The Weight of an Ordinary Life 4
We arrived at the hospital and took the emergency stairs up to the rooftop. Our uncle, who was guiding us, spoke up.
"Normally, outsiders aren't allowed on the hospital rooftop park, but…"
"Uh… Uncle, if it'll put you in a tough spot…"
"Meeting my nephew's friends here in this rest area that's like a park is fine. Not just me—other hospital staff meet their relatives here too."
"Ah… so it's okay for us to come up?"
"Yeah, under the condition that you're with me."
"It's a place only for hospital staff to take a quick break, but it's okay if you're accompanying someone?"
"Exactly. I picked up some snacks on the way since I knew you were coming. Let's eat up there."
I'd noticed the heavy bag in his hand—it turned out to be full of snacks for us. At his words, we each took one of the bags from his hands and opened the rooftop door.
Creak. With the heavy thud unique to a fire door, the space beyond opened up.
"Whoa… this is more than I expected."
"Working in a hospital, you see a lot of tough sights. That's why I pushed hard for a rest area like this."
"Huh?"
"You guys might not know, but we have this nice facility thanks to your great-grandpa, the owner."
"Whoa…"
Seeing Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo's shocked faces at this new info, I felt a strange sense of pride.
Uncle took the heaviest bag—the one with drinks—and headed toward the nurses resting in the rooftop park.
"My nephew might've been rude because he was worried about his friend. Have some of this and feel better."
"Ah… no, Section Chief. It wasn't like I was mad or anything. He just asked a few times."
"Even so, when you're busy, getting the same question over and over is tough—I get that. But it was just his friend worrying, so let's call it a minor hiccup and forget it. Share these."
Following my uncle's lead, I raised my voice too.
"Sorry for the commotion. My friend said she was admitted through the ER yesterday, and we haven't seen her yet."
"I see…"
Then murmurs rose from the nurses, carrying over to where my uncle stood.
"Isn't that the abused kid? Her parents haven't even shown up…"
"Hospital bills? Some victim relief foundation? I heard it's a nonprofit."
"Oh my… parents don't come, but her friends do?"
"I heard the friends contacted the foundation too—these must be the kids who came today."
"They look so young…"
Uncle turned, patted my shoulder, and said,
"Good job."
"I was the one who messed up. The nurses didn't say no or anything."
Seeming pleased with me saying that, he ruffled my hair and gave Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo, who'd apologized behind me, a warm look.
"I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I got a bunch of stuff. Take leftovers home if we can't finish."
"It looked heavy when we came up—what'd you buy?"
"Kids your age need to eat a lot while growing. I got a variety for balanced nutrition."
As Kyung-soo followed us, he asked quietly,
"But what about In-ha…?"
"She's in the middle of a secret operation right now. We'll know the results soon, I bet."
"Huh?"
Leaving Kyung-soo bewildered, Uncle grinned mischievously, claimed a table, set down the bags, and started unpacking.
We'd just eaten lunch, but maybe it was Uncle's warm thoughtfulness—we devoured the snacks eagerly. Then, with awkward uhhs, we stared blankly at the pristine glass door opening smoothly, unlike the fire door we'd used.
"In-ha…"
In-ha, in her wheelchair, startled at her name as she entered through the glass door, looked our way.
'Did Uncle know she'd come here around now and call us up?'
I glanced at him—he was innocently sipping the coffee he'd bought, looking oblivious. He ruffled my surprised head and whispered,
"Visits aren't allowed, but I can't stop accidental meetings."
As Kyung-soo bolted toward her, I grabbed Jong-hyuk before he could follow and sat him down. I asked,
"Am I Ki In-ha?"
"Yeah. You don't know In-ha?"
"…"
"Oh right. You transferred in, so maybe not. And after the PE incident, you had your own stuff and missed school."
Uncle, assuming I'd know her from the abuse case, kept his eyes on In-ha and Kyung-soo but his ears on us, intrigued by mine and Jong-hyuk's chat. To keep Jong-hyuk from overthinking, I asked,
"Why? Is she famous at school?"
"A bit… She's shy and introverted, doesn't have many close friends…"
"Then isn't being famous weird? If she's quiet and withdrawn."
"But she's cute."
"Huh?"
As I looked flustered, Jong-hyuk finally said what had been bothering him.
"Being oblivious to rumors like that is so you…"
"Rumors she's pretty?"
"Ji-hye's pretty, but for cuteness, it's In-ha?"
"What?"
Uncle chuckled slyly and cut in,
"What's that? From your reaction just now…"
"Ji-hye confessed she likes the protagonist."
"No. Hey, don't spread that nonsense. I just said I was interested."
"Isn't that the same?"
"Totally different."
Uncle burst out laughing at us, then suddenly hardened his face and bolted up.
Not knowing what was happening, but alarmed by his grim expression, Jong-hyuk and I reflexively followed.
"Uh… don't cry… Sorry, is it because I came?"
Uncle had rushed to where In-ha and Kyung-soo were. Thinking something was wrong with her body as she started crying, probably. We skidded to a halt to avoid bumping into him as he paused.
At that moment, my head throbbed with a headache I still wasn't used to, my vision blurring with a dizzy disconnect. It was like the photo scene coming alive, distant voices echoing.
In the hazy view, all I heard was a sobbing voice.
"No… no…"
'Is that In-ha's voice?'
Before I could question it, a businesslike voice cut in.
"You're under arrest for the murder of Han Young-chul. You have the right to an attorney and can refuse to make statements that may incriminate you."
'Click-click…'
Silver handcuffs binding the bed and In-ha's wrists as they pinned her down while she cried no…
'Handcuffs?'
Then the door opened with a rush of voices—a doctor's urgent words.
"I told you the patient needs rest."
"She's conscious, so we're arresting her."
"She's still a patient."
"We'll hold off questioning until treatment's done."
"No… these people…"
"We have a proper arrest warrant."
"Even so, for a young patient…"
"We followed all your requested procedures, so."
Not cold or forceful—just procedural. The detectives left after instructing the guard at the door.
The doctor looked worried at In-ha, then called a nurse. The nurse approached familiarly, calmed her, and left In-ha alone.
"No…"
How much time passed? The nurse calming her returned, checked the empty room, sat on the bed, and said while soothing In-ha,
"Some friends came to see you, In-ha. Is visiting okay?"
In-ha stared blankly at the nurse, then dropped her gaze to the handcuff on one wrist, saying hoarsely,
"No… no…"
The nurse gazed at her a while, gripped her hand tight, and said,
"We'll do what In-ha wants."
The dizzy sensation faded, the voices slowing like taffy, senses returning to the rooftop park under warm sun, cold wind whipping.
Jong-hyuk eyed Kyung-soo worriedly—his face pale.
'No way… In-ha…'
Kyung-soo, lost before crying In-ha, mumbled without knowing what he said.
"Uh… don't cry… Sorry, should I go? Sorry, you refused visits and I…"
Outside the glass door In-ha entered, a detective-like man watched us indifferently, unfazed by the fuss.
"Kyung-soo, you think In-ha's a murderer?"
My sudden words made Kyung-soo, fumbling before her, grab my collar like a lie.
"What? You're crazy. In-ha wouldn't."
In-ha, who'd only shown tears silently after seeing Kyung-soo, turned to us with effort, covering her mouth, voice tiny.
"…Really…?"
So faint you'd miss it without focus, but Kyung-soo heard, saw her stop crying, and turned.
Deflated, he said,
"No reason to think you're a murderer. And if I did, I wouldn't be here…"
In-ha made an unreadable face—cold? Shame?—and hid her wrists under the blanket on her lap.
Noticing, Kyung-soo rushed to her; she flinched, startled, and said,
"Everyone thinks I did the murder…"
"No way."
"R… really…?"
"Yeah."
"Truth is… I don't remember that day… Don't know how I got to the ER… Even I… me…"
"You're not that kind of kid."
In-ha cried now for a different reason. But Kyung-soo just fidgeted, helpless.
Uncle stepped in, checked her state, and said,
"She's exhausted mentally and physically—could get dehydrated. Let's move her to her room first…"
As the nurse who'd wheeled her in tried to take In-ha away right after Uncle spoke, he smiled at me and added,
"Only permitted visitors can go to rooms, so you guys stay here…"
Uncle gestured to slow the nurse turning with the wheelchair, trailing off on purpose.
Then In-ha's tiny voice, audible only if listening hard:
"Th… then visiting… still…"
The nurse knelt to eye level and asked again,
"Friends came to see you, In-ha. Visiting okay?"
In-ha's pale face flushed faintly; she nodded.
"…Yes…"
The nurse smiled, gripped her hand, and said,
"We'll do what In-ha wants."
So we finally got to visit In-ha's room as planned.
'Was visiting ever this hard?'