#034
“The hospital?”
“Yeah.”
Yeonwoo was silent for a moment. When he had talked with Shin Gihyeon yesterday, they had briefly discussed that kind of topic too.
What had he answered then?
He had said he didn’t have money, or that he would use it sparingly. However, the Kang Dojun in front of him seemed ready to pay for it himself if he said he didn’t have money.
Actually, he had no particular thoughts about the existence of hospitals. When he was in high school, it was a place he went to get treatment for his grandmother who had dementia. That was all.
Yeonwoo even believed without doubt that his current condition would get better with time. He declined the idea of going to the hospital and spending unnecessary money.
“…I’ll think about it.”
When it comes to psychiatric treatment, the patient’s mindset is also important. Even if you force recommendations, if the patient receiving treatment is half-hearted, it would be pointless.
“Still, the sooner the treatment, the better. Think it over carefully and tell me anytime. If you’re scared, I’ll go with you.”
“Yes, I’ll think about it.”
Kang Dojun decided to be satisfied with the answer “I’ll think about it” for now. If it really doesn’t work out later, then he would force him even if he had to…
“Hyung, is this it?”
“Ah…, yeah.”
When they reached the 17th floor and he held his house key to the door lock, the door opened.
“Go in first.”
With Kang Dojun’s consideration, Yeonwoo entered one step ahead and surveyed the spacious interior from the shoe cabinet.
“Wow, you live here alone?”
Though his eyes were full of eagerness to look around quickly, he stood still at the shoe cabinet waiting for permission from the house owner, Kang Dojun. Kang Dojun glanced at him briefly and took off his shoes first before going in. Following behind him, Yeonwoo also slowly entered the interior and moved his steps carefully.
A house reveals the owner’s tendencies – it was very well-organized and neat. Even the tones of the furniture were harmoniously matched.
The first place he headed to was the kitchen.
“Drink water first.”
Kang Dojun’s theory was that since he had sweated so much cold sweat earlier, he needed to replenish with water.
Yeonwoo’s eyes widened so much they looked like they might pop out.
“Wow, this is the first time I’ve actually seen a refrigerator hidden in the wall!”
Yeonwoo stared at the cup of water Kang Dojun poured and handed to him. After taking a sip, he said:
“It’s barley tea.”
“Don’t you like it?”
“No, it’s just that I thought hyung would only drink premium bottled water or something… It’s fascinating to think you boil it yourself…”
Actually, it was something his manager Park Daeho’s mother had prepared for him. He always drank it gratefully, but hearing Yeonwoo say that made him think about trying to boil it himself.
After Yeonwoo finished all the water, he asked:
“Where should I stay?”
Kang Dojun pointed to the room next to the living room. Yeonwoo dragged his suitcase and opened the door. It looked neat but also somewhat empty.
“Daeho sometimes sleeps here, but you can use it for now.”
“If I use this room, where will the manager sleep now?”
“…The living room?”
It was somewhat irresponsible, but since it was the house owner’s choice, Yeonwoo obediently followed his words.
“Whoa, a bed.”
Yeonwoo approached the bed. He couldn’t lie down while covered in sweat, so he just stared at it quietly. Noticing his thoughts, Kang Dojun showed him to the shower room.
While passing through the living room, Yeonwoo’s steps deviated from their path.
“Hyung, can I look at the balcony?”
“It doesn’t matter. But there’s nothing much to see…”
With Kang Dojun’s permission, he quickly opened the door. Now he saw it was a terrace, not a balcony.
Yeonwoo looked surprised at the soil situated in one corner. Today was really full of surprising things.
“There’s even a garden!”
“Yeah, but I don’t have time to tend to it.”
“…Can I tend to it? I’ll plant lettuce and green onions! I’ll make it pretty. Or should I grow flowers?”
Yeonwoo asked with sparkling eyes.
“Anything is fine.”
But are you going to stay here continuously? Kang Dojun swallowed his follow-up words. The longer he stayed in Seoul, the more opportunities there would be to take him to the hospital.
Kang Dojun was already organizing a shopping list in his head: rubber gloves for gardening, mini shovels, watering cans, etc.
“Then I’ll go wash up!”
“Okay.”
Yeonwoo went back to his room, took things out of his suitcase, and headed to the shower room. Watching him move around energetically made the earlier incident feel as distant as a dream.
After thinking for a bit, he moved his fingers.
Panic disorder symptoms
There were many symptoms: chest tightness, trembling hands and feet, chills, difficulty breathing, etc. As he compared them one by one with Yeonwoo, he discovered that vomiting was also one of the symptoms of panic disorder.
‘…In the car.’
He had thought it was simple motion sickness from a hangover, but it wasn’t.
“Hah.”
After changing position to lie on the sofa, he looked more carefully.
[Factors affecting onset]
“Stress, excessive drinking…”
Kang Dojun, who had been reading carefully, paused.
‘Yeonwoo does drink a lot.’
He jumped up and headed to the kitchen, searching through the refrigerator thoroughly. Fortunately, there was no alcohol in the house.
‘I really want to take him to the hospital…’
His worries only deepened.
“Hyung, what are you doing there?”
Yeonwoo looked at Kang Dojun sitting in the kitchen with a strange look while shaking his wet hair.
“Are you done washing?”
“Yes.”
When did time pass like this? Kang Dojun got up.
“…You’re okay, right?”
He didn’t know when the symptoms might come again. He looked at Yeonwoo with the feeling of watching a young child left by the water.
“I’m really okay. You should rest well too, hyung.”
Yeonwoo went into his room, poked his head out slightly, and told him once more:
“I’m really okay!”
Even if you’re okay now… Kang Dojun sighed and picked up his phone again to start reading the densely written articles.
“Where am I?”
Yeonwoo, who had entered his room, made a video call to Shin Gihyeon and showed him the Han River reflected in the window.
…Seoul?
“Yeah.”
His moves were amazing. Just yesterday when they talked on the phone he was in the countryside, and in less than a full day, he was in Seoul.
He was like lightning, here and there in a flash.
Yeonwoo turned the camera around to show the inside of the room. The spacious and well-organized interior filled the screen.
“Whose house is this?”
It must be sunbae-nim’s place.
Shin Gihyeon examined Yeonwoo’s complexion. Unlike when they talked yesterday evening, his voice tone was fine and his face looked peaceful.
“…How did you know?”
It’s obvious.
‘Why is that obvious?’ Yeonwoo wondered but soon turned his thoughts elsewhere.
“When I come to Seoul, I wanted to eat scones. Let’s go eat them tomorrow.”
I’m resting tomorrow.
“Since you’re resting, let’s go eat.”
Go with sunbae-nim.
“Hyung has work tomorrow.”
Shin Gihyeon on the other side of the screen rubbed his eyes in distress. The meaning of Yeonwoo’s “resting” and Shin Gihyeon’s “resting” were a bit different.
“Don’t you want to?”
If you go outside, people will recognize you again and like yesterday…
Shin Gihyeon paused while speaking as usual. He thought he had ruined the mood by bringing up unnecessary topics, but Yeonwoo said nonchalantly:
“I can just wear a hat and mask.”
…But video calls are okay?
At his question, Yeonwoo rolled his eyes.
“That time was because I was stressed.”
Shin Gihyeon thought for a moment before speaking.
Or should I buy scones and bring them over?
“But this isn’t my house…”
Knock knock-
“Come in.”
“Yeonwoo, it looks like filming will end early tomorrow, want to go to the department store together?”
He planned to buy him nice clothes to cheer him up and then recommend the hospital once more.
Sunbae-nim, hello!
Despite being on the other side of the screen, Shin Gihyeon politely greeted him.
“Ah, you were on a call. Hello.”
“Yes, I made plans to hang out with Gihyeon tomorrow.”
I’ll only hang out briefly in the morning! I’ll make sure there’s no disruption to the department store schedule!
Shin Gihyeon spoke with firm determination as if going to the department store was already a foregone conclusion.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
“Hyung, can I invite Gihyeon over here to hang out tomorrow?”
Kang Dojun thought it was a very good idea and easily gave permission. He had been worried sick that Yeonwoo would go out and get mobbed by the public again, and have to climb the high stairs to the 17th floor alone.
He had been anxious about leaving Yeonwoo alone while working, but having Shin Gihyeon come over to play and even come to the house was welcome.
He quickly made plans.
“I’ll let the security know, so come comfortably.”
Huk, thank you!
‘…Sunbae-nim’s house!’
Shin Gihyeon’s face was full of anticipation. He couldn’t hide his joy and was beaming everywhere.
Should I buy something other than scones?
“Sushi.”
“I’ll send you the address by text.”
I’ll play quietly and leave! Ya… hey, what time should I come tomorrow? 7 o’clock? Is that too early?
“Come at whatever time is convenient for you.”
“Are there places that serve sushi open at 7 AM?”
Uh, uh, I can go pick it up in the afternoon.
‘Pick up?’
Kang Dojun’s brow twitched.
He hoped they would just play at home. Even if they went out, he wanted to let him out only under the premise that he would be next to him to monitor Yeonwoo’s condition.
Of course, it was ridiculous what right he had to think such things, but Kang Dojun was very serious.
“You can get it delivered.”
“Wow, as expected of Seoul. It’s been a long time since I heard the word delivery!”
That country bumpkin… don’t act like that when you go places.
He was worried that what leaked inside would also leak outside.
“What time are you leaving tomorrow, hyung?”
“Around 4 o’clock?”
“…That early?”
“There’s a scene we need to shoot at dawn.”
It was already past 9 PM. If he left at 4, he would have to wake up and prepare before then, but even if he slept now, it didn’t seem like he’d get much sleep.
It took several hours to come up from the countryside to Seoul, so the day passed quickly without doing anything.
“Then you should sleep soon.”
Yeonwoo put down the phone he was talking on and pushed Kang Dojun out of the room.
“I’ll contact you when I’m done tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t talk on the phone too long and sleep early.”
“I will.”
He kept talking non-stop until the moment he left. Yeonwoo nodded half-heartedly, trying to get Kang Dojun, who had a schedule tomorrow, to sleep.
After barely sending him back to his room, he picked up his phone.
“…What are you doing?”
Shin Gihyeon was preparing to go out late at night.
Uh, yeah. I’m going to buy housewarming gifts tomorrow.
“At this hour?”
The mart isn’t closed yet. I’m hanging up now, I have to go out.
Shin Gihyeon, who had been whining that he didn’t want to hang out tomorrow, looked quite excited.
“Buy some alcohol too.”
I’m hanging up.
Looking at the blackened screen, Yeonwoo pouted his lips.
“Is he buying it or not?”
He pushed his suitcase to the corner and flopped down on the bed. Even though it wasn’t Kang Dojun’s room, he felt like he could smell his scent from the bedding.
Was the day tiring…? Sleep came more easily than the nights he had fallen asleep drinking for the past four months.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
