CHAPTER 4 — GOODBYE, JOSH
1889 Words
Rihaya barely slept that night.
Even after signing the contract, her hands still trembled whenever she remembered the ink drying beneath her name.
One signature.
That was all it took to sell an entire year of her life to strangers she didn’t even know.
And the worst part?
She still had no idea what exactly she had agreed to.
The memory of Boss Lady’s warning continued echoing inside her head.
> “No girl returns the same.”
The words haunted her.
But every time fear tried pulling her back—
she remembered Josh lying in that hospital bed.
Pale.
Weak.
Coughing blood.
And suddenly nothing else mattered.
Morning sunlight slowly crept into the office through the giant windows. Rihaya sat quietly on the couch while Mira stood nearby holding a cup of coffee.
“You look like you’re about to faint,” Mira said softly.
Rihaya gave a weak smile.
“I feel like it too.”
Mira sat beside her.
“You can still back out.”
Rihaya looked down at her hands immediately.
“No.”
“You’re scared.”
“I know.”
Mira sighed quietly.
“You don’t have to prove anything.”
Rihaya’s eyes slowly filled with emotion.
“If I don’t do this…”
Her voice cracked slightly.
“My brother dies.”
Silence filled the room.
Mira looked away sadly.
There was nothing she could say to that.
A few minutes later, the office door suddenly opened.
Boss Lady entered calmly, wearing another elegant dress. Two men followed behind her carrying black cases.
Rihaya instantly sat upright nervously.
Boss Lady walked toward the desk.
“The payment has arrived.”
Rihaya frowned slightly.
Already?
Everything was happening too fast.
One of the men placed a black case onto the desk and opened it.
Rihaya froze instantly.
Money.
Stacks and stacks of money.
So much that her brain struggled to process it.
Her breathing slowed.
It looked unreal.
Like something from another world.
She had spent years surviving on tiny factory salaries.
Now there was enough money in front of her to completely change her life forever.
Rihaya slowly stood up.
“I… I don’t understand.”
Boss Lady calmly crossed her arms.
“The client pays before collection.”
Collection.
The word sounded strange.
Cold.
Almost inhuman.
Rihaya tried not to think about it.
“This is too much…”
Boss Lady studied her quietly.
“The people you’ll serve are extremely wealthy.”
A strange chill touched Rihaya’s skin again.
Serve.
Not work.
Not accompany.
Serve.
Something about the wording unsettled her deeply.
But before she could think further, Boss Lady pushed another paper toward her.
“The money is yours once you leave tonight.”
Tonight.
So soon.
Rihaya’s chest tightened instantly.
“You leave today?”
Boss Lady nodded once.
“The vehicle arrives after midnight.”
Rihaya’s fingers curled slowly.
Tonight would be the last night she saw Josh.
The thought hurt far more than she expected.
Boss Lady spoke again.
“You may visit him before departure.”
Rihaya looked up quickly.
“Really?”
“I’m not heartless.”
For the first time since meeting her, Boss Lady’s expression softened slightly.
“Go settle your affairs.”
Rihaya nodded immediately.
The moment the money was handed to her, her entire body felt numb.
Heavy.
Overwhelmed.
She carefully held the bag against her chest as if afraid it might disappear.
Mira walked her downstairs quietly.
“You okay?” Mira asked softly.
Rihaya laughed weakly.
“No.”
“That’s normal.”
Rihaya looked at the money again.
“This could save Josh.”
Mira smiled sadly.
“Yes.”
“But why do I feel like something terrible is about to happen?”
Mira’s expression changed for a brief second.
A second too long.
Then she forced a smile.
“Fear always feels bigger before change.”
Rihaya wanted to believe that.
She really did.
But deep down—
her instincts kept screaming at her to run.
Still…
she walked toward the hospital anyway.
The bag felt heavier with every step.
By the time she arrived at the hospital, her heart was beating painfully hard.
The receptionist immediately recognized her.
“You came back quickly.”
Rihaya nodded breathlessly.
“I want to begin treatment immediately.”
The woman looked surprised.
“Do you have the payment?”
Without speaking, Rihaya slowly placed the bag on the counter.
The receptionist opened it.
Then froze.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Rihaya almost felt embarrassed by the amount.
Several nearby nurses turned to stare.
The receptionist looked up again.
“…You brought all of this?”
Rihaya nodded quietly.
“Yes.”
The woman’s attitude changed immediately.
“I-I’ll call the doctor.”
Within minutes, doctors began rushing around quickly.
Papers were brought out.
Treatment plans prepared.
Tests scheduled.
Everything moved so fast now.
Money truly changed the way the world treated people.
It made Rihaya sick.
Earlier they looked at her with pity.
Now they looked at her with respect.
Nothing about her had changed except the money in her hands.
The doctor from yesterday approached her carefully.
“You gathered it this quickly?”
Rihaya forced a small smile.
“Yes.”
The doctor looked genuinely relieved.
“We can begin immediately.”
Rihaya nodded.
“Please save him.”
“We’ll do our best.”
Her eyes burned slightly.
For the first time in days—
hope finally returned.
Small.
Fragile.
But real.
Josh was asleep when she entered the room.
Sunlight touched part of his face softly while the sound of machines echoed quietly nearby.
Rihaya sat beside him carefully.
He looked more peaceful today.
Maybe because treatment would finally begin.
She gently brushed his hair back.
“You’re going to be okay,” she whispered.
Josh slowly opened his eyes.
The moment he saw her, he frowned slightly.
“You disappeared.”
Rihaya laughed softly.
“I had things to do.”
Josh noticed the strange expression on her face immediately.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s your lying face.”
She smiled weakly.
“Do I have one?”
“Yes.”
Rihaya looked away before he could read her emotions properly.
“The doctors said treatment starts now.”
Josh’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“They’re preparing everything.”
“But the money—”
“It’s handled.”
Josh stared at her in shock.
“How?!”
Rihaya hesitated.
“I found work.”
“What kind of work pays that much?”
Her chest tightened instantly.
“A private job.”
Josh looked suspicious.
“What kind of private job?”
She quickly stood up.
“You ask too many questions.”
“Because this makes no sense!”
Rihaya forced a laugh.
“You should focus on surviving first.”
Josh slowly sat upright despite his weakness.
“Rihaya.”
The seriousness in his voice made her heart ache immediately.
“What did you do?”
She couldn’t answer.
Because if she spoke honestly—
she might break down completely.
Josh grabbed her wrist gently.
“You don’t have to destroy yourself for me.”
Rihaya finally looked at him.
Her eyes shimmered instantly.
“You’re my family.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“You’re all I have left.”
Josh’s expression softened painfully.
Silence filled the room for several seconds.
Then he sighed quietly.
“You always carry everything alone.”
Rihaya smiled sadly.
“Someone has to.”
Josh looked down.
“I hate being a burden.”
The words stabbed directly into her chest.
“You’re not.”
“I am.”
“You’re not!”
Her voice cracked loudly.
Josh froze.
Rihaya immediately looked away, breathing shakily.
“You’re the reason I keep going,” she whispered.
Josh’s eyes slowly filled with tears.
The siblings sat in silence afterward.
Neither wanted to cry first.
Eventually, Josh forced a weak smile.
“When treatment starts and I survive…”
Rihaya looked at him quietly.
“I’ll become rich.”
She laughed softly.
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“I’ll buy you a huge house.”
Rihaya smiled.
“With what money?”
“I don’t know yet.”
She laughed again despite herself.
Josh continued dramatically.
“And you’ll never work again.”
“That sounds nice.”
“You’ll just relax all day while I take care of you.”
Rihaya stared at him silently.
That future sounded beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Because deep down—
she feared she might never see it.
A nurse eventually entered the room.
“We need to prepare the patient.”
Josh groaned dramatically.
“Save me.”
Rihaya laughed softly.
“You’ll survive.”
As nurses wheeled him away, Josh suddenly grabbed her hand again.
“Don’t disappear.”
Her smile faltered instantly.
“I’ll come back.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie.
She planned to return one day.
If she still could.
Hours later, evening covered the city in darkness.
Rihaya returned home one final time.
The apartment looked exactly the same.
Small.
Old.
Broken.
Yet suddenly—
everything felt precious.
She slowly walked through the room touching familiar objects.
The old table.
The tiny stove.
The cracked walls.
This miserable little apartment held their entire life together.
Rihaya opened a drawer quietly and placed bundles of money inside carefully.
Enough for Josh to survive comfortably even after treatment.
Then she sat down at the desk.
A blank paper rested in front of her.
For several seconds—
she couldn’t write anything.
Because suddenly the reality hit her fully.
She was leaving.
Really leaving.
Her hands trembled violently as she picked up the pen.
Tears blurred her vision instantly.
Finally, slowly—
she began writing.
---
> Josh,
By the time you read this, I’ll already be gone.
Don’t try searching for me.
I found work far away, and I may not come back for a long time.
But please don’t worry about me.
The money I left behind is enough for your treatment and everything else you need.
So promise me something…
Live.
Eat properly.
Take your medicine.
And stop pretending to be strong when you’re sick.
I’m serious.
You annoy me every day, but you’re still the most important person in my life.
So survive for me.
One day, when everything becomes better…
I’ll come back home.
Your annoying sister,
Rihaya.
---
By the time she finished, tears had already soaked the paper.
Rihaya quickly wiped her face.
No.
She couldn’t cry now.
If she cried—
she might lose the courage to leave.
Near midnight, she finally arrived at the address Boss Lady gave her.
The street was strangely quiet.
Cold wind brushed against her skin while distant city lights flickered far away.
Rihaya stood alone beside the road holding her small bag tightly.
Fear slowly returned.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
The silence around her felt unnatural somehow.
Minutes passed.
Then suddenly—
bright headlights appeared in the distance.
A long black luxury car slowly approached through the darkness.
Rihaya’s heartbeat stopped.
The vehicle looked impossibly expensive.
The windows were dark enough to hide whoever sat inside.
As the car finally stopped in front of her—
the back door slowly opened by itself.
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