said, flashing a smile while nodding at Sana. "Guess I'll be leaving then.", she backpointed her car using her thumb.

"You too, Dahyun. Thank you again!", she waved her hands as she watches Dahyun start again the engine of her car.

"Appreciated. Don't be alone next time!", she pointed at Sana for one last time as if he's giving her a final warning.
The latter just hummed and Dahyun took it as an answer that Sana understood what he's saying. She finally stepped on the accelerator, finally rolling again on the car.

" Ehem. What was that?", Sana's fellow Japanese and friend Hirai Momo asked her teasingly as she saw it all what happened earlier.

"We just arrived here for 3 days yet you had a Korean with you now. What a skill, oneechan.", the other Japanese friend of Sana's, Mina appeared from behind the back of Momo who also witnessed that short talk her friend Sana and Dahyun had, slowly clapping her hand in astoundingness.

"S-stop it, she's just a new found friend who h-helped me.", Sana stuttered, hiding her head to control the blush that is covering her cheeks and also her smile.

"A friend. Okay.", Momo said it but with a doubt, slightly chuckling and pouting her lower lip while rolling her eyes. She just don't believe it or take it. She knows her friend too much.

And that acceptance her friend did for lending back her cellphone number to Dahyun tells it all so.

"Now come inside. We prepared dinner."

--------------------

Dahyun proceeded to flip some next pages after that funtime she had on remembering the very first day she and Sana met.

She stopped once again when she saw a picture featuring her nearly kissing Sana's cheeks who has a party hat in her head while having a cake icing on top of her nose as she smiles widely into the camera.

That brings her mind active again as she looked back at the memories from that moment they had in this one.

Still her smile maintained well in her face.

(FLASHBACK- 7 YEARS AGO: SANA'S 25TH BIRTHDAY)

"You came.", Sana's face enlightened when she saw Dahyun entering her apartment along with some things she's carrying which is placed in a paper bag.

"Ofcourse I do. What kind of girlfriend I am if I won't attend at the special day of my love.", Dahyun faced her new girlfriend Sana who is having her her birthday today, making more sense why Momo needs to doubt at that time when Sana said that Dahyun will just be her friend.

She knews something more will be developed between the two and she was right.

Both of them confessed their love for each other after months of getting to know each other and slowly becoming closer with one another. That made Sana and Dahyun a couple.

"Happy Birthday, Sana.", Dahyun kissed Sana's forehead and pulled her into a hug. Sana accepted it with full glee.

"Thank youuu!", her repsond but it sounded muffled because her face was buried at Dahyun's clothed shoulders.
She pulled away, releasing herself for a while on Dahyun's arms.

There, she noticed the paper bag she had in her left hand. Sana became curious, and Dahyun saw that so she removed it from hiding, giving it to Sana.

"For you.", Dahyun said. Sana reached for it and she took a peek inside on what it is.

"Oh what's these?", then she removed the stapler connected on each side of the paper bag. She can finally see clear inside, which made Sana gasp. "Gifts?"

"Yup. I prepared it yesterday.", Dahyun said it proudly, placing her knuckles on each side of his waists.

"You're the best!", Sana then pinched Dahyun's smooth and clear white cheeks hard, making it red as the pain combined with her blush.

"Wait, I'm excited. I want to see it.", then Sana went for the scissiors to cut the wrapping.

"Go on. Take your time, babe.", after that she just watched her girlfriend doing an unboxing.

After a minute of cutting, Sana finally saw the first gift she received which is a huge hamster stuff toy.

"It's so cuteee!", Sana stared at the hamster's face with grin on her lips before she hugged it and shake her body like she is just taking care of a baby.

" Well it looks just like you.", Dahyun then looked at Sana's very fluffy and chubby cheeks that literally resembles her to a hamster or even a shiba inu. "Did you like it?"

" Ofcourse I do!", Sana exclaimed, turning her sight at her sweet girlfriend. "Now I have something to display in my bed and to hug with while i'm sleeping.", she said as hugged the stuff toy again.

"So you don't need me more now?", Dahyun pretended like she's s sulking, crossing her arms and looking elsewhere, pouting in disappointment.

"Nooo what I'm saying is that. If there's a time that I will sleep alone you know.", Sana corrected and made it clear to her even though Dahyun knows it already, not aware that her lover is just making fun of her.

"But still, nothing can beat your touch, Dahyun. Your's will be my favorite.", then Dahyun felt shivers when Sana whispered it seductively close in her ear while she's tracing her neck with her fingertips. She gulped first before speaking again to stop Sana from hypnotizing her again at her flirtiness.

"Do you want me to show you how great your... touch...do to me?"

"U-uhh I'm just kidding, okay?", Dahyun's who is having a tensed face, looked at Sana who is smirking. She cupped her face using her one hand. "Chill, I know you are, and I will also prefer yours only.", Dahyun said with a smile.

"Hey, you still have a second gift."

"Oh yeah, I forgot.", Sana chuckled. Now her eyes locked in target at the another paper bag that is lying on the floor.

" You gotta open it. For me, that one is more lovely.", Dahyun said in anticipation.

Sana cut through the gift wrapper again with her scissors. As she torn it all up, her second gift has been revealed in her hands. Sana just let out an "ooh" sound when she found out what it is.

"A photo album?"

"Mmmhhhmmm.", Dahyun hummed as a yes. " I just thought that we can place there every memories we capture everytime we're always together. Imagine how it feels to revisit those days you know when we feel much to do it.", she said as she placed her another hand onto the top of the book cover, just above Sana's hand.

"With this, we can also see how our love for each other never changed as time passes.", she raised her head and looked at Sana's glimmering eyes as smile flashed in her lips.

"I love you Dahyun, so much. I won't get tired saying this to you over and over again just to let you remind and make you feel this with all my heart.", Sana said after she connected her hand onto Dahyun's on top of the album cover.

"And we will be like this till the end of our time. I promise you that.", Dahyun added. Then the two leaned closer to each other for a kiss, lips touching each other, feeling the love that sparks very brightly between them and butterflies going crazy in their stomachs.

"Cmon, let's celebrate now.", Dahyun then assisted Sana to stand up. "Where's Mina and Momo by the way?"

"They went to somewhere to buy some foods.", Sana explained.

"Let's just get this place ready then so that we can just eat after when they arrive here.", the two of them nodded in agreement and they proceeded onto the dining room to prepare the table for them.

------------------

Dahyun then caressed the thickness of this album she's holding, as she just finished remembering how did they had this album that now belongs to them which became their most important and cherished thing in their relationship.

Dahyun once again flipped the pages.
She stopped again when a whole page full of another three pictures caught her attention.

First one contains a picture of her and Sana in a park, both holding their respective ice creams that they're eating.

This time, the curves in her lips shrinked a little as she remembered how mixed of an emotion she had with this one actually even though they looked happy in the picture.

And she never even thought that this is beginning of something she never expected to happen during their time being together.

(FLASHBACK- 7 YEARS LATER: AT THE PARK)

"Woah look at that bird. It's so big!", Dahyun pointed her fjnger at the bird she saw which is standing at a branch of a tree. When it flew, Dahyun followed it with her eyes while covering it with her hand to protect it from the very bright sunlight.

"Hai bonjour wowww beautifurrr~", Dahyun just let out a weird comment while watching the bird flew until it slowly disappears in her eyes.

Sana laughed at her girlfriend's dorkiness, but it quickly ended when she once again breathe heavily.

She feels like her heart is pounding very aggressively so she decided to take a time out now because she feels very exhausted already.

It was strange to her honestly because, they just started walking inside the park for like... 3 minutes ago.

"Yeah it is.", Sana replied to her girlfriend's description of the bird she saw, not wanting to snob her girlfriend who is having fun.

"Uhh love?"

"Hmm what is it?", she asked while taking a bite again at her ice cream.

"Can we take a break for a second?", then Sana bended her body, her hands placed both above her knees as she beathes heavily again, looking at Dahyun.

"Oh uhh, sure.", Dahyun responded quickly, feeling worried and concerned already for her girlfriend.

Dahyun then commanded Sana to sit on the grass and the latter just followed.

"Wait, I'll buy some water. Catch your breath first okay?", and Sana just nodded, finally taking a rest to lessen her tiredness because she still have more time today to spend with Dahyun and do something more.

  -----------------

Dahyun then looked next at the second picture in the middle.

This one only shows Sana who has her "just woke up" morning look as she is about to take a spoonful of rice in her mouth.

Dahyun was trying to focus at her lover's gorgeous face but she still can't help but to get distracted at her clothed arm, especially because she knows what really happened behind it that is only being hidden and covered by the sleeve of her pajama.

(FLASHBACK- 7 YEARS AGO: AT MIMOSA'S APARTMENT)

"Good morning, my dubu.", Sana greeted her girlfriend who just woke up, eyes blinking rapidly to regain her vision.

As she had it, Dahyun saw Sana's charming face who is looking intently at her, while stroking the strands of her hair.

"Good morning Satang.", then she pulled out Sana's hand and placed a kiss on top of it.

"Let's fix the-", before she was about to finish her words, she saw something in Sana's wrist after the sleeve of her pajama rolled away that made it clearly visible for her to see and to be alarmed.

"W-what is this Sana?", she took a closer look at the purple-ish spot in her wrist. She unrolled Sana's sleeve even more, revealing a couple more ones along with it.

Sana didn't responded, she just also looked at it with Dahyun. "These are bruises. Where did this came from? What happened?", Dahyun asked her worriedly.

"I honestly don't know. I know I never got into accident yesterday.", Sana just shrugged her shoulders.

"Does it hurt?"

"Y-yeah.", Sana frowned.

" Let's go to the living room. I'll treat it first before preparing our breakfast.", then both of them stood away from the bed as they exit Sana's bedroom and walk pass through Mina and Momo who are still sleeping in their rooms.

-------------------

Dahyun then went for the third picture below.

This one just completely transformed her smile into nothingness as her lips became pure straight horizontal.

It was just a selfie of her and Sana who is sleeping peacefully in her bed.

Yeah, it was just simple if you'll look at it.

But for Dahyun, it means a lot of pain already in her heart when she looks at it.

(FLASHBACK- 7 YEARS AGO: IN FRONT OF MIMOSA'S APARTMENT)

"Hey, Dahyun.", Momo greeted Dahyun withh emotion after opening the door.

"Hi unnie.", Dahyun waved her hand along with her energetic grin. Momo observed that Dahyun is wearing a very nice presentable outfit, black dress with some Converse kicks. "Uhm, what's Sana doing? I'm planning to take her out."

"Sorry Dahyun but Sana's not feeling well today, and we're actually concerned for her.", Mina who is standing beside her older friend Momo at the door, spoke to Dahyun.

"What happened to her?", Dahyun asked the two as she just became like them.

"She has fever but it's weird because... she always complains that it's cold which makes her chilly so bad yet the aircon, electric fan are all off. Even the windows are closed.", Momo explained.
Dahyun just furrowed her eyebrows while listening.

"Now she's sleeping. We gave her all the thick blankets we had but it seems that she's still a bit shaking.", Mina added.

" I think we need to send her for a check up to the doctor.", Dahyun said, making the three of them exchanged looks at each other. "Something's not right. It's been like this that she's not feeling well for past few days now."

"Sure, Dahyun. Update us after, okay?", Momo said, asking for a favor. Dahyub just nodded in responses.

"I'll be the one to escort her tomorrow to the hospital, if you won't mind?", and the two Japanese women both said yes to Dahyun. They gave her a way to enter their room to check on Sana after.

(FLASHBACK- 7 YEARS AGO: AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE)

"Doc, what is it this time? How's the result? You said it's urgent.", Dahyun instantly gave a rapid fire questions to the Doctor.

"Yes, it is urgent Ms Kim because... what I just found out isn't gonna be a good news to both of you.", the doctor, whose name is Dr. Park Jihyo based on the golden nameplate she had in the middle of her desk; answered all her client's questions at once.

"My apologies for making you two nervous but this is a serious matter right here.", then Dr. Park pulled out some sheet of paper from her folder, giving it to Dahyun for her to see. Sana who is behind her girlfriend, also looked at it;  leaning her head closer sidewards.

"Ms. Minatozaki's blood test result reveals that her platelets are on the low point, including her red blood cells too.", Dr. Park began to explain to the couple on what they are seeing on the paper.

"The white ones however, they became abnormal and they grew excessively while also multiplying at the same time which can easily worsen one's production of blood cells because first and foremost they don't function properly and second, the amount of these cells aren't balanced with each other."

"It also affects one's health and all of what you told me that Ms. Minatozaki is experiencing, I'm afraid these are all positive as symptoms of a disease, Ms. Kim.", Dr. Park said in an apologetic look.

"Symptoms of what?", Dahyun asked, feeling terrified at what she's about to hear.

"I'm sorry Ms. Kim but I believe that Ms. Minatozaki here has leukemia.", both Dahyun and Sana's heart felt like it skipped a beat. Shoulders slumped, body became weak, well for Sana it became weaker because she really isn't feeling 100% active today.

"I knew it.", Sana said out of nowhere, making Dahyun look at her confusedly, unlike Dr. Park who just switched her gaze normally.

"How do you know?"

"It runs to your family, isn't it maam?", Dr. Park asked Sana.

"I-it is.", Sana gulped. Dahyun just watched her in shock after hearing such a new information about her girlfriend. "I am anemic too just like my father and his side, they had this."

She looked at Dahyun after. "I'm sorry, Dahyun if I didn't told you. I thought it was gone now before.", she even lowered her head more.

Dahyun just wrapped her arm around Sana and gently caressed her back while giving her a side hug. " Sshhh it's okay. I understand. We have no time to argue if I would just be mad at you for that.", she said, making Sana feel a bit easy and relieved that Dahyun didn't responded negatively at it.

"It can be prevented doc, right? Just like what happened in the past to her?", she asked Dr. Park.

"Yes there's a treatment but Ms. Kim, we should do it urgently. This isn't the same as what she had as a kid.", Dr. Park said.

"Hers was more dangerous and acute. It could affect some of her organs quickly that will cause for these to stop functioning and if we don't take an action for it...

it could cost her life here.", that increased both Dahyun and Sana's fear even more, making Sana finally cry which Dahyun just comforted her. She kissed Sana's forehead.

This woman beside her is the person she would not want to lose the most. So knowing that there still is a way to cure this, Dahyun didn't hesitated to choose the right thing.

"We'll take it. For the sake of my girlfriend's survival. Just please... do anything to save her.", Dahyun said, her voice cracked because she's also controlling her tears not to flow out as she begged for Dr. Park.

"It's our job, Ms. Kim. We'll do our best.", Dr. Park assured her.

"So, when will you plan to confine her here?"

-------------------

Dahyun sighed heavily after she recalled it.

She flipped another page, what Dahyun saw made her lips bend downwards, forming a frown this time.

It was a selfie again of  her and Sana who is still in the bed but she's awake in this one.

The angle is just almost as accurate as the last one, but the place is completely different because it was all white.

Sana isn't wearing a pajama now, but a white hospital gown with some pipes mostly attached to her arms with the life monitor now on her side.

------------------

(FLASHBACK- 7 YEARS LATER: AT THE HOSPITAL ROOM)

"Comfortable?", Dahyun asked Sana after fixing the pillows for her.

"It's fine. Still prefer being in the bed at home."

"Well as much as I want us to be there instead, we can't. You should stay here for the treatments and tests.", Dahyun took a seat at the chair just beside Sana's bed.

"I know, Dahyun. To make me get better soon. But...

"Hmm?", Dahyun hummed while she waits for Sana to continue her words as she paused for a second.

"What if it doesn't work, just like theirs?", she avoided looking at Dahyun's face.

"Hey, no. Don't say like that, Sana okay?", Dahyun grabbed Sana's hand and gently gripped it tightly, placing it on her cheek. "Listen to me, it's gonna work, I can feel it. We can't tell what time but we will do everything to make it happen.

Just... please fight for me, for us. Hold on, you can do this. Keep your hopes up, okay?", Dahyun encouraged her sick girlfriend. Sana just nodded, making her girlfriend sure that she will couragely face and beat leukemia just to be okay again.

"Thank you for everything.", Sana said, starting her message of gratitude for her girlfriend. " Never thought that you led me also to another direction when I got lost at our first meeting. To your heart."

" And that is the greatest memory I will ever cherish and be thankful of until the end of our time.", Sana said, letting out a smile.

"Same as I, Sana.", Dahyun intertwined her fingers onto Sana's. "This journey we had here, we still had more to continue so please get well soon, okay?", she waited for her girlfriend to respond, until she noticed that her face and pale lips starts twitching and shaking, and the small drops of tears slowly going out of her eyes.

"Why are you crying? You know it makes me hurt whenever I see you like this.", Dahyun asked Sana who is now sniffing.
Just at the sight of this makes Dahyun's heart split in half as she easily gets affected too at how painful her girlfriend must've feel right now.

"Nothing it's just... I can't imagine leaving you lonely in this world until the end of your breath. I'm scared, Dahyun. I don't want to die yet. I still want to be with you.", and that's enough for Dahyun to cry heavily too at how pity her girlfriend who is battling cancer today, crying in fear at the bad possibilities she could ever think.

She placed a long kiss on Sana's hand then leaning it onto her forehead. "That's why we're doing everything we can for you just to survive. You know I would never let that happen Sana because it if it does, it will surely kill me inside.", Dahyun then tried to calm her down and Sana is just nodding back at her words to express how she comprehends it.

"Let's not think about that, hmm? This won't be the ending we will gonna put to our story."

"Okay.", Sana answered.  "I love you, Dahyun."

"I  love you too so much. Nothing can describe or measure it, because it is infinite and everlasting, only for you.", then Dahyun leaned closer to Sana to kiss her on the forehead, shutting her eyes.

"Let's kill the conversation here for now. You need to take a rest.", Dahyun said as she stood up then patted Sana's tummy.

"Okay."

"Have a nice sleep, baby. Don't mind, I'll just stay here and watch you.", then Dahyun waited for her girlfriend to fell asleep first before she move onto the couch to sit and spend her leisure time by using her cellphone .

------------------

Dahyun then flipped the pages again, and her frown became even more bigger and deeper when she saw the whole pages are now full of her and Sana's picture in the hospital room.

She touched her chest, feeling the pain of every fast heartbeat she's having.

She was only staring already at these pictures as another memory appeared in her mind again.

The farther she goes in this album, the pain gets higher and higher.

(FLASHBACK-7 YEARS AGO: AT THE HOSPITAL ROOM)

"Thank you for calling, Tzuyu. I'll send your greetings to her.", Dahyun said on the phone while she's stirring her cooked cup noodles.

After she ended the call, she was about to take a bite on some noodles until she heard Sana groaning and grunting in pain.

Dahyun noticed that and immediately went towards her sick girlfriend to check her.

"Hey, Sana. What is it? Where does it hurt?", Dahyun asked while she's tracing Sana's weak body, trying to locate what part is disturbing her precious sleep.

" Everywhere.", Sana sana weakly, her mouth didn't even opened wider when she spoke.

"Hang on, okay? I'll call for help.", Sana just nodded and then Dahyun rushed outside the room to call for the doctor.

Minutes later, after Dr. Park along with her nurses checked on Sana, she went for some another talk once again with the girlfriend of her patient.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Kim but I have some unfortunate news for you.", Dr. Park said seriously, making Dahyun even more nervous.

" We just checked and we think we've reached to the point that she only has a limited amount of time remaining to live. Probably days or weeks as we calculated.

Her cancer just spreaded more widely and is destroying her quickly one by one inside. All I gotta say is that it would be a miracle, Ms. Kim if she can still take this.", Dr. Park said, making Dahyun quickly crashed in tears as she heard it all, covering her face with both of her palm.

"Y-you said you did everything to save her.", Dahyun said between her sobs, it maybe be muffled but still clear to be heard and understood by Dr. Park.

"We did, Ms. Kim.", she sighed while nodding.

"THEN HOW COME YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS AS IF SHE NEEDS TO SAY GOODBYE TO ME ALREADY!", Dahyun shouted at Dr. Park, making the latter flinch and surprised at her client's sudden outburst. The only thing she did was to look pitifully at Dahyun.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't meant to shout at you, Doc. It's just... I can't accept it, that I will be losing her soon.", she said as she lets out a huge breath, her voice is cracking due to how intense she broke down.

"I know it's hard Ms. Kim.", Dr. Park said, she looked at Dahyun with empathy. " It hurts me too, being as a doctor who is a failure to save his patient, I will feel guilty and bring this throughout the rest of my career,  knowing too that she has a very loving girlfriend that would risk everything just to keep her love or her life alive, yet I still put it into waste. 

But... this is something we can't fix anymore.", her tone went lower because she doesn't even wanted to say it since she also wanted her patient to recover and to be with her girlfriend all healthy once again. They seemed to be really a great couple, Dr. Park thought.

"This might sound wrong and unpleasant to hear but Ms. Kim, you need to spend your time more with Ms. Minatozaki before that day comes."

After their talk, Dahyun apologized and thanked Dr. Park. The latter just appreciated and accepted it, also giving her apologize too at the kind of information she gave.

Dahyun entered their room again, she looked at Sana who is awake and silent.
Her hair is now completely shortened due to the effects of her disease. Her lips became even more pale and whiter.

"Sana?", Dahyun called her.

" Hi.", Sana lets out a weak smile.

" You feel good?"

"Never better.", she answered. She noticed Dahyun's reddish eyes, making her know that she cried again. "What happened?", she asked Dahyun about the conversation she had with Dr. Park outside of the room.

"I don't know. I-....... I just can't help it.", Dahyun kneeled on the floor, both knees touching the ground as she placed her forehead onto Sana's arm while she went crying again. "Seeing you like this after what I learned just earlier.

"What is it?"

"Can you still fight?", Dahyun raised her head and looked at Sana with her messy face. "I won't be mad, just please be honest with me."

"I... I don't know anymore too, Dahyun.", Sana shaked her head, frowning. "I-It really is a torture to me.", she said breathily.

" Sana, I know we talked about you keep on fighting until you reach into remission state, right?", Sana nodded. "But...the doctor says to me your body can now give up soon.", she caressed Sana's skin using her thumb. More tears went out of her eyes as she felt an immense fright and despair knowing how this will end up.

"I know you're suffering too much already and it sure feels horrible so... as much as I don't want to say it but...

...don't force yourself if you can't take it anymore, hmm?", that made Sana join Dahyun on her flow of tears. She thought that there's really no chance for the both of them after all to have high hopes for something they're expecting the happen one day: which is for her to recover again.

The cancer overpowered her already. No matter how wants to fight, her body won't let her anymore.

Like what Dahyun just said, all she can do was to surrender.

"B-but how about you? Our future?", Sana asked between her sobs.

"I would rather just see you all too well than knowing you hide the pain you're enduring that's destroying you slowly inside as you keep it.", Dahyun said, sniffing. " And our only way for this is I should let you give up.", then Dahyun's chest went upwards and downwards as she once again cried heavily.

"I failed you, Dahyun. I'm sorry."

" Don't apologize, my love. It's fine, atleast we both know you tried.", Dahyun tried her best to give a comforting smile to her poor girlfriend.

"What if we should not think about what's gonna happen next at the upcoming days. You know, distraction?", Sana said after an idea flashed inside her head. For her it was effective and also she wants them to do something about this.

"By how?"

"Never leave me alone and just love me like there's no tomorrow Dahyun, please.", Sana said, cupping Dahyun's left cheeks as she smoothly wiped out the tears dropping down in it with her fingers. "Pretend like we don't care for the worst that's about to come. It's enough for me.

"Our last goodbye is approaching but we know soon it would be over, Dahyun."

"Like I could endure saying no to you, I can't., Dahyun responded, indirectly answering yes to her girlfriend's suggestion. "Sure thing, my love. So, let's do what we want to do today. What's the first you had in mind?

And they did it. They suggested everything they had mind which they can do to spend being alone together.
The two lovebirds definitely did loved each other to the max and to their very high limit.

Sana suggested Dahyun to play some song from her. Dahyun did sang 2 of her own composed songs to her while playing her acoustic guitar.

The two watched some random videos recorded by Dahyun on her phone. Hearing Sana laugh at Momo accidentally lets go of the jokbal she's holding made Dahyun's relaxed a bit. It's like her worries and problems were forgotten for a while.

Dahyun laid beside Sana on her head. She placed her one leg of top of Sana's  and her arm above Sana's abdomen, giving her a nice little cuddle. Dahyun buried her head at the crook of Sana' neck and placed it with many kisses as much as she wants. Sana is just giggling at how sweet her girlfriend is.

Sana can feel already the overflowing affection of love Dahyun is giving to her.
With this, the two didn't pretended already that they know what's gonna happen maybe tomorrow or the next few days. They were just only thinking about them together.

Dahyun stayed beside Sana for the whole day. She was planning to continue this still so in the next day she went to her house for a while to prepare out some clothes she's gojna bring with her onto the room.

While she's placing her shirts on the bag, Dahyun received a call from Momo. She curiously picked it up and answered it.

"Hello?"

"DAHYUN-AH, WHERE ARE YOU?", the increased volume of Momo's panicked voice said.

"Preparing my things before i'm omy way back there. Why?", Dahyun asked.

" You might want to hurry. Sana's looking for you.", Mina took the move to continue explaining what was the purpose of Momo's call.

Dahyun's eyes went wider after she figured out that there's something not right with Sana and she needs her girlfriend's presence.

She dropped the call fast and made her movement quicker so that she can walk out now on her home and go ahead to Sana.

Meanwhile at the hospital...

"Momo... Mina...", Sana muttered, looking both at her two Japanese bestfriends.

"Hey. We will miss you so much Satang.", Momo grabbed Sana's bloodless leg an gently shaked it. One drop of tear was escaped from her eyes.

"We will be fine, Satang. We will take care of ourselves, and even Dahyun here.", Mina assured Sana. Sana believed in her already because after all, Mina was such a truthworthy friend to be exact.  "No need to worry about us now.", Mina even started to cry now as she crashed her body on Sana's, giving her a nice comfy hug.

"If that so then it's good to know.", Sana smiled weakly. Bending her arms to show them a thumbs up very slow because she's struggling to move her really fast due tp how very weak and vulnerable her body is already.

"I just want to let you guys know that I'm too grateful that I met such one of a kind friends like you twpo in my life, Mina and Momo. Thank you for everything you've done for me.", Momo and Mina mouthed you're welcome at Sana and the two ended up doing a group hug up with each other.

Knowing that this would be the last time they will do this in complete, the J-Line sobbed in their tears louder and harder this time.

"And... Dahyun? Is Dahyun already here?", Sana asked Momo. At the right time, Dahyun arrives at the room, breathing heavily from how she ran very fast. She saw Momo and Mina standing there beside her girlfriend who has their eyes both a bit blurry and sniffing their noses.

Momo and Mina gestured Dahyun to come close, so Dahyun ran beside Sana. Momo gave a way from these lovebirds to talk. Then she continued her crying and let herself be comforted by Mina.

She was crying because this isn't gonna be good. She knows how these two love each other from the bottom of their soul and seeing them saying goodbye to each other for the last time makes her heart shatter into pieces.

"I'm here, love. What is it?", Dahyun held Sana's pale hand and gently massaged it.

"Dahyun... remember what I told you okay? Be strong for me. Take care of yourself and even Momo-unnie and Mina.", Dahyun nodded, taking notes of every single one of it in her mind.

" Thank you for entering my life, loving and making me feel like I'm the most special woman in the whole world, even at my final moments. I'll see you up there, my love.", Dahyun then bowed her head and cried loudly. Her grip to her hand even went tighter. Sana endured the pain, because what her heart feels right is even more horrible that what her leukemia gives to her right now.

The effects of her finally letting go that will cause her to disappear forever from Dahyun's eyes is way worse.

"Listen to me, you may not see me... but I assure that you will feel me instead.", Sana did her best to raise Dahyun's head, making her to look at her eyes focusedly. Both their defeated eyes met with each other.

Dr. Park was walking in the hallway when she stopped in front of Sana's hospital room, watching the two say their final words to each other.

Even the doctor too broke down in tears as she formed a huge guilt and blame to herself now that she caused this to happen. Dr. Park was shouting at herself deep inside right now that she's a failure for this.

"I may not be there at your side in the next few days and so on but I promise you I will not allow to let you be alone. I will just be here near you, watching and guiding you from a far, ensuring that nothing wrong will happen to you.

You still have far to go that has something in store for you, Dahyun. Reach it, for me. Make me proud.", Sana ended up her farewell speech, giving Dahyun her one last sweet smile.

"I love you too, Sana. Thank you for this once in a lifetime chance to love you.", Dahyun said, her voice cracking due to the huge amount of crying she did. "You can rest now, my love. You fought too much.", she patted her head gently.

"Till we meet again, Dahyun. I love you.", Sana started to do her remaining number of breaths as she slowly inhaled and exhaled.

Dahyun leaned fast and gave Sana her final kiss to the lips before she drifts away onto the place where she can be with God and her family again, especially her father whom she loved so much as a kid.

" I love you too, Sana. So much.", and then they only heard next was the combined sounds of sobs coming from Mina, Momo, Dr. Park and Dahyun and the falling beeping sound of the heart rate monitor until finally reached to zero.

---------------------

Dahyun flipped another page, which was her last because there was only one left remaining in the left side.

On the right side however, it was only a paper that has words written onto it, pasted in front of the plastic page.

"To be continued...", it says. Dahyun was the one who put this here because she believes that only a chapter is what ended for both of them in this world, not their whole love story together... and they will surely continue making a new one once they'll meet again.

The photo shows Dahyun smiling in a white dress, sitting in a indian style position on a grass. Beside her was the gravestone where Sana's full name is sculpted in calligraphy just like one of her beloved skills.

Her body was laid to rest alongside with her mom and dad in Japan.

Dahyun can still remember and feel how devastated she was on that day, knowing that she won't be able to be with her girlfriend physically ever again.

Now she only exists in her memory forever.

"If only the gods gave us a miracle at that night, you will still be here with me, still filling this album with our memories we can make more, but what's the purpose if you're already gone... forever.", Dahyun muttered as she slowly cried in agony, closing her and Sana's album and placed it at her chest, hugging it with all her might.

"Guess I'll just fill these blank ones in my imagination and dreams being with you."

After she said that, she continued once again to let out all of her tears to release the pain that is being contained inside her heart and soul.

While she's having a breakdown moment, she felt a heavy cold breeze around her body, especially her shoulder and hand.

She confusedly looked at her hand that is having a goosebumps.

She was shocked when she saw the album once again opened, the cover was flipped and it revealed again the picture of her and Sana.

Then she remembered what Sana said  to her years ago during her final moments that made her cry even more.

"I may not be there at your side in the next few days and so on but I promise you, I will not allow to let you be alone."

And yes, she doesn't know that Sana's spirit, wearing the white dress just like what she wore in her burial, locking Dahyun in embrace with her arms around her, head laid above Dahyun's right shoulder and her hand placed at the top of Sana's hand.

This was enough for Dahyun to feel that Sana's with her right now. She didn't wasted any more time to say what she wants to say for her late girlfriend and her world she just lost.

"I know you're here, Sana. I just want to say that I miss you so bad. I've never felt so low in all my life.

Still after all these years, It's never been this easy to move on. I love you, my dear Satang.", Sana smiled at it and then she pecked Dahyun's right cheek, making the younger felt some chills on the spot where she placed it.

"It's okay, Dahyun. I love you too very much, my shining light.", Sana muttered  before she slowly vanishes in the air for a while.

"Dahyun if you're done there, come down after okay? We bought some food.", Momo shouted from outside of the room. Yes, Dahyun is living now with Momo and Mina. The two liked it very much because atleast they still feel that they are complete again.

"Yours is Sana's favorite. Better come her after.", Mina proceeded to call her too, but not that loud compared to Momo.

"Alright, Mina and Momo unnie. Coming right up!", Dahyun placed a kiss on the cover of the album before putting it back on the closet.

She grabbed some tissues to wipe her tears away before walking out of her room to join her two Japanese friends eat their lunch today.

-🐹🦅-