#Bridge Sick Visit
After pocketing the 30,000 won he'd received, Nam Siu headed to Maeng Soyul's house.
Before boarding the bus, he looked up at the sky—it was bluer and clearer than any other day.
Maeng Soyul.
As the weather grew colder, she layered up with clothes from home.
The boiler was on, but it was so old and worn that it sometimes sputtered out.
"Brr, it's chilly..."
In the cramped house, she huddled under one blanket with Grandmother and her siblings, sharing their warmth as they drifted off to sleep.
She'd felt a slight cold coming on, and sure enough, by morning, she was burning up with fever.
"Ah... I have to go to work..."
Today was the symposium, so she needed to prepare early, but checking her phone, it was already past 10 a.m.
There were a ton of missed calls, but her body was scorching and her head was spinning too much to answer.
"Ugh..."
Even speaking hurt—her throat was hoarse and dry, coming out like a rusty scrape.
Her siblings were nowhere in sight, so Grandmother must have gotten them ready and sent them to daycare.
"Haa..."
Lifting the blanket just a bit sent chills through her, her body shivering uncontrollably.
She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and crawled to the dresser in search of medicine.
Finally swallowing some pills, she slipped back under the covers.
The boiler was still running, and the thick blanket was on, but she still felt freezing.
"......"
Closing her eyes for a moment, the medicine must have kicked in—she fell asleep again in no time.
She woke up the first time because her siblings returned from daycare.
"Sis~."
Her little sister called out, but she couldn't muster the energy to get up and greet her happily.
"No work today?"
At her sister's words, she remembered with an oh and barely managed to sit up and send a text.
"Sis is sick, so I gotta rest today~."
"Sick?"
Her little sister stared up with big, worried eyes, while her little brother ran around excitedly, oblivious that his big sis was ill.
"Yeah, sis is sick."
"I'll nurse you~."
Being cared for by her much younger sibling made her chuckle despite herself.
"Okay~, lemme check your tummy~."
She'd grabbed some weird string from somewhere and was pretending to be a doctor with a stethoscope like she'd seen at the clinic.
"There, sis isn't sick anymore~. All thanks to your lil' bro~."
Lifting her shirt made her cold, so she pulled her playing-doctor sister into a hug.
The warm, wriggly little thing was so cute and lovable—she wanted to hold on forever.
"Eugh~, sis is hot~."
But only for a moment before the twins dragged her excitedly out to the yard.
"......"
She watched them fondly before drifting off again.
She woke up the second time to the noisy chatter of her siblings in the yard.
"Who's that~!"
"Uh... your big sis's coworker."
"Wha's that?"
"A friend."
The voice was familiar, but she couldn't believe it.
Creeeak.
The rusty tin door swung open, flooding the room with light.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she heard his voice.
"Soyul~. Not faking it, right? Nope, you're really burning up."
His voice, seeing her flushed red face.
"Sunbae... sorry..."
She felt sorry he'd come all this way, but more than that, embarrassment hit first.
For him—a man—to see her in this rundown house, totally unprepared.
Her siblings opening the door to a stranger felt like such a betrayal.
"Ow, lemme sit."
He plopped down beside her, grumbling.
"Man, what kinda house is this, up on a hill."
"......Sorry......"
"......So, how's the body holding up?"
He placed the back of his cool hand on her forehead—cold from being outside.
"Yup, real deal. I'll just stay like this a bit."
"Y-Yes..."
The cold on her forehead made her whole body feel refreshed.
"Oh, right. And this."
In his hand was a white envelope and a box of gift drinks.
"Woo-hyun gave me 30,000 won. Bought meds and drinks with it."
"N-No, it's fine......"
She hadn't even spoken up, just skipped work, and here he was taking care of her—guilt choked her words.
"Rest till tomorrow. I'll tell 'em as your supervisor you need the time off."
"......Sorry......"
"If you're sorry, get better quick and come in the day after."
Just as the guilt deepened, he flashed a grin.
Thump.
His smile made her heart flutter. She knew this feeling.
She knew she was in love. She'd just never expressed it till now.
From the moment she realized it was love, her heart raced uncontrollably.
"Eaten yet?"
"......N-No, not yet......"
"Hmm......"
As he looked around the house, the affection she felt only amplified her shame.
No one wants to show their loved one their shabby side, man or woman.
"Bought some porridge just in case."
It looked like convenience store stuff—a small pack of porridge.
"No microwave here..."
"Figures. Got a pot?"
He stood, went to the sink, filled a pot with water, and set it to boil.
Once bubbling, he added the porridge.
"Ten minutes and it'll be warm."
Maeng Soyul slyly pulled the blanket up to her nose.
Didn't want him seeing her bare face.
Especially looking uglier while sick.
"Friend of noona's?"
Her brother had toddled up beside Nam Siu, looking up curiously.
He knelt to eye level, patted his head, and said,
"Yup~, noona's friend~."
"Really? First time seein' noona's friend!"
No bad intent, but it embarrassed her anyway.
Highlighting how she had no friends.
"Yeah? Then I'm the first visitor friend?"
"Yessir!"
"Honored, huh? Means I'm the most special friend. Bring your most special friend to introduce to noona later, okay?"
She treasured watching him be so kind to her brother.
"Hyung! Like soccer?"
"Yup~. Love it."
Then he scampered off, fetching a bouncy green ball from somewhere.
"Play with me?"
No men around the house, so he always played ball alone.
"Wanna? Eat noona's porridge first, then play."
"When's it done?"
"Hmm~. Thirty minutes?"
Too long—her brother pouted.
"The longer you wait, the more fun~. C'mon, wait outside~."
He was a pro with kids.
Once her brother left and the porridge was done, he fished it out with tongs, opened the lid, and transferred it to a bowl.
"Eat while warm, Soyul."
He'd almost used casual speech but switched back—made her lips twitch up.
"What, why the smile."
"Hee... Just. Thank you......"
She took the bowl carefully and took a bite. The warmth spreading in her belly made her feel better all over.
"Hyuuung~."
She wanted him to stay longer, but her brother's call felt like such a nuisance.
"Got it~. Soyul, eat slow. Gonna play with your bro. Okay?"
"......Yes."
As he left, her brother's excited yells echoed from outside.
A bit disappointing, but gazing at the warm porridge kept her smiling.
Slurp.
Maeng Soyul ate with an unwitting smile.
Once finished, heat spread through her body.
Not the sick fever, but a comforting warmth.
"......"
Sitting still felt awkward, so she got up and slipped on a vest.
"......"
Glancing in the mirror, she looked like Grandmother—took it off, grabbed her favorite padding instead, and headed to the yard.
The tiny three-pyeong yard felt vast to her brother as he ran around.
"Good. Now this way."
Like training a dog, he bounced the ball off the wall, and her brother dashed to fetch it.
Simple ball play, barely soccer, but both twins laughed delightedly.
"Soyul, it's cold—why'd you come out."
"......You're a guest."
"What if you get worse."
"I-It's fine."
She wanted to reply softly and sweetly like him, but her ingrained habit of short answers made it hard.
Clack.
Creeeak.
The rusty iron gate opened as Grandmother entered.
"Granny~."
The siblings raced to hug her the moment they saw her.
"Hello, I'm Soyul's coworker."
"Oh my, what a fine guest~."
Grandmother looked startled at first, then beamed at his words.
"Dunno if my grandkid's doin' alright at work."
"Soyul's so good, the place doesn't run without her. Haha."
"Pfft, a company that'd flop without one young'un would've flopped ages ago~."
He looked sheepish at Grandmother's words.
"G-Granny! S-Stop~!"
Embarrassed, she yelped.
"My ears work fine. Dinner soon—take somethin'~."
"No, ma'am. Got work tonight. Just stopped by since Soyul's sick."
He bowed and prepared to leave, but she hurried to his side.
"......?"
"I'll... see you off......"
"No need......"
"No, I will."
Her tone firm.
"Alright? Just to the bottom then."
"Yes.... Granny, be back soon......"
Grandmother grinned knowingly.
"Don't come back till you're better."
"......"
She timidly tugged Nam Siu's sleeve and rushed out.
"Sorry about Granny......"
"Nah, she's warm and nice. I got an outer grandma too."
"Oh..."
Step step.
The hill neighborhood stairs that always felt endless seemed so short today.
She wanted to keep talking, but topics escaped her.
She stole a glance at him.
"Looks like we're here......"
"No, bus stop's down below."
"R-Right."
No real conversation flowed, but this little heart-flutter felt good.
"......"
At the bus stop, he smiled.
"Go on up now. Don't make the cold worse."
"......Sorry you came as a guest."
"It's a sick visit. Play with me next time I drop by for fun."
Empty words, she knew, but she wished he'd come for real.
"Five minutes till it arrives. Huh?"
Checking the bus time, he spotted a small street cart by the stop and pulled Maeng Soyul along.
"Oh, December—fish-shaped buns. Five thousand won's worth, please."
White paper bag filling with hot fish buns.
"You like... fish buns......?"
Watching it pile up, she wondered if they were his favorite.
He popped one in his mouth and handed the bag to Maeng Soyul.
"For the sibs. Granny too, maybe."
"......!"
She tried handing it back, but he grinned.
"Just take it."
"I-I'm always just receiving......"
"Buy me some when you get paid. Oh, bus coming."
The bus rounded the corner.
"Sunbae!"
"......?"
"Th-Then... can I buy you a meal then...? Not fish buns......"
"Hm? Sure. Bye. Rest till tomorrow, see you the day after~."
He crammed the bun in his mouth, waved, and boarded.
She watched his bus go for a long while, then turned—and the cart uncle watched fondly.
Whoosh!
Her face flushed for no reason; she hurried back up the stairs in quick steps.
"......Definitely long......"
So short going down, but climbing felt like scaling a mountain.