My Healing Forever

CHAPTER 8

Morning arrived once again, and I was determined to keep my focus solely on training. I tried to keep thoughts of Irene out of my mind, but it wasn't easy.

I forced myself to think about my goals and the reason I came here. Yet, every now and then, a fleeting image of her would disrupt my concentration.

Days passed, and I maintained my resolve. I poured all my energy into the training exercises, trying to distract myself from the lingering feelings I had for Irene.

My friends noticed the change in me but refrained from bringing up the topic again, respecting my space.

"Hey, Lisa, your form is improving," Commander Kang said during a drill. "Keep it up."

"Thank you, sir," I responded, feeling a small sense of accomplishment.

Despite my efforts to stay focused, fate seemed determined to throw Irene back into my path.

It started with small interactions—exchanging glances from their poll, passing by each other in the corridors—but we never spoke. I tried to keep my distance, respecting her wish for space.

Then, one afternoon during a particularly grueling training session, I sprained my ankle while climbing the obstacle course. The pain was sharp and immediate, forcing me to stop.

"Lisa, are you okay?" Jeongyeon shouted from below.

"I'm fine, just need a minute," I replied, trying to downplay it. But it was clear I couldn't continue without getting it checked.

Hobbled to the nurse's station, my heart pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with the pain in my ankle. I dreaded yet anticipated seeing Irene again. I took a deep breath before entering.

Inside, the clinic was quiet, and the nurse on duty was someone I didn't recognize. Relief and disappointment washed over me in equal measure.

"Sit here," the nurse instructed, gesturing to a bed. She examined my ankle and frowned.

"You'll need some ice and rest. I'll call Nurse Irene to check it properly."

My heart skipped a beat. I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral.

A few minutes later, Irene walked in. The moment she saw me, her expression softened for a brief second before returning to professional neutrality.

"Nurse Irene, Lisa here has a sprained ankle," the other nurse informed her. Irene nodded and approached me.

"Hi,Ms. Lisa. Let's take a look," she said in a calm, detached voice.

Ms. Lisa, she used to call me just by my name, but of course that was when we were at that toilet.

She knelt down and gently examined my ankle, her touch sending shivers up my spine despite my attempts to stay composed.

"It's a mild sprain," she said after a moment.

"You'll need to rest and avoid strenuous activity for a few days. I'll wrap it for you."

"Wait, what? Days? No, I can still walk," I demanded, not wanting to miss any activity here.

She just looked at me with a stern expression. "You sprained your ankle. If you force yourself to do more physical activities, it can lead to a serious injury," she said firmly.

I didn't respond because I knew she was right. But this meant I wouldn't be able to attend the daily tasks for the next few days.

Gosh, I didn't like that idea at all. The training was the only distraction I had to keep her out of my mind.