Am I the Only Trash?
"...You got lucky."
Even amid the pain, the humiliating dress-up ordeal from yesterday flashed through my mind. Sure, I'd come around to it somewhat by the middle, but at first, I thought it was just makeup. It was my fault to begin with, but still embarrassing! Just quietly play nurse shuttle for this body.
"H-hello...? Nana...?"
[Ah! Areum, did I wake you? Sorry! I was just lying down messing with my phone... and when the call came in, I panicked and couldn't hang up right away...]
Hmm, as expected. So that's why she called first thing in the morning. Still, it worked out. Cough! Cough! Ah... now the coughing's starting too.
"N-Nana. I feel like I'm dying..."
[What?! W-what are you saying! Where does it hurt? You okay?!]
"I think I have a pretty high fever... head's spinning so bad I can't drive... Can you take me to the hospital once the sun's up...?"
[Wha-wha?! Of course! Once the sun's up... Ah, no! I'm coming right now! Don't do anything, just lie down! Send me your address!]
The call cut off abruptly amid her frantic mix of fussing and worry.
Hmm... maybe the effect was too good. I am sick, but not dying or anything. A good nap and I'll probably be fine... I sent Im Nana my address and closed my eyes for a bit.
...Her reaction seemed a bit over the top. Did I overplay it...? I felt a little guilty. Should've just asked her to visit normally.
I lay in bed and drifted off like I'd lost consciousness, only to snap awake at the racket from the front door.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Someone was pounding on the door like they were trying to break it down.
H-hey, there's a doorbell, why hit it with your fist...? I barely dragged myself up and headed to the entrance. A small voice came from outside.
"Wh-what do I do? What if she collapsed...?"
...She really takes fussing to world-class levels.
I unlocked the door and opened it to find Im Nana on the verge of tears.
"A-Areum! You okay? How high's the fever?"
"Ah... come on in... Haven't checked it yet..."
"Your face is super red! This doesn't look like a normal cold... Let's take your temp first. I brought a thermometer!"
Whoa... she's prepared. Do people usually bring thermometers when visiting the sick?
Im Nana tossed me onto the bed like a sack.
I-I get you're in a rush, but isn't this a bit rough on the patient...?
"Stay still! This one's for the ear... Let me just brush your hair aside."
Her fingers sliding my hair aside tickled like crazy. Soon the thermometer beeped with a short electronic beep, followed by Im Nana's shocked yelp.
"Eek-! 39 degrees! Shouldn't we call an ambulance?!"
"It's just the fever... I can handle it... Cough! Cough!"
"You're coughing too! And your voice sounds completely shot..."
Come to think of it, talking's tough. A bit hoarse, and my throat hurts when I cough.
Seeing Im Nana in full panic mode brought a hollow laugh even through my dizziness. How long had it been since I'd been this sick—not since I was a kid? And having someone worry this much...
"I'm fine... There's a clinic nearby that opens at 8. Just wait a bit and take me?"
"8... That's a whole hour from now. You sure no ambulance?"
"Yeah, really fine..."
Even so, Im Nana paced anxiously, at a loss.
"W-water compress! Let's at least put a cold cloth on!"
She bolted to the bathroom, then came rushing back all flustered. It was so funny I forgot the pain for a second.
A while later, with Im Nana supporting me, we made it to the clinic. Lucky no other patients, so I got seen quick.
"Throat's pretty swollen. High fever too. Get a shot and some meds."
"Thanks... But do I have to get the shot?"
"Well, it'd help you recover faster."
Hmm... shots... It's been so long, I'm tense. The nurse led me to the injection room.
Blue curtain pulled, and she prepped the syringe casually. "Just pull your pants down a bit~"
Ugh, cold shots are butt shots, huh... Didn't faze me as a guy, but why's it more embarrassing now as a girl? I reluctantly lowered my waistband, and she patted my butt a few times before jabbing.
"All done~ Rub with cotton for a minute before coming out~"
"Okay..."
That nurse has skills... Honestly, just felt the pats. Phew, glad. I was super nervous.
Rubbed my butt, confirmed no blood, and headed to the waiting area where worried Im Nana waited.
"Areum! What'd the doc say? Just a cold?"
"Yeah, just a cold and fever. Says meds'll knock it right out. Got the shot too."
"Phew... Good. Let's get home and rest. I'll stay with you."
...She says it so casually, someone might misunderstand. If she catches it, it'll be a headache...
Couldn't tell her to leave after she brought me—too grateful. Back home, I flopped into bed again. Im Nana pulled out porridge she'd bought on the way.
"Here, say ah~. Gotta eat something before meds."
"I-I'm not that helpless..."
"Not like you, pretending to feed then snatching it back. Say ah~."
Pretending to feed, huh—she'd been holding that grudge. Push back more and the karma talk starts, so I obediently let her feed me.
Finished the porridge, took meds, back to bed. The shot and pills kicked in—fever easing, headache fading.
Mind clearing, I noticed Im Nana still watching me with worried eyes.
...Feeling better, now I kinda wanna tease her... Shall I?
"It. Still. Hurts. My. Head. Feels. Like. It's. Gonna. Explode."
"Wh-what...?! Still that bad? Meds not working? What do we do... Maybe hospitalize? I'll call them!"
Whoa, hold up! She fell for it perfectly! She's grabbing her phone like she's calling an ambulance right now.
...People too pure-hearted make the teaser feel like trash. Well, teasing while sick sealed the trash status anyway...
"N-no! Not that bad! Sleep it off and I'll be fine. Thanks for worrying."
"Phew... Okay? Sleep tight! I'll stay by your side!"
"Appreciate it, but you should head out. Don't want you catching it..."
Half excuse, but true—she catches it, trouble. Mainly for Kim Manho pres, Kim Manho pres... MCN's only two creators down with colds? Disaster.
Hmm, kinda wanna see her flustered more though...
"You sure you'll be okay alone? What if fever spikes again..."
"Really fine. If it does, I'll call right away."
"Still..."
After long convincing, she reluctantly stood.
As she left: "Call if it hurts! Porridge in the fridge—heat it up when you wake!" Over and over.
Phew... Door shut, alone again—tension melted away.
Should've handled it solo... Body fine, but mentally exhausted.
Actually called to mildly inconvenience her over yesterday, but her care was too much—even teasing felt wrong. And I didn't hate the worrying...
Back in bed, eyelids heavy.
"Time to sleep... Nothing else to do..."
Exhaustion pulled me into deep slumber.
Woke to pitch-black outside. Checked time—evening turning to night.
Stretched—body worlds lighter than morning. Fever way down.
"Whew... Thought I was a goner."
Grabbed phone by bed. Missed spam calls, but didn't hear... Slept deep after Nana left.
Hmm... Wonder if she's worried.
That morning fuss—she probably checked in but spared waking me.
Should text I'm okay.
Hmm, feels lacking. After nap and clear head, morning's tease plan felt too mean. She rushed over, nursed me...
Just thanks seems short—what to say?
"I was all karma payback teases..."
Morning's genuine worry face—I couldn't even properly tease.
After agonizing, added more.
Sent, checked camping plans.
What'd young women like? Gotta repay the nursing—tourist spot? Or...
"Ah, right—food."
Remembered Im Nana drooling over T-bone every 10 seconds. Looks dainty, but huge appetite.
Grill tastier meat this time? Coastal camp—seafood too... Or both.
Meat base with seafood ramen?
"Next week's camp... Gotta prep properly."
Trip goals: Introduce Nana to Grandpa, bring Maximus. Now one more: Repay Nana's care.
Imagined her epic reactions to delicious food.
"No karma this time—do it right."
Next weekend suddenly exciting.