Yes, It’s Me. The Obsessive Side Top

#048

“Is that so?” Sun Woo agreed as if it wasn’t a big deal. “I’ve been a light sleeper since I was young, so I woke up easily even at small noises.”

“I see.” Sun Woo smiled at me as if he found it amusing, but I just found it creepy. It seemed like nonsense would come out of Sun Woo’s mouth. I felt like I had to cover that mouth right away. I slowly raised my hand to try to cover his mouth, but Sun Woo noticed like a ghost and grabbed my hand so I couldn’t move it. I was trying to timidly pull my hand out when his face came close to me. 

“Ha Jin will have to keep his voice down. Can you endure it?” My body trembled at Sun Woo’s whisper in my ear. This crazy bastard. Endure what? And why do you keep telling me to be quiet. Let’s keep our voices alive.

“…Let’s sleep, guys.” I muttered weakly and lifted my now free hand to pull on Sun Woo’s collar. When I faced Sun Woo, he smiled, stretching his lips in a way that properly bewitches people. 

‘Please let’s sleep,’ I mouthed the words and Sun Woo stuck out his lips. When I glared at him with narrowed eyes, he also spoke with his mouth. 

‘If you do it for me.’ Then he puckered his lips and stuck them out again. Looking at the lips he stuck out to me like a tempting fruit, my mouth went dry on its own. Contrary to my body’s honest reaction, I wondered in my head if I had to go this far.

I gently bit my lower lip and brought my face close to him. I just wanted to do it once and sleep comfortably. Just as our lips were about to touch, at that very moment – 

“Ha Jin.” 

“Uh, huh?” Startled by Kim Shin calling me, I pulled my face away from Sun Woo’s, fluttering, before our lips touched by a sheet of paper. The sound of the blanket being pulled and my startled voice sounded strange enough for anyone to be suspicious. My heart pounded as if I had been caught doing something useless. This is crazy. I was so bewitched by Sun Woo that I forgot Kim Shin was there and almost clashed lips.

“What time are you going to Seoul tomorrow?” 

“Uh, I’ll get ready when I wake up and go in the morning.” 

“I wanted to hang out more here. It’s a shame. We’ll have a chance to come play again later, right?”

“…Probably?” 

“Okay. Good night.” Fortunately, Kim Shin didn’t seem to notice anything strange, and it quieted down again after those words.

Pressing my still not calmed heart with my hand, Sun Woo grabbed my chin and turned me toward him. 

‘Don’t,’ ignoring my silent cry, Sun Woo put his lips on mine and pulled away. Fortunately, there was no strange sound, so I let out a sigh of relief in secret. His hand brushed my neck once and fell away. And he mouthed something, but I tried hard to ignore it with my eyes tightly closed.

But even with my eyes closed, Sun Woo’s face kept coming to mind. In my head, it was like a video playing, with Sun Woo talking to me, even making sounds. 

‘I’ll make it again before it disappears.’ Is he really crazy?

* * *

I brought up going to a big hospital in Seoul to Grandmother a few days ago, before going to the countryside market. After telling Grandmother we should get tested again, I kept fiddling with my hands out of anxiety. Grandmother neither agreed nor refused, and just quietly looked at me and Sun Woo.

‘Do you kids have any lingering attachments?’ At Grandmother’s words, we both said nothing. Then Grandmother took one of each of our hands and brought them together. She rubbed our joined hands with her small hands. 

‘You have to make sure there are no lingering attachments. That’s what this time is for, isn’t it?’ Grandmother said that while agreeing to go to the hospital. With a liberated smile that seemed to show no more lingering attachments to life…

* * *

The way up to Seoul was both exciting and scary. A sense of anticipation and loss, like before scratching a lottery ticket, mix together to create an abnormal feeling. I was afraid that if I had vain hopes and it turned out not to be the case, it would be hard to handle the aftermath. But I was still clinging to a thread of hope. Grandmother was still sitting peacefully smiling in the back seat. And next to her was Sun Woo, with a kind face, staying steadily in his place.

Perhaps because my head was complicated, I couldn’t speed up. I drove so slowly with the thought of getting there safely that it took over 5 hours to arrive in Seoul, unlike on the way down.

When we arrived at the hospital’s main entrance, Grandmother let out a small exclamation of admiration. “The hospital is really big.” Grandmother’s voice cleared the heavy air that had settled in the car.

“The most skilled person here will see you, Grandma.” 

“Is that so? Thanks to our Jin-i, I’ll even get to meet the most famous doctor.” 

When I parked the car, a staff member who had come out in advance approached and opened the rear door. He must have heard in advance, as he carefully received Grandmother. Before getting out of the car, Sun Woo called me.

“Ha Jin. What about you?” 

“I’m… trembling somehow.” 

“I see. Don’t worry and wait. I’ll call.” 

“Okay.” 

“If you’re anxious, contact me. I’ll come get you right away.” 

“I have to look after Grandmother.” 

“You’re important too.” Sun Woo got back in the car, stuck his head out from the back seat, and kissed my cheek.

“Much better to look at.” Sun Woo laughed as if my surprised face was funny and got out of the car. Then, watching him immediately follow Grandmother, I stroked my cheek. It really brought me to my senses.

Our protagonist is definitely crazy…

After Sun Woo and Grandmother disappeared into the hospital building, I let out a deep sigh I had been holding back. Then I drove the car to the parking lot. Since I had nowhere else to go, I turned off the engine and sat still in the car, but I felt suffocated and my heart was troubled. In the end, I got out of the car, but I was at a loss as to where to go. Not wanting to stray too far from the hospital, I found a café on the first floor.

As I blankly stared outside while sipping lemonade, I saw a familiar face passing by. 

“Huh?” It was definitely the man who had been hit and left my father’s office. He was walking with a cast on his right arm. Seeing his injured appearance, why did my father immediately come to mind? I had a suspicion that my father might be involved in his injury.

‘They say first impressions are important for people.’ Seeing him, a sense of kinship seeped in. What on earth was his story that he was beaten by a corporate Chairman? I followed his steps with my eyes. Fatigue could be felt in his steps as he walked slowly, as if tired. When he disappeared from view, my heart felt heavy again.

How many hours had passed? Several cups of drinks were placed in front of me. The bright outdoor scenery had somehow darkened. I kept looking at my phone that wasn’t ringing.

As I was staring blankly at my phone like that, someone gently stroked my cheek. Turning my head at the warm and soft touch, Sun Woo was standing there with a faint smile. 

“You waited well without crying?” 

“Is the examination over?” 

“It ended a while ago. I’m on my way back after taking care of Grandmother’s hospitalization and seeing her settled.” 

“Why hospitalization?” 

“The test results aren’t all out yet. It seems we can know accurately when all the results are out.” 

“What about Grandmother?” 

“She’s watching the drama she always watches in the hospital room.” At those words, the gloom disappeared and laughter came out naturally. How can Grandmother be so calm even though it’s her own matter? Thinking it’s just like Grandmother, my heart felt a little lighter.

“Let’s eat.” 

“Did Grandmother eat?” 

“She ate what they provide at the hospital. It seemed perfect for you to eat. They said it comes out well without being stimulating?” 

“Should I get some hospital food too?” 

“Sure.” 

Sun Woo and I had a simple dinner at a gimbap restaurant near the hospital. Following Sun Woo to Grandmother’s hospital room, the place we arrived at was the VIP-only room on the very top floor. I was grateful that Secretary Kim seemed to have taken care of it carefully.

Looking at the nameplate that said Kim Ok-bun in front of the hospital room door, I try to forcibly raise the corners of my mouth. 

“Ok-bun.” Calling Grandmother in a cheerful voice, I opened the door and entered, and a bright and stylish space that didn’t feel like a hospital room appeared. In the spacious room, there was a sofa, a table, and a wide hospital bed. Grandmother, who was leaning on the bed, was in the middle of a conversation with someone. The person in a white gown with another doctor beside him turned his head.

‘Sin Yeo-un’s father.’ He smiled at me with a face that looked just like Sin Yeo-un from the webtoon. The protagonist’s family, incomparably more harmonious than Ha Jin’s family.

The father, who was the hospital director, was of such excellent character that he went on medical volunteer work from time to time, and he was devoted to his family despite being busy. The mother was also a capable music professor full of love. Sin Yeo-un, who received proper love and grew up under such parents. He was truly the epitome of a golden-spoon man. That damn Ha Jin had no corner to lean on compared to him.

“Hello.” 

“Ha Jin. It’s been so long. You’ve already grown this much?” The hospital director greeted me with a very pleased face. As the protagonist’s father, he often appeared in the webtoon. Whether looking at how he treats Sin Yeo-un or his current appearance, he was a really good adult.

‘Are they acquaintances? Well, since the fathers are in the highest positions in their respective fields, they must be connected.’ 

“It’s been a while.” 

“You’re looking more and more like actress Baek Su-ah. Many people say that, right?” 

“…Yes.” I resembled my mother a lot in appearance. Even without affection, looking at our faces, we were undoubtedly family.

“When you were little, you were so tiny that I wondered when you’d grow tall, but you grew even taller than me?” 

“…I’ve grown a lot, right? Thank you for accepting the request even though you’re busy.” 

“If it’s Ha Jin’s request, I have to accept anything.” 

“Please take good care of our grandmother.” 

“Yes.” The hospital director turned his body back to Grandmother and spoke kindly.

“Grandmother, don’t worry. I’ll do my best for you.” 

“Oh my, doctor, you must be working hard.” 

“You must be tired from the tests today, so rest well. There’s nothing difficult anymore, you just have to wait. Don’t worry too much and stay comfortably. You have to tell me right away if there’s anything uncomfortable.” 

“Of course. I should. Doctor.” The hospital director patted Sun Woo’s shoulder once and turned to me again.

“Ha Jin, since it’s been a while, if you have a moment, shall we have some tea together?” 

“Yes.” My body tensed up. What was he trying to say? I was about to follow the hospital director out of the room when Sun Woo approached and pulled my hand. He seemed to have something to say and was deliberately making a scary face.

“Don’t cry when I’m not there.” 

“…Ha…” I shook my head in disbelief. I wondered what he was talking about so seriously, but it was nonsense.

* * *

When I went to the hospital director’s room, he personally brewed green tea for me. I was so nervous that even the hot summer air turned chilly when it touched me. I sat at the table and wrapped my hands around the mug filled with warm green tea. The mug’s warmth at least helped calm my heart.

“Is she your friend’s grandmother?” 

“Ah, yes.” 

“You two must be very close?” 

“Yes. She’s like a close grandmother to me.” 

“I see…” The hospital director trailed off. It felt like depending on what came out of his mouth, the path to hell or heaven would open. My gaze lingered on his mouth. The hospital director, who had been hesitating, opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“Ha Jin. Grandmother. She has kidney cancer.” At the same time as those words, my heart dropped with a thud.