"Ugh... what should I do... ugh...."
"Sohee, calm down for now, and you get in that car and go home."
"Yes...? Hehe... Me too... To the emergency room together..."
"Han So-hee!! Have you forgotten your duty? You are someone who cannot be caught."
"....."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of Jimin."
Haejin patted Sohee's shoulder.
".... Then I ask you to do so.."
With Haejin's help, Jimin was immediately transferred to the hospital.
Although the bullet hit his shoulder, the wound was still deep.
Fortunately, the diagnosis was that there was no danger to his life—
I heard that I would have to stay in the hospital for a few days to monitor the progress.
Sohee couldn't raise her face.
.
.
.
Third night.
Sohee was sitting by the window at the end of the hallway in the mansion.
I picked up and put down my phone dozens of times,
I swallowed the words that I wanted to visit Jimin in the hospital dozens of times.
Then, unable to bear it any longer, I called Haejin.
“.... The movement towards Hwayang is not over yet.
“If you expose yourself now, Jimin will be in danger too.”
"Are you... okay? Just tell me... if it doesn't... hurt... much."
"Don't worry, Jimin is okay. If anything happens, I'll let you know first."
"....thank you."
Haejin's words were right.
Everyone inside the soft-spoken group was being cautious.
But, one side of my chest kept hurting so much.
'Why now... at this moment when you have to be by my side...'
That night, Sohee stood in front of the room where Jimin was not for a long time.
And he muttered as if he was talking to himself.
“… Get well soon and come back.
I, now… feel like I can’t do without you.
.
.
.
.
“When you come back, I won’t leave you alone.”
The long-awaited discharge day.
Haejin's car arrived in front of the mansion.
Sohee couldn't even go out to greet him and was hiding behind the pillar next to the front door.
It was a mixture of nervousness, anxiety, and a longing to see Jimin.
I looked outside and saw Jimin walking towards me.
Bandages wrapped around his arms and shoulders, and his face, unlike before, was pale.
The moment I saw it,
Tears welled up in Sohee's eyes.
As Jimin entered the house, he caught a glimpse of Sohee behind a pillar.
Then he carefully approached Sohee.
"Han So-hee."
“…”
"Come to work."
"..."
"... Aren't you coming? I... waited for you,"
Sohee looked up at Jimin with tear-filled eyes and took a step closer.
Jimin quietly raised his hand and stroked her face, wiping away the tears that were about to fall.
"... why are you crying"
"....ugh....sob..."
"don't cry"
“.... Ugh... Can I hug you?”
Jimin didn't answer, but just nodded slowly.
In that one line,
Sohee hugged him without hesitation.
As if to confirm his living warmth.
".....Ugh......Really.......I hate you..."
At those words, Jimin quietly stroked her head.
"It's not easy to hug someone you hate."
"Ugh... Are you kidding me... Ugh... Come out??"
“I did it because I wanted to.
“Because protecting you is what I wanted.”
Sohee raised her head in his arms.
Eyes on the verge of tears falling.
And he said in a very small voice.
"…i like you."
Jimin's eyes widened.
Sohee hugged him again.
Jimin didn't say anything to Sohee's surprise confession.
I just hugged Sohee tighter.