Golden Time (JungYong)

76

Regrettably, Arum's drawing was not sold. Instead, donations for her kept coming in.

Suhyuk immediately closed the bank account.

For he did not need it anymore as his original purpose was already fulfilled. 

Several days passed, and on the wall of the pediatrics building was hung a drawing.

It was the one drawn by Arum, which featured a big tree and a house.

Looking at it with Arum, he asked  her, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Arum's eyes were glittering before her drawing.

"I want to be a painter."

Nodding his head, Suhyuk looked at the drawing. Though he did not how to appreciate a painting, he could feel some sort of warmth from it.

"Arum!"

"Mom!"

Arum hugged her mother who just got back from work.

"What did you do today? Did you listen to the doctor well?"
"Yeah, mom. I got two shots, but didn't cry."

"Good job!"

Both of them stroked each other's faces while they were sticking together.

Then, Suhyuk said, "Can I talk with you?"
At his words, she nodded and looked at Arum,

"Arum, I've got something to talk about with the doctor. Come inside first."

Looking at her entering the patient's room, Suhyuk said in no time,

"She looks healthy, right?"

She bended herself with sincerity, saying, "Thanks. I just don't know how I can repay my debt to you… I won't forget. Later I'll…"

"Well, I just did my duty."

With a smile, he turned over her chart and said,

"Even though her vital signs are normal, we have to check her condition for one week."

She took out a white envelope from the bag that she was carrying, and gave it to him,

"This is not much, but please take this money…"

Suhyuk waved his hands, refusing to take it. The whole bill for her surgery and hospitalization was already paid for through the donations collected for Arum. Suhyuk was thinking of returning it to her when she was discharged.

"Please take this, such as it is…"

She continued to hand the envelop to him, but he refused it.

"You don't have to give it to me. Please use it to buy her sketchbooks and crayons…"

Then Suhyuk's eyes became wide, for she was suddenly moaning while offering the envelope.

Beads of sweat were formed on her forehead when she was looking down.

"Are you okay?"

At his voice, she raised her head, and tried to smile.

"I'm okay."

But she was not, in his eyes.

She was holding her stomach with one hand.

"Looks like it's menstrual pain. Have a seat here."

He had her sit on the bench in the hallway, saying, "Do you usually have severe cramps like this?"
"Not as severe as this…"

Once a month when that very day came, she normally walked and ate well, and she did not feel her cramps that much, but today she felt different.