Chapter 90 – ​The ​Price ​of ​Misjudgment

The ​walking ​trail ​was ​a ​place Yoon Ki-hyun had ​also ​visited frequently during ​his own hospitalization. ​Admiring ​the ​carefully ​maintained ​landscaping ​made hospital life ​somewhat ​bearable.

‘To ​think all he ​wants to do is ​take a ​walk.’

The man ​he thought ​might have ​died ​had ​returned safely, so ​a simple ​walk was nothing he ​couldn’t manage. Moreover, he ​needed to properly observe ​the direction ​of ​these unsettling emotional shifts.

After a whirlwind ​of various emotions, an ​indefinable ​residue ​remained ​at ​the bottom of ​his heart. ​What ​name to give ​this ​emotion, which didn’t seem likely ​to disappear, ​depended ​entirely on Jeong ​Si-jun.

“Hyung.”

It ​no ​longer ​felt ​awkward or ​cringeworthy ​to be ​called ‘hyung’ by Jeong Si-jun. Recalling how ​they had bickered ​over titles for ​a while almost made ​him laugh. ​What did a ​mere ​title even matter?

“I’ve ​been thinking.”

“Yeah.”

“I think ​you’ve eaten ​so ​much hospital ​food ​that you’re ​probably ​sick of ​it. ​Honestly, ​no matter how ​good ​hospital food ​is, ​it’s ​all ​pretty much the same, right?”

For someone mumbling about the quality of hospital food, his expression was remarkably serious.

“So, I was thinking, how about we say we’re going out for a bit and eat outside? Or delivery would be fine too.”

Yoon Ki-hyun scanned Jeong Si-jun from head to toe. Although he had a coat over his patient gown, he didn’t look like his body was fully recovered enough to go out. He had regained his color and still had a sturdy build, but…

‘Given the state he was in, isn’t it a bit hard to believe he’s already recovered?’

Yoon Ki-hyun still struggled to gauge the recovery speed of Espers. Perhaps it was because he had never been interested in the first place.

“There will be a lot of people since it’s lunchtime. Wouldn’t delivery be better?”

“Either one works for me.”

“Then let’s order delivery.”

“Then what should we eat?”

“…What do you want to eat?”

“Whatever you want, Hyung.”

Whatever I want… He was at a loss, as he rarely had much of an appetite.

When he worked at the Center, he used the cafeteria. It was convenient not to have to worry about the menu every day. When he worked with Jeong Si-jun, a routine had eventually established itself where Jeong Si-jun always found the best restaurants.

Thinking back, he realized he never had to worry about meals when he was with Jeong Si-jun. Even if the man was always annoyingly persistent.

“How about something like a lunch box delivery?”

“I’m down for that.”

He couldn’t eat greasy chicken or pizza for lunch. Besides, Jeong Si-jun was strictly a patient. But as for porridge, it was a menu item he was reluctant to pay money for.

“By the way, Hyung.”

“What.”

“You’re taking your medicine and injections properly, right?”

Yoon Ki-hyun fell silent at the sudden question, having expected the conversation to remain on food.

The cycle for the once-a-month injection hadn’t come around yet, so that wasn’t an issue, but several days’ worth of daily medication remained untouched.

With his mind entirely consumed by the gate, how could he have had the presence of mstolen contentstyle="font-size:0;color:transparent;display:inline;">visit our siteind to take his medicine?

“Based on your reaction, you haven’t been taking them, have you?”

“I wasn’t in a position to.”

“Are you saying you couldn’t take your medicine because you were worrying about me?”

“Do you really have to ask that?”

Yoon Ki-hyun glared at him as if asking why he would question something so obvious, yet Jeong Si-jun’s lips kept twitching upward, seemingly delighted.

“Did you think about me that much?”

“…Stop it.”

“Wow, my Hyung worried about me so much that he forgot his medicine…”

The soft, gentle tone, as if coaxing a child, was grating on his nerves. He knew the man was like this, but he wondered why his temper was flaring up so much.

‘Does he get an itch in his body if he isn’t being a brat or something?’

Even when he glared as a warning to stop, the smirk remained. Still, a part of him felt that being able to see a face with [unauthorized copy[unauthorized [Read on Read BL Novels]copy]e;left:-9999px;">]enough energy to smile like that was a blessing.

Yoon Ki-hyun figured it was because the time he spent assuming Jeong Si-jun might have died had been that horrific.

Unlike Yoon Ki-hyun, whose hospitalization period increased every time test results came out, Jeong Si-jun was recovering steadily—no, faster than the medical staff expected.

“Your progress truly seems to change by the hour. Your levels have returned to the normal range, and after reviewing the remaining test results, it seems fine for you to be discharged the day after tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ve performed many surgeries on Espers, but I’ve never seen this kind of recovery speed.”

Contrary to his stern impression, the professor looked continuously amazed. Jeong Si-jun stared blankly at the white doctor’s coat before tentatively speaking up.

“Still, since I came back from the dead, I think I might need a bit more recuperation. Wouldn’t the day after tomorrow be too early for discharge? I really went through hell inside the gate. I was vomiting buckets of blood and all.”

The perceptive professor perfectly grasped the patient’s intention and nodded.

Regardless of the miraculous recovery speed, there was a possibility that various aftereffects could appear late since he had suffered severe injuries.

“Yes, then we will keep you for another week to closely monitor your progress.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all. I’ll see you again shortly.”

After the professor left the room, Jeong Si-jun nodded with satisfaction. He had intentionally extended his hospital stay for Yoon Ki-hyun.

‘It seems people soften up when they’re wearing patient gowns.’

It was clear that Ki-hyun had worried about him much more than expected outside the gate. In the past, even if he played a prank that wouldn’t have worked on a fly, Ki-hyun would have just glared at him.

The way he would just stare with his round eyes wide open, as if telling him to knock it off, was so arousing that Si-jun had frequently had to take care of himself alone in the bathroom.

For Jeong Si-jun, who needed to make the most of this extended period, hospitalization was a golden opportunity.

They say the virtue of a successful person is the ability to seize an opportunity when it comes. He had no intention of letting this chance slip away.

He couldn’t be certain of Yoon Ki-hyun’s feelings yet, but he could definitely feel a subtle change.

He no longer felt the sensation of being cast outside his fence as he had before. Rather, should he say Ki-hyun had become softer toward him?

“Ah, what time did he say he was coming today?”

He hoped he’d come soon. Jeong Si-jun hummed a tune as he dried his hair after showering.

At some point, walking along the trail had become a routine. Yoon Ki-hyun looked back at Jeong Si-jun, who was walking slowly beside him.

Even though he tried to match his pace, Si-jun was lingering so much today that Ki-hyun had already checked behind him several times.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Ah, well.”

Jeong Si-jun gazed at the area around Yoon Ki-hyun’s cheek as he looked at him, wondering what the problem was. The cheeks, which had been gaunt after losing the weight he’d gained while they were apart, now had a fairly healthy glow.

“My leg suddenly started aching.”

“Huh?”

“Maybe because it’s an area where I’ve had frequent surgeries.”

Jeong Si-jun moved as if dragging his leg and then tentatively reached out his hand.

“So, could you hold my hand? Just until the end of the trail.”

He expected to be rebuked and told to stop his obvious antics, our site -->visit our sitebut surprisingly, Yoon Ki-hyun readily took Jeong Si-jun’s hand.

“Will you be okay?”

He even gave him a look of concern that was enough to make the conscience of a lying scammer crumble.

“Actually, just stand here for a second. I’ll go borrow a wheelchair.”

At the mention of borrowing a wheelchair, Jeong Si-jun hurriedly added, “Wait!” He couldn’t let the excuse he’d squeezed out of his brain be crushed by a wheelchair.

“You don’t even know where to borrow a wheelchair from. And the trail ends just a bit further, so just hold my hand. If I just lie down for a bit, it’ll get better.”

“…Really? Did you tell the professor?”

“He said it’s just phantom pain. Like a chronic condition.”

“Ah…”

He had heard that for Espers who live with constant injuries, phantom pain was like a badge of honor. The areas prone to injury differed for everyone, and for Jeong Si-jun, it seemed to be his knees.

Yoon Ki-hyun, completely unaware that he had fallen for Jeong Si-jun’s act, squeezed the hand he was holding. Since it wasn’t for guiding, holding hands like this felt like a different kind of sensation.

Holding the soft, supple hand and walking slowly along the trail, he wondered if this was heaven.

“Ah… holding hands feels kind of nice. It almost feels like we’re dating.”

As Jeong Si-jun murmured with a long exhale, Yoon Ki-hyun reacted with disgust.

“I’m holding your hand so you don’t fall, so don’t say weird things. Don’t even dream about it once you’re discharged. What’s with the hand? You’re all grown up.”

“Hmm. If I want to hold hands with Hyung, I guess I should just go get injured somewhere.”

“Are you actually crazy?”

What was so great about holding hands that he would recklessly talk about getting injured again? As Yoon Ki-hyun recoiled in horror and tried to pull his hand away, Jeong Si-jun gently pulled him closer and leaned his head down.

“This is all because of you, Hyung.”

“What?”

“Because you keep giving me openings like this…”

Jeong Si-jun’s head drew closer and closer until he finally whispered in his ear.

“It keeps making me think of you in a way that’s good for me.”

“…”

“I feel like if I do just a little more, you’ll fall for me.”

The low voice seemed to cling to his eardrums. Yoon Ki-hyun gasped, half-embraced in Jeong Si-jun’s arms.

When he stole a glance, Jeong Si-jun’s face was more serious than ever. It was Yoon Ki-hyun who first looked away from that face devoid of a single lie.

“…Crazy bastard. Talking nonsense suddenly on a walking trail.”

He replied more bluntly than usual for no reason. If he didn’t, he felt as though Jeong Si-jun would hear his heart beating slightly faster than normal.