The Truth Behind the Smile
1182 Words
The next morning…
Life continued as though nothing had happened.
Areum woke up before sunrise.
She quietly cleaned the house, prepared breakfast, and packed her school bag.
When everything was ready, she sat silently at the dining table.
A few minutes later…
Ayan stepped out of her room, already dressed for work.
She walked over and took her seat.
Neither sister spoke.
Only the soft clinking of spoons against plates filled the room.
After a while…
Ayan finally broke the silence.
“You can skip school today.”
Areum looked up.
Ayan continued eating before speaking again.
“And stop stressing yourself with cooking.”
“I’ll handle it from now on.”
Areum opened her mouth to protest.
“I’m fi—”
“I’ll manage,” Ayan interrupted quietly.
“Don't worry.”
She stood up, picked up her handbag, and looked at her sister for only a second.
“Take care of yourself.”
Then she walked out.
Areum remained seated, staring at the empty chair across from her.
“…Okay, Noona.”
She whispered the words after Ayan had already left.
---
The hospital…
The moment Ayan reached her office, she picked up her phone.
To: Brother ❤️
Thank you, Brother.
A few seconds later…
Lisa appeared beside her desk.
“Unnie!”
Ayan looked up.
Lisa folded her arms dramatically.
“You stopped updating your stories.”
“You're leaving us hanging.”
“And guess what?”
Ayan laughed.
“What?”
“Your views are increasing!”
Ayan immediately picked up her phone.
She opened her author profile.
Her eyes widened.
“…Really?”
There were more followers than before.
More readers.
Even a few new comments.
A smile slowly spread across her face.
“I've been busy.”
“I'll upload again soon.”
Lisa smiled proudly.
“I knew you wouldn't quit.”
Then her expression softened.
“You looked upset yesterday.”
“Are you okay?”
Ayan smiled.
This time…
It was a practiced smile.
“I’m okay.”
Lisa nodded before returning to her desk.
Ayan continued staring at her phone.
Her eyes paused on the list of new followers.
A small thought crossed her mind.
...I wonder if he ever read my story.
She smiled to herself before locking the screen.
“I'll never know.”
With that, she returned to work.
---
Days passed.
Life slowly settled again.
Ayan never brought up the pregnancy.
Areum never explained it.
Both silently pretended nothing had happened.
Miah never visited Ward 12 again.
But Kyunmin…
Never failed to visit Chang Wook.
Everyone smiled.
Everyone worked.
Everyone carried on.
Yet…
Each of them was hiding something.
---
That afternoon…
Ayan stood outside Kyunmin's office.
She knocked.
No answer.
A passing nurse noticed her.
“Looking for Dr. Kyunmin?”
“Yes.”
“He's upstairs.”
“VVIP Ward 12.”
Ayan nodded.
“Thank you.”
She walked toward the elevator.
As the doors closed…
She frowned.
“…Why am I even going upstairs?”
She leaned lightly against the elevator wall.
“Brother isn't even in his office.”
She sighed before letting out a small laugh.
“…Maybe I just wanted to check if he's doing okay.”
She quickly shook her head.
“He's Brother's patient.”
“…And Brother's friend.”
“That's all.”
A soft chime echoed as the elevator doors opened.
She stepped out and made her way toward Ward 12.
Just as she was about to knock…
Voices drifted from inside the room.
“…Brother.”
Ayan froze.
A young woman's trembling voice continued.
“Mom and Dad knew all along.”
“They knew your illness couldn't be cured.”
“They still let the agency keep working you.”
Tears filled her voice.
“I came here without telling anyone.”
“How could you hide this from me?”
“You knew…”
“And every time I asked Kyunmin…”
“…he always told me you'd be okay.”
Her voice finally broke.
“Mom…”
“Dad…”
“The agency…”
“They all knew.”
She covered her face.
“Even Kyunmin knew.”
She looked at Chang Wook with tear-filled eyes.
“…Am I even safe?”
“I'll lose you too…”
Outside the door…
Ayan's entire body froze.
Her hand slowly covered her mouth.
Her breathing became uneven.
No...
He's sick...?
Not just sick...
He's... dying?
Brother knew...
Everyone knew...
...and I was the only one laughing and talking without knowing.
Inside the room…
Chang Wook noticed movement through the narrow opening of the door.
His eyes landed on Ayan.
He knew…
She had heard everything.
But instead of exposing her…
He gently pulled Ji Ah Rin into his arms.
“I'm not dying.”
He whispered.
Even though…
He knew it wasn't true.
Ji Ah Rin cried harder against him.
Just then…
Her phone rang.
She quickly wiped away her tears.
“I have to go.”
Reluctantly, she left the room.
By the time she stepped into the hallway…
Ayan was already gone.
---
She walked aimlessly through the corridor.
Her mind refused to process what she had just heard.
He's dying...?
Brother knew...?
Everyone knew...?
Then…
Someone called her.
“Ayan.”
She turned around.
Kyunmin.
He smiled as he walked toward her.
“What are you doing up here?”
Ayan stared at him.
So many questions crowded her mind.
Is it true?
Why didn't you tell me?
Is this why you warned me not to fall for him?
“Ayan?”
Kyunmin called again.
She forced herself back to reality.
“…I'm fine.”
Kyunmin studied her face.
“No.”
“That smile is fake.”
“Is it because of Areum?”
Ayan hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“…Yes.”
“It is.”
She lowered her eyes.
“I went to your office.”
“They told me you were here.”
“I was.”
Kyunmin answered naturally.
The simplicity of his answer made Ayan's heart ache.
He didn't even hesitate.
She swallowed the questions she truly wanted to ask.
Instead…
“I wanted to ask you…”
“…how to take care of a pregnant girl.”
Kyunmin's expression softened.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
“My little sister…”
“The fact that you're asking already means you're trying.”
He gently placed an arm around her shoulders.
“Come.”
“Let's go to my office.”
“I'll tell you everything you need to know.”
Ayan nodded.
As they walked away…
She glanced back at Ward 12 one last time.
A few days ago…
The man inside that room had simply been someone who shared the same name as her favorite actor.
Now…
He was someone carrying a pain she had never imagined.
For the first time…
She wasn't smiling because of his face.
She was wondering…
How lonely someone must feel when everyone around them smiles… while they quietly count the days they have left.
- Writer
