By Zephyria “You said you’d be out soon, why did it take so long? Are you hurt somewhere?”
“I’m okay, Mom.”
I reached out and hugged Mom’s shoulders, patting them. I felt like I could reassure Mom, even if I couldn’t reassure anyone else.
“Mom, don’t you know how strong I am? I just fell on the stairs, what’s there to be hurt about?”
“Still….”
“Ah, I want to go home quickly.”
I hugged Mom’s shoulders and walked to the car. If I go home and get a good night’s sleep, maybe everything will be okay.
I needed to have that expectation, or I wouldn’t have the strength to walk straight right now.
I was able to rest even more than I had expected.
I slept to my heart’s content, lazed around like someone with nothing to do, rolled around in bed until 10 o’clock, and then opened my phone.
But every time I clicked, articles about Sung Se-han’s accident popped up, so I turned off my phone and pulled the blanket over my head.
I tried to sleep some more, but my eyes were wide awake, so I had no choice but to open my phone again under the blanket.
I only wanted to check the music charts, but I couldn’t resist my curiosity and ended up accessing an entertainment community. As I checked the posts, I was a little surprised that the fans didn’t seem to pay much attention to the fact that Sung Se-han was hurt because of me.
Title: Any more news about Se-han?
Content: Tae-kyung must not have been hurt much thanks to Se-han, I heard he’s already been discharged.
Comments (8)
That’s a relief, I hope he’s careful in the future.
I’m frustrated because there’s no accurate information about how badly Se-han is hurt, I haven’t been able to eat since yesterday, and I’m furious because the company seems to be taking it easy.
Guys, I think I loved Se-han lol I’m a group fan so I cursed when Se-han said he was going solo, but I started crying when I heard he was hurt lol Se-han, don’t be sick ㅜ
Me tooㅠㅠㅜ I just hope he doesn’t get sick or hurt, and that Se-han does everything he wants to do.
Some scratches and you’re making a fuss lol.
Get lostㅋㅋ.
It’s a pity that Se-han is hurt, but the fact that he released a solo song a month after his debut hasn’t changed, and there are also rumors that he turned an advertisement that came in for the group into a solo one, so I think the company needs to release a statement.
Are you crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋ He turned an advertisement that came in for him as an individual into one for the groupㅋㅋ.
Here the haters go again with their nonsenseㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
“Ah… the atmosphere was good…!”
From an atmosphere of worrying about Sung Se-han, fans with various complaints began to raise their voices again, and the atmosphere was becoming harsh.
“Tae-kyung, are you up?”
I sat up as Mom opened the door and came in.
“How are you? Is your body okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m very healthy!”
I gave a thumbs up, and Mom smiled and sat on the bed.
“What do you want for breakfast? What do you want to eat?”
“Pasta.”
I was going to say I could eat anything, but the words came out on their own. Mom’s eyes widened, and she stroked my hair.
“Okay. Mom will make it delicious for you!”
While Mom was preparing the pasta, I brushed my teeth. For some reason, I didn’t want to look in the mirror, so I just stared at the sink and moved the toothbrush, when suddenly I saw water dripping from the sink.
Ah, damn it. That’s why I didn’t want to look in the mirror. Because it’s too unsightly.
I quickly finished brushing my teeth and washed my face with cold water first.
The company told me to take a few days off, so I should ask Mom to go out for some fresh air. If I clear my head for a while, I’ll feel a lot better. My head will be cleared too.
As I was drying my face with a towel and coming out of the bathroom, Mom peeked out from the kitchen.
“Tae-kyung, isn’t that your phone ringing? It sounds like you have a call….”
Before Mom could finish speaking, I ran to my room. I picked up my phone from the bed, and my heart was pounding as if it would explode.
After checking the name on the screen, I hurriedly answered the phone without even thinking.
“Sung Se-han…!”
I was sure he would call when he woke up, but I was so worried because I hadn’t heard from him even in the early morning. It seems he’s finally awake.
—Lee Tae-kyung.
Ah. His voice sounds strong, so it seems like he’s in good condition. I’m so relieved.
—Are you okay?
My throat was so tight at his low voice that I opened my mouth and exhaled. Ah, wait… suddenly my eyes are burning, and I don’t know what to do. First, I hurriedly covered my eyes with my hand and calmed my breathing.
“I’m fine. You… shielded me from getting hurt.”
—That’s a relief.
I put down the phone and calmed my breathing again. I need to get my voice right.
“Are you okay?”
I’m disgusted with myself for asking someone who’s not okay if they’re okay. I’m so sick of myself.
—I opened my eyes, and you weren’t there, so I feel terrible.
I couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed. No matter how much I pressed my eyelids with my hands, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.
—I thought you would be waiting for me.
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
I pressed my face hard with the back of my hand and wiped it. I shouldn’t avoid it just because it’s hard to endure right now. Let’s think about the time Sung Se-han disappeared. Then I’ll quickly admit that this is nothing.
“I… have something to tell you. But I don’t think it’s something I should say to someone who’s sick.”
—…….
The feeling of my heart collapsing at Sung Se-han’s silence is nothing. It’s nothing.
“I’ll go see you when things are sorted out a bit. Sung Se-han, take good care of yourself until then.”
I had no choice but to end the call as if I were running away. Because the conversations we have now are meaningless. Sung Se-han needs to know that too.
And so, I had to crouch down for a long time.
*
After Mom went to work late, I started cleaning the house. Actually, there wasn’t much to clean, but I felt satisfied as I wiped away the dust in every corner, because it kept me from having random thoughts.
And I really liked that time was passing quickly.
“People really need to move their bodies….”
I was washing my hands in the bathroom when suddenly the doorbell rang. I stood in front of the bathroom and looked towards the front door.
No one should be coming home. Why is the bell ringing at this hour?
Just as the loud doorbell that echoed throughout the house seemed to stop, it started ringing again loudly. I didn’t check the wall pad and walked to the front door.
I walked barefoot to the front door without even putting on slippers. The reason I hesitated for a moment before opening the door was because I needed to prepare myself.
Actually, I was already prepared. But even so, when I saw Sung Se-han standing in front of the wide-open front door, I couldn’t control my expression, and my heart pounded.
“Sung Se-han… how did you get here? Were you discharged already?”
Is it that difficult to make my voice sound normal? I was really annoyed with my voice, which kept trembling.
But it was impossible to pretend to be okay while facing Sung Se-han.
Sung Se-han, with gauze plastered all over his cheeks and neck, was wearing a dark-colored trucker jacket that didn’t suit this Summer.
I know the reason why. He must be trying to keep the bandage wrapped around his arm from catching my eye.
“I want to talk inside.”
There was a faint smile on Sung Se-han’s lips. I couldn’t see his eyes well because of the backlight, but I could tell that his pupils were dry.
I opened the front door wide and made way, and Sung Se-han strode into the entrance. I stared at the hallway, which was brighter than the entrance, for a moment, and then slowly closed the front door.
Sung Se-han, who was taking off his sneakers and going inside, turned to look at me.
“Shall we go to your room?”
“Why bother being cooped up? There’s no one else here, so we can talk in the living room.”
I was relieved that my voice seemed to be coming out properly now. I pointed to the living room sofa for Sung Se-han and walked to the kitchen.
“Wait there for a bit. I’ll make you kiwi juice.”
I went straight to the kitchen and took out the kiwis from the refrigerator. I was putting them on the island table when I saw Sung Se-han approaching.
Still, I didn’t raise my head and fiddled with the kiwi box.
“Why aren’t you looking at me?”
Not only his pupils but also Sung Se-han’s voice felt dry. I raised the corners of my mouth as much as possible and looked up.
“Just… because I’m sorry….”
I saw first that Sung Se-han’s abundant hair was disheveled, slightly covering his left eye. My fingers itched to fix it, so I clenched my fists tightly.
“You’re so shameless that you can’t look me in the eye.”
“Lee Tae-kyung.”
My heart dropped with a thud, and I blinked rapidly. I opened my mouth because my breathing seemed to be quickening as well.
I wish Sung Se-han wouldn’t call me Lee Tae-kyung like that. Not now, I wish he wouldn’t grab my heart and twist it. Please….
“You’re more cowardly than I thought.”
Sung Se-han smiled gently as he looked at my foolish face, which was only moving its lips.
“You have something to say, but you can’t say it while looking at my face?”
Sung Se-han rested his hand on the island table and leaned his shoulder, bringing his brown eyes closer. His clear eyes were sending me a sneer.
“Did you think that if you kept avoiding me, we would drift apart vaguely?”
I feel dizzy. I don’t know how much of the impact I can handle each time Sung Se-han speaks.
So, it seemed like it would be better to end the conversation as quickly as possible.
“Sung Se-han, you….”