Repayment for the Nursing Care
Setting Na-eun's cold recovery as day zero, we decided she'd take about three days of rest.
This was for Na-eun, who'd barely taken a single day off since becoming a high school senior, grinding away at her studies nonstop.
It's great to work hard, but taking a break now and then is important too. Especially for someone like Na-eun, who goes at it with such insane intensity—this kind of rest is crucial.
No matter how desperately motivated someone is, no matter how hard they push, that passion and effort have their limits.
Refreshing before hitting those limits is key.
With that in mind, I gave Na-eun three days off, but...
If I'd known she'd study this hard anyway, I would've just quietly kept tutoring her. Na-eun's something else in every way.
If it were me, I'd be gaming, eating whatever I craved, and sleeping in like crazy.
For her sake, I was teaching even more diligently.
How diligent? I wasn't just solving problems step-by-step—I was adding annotations too.
Maybe because of my thorough explanations, Na-eun seemed pleased and started spamming me with emoticons.
Her emoticons are so varied. I wonder how she has access to such a wild assortment.
Anyway, the key point is that Na-eun's study passion hadn't cooled even a bit—on her days off, no less.
In the end, even though I should've been resting too, I spent the time helping with every problem she snapped and sent, writing full explanations.
Somehow, despite my intention to give her a holiday, we'd ended up studying together despite the distance. But honestly, I didn't mind one bit.
On the contrary, it felt like I'd used my time meaningfully, like it had helped her—and that made me incredibly happy.
Those days continued through the entire break, and when we finally met again after three days, the first words out of my mouth were...
"Feels like I see you every day, even though it's been three days, huh?"
Yeah. This feeling—like seeing her daily despite the three-day gap—seemed like one I'd never experience again in my life.
*
As always, I headed into the house, only to face a slightly bewildering situation.
Since summer break started, Na-eun and I had been studying at a cafe every time. Her room got too hot.
So Na-eun would always be fully ready to head out by the time I arrived.
But today's Na-eun was dressed in super thin, comfy clothes, like she planned to stay home.
"Not getting ready to go out?"
"Hehe~ Wanna come into my room, Oppa?"
Na-eun grinned and slipped into her room first. I followed her in.
And that's when I realized why she hadn't prepped to go out, thanks to the one change in her room.
The reason she skipped getting ready... What was the change in Na-eun's room?
"Oppa, what do you think?"
Na-eun's room now had a brand-new air conditioner.
That explained it—her room felt refreshingly cool and comfortable, unlike before.
A bit surprised, I asked her,
"What, you got an AC installed?"
"Hehe, yeah! They replaced the living room one and put one in my room too!"
"Bet Seung-min Jeong had a fit."
"Yep, exactly. He whined so much~"
Seeing Na-eun giggle made me feel good too.
It was funny imagining my friend purely pissed off, but more than that, Na-eun looked genuinely delighted sharing the story.
"You know what my parents said when Seung-min whined, 'Why didn't you get me one~'?"
"What'd they say?"
I asked, and Na-eun shifted to a mock-mature tone, putting on a little act.
"'You're not like Na-eun—you never listen and you don't study anyway~'"
"Spot on. He's the type who causes trouble and ignores everyone. Studying? No way."
"But he got into a sports uni, so he must've worked hard, right?"
Of course. Na-eun and I rag on Seung-min Jeong all the time, but the phys ed university he attends is one of Korea's top three sports powerhouses.
How could we say he didn't put in effort to get in there?
...Though I'll never forgive him for dragging me and Jisoo Kim into his workouts during that process. Morning runs to school every day? Brutal.
Our neighborhood to high school was nearly 2km on foot alone.
But thinking back now, those 2km runs built my stamina—probably why I have such good endurance today, and why school life never wore me out physically.
Should I thank him or curse him...?
As I shook my head, Na-eun beamed and stood up.
"Seonwoo Oppa, wait just a sec."
With light steps, she headed out of the room.
When she returned, she held a small plastic bag.
Inside? Macarons, of all things.
"Huh? Macarons?"
"Yep, a gift for you!"
Na-eun offered them, and as I took the bag, I looked at her.
"...You bought these, right?"
She shot me a playful glare and shook her head at my question.
No way—she actually made them? For real?
Stunned, I stared at her, and seeing my face, Na-eun looked immensely proud.
"What do you think? They look super tasty, right?"
Na-eun's homemade macarons were shockingly pro-level. Clean shapes, perfect filling quality—the works.
"You took care of me when I was sick, Oppa. This is my thanks."
"I didn't do it expecting anything back."
True. If I'd wanted repayment, I wouldn't have nursed her—or bought porridge and sports drinks.
What could a high schooler without cash even give back?
I'd helped out of pure goodwill.
But refusing a gift like this? That's amateur hour.
Accept it gratefully, say thanks, and give something bigger next time. That's the pro move.
"Thanks, I'll enjoy them."
"Hehe, try one now! They're amazing! Oh, want some coffee too?"
"Coffee's fine, but—"
"No need to hold back! Mom got a new coffee machine!"
AC and a coffee maker?
Looks like auntie got hit by a shopping spree. Or maybe it's upgrade season for their appliances.
Na-eun bounced out again with her bouncy steps, and soon I heard a machine whirring from outside.
I waited patiently, listening.
* * *
I brewed a low-acidity, rich-bodied coffee from the machine that Seonwoo Oppa would like and headed back to him.
Seonwoo Oppa was happily munching the macarons I'd made with such care.
Even the way he ate them looked so cool.
"Oppa, coffee too."
"Thanks."
"No prob~"
I smiled softly at him.
I know it all: the moment I said I was sick, he bought porridge and sports drinks, put a cool damp cloth on my forehead, even fed me while I was half-delirious.
Care even my real brother wouldn't give.
What could I do to repay that? I racked my brain, but my baking hobby was the only answer.
That's how the macarons were born.
The filling was a nightmare to make, but seeing him enjoy them felt so rewarding. A huge relief.
But this isn't the end of my thanks.
Later, if Seonwoo Oppa ever gets sick, I'll pay it back tenfold.
And by then, I won't be just a friend's little sister or a tutoring student—I'll be his cherished university junior and girlfriend.
That's my one and only goal right now.
I stared at Seonwoo Oppa devouring the macarons and opened my book.
The most important thing for my goal: winning Seonwoo Oppa's heart. Next up: getting into the same university as him.
Right now, that means studying.