"Yeah yeah I've moved everything and now I just need to tidy up a bit~ I'm not a kid anymore, right? Don't worry, I'll contact you later."
.
.
"I understand that you will take your medicine properly."
'Tutu'
After looking for a studio apartment on my own, packing my bags, and sitting down in my room, it's finally starting to feel real.
After 21 years of life, Yoo Yeo-ju finally gave up the 1 hour and 30 minute commute and started living alone in front of the school!
While I was lost in my thoughts about my tracks, I received a call from Park Jimin.
"Hey, did you finish organizing your move?"
"Yeah, I brought all the luggage in. Now I just need to tidy up a bit."
Jimin hesitated for a moment and then continued speaking.
"I'm sorry, Yeoju, I couldn't help you move your luggage today because of work."
"You're so kind, that's the problem haha. There's no need. I can do it myself. How can I take advantage of someone who works for me?"
The sound of a besician laughing, perhaps slightly relieved by the teasing, reached my ears through the phone.
"I'll go to the housewarming party next time. I'll pay for it that day. Take your medicine well and stay healthy."
Judging by the way he spoke with some force when mentioning medicine, it seemed like he still had a lot of childhood trauma.
'Because of me...'
"Don't worry, baby. It doesn't hurt much anymore. See you later."
I hung up the phone in a hurry with depressed thoughts and threw myself on the mat in the roughly cleaned room.
Thinking about it, I was almost out of medicine and I thought I'd have to go to the hospital tomorrow for the first time in a while, so I fell asleep like that.
"What time is it!"
When I woke up, it was already well past lunchtime.
"You must have been tired yesterday.. Reflect on yourself, Yu Yeo-ju. It's a good thing you don't have school today. Oh my."
As I quickly finished getting ready and opened the door, the door next door opened as well, and my eyes met with the person next door.
" ... "I feel uncomfortable with the eyes staring at me, so I lightly nod my head.After saying hello, I ran out right away.
After arriving at the hospital, I checked in and waited for my turn.
"Dingdong, come into the examination room, Ms. Yoo Yeo-ju.
As an adult, I didn't rely on medication that much, so I kicked open the door to the doctor's office with a slightly excited voice, as it was almost a year since I saw the doctor I had admired since childhood.
"Grandpa..!"
"Yes, hello, Ms. Yoo Yeo-ju."What is this? There should definitely be a wrinkled and kind-looking person sitting there, but who is this person..?
"Hey... isn't this Jeon Hyeon-woo's room?"
When I asked in confusion, he took off his glasses and spoke bluntly.
"This is my grandfather. Now I am taking over his medical practice."
Then he paused for a moment and spoke again.
"And my name is Jeon Jungkook"
Ah, I see you've given up because you're old. I feel a bit sad and upset that I haven't been able to see you for a while. Anyway, I need to see you for treatment.
"I'm doing fine these days. Is there anything else you can tell me about my illness?"
Since I was young, I've been prone to falling and have weak respiratory systems, so I've always been the subject of concern from people around me.
That's why I really want to shake it off quickly, but for years, the hospital has been telling me they don't know, turning my stomach inside out.
The doctor, Jeon Jeong-guk, seemed not to be very interested in what I was saying, and just stared at the monitor with a blank expression, muttering to himself.
"I've been doing tests for several years, but this is mentally ill. I think it's a malingering disease."
'Crunch'
Since I was a child, I received special treatment, and envious children would tease me by calling me a hypocrite.
"Huh? Are you faking it? Is it okay for a doctor to say something like that right now?"
At my slightly angry voice, he looked up from the monitor and looked at me, then continued speaking with a slightly more subdued expression than before.
"I seem to have made a mistake in my speech. I apologize for that, but I'm saying this because I haven't found a solution yet."
It was unfair, but he wasn't wrong. I couldn't get any angrier.
My own illness that I have been carrying for almost 15 years
Sometimes I think I was trapped inside and wanted someone to comfort me by saying, "It's okay, I'll be there for you."
In the suffocating silence, Jeongguk adjusted his glasses and spoke.
"Let's leave for today. I will prescribe you the medicine as is. Let's meet again next time."
I had nothing more to say, so I was going home in a daze. But then I met a college friend for a bit and chatted with him to make me feel a little better. As night fell, I arrived home, stumbling.
' bread! '
By the time I realized there was a car in front of me as I walked absentmindedly, it was already too late. It wasn't approaching at a particularly fast speed, but I shut my eyes tightly, knowing I couldn't avoid it.
At that moment, someone grabbed my hoodie and I ended up in a strange position as if I was being held in the arms of the person who grabbed me.
The person in the car started to swear at me a few times and then started to go on his way.
I looked back to see who saved me
"What are you doing stupidly?"
It was the person next door I saw this morning.