SMW 18

Fortunately, Noona didn’t feel the need to point out that lie.

“Still, you said all you did was wipe some dust. It’s not like that place is a steamer if you don’t run the AC like our house is; he’s just frail. I knew it from the moment he’d stay cooped up in the house, claiming even walking was too much of a chore, let alone exercising.”

Noona, why are you saying things like that in front of Choi Seol? He’s already the kind of guy who nags me for not exercising.

“I agree with that.”

Look at him. He jumped on that chance as if he’d been waiting for it.

“See? You’ve seen him for a week, right? He thinks dipping his feet in the front yard is the end of his workout.”

“It did seem serious. At this rate, he’ll stolen contentbe visit our sitelooking for a motorized senior scooter [unauthorized copy]before he’s even forty.”

“Exactly. You haven’t been to the mountain behind the house with Yeo-reum, have you? That’s his maternal grandfather’s mountain, and he walked maybe ten steps? He was panting and gasping like he was dying; anyone watching would’ve thought he’d climbed to the summit.”

“Is it that bad?”

“It’s not that bad.”

I finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up. My voice sounded dull, even to my own ears. Not just my throat, but my whole body felt limp and heavy, like water-soaked cotton. Still, I managed to push my upper body up.

A brief wave of dizziness hit me, but a sharp sting of pain turned my head toward my arm. A needle was inserted. A long, thin hose, which clearly looked like an IV line, led to a fluid pack. As I stared blankly at the transparent liquid flowing into my body, wondering what was happening, I felt a steady gaze on me.

“That’s an IV drip.”

When I looked up, the two of them were watching me with expressions more worried than I had expected.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, as you can see. But…”

Trailing off, I looked around. The scenery was completely different from what I had seen right before I lost consciousness. It wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, though. I had come here a few days ago to disinfect Choi Seol’s wound, and a week ago, I’d come here in an ambulance—something I’d never experienced in my life—because of Choi Seol.

“Is this a hospital?”

“Good grief, you weakling.”

Noona ruthlessly ruffled my hair. Even though she didn’t seem to use much force, my head flopped and swayed far too easily.

“Noo… Noona. I’m dizzy.”

“You fainted.”

“…What?”

A flash of a memory suddenly shot through my mind. I instinctively reached for the back of my head. Fortunately, there were no stitches or bandages to be felt. Still, one could never be too sure.

“Your head is fine. Everywhere else is okay too. Looking at you now, your memory seems normal as well.”

As if reading my thoughts, Choi Seol, who had been silent until now, spoke. In my confusion, I had forgotten he was there.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m perfectly fine, as you can see.”

“You fell with me earlier. Did you hit anything or get hurt anywhere?”

I felt the weight of Choi Seol overlapping my body back then. Since my head wasn’t injured, it was clear that Choi Seol had protected me, but I couldn’t remember it at all. Noona answered for him.

“Both of them rolled on the floor, but Choi Seol is fine except for a [visit our site]slight bruise. The doctor was impressed, saying that for someone who hit a jar, his body is incredibly sturdy. Of course, [Read on Read BL Novels]if it had been you, something might have broken.”

She probably meant it was a relief that things ended well, but I became intensely serious.

“I hit a jar? Did it break?”

When I asked Choi Seol, he shook his head.

“It didn’t break. Things were urgent, so I couldn’t see it clearly, but that much is certain.”

“Really? Phew, I’m saved.”

I let out a sigh of relief, clutching my chest. I remember hearing that thing was really expensive. I think my uncle said it could fetch the price of a whole house if put up for auction. I was trembling with anxiety, wondering if I’d have to become a slave to pay for it if it had broken, so I was truly glad it was safe.

But for some reason, I felt a piercing gaze. It wasn’t Choi Seol; Noona was glaring at me with a look of sheer contempt. Feeling unfairly judged, I asked in a sulky voice.

“…What?”

“How can a person care more about a jar than his friend? Because of that thing and you, that national treasure… no, your friend got bruised. In a worst-case scenario, a bone could have cracked.”

“Officer.”

“A bone could have cracked?”

The impact of “a slight bruise” versus “a bone cracking” felt entirely different. I looked at Choi Seol, more shocked than I had been about the jar.

“Where’s the bruise? Let me see.”

It was the moment I reached for Choi Seol’s shirt without thinking. I snapped back to my senses when he flinched and instinctively pulled his upper body back.

“Ah, sorry.”

“…It’s okay.”

Choi Seol replied a beat late.

“It’s nothing, so you don’t have to worry.”

He seemed to add that kindly so I wouldn’t fret, but that only made it more embarrassing. What on earth was I trying to do? Was I going to strip him to check? I felt a surge of heat in my face, appalled by my own behavior.

“Han Yeo-reum, what’s wrong now? Your face is turning red.”

“It’s because it’s hot.”

Noona was so mischievous, acting like she didn’t know everything since she’d been watching. I wanted to ignore her smirking face, but it was even harder to look at Choi Seol right now. In the end, I used Noona as a refuge to keep the conversation going.

“So, not that… anyway, how did I get here? Surely it wasn’t an ambulance?”

“Ah, I felt that would be too much of [stolen content]a nuisance, so I borrowed my father’s truck and loaded you in. I stolen contentcould tell you weren’t in a critical condition.”

“Then there was no need to come to the hospital in the first place.”

“Well, that’s true… but hey, you never know.”

I think I saw Noona’s eyes shift to the side. I think I know whose strong will landed me in this bed. As I glanced sideways, my eyes immediately met Choi Seol’s. It seemed he had been watching me this whole time. Not yet having the courage to look him straight in the eye, I slowly lowered my gaze and saw the needle in my arm.

“But why am I hooked up to this?”

To begin with, it was strange that I’d fainted just from almost falling. And since Choi Seol protected me, it didn’t seem like I’d hit anything.

“The hospital said it seemed like a fainting spell caused by heatstroke and accumulated stress. Other than that, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong. I asked for an IV just in case and was waiting.”

“Stress…”

Heatstroke was one thing, but the idea that I’d collapsed for that reason was absurd. While I unauthorized copydid have a personality prone to stress, I’d never lost consciousness stolen contentbecause of it. Had anything that serious happened recently?

Could it be because of Choi Seol?

Even so, surely not. When I glanced at Choi Seol, our eyes met again, without fail. His gaze was so persistent that it was starting to feel burdensome.

Why is he acting like this again? It reminded me of when we first met at the hospital, and I grew anxious. If anything, it seemed to have gotten worse. In times like this, I was glad Noona was by my side. If she weren’t here, the awkwardness would have killed me.

It was then.

“Well, since I’m here, I’ll stop by the station. I got a call earlier, and it seems I need to go because of some junior of mine.”

“What? Why?”

Why on earth is she leaving at this exact moment? I just thought I was glad she was here.

“What about the house? How am I supposed to get home?”

“Call a taxi.”

“Are you telling a sick patient to take a taxi?”

“Your complexion looks the best it’s been in days, probably because of the nutrient drip. Besides, isn’t a taxi’s ride quality better than a truck’s?”

“Noona, what are you talking about? A car driven by someone I know is obviously more comfortable than a stranger’s.”

Actually, a stranger’s car was more comfortable. I get motion sickness easily, and the truck was too bumpy. Moreover, with a taxi, I could stay quiet, but with someone I knew, the pressure to maintain the atmosphere throughout the ride was considerable. But right now, that didn’t matter.

“And I don’t have any money. I’m hungry, too.”

“The money is here.”

Choi Seol pulled a familiar wallet from his pocket and showed it to me.

“I brought yours just in case. I grabbed your phone too.”

“Oh, thanks.”

I happily took my phone and wallet. To think he’d remember to grab all that in that situation—that was so like Choi Seol. Though my habit of tossing my wallet and phone anywhere in the room probably helped.

Wait, that’s not the point.

“Right? I’m leaving then.”

“Wa… wait. Noona? Noo…”

Noona left the hospital immediately without looking back, as if afraid of being caught. Why did her retreating figure look so relieved? Maybe she was escaping too. Perhaps she realized Choi Seol’s current state wasn’t great and decided to dump him on me. What on earth happened while I was unconscious?

“You were surprised, weren’t you?”

Since Choi Seol seemed to have no intention of speaking even after Noona left, I had no choice but to start the conversation.

“Sorry. I didn’t know I’d faint there. And I dragged you down with me like a water ghost, and you even got bruised. You must have really suffered. Having an ER experience twice isn’t something anyone wants.”

“…”

Please, say something. My face felt like it was going to cramp from forcing a bright smile. When there was still no response, I finally let out a deep sigh.

“Are you really okay?”

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“…What?”

The words that finally came out were so unexpected that I asked back blankly.

“Leaving?”

“Exactly as I said.”

For the first time, Choi Seol avoided my eyes and wore a bittersweet smile.

“I was too shameless. I think I’ve only burdened you by arbitrarily clinging to and relying on someone who has no responsibility for me.”

“No, there’s some misunderstanding…”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not that. Listen to me…”

“I’ll leave first thing tomorrow, so you won’t have to worry about it anymore.”

“Wa… wait a second.”

“Thank you for everything.”

“Agh! I said wait a minute!”

I finally shouted out of frustration. I could feel the surrounding gazes focusing on us, but I didn’t have the luxury to care about that.

“It’s sudden, and I can understand why you’d make this decision. I was the one who suggested you go back home first. So, it’s funny to say this now, but this isn’t the way to do it.”

Knowing that Choi Seol didn’t want to leave as of this afternoon, the reason for this sudden change was obvious. It was because of me, and that made me feel like I was truly the bad guy.

“The reason I told you to go back to your old house wasn’t because you were a nuisance. I just… I just, I mean, you…”

I should have thought before I spoke. How could I possibly tell him that he was my first love from visit our sitestolen contentten years ago, that it was hard because I liked him too much, and that I was afraid my carefully folded feelings would waver again if we stayed together?