mister

#4. Alone

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ha..

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'Why am I so sick today...'

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'I feel like I have a really high fever... I can't even move my body... I have to go to school...'

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'What time is it...?'

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(looking at phone)

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...?!!

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10 o'clock..?!!

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'I can't do this... I can't go to school today...'

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'The housekeeper isn't coming today either...'

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'At least I wasn't alone in the foster care center... but now I'm alone.'

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'Being alone. It must be quite painful.'

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'No one knows I'm sick.'

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"There's no one by my side. No one to help me. No one to protect me. No one."

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'That's why it's hard. Because I'm alone.'

And at 1 a.m. that day

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'I'm feeling a little better now...'

dripping

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'Are you an old man?'

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You can come in..!

최승철

(incoming)

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Choi Yeo-ju. Why didn't you go to school today?

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You really; don't you even go to school anymore?;

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Are you a teenager? Choi Yeo-ju. Come to your senses.

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sorry..

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Is it enough to say sorry every day?

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Choi Yeo-ju; I'm really disappointed in you these days;

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...

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'Those words pierced my heart.'

최승철

Don't miss out from now on; Choi Yeo-ju.

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yes..

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(go out)

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'Ha... I hate myself for always disappointing you, sir. And it feels like it's all my fault that we keep fighting.'

And a few days later

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'I couldn't see the old man that day. So I went to his room.'

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(door opened)

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..?!!!

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mister..!!!

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get out..

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Who... came in without even knocking...

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That's not the problem now.

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What hurts you so much that you're sweating so much... and your complexion is pale too...

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Uh..it's nothing..

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It's not like it's nothing;

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Don't... use your... hands...;

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Sir... I'm really sorry... but I'll disobey you just this once.

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Don't worry about it;

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"I wanted to care. I just wanted to help. Because it felt like me. Thinking about it, I realized that until now, the old man had probably been suffering and struggling alone. Being alone... it hurts a lot. But for the old man who had endured it all this time, I wanted to be with him, not alone.

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How high is your fever? (putting hand on forehead)

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Don't touch it;

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(slaps hand)

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(embarrassment)

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Ugh...I'm sorry...

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get out;

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N..yes..

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'I didn't want to show you my pain... my weakness.'

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'Actually, up until this point, Choi Seung-cheol was a strong person. No... 'Pretending to be strong' would be more appropriate.'

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"I have low self-esteem and no confidence... I'm the side of me I don't want anyone to see. Choi Seung-cheol had to be the strong Choi Seung-cheol. So I tried hard to act strong... And especially to you, Yeo-ju. I wanted to show you even less of that side of me."

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'It felt strange... seeing that side of him... Actually, I thought he was different from other people... I thought he was a warm person...'

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'That wasn't it...'

(and an hour later)

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'I shouldn't care... but I keep seeing the old man's room.'

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'Should I go in... or not... After thinking about it dozens of times, I decided to go in.'

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dripping

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'Why aren't you answering?'

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(door opened)

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'Ah... you're sleeping...'

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'Huh..? Sweat..'

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(Bringing a towel and wiping it off)

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How much pain must it be?

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mister..

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I'll tell you since you seem to be sleeping.

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Sir... Actually, last time I didn't go to school...

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I wasn't feeling well

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So I was in pain alone in my room, groaning...

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It hurts, but it hurts

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Being alone hurts the most

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But when I think about it

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I think the old man has been alone all this time

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I was worried

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So I'm going to be on your side from now on.

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I'm trying to protect you, sir.

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So don't suffer alone

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Anytime

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Come to me

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Choi Yeo-ju

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..?!!!

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Why are you so surprised?

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Our heroine is now an adult

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And what are you protecting?

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I have to protect you

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Thanks for being the first to say this

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And I'm sorry for being so grumpy for a while because of work.

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Without even knowing it hurts...

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I'm fine, but are you okay?

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Sir, you're okay now, but did you have a hard time when you were alone?

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Well... if I say a little, it would be a lie... it's a bit much...

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I didn't want to make you like me...

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I'm sorry... I won't make it by yourself anymore

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So come to me anytime

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If it's you, everything will be okay, so come anytime you're tired and having a hard time

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I'll be on your side

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I'll be with you