Ch.5757. When You’re Sick, You Need Someone

After a short morning tour, the school trip schedule came to an end.

Afterward, the first-year students arrived at the airport via domestic flight. They received their luggage, listened to a mix of advice and nagging from their homeroom teacher, and were finally released.

The official schedule ended around lunchtime. Plus, there were no afternoon classes today since it was the day the school trip ended.

So I was secretly, no, actually quite eagerly looking forward to an after-party date.

But my expectations were thwarted for a reason I never anticipated.

…I was sitting next to Hwa Nabi’s bed at her home.

“Nabi, open your mouth just a little.”

What I’m holding is an oral thermometer. Despite searching thoroughly around the house, this was the only useful thing I could find.

As I brought the thermometer to Nabi, who was lying down staring at me, she hesitated briefly before obediently opening her mouth.

—Beep.

“Let’s see…”

The thermometer showed Hwa Nabi’s temperature at about 38.5°C, which definitely confirms she has a mild fever.

“What does it say?” she asked.

“38.5 degrees. You definitely have a fever.”

No wonder she was so quiet on the return flight. I put the thermometer back in the first aid kit and said:

“You should have told me earlier that you weren’t feeling well.”

“I’m sorry. I thought I just needed some rest. I didn’t expect to actually have a fever.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me…”

It’s hard to accurately assess your own condition when you’re not feeling well. Usually, you only realize you have a fever after taking your temperature.

Especially for women, whose physical condition can fluctuate for various reasons, it must have been even harder to tell.

“I feel bad that you can’t rest because of me… I should be the one apologizing.”

“…Well, if you’re sorry, just focus on getting better.”

There’s no point arguing with someone who’s sick. I accepted her words and glanced at the clock. Lunchtime had long passed, and it was almost time to think about dinner.

“What do you think? Should we eat after going to the hospital?”

“Oh, no. There’s no need to go to the hospital. I’ll be fine after a good day’s rest.”

They say a cold lasts seven days with medicine and a week without it… but still, going to the hospital and getting proper medication is the fastest way to recover. Why is she being stubborn? I asked again, confused.

“That’s your choice, but what if it’s something more serious?”

“Ah… I used to get like this sometimes in middle school. But usually I’d be fine after resting for a day.”

“What? This happened often? When exactly?”

I wondered if she had some chronic condition I didn’t know about. Concerned, I carefully asked, but she started avoiding my gaze.

“Um? It’s a bit… embarrassing to tell you.”

“What is it? I won’t be shocked, just tell me.”

I grabbed her hand that was outside the blanket. I wasn’t going to let go until she told me the truth.

Now that I knew something was up, I couldn’t just let it go.

As I pressured her with both my gaze and actions, her pink lips slowly opened.

“M-ma… ma…”

“…Ma?”

“Ma-magic days…”

“……”

Ah, so that’s what it was. Feeling like I shouldn’t hear any more, I averted my gaze.

“…”

A moment of mutual silence.

Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere any longer, I let go of her hand and stood up.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“Huh? Oh, I don’t really have an appetite right now…”

—Gurgle.

Just as Hwa Nabi finished speaking, her stomach growled audibly from under the blanket. I stared at her face, which had just sent a clear signal for food.

She seemed embarrassed too, her cheeks turning slightly red.

“Do you think you can eat?”

If it’s just her “magic days,” her throat shouldn’t be swollen, so it should be fine. But I asked just to be sure. Hwa Nabi thought for a moment before answering.

“No, I don’t have an appetite…”

—Gurgle.

“Ah, I’ll eat anything…”

“Alright. I’ll prepare something.”

I almost laughed while trying to respond considerately to spare her embarrassment. Barely holding it in, I closed the door and went to the kitchen.

I roughly knew where everything was from my previous visit. I took out a pot from the kitchen cabinet and muttered:

“Since you’re not feeling well, porridge would be best.”

A versatile dish with many variations depending on the ingredients, simple to cook, and filling. After considering various options, nothing seemed better than porridge.

I opened the refrigerator. Usually, people living alone have empty fridges, but Hwa Nabi enjoys cooking and is skilled at it, so she had various ingredients on hand.

Just at a glance, I could see beef for soup, green onions, mushrooms, squash, carrots… quite a variety.

“I’ll make beef and vegetable porridge.”

The thought came to me immediately upon seeing the ingredients in the refrigerator. A safe choice that most people would enjoy. Having decided, I reached for the green onions but hesitated.

“But is it okay to just use these?”

I wondered if I should ask permission first… but I figured I could replace them later. Or we could go grocery shopping together after she recovered.

“Let’s see.”

There’s rice and plenty of ingredients. Finally, it’s time to show off my cooking skills.

Though it’s a bit disappointing that my first meal for her is homemade porridge.

But still.

“…Well, it’s for her.”

I should make it as delicious as possible.

*

Cooking complete.

I turned off the heat warming the pot and took out a suitable bowl from the cabinet. I transferred the porridge into it, prepared a glass of water and a spoon, and placed everything on a tray.

“Nabi, are you awake?”

I carefully entered the bedroom with the tray. Hwa Nabi was lying in bed under the blanket, staring at me.

The fact that she remained lying down even after making eye contact suggested she really wasn’t feeling well.

“How are you feeling?”

I set down the tray and sat by her bedside. With my free hands, I fixed her disheveled bangs and asked, which finally prompted her to answer carefully.

“Just… so-so.”

“What do you think? Should we go to the hospital now?”

We’d have to go to the emergency room at this hour, but money isn’t an issue for me, and I could easily afford it.

Hwa Nabi shook her head.

“No, it’s fine. Going wouldn’t change anything.”

“Then, should I call my family doctor for you?”

It wouldn’t be impossible if I was prepared to get scolded by my parents. But when I suggested this, Hwa Nabi sighed heavily as if I was being ridiculous.

“…Siwoo. It’s really nothing, okay? It’s just an occasional annual event, not some deadly disease, so please just stay calm.”

“Oh, okay…”

I was just trying to show concern, but she scolded me for overreacting. My voice unconsciously lowered, which made Hwa Nabi, who had been staring at me, chuckle.

“Why the gloomy face?”

“…What are you talking about? I’m not gloomy, not at all.”

“Really? It’s written all over your face.”

“No, I’m telling you I’m not…”

“…Heh, fine. Let’s say you’re not.”

She struggled to sit up and leaned against the headboard. Then, she pointed at the porridge bowl with her finger.

“I’m hungry.”

“…Alright.”

Following her request, I brought the tray with the porridge bowl and sat by her bedside.

“Can you eat by yourself?”

“Feed me.”

As if requesting something obvious, Hwa Nabi opened her mouth obediently like a baby bird waiting for food.

I stared blankly at her for a moment… then shook my head slightly.

Hmm, get it together. What am I imagining with a sick person in front of me? Putting my unspeakable fantasies aside, I picked up the spoon.

Well… since it’s come to this. I might as well fulfill all her requests today. Feeding her isn’t that difficult anyway.

“Here.”

“Aahng.”

When I offered a spoonful, she ate it cutely, nibbling like a hamster.

“How does it taste?”

I deliberately kept the seasoning mild, so I wasn’t sure if it would suit her taste. With a nervous heart, I carefully asked, and Hwa Nabi smiled brightly.

“Mmm… it’s really delicious! The seasoning is perfect.”

“Really? That’s good then.”

“You mentioned before that you’re good at cooking, and that was true?”

“It’s just ordinary porridge. What’s there to be good or bad at? Anyone can make it.”

“Actually, simpler recipes are harder to get right. At this level… Siwoo, you could seriously open a porridge restaurant.”

It’s embarrassing to receive such praise for something so simple. I offered another spoonful to stop her from talking.

“Stop saying weird things and just eat.”

One spoonful, two spoonfuls, three spoonfuls… before I knew it, the bowl was empty. I had served a generous portion, but she finished it in no time, suggesting she was indeed hungry.

I put the bowl back on the tray and stood up.

“I’ll do the dishes and come back. Get some rest.”

“Okay.”

“…At least you answer well.”

Anyway, now that our simple dinner is over, it’s time to clean up. I closed the door and left the room.

But in front of me…

-….

A white cat was sitting curled up.

“…Ah, I need to feed you too.”

I didn’t see it until just now—where was it hiding? Maybe it’s nocturnal. It seems to be starting its activities as the sun is setting.

It follows me to the kitchen with elegant steps as I carry the tray.

…A silent protest demanding food.

“Sigh.”

I should feed the cat first, then do the dishes. After placing the tray on the sink, I looked for the cat food.

In the location I had noticed earlier while cooking, the third cabinet in the kitchen, I found pet food bowls and a bag of cat food.

I put the bowl down on the floor and filled it with an appropriate amount of food. The cat immediately buried its face in the bowl.

Chomp chomp—table manners completely different from its elegant walk. As I watched absentmindedly, I found myself muttering:

“Do you take after your owner too?”

I idly scratched between its ears and on top of its head.

It seemed to enjoy that immensely, pausing from eating to tremble with pleasure and purr.

“Does that feel good?”

-Meow.

“Answer in human language.”

-….

Saying things that would make anyone think I’d lost my mind, I continued to stroke the cat’s head.

Purr purr—its positive response made me excited without realizing it.

“Meow. Meooow.”

-…?

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

This cat is disrespecting the person feeding it. I picked it up to scold it properly and brought it to eye level. Just as I was about to speak…

“…Pfft.”

I heard what sounded like someone laughing. My gaze naturally turned toward the sound, and there was…

“…Huh?”

“…”

Hwa Nabi was standing there, covering her mouth with her hand. She had been lying down obediently earlier, but perhaps she felt well enough to come out now?

…That’s not the important thing right now. How much did she see? Trying to maintain my composure, I asked casually:

“Are you feeling better?”

“Ah… yes. Thanks to you.”

“G-good. But…”

“Um, Siwoo?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Well, I think it’s understandable. I was the same when I first got a cat.”

“……”

She saw everything.

Honestly, I’d crawl into a mouse hole right now if I could… but still clinging to a thread of hope, I answered with a trembling voice:

“…What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean.”

“…Pfft.”

“…Did you just laugh?”

“What? No, of course not. Heh. Pffft.”

“…Hey!”