Min Ah-rin entered the room with her stiff face. Right across from the hotel room where Han Yi-gyeol was sleeping, everyone who was waiting for Min Ah-rin raised their heads.
“How is it?”
Min Ah-rin answered Woo Seo-hyuk’s question with a worried expression.
“The fever is too high.”
It had been 8 days since they entered this space. At around 5 in the morning when Dies’s business closed, two hours had passed since they entered the hotel with Han Yi-gyeol, who collapsed as if he couldn’t withstand the rising heat.
He might need to rest for at least three or four days in this state. Fortunately, tomorrow was a day off, but from two days later, someone had to fill Han Yi-gyeol’s place.
“He took antipyretics, but I don’t think it will go away anytime soon.”
“If the fever doesn’t go down…”
“We have to find another way. We can’t go to the hospital here.”
It was a world where talented people didn’t exist. Everyone, including Han Yi-gyeol, couldn’t even prove their identity here, so it was impossible to go to the hospital to receive treatment or to be hospitalized.
“We’d better watch for now. The fever may go down because the antipyretic works well.”
No matter how high-rank healer she was, she couldn’t get rid of a cold. Min Ah-rin, who distorted her face as if she was about to cry in the sad reality, closed her eyes tightly and then opened it.
“Even if the fever goes down and Han Yi-gyeol-ssi wakes up this time, if the cause isn’t solved, the condition will continue to deteriorate.”
Park Geon-ho sighed with a complicated face.
“Solving the cause.”
8 days. During that short and long time, Han Yi-gyeol grew thinner day by day. The hearts of those around him also burned as he dried up like plants that didn’t receive sunlight.
“As Woo-jin-ssi said, it would be too dangerous if the dependence on alcohol increased here.”
After Woo Seo-hyuk gave him a cocktail, Han Yi-gyeol drank alcohol without skipping a day. Even with the cocktails Woo Seo-hyuk and Kim Woo-jin made, he wasn’t satisfied and secretly took a can of beer to drink, so it was certain that they had to be careful.
“As of now, there seems to be no solution to the cause other than leaving this space.”
“In such a situation, wouldn’t it be better to ask Yi-gyeol-hyung what the problem is?”
At Ha Tae-heon’s words, Kwon Jeong-han opened his mouth with a heavy voice. But Park Geon-ho immediately shook his head.
“Well. It doesn’t seem like a good idea. The question itself will become a burden.”
“But we can’t leave it like this. He has become more sensitive because he’s careful not to get caught by us.”
“On the other hand, that’s how much he wants to hide it. We just have to pretend we don’t know. Until Han Yi-gyeol solves it himself.”
At Park Geon-ho’s words, Kim Woo-jin closed his lips and lowered his gaze. Everyone in this place, including Kim Woo-jin, had the same idea.
It didn’t matter what Han Yi-gyeol was hiding. For them, the most important thing right now was that Han Yi-gyeol regained his health and was less stressed.
“I hope Han Yi-gyeol-ssi will hold on until we find a way… Now all I really need is a little bit of time…”
Edward, who understood the situation to some extent without even listening to explanations, whispered with a sad expression.
“He will be able to survive.”
Cheon Sa-yeon, who had been quietly listening to conversations, finally opened his mouth.
“Tomorrow is a day off, so Edward looks for clues to get out of the space with Team Leader Park Geon-ho and Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk, while Healer Min Ah-rin continues taking care of Han Yi-gyeol. Kim Woo-jin will go out later and buy some medicine and porridge.”
“Yes.”
“I understand.”
He couldn’t sit still just because he was worried about Han Yi-gyeol. As Ha Tae-heon said, if they got out of this space as soon as possible, Han Yi-gyeol would be fine.
Ha Tae-heon, who was watching the Requiem people who decided on the role, got up and went into the room where Han Yi-gyeol was. The room was as dark as midnight because curtains were placed on every window so that Han Yi-gyeol could sleep comfortably.
Fox, who was lying curled up next to Han Yi-gyeol, lifted his head slightly at his presence. After confirming it was Ha Tae-heon, he felt relieved that he only fluttered his tail a few times before closing his eyes again.
Snor, snor. A fever-reducing sheet was attached to Han Yi-gyeol’s forehead, who was sleeping soundly with a slightly rough breathing sound. Ha Tae-heon, who was staring at his slight frown, raised his hand and gently stroked his cheek. The body temperature that reached his fingertips was still hot.
On top of Han Yi-gyeol’s small face covered in darkness, Kwon Se-hyun’s face lightly overlapped. Those eyes that looked at him awkwardly and the act of sweeping the nape of his neck remained in his special memory.
No matter what or how much he was hiding from him, Han Yi-gyeol was Han Yi-gyeol. All he could do was hope that the one he loved to take care of his body a little more.
“Umm…”
Han Yi-gyeol, who was making a moaning sound, tossed and turned slightly. Ha Tae-heon, who pulled his hand off from the cheek, slowly patted his trembling chest.
What is he dreaming of right now? He wished he didn’t get sick in his dreams.
* * *
The whole white space caught my eye. I didn’t know where this place was, so I just looked around and felt a breeze from somewhere.
‘It’s warm…’
A light breeze ruffled my bangs, carrying warm energy. When I turned my gaze to the direction the wind was blowing, I could see the sunlight coming down from the other side of the sky.
I moved there as if possessed by a swarm of yellow twinkling lights. The sun was shining and it was very warm.
After standing in the sunlight for a while, the wind blew again, this time with pale pink petals fluttering. It was cherry blossom petals.
When I turned my head in the direction the petals were flying, I saw a man in a white shirt in the distance. The lips that looked under bright blonde hair were drawing a graceful curve.
“Yeon Seon-woo?”
Hearing my call, Yeon Seon-woo slowly turned around and started running to the other side. I hurried after him and shouted loudly.
“Yeon Seon-woo, wait!”
Yeon Seon-woo’s broad back, who ran vigorously without hesitation, couldn’t be caught by my outstretched hand. The wind blowing from the front became stronger and more cherry blossom petals flew, making it difficult to open my eyes properly.
“Wait, Yeon Seon-woo! Seon-woo-ya…!”
Irritation flooded in like a wave at the sight of Yeon Seon-woo didn’t stop no matter how desperately I called. I was obviously running with all my might, but I couldn’t keep up. I was afraid that I would lose him like this.
Han Yi-gyeol’s clean hands, visible in the field of vision, gradually grew larger and ragged. That hand full of scars. At some point, I became Kwan Se-hyun.
“Yeon Seon-woo!”
Only then was I able to hold Yeon Seon-woo’s arm. I was afraid that I might get away from him by any chance, so I grabbed his arm and gave it strength.
“Hyung-nim.”
Yeon Seon-woo turned to me and called me with a bright smile. A breath of relief came out.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“I was looking for you.”
“I was behind you…”
“Really? I didn’t know.”
That’s a relief. He didn’t mean to get away from me.
Yeon Seon-woo, who was looking down at me with a strange smile, slowly held my hand.
“Hyung.”
With a low voice, I could feel the warmth seeping into my arms. I was embarrassed to see Yeon Seon-woo hugging me like an abandoned puppy.
“Yeon Seon-woo?”
“Hyung, I…”
A lot of cherry blossom petals fell with the wind. Yeon Seon-woo’s body in my arms quickly became heavy.
“It hurts so much…”
All of a sudden, I felt a slimy feeling near my fingers. Juruk, followed Yeon Seon-woo, who was sliding down, I knelt down on my knees.
“Seo, Seon-woo-ya.”
The shirt he was wearing got wet quickly. The smell of fishy blood permeated the air. Yeon Seon-woo, who became pale in an instant, coughed and vomited red blood.
“N, no. No…”
My whole body trembled. I hugged the cold guy’s body hesitantly and looked around. But there was nothing to see except the cherry blossom petals that flew like snow.
“Hyung-nim”
Yeon Seon-woo, who buried his face in my shoulder, whispered in a low voice with a harsh voice.
“Why… you… didn’t protect, me…”
After those words, Yeon Seon-woo’s body disappeared. His old bones fell to the bottom of the white shirt I held in my arms. My lips trembled at the unrealistic sight.
“Aaaaah…!”
Gasp, gasp, my breath was choked as if I was strangled. The harsh sound of my breathing echoed through my ears.
“Uh… ugh…”
Someone walked up to me as I hugged his shirt and gasped. The black hair over her shoulder gently swayed as the person standing on the white floor full of cherry blossoms lowered her head.
“You alone ruined everything.”
“……”
“You ignorant bastard…”
Beeeep, tinnitus pierced my ears, and at the same time, a terrifying smell of disinfectant flowed from somewhere. Tears fell on the cherry blossom petals.
My heart ached so much. Unable to withstand the pain piercing my heart, I bowed lower, unfamiliar voices pouring out of my back.
All this was because of me. I was punished for meeting someone I shouldn’t have met. Without me, everyone would be happy.
Without me…
“Ah…”
I thought as I looked up at the smiling woman’s face.
‘Seon-woo-ya, now I really…’
want to die.