Chapter 146: Winter (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 146: Winter (5)
I checked Ji Nuri’s condition.
Leaning against the wall in an awkward, unstable stance, she looked incredibly fragile.
“Can you walk?”
“I think I sprained it a bit, but I’ll be fine if I walk slowly.”
Ji Nuri waved her hand dismissively, acting tough as if it were nothing.
“I’m oka—”
The moment she confidently took a single step, her body trembled as if she’d been hit by an electric shock.
— “--------!”
The Mini-Me on her shoulder erupted into a cacophony of noise.
Fat tears began to drip from beneath the Mini-Me’s eyes.
Ji Nuri bit her lip hard, clearly trying to suppress a groan. She didn’t look okay at all. In fact, she looked like she was in significant pain.
“…Let’s go to the nurse’s office first.”
“Unni, lean on me.”
Ha Seo-rim quickly stepped up to her side to support her. With a face on the verge of tears, Ji Nuri leaned heavily on Seo-rim’s shoulder.
They began to walk at a snail's pace.
*
Fortunately, the nurse’s office was still open.
I’d been worried the nurse might have already gone home, but luckily, we made it just in time.
“I’ve applied a medicated patch and wrapped it in a bandage for now… but make sure to visit a hospital just in case.”
“Thank you…”
Ji Nuri hung her head low, looking embarrassed. Her ankle had swollen far more than I’d expected. Compared to her healthy foot, the difference was stark.
“Be careful.”
“Okay…”
Ji Nuri stepped out of the nurse’s office, still supported by Ha Seo-rim.
“Hmm…”
I pulled out my phone in front of the shoe lockers.
“The others must have gone home by now…”
I considered calling Lee Sol or Shin A-young but quickly dismissed the idea. It was long past the time they would have left school. It felt wrong to call them back now.
“Ji Nuri, what about your parents?”
“…They haven’t finished work yet. Even if I call, they won’t be able to come right away.”
Ji Nuri shook her head. If her parents weren’t an option, there was only one choice left.
I guess I have no choice.
I opened a taxi app. When I checked the dispatch time, an alert popped up saying it would take quite a while for a car to arrive. I decided to call it first and figure the rest out later.
I turned back to Ji Nuri and spoke firmly.
“Let’s go to the hospital first.”
“Wait, what about your part-time job? You’ll be late.”
“I’ll have to skip. What else can I do?”
It couldn’t be helped. Right now, I was the only one who could look after her.
“No, I’m really fine. I can go to the hospital later. For now, just home—”
—Ugh.
Before she could even finish her sentence, Ji Nuri took a step forward. A short groan escaped her lips.
I narrowed my eyes at the sight.
“How do you expect to get anywhere like that?”
“Somehow…” Ji Nuri replied, her face dejected.
“…….”
Good grief. She was being stubborn even at a time like this. I let out a silent sigh.
“I can’t go to work anyway if I’m taking you home.”
“But still…”
Ji Nuri’s brow furrowed. Guilt was written all over her face. It wasn't something she needed to worry about that much; her getting hurt was partly my fault, too.
“I already sent a text.”
I had messaged the manager immediately, telling him I couldn’t make it because of an emergency. Normally, this wouldn’t fly, but since I’d worked there for over a month and was planning to quit soon anyway, I figured he’d be somewhat understanding.
“Besides, there’s a new person who just started, so they won’t be short-staffed… Ha Seo-rim, sorry, but I’m counting on you.”
I looked at Ha Seo-rim. Since this was her scheduled shift, there shouldn’t be any major issues.
“…Understood,” Ha Seo-rim nodded bluntly. “Then I’ll head out first. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, see ya.”
Ha Seo-rim gave us a small bow and left.
“Alright, grab hold.”
I leaned forward slightly to support Ji Nuri.
“…….”
Ji Nuri looked at me with a reluctant expression before reaching out. Her right arm draped around my neck.
But then I realized something.
“……This is a bit awkward.”
The positioning was weird. Because of our significant height difference, when I straightened my back, Ji Nuri ended up dangling diagonally against my side.
As I took a step forward—
“Agh!” Ji Nuri winced hard.
“…Hold on properly. Put some strength into your arm.”
It was because Ji Nuri was barely hanging on. She wasn't even leaning her weight on me.
“It—it’s because you’re too tall, okay?!” Ji Nuri barked at me, her face turning beet red.
“…….”
Well, I suppose I am quite tall. Nothing to be done about that. I cleared my throat and let go of her. I moved in front of her and crouched down.
“Get on.”
“…Huh?”
“At this rate, it’ll take us all day.”
Checking the taxi app, I saw that the car I called was already near the main gate.
“No, I mean… uh…”
I heard the sound of Ji Nuri’s feet shuffling on the floor. She was still hesitating. I knew it was awkward, but we really didn't have time.
“Hurry up.”
At my urging, Ji Nuri finally climbed onto my back cautiously. I felt a soft, heavy weight press against my back.
“…….”
I almost flinched instinctively, but I didn't let it show. I hooked my arms under her legs and stood up.
— “-----------”
The noise from the Mini-Me crackled incessantly. The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough to drown out her thoughts. It meant she was in constant pain.
It didn't sit well with me.
“Phew.”
I let out a deep breath and walked out of the school gates with Ji Nuri on my back.
*
…He told her to get on his back.
Ji Nuri wondered if she had heard him correctly. Flustered, her gaze wavered, not knowing where to look.
“Hurry up.”
His low voice urged her on.
Right, this couldn't be helped. There was really no other way. Her leg was throbbing with pain, and they were pressed for time. Yes, that was it. That had to be it.
Ji Nuri stacked up excuses for herself.
“…Ahem.”
A dry cough escaped her. She cautiously gripped his broad shoulders. The moment her body pressed against Lee Seung-ho’s back—her mind went completely blank.
“…….”
Whoosh—
As he stood up, her field of vision suddenly rose. The scenery was significantly higher than what she usually saw. And from the warmth felt through her palms and the sensation of his broad back—
“…… Hic.”
Ji Nuri instinctively held her breath. This… this felt really strange.
“I called a taxi, so let’s take that.”
“W-why waste money on a taxi? We can just take the bus.”
Ji Nuri raised her voice. She just wanted to say something, anything.
“I already called it. There it is.”
“What?”
…He was right. Far down the road, a taxi with a yellow cap was approaching them.
“Up we go.”
Lee Seung-ho tilted his back, supporting her thigh with one hand while opening the door with the other. He set her down in the back seat, then climbed in beside her.
“…….”
Ji Nuri awkwardly turned her gaze out the window. The trip to the hospital was quick. A taxi was certainly comfortable, but she felt like she owed Lee Seung-ho, making her heart feel complicated in many ways. She decided she’d have to transfer him the money later.
“Here.”
Even after arriving at the hospital, Lee Seung-ho naturally offered his back again.
“…I told you, you don’t have to.”
Despite her words, Ji Nuri climbed back on.
Thump, thump.
Lee Seung-ho carried her inside the hospital.
“I’ll go get you checked in. Just sit here.”
“Oh, okay…”
Left alone on the chair, Ji Nuri looked up.
“…….”
She blankly stared at Lee Seung-ho’s back as he stood at the reception desk. He usually looked after her, but this felt different.
If his usual kindness was a sort of detached, casual concern, this was different. Now, he was being deliberate—explicitly looking after her.
This evoked a different kind of sentiment.
“Ugh…”
Ji Nuri pressed her hands against her cheeks. She could feel a burning heat against her palms. She felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity from Lee Seung-ho.
But because that feeling wasn't exactly bad—the fact that she felt this way felt strange in itself. It was a repeating cycle.
“Ji Nuri-nim, please come into the treatment room.”
“Yes.”
He answered for her and reached out his hand.
“…….”
Ji Nuri hesitated before grabbing it and standing up from the chair. Even the contact of their palms felt strange.
*
“Don’t overexert yourself for a while, and try to avoid using your foot as much as possible.”
“Does that include walking?”
“Yes, it’s best to stay seated whenever you can. And make sure to carry your crutches with you at all times.”
“Okay……”
Ji Nuri walked out of the treatment room with a gloomy face.
“Mom’s going to give me such a lecture……”
Ji Nuri looked down at her foot. It was now encased in a stark white half-cast, with unfamiliar crutches tucked under her arms.
It wasn't about the medical bills. The fact that she was in a cast meant a guaranteed scolding. She pressed her hand against her forehead, already getting a headache thinking about how to explain this.
“Sss…”
She wondered if all this was really necessary, but she’d accepted it because they said she’d heal faster this way. Above all, she couldn't keep letting Lee Seung-ho carry her on his back. That was definitely out of the question now. It was too taxing on her mental state.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
They decided to take the bus on the way back. Since she had crutches now, getting on and off shouldn't be too difficult.
“…….”
Ji Nuri waited for the bus in uncharacteristic silence. For some reason, this was the first time being alone with him felt truly awkward.
=========
(!Signpost!)
(Scroll down for illustration!)
=========
