Ch.102102. Prince

Criminals go to the police station.

Patients go to the hospital.

With the help of the police, Soohyuk and Juyeon arrived at the emergency room of a nearby university hospital.

“Your wound is quite deep, so it will take some time to heal.”

“Ah. Yes.”

“You should avoid excessive exercise or activity. Especially refrain from overusing the muscles in your left arm.”

Soohyuk’s wound was so deep that it ultimately required stitches.

Juyeon, beside him, had been sniffling and staying close to him the entire time.

“Please come back to the hospital in the morning two days from now. You’ve been through a lot.”

“Ah. Yes. Thank you.”

“Take care on your way home.”

Since it wasn’t yet time for the last bus to stop running, Soohyuk and Juyeon naturally walked toward the bus stop.

What should I say? Where should I begin?

Juyeon wanted to ask if he was in pain, if he was okay.

But it seemed so obvious that there was no need to ask.

“…Soohyuk.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.”

No matter how she thought about it, this had to come first.

“It’s my fault for calling you.”

Soohyuk stopped in his tracks.

“Juyeon.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m just glad you weren’t hurt.”

If Juyeon hadn’t asked anyone for help, no one would have known what that psycho might have done to her.

In other words, if they had just stayed put, he could have forced his way into Juyeon’s home.

They might have gotten off easy, all things considered.

“No. But you’re like this now.”

Juyeon’s gaze shifted to Soohyuk’s arm.

An unsightly tape-like bandage, the kind that might cover a large tattoo, was attached to his forearm.

“I may be injured, but…”

Soohyuk wished that Juyeon wouldn’t feel sorry.

“That’s what friends are for, right? To call in times like these.”

In difficult times.

In challenging moments.

Isn’t that when friends are most reliable?

But despite Soohyuk’s words about friendship, Juyeon’s expression still couldn’t brighten.

The bus arrived.

Since only Soohyuk had brought his wallet, he ended up paying for Juyeon’s bus fare as well.

“…Soohyuk.”

“Yeah.”

“Can you do me one more favor?”

Seeing her ask for a favor in this situation, it was clearly something important, so Soohyuk nodded.

“…Walk me home.”

“Of course. That’s not difficult at all.”

Though his arm was injured, his two legs were perfectly fine.

The conversation seemed to flow with Juyeon worrying about Soohyuk, but in truth, Soohyuk was more concerned about Juyeon’s mental state.

It was an incident that could have completely shattered her daily life; it would be stranger not to worry.

The two climbed the stairs in silence.

Since the area hadn’t been cleaned yet, traces of blood still remained on the stairs.

“I’ll clean this up later.”

Juyeon bowed her head apologetically.

“…Okay.”

Once again at her front door.

Juyeon readily invited Soohyuk inside.

“Should I stay for a while?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Juyeon didn’t refuse him.

Juyeon needed Soohyuk.

The two sat side by side on the bed.

Juyeon sat right next to Soohyuk and caressed his arm.

“…Soohyuk.”

“I’m fine. It’ll heal with time anyway.”

Soohyuk joked as if he knew what she was going to say.

But he had the wrong idea.

“That’s not it.”

“It’s not?”

“No. That’s not it.”

Feeling awkward, Soohyuk cleared his throat.

“Ahem… Ah. I see. Then what is it?”

Juyeon’s eyes were still fixed on Soohyuk’s wound.

“You know.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you remember when I told you not to confess to me?”

How could he forget that?

Soohyuk nodded as if it were obvious.

“I said what’s the point of confessing if we can’t be friends or a couple, remember?”

“That’s right.”

Juyeon’s words made Soohyuk’s stomach churn.

Because his plan to confess impressively after winning the competition was on the verge of falling apart.

“I’m taking that back.”

“Huh?”

Soohyuk wondered what she meant.

“I think I understand your feelings a little now.”

Juyeon’s hand slowly rose.

Its destination was Soohyuk’s cheek.

“…Soohyuk.”

In that moment when she called his name,

Soohyuk finally understood.

What Juyeon was about to tell him.

The secret she had been hiding from him all this time.

Soohyuk’s eyes lost their focus.

As if asking him not to look away, Juyeon cupped his other cheek with her other hand.

“I like you.”

Juyeon no longer wanted to hide the feelings that overflowed from her hands.

She didn’t care if she was rejected.

Even in fairy tales, they say you fall for someone who saves your life.

There was no reason on this earth why Juyeon shouldn’t like Soohyuk.

“Ju-Juyeon. I…”

It’s confusing.

There’s not enough time to organize his thoughts.

He wasn’t just talking about answering her confession.

Since when had Juyeon liked him?

If that was true, then all the worries he’d had were…

“I know, Soohyuk.”

Juyeon smiled weakly as if she understood.

“I’m telling you this knowing that.”

“Well… you did the same.”

“You too. You said you had to do it even though it seemed impossible.”

Those were exactly the concerns Soohyuk had expressed to her.

“So I can’t hold back anymore either.”

“It’s hard. Hiding it.”

“I like you, Soohyuk.”

“I really, really, really like you, Soohyuk.”

Soohyuk’s face turned bright red.

The first confession he’d ever heard.

Juyeon’s face was also a similar shade.

“But Juyeon, I…”

“I have a wish I want granted.”

Juyeon took out her phone and unlocked it.

What she showed him was streamer Yeon’s broadcast.

A screenshot confirming that she had surpassed 500 viewers.

“But that doesn’t mean… we should become a couple…”

“Haha… that’s not it.”

Damn it.

Why am I making so many mistakes?

Soohyuk was almost angry at his terrible intuition.

“Let me like you.”

“If you get a girlfriend… I’ll have to stop, of course, but if not.”

“I want to hang out together again like before…”

“Spend time together like this.”

In a way, that was what Soohyuk had been wanting from Juyeon recently.

“…Alright.”

He didn’t know if this was the right choice.

But there were two main reasons he couldn’t refuse.

First, this was the wish he had promised her, and second was her mental state.

If Soohyuk refused this, what would Juyeon think after being left alone?

He had already hurt her in many ways, knowingly or unknowingly, and he didn’t want to give her an even bigger nightmare.

“Thank you, Soohyuk.”

Juyeon smiled brightly.

“Then watch me fall asleep again today.”

“Do you think you can fall asleep quickly?”

“I think it’s a bit much that you’re trying to run away right after I told you I like you.”

Soohyuk scratched his head, feeling like his intentions had been exposed.

“Just for today, please.”

“You must feel the same, but today has been such a long day for me too.”

She had wrestled with a stalker all morning and then been threatened.

She sent an SOS to Soohyuk, but the result was a trip to the emergency room.

For Juyeon, whose daily life had been as calm as a still lake, it was a day equivalent to a meteor strike.

And to top it all off, she had even confessed.

“Soohyuk.”

Juyeon crawled into bed.

Soohyuk sat in the computer chair, looking down at her.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t hate me because I confessed.”

As she was about to be left alone, Juyeon became scared.

“Why would I hate you?”

How many people on this earth liked him? How could he dislike her?

“Really…?”

Juyeon smiled with relief.

“Then one more thing.”

“What is it?”

Today’s Juyeon was like the mouse from the story that asks for milk after being given a cookie.

“Hold my hand.”

Holding hands with someone you like.

Soohyuk knew well what this meant.

After a brief hesitation, his hand reached out.

Soohyuk’s hand covered the back of Juyeon’s.

“…It’s warm.”

“You said that last time too.”

“I did?”

“Yeah. That time. When we came here after the end-of-semester drinking party.”

Those were events from a night he couldn’t remember because he was too drunk.

“I see.”

Juyeon wiggled her fingers in embarrassment.

“I’m going to sleep now.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll fall asleep quickly.”

“Alright.”

Indeed, Juyeon fell asleep within five minutes, breathing softly.

Juyeon’s fingers were still intertwined with Soohyuk’s.

Soohyuk couldn’t help but have a thousand thoughts as he withdrew his hand.

Quietly, Soohyuk left the room, careful not to wake her.

Coming down the blood-stained stairs, he faced the familiar street.

The dim night sky was waiting for him.

The wound on his left arm throbbed.

His mind was hazy, as if he’d been drinking.

He thought he had done something meaningful, but the reward he received was an unexpected outcome.

“…What am I supposed to do now?”

His deep sigh dissipated into the summer breeze.