READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 78
Si-Hoo was doing something, and I wanted to see what it was.
But the moment I stepped outside to follow him, I was caught.
It was like he had a surveillance device attached to me; he noticed way too quickly.
And, of course, he shows up right in front of me.
“How did you know?”
I went outside at what should have been the perfect time for sneaking out.
Did he teleport or something?
“I told you not to come outside. It’s dangerous out here.”
“Why?”
“Just stay at home for a while. When I’m not around…”
….
Si-Hoo is definitely acting weird.
Way too weird.
After trying to sort out my thoughts, I figured I must be suffering from a serious illness.
“Si-Hoo, so this means…”
“What’s wrong?”
“I must have amnesia, right? That’s it!”
It’s a reasonable conclusion.
“Because suddenly I’ve grown taller, so have you, and the house seems off, and… I can’t remember anything around the house… plus you’re taking weird meds.”
My memory must be messed up.
Did something happen to me?
Silence falls from Si-Hoo.
“Can you answer me? Are you planning to tell me the truth, or are you just going to keep hiding things?”
“Later. I’ll explain later. Not now.”
“Why can’t you explain now?”
I can tell he’s hiding a lot from me.
It’s disappointing.
But I understand he must have a reason to hide things.
“It’s a reason you’d come to understand. So please, can we talk about it later? It’s all for your sake.”
He says this while holding my hand.
It feels warm.
“For me?”
“Yeah.”
If that’s the case, then I guess it is what it is.
I should listen to him, right? Yeah. Right.
It feels nice holding hands, but…
“Uh, Si-Hoo?”
“What?”
“You’re… hot, right? Are you sick?”
This isn’t just a warm hand.
Feels like cold sweat is dripping too.
Si-Hoo is sick.
“No, I’m fine, so don’t worry.”
“No, don’t lie. You’re in pain.”
Si-Hoo hasn’t been doing well lately.
Seems like he’s been taking all sorts of meds.
What on earth is happening?
“It’s temporary. I’m just worn out from training.”
“Training? What kind of training?”
“You know, the one where I need to protect you.”
I remember.
How Si-Hoo was swinging his sword, promising to protect me.
But does swordsmanship cause fever?
He just seems sick.
…Ugh…
But I can’t help but accept it. I don’t know what he’s doing, even if he’s cutting back on sleep.
Should be sure to listen to him.
Right.
“I’m sorry. Once all this is done… I’ll stay with you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You promise?”
“Yep. I promise.”
Si-Hoo keeps his promises well.
So, I guess it’s okay to feel some relief?
“But you need to take care of yourself, okay? Don’t push yourself when you’re in pain.”
“Don’t worry.”
It’s okay not to worry, right? That’s how it is, right?
I forced a smile.
***
I peeked out the window and spotted Si-Hoo coming back.
This time it’s late in the early morning.
What’s he been up to?
And it’s not just him.
There seems to be someone with him, looking like they’re supporting him.
That long white hair stands out.
A girl?
Why is someone like that with Si-Hoo?
I’ve never seen her before.
Did Si-Hoo run into a bad person?
Looks dangerous.
Si-Hoo doesn’t appear to be in good shape.
He looks like he’s swaying like he’s tipsy, relying on her for support.
“Who’s that?”
Who the heck is she?
She might be a dangerous person.
She could be connected to whatever is going on with Si-Hoo.
“Who are you? Who?”
Weapon.
I need a weapon.
First, I grabbed a kitchen knife and dashed out the door.
I’ve never fought before.
I don’t even have the guts to stab someone with a knife.
“Who are you? Who are you?!”
I ran outside barefoot, and my feet hurt.
But it was unavoidable since Si-Hoo might be in danger.
How can he say not to worry and come back like that?
I spotted Si-Hoo and the girl with white hair.
“Uh-?”
The girl with white hair looked startled.
“W-who are you? What did you do to Si-Hoo?”
I shouted while aiming the knife at her.
“Ah, um, I’m Si-Hoo’s friend. Don’t worry.”
“Liar. Si-Hoo never said he was meeting a friend. I’ve never seen a friend like you.”
She’s lying.
She seems suspicious.
“…I’m a co-worker; he collapsed from overexertion, and I came to take him back.”
“Co-worker?”
“Something like that.”
“What does that mean? What are you two doing?”
Si-Hoo has a colleague?
Why didn’t he tell me?
I can’t drop my suspicion.
The grip on the knife tightened.
The blade trembled.
“Answer me. I’ll stab you if you’re bad news.”
“I’m not bad! I’ll leave Si-Hoo here; you’ll definitely get the truth once you talk to him.”
The girl with white hair sets the passed-out Si-Hoo on the floor.
What’s this?
That guilty look on her face is too much to bear.
It’s the same expression people used to make when they did something wrong to me.
“Si-Hoo!”
I ran straight to Si-Hoo.
The girl with white hair took off like she was escaping.
The important thing is Si-Hoo.
“Si-Hoo.”
No answer.
I supported him back inside the house.
“Are you okay? Uh? Can you hear me?”
He doesn’t look okay.
He looks worse.
The fever seems higher and his breath is labored.
What was that girl from earlier?
Why was he secretly meeting her?
And why was he leaning on her for support?
He never even thought to lean on me.
When will he explain the truth to me?
He collapsed onto the blanket.
“What happened…?”
Looks like he’s pretty close with that so-called colleague.
That white-haired girl is rather pretty, too.
She gives off a strangely noble vibe.
If she’s a bad person, then I should just stab her.
But what if she’s a good person?
She’s definitely not a girlfriend, right?
Could he have created a relationship without telling me?
Even if he did, I can’t really say anything about it.
I just feel betrayed.
“Si-Hoo.”
I’m still gripping the knife, ready to deal with any bad folks.
But who’s the real bad guy?
Si-Hoo is unconscious.
“Si-Hoo?”
I whispered right next to his ear.
You promised to protect me.
No matter what you’re doing outside or whatever strange person you’ve been hanging out with…
“You can’t abandon me… can you?”
The blade glinted.
Of course, I don’t plan to stab Si-Hoo.
“Heh heh.”
Anyway.
Since I said not to abandon me, I’ll just make sure I’m not someone who can be abandoned.
If I act childish, that might annoy him.
I need to help Si-Hoo.
Being clingy isn’t a good look.
Gotta give and take.
I need to give Si-Hoo something in return.
“When you wake up, are you just going to go outside again?”
No answer.
Looks like Si-Hoo is out cold.
“You’re not going to tell me anything and keep saying to wait.”
I thought there had to be a good reason for it.
But if that reason was to meet with a girl, then what a disappointment.
He could’ve just let me know he was meeting someone!
Instead of making me feel like I was in the way, he should’ve just been honest!
What’s he doing here?
I rolled up his sleeve.
Whatever meds he’s on, there are more needle marks.
Do people usually use syringes this often?
Why on earth?
“It’s like you’re taking meds without a care… You’re going to the hospital, right?”
No answer.
Does Si-Hoo smell like medicine?
Also feels like there’s a foul odor of that unknown girl.
“So when you wake up, you have to explain everything, okay?”
That’s what needs to happen.
“I’ll make breakfast.”
It’s 3 a.m.
I couldn’t sleep at all.
Extreme thoughts just wouldn’t leave my mind.
***
Finally, Si-Hoo woke up.
It took about 5 hours for him to come back to consciousness.
It’s morning.
“You’re awake?”
I had been up the whole time.
He had a fever, so I even put a wet cloth on his forehead.
“Umm… What?”
He looks around.
“Home…?”
He’s trying hard to clear his mind.
I hope he wakes up quickly.
He’s got plenty to explain to me, after all.
“Do you not remember?”
“Oh… I came home.”
What on earth did he do to block his memory?
It’s suspicious, very suspicious.
He should’ve at least remembered being with a girl.
“You were lying out in front of the house.”
That girl just left him there.
“Oh, I’m sorry. You must have had a tough time carrying me.”
“What did you do yesterday?”
….
Again with the silence.
“Are you doing something alone? Or are there others around?”
“You don’t need to worry about it.”
“That’s just not fair.”
“Sorry, I’ll explain later. I promise…”
Same conversations keep repeating.
No progress is made.
Since Si-Hoo isn’t saying anything.
“Oh, it’s 8 o’clock… I have to get going. Sorry.”
“Wait, eat breakfast first. It’s not much, but I made something.”
He looks like he has no choice but to sit at the table.
The food isn’t fancy since I didn’t have much to work with; it’s just rice mixed with tuna and soy sauce.
Boiled some ramen to go with it, and it’s passable.
But Si-Hoo sits at the table and takes a bite.
“It’s good.”
“Right?”
After taking several bites, he eventually says he can’t anymore.
“Yeah, I want more but… I’m really sorry, I think I need to get going soon.”
“Is it… not good?”
“No, I’m just busy.”
Is that really it?
What’s got him so busy today?
“Come back early today. Let’s hang out.”
I feel like I might forget how to have fun.
“I’ll try my best. Once this work’s done, everything should be okay.”
I don’t understand what will be okay.
I’m not okay.
He wouldn’t suddenly not return, would he?
He wouldn’t just disappear and cut off contact, right?
“The house isn’t messy, right? I cleaned up! Good job, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Am I really helping you out?”
I just ask him directly.
“You’re helping just by being you, even if you do nothing at all.”
He says that while hanging out with some other girl.
And he doesn’t tell me a thing.
I’m just seen as unfit to work together with him.
I’m not trusted.
So I can’t even measure up to that white-haired girl?
This is seriously disappointing.
This isn’t how it should be.
“You’re not lying, right?”
I stood with my arms crossed, nervously asking.
“Nope.”
“I’m the one who’s always been your best help, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m your closest friend, right? We hang out together, just us, right?”
“That’s right.”
“If someone had to choose between me and someone else, it’d definitely be me, right?”
“Of course, it’s you.”
If that’s the case, then I can breathe easy.
What a relief.
“If you’re lying…”
“I’m not lying.”
“…Okay!”
Take care.
You can go.
For now.
Si-Hoo steps out of the house.
I relax my stiff hands behind my back.
And I put the knife down that I’d been hiding there.