The Arrangement

The unexpected offer

Taehyung
Lali. Come quick
It's dad

‏ lisa
‏What happened

Taehyung
He had a heart attack
_______________
Lisa's POV:

"We managed to resuscitate your father," the doctor said, his voice grave." Stroke victims are susceptible to heart attacks in the first twenty-four hours after the stroke. We're keeping a close eye on him and will continue to run tests to see just what we can do." The way he said it made it sound like he wasn't confident there'd be much.

"Thank you, Doctor," Lucas said.The doctor nodded and left us alone.

"How long is dad going to have to be here?" I asked in a small voice." It doesn't look like he's in any shape to go home."

"We might not have a choice," taehyung said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"I asked.

My brothers looked at each other. My heart pounded in my chest. I could sense the bade news coming. Finally, lucas turned to me.
"We can't afford him being here, Lali."

I blinked. "What?"
Taehyung ran his hands through his hair, his face haggard. "We're broke".

"How?" The restaurant....". The restaurant had been my dad's life when we were growing up. Mom had worked there too, until she got sick. My brothers took over as soon as they finished college.

"It's been struggling for a couple of years. The recession took its toll. Dad put a second mortgage on the house to try and see us through." Lucas sighed. He looked defeated.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "I have my interviews soon, so maybe..."But taehyung was shaking his head.

"The hospital bills are coming soon..."

I couldn't be there anymore—in the hallway, in the hospital. It was too claustrophobic. I pushed away from my brothers. My shaking legs carried me through the halls and downstairs until I found myself standing outside, in front of the hospital.

It was the middle of the night, so there was no one to see me fall to my knees in the middle of the sidewalk. Or so I thought......
"Excuse me?" a deep voice said from behind me.

Sniffing, I glanced up to see a man nearing me." Yes, can I help you?" I murmured, wiping my tears.The man knelt down so we were eye level, and I gasped, falling back onto my butt. It was the man from the park, the one I'd given a lily to.

"I just wanted to ask if you were okay." He smiled. "You seemed a little down."

Those were the exact words I had said to him not ten hours ago. This was no coincidence. I started to feel nervous. How did he know I'd be here?

"What are you doing here?" The hospital, in the middle of Ulsan, was hours away from Seoul.

"You'll have to forgive my intrusion," the man said. "After you were so good to me this afternoon, I knew I had to pay your act of kindness forward. I called Jen's Flowers. That was where the bouquet you were holding was from."

What does this man want from me? Why does he know so much about me?

"Yes, but..."

"I saw it on the paper. And I spoke to Jennie, a lovely girl. And asked after you, Ms. Lisa. She said she knew you well. That you were in a small hospital in Ulsan because your father had just become ill."

"He had a stroke," I whispered, in disbelief at the whole conversation." But why...why are you here?"

"Allow me to explain, lisa. My name is Jeon Sungwoo."