59
Ojun used a day off to visit the hospital.
Today was his mother’s examination day. He had received a call saying a guardian needed to come to the hospital for various tests to recheck her body’s condition for tumor removal surgery.
Though he had vacation days, they weren’t easy to use, so Ojun had to plead his case while being mindful of the Center Director. The Center Director approved Ojun’s leave as if granting a great favor.
“Why did you come when you’re so busy? I told you I could get the examination alone.”
“The hospital asked me to come. What do you mean you could get it alone.”
His mother always got upset whenever Ojun visited the hospital. At first, he would get angry too, but now he just let it go in one ear and out the other.
Ojun supported his slowly walking mother as they went around the examination rooms. Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and blood tests were conducted. He would sit, support her when her name was called, move to another location, and wait again, repeating the process.
“Secretary Yoon?”
It was when they were waiting with just one examination left. A familiar voice called Ojun.
Ojun turned his head to see who had called him. And he discovered Wooseok wearing a patient’s gown.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Wooseok seemed slightly taken aback. He looked back and forth between Ojun and Ojun’s mother, then smiled awkwardly, raising the corners of his mouth.
In that moment, countless thoughts crossed Ojun’s mind. Why is he wearing a patient’s gown? Is he hospitalized? Or does he have cancer or a rare disease? Is he getting outpatient treatment? Is there no guardian with him? All sorts of disease names flashed through Ojun’s mind.
“Who is this?”
As Ojun stood blankly without saying anything, his mother carefully asked. Wooseok glanced at Ojun’s face, then smiled kindly and took his mother’s hand warmly.
“Hello, ma’am. I’m Secretary Yoon’s workplace colleague.”
“Ah, I see. Hello. But what brings a young person like you to the hospital? Are you sick?”
Mom. Startled by the direct question that immediately popped out, Ojun called to his mother. Wooseok waved his hands in denial.
“Ah, I came for a health checkup today.”
“Oh my. I almost misunderstood. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. It’s nothing. Thank you for your concern.”
Health checkup? Ojun felt his tension instantly release. And at the same time, he became embarrassed by his abnormal reaction. He couldn’t understand why he had imagined all sorts of things when the person involved seemed unconcerned.
Just then, his mother’s name was called. As Ojun rose, his mother pressed down on his shoulder.
“This is my last examination.”
“Ah. Ma’am, I’m finished. I’ll wait, so take your time.”
“Oh my, all right.”
Though no one had told him to wait, Wooseok readily said he would. His mother agreed and went into the examination room.
“…You don’t have to wait.”
“That’s your first words? You haven’t even properly greeted me yet?”
Wooseok put his hands in his patient gown pockets and took the seat next to Ojun.
“…How were the test results?”
When Ojun asked, Wooseok shrugged his shoulders.
“They say they’ll be out in a few days. Physically, I’m just like a normal person except for the guiding I do. I come for tests occasionally.”
Ah. Ojun let out an awkward exclamation and lowered his head. Somehow, meeting Wooseok in a patient gown at the hospital was awkward.
The Wooseok in Ojun’s memory was always wearing a white coat or a neat shirt.
Was that why he was shocked, because of the visual difference? Ojun wanted to create a reason that he could convince himself with.
“…What’s wrong with your mother? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“The tumor is quite large this time. They say it’s a fifty-fifty chance. They suggested surgery first.”
Ojun fidgeted with his hands unnecessarily. After mentioning his mother’s surgery out loud, his heart felt heavier.
“What food does your mother like?”
“…Why do you ask?”
“She told me to wait, didn’t she? Is she fasting today?”
“When did my mother tell you to wait…”
Without listening to Ojun, Wooseok suddenly stood up.
“Ma’am, are you finished with the examination?”
“Oh my, thank you.”
Wooseok naturally supported Ojun’s mother. Because of this, Ojun had to walk beside them in a somewhat awkward posture.
“Is our Ojun doing well at the company?”
“Yes. Secretary Yoon is known to be very competent even in our department.”
Wooseok lied without skipping a beat.
“…He was always a good student, even though I couldn’t support him properly.”
“Wow, as expected of Secretary Yoon.”
Wooseok looked at Ojun, smiling at his mother’s boasting about her son. Unlike his voice that responded sincerely, his smile had a hint of teasing.
Ojun watched as Wooseok’s nose bridge wrinkled slightly. He felt a tickling sensation below his throat. At the same time, he wanted to cry.
Ah, I’m screwed. Ojun quickly took his mother’s other arm to support her. Like someone trying to deliberately change his mind, he repeated his mother’s urgent surgery schedule in his head.
***
He could hear the sound of waves. There were beautiful fireworks lighting up the night sky. Jihwan walked, gazing at the scenery. After walking a bit, he came upon Minjae piling up sand.
Minjae stuck candles in the sand and lit them. Behind the flickering flames, Minjae’s cheeks were tinged with a rosy glow. With his white, translucent skin, Minjae seemed somewhat like an opaque spirit. Jihwan thought he looked like a mysterious fairy.
“Congratulations on graduating.”
Minjae smiled. A clear smile.
Jihwan carefully examined Minjae’s black hair fluttering in the sea breeze. Then he reached out and gently traced his neatly shaped eyebrows and eye line with his thumb.
What if Sunbaenim gets angry? Even knowing it was a dream, Jihwan grew anxious. Yet he couldn’t withdraw his hand. His mouth kept going dry.
“Sunbaenim, give me a graduation present.”
When Jihwan spoke, Minjae lowered his eyes slightly as if contemplating.
He kept feeling thirsty. Jihwan moved his hand to caress Minjae’s earlobe. And he lightly pulled his nape.
What am I doing right now? Jihwan thought but didn’t stop. Even though it was his own dream, he couldn’t control himself.
As if surprised, Minjae’s eyes opened upward again. Jihwan’s hand tensed. Minjae’s lips approached right in front of his nose.
Good! Mor! Ning! Ba-ba-ba-ba~!
Jihwan’s phone rang loudly.
Jihwan opened his eyes and disabled the alarm. After blinking a few times, he felt a strange sensation. It was damp under the blanket.
‘Aaaaaah.’
Jihwan lifted the blanket and let out a painful groan. This was a nightmare that had been repeating for days.
Jihwan rolled up the blanket and bed sheets, tucked them under his arm, and headed to the laundry room. Then he sat in front of the washing machine, staring blankly at the spinning laundry.
Why is this happening? Am I under a lot of stress? I’m too old for wet dreams! Jihwan lightly banged his head against the top of the washing machine. The vibration resonated through his head.
Having wet dreams was a problem, but the bigger issue was the content of the dream.
Why did Minjae Sunbae keep appearing, and to make matters worse, why did his subconscious add strange fantasies about him?
Jihwan admired Minjae. And respected him. Since he had grown his dream of becoming a hero by looking at newspaper articles featuring Minjae when he was young, he thought he was truly fortunate and happy to have entered the Center and become his pair.
Of course, there had been some hardships and friction, but Minjae Sunbae was an even more amazing hero than he had thought.
But does an object of admiration appear in dreams like this? Generally speaking? Jihwan pondered but couldn’t reach a conclusion. No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t seem to fall within the general category.
This is driving me crazy. Jihwan’s pocket vibrated as he muttered in a depressed voice. Jihwan took out his phone from his pocket.
-Where are you?
It was a short message from Minjae. Why is he asking where I am? Maybe he feels empty because I’m late meeting him today.
Jihwan was about to reply that he was in the laundry room when he jumped up. The chair pushed back and fell over.
Today was the day for a morning team meeting.
Jihwan started running like crazy.
“I’m sorry!!!”
As soon as he opened the door, Jihwan apologized, bending his waist.
“…Sit down.”
Hearing Minjae’s voice, Jihwan raised his head and quietly went to sit in a corner. Eunjeong didn’t seem to care much about Jihwan, but Hoyoung looked at him with a stiff expression before turning away.
“Special orders have come down from the Center Director. We’re going to give a special lecture at the school where the recently rescued children attend… You don’t need to feel burdened, just think of it as creating good memories. It’s not really a place for professional training.”
“Huh…?”
Jihwan expressed doubt without realizing it. Minjae looked at Jihwan.
“…What.”
“Nothing, sir.”
At Minjae’s question, Jihwan quickly shook his head. But wasn’t the special lecture supposed to be just the two of us, Sunbaenim and me? Jihwan tried to recall. The Center Director had definitely said something about going as a pair.
“Reporters will be there that day, so be extremely careful with your words and actions. If you get a difficult question, just toss it to me unconditionally.”
“Ah… what a hassle.”
Eunjeong muttered, resting her chin on her hand. Minjae lightly pinched her nose.
“Ow! What!”
“You’re the biggest problem. Don’t pick fights with the reporters.”
“I don’t want to exchange words with those unpleasant types.”
Minjae shook his head and continued to urge Eunjeong.
Did he do this because of the reporters? There must be reasons for Minjae Sunbae’s judgment. However, Jihwan felt somewhat disappointed.
But why should I feel disappointed? It’s good if we divide the work because it reduces the amount for each person. Jihwan became confused, not knowing why he was thinking this way.
“Still, I’m looking forward to seeing the kids together.”
Hoyoung smiled and spoke to Minjae. Hearing those words, Jihwan realized that he had been secretly expecting to do something alone with Minjae all along. And he disliked the fact that Hoyoung had similar thoughts.
Jihwan felt his emotions sinking to the floor. It was a heavy, damp feeling like Jihwan’s laundry that he hadn’t been able to retrieve from the washing machine because he had rushed here.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
