# Chapter 38
“Our Devil and Choigang factions have formed an alliance.”
“Really?”
I nodded at Hanseo’s words, whose eyes were red from crying so much. He was subtly watching my reaction as he said it, but I accepted it quickly without any particular response. I had somewhat expected it, and from the first time the alliance was mentioned, I thought it wasn’t a bad proposal. Are we in a position to be picky right now? Ion, with his arms crossed next to Hanseo, added:
“By now, the news of the Devil-Choigang alliance should have been announced through HioIl.”
“…As expected, the reaction has been tremendous. It’s the first alliance since the establishment of the four Iljinhoe factions.”
“Hmph. To be honest, I hate the idea of an alliance, but what choice do we have? The situation is that shitty right now.”
In response to Amin’s words, Kim Sara showed a somewhat rough reaction, clearly disliking it. Ion seemed about to flare up again at his attitude, but On Wooju quickly shielded them.
“Well, Sara sunbae said it in an incredibly unpleasant way, but he’s not wrong, is he? It’s not like everyone wanted this alliance from the start. Jang Seoldam left only cryptic words for Devil’s Apex Gu Haejin before controlling all the Coup d’état members. As for Focus, I don’t know what Apex Kim Pyeonghwa is thinking, but they seem to be keeping quiet about it. Right, Jung Ion sunbae?”
“…I guess so.”
“Shit… On Wooju, do you always criticize just me?”
“I just wish sunbae would speak more nicely. …Anyway, it is shitty. As everyone probably anticipates, the current situation is so urgent that it wouldn’t be strange at all if a national gang war broke out right now.”
“Now that the alliance is known, no one knows what stance the other side will take. From now on, we need to be more cautious than before.”
Ohhh… Something… I don’t know what exactly, but On Wooju and Park Hanseo seemed to have something going on. Especially Hanseo, who had been more like a big puppy to me until now, was giving off an unfamiliar scent. I suppose he really is the staff member of this childishly brilliant Iljinhoe.
But isn’t Kim Sara the Choigang staff member, not On Wooju? Clearly, being a first-year Number Two would be too OP if he was also the staff member, so maybe he just handed that role to Kim Sara? Anyway, both of them are good. They’re pretty sharp, huh? Oh. Brain guys? Oh.
“Ah-.”
The serious flow of conversation was completely cut off in that instant.
The reason was that all five pairs of eyes, excluding mine, were fixed on one thing. Regardless of Iljinhoe or alliance or whatever, as if none of it had anything to do with him, the Choigang Apex Oh Eundo himself was holding out a spoon with the most carefree attitude in the world.
Haha… I awkwardly stared at the spoon of porridge swaying in front of my eyes.
“What are you doing? Quickly, say ‘ah’.”
When I remained still, the naturally hot-tempered guy couldn’t stand it and frowned, pushing the spoon forward once more.
Oh Eundo. Can’t you see this awkwardly cold atmosphere? Setting aside me, who had just woken up and was silently listening to their conversation like a mute with honey in its mouth, are you allowed to be this unconcerned when you’re also an Apex like me? Rather than that, it seems like you’re more focused on feeding me, I get that feeling.
“…Ah.”
As I ate the porridge with a flat expression, Eundo’s face gradually softened. The savory and salty thin rice grains quietly swam in my mouth.
It was beef and vegetable porridge that Amin had bought from a porridge chain near the hospital, after the doctor said that while I couldn’t have stimulating meals or food right away after waking up, I could have simple porridge. I definitely held the spoon at first. But how did it end up with Oh Eundo feeding me? If you ask, I’d have to say it’s because of my condition. The couple of IV drips were so cumbersome… When I couldn’t properly hold the spoon by myself and was getting annoyed by the porridge dripping without even reaching my mouth.
‘What are you doing, really? Give it here.’
Before I could say anything, Eundo practically took my spoon away, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, and held it out to me with an “Ah.” Of course, my expression contorted strangely, but with his forceful energy—are you going to pathetically not eat and throw it all away later? Eat it when I’m feeding you directly—I had no choice but to accept it. Shit. Like when I was at Kim Pyeonghwa’s house before, why do I keep having someone else feed me whenever I’m sick? I hope this doesn’t happen with Jang Seoldam too? Hell…
“What’s there to talk about? The conclusion is that we, who formed the alliance, will sweep them all away~.”
All the gang members seemed to have lost their words at Oh Eundo’s irresponsible statement. Well, he’s not wrong. So… how exactly can we sweep them away? When On Wooju asked, seemingly holding back, Eundo confidently winked.
“Hmm… by trying our hardest?”
Yes. Right. Damn Warrior of Blood Fragrance. Do whatever you want, you bastard.
The strategy meeting, which didn’t seem like a strategy meeting, ended ambiguously like that, and unlike me who had properly filled my stomach with porridge thanks to Eundo, the others who hadn’t eaten anything left the hospital room to have a late dinner.
Only Eundo and I remained in the room.
“How are you feeling?”
“More or less okay.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Yeah. Is it okay for you not to have dinner?”
Eundo playfully tapped my cheek with his index finger. “More or less okay,” he repeated my words. I smiled a little and replied as well. “That’s a relief.”
“But… not just the alliance, the fact that you collapsed at the café and are now hospitalized has also been reported.”
At Eundo’s gentle words, my expression subtly hardened, then relaxed. Seriously. I didn’t realize my privacy would be this nonexistent. Damn it.
“…What am I, some idol?”
“At that time, I was too frantic to care about people taking photos, but anyway, many gang members are cheering for you after hearing you collapsed. They’re saying you must get up. That they believe in you. Not just the Devil guys, but after the alliance, all our Choigang members also prayed for you to wake up. Well, you’ve always been the beloved Queen of all gang members anyway.”
Oh no, it’s cringey, so could you please shut that mouth? Hearing the word “Queen” in real life gave me goosebumps after a long time. Just when I was starting to adapt, it’s a surprise attack. Dammit.
“Want to sleep more? You look tired.”
“Mmm.”
I wasn’t particularly tired, but I just said yes anyway. After sitting up for so long, when I lay back down on the bed, he kindly covered me with the blanket. I felt a bit ticklish, but anyway, thanks.
“Sleep well, Gu Haejin.”
Once I lay down and closed my eyes, strangely enough, sleepiness started to come. Hmm. Is it because I’m really tired, or is it because of the IV? Whatever. It seemed like a divine revelation to sleep since I was getting sleepy, so I decided to obediently follow it. In my drowsy state, Eundo’s words came to me distantly.
Mmm. Yeah, yeah.
“……”
…….
At some point, the sensation of cool yet warm lips lightly touched my forehead and then left.
Almost as if it were an illusion.
When I opened my eyes again, it was dim dawn.
Through the windows where the blinds hadn’t been drawn, a faint bluish light was pouring into the dark hospital room. The humidifier was still whirring away. Looking around, I saw that all the kids were sleeping in uncomfortable positions somewhere.
I quietly got up from the bed. Although they said it was a VIP single room and the hospital room was quite spacious, it seemed a bit cramped to accommodate seven male youths including myself. Eundo was sleeping soundly on the guardian bed below mine. He was asleep, roughly using his arm as a pillow, without even a basic blanket. Despite arranging such a luxurious private room for me, he’s treating his own body so carelessly… While it was just like him, I felt sorry for the hardship he was going through because of me, so I covered him with my blanket. It would definitely be cold at dawn.
After checking that the other guys were sleeping well too, I slowly dragged the IV pole and opened the hospital room door. Unlike the dark interior, the outside was very bright. The door closed with a soft drrrk- sound.
Haah… I exhale a breath for no reason.
Except for a few nurses, the floor I was on was as quiet as if no one else was there. It seemed to be because it was the VIP ward. After giving a slight smile to the nurses who were giving me looks that seemed to ask what I was doing, I headed for the elevator. I felt a bit stuffy, so I thought about going outside.
“Huh?”
The moment I looked at my phone, which I had just taken out to check the time, a small exclamation burst from my lips. The current time was 4:24 AM. And there were 25 missed calls. From just one person. The last missed call was only 10 minutes ago. The timing had unfortunately just missed when I woke up.
“Why is he…?”
Surprisingly, the protagonist of those 25 missed calls was Kim Pyeonghwa.
When I came down to the first-floor lobby, there were more people than in the ward earlier. This was Gangnam General Hospital, a large hospital with a 24-hour emergency room. Come to think of it, damn. This was already my third time here. First was food poisoning, second was a cold with a fever, and now an allergy.
Shit. Is this for real…?
I was so frustrated I could cry. Gu Haejin is way too weak.
Clicking my tongue at myself, I dragged the IV drip. Ugh. So tired of this. Just then, the phone I had put in my pocket started vibrating wildly. Whiiiiing!! It startled me.
Just one step away from the door, the screen showed the name of Kim Pyeonghwa, the owner of the 25 missed calls who had been calling until just 10 minutes ago. He seemed to have quite something to say to me. He’s not calling to curse me out, is he?
“Hello?”
Feeling inexplicably uneasy and uncomfortable, I dragged the IV drip with one hand, secured the phone between my ear and shoulder, and pressed the button at the hospital’s main entrance with my other hand.
Whoosh- The hospital door opened, and in front of my eyes…
“……”
A tall, dangerously handsome person with silvery hair fluttering in the wind stood there, his gaze cool.
-Haejin.
“Haejin.”
…Sigh. What’s wrong with you now?
Kim Pyeonghwa’s voice, whom I was meeting after a long time, was completely soaked in alcohol.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
