TSG 94

Life after being hospitalized was ordinary. Se-hyun stayed by Shin Tae-oh’s side, nursing him, and occasionally stepping out for his own checkups. It was a peaceful routine.

Their expressions were serious as they each held a bowl of porridge and watched a drama.

“If you were Min-hee, who would you choose?”

Min-hee was the female lead loved by two men. Looking at her wistful tears, Se-hyun pondered Shin Tae-oh’s question.

“If it were me…”

The male lead worked at the same company as Min-hee, while the other man was the chairman’s son. The two most handsome men in the company were interested in Min-hee, and her choice remained.

Of course, given the nature of dramas, the protagonist was predetermined, but one could always imagine.

Contemplating who to choose, Se-hyun pointed with his chin at a new character on screen.

“I’d choose that guy.”

Se-hyun’s choice was neither the protagonist nor the chairman’s son.

“The team leader?”

“Yes.”

As Se-hyun chose a supporting character, Shin Tae-oh shifted his gaze from the TV to Se-hyun.

“Why?”

“He’s considerate and takes good care of others. He’s capable, and being with him seems stable…”

As Se-hyun listed the team leader’s good points, he sensed an odd atmosphere and looked at Shin Tae-oh. Seeing his displeased expression, Se-hyun’s voice trailed off. He couldn’t understand why Shin Tae-oh was suddenly acting this way.

“Has the porridge gone bad?”

They were eating the same porridge, but had only Shin Tae-oh’s spoiled?

“My stomach is upset.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re praising someone else instead of me. I’d rather be that team leader.”

This more-than-perfect human was actually feeling jealous.

“Would you fall for him if that team leader asked you out for a meal? Don’t try to escape by saying it’s just a drama. Just imagine you’ve entered that drama, it’s not difficult.”

He knew well because he had entered a novel. It’s easy.

“Him or me?”

Ah, please. Tae-oh.

Se-hyun lowered his head, hugging his bowl of porridge. He hadn’t dunked his face in it, but he wished he could.

As Se-hyun deeply sighed while inhaling the savory aroma of the porridge, Shin Tae-oh patted his shoulder, urging for an answer.

“…You.”

“What?”

Se-hyun’s answer was too quiet, so Shin Tae-oh leaned in. Prompted to repeat himself, Se-hyun suddenly raised his head.

“You’re an innocent pervert kitty.”

“An innocent… pervert?”

“I’m saying Shin Tae-oh is way better than that team leader. You may not be the most considerate… okay, not at all, but being with you feels good, and my heart races when I’m around you. So if I had to choose, it’d be you.”

“I don’t think you need to add ‘if I had to’.”

Pleased with Se-hyun’s choice, Shin Tae-oh regained his smile and ate his porridge. Though they had bought quite a large portion from outside, it quickly diminished with Shin Tae-oh’s few spoonfuls.

“I choose you too.”

Who asked you?

Se-hyun glared at Shin Tae-oh while plunging his spoon into the porridge. As they refocused on the drama while eating, a scene showed Min-hee embracing the male lead and accepting his confession.

“That’s a relief.”

“What do you mean?”

Confused by Shin Tae-oh’s sudden remark, Se-hyun asked, and Shin Tae-oh shrugged.

“I’m relieved I’m not the protagonist of that drama.”

You’re the sub-lead of a novel though.

“This way, I can see you and be with you.”

“…”

“You’re a miracle to me.”

“I…”

Se-hyun started to speak unconsciously but then quickly closed his mouth again. He stared at the lukewarm porridge, feeling as though a fire was burning inside him for some strange reason.

Se-hyun had his own miracle.

What happened to Shin Tae-oh this time was just that. For a rushed surgery due to traumatic bleeding, he came out safely. He regained consciousness quickly, and there were no aftereffects, which was reassuring.

Seeing no sign of Se-hyun speaking, Shin Tae-oh focused on the drama instead of urging a confession.

It was just another ordinary day they spent together.

⍣⍣⍣

Their routine shifted subtly with the arrival of visitors.

“Tae-oh hyung, you don’t know how much I’ve been holding back from coming. I’m so glad you’re awake.”

As Yoo Jin-ha expressed his concern, Shin Tae-oh’s expression wasn’t particularly pleasant for some reason.

“I guess the fact that I woke up is all that matters to you.”

“Huh? No, no, that’s not what I meant…”

As Jin-ha waved his hands to dispel any misunderstanding, Shin Tae-oh crossed his arms, clearly showing his displeasure.

“Then why are you standing so far away?”

“Ah…”

Yoo Jin-ha scratched the bandage on his face, glancing at Se-hyun who was close to Shin Tae-oh.

In Yoo Jin-ha’s eyes, Se-hyun wore his usual inscrutable, indifferent expression, but it seemed Shin Tae-oh could see through it.

“Don’t worry. He’s not going to push you away. Right?”

At Shin Tae-oh’s confirming question, Se-hyun calmly replied.

“There were circumstances then. But how did you know?”

He forgot to ask how Shin Tae-oh immediately knew that he had pushed Jin-ha away.

“Park Ha-seong was excitedly babbling about it. He said Se-hyun pushed Jin-ha.”

Park Ha-seong had followed in a taxi and then hid nearby due to the guards protecting the building.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Yoo Jin-ha had fallen right where Park Ha-seong was hiding. Park Ha-seong, who was on the phone with Shin Tae-oh at the time, started talking excitedly out of surprise.

Sensing that the atmosphere called for explaining the situation to Yoo Jin-ha, Se-hyun approached him.

“I only made what I thought was the best choice at the time.”

It was a decision made in a split second, thinking there was no other option.

“I judged that the situation could only be resolved if Yoo Jin-ha wasn’t there.”

It would have been better if Yoo Jin-ha had quickly gone outside at the time, but he had remained by his side.

“I’m sorry if it was sudden.”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

As Yoo Jin-ha waved his hands dismissively, and Ha Min-hyuk, who had come with him, patted his back reassuringly. Encouraged, Jin-ha nervously stepped a little closer.

“Were you hurt badly?”

“No!”

Yoo Jin-ha’s overly loud response prompted Se-hyun to move in even closer to check him himself.

“You fell on your back then, right?”

He couldn’t lift Jin-ha’s shirt, but he leaned in to see if there were any visible marks when—

“That’s enough.”

Shin Tae-oh pulled on Se-hyun’s arm, and,

“I’ve checked already.”

Ha Min-hyuk pulled Yoo Jin-ha back into his arms.

“Was it strange that I wanted to check?”

Despite Se-hyun’s reaction suggesting that he shouldn’t be stopped like this, Shin Tae-oh and Ha Min-hyuk remained unmoved.

“I’m really fine. And you can speak casually to me.”

Yoo Jin-ha dusted himself off, showing that he wasn’t seriously hurt, and mentioned the change in Se-hyun’s speech pattern.

“This is more comfortable for me.”

“But it’s not comfortable for me. You’re the person who saved me, after all.”

No one missed how Yoo Jin-ha stumbled over the words ‘saved me.’ Se-hyun handed him a bottle of orange juice.

“That’s right. I voluntarily went in there to save you.”

As a result, he had to endure an earful from the doctor about why he hadn’t come until he was in such a state, and when he absentmindedly picked up his phone, the pain in his wrist sometimes made him drop it.

He thought he should have followed in a taxi like Park Ha-seong. He felt a bit deflated when he realized that the evidence Park Ha-seong provided was much more favorable for Jin-ha.

“I was really moved back then.”

Of course, there was something to gain from it. Perhaps because they had been tied up together that day, Yoo Jin-ha’s gaze had softened, and he now exuded a deep trust toward Se-hyun.

The only downside was Yoo Jin-ha’s lingering fear of being thrown again—not that it would happen—but his unease kept him from getting too close.

“I’ll never forget it.”

Yoo Jin-ha made a promise as he scanned Se-hyun’s wrist and the places where his injuries had been treated. Despite their similar ages, Se-hyun couldn’t help but chuckle at Yoo Jin-ha’s somewhat determined demeanor.

“Alright.”

He had become the protagonist’s benefactor.

As Se-hyun was rubbing his wrist, he quickly moved to support Shin Tae-oh’s back when he tried to get up. Surprisingly, Shin Tae-oh stopped trying to rise and looked up at Se-hyun.

“My body is heavier than a phone.”

Implying that Se-hyun’s trembling wrist from just holding the phone couldn’t possibly support him. Se-hyun shook his head

“That was because I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Then don’t do it for me either. There’s someone who can do it in your place.”

At the mention of someone who could take his place, Shin Tae-oh turned his gaze to Ha Min-hyuk. Under his persistent stare suggesting he shouldn’t just keep watching, even Se-hyun and Yoo Jin-ha ended up looking at Ha Min-hyuk.

Receiving the simultaneous gazes of all three, Ha Min-hyuk reluctantly approached. Despite his disgruntled expression, he carefully placed his hand on Shin Tae-oh’s back.

He helped Shin Tae-oh up gently but firmly, even placing a pillow behind his back. Shin Tae-oh smiled, seemingly satisfied with this attentiveness.

“That’s more like it.”

As Shin Tae-oh smirked, Ha Min-hyuk’s expression soured. It was a complex look, wanting to ignore him but unable to completely do so, considering he had helped Yoo Jin-ha.

“I’ll help too.”

As Yoo Jin-ha looked around for something to do, Shin Tae-oh stopped him again.

“Min-hyuk, can you find my phone for me? And get me some water too?”

“…”

Ha Min-hyuk flinched at Shin Tae-oh’s familiar tone but headed toward the fridge nonetheless. Just as he reached for the door, Shin Tae-oh spoke again.

“You’re not planning to give cold water to a patient, are you?”

“…”

“Bring the phone first.”

As a vein popped on Ha Min-hyuk’s forehead, only Yoo Jin-ha fidgeted, trying desperately to intervene somehow.

“But you got hurt because of me…”

“Jin-ha.”

Shin Tae-oh frowned at Yoo Jin-ha’s timid voice.

“I got hurt protecting Se-hyun.”

As Shin Tae-oh clearly drew the line, Yoo Jin-ha gaped blankly before being pulled back a step by Ha Min-hyuk.

“I’ll find the phone first.”

As Ha Min-hyuk looked around, Shin Tae-oh watched him, resting his chin on his hand.

“How long are you staying today?”

It was obvious Shin Tae-oh’s question meant to set up a list of demands, and both Se-hyun and Yoo Jin-ha watched Ha Min-hyuk closely, wondering how long he could hold out.

What if he can’t stand it? they wondered…

“I’ll come again tomorrow.”

As Ha Min-hyuk delivered these words with a smile, Shin Tae-oh didn’t hide his annoyance.

Maybe Shin Tae-oh shouldn’t have teased him.