PSY CH 45

The corridor of the hospital after meal time was filled with a faint smell of food. Jooyoung didn’t particularly like the smell. He frowned, thinking he had arrived at the wrong time.

The door to the hospital room, as always, was wide open. Perhaps it was a characteristic of the nursing hospital, but the patients tended to leave their doors open all day, claiming that it felt stuffy if they closed them. His grandpa’s room was the same.

When Jooyoung entered the room, his grandpa, who had just finished brushing his teeth, was wiping his wet mouth. His body, carefully sitting on the bed, was thin and frail, but his complexion didn’t look bad. Day by day, his grandpa’s health was improving. The foot that had been operated on was recovering quickly, and he could now walk well on his own. 

“This is something Aunt told me to bring you.”

Jooyoung placed peppermint and chamomile tea bags in the cupboard above the fridge. Drinking fragrant tea after meals when his mouth felt dry was his grandpa’s only hobby. Jooyoung didn’t know about it, but he learned that from his aunt, who hinted at it. 

“Should I give you one too? Jooyoung, do you want some?”

Even though Jooyoung brought them for him, in the end, Jungseop forced his frail body up just to feed Jooyoung. No matter how many times Jooyoung said he was fine, he couldn’t win against his grandpa’s stubbornness. After all, the old man was always anxious to make sure Jooyoung had something to eat.

“There are some snacks here you could eat…”

Jungseop took out snacks like Choco Pies from the cupboard. It seemed he had prepared them for Mingyu, who often came to visit.

Jooyoung silently accepted the Choco Pie. Jungseop poured hot water into a mug. Soon, the refreshing scent of peppermint filled the room.

“Sit here.”

Clatter. Jungseop rolled over a wheeled chair and helped Jooyoung into it. Then he sat on the bed and rested his age-spotted hand on his thigh.

The chair was uncomfortable—the cushion had completely worn out. Suddenly, Jooyoung remembered the cushion Dohyun had given him not long ago. His body had recovered, but the discomfort he’d felt back then still lingered. His brow furrowed instinctively.

“Are you getting along with Dohyu-i?”

Jungseop asked in a gentle voice. Jooyoung, who was about to brush off the question with a vague answer, chose to tell a harmless lie instead. There was no need to reveal any conflict between him and Dohyun. 

“Yes, we’re getting along fine.”

“Even if he acts cold, deep down he’s still the same.”

“…”

“Young, you should understand him.”

Jooyoung took a sip of the warm tea and set the cup down. The real reason he had come to visit was something else. 

“When did Dohyun’s grandfather pass away?”

Jungseop looked up at the air thoughtfully, trying to recall.

“Let me think about it. When did that old man pass away…”

“…”

“Maybe it’s been just less than three years.”

“…”

“He was the healthiest guy in this neighborhood, you know. But people’s lives are really unpredictable.”

Jungseop clicked his tongue. Indeed, of the elderly men gathered at the fish restaurant, no one could match Dohyun’s grandfather in size. He was solid all over, without any signs of old age. So whenever he raised his hand, Dohyun looked incredibly small next to him. Back then, Dohyun had been even smaller and thinner than Jooyoung.

“Now that I think about it, when he collapsed back then, it might have been a sign. If he’d taken care of himself afterward, maybe…tch”

Jungseop stopped mid-sentence and clapped his hands, as if coming to a realization.

“Young, you probably remember too. Dohyun went to see you in Seoul that day—and that’s when the old man collapsed.”

It was the first time Jooyoung had heard this story. He shook his head, unsure, and Jungseop kindly explained. 

“I tried to contact Dohyu-i, but I couldn’t get through. So I called Miyoung instead. I think it was the day you went to the amusement park or somewhere like that.”

“Ah…”

Only then did it vaguely come back to him. They had stayed at the amusement park until quite late, waiting for the parade. Suddenly, he got a call from his mom, and they both left the park right after. He also vaguely remembered his dad picking them up and rushing them to the terminal.

“But why are you asking about this all of a sudden?”

Jooyoung absentmindedly traced the edge of his warm mug with his fingers. It was a complicated feeling—he wanted to know, but also didn’t.

“Dohyun’s arm…”

Just then, Jungseop looked over Jooyoung’s shoulder and smiled brightly. Jooyoung stopped mid-sentence and turned to follow his gaze. Dohyun was walking through the open door.

“Hwang Dohyu–i^[1]!”

It was an unexpected meeting. Both Jooyoung and Dohyun froze, looking at each other with surprised expressions. 

“Well, what a coincidence.”

In the midst of it all, only Jungseop was happily smiling, thoroughly pleased by the sudden encounter.

“Come here. Jooyoung’s here.”

“…”

“Oh no, Dohyu-i, the soda you like is out. Wait here, I’ll go grab one.”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t need it.”

“Aish, sit down, sit down.”

Jungseop waved his hand lightly and hurried out of the hospital room as if afraid someone might stop him. Only then did Jooyoung realize this had all been his grandpa’s scheme. The same man who used to say it wasn’t good for young people to visit a hospital full of old folks as a way to ease Jooyoung’s burden had suddenly called first, asking him to come. Jooyoung had found it odd, but thinking his grandfather must’ve been feeling lonely, he came without complaint.

“…”

Dohyun, perhaps thinking the same thing, looked at the door to the room with an unpleasant expression. Jooyoung fiddled with the Choco Pie in his hands and turned his gaze out the window. He had nothing to say anyway. Dohyun didn’t try to talk either and began organizing the things he had brought—beverages for the guests and nuts that his grandpa frequently snacked on. 

Before long, Jungseop returned with a can of soda. Seeing Dohyun still standing, he gave him a rough pat on the back and asked why he was still on his feet. Reluctantly, Dohyun pulled over a chair and sat down next to Jooyoung.

“Sit closer.”

Seeing the distance between them, Jungseop mimed gathering his hands in front of him. Finally, Dohyun sighed and moved his chair. They were now so close that their arms almost brushed with the slightest movement.

“…”

Jooyoung, trying to ignore the uncomfortable tension, pulled his arm inward. Dohyun didn’t drink the soda Jungseop had given him; instead, he just held it and played with it in his hands.

As he looked at the two of them, Jungseop’s gaze was filled with warm affection.

“Are you still drinking every day?”

“I’m not.”

“Young ah, is he telling truth? Is Dohyu-i really staying off the booze and eating properly these days?”

Jungseop turned to Jooyoung with a smiling face. Caught off guard, Jooyoung replied, “Yes, um… I think he’s not drinking anymore.” The truth was, Jooyoung had no idea whether Dohyun was drinking or eating well. Too many things had happened between them, and at some point, he had completely forgotten about the favor the grandfather once asked of him.

“Things okay at the pawnshop?”

Jooyoung thought of a few incidents but didn’t feel the need to bring them up. He simply shook his head. It was Dohyun who spoke next. 

“Uncle Hansoo showed up.”

“Hansoo?”

Jungseop clicked his tongue and glanced at Jooyoung with a worried look. But Jooyoung didn’t even know who Uncle Hansoo was. 

“Still hasn’t he gotten his act together?” 

“You think he ever will?” 

“Aigoo…”

Dohyun cracked open the soda can and gulped it down, then wiped his mouth roughly with the back of his hand.

“Young-ah, if that Hansoo guy shows up again, just call Dohyu-i right away.”

“…”

“He’s not someone you should be dealing with.” 

Jungseop added. He shook his head as he explained how the man completely lost control when drunk. At that, Jooyoung realized who Uncle Hansoo was. It must have been the man who caused a scene at the pawnshop recently. It didn’t seem like it was the first time, either.

“He also beats his wife so often… Tsk. How’s he planning to carry all that sin?”

Jooyoung’s gaze unconsciously shifted to the left.

“Why?”

Perhaps sensing the stare, Dohyun stopped mid-sip and looked at him.

“Aren’t you hot?”

Jooyoung asked impulsively. Dohyun blinked, caught off guard. He studied Jooyoung’s face, as if trying to understand what the question really meant.

“Dohyu-i, are you speaking formally to Young now?” 

Jungseop suddenly chimed in with a lighthearted grin. Either ignoring or not noticing Dohyun’s frown, he laughed even more brightly.

“You two used to be inseparable. Why so awkward now?”

With a loud crunch, Dohyun crushed the soda can and stood up. He tossed it into the trash bin next to the bed and replied curtly.

“That was ages ago.”

“You used to act like you’d die without Young. Guess you’re all grown up now, huh?”

“…Fuck that. I never felt that I would die with him.”

Jooyoung blinked, surprised to hear Dohyun curse so openly in front of Jungseop. But the older man just burst into hearty laughter, unbothered.

“If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”

Dohyun kicked the chair aside and zipped up his jacket all the way to his chin. The collar covered the lower half of his face. That outfit made no sense for the weather.

“If you’re leaving, take Young with you.”

“What?”

Startled, Jooyoung looked over. But Jungseop continued, ignoring him entirely.

“Ride with Dohyu-i, Young. It’s easier that way.”

“I was… I was going to stay a little longer.”

“Ah, what for? This isn’t a place for young people. Go, go.”

With surprising strength for someone hospitalized, Jungseop pushed them toward the door, moving faster than either of them could react.

And so, Jooyoung had no choice but to walk out of the room shoulder to shoulder with Dohyun.

The car ride was thick with awkward silence.

Jooyoung kept his eyes fixed on the scenery rushing by outside the window, doing his best to ignore the man in the driver’s seat. Meanwhile, Dohyun remained quiet, focusing on the road.

If Jungseop hadn’t personally walked them to the door and waved them off like that, there was no way Jooyoung would’ve gotten in the same car. But he had. And not only that—Jungseop had even told them to come back together next time.

“Just drop me off along the way. I’ll take a taxi.”

“What for?”

Dohyun replied indifferently as he turned the steering wheel. Jooyoung had been about to speak again, but held his tongue, not wanting the conversation to spiral into an argument. And so, silence returned.

In a way, he was almost relieved. At least Dohyun wasn’t pushing his buttons with stray comments like before.

Since the roads weren’t congested, they arrived quickly at the building where the pawnshop was located. Dohyun pulled into the parking lot behind the building and turned off the engine. With the hum of the car gone, the silence grew even heavier. 

“I’m going.”

Jooyoung unbuckled his seatbelt. Just as he moved to get out, Dohyun’s voice echoed through the quiet car. 

“Come over today.”

Jooyoung’s hand froze on the door handle.