Gentle Forest

Chapter 46

Aiden urgently called my name. Although sounds leaked out from the earphones, I was in no state to respond.

Gasping for breath while still nauseous, tears welled up in my eyes. My face turned red, struggling to breathe, I leaned on the ground with both hands and choked. Unable to vomit anything, I continued to whimper for a while.
Minhyuk, surprised like a puffer fish, stamped his feet and grabbed my arm.

"Hey, are you okay? Are you okay?"

"Ugh... ugh...."

Repeated questions made my ears ache. Minhyuk, sensing something, picked up the hotdog and threw it far into the backyard. As the lingering smell disappeared from the air, thankfully, the retching gradually stopped. I continued to gasp for breath. Minhyuk, alarmed, picked me up as if lifting a doll.

"Go to the hospital!"

"...The phone, hand me the phone...."

"Crazy. Is that the problem right now?"

Vomiting might solve the issue, but it wasn't appropriate for a video call with Aiden. Minhyuk, harshly ending the call, stuffed the phone into his pocket and started running like a madman, making it difficult for me to keep my eyes open as he swiftly crossed the wide street. Fortunately, my symptoms were gradually improving by the time we reached the local hospital. Although I still struggled to breathe, the vomiting had completely stopped. Minhyuk burst into the clinic like the protagonist of a lively cartoon.

"Whoa, whoa, Doctor, I think he's in pain."

Due to Minhyuk's panting from running, the doctor's expression wrinkled. Since I visited the hospital relatively frequently, I wasn't an overly surprising patient. The doctor scolded Minhyuk, who had set me down on the bed, saying that lunchtime was already over.

"I'm worried. How can he attend classes like this!"

"Excuses won't work, kid."

Although the eyes still felt warm, the rough heavy breathing had significantly subsided. The doctor looked at us suspiciously.

"Are you okay? What's hurting you, Seowon?"

"I just felt a bit unwell for a moment..."

"No, he really fell as if he were about to die."

"Well, that's because... you stuck a hotdog into my mouth."

Thinking about the hotdog made me feel like I might vomit again. The doctor examined me closely and asked

"Does it feel like indigestion? Should I give you some antacids?"

"No, no. Taking medicine might make it worse."

It could indeed be indigestion, as the tension drained from me, and my shoulders trembled. Lying on the bed, I felt overwhelmed by weakness. The doctor, noticing my state, encouraged me to rest, saying it would get better after some time.

"Just rest for an hour, and then you can go. Minhyuk, you should leave now."

"I'll stay for another fifteen minutes. Earlier, he really..."

The doctor, though stern with Minhyuk, seemed to have no further scolding.

"Alright, Minhyuk, take good care of Seowon while the doctor examines him."

"Yes."

Minhyuk, relieved, pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. After checking my condition by touching my forehead, the doctor left the examination room. Minhyuk finally exhaled as if a burden had been lifted.

"Oh man, I seriously thought you were going to faint."

"I said I didn't feel well. Why did you insist on that? If I had suffocated and died, you would have been responsible."