Chapter 10
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Ward
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The hospital was a busy place, the ICU even busier. And the pediatric ICU? It was insanely hectic. Ironically, though, my room was the exception.
I pulled my gaze away from the medical staff bustling outside and looked at So-yun, who had come back to my room again. From my perspective, it wasn't half bad. I didn't have anything else to do anyway.
Being with So-yun meant we kept talking, which kept pointless thoughts at bay. I spoke up to So-yun, who had brazenly invaded my bed and was lying right there.
It hit me anew just how small my body had become. In my old body, I'd have filled this bed all by myself. Now, there was room for two.
"...So, what are you in here for?"
"Me? Uh... I'm not exactly sure... But I had surgery! Wait, no! You're ten years old! Call me So-yun unnie! Or Heavenly Demon nickname!"
"Unnie? Come on. A three-year age gap means casual speech. And who the hell came up with that Heavenly Demon nickname?"
"I did! There's this Heavenly Demon guy who shoots Heavenly Demon Death Beams! It's cool! Beams! My old nickname was Ghost Nickname, but I added Heavenly Demon to it."
Heavenly Demon Death Beam... Kinda cool, actually. No, snap out of it! Listening to this any longer felt like mental pollution, so I changed the subject.
"Does the doctor know? How'd you end up here, So-yun?"
"Huh? No? I'm a rookie doctor, so I don't really know..."
The doctor, who had come in to replace my empty IV bag, trailed off when I suddenly put her on the spot. She was using casual speech, so she clearly didn't know who I was.
Rookie doctor, my ass. With that bald spot shining bright, he was obviously in his forties or fifties. This was nurse work—why was a doctor doing it?
No name tag, but the embroidery on his gown was visible.
[Pediatrics Professor Kim Young-jun]
A pediatrics professor calling himself a rookie? Just say you want to hide it.
Judging by So-yun's beanie, it seemed like a head issue. She said she'd had surgery, so probably brain surgery? What a rough life.
"You got a phone?"
"Yup!"
"Lend it to me."
"Call me unnie first!"
"Ugh. So-yun unnie. Happy?"
"Here!"
One word, and she handed over her phone. Good. If you won't teach me, I'll look it up myself. Wait, why isn't the internet working? Data's not connecting either? Then what's the point of having a phone?
"Excuse me, Doctor. Is there no Wi-Fi here?"
"Wi-Fi? Oh, uh. We've got a lot of sensitive equipment, so no Wi-Fi... Want me to bring a tablet if you're bored? It's loaded with kid-friendly movies."
Weird. I swear the adult ICU had Wi-Fi. Or did it? My memory's fuzzy.
"Do you have Demon Slayer: Mugen Train!? Or Attack on Titan or Chainsaw Man!?"
So-yun latched onto the doctor, grabbing his coat. So-yun, aren't you twelve? Aren't these kinda mature titles? Demon Slayer's fine, but Attack on Titan and Chainsaw Man... Is it okay for you to watch?
"Uh...? Not sure about those... I'll bring it. Wait here?"
The tablet the doctor brought had typical kiddie cartoons, and So-yun's face fell as she sighed dramatically.
"Sigh... Who watches this baby stuff..."
-Ziiing~
The professor looked sheepish under So-yun's blatant glare as she griped while staring at him. He swapped the meds, told us to hit the emergency button if anything happened, and left the room.
Was it okay to leave when So-yun could collapse anytime? Whatever, they're swamped. I get it. Besides, she'd just lie quietly on my bed unless called.
"Ugh, so bored."
"If you're that bored, sing something."
"Should I?"
I'd tossed out random words since she kept repeating "bored" with zero variation, and she jumped on it immediately. Never seen her back down once.
So-yun started humming on the spot, sat up straight, and began singing for real.
I'd thought her "I wanna be a singer" talk was a joke. But her voice was surprisingly clean—I was honestly impressed. Wonder how she'd score at karaoke.
"We loved... and we met... that's enough. Just, we loved~"
"...You're good."
"Right? Even my mom said so!"
Mom, mom. Memories of my own mom choking me flashed back. My neck was still bandaged.
As my face stiffened, So-yun glanced over slyly and dropped an unexpected bomb.
"It's fine! I don't have a mom either!"
"Cough! Ack!"
"Whoa, you okay?"
"What kinda talk is that out of nowhere?"
Wait, shouldn't we not talk about stuff like this?
"Just what I said. About a year ago? Mom just vanished. Dad says to live like she's gone from now on."
"..."
Damn. How do I respond to this?
"I, uh..."
"Eh, don't talk if it's hard! Unnie gets it all!"
"...No, I don't have a mom either."
I'm not her son anyway. She might not even be my mom. Right?
"Huh? Really? Momless duo then?"
So-yun, your naming sense is destructive... That phrasing is way too harsh, stop...
"Anyway, drop it. You sing really well. Do you go to lessons or something?"
"Nah. Mom taught me. She was amazing at it!"
"Cool. Got any other songs?"
"Hmm... But why me alone? You sing one!"
"...Me?"
"Yup!"
Suddenly put on the spot, the song that came to mind was the one I'd sung most: a baseball cheer. It slipped out unconsciously.
"Run, run, Min Hong-taek. Hit it, hit it, smash a hit."
"Pfft!"
So-yun burst out laughing, not even trying to hold it in. Yeah... Even I knew it sounded funny.
A husky voice with zero energy, rhythm and pronunciation like reading a textbook. Epic collab gone wrong.
"OMG, hilarious. But my little sis is so shameless."
"...Shameless?"
"You sang like that to make me laugh, right?"
Kids' innocence can be brutally honest sometimes. Sorry, So-yun. Karaoke memories hit: friends confiscating my mic, saying I sucked.
"...Wasn't on purpose."
"Huh?"
She reflexively responded, then went silent for a full minute—the first time ever. ...That shocking?
"I-it's okay, little sis!"
"I keep telling you, I'm not your little sis..."
"Come on! Everyone sucks at singing sometimes! Practice and you'll get good!"
"Practice what."
"Don't worry! It's free!"
And so began So-yun's singing lessons. Basics are breathing—close your eyes and focus... Wait, no.
What was I even doing? Talking to her always sucked me in.
Breathing's key! Gotta know how to move your vocal cords! She rapid-fired like always.
Why so pro...? We killed time with test breaths and sounds. Problem: she explained like crap.
"Ugh, why isn't this working!?"
"What does 'contact the vocal cords' even mean?"
"Argh! I mean...!"
Frustrated, she scrunched her face. Yeah, no wonder—with explanations like that, skipping steps, how could anyone get it?
Both of us on the verge of exploding when—
-Knock knock.
"...Come in."
"Oh, hi."
The woman who entered was familiar. So-yun's attending—I'd seen her a few times. Mine too.
[Pediatrics Department Head Kim Se-yeon]
"Hey, So-yun~ Your dad's here. And he'll be staying longer from now on!"
"Really!?"
The doctor smiled brightly as she told So-yun, who beamed back like her frown never existed. Smiling suits her. Cute.
"Whoa? Little sis smiled a bit! First time seeing it!"
"...Me?"
Had I smiled since becoming this body? Not that I remembered...
"Your smile's adorable! Keep smiling like that!"
So-yun demonstrated, pushing her cheeks up with both hands for a grin.
"Like this? Smiling?"
"Yeah? Just smile! Pretend someone's taking your picture!"
So-yun grinned wide, flashing a V-sign with her right hand. ...Kinda silly, but pretty.
Picture, taking a picture...
"...No idea."
Weird. No expression formed. My pale hands caught my eye. I tried pulling my mouth up with them, down. Nothing. Or maybe... expected?
This body wasn't mine.
"Um, patient Seol A-yeon? You okay?"
"Ah. Yeah. Fine, totally fine..."
"...Little sis, you good?"
Sensing the mood, So-yun checked on me too. Stop worrying. I'm twenty-five. Not so pathetic I'd need pity from a kid half my age.
"Yes. I'm really fine. Just... leave me be. Please."
I lay back, pulling the blanket over my head completely. Please, just go.
-Hmm~ Want me to handle it?
Get lost. Psycho.
-Harsh. I'm the one you created. Guess that makes you the psycho too?
I know.