The Gimbap Project

Chapter 38 Sick

With autumn settling in, Seoul's weather only grew colder, and breezy afternoons had become the norm. But with the chill came something less inviting: an inevitable wave of flu bugs and colds as students stressed over their upcoming exams.

Hanil High was no exception. A particularly nasty flu was making its rounds, leaving a trail of sniffles, coughs, and red noses in its wake.

Despite her best efforts to stay healthy, Hong Hae-in woke up one Tuesday morning feeling like she'd been hit by a truck.

Her head throbbed relentlessly, her nose wouldn't stop dripping, her eyes were bloodshot, and her throat burned as if she'd swallowed fire.

She looked as bad as she felt.

Groaning, Hae-in blearily checked the time. The idea of dragging herself out of bed was laughable, much less all the way to school. Try as she might, her body refused to cooperate.

Reluctantly, she grabbed her phone from the nightstand and texted the one person she trusted with her life.

"Baek Hyun Woo, the flu bug got to me."

His reply came almost immediately.

What?! Ottoke? How are you feeling now? Are you feverish? Do you need medication? Food?"

Under different circumstances, she might have laughed, but the sudden wave of nausea had her clutching her stomach instead.

"I just need rest. Just don't panic if you don't see me in school."

Her head was pounding, and she was ready to drift back into unconsciousness when another text buzzed through.

"Hae-in ah, at least give me your address. I can pop by with some food after school."

Perhaps it was the fever clouding her judgment, but she found herself typing out her address without a second thought and hitting the send button.

Tossing her phone aside, Hae-in popped two Panadol tablets into her mouth, washed them down with some water, and buried herself under her blankets.

Moments later, she was fast asleep, blissfully unaware of what she'd just set into motion.

‧₊˚ ⋅ 𓐐𓎩 ‧₊˚ ⋅

"Hyun Woo-ah, wanna go for ice cream after this?" Yang-gi asked, stretching after the long, gruelling study session. "We ought to unwind from this brutality just a bit."

Hyun Woo shook his head firmly. "Ani, I have to go check on Hae-in."

"Oh, maja. What happened to her? Is she sick?" Yang-gi asked, his brows knitting together.

Hyun Woo pouted, nibbling anxiously on his lip. "Very. She hasn't replied to me since morning. I'm worried. What if something terrible happened to her?"

Yang-gi snorted lightly. "Aish, what's the worst that could happen when she's at home?" he reasoned. "But arasseo, go do your boyfriend duties, you lovesick idiot."

Already lost in his thoughts, Hyun Woo didn't seem to hear him. Without another word, he grabbed his bag and walked briskly out of the school gates, determined to figure out how to get to Hae-in's house.

He ended up taking a cab.

As the cab wove its way through an unfamiliar path lined with tall trees and winding roads, Hyun Woo couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and curiosity. This part of Seoul was completely foreign to him – quiet, pristine, and far removed from the bustling neighbourhoods he had seen.

Then, the imposing gates of the Queens Mansion came into view.

Hyun Woo froze.

So this was where Hae-in lived.