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"Teacher, can I go to the community center for a bit?"
"Huh? Is this the community center?"
" yes. "
"What happened···,"
"I'd like to run a background check."
"Oh, try that on the computer over there. You should be able to find something. Why would you want to try that?"
"There's the issue of hospital bills, and I have to find a guardian, so I thought it might be better to give it a try..."
" ..yes? "
" yes? "
"Your guardian... Seo Su-ah? Isn't that the woman who was always with you?"
"Oh, no. He's different."
"Really??! The nurse said it was strange because it was her first time seeing her lover as her guardian... Oh, I wonder if you're offended., I'm sorry."
"A lover?"
"Yes. I heard that you two cared a lot for each other before the surgery... I thought that woman was Seo Su-ah."
" ···? "
You said you had a lover. They're siblings, but was it just the nurse's mistake? But their last names are different-.
Min-gyu's expression becomes complicated as his mind becomes tangled and unable to reap the harvest.
"Patient? Mr. Kim Min-gyu?"
"···Ah, yes, yes."
"Anyway, you can try it on the computer there... and if necessary, you can go to the community center."
" thank you,, "
"Yes. Enjoy your lunch later, and I'll come back around lunchtime. Have a nice day. Oh, and..."
" yes? "
"Since it's a VIP room... I think you don't have to worry about hospital bills. It's just that,, "
"Thank you. I hope so - "
"Yes, goodbye."
After leaving a brief greeting, the doctor left the room.
Min-gyu approaches and turns on the computer.
After going through various authentication procedures and being able to verify his identity, he stares at the screen.
"···Kim Han-seong (金僩成)."
Father.
"Isn't there a mother?"
Kim Han-seong. Kim Han-seong...
My head hurts terribly.
The moment I saw the name Kim Seok-jin (金碩珍), I felt a pang of fear rush over me and I started hallucinating.
"Useless kid."
"Just do half as much as your brother did."
"Ugh, ah..!"
He covers his head with a groan.
Even with my eyes closed, my vision, which was completely red, changed.
"Am I pretty?"
The sight of that woman, whose name alone made me shiver even though I didn't remember seeing her many times, filled my vision.
It's blue.
She spins around, her eyes turning blue.
Who the hell are you to be with me,
I tried to continue my thoughts, but I couldn't, and I heard a deep tinnitus again.
beep -
I couldn't focus on anything else but my tinnitus. Even when I tried to straighten my vision, which had become pitch-black, it was still so painful.
Bulgeop_
"Brother, what is it? Why are you doing that??!"
No matter how many times she knocks, there is no answer and only a faint voice can be heard. Yewon, who feels strange and opens the door at that moment, runs to Min-gyu in surprise.
"Uh...ah,"
Min-gyu still can't come to his senses and starts crying.
“What’s wrong?” Yewon said, flustered. All she could do was press the nurse’s call button and hug Min-gyu.
"Oppa, Oppa Min-gyu. Come to your senses. Oppa!! Kim Min-gyu!!!! "
"Huh, uh..."
Min-gyu slowly raises his head from Ye-won's arms.
" are you okay?!!? "
widely_
Min-gyu unconsciously slapped Ye-won's hand away. Ye-won, who had fallen from the unexpected recoil, stared blankly at him.
"Haa, haa···"
" ···. "
Then the door opens again and the doctor comes running.
"Emergency call, patient Kim Min-gyu!!!"
That's understandable, since Min-gyu hadn't complained of pain even once during his hospital stay. It was surprising to see him in so much pain.
*
"I think I'm missing something."
I know what it is though.
" what? "
Seungcheol, who was thought to have left the hospital room, asks Suah a question while hugging her shoulder from behind.
"Ah... If I stay like this, I won't be able to go outside..."
"Do you want to go out?"
"It's not that I don't want to go out, it's just-"
Seungcheol listens with a smile. For some reason, I'm speechless.
" huh? "
"···Do you want to go out with me?"
"Hmm... it might be good to go out... "
It's a bit of his own way of speaking, you know? As a brother who thinks a lot about others, he's afraid that if I tell him I want to go out now, he'll feel burdened, so he's beating around the bush like that. So, he's saying... he wants to go out.
"Brother... can I go out of the hospital?"
" ···. "
His eyes seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then, as if filled with resolve, he lifted his chin.
" uh. "
"Really..? Then."
"Should we go out?"
That's how it came to be. The street I'm seeing after a long time is filled with a moderately loud noise.
"Shall we go eat first?"
My brother, who had hesitated for a moment when I suggested we eat, soon nodded.
"What should I eat? Is there anything you want to eat, Suah?"
Yeah, I was really young back then. I wasn't very perceptive.
I suddenly wanted to eat something, so I suggested we go to the Chinese restaurant we used to frequent. My brother said let's go, and he gently wrapped his big hand around mine.
We enter the store, which welcomes us with the same old look.
"Welcome- uh, you two!"
"Long time no see, Auntie-"
My brother greets the restaurant owner, who raises his eyes in delight, with a sad smile. I bow my head next to him.
"Hello!! It's been so long."
"Who is this, the Byeolli-gak face sign couple! Are Seung-cheol and Yeo-ju still dating?"
He smiled faintly and put a little more strength into the hand his brother was holding.
"Haha... Is the menu still the same as before?"
"Then- come and sit down. I was wondering why you hadn't come for a while."
"I guess I was out of my mind... I missed you, Aunt~"
She leads us to our seats with a hearty laugh.
I finished ordering the menu I usually order and sat down.
"It's been a really long time since I've been here, hasn't it?"
"Yeah.. Who else would come here with you besides you? I really wanted to come with you."
"Heh.. From now on, just come often without me."
"Why are you saying that? If you want to come, you can call me."
"I'm busy haha _ But if Su-ah tells me to come, I have to come."
His expression was so dark that it was hard to speak carelessly. Come to think of it, his expression had been gloomy since I met with the attending physician earlier...
"..Are you okay, oppa?"
"Huh? Hey, what's wrong with that?"
I felt suspicious of his forced smile, but I didn't want to leave a bad impression on this place after such a long time. My brother didn't seem to want to ask questions, so I smiled, not wanting to create conflict.
"Su-ah."
"What will happen if I disappear?"
" huh..? "
"···When I disappear."
I was about to laugh it off again, asking what was going on, but when I looked up at him, his expression was so sad.
I stared at his pained expression, a mixture of various expressions, and hesitated before opening my mouth.
"Um, I don't know."
" huh..? "
"You don't have to think about that. I won't let you disappear."
"What is that lol"
"You don't have to think about it because I won't let you disappear, oppa. Even if you try to run away, I'll hold you right here. So don't even think about running away, okay? Oppa, you'll always be mine."
" ···he, "
Somewhere he smiles bitterly.
But Su-ah.
If I really disappear...
What if I suddenly disappear? Then, when that moment comes when you're not even in front of me.
···What should I do?
The atmosphere seems a bit subdued.
We finished our meal at the table, where only a little conversation took place. I didn't seem offended, but perhaps something had bothered us during the conversation.
"Do you want to go to the cafe next to us?"
"The name there was... Lulu Cafe, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. Shall we go?"
"Let's go. I'm craving bubble tea!"
The cafe was deserted. I'd eaten lunch too quickly, so it was still a little before lunchtime.
"One chocolate bubble tea, and you too, Oppa?"
He nods, and I adjust my chocolate bubble tea order to two. We really know each other well, so it's comfortable.
He was sitting down when he received the vibration bell, and when the bell rang, he got up from his seat and said he would go get it.
" ···, "
I sat there, my thoughts growing darker. Time passed by as I waited for my brother.
"···Why aren't you coming?"
I think it's been about 10 minutes since I left.
Lost in thought, I put down my bag and slowly stand up.
Let's go down and take a look,
I head downstairs with a light heart, wondering where to go next after the cafe.
" ···? "
Looking at the crowd of people gathered around the counter, I wondered if some celebrity had come.
Like an idiot.
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I'm thinking about setting a serialization date..! I'll try to come every Saturday ☺ Thank you for reading 💞💞