Golden Age Hospital Stay
I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and received some basic first aid right there on the spot. Afterward, due to suspicions of rabies, they admitted me. It wasn't exactly welcome news for me, but I wasn't bold enough to outright ignore the doctor's orders and refuse hospitalization. So, I meekly settled into a six-bed ward.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry... this is all because of me...."
Yu Seoyeon kept repeating her apologies as she sat by my hospital bed.
"I'm fine. More importantly, don't you need to get to work? I'm good now, so go on."
"B-but...."
I let out a wry chuckle at the way she sniffled and looked up at me. The effect of saving her life three times over was huge. And on top of that, a masked figure hadn't shown up right in front of us? There was nothing more to say.
Does this mean I'm completely off the suspect list now?
Thanks to that, I was basking in all sorts of favors from her. She'd even offered to move me from the six-bed ward to a private room. But that seemed like too much fuss, so I politely declined. Besides, even if I was hospitalized, it'd only be four days to a week at most—what was the point of shelling out big money for that?
She seemed to think differently, though, insisting on getting me into a private room somehow. I wrapped it up simply by telling her to buy me a meal next time.
"Go on. I'm really okay."
I reassured her again, stroking her back, and she finally nodded with a helpless expression.
"Okay...."
As she stood, she turned with a limp. But a moment later, she spun back around and grabbed my hand tightly.
"...I'll come right after work."
"Ah.... Sure."
I gave her an awkward smile. She didn't have to come at all, so why bother...? Sure, making her feel indebted was good for me, but I'd probably overdone it a bit.
Well.... She can pay it back bit by bit over time.
Anyway, I had no intention of making her do anything tough.
...Maybe I should seriously tell her to drop the revenge thing while I have the chance?
In her current state, if I told her to give up on revenge, she might actually listen and agree. But separately from that, her voice from right after I'd abandoned the Otherworld Quest kept nagging at me.
To the ends of hell....
Honestly, a chill still ran down my spine thinking about it.
"I'll get going."
"Yeah, take care."
I waved her off, then pulled out my smartphone. Right away, I looked up the schedule for Daehan Construction Hillstate, Kim Minseo's team.
Here it is.
Daehan Construction VS GS Cantex
(14:00)
Luckily, the game was at 2 p.m. It was 8 a.m. now, so I had plenty of time.
Guess I should head home first.
With at least four days of hospitalization ahead, I needed to grab some essentials. And clothes to wear when I got discharged.
With that in mind, I got up, slipped into the checkered patient gown, and hailed a taxi. Honestly, I wanted to take the subway or bus, but with all the stares I'd get, taxi it was.
Well.... I do look like a faker right now.
A "nylon patient"—someone pretending to be sick when they're not, or faking faith without real belief. That was me to a T.
...But I can't just walk around showing off the bite wound on my shoulder.
I chuckled wryly and enjoyed the rare luxury of a taxi ride home. After paying the fare and getting back to my place, I packed toiletries, phone charger, earphones—stuff for the stay.
"Anything else?"
This being my first hospitalization, I fumbled around a bit. After pondering what else I might need, I realized I'd want more spare underwear.
So, I stuffed a few more pairs into my bag, changed out of the patient gown into regular clothes.
"Finally feel human again."
With a light laugh, I shoved the gown into the bag and headed out. Then I took the subway back to the hospital.
"Are you Patient Kim Yuhyun?"
Back in my spot, I'd just set down my bag and was about to change when a woman's voice called from behind. Turning, I saw a nurse with a somewhat annoyed expression.
"Ah, yes. What is it?"
"Where were you? Forgot you had bloodwork at 9?"
"Ah...."
Only then did I remember the blood test.
"...Sorry. I was out of it."
"Did you go out?"
"Just to grab some clothes and toiletries."
"Your outing pass?"
I scratched the back of my head.
"Do I need one for that?"
She sighed deeply.
"Tell me next time, okay?"
"S-sorry."
I bowed quickly in apology, and she nodded like it was settled.
"I've rescheduled bloodwork for 11. Get ready."
With that, she left the room. I let out a relieved breath and pulled out the gown from my bag.
"You're lucky."
A young guy's voice came from the next bed.
"Why's that?"
I glanced at him, and he gave a glum smile.
"Unauthorized outings get noted in your chart."
"They do?"
"Depends on the nurse, but mine's a stickler.... Whew."
He shook his head in disgust. I smiled awkwardly, relieved my nurse was nicer, and headed to the shower with the gown.
"Gotta hurry."
It was already 10:40. Bloodwork at 11, so no time to waste. I changed quickly and returned to the ward. Soon, the nurse came back and led me to the lab.
"It'll sting."
She tied a rubber band around my upper arm, swabbed my vein with alcohol-dipped cotton, and tapped.
This part sucks the most.
Always had. More than the needle itself. It gave me chills, like she was sizing up how to kill me.
"Mm...."
While I was lost in thought, the needle pierced my vein, and red blood filled the syringe.
"Done."
She pulled it out, pressed cotton for hemostasis.
"...Go rest."
"Yes, ma'am."
I obeyed meekly and headed back. Staring blankly at the TV in the ward, meal time rolled around, and an ajumma brought in trays.
Super bland.
A spoonful of spinach soybean paste soup confirmed it—barely salted. Sure, bland was healthy, but.... I sighed shortly, thought of it as health food, and ate it all.
...It all turns to the same in your gut anyway.
After lunch, I dumped the tray in the collection bin in the hall. Grabbed toothbrush and paste, brushed thoroughly in the bathroom, and sat back on the bed.
Nothing to do.
Idling, I pulled out my phone to check KakaoTalk while waiting for Minseo's game.
"Hm?"
Opening it, I spotted a message from Seoyeon. Curious, I checked:
That worried?
I chuckled and replied right away: Yeah, I ate. You, Yu Seoyeon?
Less than 10 seconds later:
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Author's Note
Who knew it'd be this hard to even catch Minseo's game! But don't worry. I'll make up for it with that much of Minseo's cuteness. Hehehe.