“If you’re okay with it, I can do an examination and prescribe contraceptives. Since you’re an adult, I won’t tell your father. I believe you’ll handle things well, but I’m just being nosy…”
After hesitating, the doctor carefully added, “May I help you?”
Suddenly Yeonwoo wondered how he appeared in the doctor’s eyes. A young adult who had just moved to Seoul alone, frequently taking over-the-counter contraceptives and collapsing from side effects. The doctor must think he’s pathetic, wondering what he’s doing. Despite all this, the doctor was only showing concern.
Yeonwoo felt embarrassed. Different from shame, he couldn’t look directly at the doctor and weakly muttered, “It’s okay,” while avoiding eye contact. He added that he would be more careful from now on and try to have a good conversation with that person. In reality, he knew he would never bring up contraception with Munbeom.
The doctor told him to rest a bit longer, but Yeonwoo shook his head, saying he was fine. Only after confirming that he could sit up and walk without issues did the doctor reluctantly let him go. Still, Yeonwoo found the doctor’s concerned gaze burdensome until the end, so he simply said goodbye and left.
In the hallway, he tidied his disheveled hair and fixed his appearance. After patting his cheeks with his palms, he thought of his father.
He must be asleep again. Before, Yeonwoo disliked and feared that his father would only sleep. But now, he felt the opposite. If his father were awake, he would inevitably ask why Yeonwoo had collapsed. While he might lie to others, he couldn’t lie to his sick father. If questioned persistently, wouldn’t he end up confessing everything?
Perhaps he might even tell about meeting Ho Munbeom. Would it ease his mind somewhat if he could tell at least one person?
Tapping his chest lightly, Yeonwoo got off the elevator and headed toward the hospital room.
He had intended to stay with his father for a few days, using accommodations near the hospital, but now it seemed better to just return home. Just the thought of facing Younghwa made him feel uncomfortable. He shouldn’t feel this way about his own father.
Sighing, Yeonwoo raised his head and paused. It seemed Junseok and a man were arguing in front of his father’s room. The man was trying to enter the room, and Junseok appeared to be blocking him. Watching quietly to see what was happening, the man standing in front of Junseok turned around. As soon as he saw the widening eyes, Yeonwoo realized who it was and softly exclaimed, “Ah.”
“Yeonwoo…!”
Before Yeonwoo could avoid him, the man rushed over. Though he dared not touch Yeonwoo, he raised both hands, fidgeting anxiously as he asked.
“Why do you look so unwell since I last saw you? You look really tired and sick now. Have you been eating properly? If not, shall we go to my mother’s restaurant? If I call now, she’ll prepare food right away. Or if there’s something you’d like, that’s fine too.”
“…”
“No, wait, you’re still uncomfortable with me, right? Then wait in the hospital room. I’ll bring packaged food from a good place. If I leave now, it’ll take an hour, no, 30 minutes.”
There had never been such an unexpected and sudden situation in his life.
Hyeonseong, who had suddenly appeared a few days ago confessing that he had bullied Yeonwoo in middle school because he liked him, was now trying to take care of him as if they had known each other for a long time. It was strange to see him so anxious upon seeing Yeonwoo’s tired and exhausted face.
As Yeonwoo just stared at Hyeonseong without responding to what he was saying, Junseok came to his aid.
“Hey! Stop bothering Yeonwoo and go away! To begin with, only family members are allowed to visit here!”
With Junseok grabbing him by the nape, Hyeonseong resisted, saying, “Wait a moment.”
“I just want to buy him a meal! I won’t do anything else, nothing weird! Just a meal for Yeonwoo, or at least coffee…!”
“Why should you be the one to take care of that! Stop making a fuss and come here!”
“Ah, hyung, don’t be like that. Yeonwoo and I are former classmates. We went to the same middle school-!”
His efforts to exchange even one more word with Yeonwoo were almost pitiful. Though Hyeonseong initially resisted, he was eventually dragged away by Junseok. Even as he was being taken away, he kept looking back and calling Yeonwoo’s name repeatedly. It was a desperate sight that could lead to misunderstandings. But regardless, Yeonwoo headed to the hospital room.
Quietly opening the door and entering, Yeonwoo went to the innermost bed. Pushing aside the hanging curtain to check inside, he saw his sleeping father. That’s a relief. After confirming the sleeping face, Yeonwoo went to the folding bed pulled out by the wall. He put on his neatly folded outer clothes and shouldered his bag again.
Going back to stand beside Younghwa, Yeonwoo stared at his sleeping father for a while, then whispered softly.
“I’ll come again next time.”
Though he knew his father would worry a lot about him, he didn’t have the courage to speak honestly.
Because the moment he spoke, not only would he be hurt, but his father would be too.
After lightly patting the well-covered blanket a couple of times, he left the hospital room. He should at least tell Junseok that he was leaving, but it seemed uncomfortable to face him. He’d have to apologize by phone later for leaving without saying anything. And ask him to take good care of his father who would worry about him…
“…”
So this is how he ends up postponing what he should do himself.
If he becomes successful later, he should definitely give Junseok a nice gift. But would he ever do well? For Yeonwoo, the shape of the future was blurry and distorted. He couldn’t even imagine a few years later when he didn’t know what would happen tomorrow.
Would he really end up marrying some strange alpha and having their child?
Shuddering at the thought, Yeonwoo headed for the emergency exit instead of the elevator. Quietly descending the stairs, he felt a headache coming on and crouched down, hugging his knees.
After sitting there momentarily dazed, Yeonwoo suddenly felt a vibration. He had wanted to empty his mind and think of nothing, even for a very brief moment, but he wasn’t even allowed that luxury. Yeonwoo pulled his bag forward. Checking the screen of his phone from the front pocket, he saw it was an unfamiliar number.
He had never had good experiences answering calls from unknown numbers. Though he didn’t want to answer, Yeonwoo’s hand was already touching the call button. A part of him thought, “What if it’s that person?”
“Hello?”
[Oh my, you actually answered. Yeonwoo, it’s auntie. Do you remember?]
The caller was someone Yeonwoo hadn’t thought of at all. So even after hearing the voice, he remained silent for a moment before his lips moved.
“Ah, I suddenly had to quit the mart. I should have told you first, if no one else, but I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you separately. I had some things to take care of…”
[I already know you quit. You did well. It’s better to quit when such nasty rumors are circulating. Honestly speaking, it’s not like you don’t have other places to work, right?]
Apart from being surprised by the sudden call, hearing the voice of someone he had been close with at the mart made him feel at ease. Yeonwoo tried to lift the corners of his mouth and thanked her for thinking that way. Then the woman’s voice immediately lowered.
[But the reason I suddenly called is… Yeonwoo, haven’t you received any strange contacts?]
“What do you mean by strange contacts?”
[Oh my, it seems you don’t know yet. What should I do? I’ve been debating whether to tell you or not, but I thought it would be better for you to know in advance so you can prepare if something happens…]
“…What are you suddenly talking about?”
[Don’t be surprised and just listen. I’m uncomfortable going into detail, but I’m speaking up because I can’t stand seeing such petty behavior toward a young person. So, don’t go around saying I told you first, okay? At my age, it’s hard to work anywhere other than the mart.]
“…”
He couldn’t understand what she was trying to say. Yeonwoo had an ominous feeling and listened intently to the continuing words, holding his breath.
Once, the mart atmosphere had become turbulent after Director Park sexually harassed an employee. After that incident, both the victim and Director Park hadn’t been seen at the mart for a while. The HR team secretly summoned employees who had been harassed by him. They intended to resolve the matter lightly, saying, “It was a misunderstanding that occurred during work. Director Park isn’t that kind of person.” Yeonwoo was among those called to HR at that time.
Knowing how they were trying to use him, Yeonwoo rejected the HR team’s subtle proposal. He had negative feelings toward Director Park and wanted him to be punished.
Ultimately, after quitting the mart, Yeonwoo thought that was the end of the matter. But he hadn’t expected to hear such words now.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
