Gentle Giant Chapter 88
“I’ll just check if Juho is okay and then leave. Can’t I even do that…?”
“You seem very shocked… Wouldn’t it be better to rest? And the young master will be fine soon. It’s probably a hormone issue like yesterday, and the test results from yesterday should come out as early as this morning, so it would be better if you came then to see the results together.”
“Hormone… test?”
“Yes. We thought he’d be okay since he had the test yesterday and received sedatives, but his condition suddenly worsened.”
There wasn’t a single thing coming out of Managing Director Kim’s mouth that he could properly understand. What was this hormone problem, and he had never heard from Juho about any tests or sedatives.
Perhaps interpreting Dain’s bewildered expression somehow, Managing Director Kim explained once more carefully.
He had no thought at all that Juho might be hiding things about himself from Dain, who he was dating.
Managing Director Kim offered awkward comfort along with his detailed explanation. After all, he must have been very shocked by the sudden symptoms. He recalled the face that had looked as pale as Juho’s when he went to the house.
“Ah, yes. Then what is Juho’s current…”
“Medication according to his symptoms will be administered, and the doctor will come to examine him again. Still, it won’t be accurate until the results come out.”
“I see…”
Dain, who pondered over the man’s words, felt his tension release and his legs give out with it. His knees trembled and nearly buckled, which he barely managed to endure by putting strength into them.
Still, it was fortunate that Juho’s condition, which he thought was serious, was okay. In fact, that was the only fortunate thing.
Dain still felt nauseous because of his noisy heart and complicated mind. It was shocking that he had known nothing about him until now.
It wasn’t just his health condition. The words and attitude of the man standing in front of him were as careful as if Juho was a very important person. It wasn’t the attitude toward ‘intern Lee Juho’ that Dain was familiar with.
The more Dain organized Managing Director Kim’s words, the more confused he became, so he just squeezed his eyes shut and opened them. There were many puzzling things, but thinking about them alone wouldn’t solve anything.
“Um, then is there nothing I can do right now by staying next to Juho?”
“Probably, right now the medical staff next to the young master would make it complicated enough. If you’re going to stay, it would be good to at least change into comfortable clothes.”
Dain looked at himself after hearing his words. He hadn’t felt that his clothes were uncomfortable…?
“…!!”
Dain’s face turned bright red. Now that he checked his outfit, he could understand why Managing Director Kim wanted to send him home.
He was in glossy silk short-sleeved pajamas with his toes peeking out between house slippers. Since he had seen Juho collapse right after waking up, he hadn’t even thought about changing clothes before coming out.
Dain nodded with his reddened face and handed Juho’s wallet and phone to the man in front of him.
“I brought these just in case. I thought it would be better for the hospital to have them.”
“Yes, I’ll take good care of them.”
“Then I’ll quickly change clothes and come back.”
Dain, who bowed deeply at 90 degrees, left the hospital. Fortunately, there was a taxi stop nearby, so he could return home without getting lost.
Dain, who arrived home after speeding through the dawn roads, collapsed onto the bed as if crumbling.
The excited conversation he’d had with Juho just a few hours ago felt like a dream. No, had Juho been excited? It seemed like only he had been excited. In fact, nothing felt real to Dain right now.
“Haah…”
Finally, the sigh that Dain had been holding back poured out of his mouth. Feeling frustrated, he even hit the bed until it made thumping sounds. However, rather than feeling relieved, he only became more tangled up.
Was what I knew only one part of Juho, or was even that false?
Looking around the empty house, it felt as if even Juho’s presence had disappeared, giving him goosebumps all over his body.
Dain shook his head vigorously to shake off the negative emotions that were growing rapidly. He couldn’t dig himself into a hole here alone. When Juho couldn’t even regain consciousness, it wouldn’t do to only look after his own feelings.
Thinking that Juho might have woken up even now, Dain quickly finished preparing to go out. Since he might be hospitalized for several days, he also carefully packed daily necessities.
* * *
Dain, who returned to the hospital, pressed the 19th floor with hesitant fingertips.
It was his first time coming to such a large hospital, and he was also learning for the first time that patient rooms could be on such high floors. The time going up to the 19th floor felt endlessly long.
The sound announcing the 19th floor was heard and the doors slowly opened. Dain’s steps crossing the elevator threshold were cautious.
The atmosphere was completely different from the first floor, which mixed emergency rooms and examination rooms. Except for the occasional sound of machines operating, it was quiet to the point of being desolate.
Dain moved his feet more carefully, feeling like his footsteps were the loudest sound on this floor.
In the spacious area, there were only a few doors and security guards standing in front of them. At least thanks to the uniformed nurses at the desk, he could tell this was a hospital.
“Hello, could you tell me where patient Lee Juho’s hospital room is?”
At Dain’s question, the gaze of the nurse who was checking charts fell on Dain. When Dain’s shoulders tensed up under her observing gaze, the nurse pointed to a door on the opposite side.
“Over there. He hasn’t woken up yet, so I don’t know if you’ll be able to go in. The patient’s side said no visitors.”
“Ah, still? Then I can’t go in?”
“Well, that’s… we just received instructions. It’s not that visitors aren’t allowed because the patient’s condition is serious, so would you like to go and talk about it?”
At the nurse’s last words, Dain, who had been trembling, finally felt relieved.
Since they said Juho’s condition wasn’t serious, that alone was fortunate. The nurse also said they received the no-visitor instruction from the patient’s side, not the hospital’s side.
Dain headed toward the hospital room where Juho was, wanting to see Juho’s face at least once. If they told him not to come in until he woke up, there was nothing he could do, but he thought he should at least try talking.
“How may I help you?”
As soon as he approached near the hospital room, one of the people guarding the door stopped Dain’s steps and asked. He was a beast-man with a threatening build and aura.
Dain, who wiped his naturally sweating palms on his pants, hurriedly answered.
“Ah, yes… I came to see Juho…”
It was such a small voice that it wouldn’t be heard properly unless one listened carefully.
The security guard, who was looking Dain over while listening to his answer, recalled Managing Director Kim’s request from earlier.
‘The young master’s guest might come a little later. The name is Jung Dain, gray hair with a cast on his left hand. Since he’s a beast-man, you’ll be able to recognize him right away. Just check his identity and allow him to visit.’
It seemed like he was talking about the person in front of him.
The security guard asked Dain several confirmation items.
“Could you show me your name and ID? And I’ll also check the belongings you brought.”
“Yes, yes! I’m Jung Dain. Just a moment for my ID!”
Opening his wallet and taking out the thin ID with one hand was no ordinary task. With the help of the security guard who felt sorry for Dain, he took out and confirmed the ID.
After carefully comparing Dain’s name and the photo on the ID before returning it, the security guard finally looked inside the paper bag he had brought.
What Dain had brought were just trivial things like Juho’s underwear, towel, tissues, phone charger, etc. He had packed what he thought were necessary things for hospital life, but after arriving, it seemed like he didn’t really need to pack them.
Perhaps the security guard in front had the same thought, as a relaxed laugh flowed from his mouth as he looked inside the bag.
When Dain’s ears reddened with overwhelming embarrassment and he awkwardly raised only the corners of his mouth, the security guard who personally opened the door quickly conveyed the precautions.
“The young master’s condition is stable now, but you must not make loud noises or take shocking actions. If his condition worsens or if he wakes up, you can call us or press the bell to call the medical staff.”
“Yes. I understand.”
‘Young master.’
Again, he referred to Juho with an unfamiliar title. It was a title that he couldn’t get used to no matter how many times he heard it, making Dain feel goosebumps on his forearms.
Click, the sound of the door closing was heard, and only Juho and Dain were left in the hospital room.
Dain rushed to the bedside. Next to him were various machines, and there were also several IV drips connected to his arm. Feeling like he was in more pain himself, Dain frowned and gently stroked Juho’s straight forehead.
As the nurse had explained, Juho’s condition didn’t look serious. The temperature of his fingertips and face had properly returned, and he was no longer sweating coldly.
However, Dain felt his heart being squeezed by the fact that he still wasn’t opening his eyes.
“Juho.”
Just calling his name made his eyes sting and his nose tingle. Proportionally, it made him angry and resentful that he had been sick enough to collapse like this but hadn’t said a single word until now.
Clearly, Dain had enthusiastically talked about becoming Juho’s guardian when he first came to Korea, but it meant he hadn’t been listening at all.
That wasn’t all.
Everything about being the youngest intern at the company with lots of work and getting scolded a lot was all lies.
When security guards were checking IDs and blocking visits, he definitely couldn’t be an ordinary intern.
Thinking of the security guards who had been emanating a murderous aura while mentioning ‘young master’ earlier, Dain’s spine felt chilly again.
“Liar.”
Dain gently poked Juho’s hand without hurting him. When Juho opened his eyes, there were plenty of things to hear and ask about.
“So hurry up and wake up.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
