A Week's Rest and an Unexpected Guest
I took a moment to rest. I was exhausted. It was too much now. I made a mistake. I trained too hard. Who could've predicted I'd collapse? What an idiot. There are always variables like this...
Hmm... But somehow, I feel like I slept really deeply?
He opened his eyes.
"Uh..."
Where am I?
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was an unfamiliar white ceiling. For a moment, he had no idea where he was and just stared blankly at it. Then, as he turned his head to look around, he spotted a bed and a door. Feeling the thin sheet against his skin, he realized he was in a hospital.
Drrrrk. The door slid open, and a nurse entered.
"Player Kim Hu-seong, you're awake?"
He slowly turned his head. The nurse was checking his vital signs, and almost instinctively, he nodded. His throat was dry, making it hard to speak, but that nod alone seemed to reassure her, as she smiled in relief.
A moment later, the doctor entered with a chart in hand. He examined Kim Hu-seong's face, then furrowed his brow slightly before speaking.
"You must've been shocked. You had heatstroke and signs of exhaustion. I heard you kept running right up until you collapsed... It was pretty dangerous."
Kim Hu-seong slowly exhaled, recalling the situation. The scorching air, the wobbling in his legs, and finally, that slide. It all came back to him.
"So... what do the test results say?"
He barely managed to croak out the question, and the doctor flipped through the chart before answering.
"Fortunately, nothing major. Blood tests are fine, and the muscle damage and dehydration markers will recover. But you need at least a week of rest. No exercise, and try to avoid going out if possible. You've pushed your body too hard—you have to let it recover from the heatstroke."
"Yes... got it."
He replied in a slightly deflated voice.
A week of rest. For a player, that was a pretty significant gap. Especially now, with crucial games lining up one after another.
After the doctor left, the first-team manager, who had been waiting by the bedside, quickly pulled out his phone.
"I'll report to the manager right away."
"Sure."
The first-team manager made a call to the team staff and relayed the situation.
"Yes, heatstroke and exhaustion. He's stable. He's regained consciousness. Doctor recommends a week of rest... Yes. I'll confirm the details soon."
Watching this, Kim Hu-seong quietly let out a breath. The fact that the report was going in weighed strangely on his mind.
Ah... I should've been more careful. It felt like he'd overdone the training time unnecessarily. He knew better than anyone that fatigue had been building up. And yet he'd pushed himself anyway, and collapsed. The fans had cheered, the team had seized the opportunity, but him ending up in the hospital afterward was clearly due to his poor self-management.
"Hoo..."
A small sigh escaped him involuntarily.
"Yes, yes. From what I heard, even in the second team... there were times when management slipped. Yes. He's been training excessively lately, though..."
Ahem... It hit a nerve, so he stayed silent.
Haah... If only I'd been a bit more cautious, this wouldn't have happened. Was I too hasty? Yeah, I was impatient...
The same thoughts looped endlessly in his head. Of course, he knew there hadn't been an option to rest during the game. The steal sign and the third-base coach's instructions had all been natural given the team situation. But he couldn't help blaming himself.
"I... messed up a bit."
After the manager hung up, he said quietly. The manager shook his head.
"Hu-seong, it's not your fault. Anyone would've collapsed in that situation. We should've called it off, but you were so passionate we couldn't stop you. Let's take it easy for a bit."
"Yes..."
* * *
A day after being admitted, his condition had noticeably improved. The doctor said three days in the hospital and four days resting at home would be sufficient. The game had ended on Sunday anyway, and Monday marked the start of a break in the schedule, so for the team, it wasn't a huge issue—they could just slot him back in after a week.
The problem was... his mom had come down to nurse him.
He was propped up in bed holding a cup of water, while his mom sat in a chair, gazing at him with constant worry in her eyes.
"Hu-seong, you okay? Anywhere else hurt?"
"Mom, I'm fine."
He averted his eyes and said it casually.
"I'm really fine. You don't have to stay here long. Go home."
"What are you saying? My son collapses and ends up in the hospital—who else would be here if not me?"
"No, the team staff all visited. Tests came back normal. I just need rest... You didn't have to come all this way. Ahem. Resting alone isn't so bad."
His mom shot back immediately.
"Does that put my mind at ease? My son nearly died!"
He had no choice but to shut up and give a small smile.
"I didn't nearly die... I just overdid it. It was hot, body was tired... you know."
"Still, I can't relax."
She said stubbornly.
"Anything you want to eat? Tell me."
"I'm good. Eating all the hospital meals. It's enough."
"Hospital food enough? It's not even half what you normally eat."
She had a point... Hmm... But he didn't show it.
"Just having you here is enough, Mom. Food's whatever."
She nodded, but still looked suspicious.
"I can't help worrying."
"Worry less. I'm really fine."
They bickered lightly like always. Her nagging was familiar, but in a hospital room, it felt a bit off. She watched him with eyes full of concern, and he downplayed it all, trying to lighten the mood.
It was right then.
Knock knock. A quiet knock sounded at the door.
Huh? Nurse? Something else to do?
They both turned their heads. The door slid open very slowly, almost hesitantly... and a small face peeked cautiously through the gap.
It was Seo Ha-yoon.
...?
Her face was flushed red, like she'd mustered every ounce of courage just to get this far. Her eyes were wide as she scanned the room. When her gaze met theirs, her expression turned even more flustered.
"Ah... hello..."
She gave a slight bow and a quiet greeting, so timid that the air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment. He blinked in surprise, and his mom looked back and forth between them in confusion.
Seo Ha-yoon held a fruit basket, hesitating at the threshold before stepping inside slowly. Her voice was soft, but clear.
"I... didn't want to intrude, but I was worried... just came to check."
His mom still looked puzzled about who she was, and he went blank from the suddenness. But Seo Ha-yoon glanced at him, then his mom, gave an awkward smile, and entered fully.
His mom sized up Seo Ha-yoon from head to toe, then shot him a suspicious look.
"Son, you... have a friend like this? I don't remember. Or..."
He waved his hands reflexively.
"Friend! Close to a friend. Nothing more."
His mom pondered for a moment.
"Aha, I see~"
Then she glanced at Seo Ha-yoon and said,
"Ahem... Pretty girl. That's why you wanted me gone quick."
"Mom. It's not like that."
He panicked and sat up. Seo Ha-yoon's eyes went wide, her face turning beet red.
"Haah... um... Ha-yoon, how'd you get here?"
He asked dazedly. Clutching the fruit basket, she answered carefully.
"I... saw you collapse at the stadium. Got so worried... came to see."
"No, I mean..."
He wanted to be more precise.
"How'd you even know... this place. Room number. I didn't tell you. Team wouldn't give it out either."
She turned her head slightly and murmured,
"Just... overheard..."
"Huh?"
"Heard the team staff talking before they left... Didn't run into any. Waited till they were gone. Don't want trouble."
He let out a small sigh.
Ah... of all the timing... this is awkward.
His mom already looked amused.
"Huh? So, son. Gonna introduce her or what?"
He answered quickly.
"Oh, Mom. She's... just a friend. Cheerleader from the same team."
His mom went quiet for a second.
"Ah... cheerleader...?"
He nodded. Suddenly, she half-stood from her chair in surprise.
"Then... that article from before, that was real...?"
"Mom, I told you."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Half right, half wrong. Just knew one person."
His mom eyed them both, half-suspicious, half-shocked. Then Seo Ha-yoon bowed her head like lightning.
"I'm sorry!"
They both startled. Face crimson, she rushed on.
"Really sorry about that time! Never thought it'd cause issues. Just felt like same-age teammate... It blew up badly by coincidence... Extra sorry."
"I see."
His mom nodded at her words.
"Looks like you two need to talk... I'll step out for a bit?"
"Huh? No need..."
Drrrrk. But his mom went out.
Ah...
"So... why'd you come."
Seo Ha-yoon lifted her head again and gave a small smile.
"Can't I visit a sick friend?"