Chapter 47: I'm Glad I Got Sick.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47: I'm Glad I Got Sick.
“Achoo!”
After finishing the short stream, I wiped my runny nose and flopped onto my bed.
“Of all the times to catch a cold.”
I knew it was my own fault, so there was no one else to blame.
I should’ve just worn something warm yesterday instead of messing around.
I’d insisted on wearing a skirt to look pretty, and that seemed to have been the cause of my downfall.
Ugh... but I still have exams left, and my birthday is the day after tomorrow.
With so many important events lined up, I realized I’d been far too careless.
I’d sent in the recording for my debut song, but there was no telling when it might get rejected and sent back.
In the worst-case scenario, my getting sick could delay the entire schedule.
A shiver ran through my body. I knew I had to take care of myself right now. I quickly dove under the covers, leaving only my head poking out, and grabbed my phone.
My throat was a little sore and I felt a slight fever, but I could still text.
[Oppa.]
He’s probably busy with exams.
I barely had time to regret sending the message before the yellow ‘unread’ marker vanished.
[Yeah?]
[Were you studying?]
It seemed Taemin Oppa was on his phone, too.
Right. I can at least ask this much now.
We’ve held hands and watched a movie together. This should be nothing.
[Ah. I was just taking a break.]
I was wondering what to say to keep the conversation going, but he was the one who asked a question first.
[You were coughing earlier today. Are you feeling okay?]
...I’m so proud.
Just yesterday, there was still an awkwardness between us, a chord that felt out of tune, but his sweet message brought a pleased smile to my face.
[I think I have a bit of a fever, but I’ll be fine, right?]
[Have you taken any medicine?]
[No. I looked, but I couldn’t find any.]
I was sure I’d bought some cold medicine before.
But no matter how much I searched the cupboards, it was nowhere to be found.
[Really? I’m home. Should I bring some over?]
Ah. Sweet.
So sweet.
So this is how sweet it is when there’s something between you.
I hadn’t even touched sugar, but my mouth tasted sweet.
Clutching my phone tightly, I bit my lip.
What’s the best way to reply?
Should I just say I’m fine?
Or should I ask for just one pill and have him come over?
My most basic desire was pointing in one clear direction, but other external factors were a problem.
First, if he came over, I’d have to hide the microphone and streaming equipment I’d set up for my stream just a moment ago.
And although it was unlikely we’d talk for long, the thought that I might get him sick bothered me.
After thinking it over, I decided to just thank him for the offer and was about to reply.
“...Huh?”
Lost in my own thoughts, I hadn’t been looking at the screen and missed the new message he’d sent.
[Open the door. I’ll be there soon.]
RED ALEEEEEERT!
Forgetting I was even sick, I shot up from the bed and dashed to my computer desk.
His building was right next to mine, so it wouldn’t even take him five minutes to get here.
If this were a scene in a comic, my room would definitely have the sound effect “CRASH! BANG! CLATTER!” written all over it.
After successfully hiding my streaming equipment in a hurry, I tapped my phone to check the time.
His last message was three minutes ago.
Now it was time to check my appearance.
I was in my pajamas, but...
Ah. Is this okay to show him?
My lilac pajamas didn’t seem particularly revealing.
I was wearing a headband...
Usually, I styled my bangs before going out, so I’d never shown him my forehead, but I had no time for that now.
And I had no makeup on.
Still, deciding to observe at least the bare minimum of courtesy, I quickly applied some lip gloss.
Without it, my face looked completely lifeless.
[Knock, knock, knock]
The moment the lip gloss cap clicked shut, a knock came from the door.
Slipping on my slippers, I scurried to the entrance.
“Hello.”
“Hey.”
In his hand was a black bag.
I thought I’d just be getting a pill or two, but it looked like he’d brought something extra.
“What’s all that?”
As I glanced at the bag, Oppa strode right into my apartment.
I had expected he might come in, but I was still a little surprised by how suddenly he entered.
“Cold medicine, and I bought a warm drink from the convenience store. Oh, and I brought a thermometer, just in case.”
It’s not even my birthday yet.
My heart began to pound as I looked at each thoughtful item.
“Have you checked your temperature?”
“No?”
As if a house without cold medicine would have a thermometer.
Come to think of it, it was more surprising that he had one at his place.
Do guys who live alone normally... own thermometers?
Oppa opened the thermometer case, pressed the power button, and stepped right in front of me.
My face was reflected in his dark eyes.
“Your ear.”
His tone was firm, as if no further explanation was needed.
Why is this...
Why does this seem so cool?
Wait. Is it even okay to take my temperature like this?
I don’t think my face is hot because I’m sick.
His overwhelming kindness seemed to make my fever spike even higher, but I tilted my head slightly, offering my left ear to him.
It’s a good thing this measures temperature and not my heart rate.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
When the measurement was complete, he took the thermometer back and...
“Hey. Doah.”
His eyes went wide.
“Yes?”
What’s wrong?
“Your temperature is 38.7 degrees.” [101.7°F]
“What?”
No way. It’s that high?
I thought I just had the chills, so I was completely shocked by his words.
It couldn’t be.
This temperature definitely included the buff from him visiting.
“Hey. We can’t just stand around. Go lie down, quickly.”
He grabbed my shoulders and half-forced me to sit on the bed before quickly presenting me with a cup of water and a pill.
“Here.”
“...Thank you.”
I tossed the pill into my mouth, swallowed it down, and laid my head on the pillow.
I hadn’t even told him where the cups were, but he’d found one so easily.
His hand touched my forehead.
“No, seriously. You’re burning up.”
“Oppa, you can really go now. You’re going to catch it.”
“...You don’t need anything else?”
“No. I’m so grateful for just this.”
Even though he lived next door, he had come running over in the middle of the night just because I said I was sick.
That fact alone felt like enough to overcome this stupid cold.
“Ah. Then I’ll just put a wet towel on your forehead before I go.”
“You don’t have to go that far.”
He wasn’t my mom.
There was no need for him to be so devoted.
“No.”
Taemin Oppa looked down at me with a very serious expression.
“I want to do it!”
For some reason, his overly cheerful tone, which didn’t quite match the mood, reminded me of...
Rengoku, the character I’d been gushing about on my stream just a little while ago.
“Wait here!”
Oppa went into the bathroom, wet a small face towel, and came back to place it on my forehead.
“...Feel cool?”
“Very.”
I guess I really did have a fever.
The towel felt much colder than I expected.
“Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Can you hold my hand?”
Since he was already here, just for a little while would be okay, right?
Using my sickness as an excuse, I wanted to indulge a little.
I peeked my hand out from under the blanket.
What I felt next was a cool softness.
His hand, which had been so warm yesterday, felt incredibly cold today.
“I don’t think... this will help you get better.”
“Yes, it will.”
I think it’ll help a lot.
Looking at his face as he stared at the blanket, unable to meet my eyes, made bad thoughts bubble up.
Thoughts like, I’m glad I got sick.
Thoughts like, I want to stay like this for an hour.
We held hands for about ten seconds.
Then, I loosened my grip.
“I’m going to sleep now. You should go get some rest, too, Oppa.”
The end.
It was time to stop indulging myself.
“Okay.”
I thought I should at least sit up to see him off, but Oppa gently pushed me back down.
“I just put the towel on for you. Why are you trying to get up?”
He grinned and ruffled my hair.
You said we should get to know each other slowly, so why do you keep doing things like this?
You know perfectly well that I like you!
I want to confess.
I want to tell him I like him.
I wanted to whine and ask if we could start dating today.
But instead of those inner thoughts, what came out was a sneeze that only the Pink Army would appreciate.
“Achoo!”
Oppa pulled a tissue from the tissue box and handed it to me.
“Doah.”
“Yes?”
Taemin Oppa paused for a moment, his eyes darting around before he gave an awkward smile.
That pose... it looked like he had something to say.
What is it? Is he going to confess?
Do it now! Just do it! Han Taemin!
However, what came out of his mouth was something else entirely.
“Was I... like, the real deal today?”
...The real deal?
It was a rather random question, but the answer was already decided.
Right. Even if he confessed today, we wouldn’t be able to hug properly.
I hoped that day one of our relationship would be a healthy day, free of any cold viruses.
“Yes! Totally.”
When I answered with all my heart, a huge smile bloomed across his face.