For My First Love

07

This work is fiction

/

When I came to my senses, I was in front of Subin’s officetel, not home. Why did I even come here?

Seoyeoju, are you out of your mind? No matter how close we are as friends, you shouldn’t have to show me such an ugly state.

Fortunately, the rain had stopped, but my whole body was already drenched, and I was trembling from the cold on my way home.

I turned my steps to head home, but in the end I ran into Subin. She paused for a moment, then

quickly came up to me.

"Yeoju, what happened?"

"Subin... hic..."

The moment I saw Subin, I burst into tears like a child. She patted my back with both hands and

comforted me. Subin escorted me home, dried my wet hair with a towel, and then pushed me into the bathroom. Once I washed up, the tension in my body eased and sleep started

to creep in. I quickly lay down on the bed, and then Subin sat at the head of the bed

and touched my forehead.

"You don’t have a fever yet."

"I said I’m fine, didn’t I?"

"What do you mean fine? You got caught in the rain, and even if you’re okay now, you’re definitely going to

be groaning later. Does it make sense to wander around in the middle of winter after getting soaked in the rain?

Seoyeoju, what’s wrong with your head?"

"Hehe, if I get sick, you’ll come, won’t you?"

"You’re laughing in this situation, you little thing."

"No, I’m not some elementary school kid. Back in elementary school, I was taller than you."

"Jeez, Seoyeoju, what am I supposed to do with you?"

"...Subin, I met Kang Haewon."

At my one sentence, the mood turned cold. Subin’s eyes shook, and

my eyes quickly turned red.

"What? Did that woman threaten you or something?"

"No. Do you know what the only thing she said was?"

".."

"She said she didn’t want to raise a kid without a father, so I should ignore it even if Choi Yeonjun comes looking for me.

She told me not to let Choi Yeonjun shake me. But I couldn’t say anything. Funny, right?"

"..Yeoju."

"I wanted to ask why she stole someone else’s man, but I couldn’t say it.

If you think about it, Choi Yeonjun was wrong too."

".... "

Did I always cry this much..? Why was I acting like such a child in front of Subin?

Subin comforted me and stayed by my side until I fell asleep.

Subin, looking down at Yeoju, who had fallen asleep quickly, lets out a sigh. She could tell why I had gotten caught in the rain

and why I had cried. We spent eight years together; how could I forget him so easily?

I might act like I’m fine on the outside, but how badly must I have been rotting inside? Yeoju, who still couldn’t forget Yeonjun,

pityed her. So Subin decided to stay by Yeoju’s side. After sleeping soundly for a long time,

my whole body hurt so much, just like Subin said. Groaning, I forced my eyes open and

lifted my upper body, but my head spun and I lay back down. Maybe I should’ve taken medicine before sleeping.

Even the headache was so bad that I couldn’t think straight. Subin was nowhere to be seen, maybe she had left at some point, and

when I touched my forehead, it was hot. Even my breath was hot as I breathed, and cold sweat was running down me.

I felt like I’d be in trouble if I stayed like this, so I barely managed to sit up, took some fever medicine with great difficulty, and

then felt like I’d passed out. After that, I don’t remember anything. When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital, not at home.

A hospital? I was so shocked that I hurriedly sat up. There was an IV in the back of my hand, and when I

looked around, the person my eyes landed on was Yeonjun, who had met my gaze. I froze

right there.

"Yeoju. Are you okay?"

"..Why are you here?"

"You said you met Kang Haewon, so I called because I was worried, but you didn’t even pick up.

I was worried, so I went to check on you, and you were collapsed, so I brought you to the ER.

You even got caught in the rain, and your body’s already weak.."

The worried look in his eyes, his tousled hair, the sweat beading on his forehead, and even his gentle tone made me

suddenly irritated. It’s because of you, isn’t it? Choi Yeonjun, you made me like this, and now

why are you acting worried? You weren’t by my side when I actually needed you.. Before I knew it, I shouted loudly.

"Choi Yeonjun, who are you to worry about me!"

"Yeoju, I’m sorry."

"What exactly are you sorry for?!

If we broke up, you should’ve just left me alone, whether I lived or died!

Why are you making me miserable! Why!!"

After I raised my voice, my head started spinning. I clutched my head and writhed in pain.

Then Yeonjun laid me back down on the bed and said with a worried look,

I just glared at him with resentment.

"You still have a high fever. You can’t go home until you’re done with the IV.

So get some sleep until it’s over. Subin will be here soon."

"...."

At his words, I pulled the blanket up over my head and turned away.

Actually, it was so he wouldn’t see me cry. And soon Subin’s frantic voice

could be heard, but it went quiet, probably because Yeonjun took her away. The pre-dawn hospital air was

still and silent. Subin asked Yeonjun about it, sounding frustrated.

"Hey, Choi Yeonjun, why are you shaking Yeoju up? At least let the girl who’s finally gotten herself together stay that way?"

"Subin, I’m so sorry to Yeoju that I’m going crazy. It’s killing me."

"Then forget it, you crazy bastard."

"How am I supposed to forget! I didn’t break up because I wanted to!"

"Then what are you going to do about your child?"

".... "

"You, can you abandon your own child? Then what about your parents? You can’t do that.

Choi Yeonjun, get your act together. Please. If you really care about Yeoju, don’t show up.

And if Kang Haewon could never meet Yeoju, that’d be best. This is my last request as a friend."

Leaving Yeonjun, who was beating his chest as if this situation was unbearable, Subin headed toward Yeoju.

Yeoju must have cried, because she was asleep with her pillow soaked. When I touched her forehead, the fever had gone down, so I

let out a relieved sigh and sat in the chair, waiting for Yeoju to wake up.

/

"Subin, don’t you have to go to work?"

"Yeah, I took a day off. What about you?"

"I called in too. I took sick leave for about two days."

"You idiot, Seoyeoju. Wasn’t I right? That you’d catch the flu?"

"Hey, are you making fun of me right now? This! Are you not coming over here?"

"Agh, that hurts. Who told you to go out in the rain? From now on, you’re only eating porridge."

"Ugh, no, I’m not eating it. I hate porridge."

"Why are you acting like a little kid? Eat the porridge and you’ll get better, Seoyeoju the child."

"Hey, Choi Subin! You’re just a tall kid too!"

The two who came out of the ER: thanks to Subin’s teasing, Yeoju was all puffed up and sulky, and

Subin apologized, but the more she did, the more Yeoju’s brow furrowed. In the end, Subin offered her back,

and that was that. When Subin came into Yeoju’s house, she discovered a black long umbrella

by the front door and saw the initials engraved on the handle.

"KTH? Whose umbrella is this?"

"An umbrella? Oh, that was from some man yesterday when I got caught in the rain. He told me to use it and go home."

What kind of guy was he, giving an umbrella to a girl he’d never even met before?

    

Subin, who was thinking that, found herself weirdly bothered by the umbrella.

ㅡ

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