Will You Take My Place

     "Miss Hae?" a red-headed nurse asked as she touched Hae Mina's shoulder. She looked up with a tear stained face.

     "Yes?"

     "Hae Jae-Woo is able to have visitors now. You may go in."

     "Thank you," she choked out and followed the nurse. She was led down bright cheery halls that contradicted the truth behind their dark and menacing doors. She hated hospitals. Hospitals were filled with death. Hospitals were where people went when they finally gave up on life and wanted to die and if you were not there to die you were there because your life was about to change forever. Nothing good ever came from hospitals.

     The nurse held the door open. Hae Mina brushed past her still in a partial daze. So much had changed in a matter of seconds.

     She continued in, forcing her feet to move. Two other beds sat in the room, but, to Hae Mina's relief, they were vacant. Thin white sheets covered them, and a single white pillow lay at the head of each bed. She could hear the steady beeps of Hae Jae-Woo's heart monitor and let her eyes venture to his form.

     He lay on a bed with a thin white sheet lying askew on top of him because his left leg was pulled into the air and wrapped in a white cast. His right arm was atop the blanket and had an IV clinging to it like a lifeline, and an oxygen tube wrapped around him wanting nothing but to remain humming and alive.

     His closed eyes were dark purple and swollen and his blood drained lips were cut in various places and chapped. Dark bruises covered his face and a neck brace clung to him for its life. He shifted and the blanket slid to the side, revealing his bandaged torso. Thick white bandages wrapped around and around his head—concealing all his hair. The skin that was not swollen, bruised or covered could put a piece of paper to shame it was so white.

     Her heart cracked, and tears fought to resurface. Her handsome brother in this condition was unbearable. She was used to looking delicate, but to see him so fragile, so meek, churned her stomach. He never looked like this. This was not her beautiful full-of-himself brother! This was not Jae-Woo! It couldn't be!

     She took a frightened step back. He couldn't die! She took another step back, but his eyes cracked open. Their soft and alluring brown irises beckoned her to stay, so she stepped closer.

     "Oppa," she whispered, trying to hide her tears, as well as her fears.

     "You aren't good at acting," he whispered through cracked lips.

     "Mm. How are you?"

     "Miserable," he replied. She had known that by looking at him.

     "Guess the meds are wearing off," she replied in a soft voice.

     "Yeah." He gasped, and his face crumpled in pain.

     "I'm sorry," she replied to his gasp.

     "What do I do, M?" he asked his boyish voice breaking.

     "What do you mean?"

     "Look at me; I can't do anything. Doc. says I can't go to school, but I can't ditch the band." The beeps on the machines began to race. "They've already paid me in advance, so I have to go!"

     "Shush," Hae Mina soothed, "calm down before I have them sedate you," her words were soft but teasing.

     "I can't calm down, M.  We are in trouble. I-I have to make it to school."

     "We can work something out. Maybe they'll wait for you," she forced herself to remain calm.

     "No," he tried to shake his head, but gasped. When he caught his breath again, "They wait for no man. Especially, Jiho, the leader. He is demanding. If I miss one practice at the beginning of this thing, I'll be eliminated from the band. I can't be eliminated! I have to go!" He attempted to sit up but failed and cried in pain before collapsing onto the bed.

     "No," she rested her hand on his chest, "you cannot go anywhere. You must rest. We'll think of something, I promise. We'll handle this." She glided her hand over his bandaged head.

     He nodded forcing the brace to stab into his neck. After a few minutes of silence, his monitor began to beat in a clam rhythm again. Silence, excluding the beeps, stretched on nigh on to an eternity before Hae Jae-Woo spoke again. "Mina," he began in a whisper. She knew whatever he was about to say was serious because he'd called her by her name and not by 'M'. "I would never seriously ask this of you under any other circumstance, but…"

     "What? If I can help, I will."

     "What if… Could you… Will you take my place?" her eyes widened at his words. "It's the only way to keep us from jail or worse. Jiho would imprison me and you for taking the money early and using it."

     "What'd you use it on?"

     "We have to pay part of the hospital bill, my manager, and the insurance companies due to the accident and I paid off our car—not that it'll do us much good now. I need you to do this."

     "I understand, but do you know how dangerous this is? If I get caught, we'll be in worse trouble. It is a male only school after all," she teased.

     "I know," he muttered. Hae Mina knew he missed her tone, so she continued.

     "And what would our family think? This is impossible: me acting like you! Oh, how embarrassing," she dramatically lay the back of her hand on her head.

     "Now, you're mocking," he laughed, then gasped. She smiled knowing he had figured out her joke. She had disguised herself as him many times before. Of course, she never attempted to stay around boys for more than one day, but she would adjust. She sighed as a thought crossed her mind. I guess I will be mistaken for him this year.

     "Of course! Now, where's your uniform? I'll go to school for you tomorrow." He responded to her words with a guilty smile.

     "No, it is best you wait," a new voice stated. Hae Mina's head snapped to the right and Hae Jae-Woo's smile faded. A tall man with shoulder length black hair and dark brown eyes stood before her. Hae Mina absorbed the look he had plastered to his face and didn't like it at all. He was plotting and she knew whatever it was, it would not be good.

    "Who are you?" she inquired, showing her venomous attitude.

     "Kyong Konu, and I am his manager. I will be handling your and his affairs and money."

     "Konu, lay off," Hae Jae-Woo ordered hiding his pain and disregarding all forms of formality.

     "Lie down, Hae Jae-Woo. You need rest," Mr. Kyong replied; "your sister and I will return shortly." Mr. Kyong took Hae Mina by her arm and led her from the room and into a vacant one. When the door shut, she ripped her wrist from his hand.

     "What do you want?" she growled. He pushed her by her shoulders to the wall.

     "Listen to me, you little brat, I have a lot riding on that boy. If he doesn't perform, Nightide will be furious. Do you even know who they are?" Hae Mina glared at him but shook her head. She had never paid much attention to Hae Jae-Woo when he spoke of them. She only knew they were currently popular and making a lot of money.

     "Didn't think so, brat. Does Kyung Jiho sound familiar to you?" Hae Mina felt the heat drain from her face. "He's the heir to Kyung Industries," Mr. Kyong explained. "And other band members include family names like Naiting."

     "Naiting?" her voice shook. No wonder Hae Jae-Woo was terrified. If he didn't show up, he'd end up their slave for life and her life would be a living nightmare. They would only be permitted to follow their orders. No job, except what they said. No school except what they said--at least if she stayed in the country. But she couldn't just leave. Not only did she lack the necessary passport, but she also refused to go break a contract her brother signed.

     "So, you see the dilemma. And if you don't follow my every command, I will let the information slip that you and Hae Jae-Woo were…"

     "Don't do that! Please! You can't do that to us!" she demanded. She did not know how he knew their secret, but he could not tell anyone. He covered her mouth and pushed her further against the wall.

     "Keep your mouth shut and do what I say. If you do, you and your brother will remain safe. Understand?" He moved his hand and she nodded, hating herself. Out of the many things she hated, submitting to someone's will almost topped her list. "Good. Now, I'm going to take care of your brother till he recovers. When he can switch places with you, we'll do so, but until then you are Hae Jae-Woo. Do you understand? Now, you will withdraw from your University and I will send a note to the Mr. Naiting, letting him know of the accident. We won't inform them of the severity and they won't know the fact you are a girl. You need to pretend that you've forgotten everything since the day they met; otherwise, they will uncover the truth and all three of us will be in severe trouble. When you get in, act like you usually would, but stay away from trouble, don't get caught, and don't forget: I'll be making checks on your progress. You, their manager, and I will be in contact frequently. Now, go say farewell to your brother and go home," he paused, not yet releasing her, "One more thing, if you decide to be courageous and get into trouble, I will make you pay personally, understand?" he whispered grabbing her jaw and squeezing it tightly. The look in his eye made her skin crawl.

     Where did Jae-Woo find this guy? she wondered before she nodded, signaling she understood his meanings. She got the message as clear as spring water. Obey, or the consequences would be vile and insufferable.

     "Good," he released her jaw and shoulder. She slid from beneath his arm and hurried to the door. "Say nothing about this to your brother," he added. She nodded to him once more then disappeared out the door.