In the hospital room, the loud voice had startled a nurse who came in, but I sent her back outside.
Still sobbing in my arms, I comforted Heena. Heeseong hyung briefly entered the room but then left, saying he would come back later, sensing the situation.
After a while, as Heena calmed down a bit, she slowly lifted her face from my chest. Her hair was disheveled from the moment she arrived, her face streaked with tears, and her eyes were red.
But still.
She was the most beautiful, my girlfriend.
"Feeling a bit better?"
"Hic... yes..."
"Good. The bathroom is right next to the door, want to go for a moment?"
"Yeah... I'll be back soon."
After crying, her emotions seemed to have settled, and perhaps she was feeling a bit embarrassed. She covered her face with her hands, avoiding showing it to me, and entered the attached bathroom.
A little later, she came out having tidied up her face and hair, and then we could talk calmly. Still, she seemed a bit anxious, sitting close to me.
"Did this happen while you were helping the grandmother?"
"Yeah. My mind was debating, but my body had already moved."
"......"
She bit her lip slightly at my response and held my hand tightly, as if asking me not to go anywhere.
After a moment of silence, she spoke with a trembling voice.
"It's because... I told you to take the subway..."
"Lee Heena."
I interrupted her. It was okay to worry, to feel anxious, or to be angry with me, but she shouldn't say such things, especially blaming herself like this.
For the first time today, Heena showed me an angry face, and I, feeling a bit stern, spoke to her.
"Don't say that. It's not your fault, and it's not that it was the grandmother's fault either. It just so happened that I was there, and I could help. That's a good thing, right?"
"...Right. I'm sorry."
"Sorry? You're just worried about me."
No one was at fault; it was just a chance for me to save someone. Thinking like this was better for everyone, especially for my mental health.
"Did you do well in the exam?"
"Yes..."
"That's great. You worked hard. I'm proud of you."
Even though she had composed herself in the bathroom, Heena's eyes were still red, and she looked extremely downcast. Her hand kept holding on to my clothes.
I stroked her hair and kept talking, trying to lift her spirits through conversation.
"Anyway, getting into the same college this year would have been tough, so I'll study more and try to apply to the same place as you."
"Don't push yourself too hard. There's no need for that."
Her response was weak, making me realize that cheering her up wouldn't be easy.
"But I still want to try. I've got plenty of time now. Oh, and since it's just my arm that's hurt, I can move around fine. How about a date this week?"
Heena's drooping head shot up as my words ended, and her voice rose.
"No! Don't even think about going anywhere until you're fully healed!"
"Come on, it's okay."
"Do you want me to get angry? Absolutely not!"
I thought I had found the perfect way to cheer up Heena, but she flatly rejected it. It wasn't just a simple refusal; her demeanor suggested she wouldn't let me leave the hospital for a single step.
After glaring at me with narrowed eyes for a moment, she clenched her fist as if she had made up her mind.
"You're staying here for a few days, right?"
"Probably? They said they'd start physical therapy."
"Then I'll stay with you and help. I'll talk to your mom about it."
Saying this, she quickly got up and grabbed her phone. I couldn’t hide my surprise at her words.
"Stay with me? But you have to leave after visiting hours."
Although they had been lenient with the afternoon visiting time, I heard that the absolute limit was 8 PM. After that, there was no leniency.
"One family member can stay overnight."
"There's such a thing?"
"Yes."
How did she know that? I was dumbfounded, learning this new piece of information. I knew Heena was smart and clever in many ways, but I didn't know why she knew this.
"Wait, what about school? You have to go tomorrow. I'm hospitalized, but..."
"I’ll stop by in the morning and then come back. There's not much to do after checking the scores anyway."
Heena already had a plan?
I was at a loss for words at her smooth response. While I sat there dumbfounded, Heena began making phone calls, apparently to both her mother and mine.
After a while of talking on the phone, she came back to my side with a relieved face. I was glad if this made her feel a bit better.
But whenever her gaze fell on my arm, her eyebrows would furrow again. Her facial expressions were incredibly dramatic today.
From the moment she finished her calls, my freedom in the hospital was completely gone.
Heena stuck to me, trying to help with everything I did. Although there wasn't much movement involved, she would rush to support my arm even when I just tried to change my posture.
She even insisted on feeding me the hospital dinner.
"Here, Yeonho. Open up."
"I can eat by myself. Besides, I can use my right arm somehow if I move it right..."
"Han Yeonho. Put that down right now."
"Sorry."
Of course, my right arm was difficult to move because of the cast, but I had no trouble eating with my left hand.
Yet, if I tried to move on my own, she would get angry right there. Heena rarely showed such a frown, but today she was freely expressing it.
I appreciated her care, but it felt a bit excessive.
---
Raei Translations
---
"Alright, you seem fine now, so I'll head out. Take care of yourself."
"Ah! Thanks for coming!"
Heeseong hyung, who had come back in late, watched the scene for a while before leaving with a look that said he had seen something he shouldn't have.
I understood why Heena was being overly protective, but I hoped she wouldn't keep this up for my entire stay.
"Yeonho, mom's here."
"Ah, Mom!! You came at just the right time!! Please, try to talk some sense into Heena!"
I urgently sought help from my mom, who had returned to the hospital room after going home to get my clothes. Heena’s over-the-top caregiving was starting to cross the line.
"I’m just trying to help!"
"I can go to the bathroom by myself!"
"You can't use one of your hands; it's difficult!"
"One hand is enough!"
Eating, drinking, resting – Heena was there for everything. Now she was even trying to accompany me to the bathroom, which I absolutely had to stop.
Thankfully, my mom returned while Heena and I were in a standoff.
"Here, Yeonho, I've put your clothes here. Heena, take this."
But my mom didn't blink an eye at my plea for help. Instead, she smiled and handed something to Heena.
"A pass?"
"You know it well. Then, please take care of Yeonho for me. Call if it gets too much."
"Yes, ma'am. You can count on me."
"No! Mom! Don't go!!"
Ignoring my protest, mom handed over the clothes and the pass, then left the room. She really left?
Even though she trusts Heena, isn't this a bit too much? I'm hospitalized here! Just a few hours ago, there was a touching hospital scene happening here!
I looked at the door with resentful eyes, but no amount of staring would bring my mom back. I had no choice but to face Heena alone again.
She looked at me with a resolve in her eyes that seemed unyielding. Was it necessary to be so determined over something so trivial?
Sighing, I asked.
"Let's start with the basics. How exactly do you plan to help?"
"Well, of course... I'll, I'll help you take off your pants..."
Her face turned red as she stuttered in response to my question. Despite her bold declaration to help, her reaction was unexpectedly adorable.
"Heena, I can take off my pants with one hand."
Especially since hospital gowns are easier to remove.
"But, but to stand and go?"
"I can do that with one hand too..."
I could sit if needed. Why was I having such an embarrassing conversation with my girlfriend?
Only after hearing all this did Heena finally seem to give up, turning her gaze away.
"Tch..."
Why did she click her tongue as if disappointed? Should I have pretended to be helpless and let her do everything?
No matter how I thought about it, that just seemed inappropriate. We hadn't even had our first big moment together, and it wasn't right to start like that.
Discussing these matters with Heena in this cramped hospital room was already tiring me out.
I had to take drastic action.
"Heena, let's set some rules."
"Rules?"
"I appreciate the help, but it feels a bit excessive. I can do most things on my own."
"No. What if your injury gets worse? No, I refuse."
She turned her head away, leaving no room for negotiation. I had expected this reaction. Although my injury wasn’t severe, I was hospitalized due to an accident, and she had cried and worried a lot because of it.
I needed something strong to persuade Heena.
"Listen to me."
Attention, please.
"Think of it as practice."
"Practice for what?"
She tilted her head at my abrupt statement. Honestly, bringing this up right now might agitate Heena more, but it was necessary.
Otherwise, she might soon follow me into the bathroom, whether I liked it or not.
"For the future."
"Huh?"
"When we live together... we'll need rules, right? Like dividing household chores, for example."
"Uh...?"
I trailed off and glanced at her cautiously. I thought the idea of living together would excite Heena.
"......"
Her reaction was nothing like what I had expected.
Instead of being joyfully noisy, Heena nodded seriously, making me wonder if I had made a mistake.
"You're right. This room does have a studio apartment vibe. Shall we think about it together?"
"...Yeah."
Did I really mess up?
In the hospital room, the loud voice had startled a nurse who came in, but I sent her back outside.
Still sobbing in my arms, I comforted Heena. Heeseong hyung briefly entered the room but then left, saying he would come back later, sensing the situation.
After a while, as Heena calmed down a bit, she slowly lifted her face from my chest. Her hair was disheveled from the moment she arrived, her face streaked with tears, and her eyes were red.
But still.
She was the most beautiful, my girlfriend.
"Feeling a bit better?"
"Hic... yes..."
"Good. The bathroom is right next to the door, want to go for a moment?"
"Yeah... I'll be back soon."
After crying, her emotions seemed to have settled, and perhaps she was feeling a bit embarrassed. She covered her face with her hands, avoiding showing it to me, and entered the attached bathroom.
A little later, she came out having tidied up her face and hair, and then we could talk calmly. Still, she seemed a bit anxious, sitting close to me.
"Did this happen while you were helping the grandmother?"
"Yeah. My mind was debating, but my body had already moved."
"......"
She bit her lip slightly at my response and held my hand tightly, as if asking me not to go anywhere.
After a moment of silence, she spoke with a trembling voice.
"It's because... I told you to take the subway..."
"Lee Heena."
I interrupted her. It was okay to worry, to feel anxious, or to be angry with me, but she shouldn't say such things, especially blaming herself like this.
For the first time today, Heena showed me an angry face, and I, feeling a bit stern, spoke to her.
"Don't say that. It's not your fault, and it's not that it was the grandmother's fault either. It just so happened that I was there, and I could help. That's a good thing, right?"
"...Right. I'm sorry."
"Sorry? You're just worried about me."
No one was at fault; it was just a chance for me to save someone. Thinking like this was better for everyone, especially for my mental health.
"Did you do well in the exam?"
"Yes..."
"That's great. You worked hard. I'm proud of you."
Even though she had composed herself in the bathroom, Heena's eyes were still red, and she looked extremely downcast. Her hand kept holding on to my clothes.
I stroked her hair and kept talking, trying to lift her spirits through conversation.
"Anyway, getting into the same college this year would have been tough, so I'll study more and try to apply to the same place as you."
"Don't push yourself too hard. There's no need for that."
Her response was weak, making me realize that cheering her up wouldn't be easy.
"But I still want to try. I've got plenty of time now. Oh, and since it's just my arm that's hurt, I can move around fine. How about a date this week?"
Heena's drooping head shot up as my words ended, and her voice rose.
"No! Don't even think about going anywhere until you're fully healed!"
"Come on, it's okay."
"Do you want me to get angry? Absolutely not!"
I thought I had found the perfect way to cheer up Heena, but she flatly rejected it. It wasn't just a simple refusal; her demeanor suggested she wouldn't let me leave the hospital for a single step.
After glaring at me with narrowed eyes for a moment, she clenched her fist as if she had made up her mind.
"You're staying here for a few days, right?"
"Probably? They said they'd start physical therapy."
"Then I'll stay with you and help. I'll talk to your mom about it."
Saying this, she quickly got up and grabbed her phone. I couldn’t hide my surprise at her words.
"Stay with me? But you have to leave after visiting hours."
Although they had been lenient with the afternoon visiting time, I heard that the absolute limit was 8 PM. After that, there was no leniency.
"One family member can stay overnight."
"There's such a thing?"
"Yes."
How did she know that? I was dumbfounded, learning this new piece of information. I knew Heena was smart and clever in many ways, but I didn't know why she knew this.
"Wait, what about school? You have to go tomorrow. I'm hospitalized, but..."
"I’ll stop by in the morning and then come back. There's not much to do after checking the scores anyway."
Heena already had a plan?
I was at a loss for words at her smooth response. While I sat there dumbfounded, Heena began making phone calls, apparently to both her mother and mine.
After a while of talking on the phone, she came back to my side with a relieved face. I was glad if this made her feel a bit better.
But whenever her gaze fell on my arm, her eyebrows would furrow again. Her facial expressions were incredibly dramatic today.
From the moment she finished her calls, my freedom in the hospital was completely gone.
Heena stuck to me, trying to help with everything I did. Although there wasn't much movement involved, she would rush to support my arm even when I just tried to change my posture.
She even insisted on feeding me the hospital dinner.
"Here, Yeonho. Open up."
"I can eat by myself. Besides, I can use my right arm somehow if I move it right..."
"Han Yeonho. Put that down right now."
"Sorry."
Of course, my right arm was difficult to move because of the cast, but I had no trouble eating with my left hand.
Yet, if I tried to move on my own, she would get angry right there. Heena rarely showed such a frown, but today she was freely expressing it.
I appreciated her care, but it felt a bit excessive.
---
Raei Translations
---
"Alright, you seem fine now, so I'll head out. Take care of yourself."
"Ah! Thanks for coming!"
Heeseong hyung, who had come back in late, watched the scene for a while before leaving with a look that said he had seen something he shouldn't have.
I understood why Heena was being overly protective, but I hoped she wouldn't keep this up for my entire stay.
"Yeonho, mom's here."
"Ah, Mom!! You came at just the right time!! Please, try to talk some sense into Heena!"
I urgently sought help from my mom, who had returned to the hospital room after going home to get my clothes. Heena’s over-the-top caregiving was starting to cross the line.
"I’m just trying to help!"
"I can go to the bathroom by myself!"
"You can't use one of your hands; it's difficult!"
"One hand is enough!"
Eating, drinking, resting – Heena was there for everything. Now she was even trying to accompany me to the bathroom, which I absolutely had to stop.
Thankfully, my mom returned while Heena and I were in a standoff.
"Here, Yeonho, I've put your clothes here. Heena, take this."
But my mom didn't blink an eye at my plea for help. Instead, she smiled and handed something to Heena.
"A pass?"
"You know it well. Then, please take care of Yeonho for me. Call if it gets too much."
"Yes, ma'am. You can count on me."
"No! Mom! Don't go!!"
Ignoring my protest, mom handed over the clothes and the pass, then left the room. She really left?
Even though she trusts Heena, isn't this a bit too much? I'm hospitalized here! Just a few hours ago, there was a touching hospital scene happening here!
I looked at the door with resentful eyes, but no amount of staring would bring my mom back. I had no choice but to face Heena alone again.
She looked at me with a resolve in her eyes that seemed unyielding. Was it necessary to be so determined over something so trivial?
Sighing, I asked.
"Let's start with the basics. How exactly do you plan to help?"
"Well, of course... I'll, I'll help you take off your pants..."
Her face turned red as she stuttered in response to my question. Despite her bold declaration to help, her reaction was unexpectedly adorable.
"Heena, I can take off my pants with one hand."
Especially since hospital gowns are easier to remove.
"But, but to stand and go?"
"I can do that with one hand too..."
I could sit if needed. Why was I having such an embarrassing conversation with my girlfriend?
Only after hearing all this did Heena finally seem to give up, turning her gaze away.
"Tch..."
Why did she click her tongue as if disappointed? Should I have pretended to be helpless and let her do everything?
No matter how I thought about it, that just seemed inappropriate. We hadn't even had our first big moment together, and it wasn't right to start like that.
Discussing these matters with Heena in this cramped hospital room was already tiring me out.
I had to take drastic action.
"Heena, let's set some rules."
"Rules?"
"I appreciate the help, but it feels a bit excessive. I can do most things on my own."
"No. What if your injury gets worse? No, I refuse."
She turned her head away, leaving no room for negotiation. I had expected this reaction. Although my injury wasn’t severe, I was hospitalized due to an accident, and she had cried and worried a lot because of it.
I needed something strong to persuade Heena.
"Listen to me."
Attention, please.
"Think of it as practice."
"Practice for what?"
She tilted her head at my abrupt statement. Honestly, bringing this up right now might agitate Heena more, but it was necessary.
Otherwise, she might soon follow me into the bathroom, whether I liked it or not.
"For the future."
"Huh?"
"When we live together... we'll need rules, right? Like dividing household chores, for example."
"Uh...?"
I trailed off and glanced at her cautiously. I thought the idea of living together would excite Heena.
"......"
Her reaction was nothing like what I had expected.
Instead of being joyfully noisy, Heena nodded seriously, making me wonder if I had made a mistake.
"You're right. This room does have a studio apartment vibe. Shall we think about it together?"
"...Yeah."
Did I really mess up?
