FTE 027

I should’ve expected this when we started living together. Our lives were about to overlap, and I realized that overlapping meant the boundaries between us would gradually fade until they eventually invaded each other’s space.

“Okay.” Chae Won-u nodded. Unlike me, who was filled with various thoughts, Chae Won-u didn’t hesitate or seem troubled.

“Do you want to run together, hyung?”

“Well… bring your outerwear. It’s cold outside.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Chae Won-u entered his room—the damp and chilly one. I looked down at my shoes…. It wasn’t about entering that room, but what choice did I have if I didn’t? From the beginning, there was no option but to go inside. And honestly, I didn’t regret it.

***

The treatment room resembled both the matching and rap rooms. The consistently cold indoor temperature, smooth walls, and dental-like tools reminded me of a dentist’s office. Moreover, the chair that seemed designed to recline further reinforced this impression, evoking memories of the wisdom tooth extraction pain I endured during my first visit to the Hunter Association.

Chae Won-u had followed me all the way here. Currently, he was waiting for me in the hallway. It felt like I’d inadvertently picked up a stray dog. Thankfully, only patients were allowed inside; otherwise, he would’ve been incessantly hovering nearby, asking, “Hyung, does it hurt? Is it really painful?”

If Chae Won-u had broken my arm, I might have yelled at him, but since it was done by a monster, I couldn’t fault his genuine concern despite feeling uneasy about it.

“By the way, when is he coming?”

I wondered who was responsible for this delay. Just as I was about to get up from my seat, the door burst open.

“Huh? Doctor Kang?”

“Sit down.”

His hair was a mess, sticking out every which way, and his beard definitely hadn’t seen a razor in at least three days. His clothes were wrinkled, and his shirt buttons were mismatched.  He was the spitting image of someone you’d avoid on the subway – that was Kang Yunyeop, the doctor in charge. 

‘Doctor’ meant a lot of things around here. Sometimes it meant a researcher, sometimes it meant an actual medical doctor, sometimes it meant a mad scientist… We just called everyone ‘doctor.’ But even among all the ‘doctors,’ Kang Yunyeop was special. In a good way? Absolutely not. 

“Relax your expression.” Doctor Kang slumped into a chair and wheeled himself closer.

“How is it going? Why are you here? You aren’t supposed to be here.”

“Ah right. But I lost the quit smoking bet. This time, my duty was working on call. So, what happened?”

“You can see for yourself.”

“Still as blunt as ever, I see, our Guide Yang.”

“You could also, you know, read the chart.” 

Doctor Kang laughed heartily. He was truly a weirdo. It was obvious he already knew when he asked. Doctor Kang appeared laid-back on the surface but was a perfectionist weirdo inside. It was Doctor Kang who devised this rapid treatment method.

Considering he was just a Chief when we first met, his promotion speed was incredible. He probably wasn’t yet in his late forties. Or maybe he was already eighty.

In any case, it was mysterious. Everything was. One thing for sure, he might be insane despite being talented?

“There you go again. I can practically hear your gears turning.”

“Well, should I just stop using my brain then? Turn into a complete idiot?” 

“You already are one, you middle school dropout.” 

“Do you realize that is a derogatory remark?”

“Of course I know. I’m a doctor.” 

How annoying. If someday I get out of here, I want to scratch Doctor Kang’s face. However, if I scratch him, I will have to return here once more. As one of the country’s top assets, even after death, Doctor Kang might dismember me if I harmed him.

“A broken arm, huh? Hey, Baekgyeom-ah. I’ve been developing this new technique…”

Seeing the unsettling twinkle in Doctor Kang’s eyes, I cut him off immediately, “Not a chance. Just do it the normal way, please. And try to make it hurt less, yeah?”

“It won’t hurt much, you bastard!”

“Oh, so you’re saying you want me to clench my jaw so tight that I crack another molar, just so you can tack on another 30 minutes to the treatment?”

“Only 10 minutes.”

“Nope. Keep pushing it, and I’m calling the guy waiting outside.” 

I made a futile threat that I would never actually carry out. It was both childish and unlikely to work. However, Doctor Kang chuckled, his eyes shining brighter at my bluff.

“You two really seem close, huh?”

“People seem quite interested in our relationship. As if Hunter Chae Won-u is some unsociable jerk. But he isn’t, right?”

“Our Won-u is not a brat. Our Won-u is a good boy~,” Doctor Kang said, making me feel uncomfortable somehow. Before I could respond, he tilted back my chair. Then, like a villain straight out of a low-budget horror movie, he gave a sinister laugh and abruptly produced a syringe.

“Oh man, seriously. Don’t scare me like that.”

“Ah ah. Trust me, it won’t hurt as much as before. Don’t believe me? Remember, I’m a genius.”

“And you promise not to mess with my hair?”

“Huh?”

Doctor Kang was quite sensitive about his hair, possibly due to his father’s baldness. Having accidentally learned this, I frequently used it against him.

“Do you swear without touching your hair?”

“…It won’t be as painful as last year.”

“You lying mutt…”

Before I could say anything else, Doctor Kang gagged me with thick cotton padding. My other wrist and ankles were secured to the chair by belts protruding from it. I spat out all sorts of vulgar curses. As a child, I lived near the docks where the rough language used by the dockworkers was beyond imagination.

“Ooh~ I love you, too~”

Still, the words coming out of Doctor Kang’s mouth were even more trashy than mine. Although my casted arm had some freedom of movement, it was raised up and restrained. Doctor Kang began dismantling the plaster with a small hatchet. Normally, they would have given anesthesia beforehand, but this perverted bastard!

“Oh my. It broke well, didn’t it?”

Soon after, Doctor Kang administered a local anesthetic. The timing was terrible. Before it could fully take effect, a serum made from research on recovery-type hunters’ blood and cells of countless other hunters entered my vein through my forearm.

My pupils dilated massively as all the muscles in my body spasmed uncontrollably, feeling like I had severe muscle cramps. It felt worse than any pain experienced during a cramp, making every fiber tense up to my neck. Only then did the anesthesia kick in. Ahhh… That hurt like hell! Would’ve been better if they knocked me out instead……

“Ta-da! All fixed!”

“One day, I’m gonna punch you right here!” I pointed at Doctor Kang’s chin.

“You won’t be the only one waiting for that chance. We’ll have to draw lots.”

My arm was incredibly heavy. On the outside, it looked fine like it hadn’t been injured at all, but compared to my other arm, it was clearly heavier. Moreover, when I glanced at the metal tools nearby, the reflection of my face didn’t look good. The reason why the injured arm didn’t seem strange was that other parts were also swollen. I felt terribly tired. It was as if I had sweated from jogging and now wanted to shower before sleeping soundly.

“What will you do now?”

“Are you really asking out of curiosity?”

“Of course. I know how to make small talk.”

“Liar. You are only interested in research.”

“That’s why I’m asking. What do you think is the best way to overcome the rapid treatment aftereffects?”

I knew this would happen. With a sigh, I licked my mouth which tasted strangely metallic.

“Jogging.”

“Jogging! Now that’s interesting.” Doctor Kang excitedly started scribbling notes again like a madman. He was peculiar for preferring analog methods even in this day and age. Moreover, he carelessly carried around his hastily written records everywhere, scattering them haphazardly. The reason no one warned him about leaking confidential information was because his handwriting was so atrocious that nobody could decipher it, let alone understand it.

“You jog by yourself?”

“If you’d like to join, feel free. I’m going with Hunter Chae.”

I took a sip of warm water to soothe my dry throat. Strangely, there was no immediate response from Doctor Kang. When I glanced back at him, he wore an odd expression on his face—almost as if he felt both disappointed yet amused, trying to suppress a smile……

“What’s wrong? Why that expression?”

“Did Hunter Chae ask you to run together?”

“Nope. I asked him.”

“Yes… Well, enjoy your jog.”

What? It felt creepy. However, it was best not to engage with Doctor Kang for too long; interacting with him only fueled my frustration. Plus, he might seize any odd opportunity to involve me in his research. I nodded briefly and left the treatment room.

Chae Won-u, who had been sitting with crossed arms and bowed head, looked up. His gaze immediately shifted from my face to my arm. Surprisingly, his expression visibly brightened, showing remarkable honesty.

“Won-u, why don’t you greet me?”

However, as another voice sounded behind us, Chae Won-u’s expression instantly vanished. It wasn’t replaced by confusion or fear, but rather became completely blank.

Instead, I was taken aback. This emotionless version of Chae Won-u looked nothing like his usual pretty and gentle face; he appeared cold and distant…like a refined weapon itself.

In my confusion, my body moved instinctively. I reached back to close the treatment room door. As it shut, Chae Won-u’s expression subtly shifted.

Pretending as if nothing happened, I approached him and gently tapped his arm—the same one that had been injured but now fully healed.

“Let’s go. I really want to run.”

“…Okay.”

“But are you sure? I’m quite fast.” He smiled reassuringly, showing concern for a beginner despite his own struggles.