Startled by the sound, I looked up at him to see Jaehyuk checking a number on his phone screen with a frown.
Then he stood up and excused himself.
“…Just a moment, I need to take this call. It’s my grandfather.”
Perhaps it was a conversation uncomfortable to have in front of Junghyun, as Jaehyuk headed toward the entrance while beginning his call.
As soon as he moved away, Junghyun put down his fork.
Then he covered his face with both hands, appearing troubled.
Throughout their conversation, he had sensed that it wasn’t just about Yoonho hyung. Though Jaehyuk wasn’t showing it, he suspected everything about him.
He simply wasn’t expressing it. Because they needed to continue this contract.
But Junghyun could no longer continue with this contract.
Whether he had the child or not…
This contract marriage needed to end one way or another.
Compared to his anxious state just moments ago, his mind had now grown cold and clear.
In fact, realizing that Jaehyuk had noticed something about the situation actually calmed his nerves.
As he tried to reconsider the situation step by step with his newly composed mind, his phone on the table began to ring.
When he checked the screen, he saw a name he hadn’t seen in a while.
Minjun
After hesitating for a moment since they hadn’t spoken for some time, he finally pressed the answer button.
An urgent voice immediately burst through.
— “Sorry, hyung. I know I shouldn’t call you, but you’re the only one answering right now…”
Behind Minjun’s dazed mumbling, loud siren sounds and beeping machine noises could be heard.
His heart sank at those sounds.
He had a very bad feeling.
“What is it? What happened?”
— “There’s been an accident. Mom is badly hurt, we’re heading to the emergency room now, and I don’t know what to do…”
“Accident?”
— “We were waiting at a traffic light when suddenly some car crashed into ours, and Mom got badly injured.”
Junghyun’s face turned pale at Minjun’s somewhat chaotic explanation.
“What about you? Are you hurt?”
— “I’m fine. The car hit the driver’s side, so Mom got hurt badly.”
“What about Seojun and Dad?”
— “Dad’s on a business trip overseas, and hyung isn’t answering his phone. I’ve been calling repeatedly but he won’t pick up.”
Before he could even think, his body moved first.
With no time to think clearly, he instinctively stood up, grabbed his coat, and immediately left the restaurant.
“Which hospital?”
Chapter 13
“Ms. Lee Jiwon only has fractures in her right wrist, right leg, and ankle. She shows concussion symptoms, but brain scans showed no problems. Mr. Choi Minjun has minor fractures in his right ankle, shoulder, and ribs, which have been treated. They’ll be moved to a room as soon as one becomes available, but if no room opens up, they’ll need to stay in the emergency room until morning.”
“Thank you.”
Considering the scale of the accident, the injuries weren’t too severe.
No, they were serious injuries, but at least they didn’t require emergency surgery or blood transfusions.
That alone was a relief, and Junghyun looked at the two of them lying side by side in the emergency room.
Uncle said he was looking for the next flight, but he still couldn’t get in touch with Seojun.
He had rushed over as a temporary guardian to handle things, but they would need an official guardian when meeting the specialist doctor tomorrow.
No, even beyond that, if emergency surgery became necessary in the middle of the night, he couldn’t sign the consent forms.
Because he wasn’t family.
“Junghyun.”
“Yes?”
“What the hell is this bastard doing and where?” he cursed internally while sending another message, when his uncle carefully called out to him from the bed.
“You should go now. We’re fine.”
“Go where? Your right arm and right leg are both out of commission.”
Junghyun clicked his tongue, saying they would need a wheelchair even to go to the bathroom, when Minjun timidly interjected.
“Hyung, I’m fine, so you should go.”
“Talk sense. Your ankle is injured. And traffic accident aftereffects come the next day. Starting tomorrow, you’ll have muscle pain everywhere and feel dizzy, so just lie down and rest.”
“Still, you should go. You’re a newlywed.”
“It’s fine. I still don’t come home for days when I’m busy.”
“But you should contact your partner.”
“I already did, so don’t worry. They’re not the type to mind about such things.”
“Still…”
“It’s fine.”
Honestly, it wasn’t fine at all.
But there was no choice.
Though not life-threatening, both of them were currently unable to move on their own, and there was too much to do in the emergency room.
Meanwhile, he still couldn’t reach Seojun.
“Guardian for Lee Jiwon and Choi Minjun.”
“Yes.”
“A two-person room has become available, so we’ll be moving them. Since it’s not a nursing ward, a guardian needs to accompany them.”
“I’ll go.”
As soon as he answered naturally, his uncle called out to him.
“Junghyun…”
“I’ll stay until Seojun arrives. We can’t call a caregiver at this hour, and not only you, but Minjun also has an ankle fracture so he can’t walk on his own. You’re both badly injured.”
“But…”
“I’ll track down Seojun within a few hours, so don’t worry. The pain will start to set in soon.”
By then, the nurses had approached and started moving the beds.
“We’re moving the patients now.”
***
— “…I made a reservation. I should arrive around 7 AM. Please take care of Jiwon and my youngest until then.”
“They’re both sleeping after getting painkillers and antibiotics, so don’t worry and try to get some rest yourself.”
— “Alright. Thank you and I’m sorry for today.”
“How much have I eaten at your house? I need to repay that.”
— “You’ve done more than enough already. I’ll see you when I get there. No, once Seojun arrives, feel free to leave anytime. Your partner must be worried.”
“I’ve contacted them. They said it’s fine.”
— “That’s good then. See you later.”
“Yes.”
After finishing the call with Seojun’s father, Junghyun looked around the quiet hallway.
Jiwon and Minjun had been moved to a double room and immediately fallen asleep.
As soon as they reached the room, they both fell asleep as if passing out from the release of tension. While watching them, he received a call from Seojun’s father and had stepped out into the hallway to talk.
A complaint escaped his lips.
“Where the hell is this idiot and what is he doing?”
While angrily wondering why someone who usually answers calls reliably wasn’t responding at such an important time, Junghyun suddenly realized something.
There was only one reason Seojun would be unreachable like this.
Based on experience, it was a 99% probability. The other 1% would be that he lost his phone.
“Damn it…”
Although muttering that he didn’t want to talk to this bastard, he eventually dialed Jeonghoo’s number.
One ring, two rings… and on the fifth ring, the call connected. Not missing that moment, he quickly spoke in a declarative manner.
“Seojun’s there, isn’t he? Tell that bastard his mother and brother were in a traffic accident and are hospitalized. Tell him to come to Baekun Hospital quickly. They’re badly hurt.”
— “…Is that why you called?”
“Would I call you for any reason other than Seojun? Just pass on the message.”
— “Not my business.”
Junghyun wasn’t surprised when the call ended with Jeonghoo saying he didn’t care whether someone died or not.
If he hadn’t asked why Junghyun was looking for Seojun from him, then they were definitely together.
Though he said it wasn’t his business, Jeonghoo wasn’t enough of a trash person to not deliver the message.
That side was handled.
Now the problem was this side.
Sitting in the quiet hallway, Junghyun leaned his head against the wall with a long sigh.
It would be a lie to say he had properly explained the situation.
He had only sent one message and refused to answer any calls or messages from him.
From what he remembered, there were at least twenty-four missed calls.
He must be quite angry. After all, Junghyun had disrespected him by running out like that and refusing to respond.
But he needed time. Honestly, that’s why he ran away.
To buy time.
It would be nice if he could think that the other person didn’t know anything, but he had made too big a mistake for that.
And he wasn’t the type to miss such mistakes.
He had caught the tail of a long lie.
If so, this situation needed to be resolved quickly.
The grounds for breaking the contract had already been established.
Dragging it out would lead nowhere. If it was going to end, better to end it soon.
The three months had been enjoyable, and he had done his best to repay him in his own way, so that was enough.
It needed to end here.
After strengthening his resolve, he searched for a number he hadn’t called in quite a while and dialed.
This time, the call connected before even one ring.
— “Hey, what now? You’re making my heart race by calling so late.”
Junghyun felt so relieved at the immediate noisy voice that he could almost cry.
Juwon was always unkind, but talking with him put his mind at ease.
“Why?”
— “Because you cause so much trouble.”
“I don’t cause that much trouble.”
— “Don’t make me laugh. You should know that you only have no criminal record thanks to me.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
