[Sowon x Jin] Of Sunshine and Hurricanes

four

After being exposed to cold weather longer than I should have that day, I fell sick. It started when I abruptly jerked out of sleep in the middle of the night, shivering and feeling every joint of my body in bearable but uncomfortable pain. Being hardheaded that I was, I ignored it and instead, wrapped myself with the thick comforter. I slept through it, hoping the impending fever would go away if I kept myself warm enough.

When the morning came, though, I was still in the same state as I was during the night. Eventually, my mother found out that I had been sick for the last few hours. She was never the type to freak out about her children getting fevers, but even with a cool head, she never took it lightly. Hence, she immediately called my school and let them know about my situation.

Over the next few days, I had recurring fevers which I thought wasn't that bad until I developed a common cold and cough. My mother brought me for a check-up, and as we had expected, it was a viral infection. How I got it, I wasn't sure. But such infection was far from dangerous, so the doctor, like always, only advised me to take an antibiotic and rest as much as I could. Though, of course, he reminded that if the colds and cough persisted longer than it should have, we should see him again. I was left with no choice, so I spent an entire week in my bedroom, either sleeping or awake to take my medicine or eat. As a self-punishment for ignoring the impeding flu the first time I felt it that night, I inclined myself to have a full bed rest, hoping for a speedy recovery.

Just when I was beginning to feel bored, Yuju came in time to visit me after her classes had ended. She brought me some apples, which my mother and I were both thankful for. We talked for a bit, filling me in with latest gossips again, mostly. She said I didn't have to worry about our lessons, because she would let me copy her notes and try to explain the lessons for me. I found that admirable of her.

Every word that came out of Yuju's mouth, the brighter her eyes became. She talked and talked and talked, a story after another. I responded either with a nod or by saying "then what happened?" It was like watching a volcano erupt in which her words were the lava that accumulated over the time, waiting to be spilled out of the crater. And suddenly, it came to me that she always told me everything. Whether it was about something extraordinary or not, Yuju would tell it to me.

So, on a whim, I showed Yuju Han Soeun's letter. I realized that I felt guilty, in a way, for keeping it from her when it wasn't even worth it. And that, me (probably) losing to our friendly bet was the least thing I should care about. I agreed to do the bet, after all, and I didn't want to be someone who couldn't keep her words.

"What were the odds?" Yuju said as soon as I finished recounting to her the fateful day Han Soeun approached me in the locker hall. I expected Yuju's reaction to be somewhat big like squealing, now that the letter pretty much confirmed the hearsays about Han Soeun having a thing for Seokjin. But what I only got from her was an amused laughter, which felt like lifting the weight off my shoulders. "What were the odds?" she repeated, taking the words right out my mouth. She was flipping the sealed pink envelope back to back. "To think you've practically become their bridge, it's funny."

It was, in a way. But perhaps, for something like that to happen, it couldn't be helped. Feeling a bit lighter, I responded with a knowing smile, "It's not like she can ask my brother a favor, can she?"

.:.

Series of soft knocks slowly reached my consciousness. I heard the door swing open, then. A warm palm was gently pressed against my forehead.

"Mom, what time is it?"

"It's eight."

Hearing the familiar voice that wasn't my mother's, I snapped my eyes open in surprise, finding Seokjin gazing at me. I recognized the faux wool brown jacket he had over his uniform.