Chapter 228: Rehabilitation-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 228: Rehabilitation-1
Yun Si-a did not send the hospital fees immediately. Instead, she left the cafe earlier than scheduled.
She boarded a bus, and after three transfers—each taking about fifteen minutes—she finally arrived at the hospital.
In front of the ward where her father stayed, she saw her mother nodding off like a dozing chicken in a corner of the six-patient room.
Si-a couldn't bring herself to step inside. She felt as though if she entered that room, so thick with a gloomy and sickly atmosphere, she too would be consumed by it.
As she stood there awkwardly, unable to either enter or leave, her mother’s eyes fluttered open.
“……”
The mother and daughter stared at each other.
Si-a mouthed a silent greeting to let her mother know she had arrived.
Her mother, whose eyes were caked with exhaustion, slowly pushed her stiff, rusted body upright.
She glanced toward her husband, then shuffled out of the ward, dragging her slippers.
“Have you eaten?”
Those were the first words she spoke to her daughter.
“I did. What about you, Mom?”
Si-a’s dinner had consisted of an Americano and a cookie.
“I had a big lunch, so I’m not really hungry for dinner.”
The sun had already set. Si-a didn't say anything in response to her mother’s lie.
The two women walked down the hallway. They entered the lounge and took separate empty seats.
Silence followed.
As Si-a took in the quiet yet busy atmosphere of the hospital corridor, her mother suddenly spoke up.
“He’s gotten worse. They said they’re changing his medication starting tomorrow.”
The news of her father’s condition hit her. Si-a felt her heart sink.
“Is that why you need more money?”
“The administration office is pressing us… We’re quite far behind.”
Deep fatigue and resignation were etched into her mother’s eyes.
“I understand. I’ll send more.”
Si-a felt a bitter ache in her chest.
It wasn't because she was sending over half of her earnings; it was because she found the very situation of having to earn that money so cruel.
“I’m going to increase my hours. I’ll be working through the afternoons now.”
Her mother worked as a cashier at a grocery store.
“Then what about Dad?” Si-a asked, tapping her heel restlessly against the floor.
“Si-a, about that…”
Her mother’s voice trailed off again.
“Could you look after your father in the afternoons? We can’t afford to keep the caregiver for much longer.”
“…I’ll ask if I can adjust my tutoring schedule.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
With that, the conversation between mother and daughter ended.
Si-a sent half of her remaining money and stood up to leave the hospital.
“……”
Her mother watched her daughter’s retreating back with an indifferent gaze, offering no goodbye.
Only a hollow lethargy remained in those eyes.
For a woman with deep wrinkles carved around her eyes and mouth, no trace of her youthful spirit or love remained.
*
After debating what to eat, I eventually settled on cup ramen.
My soul craved the taste of artificial seasonings, something I hadn't been able to eat properly while traveling between dimensions.
Perhaps because the house was located in such a wealthy neighborhood, the convenience store was a long walk down a steep hill.
As I headed down, I wondered why the slope was so treacherous, only to realize that the people living here probably never had a reason to walk it.
They likely drove everywhere.
Lamenting the fact that I was still a mere commoner even after being possessed, I trudged down the hill.
When I reached the bottom, a convenience store with a familiar logo greeted me.
Feeling a mix of excitement and nostalgia, I moved to enter, but a dog bowl placed next to the entrance caught my eye.
I looked around to see if there was a dog nearby, but I couldn't see so much as a leash, let alone a dog.
Tinkle—
The bell rang as the door opened. I filled my lungs with the familiar air of the modern world and wandered through the aisles.
After filling my basket with spicy, flavorful items, I placed them on the counter.
The part-timer scanned the barcodes mechanically.
“That will be 32,300 won.”
I’d bought quite a lot out of greed.
“Here.”
I held out my card, but the part-timer pointed toward the card reader.
Ah, right. I have to insert it myself.
“What’s the dog bowl at the entrance for?” I asked as I slotted the card in.
“The owner uses it to feed the cats.”
The part-timer sounded bored, as if they’d answered this question a thousand times.
“Cats?”
“Yeah. A stray cat feeding station or something… That’s why we keep things like Churu in the store, too.”
The owner must be a cat lover.
I pulled my card from the reader and left the shop.
It was already getting dark.
It would take a while to get back up the hill, so I hurried my pace.
Meow.
Behind me, as I climbed the hill, I heard the faint cry of a cat.
*
I was about halfway back up the path when Yun Si-a called.
I answered the phone with my free hand.
“Hello?”
[Ah… In-ho. Can you talk?]
Her voice sounded heavy.
“Yes, I can.”
I still had a long way to go up the hill.
[I was wondering…]
Si-a trailed off. Did she have a favor to ask?
[Is there any way we could move the tutoring to the evening? Around 8 or 9 PM…?]
“Uh… why?”
[Something… something came up.]
“Hmm…”
When I hesitated to answer, I heard a sigh from the other end.
[Right now, you’re suspended… I mean, you’re resting at home, so we’ve been doing it in the afternoon. But once your suspension is lifted, we’ll have to adjust the time anyway… so I thought it might be better to move it now…]
Si-a sounded desperate over the phone.
“Well, I don’t really mind,” I told her, finding no particular reason to refuse.
[Oh? Really?]
She didn't miss my vague affirmation.
“But are you going to be okay?”
Well, she is a problem child, so maybe it doesn't matter.
[What do you mean?]
“Won’t it be past 9 PM by the time you get back from night study?”
I brought up the one concern I had.
Silence fell on the other end of the line.
During that long silence, I continued up the hill, waiting for her to speak.
[In-ho.]
Just as I reached the front of the house, Si-a asked me in a voice full of disbelief.
[Night study? What era are you living in?]
Ah. They don't do night study anymore?
I’ve really aged.