The Brothers Kim

Chapter 56- Mortality of Man

A soft wind whispered past her, forcing the wildflower peeking out of her robe from its hiding place. Gyuri abandoned the wet laundry in her hands to give chase. Through the jungle of billowing sheets, she bolted after it, a breath of relief escaping her lips when the flower was within her grasp again.

Gyuri cursed under her breath as she inspected its bruised petals. She gently rolled her fingers across its stem, making the camellia twirl like a morose ballerina. A familiar heaviness crept into her chest as she recalled the events that occurred only yesterday...

"What is it?" Gyuri had worriedly asked Zeren as the door to the sanatorium closed behind them. "Did something happen to Chim Chim?"

Zeren's lips formed into a grim line. "Chim's fine," he reassured but the strain in his voice told Gyuri otherwise. He searched his sleeves and produced a pink camellia. "For you."

Puzzled, Gyuri hesitantly accepted it. "What's this for?"

"Chim he..." Zeren's voice wavered, "he wanted you to have it."

Gyuri peered at the camellia, its petals crumpled from being in the guard's sleeve. Remembering Jimin's heart-felt words, she blushed. Is this his idea of charming me? "Where is he?" Gyuri asked, half-expecting Jimin to appear around the corner. She searched the civilians passing by as if one of them could be the imperial guard in disguise.

Zeren took a deep breath.

"Is he here? Zeren, where is he—?"

"He's engaged..."

Gyuri was immediately wide-eyed.

"...with other matters," he quickly finished. Zeren's features morphed into a conflicted expression. He stared at Gyuri as if waiting for her to say something. When she didn't, he elaborated, "Chim's gone. He's— he's been relocated to a different post outside the capital. It was very sudden, that's why he couldn't say goodbye in person."

"Oh," Gyuri managed a squeak. She blinked several times, her mind working hard to comprehend. He's... gone?

"When- when does he return?"

"Gyuri..." Zeren's eyes were doleful, "he's been relocated for good."

Gyuri's grip on the flower tightened. "So, Chim Chim is—?"

"Never coming back," Zeren said with finality. He watched as Gyuri studied the pitiful flower, a poor substitute to the friend that should be present. He spoke softly, "He told me to tell you he's sorry."

Gyuri made the flower spin with her thumb and forefinger. With each twirl the thought of not seeing Jimin again sank deeper, overwhelming her with a heaviness that she couldn't quite place. Whether it was the sadness of not seeing him again or disappointment of never knowing what could have been, Gyuri didn't know.

"He really wanted to see you today," Zeren muttered, briefly interrupting Gyuri's brewing gloom. "There was something important he wanted to tell you."

Gyuri immediately looked up. "What is it? What did he want to tell me?"

The same conflicted expression crossed Zeren's features again. "I... I don't know," he forcibly answered.

Gyuri's shoulders slumped. "Do you know where he went? Where is he stationed now?"

Zeren shook his head. "He didn't mention any specifics. We only had a few minutes before he left and all he talked about was... was you."

Heat rushed to Gyuri's cheeks. "I'm- I'm sorry." She hurriedly looked away when she found Zeren studying her with hawk-like eyes.

"Huh? Why?"