episode_0007

Whether lying straight or lying on the side, except for the tingling sensation in my chest.

After a long time, I could really sleep deeply.

Perhaps it’s because my body has changed, but it felt like all the accumulated stress in my body had disappeared.

“Ugh~.”

Stretching like this feels so refreshing.

Getting up and stretching my whole body, feeling this refreshed again.

Except for the tingling in my chest, it truly is a perfect morning.

“For the pitiful me. Shall I prepare the best morning with 8,000 won?”

It might be just a convenience store breakfast.

Even with just a freshly made sunny-side-up egg, a single person’s breakfast becomes much richer.

If you add some salty ham to that, it’s truly the ultimate delight.

A breakfast fit for nobles.

This is the best luxury Min Chae-won, left with a bank balance of 8,180 won, can offer to Ji Sung-woo, who let her stay overnight.

“Rest well if you’re sick. Mornings are mine—.”

But my perfect plan quickly went down the drain.

“What. Where did this guy go?”

The bed was empty.

I searched every corner of the room, wondering if he fell while sleeping. But Ji Sung-woo was nowhere to be found.

Did he faint while showering?

Where did he go early in the morning?

Was I taken away while I was asleep?

Was I in so much pain?

Ring ring.

“… Oh. You’re up?”

As the door opened, I turned my head to see Ji Sung-woo holding a plastic bag in a casual attire.

Just by looking at the outline of the black bag, I could tell what he bought.

Eggs, ham, and even seaweed.

“Hey. What are you doing?”

“Oh. Uh?”

“The sick person should be lying down…!”

I briskly ran over and snatched the bag.

Upon opening it, the expected items were inside.

A guy with no money.

Why would a patient buy this?

“No… I’m not so incapacitated.”

“If you’re not okay, then lie down until breakfast is ready.”

“Uh, okay.”

Understood.

Tomorrow, and the day after.

If I disappear, I have to endure the pain alone.

So, just be quiet for today.

Because if you keep going like this, your recovery period will be longer.

That’s why Ji Sung-woo, who knows nothing, is like this.

“It’s fine, I’ll do it!”

“It’s not fine, so lie down. Please.”

“But… you need to tell me where the plates and stuff are….”

“You’ll figure that out yourself. Just lie down now.”

I glared at Siwoo sternly for 5 seconds.

“Yes….”

Indeed, Min Chae-won’s voice has the power to calm Ji Sung-woo down.

Even though he went out to buy breakfast ingredients despite being in pain, he quietly crawled back under the covers.

Even just before the accident three years later, if I said ‘stop!’, he would probably stand still for an hour.

… It’s just my imagination, though.

“Phew.”

The studio apartment I lived in had a kitchen laid out in a straight line towards the entrance corridor, so lying in bed allowed me to see everything happening in the kitchen.

“He’s staring at me so much….”

If I take out the necessary dishes and cooking utensils too smoothly, Siwoo will surely suspect something.

Let’s at least pretend to be looking for them.

Think of this place as not our actual home.

It’s me, Min Chae-won, visiting Ji Sung-woo’s house.

But even for a simple dish, with long hair like mine, it might get in the way if I’m not careful.

I need to tie it up somehow….

“Use this.”

Siwoo, who I thought was still under the covers, was suddenly standing next to me with a yellow rubber band used for tying things.

“Thanks, go lie down.”

“Got it.”

Smiling broadly, Siwoo goes back to bed.

I glanced at him for a moment while roughly tying my hair, meaning ‘don’t get up’.

Oh darn. Tying hair isn’t easy either.

Women just tie it tightly and it’s done.

Since I’m not used to it, strands keep falling out.

“Alright. Roughly done.”

First, heat up two instant rice bowls in the microwave.

Heat up the frying pan and coat it with cooking oil.

On the cutting board, slice the ham into suitable pieces before placing them on the heated frying pan.

With a sizzling sound, a delicious aroma fills the room.

Saliva is already starting to gather in my mouth.

Once one side is cooked, quickly flip it over to cook the other side.

I don’t mind eating burnt food, but I prefer a crispy surface with a proper reddish hue.

After flipping all the ham slices, create a space in the middle and crack two eggs into it.

Sprinkle salt evenly over the yolks and whites, then turn off the electric stove when the whites are slightly cooked.

Carefully transfer the eggs to a plate to avoid breaking the yolks. As you open the microwave door urging you to take out the instant rice—

“Ouch! Hot!”

Oh no, I can’t hold hot things.

I left it in the bathwater yesterday and forgot about it.

More precious than that, my meal is flying away.

No, not that one piece.

I’ve spent a lot of money yesterday and today, so it would be troublesome to spend more.

The flying instant rice lands on the palm of someone who shouldn’t be there.

“Ow. Ouch.”

Shiwoo, fiddling with the hot container, carefully places the instant rice on the small dining table he just unfolded.

When did he even set up the table?

“You again?!”

“Sorry. I’ll go back in.”

“Ha. Fine.”

Scratching under his cheek, Shiwoo sighs and mutters as he slowly crawls back under the blanket.

“I was startled by the hot water yesterday. I was watching just in case, luckily.”

“…I should thank him for catching it.”

Coming from three years ahead, maybe I’ve become more shameless than in the past.

No, it was Jiwoong three years ago who disobeyed my orders.

“If you get up again, you’re dead.”

“Is the food ready now?”

“…Wait a minute before getting up.”

Is my tension easing compared to yesterday?

It feels comforting to have Shiwoo close to me.

“If it were three years ago, I would have kept a distance of 1m for sure.”

When the instant rice flew, he was right beside me.

I might know the reason.

Whether this is good or bad, I’m not sure.

‘Yesterday’s mistakes seem to have had an impact.’

Calling your home our home.

Casually rummaging through the closet… etc., omitted.

Such actions seem to have reduced the emotional distance Shiwoo had.

In short,

“This is messed up.”

The pace of progress in our relationship is unbelievable.

It took almost a year for the Jiwoong from three years ago to get this close to Chaewon.

By the time we broke up, we could barely talk comfortably.

Why only you, Jiwoong from three years ago?

I wish I had gotten close to Chaewon much sooner if I were like that!

Now is not the time for such complaints.

But how sad it is.

Envious. Honestly, very envious.

I wanted to flirt with Chaewon too.

If Chaewon made me breakfast like this, I might have kept her locked up at home.

‘Ah.’

Is that why?

Am I digging my own grave right now?

It seems plausible upon reflection.

Chaewon would have made me breakfast.

She would leave a note saying she slept well and went home.

‘But…’

Even though I’m feeling unwell, she went to the convenience store early in the morning to bring me breakfast before I woke up.

How could she just go back home?

I didn’t want to remember Chaewon as a ‘bad woman.’

She should remain beautiful, cool, and the most amazing woman.

“It’s very generous.”

“You bought it.”

“Oh, right.”

“Oh, right? Why is the sick guy wandering around since dawn?”

“W-well, actually, I couldn’t sleep.”

In the end, the issue lies with Jiwoong waking up early.

…Though, the me from three years ago also woke up around the same time. My ribs were aching, and I woke up several times.

In front of me, Jung Siwoo was already not enough, and now the unprecedented situation of Chaewon sleeping in the same house had unfolded.

I probably couldn’t sleep well.

Feeling nervous and excited.

So, the culprit behind this all comes back to me in the end.

It’s because I, as a presence, stayed in this house that things turned out this way.

“I shouldn’t come out of the hotel for a while.”

Honestly, I wanted to keep an eye on him until he got better.

But judging by the pace at which things were progressing, I worried that unnecessary trouble might arise, and I could get caught up in it.

That wouldn’t be good.

I can’t manipulate Chaewon’s life as I please.

It’s just a temporary borrowing.

After finishing the meal, I neatly tidied up the few lies.

Siwoo watched my every move from the bed like someone observing a strange animal.

“I’ll say a few things and then leave.”

“Oh. Okay.”

He doesn’t seem too disappointed about me leaving.

Has spending a night together already boosted his confidence in dealing with Chaewon?

“Don’t overdo it. I know someone who fractured their rib like you did, and by pushing themselves too hard during practice, they ended up hospitalized.”

There is no such person.

I just exaggerated my own story a bit.

“That person later regretted it and made a big fuss about it. They suffered a huge setback in life. Don’t overdo it. Rest deeply when you can.”

“Okay. Thanks for the advice.”

“And if there’s something that requires effort, ask someone else for help. Never try to do it yourself. Got it? If you don’t listen to the doctor, you won’t be able to play the piano for the rest of your life.”

“It won’t be that serious….”

“You won’t be able to play—!”

“Okay, got it.”

This also implies that he won’t call me, so he won’t give me his phone number.

I only got Chaewon’s phone number right before we broke up. Even then, the number disappeared within a few months, so we hardly kept in touch.

You’re not allowed to hesitate while contacting only Chaewon.

Even if that’s me, in your eyes, it will be the unmistakable Min Chaewon.

“Anyway, thanks for letting me stay for a day. I’m leaving now.”

“Oh, wait. Just a moment!”

“Why. Why are you getting up again.”

I got annoyed at the sudden movement.

“Clothes. They’re still mine…. Aren’t you going to change?”

Coming back is annoying.

“…I’ll change, so hurry up and lie down, you patient.”

“Okay.”