Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Through my blurry vision, I saw a familiar face.
“…Keun Se-jin?”
“Dude, you look like you’re burning up.”
I couldn’t be sure, but Keun Se-jin looked absolutely appalled.
I held back a few coughs before answering.
“…Cough, yeah. I took some medicine.”
“Don’t just take medicine… Hey, go to the hospital. Want me to call the company for you?”
“……It’s not some terminal illness… Forget it. It’s just a cold.”
Keun Se-jin clicked his tongue.
“Why suffer when you can get better faster? Just go get an IV drip or something. Get some stronger prescription meds while you’re at it.”
“…….”
It was a hassle, but honestly, I was tempted.
‘The company should at least cover that much.’
Since they were a subsidiary of a major corporation, I expected them to handle this much as a workplace injury.
Then I realized the current situation.
“Ah… the manager is off today.”
“Just call a taxi. Throw some clothes on.”
“…….”
So a taxi was an option.
I watched Keun Se-jin finish a phone call before finally managing to squeeze out a rational question.
“But why are you even here?”
“I had to pick something up from the company, so I stopped by. I live nearby, you know.”
He had something to pick up from the company?
“Pick up what?”
“Is that what’s important right now? Forget it, just change. The taxi’s almost here.”
“……Okay.”
I got up slowly, peeled off my sweat-soaked T-shirt, and threw on a random hoodie. I was shivering, so it didn't feel hot.
“Need help?”
“I’m fine.”
I figured this would do. If I just wore a mask to cover my face….
“Here, put this on.”
“…….”
He was like a mind reader. I hooked the mask over my ears and quietly conceded.
“Thanks.”
“As long as you know. Be good to me.”
Keun Se-jin shook his head and checked his smartphone.
“Ah, the taxi’s nearby. Let’s head down.”
“Yeah. Should I go to the main gate?”
“That’s where I called it. Follow me.”
“……?”
From the looks of it, he wasn't just seeing me off; he was planning to go with me.
“I’ll just go by myself quietly.”
“Imagine the headlines if you pass out while trying to go ‘quietly’ by yourself.”
“…….”
I accepted defeat.
“Let’s go.”
“Right.”
I kept my mouth shut, followed Keun Se-jin down, and got into the taxi.
I endured the motion sickness with my fading consciousness, and before long, we arrived at the hospital.
*
“Feel much better, right?”
“Yeah.”
I readily agreed. I didn’t know exactly what was in the IV, but after getting two bags of different colors, my condition had improved significantly.
‘Now it’s just a manageable cold.’
It was a large hospital, and since they seemed used to celebrities due to the location, everything ended quietly, which was also great.
“Now you just need to go back, eat, and take your meds. Man, there’s no friend like me.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“…Don’t mention it.”
Keun Se-jin shrugged and opened the front door of the dorm.
Immediately, a pile of boxes appeared before our eyes.
“……!”
They weren't just ordinary delivery boxes. These boxes of various sizes, wrapped in ivory paper with deep green ribbons, were….
“Ah, they already moved them.”
“…….”
I quietly asked the nonchalant Keun Se-jin.
“…Is it your birthday?”
“Huh? Ah, I figured you would’ve seen it while searching, Moon-dae~”
Keun Se-jin gave a wink.
“That’s right. My birthday is the day after tomorrow. August 1st.”
The thing he had to pick up from the company must have been that pile of gifts.
‘…I thought he was the type to make a huge fuss a week before his birthday.’
I didn't expect him not to say a single word.
In fact, if I hadn't recalled seeing it briefly on social media a few days ago, I would have passed that pile of gifts off as debut anniversary support.
Regardless, the birthday boy was casual about it.
“Since my birthday falls in the middle of vacation~ I wanted to take the proof shots early. It feels better to see this kind of stuff right on the day, you know?”
“That’s true. And… happy birthday, for now.”
“Sure~ Send me a touching birthday text and a gifticon on the day. I’ll settle for something like fried chicken.”
I let out a short laugh.
“…You earned that chicken today.”
“—! If you’re saying that, Moon-dae, I might be able to negotiate for two!”
“What?”
Keun Se-jin grinned and walked into the kitchen, picking up a pot.
“This is galbi-jjim, you know?”
“……Galbi?”
Where did that suddenly come from?
“Because I was so worried about my friend being all alone in the dorm~ I took some from my own birthday feast!”
“…!!”
“Isn’t it… overflowing with emotion? Keun Se-jin, bringing galbi for his teammate during his vacation… Man, tell this as a heartwarming story whenever you go out.”
“…….”
“You’re speechless with gratitude, aren’t you? It’s okay. It happens.”
Keun Se-jin waved his hand and headed back toward the entrance.
“I’m heading back now, so take care of your health during the break. Make sure to heat up the galbi-jjim.”
“…Want me to take the gift proof shots for you?”
“Haha, no thanks. Not when you’re sick. I already took them at the company.”
Leaving behind the advice to ‘go back to the hospital if you feel sick again,’ Keun Se-jin disappeared.
“…….”
‘I guess I’m experiencing all sorts of things.’
I rarely had anyone with me when I was sick, and usually, it only meant more annoying things to deal with, so this was quite a new experience.
‘It’s convenient having someone to help.’
…I should really send him at least some chicken for his upcoming birthday. It was worth that much for my day off.
‘Now then, I’ll take my meds and get back to monitoring….’
Buzz.
A message arrived on my smartphone.
[Seon A-hyun: Moon-dae, are you having a good vacation? I just finished my first counseling session. They seem like a good person, so I’m going to try really hard this time. I felt like I had to message you to say thank you… (See More)]
“…….”
This… hasn't changed. Still, I suppose I should be glad he didn't post it in the group chat.
I clicked 'See More.'
To summarize, he was thankful and was asking if I had any plans to come visit during the vacation.
‘I don’t.’
I sent a reply saying, ‘Congrats on the counseling, and I’m planning to rest because I’m not feeling well.’
After tossing my phone onto the sofa and coming back from taking my medicine, the long message had multiplied into five.
Furthermore, an ungodly number of notifications were popping up in the group chat.
When I checked, it seemed Keun Se-jin had already blabbed about everything that happened today.
[Cha Yu-jin: Stay healthy, Hyung! (Crying emoji)]
[Ryu Cheong-woo: I guess it hit you because you’re resting after working so hard. Contact me if it gets too tough.]
[Kim Rae-bin: My grandfather gave me some red ginseng; should I bring it when I return to the dorm? (Blurry photo of a water bottle)]
[Keun Se-jin: Give me some too (Laughing emoji)]
…Dozens of messages like this had piled up.
“……Hah.”
At this point, it didn't feel like I was alone; it felt like these guys were in the next room.
‘Still, I am grateful.’
They could have easily thought it was a nuisance to be contacted while resting.
Even Lee Se-jin sent a message.
Of course, it wasn't in the group chat.
[Lee Se-jin A: Are you feeling okay?]
I answered them one by one in the order they arrived.
First, I told Seon A-hyun, ‘I’m recovering well, and I didn't think you were being inconsiderate by asking to hang out, so don't worry.’ I also told Lee Se-jin I was doing okay.
Finally, I posted the same thing in the group chat.
[I’m feeling better after going to the hospital. Everyone, have a good vacation.]
Immediately, the screen filled with 'OK' emojis from those who had checked. Well… since the feedback was fast and positive, it was actually quite pleasant.
‘Now, let’s eat.’
I shrugged and heated up the galbi-jjim and instant rice.
The galbi-jjim was quite delicious.
*
By the time Park Moon-dae had recovered and was quietly wrapping up his vacation, TeSTAR fans were enjoying the vacation updates posted on social media.
In particular, Keun Se-jin released all sorts of photos and videos around his birthday, providing a flood of content.
The most popular was a short video of TeSTAR lip-syncing to their Hi-five music show performance playing on TV.
The sight of the TeSTAR members passing through the living room while doing everyday things like drinking water or reading a book, only to suddenly get into the groove and lip-sync someone else’s part, became a hot topic with tens of thousands of shares.
As the final episode of the reality trip aired, fans were feeling a bittersweet lingering emotion as TeSTAR’s debut promotions came to a close.
However, for the fans of one particular member, it was too early to just enjoy the lingering feelings.
It was Park Moon-dae’s fans, who were facing the premiere of Get Close First.
Amidst the nervous anticipation of the fans, this week’s episode of Get Close First began its broadcast.
The first thing that appeared… was a skit of the two meeting in a mountain cabin in the middle of a snowstorm.
[I was surprised by the sudden blizzard, but I’m glad there was a cabin.]
[I see. I also checked the weather and came inside quickly.]
The problem was that neither of them had a talent for acting.
It suddenly turned into a comedy segment.
Laughter erupted in the comments of every community following the live broadcast.
The scene where they shared hot Americanos and self-heating instant meals awkwardly pulled from a backpack also made people chuckle.
The awkward snowstorm CG on the window only added to the hilarious sense of incongruity.
[At that moment,]
[A sudden roar echoed…?]
Furthermore, the addition of petty subtitles made the atmosphere even weirder.
[A massive roar shaking the cabin]
[Stranded Person 1: Was that thunder? (Calm)]
[Stranded Person 2: I’ll report it to the police for now. (Calm)]
This endless cycle of a skit finally broke when Cheong-ryeo brought up a ghost story.