Chapter 243: Reverse-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 243: Reverse-2
The only light illuminating the darkened room was the moonlight.
In that dim glow, the silhouettes of a man and a woman were faintly revealed. It was a room where they could only perceive each other by their outlines.
The only thing filling the quiet, settled space was the sound of their breathing.
"The floor is hard, isn't it?"
Kang In-ho’s voice was laced with concern.
"Mmm... it’s okay. It’s actually quite soft."
Yun Si-a gave an awkward laugh to put his worries to rest.
Then, silence fell.
"Is it warm enough?"
In-ho spoke again, trying to break the quiet.
"Yeah, it’s warm," Si-a replied instantly.
"That’s a relief."
Silence fell once more.
"Or would you rather just sleep on the bed? I’m fine with the floor," In-ho suggested, still clearly bothered by the arrangement. Si-a sat up and waved her hand dismissively.
"I’m already grateful enough that you’re letting me stay... I’d feel too guilty taking your bed, too."
"Well, if you say so."
In-ho didn't push further. He turned away from her and stared up at the ceiling.
At first, he had considered taking her all the way home, but he wondered if she would truly be safe there after such a traumatic ordeal. That was why he had decided to let her stay at his place, and fortunately, she had accepted his offer without any misunderstanding.
In fact, she had seemed quite relieved, which suggested just how terrified she had been.
Once he decided to let her stay, however, he faced another hurdle: where exactly she would sleep.
His original plan was to put her in the guest room. But when Si-a saw the bedding laid out there, her face turned pale with dread. It seemed she was terrified of being left alone.
And so, he ended up sharing a room with her, providing her with a spot on the floor while he took the bed.
It was a night draped in moonlight.
Lying on the floor, Yun Si-a stared at the ceiling and thought. Whenever she recalled what had happened a mere two hours ago, she felt as if the blood were draining from her head. Her heart would pound, her mouth would go dry, and her body would begin to tremble.
Just as the unbearable terror threatened to crush her, she felt the thick blanket In-ho had given her wrapped snugly around her body. Her racing heart slowed, and her breathing returned to normal.
"In-ho, are you asleep?"
In the dark space, where only the occasional rustle of fabric against skin could be heard, Si-a spoke to him, knowing he was still awake.
"...No."
The answer came after a brief pause.
"Thank you... so much for today."
"It was nothing," he said, as if it were no big deal.
"Your arm and leg... are they okay?"
She had checked earlier and confirmed he was fine, but she was still worried. The sound of the bat breaking had been horrific.
"I'm... fine."
Perhaps the Water Demon of sleep had finally claimed him, for In-ho’s voice grew fainter. Listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing, Si-a closed her eyes as well, feeling the pleasant warmth of the blanket covering her.
And so, the night deepened.
*
"Oh, for Christ's..."
Kang In-ho woke to a sharp, jolting pain coursing through his body.
It was already dawn. With his vision clearer than the night before, In-ho tried to sit up. The moment he braced himself with his arm, agony radiated from his limb and surged through his entire frame.
"Ugh..."
A groan escaped his lips before he could stop it.
Wincing, In-ho managed to prop up his upper body and inspected himself. His arm and leg were swollen tight. Seeing them bloated to more than twice their normal size, In-ho felt a headache coming on.
"In-ho?"
Yun Si-a, who had been drifting in a light sleep, saw his arm and leg and her tired eyes flew wide. They had only been slightly red the night before, but now they looked like large hunks of ham being forcibly squeezed.
"Ah... I can't tell if the ligaments are just swollen... or if something's broken."
Ransacking his memories of the Murim World, he quickly assessed his condition.
"Damn it, I have to go to school."
Whether it was a severe sprain or a fracture, it was clear that going about his daily life would be a struggle.
"Can you even move?" Si-a asked worriedly as she watched In-ho gingerly climb out of bed.
"I think I need to go to the hospital before heading to school."
"How are you going to get there?"
"I'll have to call a taxi. Oh, Teacher. Are you going to school today? If not, please rest a bit more before you leave. I'm heading out now."
In-ho spoke while searching for nearby hospitals on his phone. He began moving busily, preparing for the day. Si-a watched him as he struggled to pull out his bag and clothes with his injured hands.
"Um..."
Si-a spoke up as he walked around brushing his teeth, his hair a messy bird's nest. In-ho, preoccupied with his frantic movements, didn't hear her.
"Hey!"
Si-a called out to him again.
"Yeth?"
In-ho looked at her, his pronunciation muffled by the toothpaste foam in his mouth.
"Let me help you."
Having already tidied her bedding, Si-a stood up and faced him.
"Huh...?"
He stared at her for a moment, not quite catching her meaning.
"Your arm and leg."
Si-a pointed to his swollen limbs.
"It's going to be difficult for you. I'll help."
Si-a took In-ho to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with fractures in both his arm and leg. As he headed to school, hobbling on crutches with a green cast wrapped tightly around him, Si-a remained right by his side.