Choi Hyeonji had always been popular among friends since she was young, but her first friend was always one special person.

A friend who, from a young age, had been popular with everyone, expressed a wish to go on a math field trip together, paid for the trip on her behalf, took notes for her when she got injured during a volleyball game, and even prepared meals. When her mother collapsed, needing an emergency blood transfusion, this friend contacted all acquaintances, posted on the internet, and saved her mother’s life.

Hyeonji had such a friend too.

Choi Hyeonji and Kang Hana, who had attended elementary, middle, and high school together in Jeungpyeong, parted ways for the first time when they became university students. With Hyeonji’s father’s business booming, Hyeonji left for the United States for the desired overseas study, and Hana, who dreamed of becoming an actress, entered the Theater and Film Department in Seoul.

Although their bodies were far apart, their hearts were always close. The two lived faithfully in their respective lives, but whenever they called each other, they held onto the phone all night, chatting away. For Hyeonji, receiving a call from Hana anytime was the only joy in her challenging overseas life.

One day, unexpectedly, Hana gave Hyeonji some news.

[Hyeonji, I have a boyfriend now. He’s my brother in law, attending law school. Handsome, right?]

If it were the usual Hana, she would have asked Hyeonji how she looked before dating her boyfriend, but perhaps because there was no such process, Hyeonji felt a bit hurt. However, around that time, Hana’s family, who were farming, ended up shouldering debts, so Hyeonji thought it was a reasonably good thing. It seemed better for Hana to lift her spirits by dating than to be depressed about housework.

When Hana started dating, contact between them naturally decreased. Therefore, Hyeonji just thought that Hana, who fell in love this time too, couldn’t contact her often. Although it was strange that even when Hyeonji called because she missed Hana, Hana only replied with short messages, Hyeonji, who knew Hana well, considered it a trivial matter.

Later, beyond the strangeness, she felt suspicion when Hana’s mother called.

[Hyeonji, Hana isn’t answering. It’s been a long time since she came down to the house, and she hasn’t picked up the phone for two months now. If I keep trying to contact her, she responds with short messages. Do you happen to know anything?]

Since she also couldn’t contact Hana continuously, she became worried belatedly. Hyeonji, who decided to return to Korea after finishing her final exams, arrived promptly.

Then, she went to Hana’s new place with Hana’s family. It was when Hana had fainted at her place from a nosebleed. Hyeonji quickly took Hana to the hospital.

Hana was suffering from complications after a miscarriage.
A long time ago, a baby was conceived in the relationship with her boyfriend. The boyfriend, who had acted like they would get married right away, had cut off contact after that but one day returned with money. The boyfriend tried to persuade and force her into surgery, but Hana couldn’t do it. Due to late discovery of pregnancy, she couldn’t undergo the surgery, so Hana took a leave of absence from school, rejected a drama offer, and endured it all.

Later, the boyfriend’s mother came and took Hana home. She apologized for not knowing all this time, suggested they become close, and just wished for Hana’s well-being. The boyfriend, feeling sorry all this time, brought up the topic of marriage. Hana regained her strength with their apologies. The boyfriend’s mother warmly welcomed her as if receiving an honored guest, prepared food, and Hana enjoyed the dishes.

However, that night, the baby’s heart stopped.

Hana found herself in a situation where surgery was inevitable. Since it was a miscarriage in the middle of pregnancy, Hana had significant bleeding. After that, all contact with the boyfriend was cut off, and both Hana’s body and mind were shattered.

Being too young, not knowing anything, and considering the other party was a law school student, Hana couldn’t take any action.

Hyeonji wanted to be a support for Hana, just as Hana had been her pillar during their school days. She took a leave of absence from school, stayed in Korea, and guarded Hana’s side to help her return as a vigorous Kang Hana. However, Hana felt burdensome for Hyeonji, who couldn’t return to the U.S. because of her. Eventually, after six months, Hyeonji went back to the U.S.

And two months later, news of Hana’s death reached her.

A promising and beautiful friend, Hana, Hyeonji’s only close friend, left the world so sadly at the age of twenty-two. Hyeonji engraved the names of Hana’s former boyfriend Yang Hee-wook and his mother Kim Mal-hee on her heart.