Taesan Fanfic | You met me in the prologue of youth - 07. So I won’t go.

After school, the ace of the swim team, who always kept his spot, being nowhere to be seen was one of the most unusual things in the swim team’s history.

친구들

Hey, did Han Taesan come today?

수영부원들

No. I didn’t see him.

When Yeoju heard the kids whispering in front of the changing room, her hand froze. A cold, flu-like illness? Just yesterday, Taesan had been standing in the setting-sun pool, grumbling as he tossed her a towel, and now she couldn’t believe he’d suddenly be bedridden by morning.

The firm, heated body temperature that had supported her in the pool flickered through her mind.

김여주

' No way, because of me .. ? '

He had stayed close to her in the water for a long time yesterday, and in the chilly air as the sun went down, he’d even given up his towel for her, leaving Taesan soaked on his own. That had hit her hard. With guilt and worry mixing together, her after-school steps naturally headed toward Taesan’s one-room apartment.

After arriving in front of Taesan’s place, Yeoju hesitated for a moment before pressing the doorbell.

Ding dong ㅡ

From inside the once-quiet house came the sound of slippers dragging along, and after a moment the front door creaked open.

한태산

Who ..

Taesan, who opened the door, didn’t look like his usual neat, cool self. Messy black hair, a flushed face, and a ragged breath that went huff-huff every time he inhaled. His throat was raw too, and a low, hoarse voice, barely recognizable, came out.

한태산

……Yeoju? Why are you here.

김여주

Taesan! You’re really sick…… What happened to your face

Yeoju was so startled she slapped the back of her hand to Taesan’s forehead.

김여주

Ah, you’re burning up! Your forehead’s like a furnace .. ?

At the sudden touch, Taesan blinked as if flustered. But he must have been too worn out to stop her, because he simply accepted Yeoju’s cool, gentle hand on his forehead.

한태산

My head feels like it’s going to split open, so just come in already.

As Taesan opened the door, he swayed. Yeoju hurriedly grabbed his arm to support him and went inside.

His usual one-room place was tidy, but now a blanket was sprawled messily over the living room sofa, and not even a single water glass had been put away properly. Taesan flopped down onto the sofa and drew a rough breath.

한태산

You might catch it too, so go on home. Your parents are worried.

김여주

If I left and you collapsed, it’d end up on the news, Han Taesan. Just stay still.

Even while nagging, Yeoju hurried into the kitchen. When she opened the fridge, there was only cold water. Luckily, she spotted an electric kettle, boiled some water, and rummaged through the cupboard to look for any medicine.

A little while later, Yeoju came back to the living room with a cup of warm water and the cold medicine she’d finally found, and crouched down in front of Taesan.

김여주

Take this. Two pills.

Taesan looked up at Yeoju with half-lidded eyes. Even while his mind was hazy from the pain, the back of Yeoju’s head as she bustled around this small space, worrying about him, somehow didn’t annoy him at all.

한태산

…It tastes bad.

김여주

Are you a kid? You’re all grown up and still complaining about medicine. Hurry up and take it.

As Yeoju nagged and held out the pills, Taesan reluctantly popped them into his mouth and drank the water.

When Taesan sank back into the sofa and closed his eyes again, Yeoju wet a towel from somewhere and carefully laid it over his forehead. As the cool damp cloth touched his burning skin, the crease between Taesan’s brows loosened slightly.

Yeoju sat beside Taesan and stared blankly down at his sick face. The boy who always put up walls and acted cold was now lying there so defenselessly ill that something deep in her chest ached.

김여주

……Was it because of me yesterday?

At Yeoju’s quietly tossed question, Taesan slowly opened the eyes he’d closed. Looking at her through eyelids flushed from the fever, he let out a faint snort of laughter.

한태산

Don’t talk nonsense ... why would it be ..

김여주

It is true. You got soaked because you covered me with your towel.

한태산

I gave you my towel because I wanted to. Why would that be your fault.

김여주

What .. ?

At Taesan’s indifferent, casually thrown words, Yeoju’s face flushed hot all over again. Facing that heart-fluttering line from an ailing boy, she didn’t know how to react, her pupils trembling.