THE SLEEPING… PRINCE

After her lecture ended Professor Melanie went straight into her office, which was actually inside the special laboratory. The laboratory is a special place in the college for a special science research department. Only students that selected by her will be there to help her conduct an experiments. Not a single student in that college knows how to be one of the special students there because Melanie herself will choose according to criteria that only she knows. But, usually top students in the college will be dreaming to be selected by her.

The reason she created the lab was definitely because of what happened 10 years ago. An incident which she herself cannot forget to this day. Since one of her superiors is Professor Do-Yun, who once led the rainbow meteor research, her proposal to create this laboratory is supported as long as she wants to work there.

Of course her selected students did not know much about rainbow meteors she also cannot reveal it according to the policies or she will face a big problem in the future, so the experiments conducted there were to study the formulas of drugs and their effects on different DNA where only her knew the real meaning behind the study.

All the tests, there are done secretly from other students and what makes many students want to participate is because after they sign the contract they will get a special allowance and 'free pass' which means even without taking the actual exam, they will get a pass in the semester they participate.

Now, Melanie sat wearily in her ergonomics office chair as she sighed. Her fatigue as a lecturer is definitely different from her past work. Before this she only worked in hospitals and laboratories, but deal with students surely make her much more tired mentally and physically.

Her eyes suddenly fixed on the blue liquid that was in the close tube test cylinder in her office closet which was always locked tightly. She remembers the incident that night in the military research building, where Alex melted the blue stone and that was the balance she managed to get.

That night, as she fainted from inhaling the gasoline Alex poured, she could feel her body being lifted by the man. In a lifeless state, she tries hard to open her eyes and saw Alex trying to support her to get out of there. While going through the lab table that Alex was using, Melanie, who was being supported to walk, managed to grab the test tube without Alex noticing. The liquid there is not that much, but she has to try to find the secret behind the liquid to help someone. Although the probability of success is slim.

Ring Ring…

While she was busy remembering her past, Melanie was startled when her cell phone rang loudly. Looking at the name in the phone screen she accepted the call quickly.

"Yes, Byung-Hun. I just finished giving a lecture. Is there anything wrong? " Since the incident 10 years ago, she and Byung-Hun have been in regular contact.

"Ji-Na and I just want to ask if you really want to come today? She wanted to cook something for you. " Said Byung-Hun on the phone.

Melanie smiled hearing that. The family is like her own family now.

"Of course I will. I want to check on him today remember? But, don't bother to cook anything fancy. I'm not staying for long. "

"Tsk, I know you miss home cook food once in a while Mel. So you better prepare yourself because Ji-Na just now brought everything that she can found inside the supermarket. It's like we going to have a party for 100 people even it's just us three."

Melanie can hear Ji-Na voices from a far nagging her husband because teasing her. Melanie then laughed a little at the couple's lameness. Even though they have been married for a long time, they are still like the newlyweds who sometimes make a bachelor like her feeling jealous of seeing them.

"Alright then. In that case, make sure you guys cook a lot, so I can bring some leftover home. "

"It won't be 'some' that for sure. You know her well enough. Drive safely. "

"I will."

After the conversation, Melanie continues to get up from her seat and pack the medical items that she will definitely need later at Byung-Hun's house. This is her weekly routine and priority to visit them and check on...

"Let's go and meet the sleeping prince." Melanie speaks to herself.

___________________

::Byung-Hun new house::

After the events that took place between Alex and his family, they moved to a new house quite far from the city area. Plus with Eun-Woo's current condition, they want to live in an area that has fresh air and good nature surrounding. Who knows, it helps a little bit.

"How is he?" Byung-Han asked.

Melanie, who has reached the house runs a test on Eun-Woo. Since the day he was injected with blue liquid by Alex, his condition remain unchanged. He's just like someone who sleeps, but doesn't want to wake up. It's been 10 years he been like that.

After a year or two being in the hospital many doctors run tests and say that Eun-woo is healthy and fine, but they can't detect why Eun-woo can't get up and open his eyes. J ust like 'the sleeping beauty' story. But this one, no one knows what's the cure.

Due to not wanting his son to be a test subject by the doctor in the hospital, Byung-Hun brought his son home. Since then, he has only trusted Melanie to examine his son. Each week Melanie will do a routine checkups such as looking at blood pressure, heart function, lung, kidneys, even conduct a blood intake to see what is changing.

Interestingly, Eun-Woo never been drinking or eating all this years because when they conduct a test, his body is filling with water and seem full make he manage to alive till this day. And even though Eun-woo has been sleeping for 10 years, never eating and drinking, he is getting taller and become more and more fit each day as if he has been workout for years. His health showing an improvement and his face also not sunken in fact, he looks even more handsome unlike a sick person.

Sometimes they could see small wounds here and there on Eun-Woo's body and made them worried but the wound then healed quickly. Although strange but that was the reason both his parents never gave up and waited for their son to wake up and become normal again.

"He is very healthy." Melanie said briefly as she packed up the equipment she was using. "There's nothing for both of you to worry about." She added as she exits the room, followed by Byung-Hun and his wife Ji-Na.

"Let's sit on the sofa first." Byung-Hun invites.

Melanie sat down to let go of her remaining fatigue and then started chatting dropping her professional antic as she is not working now.

"How fast time passes. Eun-woo is already 26 years old this year. "

"He is. Even he in that condition I'm still relieved that he looks good on the outside." Ji-Na said with smiling.

"How far are we with the research?" Byung-Hun wants to know the progress of Melanie research. Yes. The special science department that she manages actually to find a cure for Eun-Woo. Even she's not the one that makes the child like that, part of her feel responsible because of her ex-co worker Martin.

"I'm sorry. Sometime I feel like I found the solution, sometime I feel like I come to dead end. And, it's like a roller coaster ride for me." Melanie face clearly shown her dissapoinment to herself.

"Don't be sorry Mel. We understood well. Its not easy even back then with a big sources before." Byung-Hun said. "You try hard all this years."

Ji-Na also nodded agrees with her husband and said, "We actually grateful for you because you never give up for Eun-Woo."

"Part of this is my fault. If only I manage to stop Martin back then..." Melanie started blaming herself.

"Please don't say it like that Mel. In fact, we don't blame Alex, who made Eun-Woo like that . Of course we feel regret, but all of us, including Alex are the victims in this story." Ji-Na said sadly remembering Alex's disappointed and frustration face that night.

"If only I answer Alex call back then. Probably he will not commit suicide. " Byung-Hun sighs while holding his head full of regret. "I was too busy taking care of Eun-Woo that day."

How beautiful those two hearts are. Still wanted to forgive someone despite being in a situation like this, Melanie thinking to herself.

"Don't think too much. It's his fate. Even autopsy said he already died before he jumps into the river. So technically he is not commit a suicide. You guys are also too kind by doing a funeral for him and bury him next to Aaron. I'm sure he will be happy if he knew it. " Melanie turns to comfort them.

Then a moment of silence come between them as they served each other's thoughts. Melanie also thinks hard about something before continuing her words,

"Actually, I have something to discuss with you guys which I have been hiding for these 10 years." Melanie started talking.

Byung-Hun and Ji-Na look at each other questioningly. What is Melanie hiding from them presumably? They thought they got no secret between them all this time.

"What do you mean?" Byung-Hun is now curious.

"First, I'm sorry I never tell you this, but I have my own reason. I didn't want to act rush, but its already 10 years. Actually 10 years ago Martin injected me with the red meteor liquid and left me to die before Alex came in and bring me out from the building."

"What?" Byung-Hun was clearly shocked to hear the news.

"Oh my God! And... How can you survive?" Ji-Na also was very curious.

"Actually, I didn't really remember, but last year suddenly the memories seem to come back at me. The red liquid that Martin injects me is the one that contains only pure liquid. Not a single formula is being added. He just injected me in a rush that day. "

"So, you mean…" Byung-Hun tries to guess the meaning behind the story told by Melanie.

Melanie nodded. "I've actually been thinking about this for a long time now, but because we may only have one chance so I don't want us to hope too much. Maybe we can try to give Eun-Woo that blue liquid. "

"If that's the only way maybe we can try. " Ji-Na said but not confidently.

"I don't want you two to make a hasty decision because this involves Eun-Woo's life as well. So think first this week. Then give me your answer when you're ready. "

Byung-Hun and Ji-Na nodded understandingly. They know the decision to be made is very difficult because maybe the effectiveness is only 50/50. Therefore, they should think deeply before making a decision just like what Melanie requested.