Wish (Jung Hoseok)

Two

The week after she was discharged had passed sooner than Riley thought possible.
Hyunwoo stood in front of her, an expecting look on his face.

"Riley, I don't think you have a choice if you go to Korea or not. You can't just relearn English, for some god only knows reason. Either way, you either transfer and keep a job or suffer in an English country."

Riley's lower lip jutted out as she felt the decision weigh on her already aching mind.
"I don't have a choice, do I? You're just phrasing it like I do... either way, if I even try to stay here it ends up with me in pain."

"Why? Why does it hurt when you try?"

"I don't know, oppa. If I knew I'd find a damn solution." Riley groaned, holding her head.

"Well maybe that was just when you woke up from your stroke try... try again?" Hyunwoo asked.

Riley tensed. "No... you don't understand, it hurts."

"Riley." Hyunwoo's voice was strict. He didn't want to hurt her, but he needed to make sure he wouldn't lose her before they tried.

Riley sighed.

"I... like... chicken nugget" her voice strained and she clutched her head almost as soon as the words left her mouth. It felt like tiny knives digging into her temples, like it was intentional.

"What the hell!" She shrieked, annoyed.
Hyunwoo's eyes were wide, watching as the girl in front of him crumbled to her knees.

"I'm sorry." Was all he said, his voice meek as he looked away from her.

Riley grunted and stood, the pain subsiding as quickly as it disabled her.

"It's okay... I understand how it works. You wouldn't though" she mumbled, not exactly wanting to make him think she was insane too.

"What do you mean 'you understand', Riley? You had a stroke. It's pretty hard to figure out why you're like this."
Hyunwoo was angry, more so at himself for not noticing how hard the girl was working.

He felt responsible for the fever that caused the stroke in the first place.

"I just don't want to let you go, Riley. I hope you know that."
His voice was softer, as well as his almond eyes. She sighed.

"I know. I want to stay too, but at the same time, imagine all the coverage I'll get over there."

"Riley. Korea is not the place for a girl like you. I could transfer you to Japan-"
"No. If I'm leaving, I'm going to Korea. I can take care of myself."

Hyunwoo groaned at those words.
"Riley! Look at yourself. Or more so, hear yourself!
You think you can take care of yourself? The last time you told me that you were speaking English. How the hell do you even know Korean anyway? Did you study all of the sudden, after years of me trying?"

"No, no! I just..." she teared up.
This was too much.

I just made a wish at the wrong fucking time.

Riley knew she couldn't say that.

"I guess I did pick up on what I learned..."

Riley didn't want to be scolded for working so hard. She really didn't need that right now. Sure, Hyunwoo was worried, and for a good reason.