Gentle Giant Chapter 87
The two of them stayed up late into the night planning their trip without realizing how tired they were, finally falling asleep.
However, not long after falling asleep, Juho was forced to open his eyes due to a splitting headache.
“Ugh.”
He let out an involuntary groan and mercilessly furrowed his brows.
The sedative he had received over 4 hours had only been effective for barely 12 hours. Starting with the headache, all sorts of symptoms came flooding in like a tide – cold sweats all over his body, trembling, and joint pain.
Juho cursed inwardly as he carefully got down from the bed. Even that simple movement made his skull throb loudly.
Rolling his eyes to confirm that Dain hadn’t woken up, Juho took his phone and staggered toward the dressing room.
He steadied his increasingly heavy body and searched for Managing Director Kim in his call list. He was the only person who could resolve this situation right now.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be sleeping deeply, as Managing Director Kim’s voice came through immediately after just a few rings.
-Yes, is something wrong?
“Managing Director Kim-nim.”
-Young master? Your voice…
Even though he hadn’t said much, sounds of someone getting ready to leave could be heard from the other side of the phone. He had clearly sensed something unusual from Juho’s voice, which was huskier and lower than usual.
“Managing Director-nim, right now I need to go to the hospital…”
-Yes, I’ll come right over there! It’ll take about 20 minutes, will that be okay?
“Yes, ugh. I’ll tell hyung, so please call again when you arrive.”
-Yes, understood. I’ll come as quickly as possible.
Juho also didn’t have the mental capacity to explain the current situation in detail. Barely holding onto his fading consciousness, he managed to get out the words asking him to contact the hospital and call back when he arrived.
Having heard Managing Director Kim’s confirmation, now what remained was Dain.
If possible, no – he wanted to keep this situation secret from Dain as much as possible. Both his raging hormones and the family circumstances that would naturally be revealed as a result.
Having hidden so many things already, even now when he felt like he was about to collapse, his mouth wouldn’t open easily.
However, Dain’s sincere words that he had heard just a few hours ago made him realize that he shouldn’t deceive Dain anymore. If his condition got any worse than this, it might become completely irreversible.
Juho roughly wiped away the cold sweat that had formed on his chin and returned to the bed. Seeing Dain fast asleep, completely unaware of anything, felt suffocating as if a huge lump was blocking his chest.
Now, all Juho could believe in and cling to was Dain’s sympathy.
Even at this moment, hoping that he would look as pitiful as possible, he carefully tapped Dain’s shoulder with his trembling fingertips.
“Hyung, Dain hyung.”
It was the first time in weeks that he had been able to sleep soundly before 12 o’clock. With the added relief that he could sleep in late tomorrow as well, Dain had been sleeping sweetly without even dreaming.
Even so, he couldn’t ignore the hand that had been regularly tapping his shoulder, so Dain lifted his heavy eyelids.
“Mmm.”
“Hyung, can you wake up for a moment?”
“Juho…?”
“Yes, hyung.”
Dain rubbed his bleary eyes and sat up. Looking around, it still seemed to be the dark early morning.
“Mm, what’s wrong?”
“Hyuuung.”
Even at a glance, Juho’s voice sounded unusual. While his voice was normally on the low side, it wasn’t usually this husky with the ending trailing off like this.
Dain felt what little sleepiness remained completely disappear as he placed his hand on Juho’s shoulder. Then he was startled by the hot body temperature that was clearly felt even through the shirt and pulled his hand away.
“Juho!! Why is your body so hot!”
Dain turned on the light first, not knowing what to do, then examined Juho.
Juho’s condition revealed under the bright light looked several times worse than what he had sensed from his voice alone.
His shirt soaked with cold sweat, his face pale as a sheet, and his lips that looked dry and rough. It was serious at first glance.
Dain’s face also turned pale white. He knew he couldn’t leave him like this, but nothing came to mind in his head, frozen with panic. He could only watch Juho who looked too sick, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Hyung.”
“Ah! Right, yes, Juho. What should we do, should we go to the hospital… what, what should I do! Right, 119! Wait a minute, Juho! I should call 119!”
“Hyung, wait…”
Dain searched for his phone restlessly. Juho looked too sick for him to even dare touch him.
Juho reached out his hand to Dain, who had turned even paler than himself. Even that simple movement brought a wave of pain, making veins bulge on his forehead.
Dain quickly approached Juho’s side, stopping mid-way through dialing 119.
“Yes, Juho. What is it?”
“I asked someone I know for help. Hah, when that person comes later, together…”
Thump.
Juho’s large body lost strength and collapsed onto the bed with a thud.
Seeing him suddenly lose consciousness, Dain screamed out Juho’s name.
“Juho!!!”
Tears burst from Dain’s eyes. He had been perfectly fine until they went to sleep, but in just a few hours he looked like he was dying…!
Not knowing the cause or how to deal with it, Dain could only stamp his feet in place. He had no choice but to trust only the last words Juho had said before collapsing and wait for that person to come.
Dain continuously stroked Juho’s cold forehead, which contrasted with his hot body. He wiped away his cold sweat and massaged his hands and feet to help circulation.
How wonderful it would have been if he had more medical knowledge. Dain’s insides burned black with anxiety at the completely incomprehensible situation.
Dain was scared that Juho’s complexion was too pale and worried whether his heart was beating properly, so he put his ear to his chest. Although it felt a bit fast, he could hear his heartbeat.
Dain didn’t take his ear away and kept listening, listening to Juho’s heartbeat. If he didn’t do at least that, the tears he had barely stopped seemed like they would pour out again.
Just when he was getting increasingly anxious about when the person who was supposed to come would contact them, Juho’s phone vibrated. Dain quickly pressed the call button, afraid the call would be cut off.
The other party seemed just as urgent, as a loud voice burst out as soon as the call connected.
-Young master, I’ve arrived now!
Although he heard an unfamiliar title instead of Juho’s name, Dain didn’t pay attention to it and quickly focused on informing him of his condition.
“Ju, Juho has lost consciousness! His body is hot but his face and hands and feet are cold, and he trembles sometimes too. His heart, his heart seems to be beating fast too. What should I do…!”
-Ah, I’ll come up now. Please open the door for me.
“Yes, yes! Understood!”
Managing Director Kim, who had gone through several security procedures, entered Juho’s house.
As soon as he entered Juho’s space, Managing Director Kim hesitated for a moment at the energy pressing down on his entire body, then quickly came to his senses and stepped inside.
Dain was surprised to see the large man entering through the door.
He was curious about how two people of completely different ages knew each other, but thinking that what was important right now was Juho, he quickly guided the man to Juho without asking questions.
“When did the young master lose consciousness?”
“I think it’s been a little less than 20 minutes. Wh, why is Juho like this?”
“I don’t know exactly either… First, we need to take him to the hospital. Please help me.”
“Yes!”
Dain helped the man carry Juho on his back and left the house together. Just in case, he brought his own wallet along with Juho’s phone and the wallet containing his ID.
* * *
After laying Juho’s long body in the back seat as if cramming him in, Dain sat next to him.
It seemed like they were taking the sick person in too uncomfortable a way. He wondered if it would have been better to call an ambulance. However, seeing Juho’s acquaintance driving toward the destination without hesitation, he forced himself to calm his anxious heart.
Dain massaged Juho’s arms and legs continuously until his hands turned bright red. But he became increasingly frightened as Juho didn’t move at all.
Feeling like he might cry again, he closed his eyes tightly and gripped Juho’s hand firmly.
How much time had passed like that? At the hospital they arrived at, staff members were already waiting outside. With the quick hand movements of people accustomed to receiving patients, they installed examination equipment on Juho’s body.
“Check vitals first, and to the 19th floor for now! Where’s the doctor?”
“Yes, we’ve contacted him! He said he’ll arrive in 15 minutes.”
The medical staff who had exchanged various information loaded the bed carrying Juho into the elevator.
Dain, who had naturally expected them to head to the emergency room, looked around with a confused face after watching the door close coldly.
Unlike Dain who was still anxious, Managing Director Kim, who had an expression of relief, finally let out a deep sigh.
There were plenty of people he needed to inform about Juho’s condition, including the chairwoman, but just the fact that he had put out the urgent fire first seemed to bring his wildly racing heart rate back to some degree.
“Excuse me…”
Managing Director Kim turned around at the voice calling him. Where his gaze reached, Juho’s friend with gray hair was standing. No, it was a deeper relationship than just friends.
Managing Director Kim examined Dain, who was watching his reaction, closely. The narrowed pupils that seemed anxious and shaking left an impression on him. Managing Director Kim, thinking that he was probably a cat beast-man, answered Dain.
“Yes.”
“What happened to Juho? Why, why isn’t it the emergency room, where is he going?”
“The young master went to a private room. That place is also equipped with examination equipment and medical staff are stationed there, so don’t worry.”
“Then we’ll be able to find out why Juho is sick now, right? He can receive treatment right away too, right?”
“Yes. You’ve worked hard coming all the way here. You can go home and rest now. I’ll be by the young master’s side.”
At Managing Director Kim’s words, Dain shook his head vigorously.
It hadn’t even been 5 minutes since they arrived at the hospital, and he was telling him to go home again. That was impossible.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
