Chapter 97
His unexpected words and behavior made me feel an even greater weight of guilt pressing down on me. Swallowing the lump of emotion rising in my throat, I finally spoke.
“But the fact is, I couldn’t take care of you until the end. If something had happened to you, I would’ve…”
“The end result is that I came back in one piece, right? And I was the one who finished off that boss mob bastard too.”
“…”
“Aren’t you going to praise me?”
“…Yeah. You did well.”
“Seeing you so intimidated in front of me is unlike you and really awkward. So stop digging yourself into a hole unnecessarily and just focus on recovering so you can get back to the guiding room.”
Only then did I realize something else. Now that I was awake, he had every right to ask for immediate guiding and reach out his hand, but Song Ji-hyeok didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so.
‘Can I think that’s because he’s concerned about me?’
Suppressing the urge to ask him right away, I finally managed a slight smile.
“Yeah. I’ll return as soon as the doctor gives me permission.”
“That’s the first thing I’ve liked hearing today.”
Song Ji-hyeok nodded in agreement and cracked his neck left and right. Almost simultaneously, an alert sounded from his waist. After checking his device, he slightly frowned and grumbled in his trademark way.
“Did they install CCTV in the hospital room or something? They can’t stand to see a person resting.”
Then he stood up abruptly. My eye level, which had been higher than his, suddenly dropped, and I had to look up at Song Ji-hyeok. In return, he looked down at me and said in a tone that was hard to tell whether it was a request or a threat:
“Like I said, don’t dig yourself into a hole, and if you’re bored, watch a movie or drama or something. I’ll come again later if I can.”
Before I could say that wasn’t necessary, he turned sharply and left.
Left alone, silence returned. It seemed like it might rain, as gray clouds were spreading across the sky beyond the blinds, and only the quiet sound of the humidifier could be heard in the room. It was the perfect situation to sink into various gloomy thoughts.
But I recalled Song Ji-hyeok’s parting words. Fearing that if I stayed still, I would fall into a spiral of thoughts like an ant lion pit, I reached for my phone that was plugged into the charger.
‘Right, there’s no use regretting what’s already happened. What matters is what to do from now on.’
Pulling myself together, I turned on the power. I called my parents and sister after a long time and sent messages to my siblings. Next, I opened a portal site app. When I searched for articles related to this battle, just as Song Ji-hyeok had said, most headlines were busy praising his achievements.
There was much more to do. I contacted the team leader, who must have been worried sick, and also informed team members I was close with about my survival. Kim Young-joo immediately rushed over, grabbed my hand, and even had tears in her eyes.
As if we hadn’t seen each other for three months rather than three weeks, we greeted each other warmly and shared many stories. I was busy telling her about what happened in the dungeon, while she told me about what happened at the Guild while I was absent.
In the process, I learned another surprising fact: from the very day of returning from the dungeon, Song Ji-hyeok had stayed by my side for two to three hours every evening.
Seeing me a bit dazed as I mulled over those words, Kim Young-joo playfully asked me:
“Are you moved?”
“…A little.”
“Your face looks extremely moved though?”
She saw right through me. I never imagined Song Ji-hyeok would visit me every day while I was unconscious.
Then, as if reading my mind, Kim Young-joo said exactly what I wanted to hear.
“I think he’s more aware of being your pair than I thought. Oh, by the way, what did the doctor say?”
Speak of the devil—not long after, Doctor Oh Hye-yeon appeared again. At her suggestion that it would be good to have a detailed examination, I agreed to see Kim Young-joo again tomorrow and followed the doctor.
When I stood in front of a familiar machine, the doctor tried to ease my tension, saying it was just a simple examination. But instead, I felt my tension double at those words.
The moment blood gushed from my nose is still vivid in my memory. Although I had inadvertently rested my body while unconscious, somehow I didn’t think that would translate to recovery.
I finished the examination amid anxiety and returned to my room. I ate a bland porridge for an early dinner and afterward tried my best to escape from self-blame and worry. As time passed and the outside window was completely dyed in darkness, the doctor visited me again.
I instinctively sensed it was because of the examination conducted earlier. As I’d guessed, the doctor delivered the results in a calm voice.
“I just confirmed the results, and it’s definitely guiding side effects.”
“…Yes.”
I deliberately responded as if it was nothing, clutching the blanket. Even though I had fully anticipated and prepared for this, I couldn’t be completely unmoved. Moreover, the doctor’s words didn’t end there.
“And… the results are worse than when we tested before. However, it could be a temporary symptom, and since you’ve just regained consciousness, the results might improve as your condition gets better. So let’s plan for another test in about two days, and until then, please refrain from guiding.”
Once again, I felt a cold sensation spreading from my fingertips. I barely swallowed with my gaze lowered. Though I wanted to end the conversation here, thinking of the future, I couldn’t help but speak.
“If the results are still bad in the retest…”
I’d barely said a few words, but I felt breathless. I had a hallucination of my vision becoming darkly stained. The veteran doctor, undisturbed by that emotion, skillfully blocked it.
“There’s a much higher possibility that it will improve. Recovery time can vary depending on the case, and if you take a suitable sedative, there shouldn’t be any problem with providing guiding.”
“…I see.”
“And there’s good news too. Your internal injury recovery speed is much faster than expected, so it seems you can be discharged tomorrow morning. Usually, a Guide with this level of injury would be kept for at least two weeks, but as expected from a Dual Awakened, you’re different in many ways.”
The doctor smiled brightly and offered me one more hopeful statement.
“So your guiding levels will probably normalize soon. I’ll do my best to find a way, so please stay strong.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Then rest well. Oh, and…”
Knock-knock-
Just as the doctor was about to continue, a knock was heard from beyond the door. Soon the door opened, and an unexpected figure appeared. It was Song Ji-hyeok.
“Ji-hyeok?”
As the door opened, a delicious smell wafted in strongly. Unlike me, who was dumbfounded, the doctor spoke with a smiling face.
“I was about to tell you that Song Ji-hyeok would be coming, but I guess it’s too late now. By the way, did you bring something?”
An expression that said ‘why are you asking that?’ appeared on Song Ji-hyeok’s face. But perhaps because it was the doctor’s question, he didn’t ignore it and answered.
“Chicken.”
“Hmm. As you know, Su-hyeon shouldn’t eat spicy food yet.”
Song Ji-hyeok slightly furrowed one eyebrow at those regretful words. It was a face that anyone would recognize as saying ‘I messed up.’
I couldn’t help but laugh at that sight. His easy-to-read expressions, which helped greatly in understanding emotions and moods, remained the same. Song Ji-hyeok scratched the back of his neck and said to the doctor:
“Do you want it? If not, forget it.”
Hey, man. What kind of attitude is that?
Unlike me, who was immediately alarmed, the doctor showed her magnanimous side generously.
“I’ll pass it on to the nurses. They’ll all be happy to hear Song Ji-hyeok treated them.”
I mentally applauded the doctor’s skilled handling. How does she come up with such sensible responses right away? Is it something you’re born with?
“Then, rest well, you two.”
Finally, the doctor disappeared with the wind… no, with the chicken. Only then did I look at Song Ji-hyeok and ask with a still bewildered face:
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“I missed you.”
What did he say?
I nearly asked him to repeat himself. While I missed the timing and just opened my mouth, Song Ji-hyeok casually moved his hands. He took off the jacket he was wearing—he must have gone home since he wasn’t in combat uniform—and sat on the edge of the bed, scooting his backside toward me.
“Move over a little.”
Though I wondered what was happening, I instinctively shifted slightly to the side. I briefly thought, ‘Is he planning to push me to the other side?’ but after sitting comfortably, he became docile.
No, he was calm for a moment before becoming restless again. He pulled out the blanket from under his backside and awkwardly covered me up to my waist, then met my eyes.
“Have you had dinner?”
“I ate a while ago. Have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
“What did you eat?”
“Just something quick.”
Seeing him uncharacteristically avoiding eye contact, I immediately had a hunch.
“You didn’t eat, did you? Wait, was that chicken you just brought supposed to be your dinner?”
“No.”
His response speed increased, but the lie remained. Unlike his nonchalant demeanor, I wore an expression like an old man regretfully looking at something beyond the door.
‘If I had noticed earlier, I would have held onto that chicken bag and guarded it. I can’t ask for it back now…’
But remembering there was a chain restaurant near the Guild, I immediately turned on my phone.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
