MDQ CH 42
by Lulu“No, Kimoon. Just stay in the parking lot. I’ll get the consultation quickly and come right back down.”
“Why?”
“You’re not my guardian… I can see the doctor by myself, you know? And I don’t want to bother you any more.”
Kang Kimoon didn’t look pleased, but in the end, he gave a reluctant nod.
I limped slightly as I entered the hospital. Maybe because it was still early in the morning, there weren’t many people, so I was able to check in right away.
When the nurse called out for Lee Hyunseok, not Lee Hyunwoo, I swallowed dryly. I was only relieved that I hadn’t come in with Kang Kimoon.
After a simple consultation with the doctor, I received a prescription.
It was indeed a mild sprain, and the doctor said that with the prescribed ointment and medicine, I’d be fine soon.
I went to the pharmacy on the same floor and waited for the medication. Just when I thought everything would go smoothly without incident, it happened.
I felt the stares of two girls who looked to be in their late teens, fixed directly on me.
Out of habit, I reached up to pull the brim of my cap lower, only to realize belatedly that I hadn’t worn a hat today. My hand, caught mid-air, awkwardly faltered.
I cleared my throat in vain and tried to avoid their eyes, but I could still feel their gazes sticking to the back of my head.
I couldn’t make out the words, but I heard faint whispers between them, brushing at my ears.
‘No way… they couldn’t possibly recognize me, right? That was ages ago…’
At that very moment, the pharmacist came out with the medicine bag and called my name.
“Lee Hyunseok-ssi.”
The moment my name was spoken, the whispering suddenly grew louder.
I forced myself to stand as if nothing was wrong, but the hand that took the bag trembled faintly.
All I could think of was that I needed to get out of here as quickly as possible.
Even though I kept reminding myself I had done nothing wrong, each time something like this happened, I couldn’t help but hate the fact that my instinct was always to run.
I had thought that, thanks to Kang Kimoon and the residents of Omyeon-ri, I was getting a little better… but in truth, I hadn’t taken even a single step out of my past.
I focused only on walking quickly, so fast that I hardly even felt the pain in my ankle.
My heart pounded violently, thudding ominously in my chest, and cold sweat trickled down my forehead, though I had no idea when it had started.
Unable to bring myself to look ahead, I lowered my gaze, and a shadow fell across my view.
The owners of that shadow were two female students staring straight at me.
“Excuse me… aren’t you the manager of Given?”
“…!”
My heart, which had been racing chaotically, dropped like a stone. The instant I heard the words “Given’s manager,” my thoughts froze entirely.
My head spun, and I felt as though tears might spring to my eyes. The food I had eaten earlier threatened to rise back up my throat.
My tightly clenched hands trembled beyond control. Sweat drenched not only my forehead but also the palms of my hands.
‘Th-they… they really recognized me.’
The breath I barely forced out was burning hot. I couldn’t answer, couldn’t run—just stood there like a fool.
The girls’ voices reached my ears in broken fragments.
“Hey, you can’t just ask something like that.”
“What’s the harm? I’m only asking.”
“What if it really is him?”
One of them, perhaps sensing my strange reaction, pressed once more.
“No, seriously, aren’t you the manager? I saw you so many times in the live broadcasts. I was a fan!”
I have to answer. I have to say no.
Please… let me just get the words out.
Slowly, with trembling lips, I forced out the words.
“You… you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
“Oh…”
With feet that suddenly felt heavy as stone, I barely managed to move forward. Eyes shut tight, I walked past them.
I could hear their voices again, talking about me, but swallowed by panic, I couldn’t make out a single word.
At last I hurried down the stairs, almost running, and escaped the building. I didn’t care that the rain was pouring down; I just ran to the back of the hospital to avoid people’s eyes.
Only after I confirmed no one was around did I finally breathe properly. Collapsing on the spot, I panted heavily.
The cold rain soaked me through, but I didn’t care. If anything, it felt like it was waking up my numb thoughts and body.
Like cold water splashing on my face, the torrent slowly steadied my ragged breath. Hugging my knees, I buried my face deep between them.
How pathetic that I was trembling this badly over something so small. How much longer would it take until I could truly be okay about everything related to Given?
Maybe I needed to stop running away. Maybe facing everything head-on and resolving it was the only way to put my heart at ease.
But I couldn’t find the answer. I only sat there blankly, lost in thought.
When I calmed down a little, the first person I thought of wasn’t Jung Yohan, nor my father—it was Kang Kimoon. I wanted him to be by my side now.
I wanted him to hold me gently in those strong arms and roughly stroke my back. I wanted to be comforted by the only person who had ever allowed me to act spoiled.
I had no idea how much time had passed. The sound of the rain filled the street, and then came the added splashing of hurried footsteps.
They were urgent, heavy steps.
Fearing it might be the girls who had recognized me, I ducked my head even lower.
But the voice that followed, quick and impatient, was one I knew.
“You…!”
That familiar voice alone soothed me.
As if clinging to salvation, I raised my head—and there he was. Amid the blurred world of rain, Kang Kimoon’s face stood out clearly.
“Why are you like this?”
He was drenched, without even an umbrella—he must have been searching for me.
He didn’t bother wiping the rain from his face as he crouched down right in front of me.
“S-someone recognized me…”
The truth nearly slipped from my lips, but I bit them shut just in time. Thankfully, Kang Kimoon didn’t pry. He only spoke words filled with worry.
“I thought something had happened to you… haah.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed back words caught at his throat.
His eyes, meeting mine, wavered faintly. He was looking at me, but it felt like he was seeing someone else through me.
It was the look of someone who had known the pain of losing someone. Suddenly, I remembered my favorite of his lyrics:
‘We Regret Yesterday.’
A song about regretting breaking a promise with a dear friend, only to lose that friend the very next day.
Was he worried the same thing might happen again? That if something happened to me while I was alone, he would regret having left me by myself?
“Sorry.”
I didn’t have the courage to explain what had really happened. I didn’t want to throw him into more confusion when he already looked so shaken.
“Let’s just get to the car. You’re soaked.”
“Okay.”
The moment I agreed, he lifted me up. Soaked as I was, heavier than usual, he carried me effortlessly.
I was the one flustered by the naturalness of his action.
“P-put me down. I can walk.”
“It’s fine. Your ankle’s not well, and this way is faster.”
His firm response left me unable to protest further.
A man carrying another man like this might look strange, but the streets were empty because of the rain.
Relieved, I let my head rest against his chest. My eyelids, suddenly heavy, refused to lift.
The moment I was held in his arms, peace far deeper than I’d imagined washed over me. I let my body go limp.
When I came to my senses again, I was back at Kang Kimoon’s house.
It must have been some time, for the surroundings were dark. The only sound in the unlit room was the rain outside.
When I sat up from where I’d been neatly laid on the bed, I realized that, unlike before I’d lost consciousness, my body was now dry and clean.
I had been changed into fresh clothes. The déjà vu was undeniable.
I was grateful to Kang Kimoon for changing my wet clothes not once, but twice. No — gratitude alone couldn’t begin to describe how thankful I was to him.
Was Kang Kimoon helping me simply because he was a good person? Did he show this same kindness to anyone, not just me?
Despite his appearance, which seemed difficult to approach, was he, in fact, someone deeply affectionate? I couldn’t help but wonder why he was protecting and caring for me so much.
Limping slightly, I stepped out of the room—and was struck by another scene of déjà vu.
Kang Kimoon was seated on the sofa, gazing out at the rain, just like yesterday.
The only difference was that this time, he was holding something in his hand.
As I drew closer, I saw what it was.
It was the pharmacy bag with my real name written on it.