signed | choi seungcheol

➢thirty-five

-Jiyeon-

I woke up the bright sun shining into the room as I blinked my eyes open. I groaned as I looked around the room to see Minhwan sleeping on the couch. I sighed as I closed my eyes to recall what had happened.

I sat up as quietly as I can but I accidentally shook the bed and made some noise, waking Minhwan up. He rubbed his eyes as he walked over and sat down on the side of the bed, "How are you feeling?"

"Okay," I smiled but he didn't return it which was odd. He patted my head lightly, "Jiyeon. Please stop investigating your father's case. And don't come back to Gangnam again until all this is settled."

I frowned at him, "All this is settled? What do you mean by that? Who are you to tell me what to do?" He sighed as he held my hands together, "Please believe me. What happened that day was because of Lee Jungsoo. We are taking this case into our hands so please don't do anything rash and get yourself injured."

"Who are you?" I asked as I pushed his hands away, "You're being so fishy. And who was that guy who came in just in time to save you?" Minhwan furrowed his eyebrows, "First of all, I'm not one of them, I'm only trying to protect you. I know we haven't known each other for long but the internet is fast with this kind of cases plus you were involved with an idol before. Second of all, what guy? There was no other guy at the scene."

I don't say anything because I know something is wrong so I watch Minhwan for a minute. He's obviously trying to hide something, "There was a guy. He called my name. He helped us. You even bowed to him!"

"Calm down," he finally smiled, "I don't know who you are talking about but we can discuss this later because I think you should rest, after all, you were injured pretty badly." I start to feel uneasy, maybe I had just imagined that guy saving me and Minhwan but it felt pretty real. I shook my head, "When can I get discharged?"

Minhwan smiled as he stood up, "A week. But you can roam around the hospital in a day. Be careful though, you never know what dangers there are." I groaned as I lied down and went back to sleep for there wasn't anything else to do.

xxxxxx

After a day passed, I decided to go out and roam around the area. I sighed as I walked around alone watching doctors and nurses running back and forth. I felt a kid bump into me from behind so I turned around to see a little girl in a hospital gown.

"Hello there," I smiled as she backed up a little and looked down at the ground, "So cute." I reached over to pat her head but she backs up even more. I pouted, "Where are you supposed to be?"

"Scared..." she mumbled. I pointed at myself, "Are you scared of me? I'm also a patient. I also got hurt." She nibbled on her thumb a little before pointing at someone behind me. I turned around to see a male doctor, "Minah, it's time for your medicine."

She shook her head, "Scared..." I smiled at her as I squat down in front of her, "Ajussi isn't scary. Ajussi wants to help you. He wants you to feel better so he is trying to help you." But she continued to shake her head.

The doctor sighed as he walked over and tried to pick her up but she ran behind me and started crying. I wrapped my arms around her picked her up as she continued to cry, "It's okay. Why don't you want to get your medicine? Tell unnie so I can help you."

She buried her head in my shoulder. I looked at the doctor for answers as he motioned a gesture that shows taking a shot. I make an o shape with my mouth as I nodded, "Minah, it won't hurt okay? Unnie also got a shot and got a really cute Pororo bandage before."

She sits up straight as she poked her finger at my nose, "Unnie?" I nodded as I lightly pinched her cheeks, "Yeah! I'll go with you to get a shot so don't worry." I put her down as she started running to the elevator, "Come on~ Let's go together."

I nodded as the two of us walked over to the elevator lobby, "Where are her parents?" The doctor sighed as he whispered, "Murdered. Turns out they stole money to pay for their daughter's hospital fees for cancer but the victim of theft killed them in front of her so she's kind of afraid of people with tools."

I nodded as the elevator dinged open. The three of us walked in and soon enough we were in her room. It was full of other kids and their parents. She jumped onto her bed and the doctor prepared her blood test.

I distracted her by singing some kids songs I remembered. She got it done but of course, there was still crying. She cried loudly, "It hurts." I sighed as I patted her head, "It's over. Do you want to get ice cream?"

"Ah no," the doctor shook his head, "She shouldn't eat anything sweet or bad for her health." I nodded as I picked her up, "Let's go to the playground down stairs together!" The doctor gave us permission and Minah ran out of the room quickly.

I ran out after her to see a familiar face in the hallway. Seungcheol. I had forgotten I was admitted to the same hospital as the others who were hurt. Minah bumped right into him and fell back on the floor, "Ow."

He picked her up and acted like nothing had happened and just walked past me. I held myself down from yelling at him and went up to Minah, "Minah, do you think we can go play another day?"

"Why?" she asked, pouting. I laughed nervously, "Unnie doesn't feel good and I think I need a shot but don't worry, let's go together tomorrow." She smiled a little and nodded before returning to her room.

When I was about to return to my room, I heard Minhwan talking on the phone and I became curious, "I can't find her. No, I won't call her on the loud speaker. What? She's downstairs. Okay. Yes, sir, don't worry, I'll watch over her. No, I guarantee you she won't get hurt again. You can trust me sir. Yes sir. Have a good day."

[play TRACK 7]

I walked in just as he cut the call, "Who are you?" Minhwan jumped back a little, startled, "What do you mean?" I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, "You can't hide Minhwan. Why would you protect me? Or watch over me? Do you have the right to?

"I don't," he sighed, "But it's my job to protect you. Since I can't hide from you anymore but I can't tell you anymore than that." I glared at him, "How do I know I can trust you? Just because you tried to save me once, doesn't mean you're a good person. Actually, you know what? Get the fuck out of here."

He doesn't move, shocked by my sudden coldness but I stand on my word, "Get out of here before I get any more frustrated." In the end, he leaves. Suddenly I can't help but just feel hurt and the moment Seungcheol walked past just like that pained me. I feel nothing but stupidity and I can't get rid of it.