Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Trip
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Chae-yeon's grandmother's village was in a much more remote spot than I'd imagined, so the ambulance that Na-young had called took quite a while to arrive.
Thank goodness I pulled Eun-bi out so quickly. If we'd waited for them the whole time, she might've died in the worst case.
Anyway, we all piled into the ambulance Na-young called and headed to a small nearby hospital.
It was a tiny place with just one doctor—who also served as the hospital director—and a single nurse.
"Hmm... Good thing our friend got her out of the water fast. No major issues that I can see."
Eun-bi's condition was remarkably fine after a quick check-up.
"Still, just to be safe, she should stay admitted for a day."
The doctor suggested keeping her overnight for observation, worried that the hospital's limited equipment might miss some delayed symptoms.
I had zero medical knowledge, so it sounded reasonable enough. Though part of me wondered if he was just trying to squeeze a bit more money out of us since the hospital didn't see much revenue.
I wasn't short on cash anyway, and the doctor didn't strike me as the type to gouge kids.
I shook my head to clear out the needless suspicions.
"We'll do that."
Thankfully, there was an ambulance service nearby, so no transport fees, but the exam and consultation costs still added up to a hefty sum.
That's why I stepped in and answered for the four girls, who were hesitating and unable to commit to the doctor's recommendation.
"Sounds good. Have you called her parents yet?"
"I was just about to."
"Yeah...? Want me to do it?"
"No. We'll handle it."
Getting a call from the hospital out of the blue would probably scare them half to death.
Since it was nothing serious, it seemed better if we explained it ourselves.
The doctor shrugged like the call was no big deal and led us to her room.
Eun-bi ended up with a quiet six-bed room all to herself—no other patients in sight.
"Hehe... Sorry, guys."
She'd changed into a patient gown, had an IV in her arm, and was perched on the bed, scratching her head sheepishly as she apologized.
"No... You don't need to apologize. If anything, we're the ones who should be sorry."
"Yeah... Eun-bi."
Mi-jin, who'd been stamping her feet helplessly while her friend drowned, hung her head low as she spoke.
Chae-yeon nodded in agreement.
"Nooo... Mi-jin..."
Eun-bi pulled a teary-eyed Mi-jin into a hug at the sight.
"Eun-biii...!"
Mi-jin burst into sobs, clutching her friend who'd nearly died.
It spread like a virus—fast, like some future plague. Soon Na-young and Chae-yeon were tearing up too.
The room turned into a sea of tears in no time.
Bzzz...!
Right then, my smartphone buzzed wildly in my pocket.
I peeked at the screen, then quietly slipped out to take the call.
"Hello?"
[I saw your missed call and rang back.]
It was a middle-aged man on the other end.
He must've just checked his call log from the one I'd made earlier that he hadn't picked up.
"Is this Eun-bi's dad?"
[Huh...? Yeah, I'm her dad... but... who is this?]
"Ah, hello. This is Ji-hoon Lee, one of the friends she was hanging out with today."
[A boy...?]
Eun-bi's dad's voice turned icy in an instant.
I could read his mind clear as day.
His precious daughter, whom he loved so much he wouldn't mind if he poked her eyes out, had begged to go play with friends, and he'd reluctantly agreed.
Now realizing there was a boy in the mix? A dad's reaction to that was only natural.
But then...
[!!!!!!]
A shocked exclamation exploded in my ear.
[Wh-where...! Where are you?!]
He sounded desperate, like he'd race over the second I gave the address.
"Yeah... We're at..."
I rattled off the hospital address the doctor had given me, and the call cut off abruptly after he said he was coming right now.
"Well... Trip's kinda ruined. This time."
These were my first real friends I clicked with, and this was basically our first group outing.
Yet it was ending a whole day early.
I worried Na-young might be bummed. Or maybe the shock of Eun-bi nearly dying had her too rattled to care.
Anxiety bubbled up.
I was about to head back in when the door opened and Mi-jin stepped out.
"Going somewhere?"
"......"
A casual question.
Mi-jin closed the door silently and stared at me.
"Mi-jin?"
Still no words, so I called again.
She just gazed blankly at me for what felt like ages.
How much time passed?
"Th-thank..."
A soft, clear voice slipped from her slightly parted lips.
"Thank you..."
Those simple words.
"For... for saving Eun-bi. Really, thank you..."
Tears she'd tried so hard to stop started flowing again.
Her slender shoulders began to tremble.
"What're you thanking me for? She's my friend."
I gently pulled her into a hug, patting her back, then wiped the tears from her eyes with my hand.
"As long as Eun-bi's okay, that's what matters. No crying now. This is a happy time. Right? So stop."
Tears weren't easy to turn off, no matter how hard you tried.
But Mi-jin heeded my words and fought to stem the flow.
"Eun-bi's dad just called. He's coming right down. Figure it'll take at least two hours with the distance."
Two hours seemed short, honestly, for a dad hearing his beloved daughter nearly died.
He'd probably floor it regardless of speed limits— an hour tops.
"What about us?"
"Us...?"
"Yeah. Us. Not really in the mood to keep hanging out, right? Should we just head back?"
"......"
Regret flickered across Mi-jin's face.
But with such a serious incident, she figured no one—not her, not the others—felt like playing anymore, so she nodded softly.
"I'll tell the other three."
As I turned to go back in, Mi-jin grabbed my wrist.
"Mi-jin?"
I called her name.
"See...? You're such a... kid... I can't help but... like you..."
Her face flushed beet red, staring at me before dropping like a stone.
Then she mumbled something tiny, too quiet to catch.
"Huh...? What'd you say?"
"N-nothing... Nothing!"
Mi-jin yanked her hand away like she was fleeing and bolted off somewhere.
"What was that?"
I rubbed my wrist where she'd held it, puzzled, then headed back into the room.
I told them Eun-bi's dad was on his way and suggested we all ride back up with him if possible.
And just like that, our first trip came to an end.
*
Time passed. A few days later.
"Where're you... going...?"
Na-young, naked and sprawled on the bed, asked sleepily with half-lidded eyes as I changed clothes.
"Yeah. Eun-bi's calling me over."
"Eun-bi...?"
"Probably about that accident last time."
After the drowning at Chae-yeon's grandma's place, where I'd saved her, it was highly likely she'd called me out alone like this without telling the others.
The others might not know, but Eun-bi always kept a subtle distance from me. And this was the first time she'd ever messaged me personally.
"Anyway, I'll be back. Sleep more."
Na-young's face was still drowsy.
I went over, brushed the hair from her forehead, and planted a kiss on her lips.
"Mmm... Yeah... Be safe."
"Got it."
One kiss and she beamed cutely, waving me off.
With Na-young seeing me out, I left the house and walked to the meetup spot.
There was Eun-bi, already waiting ahead of time.
"Eun-bi. You feeling better?"
I approached and checked on her health first.
"Eek?! Oh... Ji-hoon...! Y-yeah... I'm f-fine..."
She startled like she hadn't noticed me coming, then relaxed once she saw it was me and nodded.
"Glad to hear it. More importantly, what's with today? You look really pretty."
Eun-bi usually wore simple, modest clothes—whatever was comfy.
Today, though, she was straight-up adorable.
Not just pretty—super cute.
But she hated being called short, so I softened it to pretty.
"R-really...?"
She lit up with a bright smile, like all the dark clouds in her heart had washed away.
"Yeah... Totally."
No clue what was up with her suddenly.
She used to brush off whatever I said.
Maybe the suspension bridge effect? Did that near-death thing spark some feelings for me?
"Hehe... Pretty... I'm pretty...!"
Grinning ear to ear, Eun-bi handed me a small box.
"Here! For back then!"
"You didn't have to."
"N-no...! T-take it... 'Cause I'm grateful... Yeah... Grateful..."
Her voice trailed off softer and softer.
A strange loneliness crept onto her face.
"W-well then! See ya!"
Like she'd accomplished her mission for the day, she turned and walked off without a backward glance.
Her figure shrank smaller and smaller until it vanished completely.
"Yeah, figured."
No way she likes me.
If she did, she wouldn't just hand over a gift and bail.
Probably had somewhere to be and dressed up nice for it.
Given her personality, maybe a family thing.
"Looks tasty."
I opened the box—packed with cookies and chocolates.
Munching one by one on the way home, Chae-yeon's face suddenly popped into my head, so I rerouted to her place.