Episode 9
It had now been five days since Tae saw San and with every passing day his fear something bad had happened grew. So when he returned to his room on the sixth evening to find San at the desk studying, Tae ignored any previous regret he'd had and launched himself at San. Startled by Tae's crushing back hug, San attempted to turn in his chair to face Tae. Tapping Tae's arm to loosen them, when Tae realised and did so, San rose and turned to embrace Tae.
Tae squeezed San hard and San patted his head to reassure him.
When Tae had calmed he pulled back to look at San.
San stared at Tae questioningly, asking what had happened.
Tae didn't know how to explain but he knew had to worn San, as he blurted out, "Someone's going to poison you."
Taken back by what Tae says, San pushes Tae back and sceptically looks at him before repeating. "Poison me? Why do you say that."
"The senior, Second. The one who knows you. He told us a few days ago you were poisoned. That... that..." Tae can't finish.
"That I what?" San asks.
"That you die." Tae tells him as tears fall down his cheeks. "That you die. And I can't save you..." Tae starts to hyperventilate, his voice stuttering, "because...""if I could save you..."" you would be with me in my time."
San wraps his arms around Tae comforting him. Shocked by his admission.
Tae cries into San shoulder and San lets him until his tears subside. San gently moves them to be bed and they sit down beside each other.
San wipes away Tae's tears and gently lifting his face to look at him, San asks, "Tell me everything you know about the future and me."
"There is a rumour about a student dying in this building end of last year. I didn't know who they where or what room they had but I'm beginning to suspect it's this room and that person is you."
San take Tae's hand and hold it tight. "Okay. So now I know. I can do something about it."
Tae shakes his head and begins crying again.
"It okay. You did right telling me. I'm still alive right now. So, maybe tomorrow the future will be different."
Tae leans his head against San's shoulder, and asks, "Do you think that is true."
San wraps his arm around Tae's shoulder and asks his, "What is tomorrows date?"
Through stilted breath Tae tells him.
"Then, how about we meet at lunch, tell me where you sit."
Tae pulls back, looking at San through tear strained eyes. "Do you really think it will work."
San nods. "Doesn't it make sense now. We didn't know until now so everything should change after this."
Tae gives a nod and San wraps his arms around Tae, giving him a tight hug.
"Stay the night." San asks, and Tae gives and nod.
The following morning, Tae squeezes his eyes, the soreness reminding him of the night before. As he opens his eyes, he finds San staring down at him.
"Morning." San says.
"Good thing you didn't put good in front of that morning." Tae told him.
San leaned down and pecks Tae on the lips. "Now it's good morning."
Tae pushing San away, scoffing at him.
"I'm going to leave you now. I'll see you later today."
Tae's expression grows sad and San quickly kisses him again. "It's going to okay. I'll see you soon."
Tae give a nod but cannot smile.
San gets up and before going into the bathroom, give another glance back at Tae in his bed.
Tae closes his eyes as he hears the bathroom room open but never hears it shut. Opening his eyes, he's once more in his room.
After a moment of realisation, Tae jumps out of bed and begins getting ready for the day.
At lunch time, he and First are seated at the table he agreed to meet San at.
From the distance, First watches them. He's on the phone to San.
"Are you sure you don't want me to say anything?"
"No. The only way we're going to find out who's behind this is by letting it happen as it did." San tells him.
"He's going to be devastated."
"I know." San relies.
Not even 10 minutes in and Tae's heart sinks even lower. He knows San isn't going to show up, even though First is still hopeful.
"Maybe he's been delayed."
Tae shakes his head. Somehow he knew it would end like this. If someone wanted San dead who was he to stop it from happening. He didn't want to admit it.
"Can I stay in your room for a few days. I don't want to go back to my room."
First agrees, as they silently wait until the end of lunch period, with San never appearing.
San meets Second at a cafe and tells him everything Tae told him the night before.
"He's right, isn't he. If what he says is true and he has saved you, you'd be in his future."
"That's what I think too but there's something that's been bothering me."
"Why, how and when were you poisoned in the first place?" Second asks.
"Exactly. If I now know what's coming, maybe I can use it to my advantage and find out what's exactly going on."
"Do you think it has anything to do with your grandfather?"
San gives a nod.
San stares at Second and pulling out his phone messages pear to meet him.
"I'm meeting Pear. Maybe she might have some more information."
San arrives at the main house and meets Pear.
"I haven't come across anything out of the ordinary. Grandfather is stable and recovering well. The doctors are limiting his visitors, with only our mothers attending to him. They're saying his health is improving and there's hope he may be able to go home."
"Then why the issue with the update of the will, if he's improving?" San asks.
"It's still a mystery."
San hesitates then asks, "I have a question for you. We know I'm the only one who benefits if grandfather dies. But who benefits if I die."
Pear is startled and taking San's hand asks what's going on.
"I can't explain but we know leaving everything to me makes no sense. So if I'm the sole benefactor, who benefits if I die."
"I don't know. But I can find out. Will you be okay. Should we hire security for you."
San shakes his head. "I'm okay. If anything happens I let you know immediately."
As San goes to live the house he runs into his father, holding a bag of sweets.
"Oh, good you're here. I found this bag of sweet with your name on it. I assume they are to go to you." HIs father holder up the plastic bag.
"Is the kitchen staff still making these for grandfather."
"I know. No matter what I tell them, they still want to make them. I think they hope they will cheer father-in-law up even though he can't eat them."
His father holds out the bag and San takes it.
"I'd say share them with your friends but these are an enquired taste."
San laughs, "I don't understand how no one can enjoy these."
"I'd invite you stay for dinner but no one's around."
"It's been quiet here." San asks.
"Ever since father-in-law was hospitalised no ones been around. It's been rather boring."
"Maybe you need a hobby to take away the boredom."
His father waves his off. "I have enough to do with my time. Now get going, and don't leave the sweets too long before eating. They are better fresh."
San hugged his father and bids him farewell.
Episode 10
First enters his room and finds Tae curled up on the bedding on the floor agains the wall, where he's been sleeping for the past three nights.
"I brought dinner." First tells Tae.
Tae sits up, he looks sullen as First passes him the food.
Tae slowly eats his dinner as First looks on from the chair he's sitting on.
"Will you go back to your room soon or request a transfer."
Tae shrugs as he slowly puts food into his mouth, with some falling back in the container. First shakes his head.
"Have you found him?" Tae asks after giving up on eating.
First shakes his head. The past few days First had been looking for Second but no matter where he looked he wasn't able to find him. "That man's serious starting to get on my nerves." First complained.
They fall silent and then First says, "I think you should return to your room."
Tae shakes his head.
"Hear me out. He knows he's going to be poisoned, so maybe there's a reason why he didn't turn up. Maybe, it's to protect you."
Tae looks up at First.
"Do you think so?"
"I don't know. But maybe if you see him again you can discuss it further. Tell him he doesn't turn up. Perhaps there's something you need to do in this time to help him in his time."
"But what."
"You won't know unless you see him again."
Tae give a nod and putting the food to one side, gets up and starts packing his bag.
"Let me know what happens." First says at the door and Tae thanks him before leaving.
Tae arrives at his building and letting out a deep sigh heads to his room. In the shadows, across the street, Second watches and waits.
At his door, Tae hesitates before unlocking the door and entering the room. The darkness of the room doesn't clearly show him who's room he's in and he turns the light on with the switch by the door. He immediately notices the plastic bag on the desk and looks to his left to see there's no key rack. Relieved he's still able to enter San's room he comes in further into the room but finds it empty. As he looks back he see the bathroom door slightly ajar and the light on.
As he steps forward he put his ear to the door and looks through the crack. He cannot see or hear nothing. Gently, Tae pushes at the door but it only moves centimetres before it comes to a stop. Tae tries again but the door is stuck. Using the larger opening to look in, he can see an arm outstretched on the floor.
Panicking, Tae begins calling out to San but there's no response. Fearing the worse, Tae forces himself into the bathroom. Once inside the bathroom, he kneels down beside San and scoops him up in his arms and begins calling his name while shaking him. San is unresponsive. Tae pressing his ear against San's chest and can barely hear his heart beating. Terrified, Tae starts to get up, pulling / dragging San up with him. Back in the room, Tae pulls open the dorm door and taking San out of the room and into the corridor, the bag on the desk catches his eye. The sweets.
The sweets. The sweets First had taken and made him violently ill. The sweets San had previously eaten and been ill. The sweets - had they been poisoned. Carefully Tae lowered San up against the corridor and about to return to the room, San stopped him. Tae kneeled down again and touching San's face, told him everything would be fine. Tae stood returning to the room and grabbing the bag of sweets and rushed back into the corridor.
Only to discover, to his horror, the corridor empty. He was back in his own time.
Episode 11
San's breath is heavy and the moment Tae reenters the room he knows he's gone. With the greatest effort, he pulls his phone from his pocket and dials Second's number. The calls connects but San has no strength to speak but Second realises something is wrong.
Minutes later, Second arrives and finding San unconscious in the corridor, other student from the adjoining rooms all hovering around San, some bent over him trying to wake him. Second pushing his way through and scooping San up and rushes his out of the building.
San lays unconscious in the hospital bed, connected to a breathing machine. Second, Pear and Berry are beside him as too is grandfathers lawyer.
"The truth is Mr Grandfather has been poisoned twice. Once in the main house hospitalising him and the second time in the hospital. We haven't been able to prove who's behind it but we suspected it's someone within the immediately family. Which was why Mr Grandfather changed his will. He knows San has no interest in the business but he thought if he told everyone he'd passed it onto him, then the culprit would be found. What Mr. Grandfather didn't expect was someone would try to also poison San. This is extremely concerning."
Pear spoke up. "San came to see me yesterday. He asked me who would benefit if both grandfather and he died."
"So he too suspected something like this might happen." The lawyer asks.
"He was only speculating. We're spoken several times and haven't been able to understand why grandfather did what he did. But I guess we now know why." Pear replies.
"Will he be okay?" Berry asks.
The lawyer nods. "The doctors were able to treat the poison but without the source, we don't know how he was poison."
"There was no evidence in his room?" Pear asks.
The lawyer shakes his head. "The severity of his vomiting emptied his stomach of any contents making it difficult for determine what it was he ate to get poisoned. A search of his room didn't produce any evidence of him eating in his room. Yet, the poison would have impacted his body soon after injection."
"Which suggests someone removed the evidence." Pear asks.
The lawyer nods.
"We're no closer to knowing the truth. And San's live might still be in danger." Berry says.
"I've spoken to Mr Grandfather, who is devastated by the turn of events. He has suggested to protect San, we tell everyone outside this room he died. Then we hide him until we can learn the truth."
"Aunt is going to be devastated." Pear replies.
"It can't be help. Right now we need to do what it takes to protect San." The lawyer tells them.
"But grandfather is still alive. Which means he'll have to update his will again." Older cousin says.
"Grandfather was been isolating himself since the last poisoning and pretending weakness. He's now going to make it look like his health is declining even further and that he's unfit to update the will. He'll remain this way until we can find the culprit." The lawyer explains.
"I implore all three of you to keep this to yourself to protect both Mr Grandfather and San."
All three nod and the lawyer leaves.
"I can't believe it." Berry says, coming forward to take San's had. "Who do something so horrible."
"And why?" Pear adds.
Both women appear angry and vengeful.
Second watches from the end of the bed. "Leave university to me. I'll take of things there."
Pear turns and give Second a nod.
Tae didn't know what to do or where to go. He's frantic as he flees the building, crying and calling out hysterically to San. Second seeing the scene came rushing from across the road and took Tae by the shoulders.
Seeing Second, Tae grabs his arms firmly and begs, "Tell me. Tell me he's alive."
Seeing the bag in Tae's hand, Second relies, "We need to get to the hospital now."
Second drags Tae to his car nearby and they rush to the hospital. Tae is curled up in the passenger seat, continually asking if San is alive.
Second keeps a firm hold on Tae's hand holding the plastic bag, but says nothing.
They arrive at the hospital and Second rushing Tae into the building but instead of taking him to the front counter, senior pulls him into the lift and takes him up the private ward.
"What's going on?" Tae demands, crying and clenching at Second's arm.
As the lift opens, lawyer is there to meet them.
Second snatches the bag from Tae's hands and passing it to the lawyer, says, "The evidence."
Tae is confused and goes to follow the lawyer as he rushes away. Second stops Tae and pulls him back.
"What's going on?" Tae begs. "Where's San."
Second grabs Tae by the arms and giving a slight shake says, "Calm down. I'll tell you everything."
Tae's can no longer contain his fear and grief and yells. "Where's San. Where is he?"
From behind Second, San's voice calls out. "I"m here Tae. I'm here."
Tae pushes past Second to see San walking towards him. Crying and hysterical Tae rushes towards San and crushes himself against him. "I hate you." Tae tells him.
"I know. I promise, I'll make it up to you."
Tae's body suddenly goes limp and San realises Tae has passed out. Calling Second, they both move Tae to the private room San has been using.
Episode 12
Tae slowly becomes aware he's lying down and then when he remembers what happened he sits up only to find he's dizzy and disorientated. San is now beside him, telling him to lie back down.
Tae opens his eyes and seeing San, starts to cry again and hugs him tightly.
"You're alive." Tae asked.
"I"m alive."
San makes Tae let go as he makes him lie back down.
San sits on the bed and caresses Tae's hands in his.
"Firstly, I'm sorry." San tells Tae. "I wanted to meet you but I couldn't. We haven't been able to find out who tried to kill grandfather and me. And so I had to pretend I was dead."
"I hate you. You should have told me."
"I know. I'm sorry. I wanted to. But it was impossible. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"What was the second thing you wanted to tell me." Tae asks.
"Secondly, I love you. I want to you to be my boyfriend."
Tae sheepishly looks around the room before replying, "Is this your way of getting me to forgive you. I was terrified, you know."
"I know. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
Tae sulks a moment longer before letting out a breath breath and saying, "I guess I can forgive you but only because I want to be your boyfriend."
San raises Tae's to his lips and kisses him. "Thank you. Thank you for saving me."
"But did I? You said you haven't been able to find out who did this?"
"We should know soon." San told him.
"The sweets?" Tae asked.
San nodded. "Yes. The main house kitchen staff were investigated but the type of poison used would have been found on the surfaces in the kitchen and nothing was found. I couldn't help because I'd received the sweets from different members of the family and the sweets left for grandfather, no one knew who had left them."
"Then how can it be proved who poisoned them."
"Not the sweets, but the bag they came in?"
Tae looks confused.
"The staff always left the sweets on the counter at the end of the day and when they'd return the following day some would be gone. My mother, aunt and cousin, all who delivered sweets to me, said they were left for them with a note they were for me. None of that evidence could be found. However, the bag I got from my father had a note stuck to it, saying they were for me. It's that note they hope to use to find out who poisoned them."
"When will you know?"
"Soon. If it proves who did it, grandfather and I can return home."
Tae gives a nod.
"Would you like to meet him?" San asks and Tae looks up. "Grandfather. He's going as crazy as I am hiding here at the hospital. He'd like to thank you for helping us."
Tae still looks gloomy and San asks if he's okay.
"What if they can't find who did it? Then what?" Tae asks.
"The grandfather will come clean and I'll resurface. My parents think I've died."
"What!" Tae says started. "That's terrible. They must be so heartbroken."
"It was necessary. There was no one we could trust. Only Second and my cousins knew the trust."
"First is going to be furious when he finds out." Tae murmurs.
"Your friend. Second is sorry for avoiding you both but it was necessary. Please don't be made at him. I'm the one who made him promise not to tell. He still haven't forgiven me for not turning up when I said we would meet."
"I has heartbroken that day." Tae says.
"I know. I"m sorry."
"You better make it up to me."
"I will. I promise." San holds out his little finger to confirm the promise. Tae links his little finger with San's.
Tae and San enter grandfather room. It's much more a hotel room than a hospital room and San ushers Tae towards grandfather.
San introduces Tae and grandfather thanks Tae for bringing the evidence needed thought he doesn't understand how he got it. Grandfather goes on to say San did try to explain but he was simple too old to understand.
At that moment the lawyer enter the room and tell all three they know who was behind the poisoning.
Th cousins are at the main house, with their parents and San's parents.
"And the lawyer said he was coming passed with news about San's death." San's mother sits lifeless on the sofa, her tone void of any emotion. San's father sits with his arm wrapped around her, he has no words.
"Yes." Pear says, glancing at her younger sister.
They waited in the main room of the house until the front door opened and they heard the housekeeper greet the lawyer. There were sudden noises from the entrance and everyone looked over.
The lawyer came into the room, shortly followed by grandfather, San and Tae.
The entire room responded in unison.
San's mother jumps up and running across the room, through herself at San. Pulling back, she touch his face, shoulder arms and face again, her tears falling heavily.
"How? Why?" She cried.
Aunt, also in tears came rushing forward to embrace her sister and nephew.
"I know this is a shock to you all but let us sit down. There's something matters to address." Grandfather tells them and only then does aunt take her fathers hand, showing him the happiest she is at his return.
San's mother drags San with her as she found a place for them to sit, and San grabs Tae's hand and drags him along with them.
San's father get up and lets mother and San and Tae sit as he takes a place behind his son.
Grandfather takes chair at the head at the head of the settling and the lawyer stand to his side.
"Firstly, let me introduce to this young man with my grandson. His name is Tae and he's been of great assistance to us over the past few month."
Everyone acknowledges Tae and Tae awkwardly acknowledges everyone back and San squeezes Tae's hand in his.
"Father, what is this all about." San's mother asks, having not let go of San's other hand.
"I'll get straight to the point. The reason for my hospitalisation was because I was poisoned."
There is a collective gasp in the room. However the grandchildren don't show that same level of surprise. Aunt notices and looking at Pear asks, "Did you know?"
She nods.
"It was one you who did this to me and to find that person I deliberately changed my will hoping the culprit would show themselves."
Again there was disbelieve from the family.
"However, that person took advantage of this, and decided to also kill my grandson."
"Impossible." San's mother said but looking at her son beside her. The son whom she buried months before, rages filled her veins.
"Who. Who did this?" The rage her veins matched the rage in her voice.
Grandfather let out a deep breath. Without looking at anyone, he said, "I would ask that person to admit to their sins but I realise the extent they have gone though to cover their tracks that they will never willing admit their crimes. Which is why I have to ask, son-in-law, why would you kill your own son."
The shock of grandfather words silenced the room before mother jumps up to face her husband.
"You. You poisoned our son. How could you?" Mother goes to launch herself at him over the sofa and San jumps up and grabs her. Both mother and son stare at the man behind them.
"This is crazy. How could I possible kill my own son. Grandfather is mad. He's completely lost his mind. You know he's been making stupid decision for months now."
Grandfather indicated to the lawyer, how opened the folder he was holding.
"An insurance policy was taken out on San by his father several days after San was made sole benefactor. If anything were to happen to him, everything San owned would be inherited by his father. Mr grandfather faked his declined to protect San and San went into hiding after faking his death to protect himself."
All eyes were on San's father and San letting goes off his mother, straightened up and said, "Why father. Why would you do something like this?"
The soft face of the man who had been part the family for many years suddenly grow hard and as his eyes grow dark, he replied, "Never once have I been part of this family. No matter what I did it was also look down on, like I was useless."
"That's not true." San's mother said in disbelief.
"Really. While you're all off working for the company, I'm stuck here managing the house. Do you have any idea how degrading that is."
"It never had to be that way. You could have done anything you wanted. You could have worked for the business. I don't understand."
"I don't need your pity. You never made me feel like I could be anything other than worthless."
"That's not true. I never thought that. Never." Mother pleads.
From the entrance of the room, several police appear. They approach San's father and he quietly leave with them.
Mother's body slumps and aunt comes and embraces her. "Let me take her to her room."
San let his mother go and they leave, grandfather following behind.
Uncle then excuses himself to speak with the lawyer.
The cousin are pleased to meet Tae. They know who he is as San continually talked about him. They thank him for helping San and they look forward to meeting again under better circumstances and they too excuse themselves.
San takes Tae to his room and they sit on the bed.
Tae take San's hands and watching him asks if he's okay.
They discuss the turn of events and Tae promises to stay beside San to help him get through the difficult time.
Epilogue
Tae sits at the table during lunch with his best friend. Approaching them is San and Second. They sit and all four discuss what happens.
They talk about San's parents and the outcome. His grandfather and the will being changed again.
Tae is clingy but San doesn't complain although their friends find it a little too much.
Later, San takes Tae to his new room, much larger than the dorm room. He asks Tae to move in with him and Tae agrees. They sit on the sofa and San once more thanks Tae for saving him and Tae promises he'll away be there to save San.
The story and scene end with them kissing.