Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Breaking News
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"Waaah... honeyyy!!"
Lily lay on the hospital bed, clutching Ji-hoon's motionless hand and sobbing uncontrollably.
"Waaah... you said you'd be with me forever... what is thisss..."
Lily wasn't alone in the room.
Dong-hyun stood by the window, watching the scene with a heavy heart.
He felt terribly sorry toward the crying Lily—he was the only one who had walked out unscathed. He couldn't bring himself to say a word.
This was a private room.
American medical bills were notoriously exorbitant.
Even a simple appendectomy cost incomparably more than in Korea.
Ji-hoon's treatment for a gunshot wound and major surgery would likely run into the hundreds of millions of won— an unimaginable sum.
But.
America was a country that treated its heroes with utmost respect.
Berkeley High was one of the top schools in the region.
As soon as news of Ji-hoon's heroism spread, parents of students, successful alumni, and even wealthy local magnates rushed to donate to his medical fund.
The donations poured in instantly, surpassing hundreds of millions of won in no time.
Every night, students gathered with their parents in the plaza outside the hospital, holding candles and praying for Ji-hoon's recovery.
Broadcast cameras captured the scenes nonstop, airing them nationwide.
To American citizens still scarred by 9/11, the story of a foreigner sacrificing himself to protect innocent children was profoundly moving.
Everyone prayed from the heart for Ji-hoon to wake up healthy.
But for some reason, Ji-hoon had yet to regain consciousness.
Even after three days.
The media tried to cover the other hero, Dong-hyun, but he never stepped foot outside the hospital.
Staying by Lily's side came first.
And no broadcaster was rude enough to shove cameras inside the hospital.
With the incident capturing nationwide attention, even Congress in Washington D.C. and the White House couldn't sit idle.
The government quickly identified Ji-hoon and confirmed he had married U.S. citizen Lily and applied for a spousal green card.
USCIS approved his green card and citizenship simultaneously at unprecedented speed.
The White House spokesperson announced it in an emergency briefing.
"Kim Ji-hoon, the hero who saved America's children, is now a proud U.S. citizen."
Then came the President's decision.
He would award Ji-hoon the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This was one of the highest civilian honors in America.
A glorious symbol bestowed regardless of nationality or status on those who greatly contributed to U.S. security, national interests, or world peace.
American citizens showered praise on the nation's swift and honorable decision.
They saw it as fitting, just treatment for the hero who protected America.
Now, every American's eyes were on the hospital bed, waiting for the new citizen, Kim Ji-hoon, to awaken.
The news of another terror attempt on U.S. soil spread like wildfire across global headlines.
A school cafeteria—the shocking location.
Dozens of student hostages.
Bombs planted.
Every element screamed impending tragedy.
But astonishingly, not a single fatality occurred.
The U.S. government issued an immediate statement.
They vowed to eradicate all forces linked to this terror attempt.
A declaration of fierce retaliation.
And the fact that seized global attention:
The heroes who stopped the horrific terror were none other than Koreans.
At that moment, every media outlet in South Korea erupted in frenzy.
Newsroom desks buzzed with shouts.
"What? They're Korean?"
"Get to America now!"
"Secure an exclusive interview no matter what!"
Ah, yes. Korea was a nation drunk on national pride highs.
What was a "national pride high"?
A mocking term for blindly excessive patriotism.
Some analyzed it as a societal psyche where lowered personal self-esteem—due to obsession with things like money—is compensated by over-immersion in national pride.
"Do you know kimchi?"
"Do you know Ji-sung Park?"
"Do you know Shotgun?"
Such questions were prime symbols of it.
And now, Korean heroes saving America—an all-time national pride jackpot had dropped!
Media outlets were ecstatic.
No better scoop existed.
Each immediately dispatched overseas correspondents to Berkeley.
But that wasn't enough.
Reporters from Seoul headquarters boarded flights to America in droves.
In front of the Berkeley hospital in California.
The once-peaceful plaza teemed with reporters and citizens.
Especially eye-catching were the Korean reporters bustling with mics emblazoned with their network logos.
They poured out fervent commentary on camera.
A female reporter from one network stood before the hospital building for a live broadcast.
Ji-hoon and Dong-hyun's photos floated in a small inset screen beside the camera.
"Yes, viewers! I'm here in Berkeley, California! This is the hospital where our proud hero Kim Ji-hoon—who stopped the horrific school terror a few days ago—is being treated!"
The reporter gestured to the American citizens filling the plaza.
They held candles or small placards.
"As you can see, American citizens here are united in praying for Kim Ji-hoon's recovery. Without the brave actions of Kim Ji-hoon and his friend Park Dong-hyun, hundreds of innocent students would have perished in a tragedy."
The reporter faced the camera squarely, raising her voice.
"The U.S. government has decided to award him a medal and accept him as a citizen! But he is also the proud son of our Republic of Korea! Kim Ji-hoon and Park Dong-hyun risked their lives to save countless others. Their story of these two young heroes is inspiring immense emotion and courage across America right now! We eagerly await Kim Ji-hoon's swift recovery so we can hear his tale firsthand. This has been reporter Ji Ye-eun reporting live!"
As the camera light went off, the reporter caught her breath.
But there was no time to rest—the next live connection loomed.
Reporters from other networks delivered similar impassioned reports, beaming national pride news live to Korea.
The fervor outside the hospital only intensified as night deepened.
At that hour, back in Korea.
Ji-hoon's family home buzzed with dinner.
The living room TV droned with the evening news.
Kim Sung-tae, Choi Mi-hee, eldest son Ji-hyuk, and youngest daughter Ji-min.
The whole family gathered around the table for a rare ordinary evening meal.
"Ji-min, how'd you do on that test?"
It was the moment Kim Sung-tae asked his youngest daughter.
The screen switched, showing a familiar network logo and urgent breaking news ticker.
"Oh my, what's that?"
Choi Mi-hee turned to the TV.
The screen showed the scene outside a Berkeley hospital.
A Korean reporter relayed the situation in an excited voice.
And in one corner of the screen, photos of two young men appeared.
"...our proud heroes who saved countless American students, Kim Ji-hoon and Park Dong-hyun!"
Clang!
Ji-hyuk dropped his rice spoon to the floor.
His eyes locked on the photo in the TV screen.
"......Dad. That's Ji-hoon, right?"
At Ji-hyuk's trembling voice, the whole family's gaze turned to the TV.
The photo clearly showed their son and brother, Kim Ji-hoon.
This time, Ji-min dropped her chopsticks.
"Whoa... that's really our oppa? Why's he showing up there?"
Choi Mi-hee, incredulous, stepped closer to scrutinize the photo.
It was unmistakably her son's face.
"H-honey...!"
Her voice quivered faintly.
Kim Sung-tae froze, spoon in hand.
The TV blared on with the reporter's excited voice.
Gunfire... subduing the terrorist... bombs... hero... Presidential Medal... U.S. citizenship... and finally, that Ji-hoon had been shot and hadn't regained consciousness.
"Wh-what do we do..."
Choi Mi-hee's face drained white.
Shocked by the bombshell news, Ji-hoon's family just stared blankly at each other.
The half-eaten dinner on the table grew cold.
In the living room echoed only the hollow voice of the TV reporter.
Korea's media was obsessed with scoops.
That's why they were called "trash reporters" and reviled daily.
They'd stop at nothing for an exclusive.
Broadcaster reporter Park Hyun-ah, urgently dispatched from Korea, was no different.
Post-incident, the hospital strictly barred reporters.
Park Hyun-ah slipped past tight security by disguising herself as an ordinary visitor.
And then...
She hid in a women's restroom stall and turned on her phone.
YouTube live stream started.
Korean hero Kim Ji-hoon lay in the hospital.
It had been six days since he lost consciousness.
Only vague assurances of his stability trickled out—no one had seen him directly.
'Just snap this, and it's a scoop.'
Park Hyun-ah had pre-drilled a small hole in her handbag and carefully fixed the phone's lens angle inside.
The live broadcast began, and Seoul headquarters instantly prepared to relay the feed.
Mindful of her surroundings, she whispered softly.
"I'm now inside the hospital where Kim Ji-hoon is admitted. I'll infiltrate his room next and check his condition firsthand."
Click-clack.
Her heels echoed down the quiet hospital corridor.
In her plain attire, no one paid her any mind.
She headed to the room number she'd learned from an insider.
Fortunately, the hallway was empty.
Finally, she stood before the room door.
Her heart pounded.
Slide—
Park Hyun-ah cautiously opened the door.
A man lay on the bed.
Kim Ji-hoon.
And...
Lily, seated in the chair beside the bed, looked up at the sudden intruder in surprise.
"Wh-who are you?"
At Lily's question, reporter Park Hyun-ah subtly adjusted her handbag angle and replied as if she'd been waiting.
"Hello. I'm a reporter from Korea. I have a few questions about Kim Ji-hoon... Could we do a quick interview?"
A white-haired woman in sunglasses.
'Dyed it?' Park Hyun-ah wondered inwardly.
"N-no! Reporters aren't allowed in here... What do I do...!"
Lily panicked, flustered.
Park Hyun-ah approached and fired a key question.
"What relation do you have to Kim Ji-hoon that you're guarding his room like this?"
Caught off-guard by the sudden query, Lily blurted out unwittingly.
"...I'm his wife."
Scoop!
Everyone knew Kim Ji-hoon had married an American for citizenship.
But his spouse's identity had been shrouded in secrecy.
And now, reporter Park Hyun-ah had nabbed it!
"How did you meet your husband?"
As Park Hyun-ah pressed relentlessly, Lily grew frightened by her approach.
She desperately pressed the emergency button by the bed.
Beep-beep-beep—
The shrill alarm blared through the room.
Chaos erupted at the nurses' station.
Right then.
"Ugh..."
A low groan escaped Ji-hoon on the bed.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Regaining consciousness after a full six days!
"H-husband!!!!!!"
Lily rushed to him in shock, checking his condition.
Park Hyun-ah's eyes sparkled as she captured the moment on camera.
'U.S. Hero Kim Ji-hoon Awakens!'
She angled the handbag for the best view of Ji-hoon.
The scene streamed live via YouTube straight to Korean broadcasts.
The room door flew open violently, and two nurses burst in urgently.
Lily pointed at Park Hyun-ah and shouted.
"A r-reporter broke in! And Hoon woke up!"
The nurses grasped the situation and tried dragging Park Hyun-ah out.
"Kim Ji-hoon!!!"
Even as she was hauled away, Park Hyun-ah hurled her final question.
"You've naturalized as an American! What do you think of Korea!?"
Ji-hoon, still not fully lucid, clutched his head.
In his hazy state, the clear Korean question pierced through.
Without thinking, bypassing his brain, on pure instinct—he answered.
"Korea? Shitty fucking country."
"……"
"......."
Park Hyun-ah froze at Ji-hoon's unexpected reply.
The camera rolled on, but she was speechless.
An awkward, heavy silence hung between Ji-hoon and Park Hyun-ah.
And every moment of it
was broadcast live across the entire Republic of Korea.