Chapter 41
Chapter 41
As soon as class ended, Si woo headed straight to the hospital room.
Was it because he had enjoyed yesterday’s conversation so much?
He couldn’t focus properly during class, waiting only for this moment.
Arriving at the hospital room with quick steps, he paused at the faint sound coming from inside just as he was about to open the door.
What’s that sound?
He pressed his ear to the door. It was quiet but continuous.
Is that…?
A groan?
Furrowing his brow, he listened closely, but the closed door made it hard to grasp exactly what was going on.
In the end, after a long hesitation, he opened the door without knocking. He just couldn’t shake the vague sense of unease.
The room looked the same as yesterday.
No one seemed to be there except for the girl lying in the bed.
So was that sound coming from Hana?
“Ugh… Ahh…”
Now that he was in the room, he could clearly hear it—the heavy sighs coming from the bed.
It felt strangely out of place.
Like oil and water that didn’t mix.
Slowly approaching the bed, Si woo called her name.
“…Yoo hana?”
“Haa… huh… Si woo?”
As he came closer, he could make out her condition.
Disheveled hair, flushed cheeks, unfocused eyes, and slightly unkempt clothes.
“…”
Si woo took a step back, startled.
“Are… are you okay?”
“Yeah… ugh… sorry. I’m just feeling a bit unwell…”
“Is it serious?”
“No, I’ll feel better if I just rest… haa…”
Hearing her sigh made his heart race.
Why am I feeling like this?
No matter how he tried to steady his emotions, he couldn’t.
Kim Si woo, stop thinking weird thoughts.
He chastised himself.
Your friend is sick; what are you doing?
Right. Assuming she’d be fine in just a day was strange from the beginning. Of course, her condition could get worse anytime.
“Should I call the nurse?”
“No, I’ll be fine. Just a little rest, and… ugh… I’ll be fine…”
This isn’t working.
No matter how he tried, strange thoughts kept popping up in his mind.
The fair skin peeking through her slightly disheveled clothes.
He quickly turned his gaze, but the image was already vividly imprinted in his mind.
Feeling his face flush, Si woo spoke hastily.
“Ahem! I’ll leave for today! Sorry!”
“Sorry… because of me… take care…”
With Hana’s farewell, he quickly left the hospital room.
The fresh air in the hallway finally helped him regain his composure.
The atmosphere inside the room and in the hallway felt entirely different.
The subtle warmth filling the room seemed to cloud his mind.
Why did that happen?
Could he… be seeing Hana as more than a friend?
He had never thought about it that way before.
Their relationship felt more like family than anything else.
It was true he’d felt a twinge of jealousy seeing her close to Juhyun, but it was different from the possessiveness one feels toward a romantic interest.
At least, that’s what he thought.
Maybe his feelings had grown without him even realizing it.
Still, he couldn’t picture himself dating Hana.
It just didn’t feel right.
The more he thought about it, the more complicated it became.
He decided to set it aside, at least until she fully recovered.
—
“She’s fully recovered.”
Rachel confirmed Hana’s condition after a thorough examination.
“Really?”
“Yes, at least as far as I can see now. You’re not in any pain, right?”
Hana nodded, lightly stretching to check her body.
“Yes, I feel fine.”
“I can’t believe it, but if that’s the case, so be it.”
Rachel asked with a concerned look.
“So, do you really want to be discharged?”
“If I’m fully recovered, it makes sense to be discharged, doesn’t it?”
“I heard from your boyfriend that you were groaning in pain yesterday. You may seem fine now, but it’s safest to keep you under observation a bit longer. It’s only been three days.”
Hana smiled awkwardly, surprised that he had mentioned everything.
“If there’s any problem, I’ll let you know right away.”
“Is there any particular reason to rush? You can rest here comfortably and discharge gradually. You’re excused from class, so it won’t affect your grades.”
Hana took a deep breath of the fresh air coming through the window and replied,
“I decided to change. To attend classes properly, make more friends, and be happy at the academy.”
“…Really?”
Rachel looked at her in surprise before smiling.
Something had evidently brought about a change in this girl.
“Alright. I’ll cheer you on too.”
“Thank you! And one more thing…”
The girl paused for a moment before continuing.
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Just then, Hana’s phone rang.
“Hello? Oh, Si woo!”
The girl chatted happily, laughing frequently.
Rachel watched in astonishment, thinking,
It won’t be long until she has one.
After the long call, Hana turned to Rachel and said,
“Then, I’ll be on my way!”
“Yes, take care.”
Just as Hana was about to leave, Rachel called her back.
“Hana.”
“Yes?”
“…The club president position is yours now.”
“…”
A brief silence.
Then Hana answered cheerfully,
“Since we need at least three members, I’ll find one more.”
“…”
“I’ll find someone quickly and let you know!”
As Hana left, Rachel basked in the warm sunlight streaming through the window.
“Has she grown up?”
Or perhaps.
She’s running away completely.
—
For the first time in a while, the previously empty seat was occupied.
The students whispered about the return of its occupant.
Hana seemed oblivious or simply didn’t care as she smiled cheerfully.
The girl suddenly got up and walked over to a quiet-looking boy in her class.
“Juhyun! Hi!”
“Oh, hi… How’s your health?”
“I’m all better! Thank you so much for visiting me in the hospital.”
“It was nothing…”
“No, your words really helped me at that time!”
“Then I’m glad.”
With a sheepish smile, Juhyun scratched his cheek and cautiously spoke.
“…It might just be my imagination, but you seem different.”
“Hm? In what way?”
“Well, you seem… brighter than before.”
“Really? I don’t really notice.”
“I mean it in a good way. You look much happier.”
Juhyun wasn’t the only one who noticed.
As Hana sat down waiting for a roll call, someone shyly approached her.
It was Valentina, her pink-haired classmate.
“….”
Standing in front of her, Valentina seemed at a loss for words.
Fidgeting with her hands, she hesitated for a long time.
“What’s up?”
When Hana tilted her head and asked, Valentina finally stammered out,
“I’m… I’m sorry…”
“Oh, you mean about last time? It’s okay. I made mistakes too.”
“But it was because of me… Because of me…”
Valentina’s voice began to waver with tears.
At that moment, Hana took her hand and spoke in a gentle yet firm tone,
“No, it wasn’t because of you.”
“…”
“There’s no need to blame yourself. You already apologized. I’m the one who ran away without apologizing after all.”
“But still…!”
“Stop. If you keep bringing this up, I’ll really get mad.”
“…Okay, thank you.”
When Hana smiled warmly, Valentina returned a shy smile, and the two quickly became close friends.
Si woo observed all of this, a content smile on his face.
Everything felt like it was returning to its proper place.
Hana had certainly changed since her discharge.
Sophie’s death had been a difficult trial, but it might have been what allowed her to grow even more.
Did he contribute, even just a little, to that growth?
He hoped so, but even if he hadn’t, it was fine.
At least now, he understood what really mattered.
Hana’s changed attitude continued to show as time went on.
She put her heart into her studies, and during breaks, she approached her classmates eagerly.
Even during practical sessions, when the instructors scolded her, she responded confidently,
“I’m sorry! I’ll work harder!”
“Good attitude.”
The instructors who had been frustrated with her skills now showed satisfied smiles as they noticed her determination.
Everything seemed better and almost perfect.
At least, it seemed that way.
—
“Hana, want to go to a café together? You’ve been cooped up in the hospital lately.”
Si woo suggested, but Hana replied with an apologetic expression.
“Ah… sorry. I don’t think I can today.”
Surprised by the unexpected rejection, Si woo quickly regained his smile.
“No worries. Do you have other plans?”
“Yes, since I was just discharged, the school nurse asked me to come for a checkup after school, just in case.”
“I see. Then how about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow sounds good!”
“Alright, let’s go to the café tomorrow then.”
They said their goodbyes and parted ways.
A few minutes later, on his way to the dorms, Si woo ran into Rachel on the street.
“Oh, teacher?”
“Oh, Si woo. Are you heading home?”
“Yes. What about you?”
“I have some work to take care of in the teacher’s office.”
Work to take care of?
Si woo asked,
“Hana’s waiting for you.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Well… you asked her to come for a checkup.”
“That’s odd. I didn’t schedule anything like that. Could it be a misunderstanding?”
“…”
Something felt off.
A strange
unease filled his chest.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced.
Yes, just like this, Hana had turned down an invitation after school once.
Because of the Science Exploration Club.
“…No, that can’t be.”
“Are you okay?”
Thud!
Si woo took off running.
No, it can’t be.
There’s no way.
Trying to shake off the thought, he found himself heading toward the first-year science lab.
After running a while, he reached the corridor, his breath still uneven.
Finally, he arrived at the science lab.
The door was firmly shut.
Peering through the small window on the door, he caught a glimpse of the lab.
The lights were on.
Someone was inside.
Two people.
His childhood friend and…
That guy.
They were close.
TL Note: Rate us on NOVEL UPDATES
