Alone in the Motel with Mijin
One hour before the end of my shift.
Quitting time always feels like it takes forever, but today it was even worse.
Because tonight I was finally going to have dinner alone with Nurse Mijin—no, with Mijin!
Whenever I had a spare moment during work, I looked up decent restaurants nearby.
Hmm… should I go with seafood?
This place is famous for steak.
Meat wouldn’t be bad either.
Oh, right. I should have asked her first.
“Nurse Mijin, is there anything you particularly like?”
“I like dogs and cats.”
Mijin smiled brightly at me as she answered.
So cute.
But that wasn’t what I was asking.
“I meant food. I’m trying to make a reservation.”
“Oh, dinner? I’m not picky at all.”
Nice.
Then I just had to pick somewhere popular nearby.
“Got it. Tonight’s on me—I’ll treat you to something really good!”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
That bright smile again.
Just looking at that smile gave me energy.
Even though I’d experienced that bizarre event earlier, the more time passed, the less it seemed to bother me.
At first I’d wondered if it was all a dream, but now… it felt strangely natural that I was truly the Operator of the Sexual Counseling Room.
I wasn’t sure if something was influencing me or not.
While I was lost in thought about what had just happened, the Head Nurse walked over.
She didn’t look happy.
“You were the one who organized the charts for tomorrow, right, Nurse Jeongsu?”
“…Yes.”
“You swapped the morning and afternoon sections!”
Damn it. What a rookie mistake…
Oh, right. I am a rookie.
“I’ll fix it right away.”
“Sigh… yes, please do.”
Huh? That’s it?
Normally she would have chewed me out for something like this.
Not that I’m complaining.
“Update it and upload the corrected version.”
With that, she turned and left immediately.
Mijin and I looked at each other.
She must have thought it was strange too.
“The Head Nurse…”
“Yeah. That was weird, right?”
“Maybe she’s not feeling well?”
“Could be. Normally I’d probably be dead by now.”
She smiled.
“Then I would have saved you. What a shame.”
“Haha. Guess I should have died after all.”
The mood between us was warm and friendly.
It felt really good.
This kind of atmosphere.
By the time I finished my work, it was 5:20 p.m.
Forty minutes until quitting time.
I’d already reported to the Head Nurse, so now I just needed to make the dinner reservation.
On my way back, I spotted a little girl wandering in the hallway.
She looked about five years old.
The way she kept looking around made it obvious she was lost.
When she noticed me, she glanced up but seemed hesitant to speak.
In moments like this, a true medical professional walks straight over.
“Did you lose your mom?”
The little girl lowered her head, then nodded after a moment.
“Okay, I’ll help you find her.”
She nodded again.
When I held out my hand, she grabbed it tightly.
Should I take her to the administration office?
“What’s your name?”
“So Haeun. I’m five.”
“Who did you come with?”
“Mommy. Her name is Park Inyoung.”
If I had the mother’s name, I could check the EMR.
When we reached the administration office, they confirmed it right away and called the child’s mother.
“Alright, kiddo, I’ll be going now~”
I tried to leave, but Haeun still wouldn’t let go of my hand.
I gently patted her head.
“Want to play with me until your mom gets here?”
“Yeah!”
“I’ll do whatever you want. What should we play?”
I have a nephew around the same age.
Whenever he came over, he always wanted to play with me.
Other kids seemed to take to me too, for some reason.
When I bragged about it to my sister once, she teased me that it was because we were on the same level.
Alright, Haeun. Bring it on!
I’ll play any game you want!
“Let’s play house. I’m the mommy.”
Heh, pretty predictable.
“If you’re the mommy, then I’m obviously…”
“Poppy.”
“Poppy, huh.”
??
Wait, the name couldn’t possibly mean…
“If I’m Poppy, then…”
“Yeah. You’re the doggy. Our family dog. He’s really cute.”
The clerk at the administration desk who was listening nearby burst out laughing.
“Can Poppy and Mommy really play house together?”
I needed to steer this in a different direction.
This was exactly the skill I’d gained from playing with my nephew!
“Yeah. Mommy likes Poppy. And Poppy likes Mommy too.”
“Okay…”
“Since we’ve started, you have to say ‘woof’.”
…
“Woof!”
“Poppy! When you come back inside after going out, what are you supposed to do first?”
I scratched at the air with my hand.
“That’s right. Go wash up quickly.”
The administration clerk was laughing so hard she was doubled over.
Yeah, laugh it up.
A short while later the door opened and a beautiful middle-aged woman walked in.
“Haeun!”
“Mommy~!”
Looked like I was finally free from playing house.
“This is the big brother who played Poppy with me.”
She introduced me like that?
The woman smiled at me and bowed her head.
“Thank you so much for helping us. How can I ever repay this kindness…”
“It’s nothing. I still have work to do, so I’ll be going now.”
“Thank you again, truly.”
I waved back at Haeun, who was waving enthusiastically at me, and left the administration office.
At least her mom came quickly. That was a relief.
Oh no!!
I never made the reservation!!
I hadn’t even picked a decent restaurant!
I’d completely forgotten.
What time is it now?
5:58 p.m.
Argh!
I rushed back up to the ward.
Mijin wasn’t there?
She must have gone down to change since it was quitting time.
I should get changed too.
While I was changing, a text came in.
She really is an angel.
I hurriedly finished dressing and headed to the main entrance. I spotted her in the distance.
Huh? She wasn’t alone.
An elderly man in a suit was standing in front of her.
They seemed to know each other, so I stayed back for a moment and watched.
They were talking.
The old man had an awkward expression.
Because of the angle, I couldn’t see Mijin’s face.
After a while, the old man bowed politely to her and left.
Who was that?
When she turned around, she saw me and waved.
She looked cute in her casual clothes too.
I waved back and jogged over.
“Huff… huff… Did you wait long?”
“Not at all. I just got here too.”
I deliberately didn’t ask about the old man from earlier.
“Then I’ll look forward to whatever you’re treating me to~”
Ugh… where should we even go…
##
On the way out of the hospital toward the bustling street across from it.
“I’m going to eat a ton today! You’d better be ready.”
“Um… actually, I couldn’t make a reservation…”
She looked at me.
“I’m fine with anywhere.”
She really is an angel.
“Sorry, Mijin.”
She puffed her cheeks out a little as she looked at me.
“We’re outside now, so you can call me comfortably.”
“Alright. Mijin.”
The instant I answered, she looked slightly surprised, then smiled that same bright smile as always.
“Let’s go, Jeongsu.”
Where would be good?
Grilled pork belly is pretty safe, right?
Or chicken?
I looked around.
A place that wasn’t too crowded and didn’t look bad.
There!
“How about that place?”
She looked where I was pointing and nodded.
Yeah, on a Friday night, it’s gotta be chicken.
When we walked into the chicken restaurant, she looked around as if everything was fascinating.
“What kind of chicken do you want? Fried? Seasoned? Half-and-half?”
“Whatever you want, Jeongsu.”
“Alright, then let’s go with the safe choice—half-and-half.”
“Sounds good.”
While I was tapping in the order on the kiosk, I noticed the alcohol tab.
“Do you drink?”
“Ah, I’ve never really drunk before… I’ll just have a soda.”
“Got it. In that case, I’ll have a beer, if you don’t mind.”
Order complete.
The beer and soda came out first.
“Want some basic sides too?”
“They have those? Yes, please.”
She reacted like it was all so new and interesting.
A little later, the part-timer brought over some macaroni salad.
She tried a bite, said it was delicious, and kept eating more.
Must be her first time…
While we waited for the chicken, we talked about all kinds of things.
She was curious about my college days, but honestly there wasn’t much to tell.
I’d worked harder than most because I wanted to get a job quickly, and I was lucky enough to end up here. She listened to my boring stories like they were the most interesting thing in the world.
“At first I thought you and the Head Nurse already knew each other.”
We were having a nice conversation—why did she suddenly steer it there…
“Really?”
“Yeah. She’s usually a really nice person, but she treats you differently for some reason.”
“Haha. It’s probably because I’m not good enough.”
I laughed awkwardly.
“Actually, the truth is…”
When I told her what happened on my first day, she gasped in surprise.
“Oh my, so that was how you two met? That’s kind of fate, isn’t it?”
Yeah… it is fate.
A bad one, though.
“Your food is ready.”
Steam rose invitingly.
Whoa! That glossy, mouthwatering look.
“Here, eat up.”
“You too, Jeongsu.”
I handed her a drumstick. She thanked me and used two forks to carefully pull the meat off the bone.
So elegant.
Me?
No such thing.
I just grabbed a drumstick with my bare hand, tore into it, and washed it down with big gulps of beer.
“Kaaah! That’s the stuff!”
At my exclamation, she stared at me blankly.
Did I go too far?
“Is that good?”
“The drumstick? Of course. Chicken legs are the best!”
“No, I meant the beer.”
“Honestly I don’t know much about it. But the refreshing feeling is amazing.”
She kept glancing back and forth between the soda in front of her and my beer.
“You’re drinking it so deliciously… now I’m curious…”
“Might as well try it while you have the chance.”
“…Should I?”
I immediately ordered her a glass of beer.
A little later, the part-timer brought over a beer with a thin layer of frost on the glass.
“Then shall we make a toast?”
At my suggestion, she picked up the glass with both hands.
“Cheers~”
“Cheers~”
She clinked her glass against mine, copying me.
Clink.
A clear, pleasant sound.
One bite of chicken.
One sip of beer.
“Kyaaaa~ This is what life’s about.”
Clack!
When I set my empty glass down, she seemed to hesitate for a moment before gulping down the entire beer.
Whoa… she’s never drunk before. Downing it all at once isn’t good…
Before I could stop her, she’d already finished it in one go.
“Wow! This is really good?”
“You like it? That’s great.”
“I’ll have just one more glass.”
“Of course. Order as much as you want! It’s on me.”
I really shouldn’t have said that.
Why did I do that…
A short while later, after downing two more glasses in quick succession, Mijin passed out completely.
“Mijin? Are you okay?”
“Mmmnya… mmmnya…”
“Where do you live? I’ll get you a taxi.”
“Don’t know… wanna sleep…”
…I was screwed.
No matter what I did, she wouldn’t get up.
Even if it was her first time drinking, who would have thought two glasses would do this?
As I looked around, something caught my eye…
A motel.
No way.
Maybe I should just wait here a little longer?
…
It didn’t seem possible.
It was Friday night in a busy area. The place was packed.
People had already come by asking if there were any seats available.
It would be too awkward.
“I’m taking Mijin to that motel over there. I swear I won’t do anything weird.”
“Mmmnya… mmmnya…”
She clearly wasn’t listening.
I paid the bill, helped her up, and headed to the motel right in front.
The owner stared at me and asked,
“Short stay?”
“No, overnight please.”
“Two hundred thousand won.”
??
Is this guy crazy?
“What? Two hundred thousand just to sleep one night?”
“Take it or leave it. It’s Friday night—short stays are more profitable for me anyway.”
He wasn’t wrong, but that was still a total rip-off.
I glanced at Mijin, who looked like she’d collapse if I stopped supporting her.
Sigh… no choice.
“Here.”
I paid and received the key labeled 305.
Third floor. I headed for the elevator…
[Repair in progress]
So annoying…
I used every ounce of strength I had to support her as we climbed to the third floor.
“Huff… huff. Here we are.”
“Mmm…”
“Mijin? Are you awake?”
“Mmmnya… mmmnya. More…”
I gave up.
I unlocked the door and went inside.
When I inserted the key card, the lights came on.
A typical motel room.
And this place costs two hundred thousand won…
“Ugh…”
Thud.
“Hooo…”
I laid her down on the bed, then sat in the chair for a moment to catch my breath.
She had fallen asleep, drunk… and she was beautiful.
Yeah, honestly, she really was pretty.
But I’m not trash.
“Sleep well, Mijin.”
I turned off the lights and left the motel room.
The motel owner on the first floor gave me a strange look, but what was I supposed to do about it?
Time to go home.