The Day I Fell Ill
Sia carried Park Siwoo in her arms, gently lowering him so she could look down. When she saw his peaceful, sleeping face nestled in her embrace, her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst.
“Hehe…”
A soft, muffled snore slipped from his nose. She found it strangely cute.
She stayed like that for a moment, then realized he was sleeping deeply. She carefully laid him down on his side.
Then she slipped right into his arms. The moment she did, the body wash and shampoo scent hit her stronger than his natural warmth.
Annoyed, she pressed closer, rubbing her face against his chest until his own scent finally began to seep through.
“Hehe…”
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
She remembered the playful words she had teased him with earlier. “So that’s what you wanted me to see?” He had answered with a sleepy “Yeah, I guess so.”
Of course, he might have just been half-asleep, but…
“Still… it was nice.”
Even so, the words had warmed her heart the moment she heard them. Her face had burned, and she had instinctively turned away.
While he was cooking, his voice echoed in her mind like a gentle whisper, making her hands tremble. She had even worried he might be too sick to eat.
But feeding him herself would have been embarrassing—he would have refused out of pride. So she held it in.
Instead she watched him nibble like a hamster, until the blanket he was covered with suddenly felt too thin. He was shivering.
Panicking, she rolled onto the floor and lay beside him. She had expected him to push her away, but he only hugged her back, scared he might catch a cold.
The thought of a real marriage—staying close every night, not just when he was sick—made her cheeks burn even hotter.
She was about to pull away when his sleepy voice whispered, “Don’t… get up yet…”
Startled, she yanked his head down and covered his face with her hair. He struggled. She patted him gently until he finally slept.
Only then did she let herself relax and sink deeper into his embrace.
‘It’s so warm…’
This was the first time she had ever fallen asleep like this with him. At the water park they had clung to each other, but that was different. This felt like falling into an endless, inescapable labyrinth.
“But… there’s no one else for me but him.”
She would stay in his arms for now and savor this moment.
The next day my cold was almost gone.
A full recovery in one day was impossible, but my body felt fine except for a slightly stuffy nose.
All of it was thanks to Sia. If she hadn’t taken care of me, I might still be lying in bed groaning.
Mom and Dad were grateful too. Sia had handled everything they couldn’t because of work.
Sia told us she had eaten dinner and gone home right after they left. I had fallen asleep in my room until then.
I vaguely heard them talking in my sleep, but I don’t remember the words.
Sia left right after chatting with them.
That was when Dad started scolding me again.
“Siwoo, you better tell that girl how grateful you are.”
“…Fine, I get it. You’ve said it enough times today…”
“And Siwoo, you two are still just dating, right?”
“…Yeah…”
“I see. Well, even after you marry her I’ll still approve.”
“This person! He’s still a high-school student—what kind of marriage is that?!”
“No! I mean, it’s fine as long as you’re not taking it too far—look at me positively!”
“…If you say so…”
“I’ll handle the rest myself.”
“Aigoo, you’re so shy.”
“There’s definitely something in your heart!”
“…”
We had breakfast together for the first time in ages, which was nice. But the sudden topic of marriage made my stomach feel tight.
Of course they were joking, but as Siwoo’s point of view it was awkward.
I didn’t care what Sia and I did, but if they ever found out… who knew what would happen.
So I couldn’t relax.
“Ah, even if I allow the marriage, you two should still be careful about contraception…”
“Puhak!”
“Yeah, money is easy if I pass on the company, but raising kids is tough.”
“…We’re not even dating yet…”
“Exactly, Inseok. Remember that, okay?”
“…”
I laughed it off, but the way they looked at me made it seem serious.
“I’m heading to school!”
I quickly excused myself.
Outside, Sia was pacing. She had come earlier than usual, and seeing her waiting surprised me.
I ran over and called her name.
“Sia?”
“…Oh! Siwoo! Are you feeling better?”
She smiled brightly and looked genuinely worried about me.
“Yeah, I’m fine. No need to worry.”
Her shoulders finally relaxed.
We walked to school slowly.
Then Sia asked, “Did your parents say anything special?”
“…Huh? About what?”
“Oh, never mind. It’s fine.”
“…”
Something felt off between us, but I didn’t want to push it now.
We arrived at school. I started classes feeling much better.
“Siwoo, eat your vitamins.”
“Thanks.”
“This barley tea is hot—sips are fine.”
“Okay, I’ll drink it slowly.”
“Siwoo…”
Sia kept taking care of me.
“With this much care, are we just a couple or already married?”
“I bet you think we’re not a couple because I said ‘couple.’ But we’re already married, so of course we’re not a couple.”
Even Sunghoon and Donghyuk, who were dying from envy, had to stick out their tongues.
Of course I felt embarrassed.
“Get lost before you catch my cold.”
I pushed them away, but Sia’s careful nursing made my condition better than ever.
I aced the midterms too.
After the exams, the teacher announced, “Now we need to choose a place for our on-site experiential learning. Raise your hand and speak up.”
The remaining class period was for choosing the location.
After Siwoo left for school, Mom and Dad stayed at the table finishing breakfast and talking.
“Why do we have to bring up the marriage topic while he’s eating?”
“I… I was just checking, you know.”
“The kid would choke on his food, you idiot.”
Dad scratched his head awkwardly at Mom’s words.
“But seriously, they look like they’re gonna get married soon.”
“…Well, yeah. Still, if I get too excited Siwoo might feel pressured.”
“Aigoo… but they were acting cute yesterday.”
“That…”
That evening.
When we got home early after hearing Siwoo had left class, we peeked into his room.
There was Sia, fast asleep in his arms.
At first we were shocked, but seeing the bowl of soup and wet towel on the floor, we understood.
They hadn’t done anything bad—she had nursed him and fallen asleep.
Mom gently woke Sia and talked to her for a bit before sending her home.
“…Her face was redder than blush from the moment she saw Sia.”
“Yeah… she must have been flustered.”
“Hehe. It’s really lucky that a girl like Sia loves our Siwoo.”
“…Yeah, that’s true.”
Dad and I had always liked Sia, and our feelings were only growing stronger every day.