Side Story 8
Jihan wasn’t even aware that his body temperature had risen. When the secretary shouted that his face was red, he casually shrugged, saying it was probably because of the lighting.
He wasn’t pretending to be fine—he genuinely didn’t feel uncomfortable. He was a bit achy, but this was a common symptom in the field.
Nevertheless, the secretary forcibly sent him back to the residence. It was the leader’s order.
“I’m really fine.”
“Fine? Your hands are so hot!”
The secretary grabbed Jihan’s arm and dragged him into the residence. Jihan scratched his forehead with an awkward smile, then cleared his throat when he noticed cold sweat forming.
Come to think of it, his throat did feel a bit sore.
“You’re early.”
Siwoo, who happened to be waving a toy fishing rod in the living room, greeted Jihan. Then he looked puzzled seeing him being held by the secretary.
“Did something happen?”
“No, nothing.”
Though Siwoo had asked the secretary, Jihan answered first. He smiled brightly, greeted Geonho and Seojun who were sitting with Siwoo in the living room, then tried to go up to his room.
Siwoo grew more puzzled seeing Jihan head straight upstairs when normally he would have played around a bit more.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Hmm? I feel great.”
Jihan joked as he quickly climbed the stairs. But soon the secretary revealed his condition.
“Esper Jihan has a high fever! I think he’s coming down with a cold!”
Geonho, sitting on the floor by the sofa, let out a loud laugh. What’s the big deal about a cold?
For Espers who didn’t die easily even after losing a lot of blood, a cold was an extremely trivial illness. There was no need to make a fuss about a slight fever. He’d be fine after sleeping well for half a day.
“Yoo Jihan, come here.”
Siwoo, looking as serious as the secretary, stopped Jihan who was climbing the stairs.
“I’m fine. The secretary is overreacting.”
“Yeah, Han Siwoo. A mere cold is—”
Geonho started to speak indifferently but trailed off. What the hell? Why is his head so red?
“Hyung, are you okay?”
Seojun, surprised at Jihan’s visibly reddened face, also went to the stairs. The secretary made a fuss, saying he’d told them he was sick.
“No, I’m fine. More than I look.”
Jihan wrapped his hand around the back of Siwoo’s hand that was touching his face and neck all over. He wanted to suck on Siwoo’s parted lips but held back. He shouldn’t spread his cold.
“…”
Siwoo held Jihan’s hot face and stared at him intently. He seemed to be reading his waves, then grabbed his light brown hair tightly.
“Ha Seojun, bring a thermometer.”
“Yes.”
He took Jihan to his room. Jihan quietly followed, led by Siwoo who was gripping his hair just firmly enough not to hurt.
Beep—
Siwoo’s eyes grew sharp as he checked the thermometer. Jihan, forcibly laid on the bed, smiled awkwardly.
“It can’t be that high…”
“39.4 degrees?!”
The secretary first saw the number on the thermometer and raised his voice. Geonho, leaning against the doorframe, asked Seojun if that was high.
“Are you dizzy?! When did you last eat? No, first we need medicine—”
“Secretary.”
Siwoo calmed the secretary with a composed voice.
“I’ll stay with him, so you can go. You have work to do.”
He entrusted the kitten to Geonho and Seojun and personally brought medicine. He told everyone to go downstairs as he would stay in Jihan’s room.
Jihan watched Siwoo’s face nervously when he didn’t raise his voice.
“Are you hungry?”
Siwoo asked Jihan after bringing cold medicine.
“No, I ate earlier. I’m fine.”
“Then take this medicine right away.”
Jihan felt even more uncomfortable as Siwoo personally handed him Esper-specific antipyretics, painkillers, and water. He’d rather Siwoo get angry at him like usual.
“Don’t want to take the medicine?”
Jihan, who had been staring at Siwoo, shook his head and swallowed the medicine. His fever seemed to be rising further; even just shaking his head made him a little dizzy.
Come on. Lying in bed just for a cold.
“Wait. I’ll wipe your sweat.”
Siwoo went to the bathroom to get a towel. Meanwhile, Jihan held his throbbing forehead. Is the fever really that high? He couldn’t tell.
He hadn’t overexerted himself. His condition wasn’t bad, and he hadn’t been under stress.
If there was one thing, it would be Siwoo’s year-end interview. But that wasn’t stressful enough to make him physically ill.
“Ah… that guy.”
Jihan, recalling the past few days, found the reason for his cold. Two days ago, one of the night patrol members had been coughing severely. When Jihan told him to go back if he was sick, the man had insisted on checking the remaining gates first.
It seems the cold had been transmitted from that guy. Jihan had stayed right by his side to assist him since his condition looked bad. He helped because the man’s strong sense of responsibility was admirable.
“I did a good deed and got punished.”
“What did you say?”
Siwoo had just come out of the bathroom with towels. He seemed to have brought two or three towels rather than just one, intending to wipe Jihan’s entire body.
“I could just take a shower.”
“What shower when you have a cold?”
“I feel like it wouldn’t hurt if I showered with Guide-nim.”
Jihan smiled languidly as he sat up against the pillow. It was obviously a joke. If he entered the shower stall with Siwoo, his fever would certainly rise more. Our clever Guide-nim must know that.
“Do you want to?”
But Siwoo asked seriously. Jihan slowly closed and opened his eyes, parting his lips slightly.
“I mean… always.”
Want to. After finishing his words ambiguously, Siwoo frowned and looked thoughtful. But soon he shook his head.
“No. Just sleep today. We’ll shower together tomorrow.”
Jihan considered pushing a little more but stopped. Somehow it felt like Siwoo might actually agree.
“I’m not refusing because it’s bothersome.”
“Huh?”
Siwoo, climbing onto the bed, smoothed out the blanket covering Jihan.
“The cold medicine you took is strong and will make you sleepy soon. You could get hurt if you fall asleep while showering.”
He added this explanation for why he refused. So Jihan wouldn’t feel hurt.
Taken aback by this thoughtful attitude, Jihan rested his chin on his hand and murmured seriously.
“What’s going on? Is it my birthday today?”
Siwoo pulled his pillow, telling him to lie down properly. He naturally sat by Jihan’s head and placed a cool wet towel on his forehead where cold sweat had formed.
Jihan obediently followed Siwoo’s order, lying straight and looking up at him. His heart tingled at the gentle touch that carefully wiped his neck and face and arranged his hair.
“You look even prettier from below.”
“I know. Close your mouth and sleep.”
Jihan laughed weakly and deliberately kept his eyes wide open. As Siwoo had said, the strong cold medicine summoned drowsiness.
Nevertheless, he pretended not to be sleepy at all. This time alone with Siwoo was precious and valuable, and he wanted to savor it as long as possible. He wanted to stay up all night like this forever.
“Nice.”
Jihan, who had whispered unconsciously, glanced at Siwoo again. Saying it’s nice in front of someone who’s taking care of him so diligently.
“You like being sick?”
As expected, this time Siwoo didn’t let it slide and hit Jihan’s arm lightly. Jihan just grinned.
After taking the medicine, his condition should improve, but he felt his body growing heavier instead. Now that he was aware of his high temperature, the cold symptoms hit him in earnest.
“Does your head hurt?”
Siwoo leaned over toward Jihan, who had closed his eyes tightly for a moment, and touched his cheek. Jihan leaned his face into the soft palm and tried to shake his head again. But Siwoo’s hand stopped him.
“Ow.”
The hand that had been gently caressing Jihan’s cheek suddenly pulled it. Jihan laughed and slowly opened his eyes.
Siwoo, who had pinched Jihan’s cheek hard, was glaring at him with a scary face.
“Why are you enduring when you’re in pain? Are you Kang Taebeom?”
Siwoo pretended to hit Jihan’s Adam’s apple, telling him not to act mature. He pinched the other cheek too, kneading Jihan’s face forcefully as if massaging it. This was what the Espers always did to him when he was in his original form.
You used to fake illness even when you weren’t sick. Now your fever is over 39 degrees, but you insist you’re fine without showing any signs of pain, which worried him more.
“I really didn’t know I was sick. Seriously.”
“How could you not know? You’re even sweating.”
Siwoo waved the towel he had used to wipe the sweat. Jihan continued to chuckle lightly and murmured sincerely.
“I know, right?”
If I said I was so full of thoughts of Guide-nim that I didn’t notice at all, would you take it as a joke again?
Jihan gently caressed Siwoo’s white wrist and carefully folded away his true feelings. Anyway, he had many other truths to reveal.
“Everyone’s been so worried lately. I guess saying ‘I’m fine’ has become a habit.”
Since the Baekya Guild’s gate entry incident, everyone had been concerned about their health. Although only Taebeom had nearly died, Jihan and Seojun had also been seriously injured, and everyone worried about potential aftereffects.
Siwoo too had been taking care of them, dedicating himself to guiding every day. With his fragile body, he alone cared for four Espers.
It was incredibly reassuring. Jihan always felt grateful and sorry toward Siwoo, who always pushed himself with guiding.
“I’m sorry.”
“…Huh?”
Just as Jihan was about to apologize, the words came from Siwoo’s mouth.
“I said I’m sorry.”
Taken aback, Jihan couldn’t speak and just opened and closed his mouth. What on earth did Guide-nim have to be sorry for?
“For not paying attention. Not even knowing you were sick.”
“No, Guide-nim. This is because I didn’t take care of myself.”
Siwoo stopped Jihan as he tried to sit up abruptly. He held down his hot shoulders and pressed him down with the blanket.
“Don’t get up. Just lie still today.”
After reciting this like a warning, he suddenly grabbed the towel and moved.
Jihan just stared blankly as Siwoo went below his legs and burrowed under the blanket. What is he trying to do? Is he going to wipe his feet?
While trying not to let his imagination run wild and swallowing dry, Siwoo’s uninhibited hands unbuckled his pants.
As Siwoo, hidden under the blanket, wriggled and lowered his upper body, hot breath burst from Jihan’s mouth.
Ah, is it really my birthday today?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
