The day finally came.
His uncle had a meeting and his cousins were busy with their own things leaving him alone, this was the perfect time for him to visit his aunt at the hospital. He had visited her before but then he was with others so he couldnt have a private talk with her, as it wasn't appropriate. The wait made him feel uneasy but he still had to find the right time to act and today was the day.
He left the house and arrived at the hospital, he walked towards the room and paused at the door, taking a breath in and preparing himself to be questioned. He opened the door and the sight that greeted him was just touching, he saw his aunt laughing with the nurse, when she saw him her face brightened up even more
''Ethan! You came" She extended her arms to him and he quickly accepted them, not wanting her arms to tire. His heart ached uncontrollably, he could feel his mask cracking, all he wanted to do was save her but he didn't know how.
''Hey, what's the matter dear?" She said while cupping his cheeks, staring at him with a concerned expression. ''I…I'm okay'' he said trying his best not to cry ''Nonsense! Anyone can clearly see your not'' She said
His heart sank as tears welled up in his eyes ''Aunt....'' tears started to fall uncontrollably as his aunt hugged him. Once his aunt was gone there would be no one on his side, no one to care for him like she did, he hated himself because all he had was information on how he could survive, not on how he could save his aunt. If he could save his aunt then he wouldn't have to go through any pain as she would protect him, he had desperately wanted to dream about a way to save her, he would have been able to save her by now if the dream had come to him before the disease got worse.
His aunt laughed at his puffed up eyes once he calmed down.
''Seriously! What are you a puffer fish? Haha!"
''Haaaaa! Aunt please'' he said while pressing an ice pack to his eyes
''Now what was that for?" She asked handing him a water bottle, he opened it and took a sip, the water passed through his throat refreshing him and calming him more.
''I just missed you that's all''
''Well don't worry about that anymore!, the doctor said that I'm getting better and might get discharged soon, plus I feel fine so stop being such a cry baby!" She said but ethan didn't say anything and just smiled at her she sighed then added ''Anyways how's school going? And practice?"
''Hm, well I haven't been to practice in a long time, I'm pretty sure coach will come after me soon'' he said
''Tsk! That old man should retire now! He's too old to keep up with you youngstersany way!" She said
''Yah, he's a handful...oh and I made a new friend...''
They continued to catch about regular stuff for some time until lunch came and they ate together with Mrs kim putting more food into his bowl whichmade his heart ached. Even though she was sick she still took care of him regardless.
Ethan had just returned from taking care of the bowls when Mrs kim suddenly spoke as he sat down on the chair
''Now, care to tell me what's bothering you?" She calmly asked, making ethan freeze, he contemplated if he should tell her now or a bit later when he was about to leave. After a few seconds he spoke
'' I guess that didn't pass you huh?" He said defeated to have been found out.
She just looked at him silently he scratched his neck with an awkward smile '' I've been thinking....I'm grateful for everything that you and your family have done....but I think it's time for me.....for me to be a bit more independent you know …so I think I should…move out" He said hesitantly as he glanced at her, she sighed and looked at him
''Why are you hesitating? Can't you just say that your tired of living with us?''
''N-no! That's not it!'' He said while looking at his aunt's hurt face, he gulped and continued ''I just don't want to bother you anymore...I'm old enough to take care of myself! I have enough money in my account and if it finishes I could just get a job-"
''Enough!'' His aunt cut him off
''Your not a burden to us, at least not to me… ethan don't punish yourself like that your still young. All you need to focus on is school and enjoying your life, I dont want you to suffer okay'' She said in a calm but trembling voice ''so stay, atleast for me''.
Ethan arrived home and was exhausted, he was tired, and couldn't stop thinking about his earlier visit to his aunt at the hospital.
Things weren't going as planned, he felt dissapointed but he understood his aunts feeling, she must have felt hurt and was probably blaming herself thinking that she hadn't done a good job in making him feel welcome in their home. He just sighed and went to his room to rest, he didnt want to think about this further as it would just make him sad, His plan needed him to move out, otherwise when his aunt had her eternal rest, he would be doomed right from the start.
He took out his phone and browsed the internet gathering information about idols who trained under Hm and debuted, Yes he was worried about the moving out issue but that shouldn't stop him from moving on with his other plans, he'd just find another way no matter how hard it was, he was determined to move out.
'Should I just run away?' He thought as his eyes began closing. No! That would just stress his aunt forcing her to a quick end and he needed one of his guardians permission to move out. Asking his uncle was out of the question because he already knew the man's answer.