She Hadn't Vanished—Just Checked Out Early or Stepped Out
She hadn't disappeared; she might have just been discharged early or gone out for a bit. The IV needle lying on the floor made that unlikely, but still, I went to the reception desk to check. I asked if a patient named Kim Jin-seo had checked out.
"Pardon? She's gone again?"
The receptionist seemed mildly surprised, but compared to hearing a patient had vanished, her reaction was pretty calm. And the way she said "again," it sounded like Kim Jin-seo pulling a disappearing act wasn't a one-off thing.
She tapped away at her keyboard, glanced at Ma Yu-hyeon and me in turn, then spoke up. "But no one's scheduled to visit Kim Jin-seo's room today... Mind telling me your names?"
Suspicion and wariness were plain on her face as she looked us up and down. A brief silence fell.
I was about to cobble together some excuse when Ma Yu-hyeon pulled something from his pocket and handed it over. He flashed a gentle, affable smile. "We came by for school business to drop something off... Didn't know there was a procedure. She's a close friend, so I knew her room number."
It was his Florence Academy student ID. The receptionist compared it to his face, then nodded with a small smile. "Got it. Next time, come see me first or book by phone. Your friend here from the same school?"
"Yeah, Florence too. Don't tell anyone, but he's the boyfriend of the girl who's laid up."
"Really?"
Her eyes went wide as she stared at me. I froze, words failing me. I couldn't fathom why Ma Yu-hyeon was spouting such nonsense.
He kept up that mild smile, playing it cool as ever. "Yeah, so we were going for a surprise visit—no heads-up. Didn't expect this."
"Oh... Should I call tomorrow or the day after during visiting hours?"
"That'd be great, thanks."
She slid over a notepad. Ma Yu-hyeon jotted down his number. He started to hand it back, then suddenly stared right at her and asked, "Could you call my personal cell instead of the hospital line?"
"Huh? Well... sure, but why?"
"I don't have a girlfriend yet."
She finally caught on, eyes darting side to side in flustered panic. "...I'll call from the hospital line during visiting hours."
"Aw... Fine, got it."
Ma Yu-hyeon grinned. It was a stretch to call it lucky, but thanks to his bullshit, I dodged any real grilling or ID checks.
Still, that nonsense nagged at me. The second we stepped out of the hospital, I brought it up. "What the hell was that? You psycho?"
"Why the instant abuse?"
"Why lie when you didn't need to?"
"Oh, that?"
He pulled out his phone, stared at it blankly, and continued. "Receptionist's cute. Figured I'd lay some groundwork. Plus, in spots like that, playing on goodwill beats logic. Easier, faster."
"Yeah? Didn't look like you won any."
"Whatever, long as we get past it."
"Using me to do it pisses me off."
"Then use my name next time. Play it right, and you can slide through most anything."
"..."
I dropped it. No point talking to a brick wall.
He eyed me steadily, then smirked crookedly. "You pull this shit all the time, though. Am I wrong?"
"Fuck off. Unless you wanna die."
"Got it. Not ready to kick it yet."
We parted after that. Back at the dorm, I tried calling Kim Jin-seo—no answer. Thought about texting, but held off. From the receptionist's vibe, it didn't seem like anything major had happened to her, but it still felt off.
[Worried?]
"No... Well, a little."
I started to deny Legba's question but admitted it instead. Yeah, I was a bit worried. That demon species in the practical exam had targeted her outright. I'd scraped by with the Damballa contract back then, but who knew when another might come for her.
[Use me when it happens, little one.]
Damballa slithered up onto my bed, her tiny snake form swaying her head side to side. She'd scared me at first, but now? Kinda cute. I gently stroked her head with a finger.
"I'll decide based on the situation. Not planning to call on you right away."
[Fine, do that. But why stroke my head like it's yours?]
"Can't I?"
[You can, but it's annoying.]
I kept petting. She used to terrify me; now she felt familiar, even endearing. Unthinkable as a kid.
*
I figured post-exam it'd be chill, but school had plenty to do. Every break, teachers dragged me to the office to catch up on Ma Yu-hyeon-forced absences—handing out memos, posting exam results, busywork.
"Seon-woo, how's this? Good difficulty for a pop quiz?"
Bible studies or Romanica theology teachers often consulted me on quizzes or lesson pacing.
"Hm... A tad easy."
"Yeah? That should work then."
"Huh?"
"Gotta make it a smidge easy for you so the others can handle it, kid."
I held my own in Bible studies and Romanica theology, so they picked my brain. Building rapport with teachers wasn't a bad idea long-term, so I answered thoroughly.
I spotted Kim Jin-seo heading back to class from the office. One leg in a cast, propped on crutches at the bottom of the stairs. She wanted up but the cast and crutches made it tricky.
"..."
She noticed me. Her usual stoic face flickered with surprise. She stared for a long beat, then crutched over purposefully.
"Hold this a sec."
She shoved her crutches at me. Easy enough, so I took them. Then she spread her arms wide.
"Okay, now piggyback me."
"...Why me?"
"Can't climb stairs with this busted leg."
"..."
Truth be told, the cast and crutches aside, she wasn't in bad shape. Her gait said she could manage stairs solo. No need for a ride, so I handed the crutches back to say no.
She didn't take them.
"Won't carry me?"
"You can do it yourself."
"Charity Holy Mark dumps the hurt kid on the roadside."
"You're Patience. Deal."
She pursed her lips, glaring. "You're such an asshole..."
"Don't pout."
"Not pouting."
She sounded genuinely miffed. Up close, I saw bandages on her face too. That pitiful look softened me up, and I turned, offering my back.
She hopped on like she'd been waiting.
"Ugh."
Her weight settled in.
"Don't fake a groan. I'm not heavy."
"Heavier than I thought."
"...I'm tall, that's why."
She looped her arms around my neck as she said it.
"Arms for what?"
"Comfier this way. For you too, right?"
"Yeah, easier."
Definitely steadier. Though the full-body press was awkward. I climbed the stairs with her on my back. I'd called her heavy, but she was light for her size—easy enough.
"Kinda hurt my feelings, though."
She prodded my shoulder with her chin. "What?"
"How do you not visit even once?"
"I did. You were gone."
"...For real?"
I nodded.
"Where to? Receptionist had no clue."
"...Walk?"
"You're hurt—walking?"
"Rehab."
"Wandering like that, you'll... "
I trailed off. Everyone knew she was injured and hospitalized, but only I knew demons did it. Blurting it out risked suspicion.
After a quiet beat, she let out a small laugh.
"Why grill me like that? Obsessed now?"
"Who said...?"
"Waited around at the hospital?"
"Hell no. Left when you weren't there."
"Bummer."
"Worried a little."
I admitted it straight. Maybe it'd make her careful.
We'd reached her classroom by then. I set her down gently, handed over the crutches. She took them, staring intently. Her expression was... odd.
"What?"
"Hm? Nothing."
I tilted my head; she looked down, mumbling. "...This is bad. Real bad."
"Bad how?"
"More than I... Nah."
She shook her head and crutched toward her room. Her stride looked natural now—healthier than most students'. I'd suspected she was fine, but seeing it stung a bit.
"Hey, you're walking fine."
"Yeah."
She kept going, casual. "Just wanted a piggyback. Thanks."
She smiled and waved, slipping inside.
I stared down the now-empty hall. That reluctant smile lingered. First time she'd ever grinned at me like that.
(To be continued next time)