In Another Life

Closure

It was already the second day of Jungsu's stay at the hospital, as his fever hadn't come down yet. The members of his group, along with Minhwan, who had just found out about Jungsu's hospitalization, came to visit him on this particular day. Jungsu sat in his hospital bed, eating his breakfast, while the group engaged in lively conversation around him.

"How are you, Jungsu?" Minhwan asked worriedly.

"I'm fine, Minhwan. I'm sorry to bother you," Jungsu answered guiltily.

After entering Jungsu's room, Jooyeon and Jiseok proceeded to assess Jungsu's temperature and vital signs. Minhwan observed their actions with doubt, but Jooyeon and Jiseok paid no attention to his skepticism and continued with their examination.

Jooyeon inquired if the patient experiencing the high temperature was feeling any symptoms such as headaches, nausea, or any other discomfort, as their temperature had not decreased and remained at 40 degrees.

"There are moments when I experience headaches followed by feelings of slight nausea,"  Jungsu explained.

"We'll be right back to get your medicine," Jiseok answered, and he and Jooyeon left the room.

After a brief period of time, Jiseok and Jooyeon returned with the prescribed medication and gave it to Jungsu. Jungsu consumed the medicine, and once he had finished, the interns exited the room.

Seungmin couldn't help but acknowledge the uncomfortable silence that filled the room during Jooyeon's presence, remarking, "Well, that was certainly an awkward situation." The tension was palpable as no one seemed willing to break the silence that seemed to hang heavy in the air.

Jooyeon let out a deep sigh, the weight of their brief interaction weighing heavily on him. Jiseok's gaze held concern as he observed his friend's troubled expression.

"Are you okay after seeing your ex here? So, the rumors about an indie artist here are true," Jiseok said.

"Rumors?" Jooyeon asked.

"Yeah. The nurses were so noisy gossiping about Jungsu being in here." Jiseok expressed his frustration at the nurses' lack of professionalism as they gossiped loudly. His irritation was evident in his voice as he criticized their behavior.

"Hey, Ji," Jooyeon says hesitantly, unable to look Jiseok straight in the eyes. Jiseok responded with a soft hum, indicating his agreement or understanding.

"He wanted to talk to me, and I don't know if I should," Jooyeon ranted.

Jiseok took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding to Jooyeon's dilemma. He stressed that the decision ultimately rested in Jooyeon's hands: "If you felt inclined to engage in conversation, you should go ahead, but if not, there was no need to force yourself into a situation you weren't comfortable with." Jiseok's words were a gentle reminder that ultimately, Jooyeon had the power to choose how to proceed in the situation.

Jooyeon found himself filled with uncertainty as he pondered whether or not to engage in conversation with Jungsu. After their brief discussion, they returned to their hospital rounds.

Jungsu, who had been confined to his room since the previous day, was feeling restless and eager to leave the confines of his room. Jungsu was joined by Seungmin, and together they decided to take a stroll to the garden in order to enjoy the crisp, refreshing air.

"So, what is your plan? "Seungmin asked.

"If I'm lucky today, maybe we'll talk, but if not, then maybe after I get discharged from here," Jungsu replied, and Seungmin nodded.

Seungmin offered a piece of advice, suggesting that "it would be beneficial for you to clearly communicate your boundaries to Minhwan and make it known that you do not have romantic feelings for him. By doing so, you can prevent any unintentional hurt or misunderstandings in your relationship with him."

Jungsu pondered the advice, lost in thought as he stared off into the distance. As lunchtime rolled around, Jooyeon felt the exhaustion of his shift weighing heavily on him. Seeking solace in the garden, he sought a moment of respite, only to stumble upon Jungsu and Seungmin deep in conversation amidst the serene surroundings.

"Why are you outside, Mr. Kim?" Jooyeon approached the patient. Jungsu was completely taken aback by the unexpected arrival of Jooyeon, leaving him at a loss for words.

Jungsu sheepishly admitted, "I'm getting bored in the room, so I went to the garden." Jooyeon, upon hearing this response, visibly showed his exasperation by pinching the bridge of his nose and releasing a heavy sigh.

"Fine, we'll stay here for a little bit," Jooyeon replied defeatedly.

Seungmin made a quick exit from the garden, determined to find Jiseok and avoid the awkwardness of being the third wheel with Jungsu and Jooyeon. He didn't want to intrude on their time together, so he decided to seek out his acquaintance and find something else to occupy his time.

The former romantic partners sat in a heavy silence on the bench, their bodies close but their hearts miles apart. Jungsu stole furtive glances at Jooyeon, studying him intently after a prolonged absence. Jooyeon could feel the weight of Jungsu's gaze on him, even without directly meeting his eyes. The air between them was thick with unsaid words and unresolved emotions, creating a palpable tension that neither of them knew how to break. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as they both grappled with the painful memories and unspoken truths that lingered between them.

Jooyeon took a deep breath and ended the prolonged silence with a question: "Is there something on your mind that you want to discuss?"

"I just wanted to apologize for being a jerk and for hurting you. I'm sorry if I didn't have much patience, and I know you were stressed as well, but I disregarded your efforts and feelings because I was dealing with my problems too. I know my reasoning isn't an excuse for being a bad partner to you." Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke, revealing the depth of his remorse and desire to make amends.

"Honestly, I don't know what to say, but I also have some shortcomings. So don't blame yourself for everything." Jooyeon looked at Jungsu again.

"But still, I shouldn't have treated you like that, and you deserve better. I wasn't good at dealing with my problems and just kept projecting my feelings onto you. You were a good boyfriend to me, and I just took it for granted." At this point, Jungsu cried, which made Jooyeon's heart clench as he saw his loved one cry.

"I must also express my regret for acting petty and sometimes immature towards you. We were both a bit naive and often unsure of how to navigate our relationship. During the times when you weren't there for me, I longed for your presence and support, especially when I was at my lowest. I grew weary of constantly seeking your attention and affection. While I understand the importance of your career and have always been supportive, it feels like we no longer have quality time together. Every interaction seems to devolve into petty arguments." Jooyeon's tears flowed as he finally revealed his pent-up emotions from the past five months.

"Oh God, I'm really sorry. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness yet, but hopefully one day you will forgive me. But can we at least be civil?" Jungsu asked while wiping Jooyeon's tears.

"Hmm, sure, we can be civil," Jooyeon replied.

Jungsu felt a sense of relief as he finally unloaded his emotions, finding closure in their relationship. Jooyeon also experienced a weight lifted off his shoulders as he expressed his thoughts that had been weighing on him for the past 5 months. The two of them sat in comfortable silence, no longer feeling awkward.

"We should probably get back to your room so that your fever won't get worse," and he assisted him in getting back to his room.

"We should probably do that, future Dr. Lee," Jungsu replied, giving Jooyeon a small smile, who smiled back.