Ch.92Call Me Brother (9)

The destination of the van driven by Sol-young was none other than a hospital.

And it was a surgical hospital that treated patients with relatively serious injuries like traffic accidents.

“This is a hospital, teacher. Is that bastard Jeong-gyu sick?”

“…or maybe he got injured somewhere.”

“…I haven’t told class president Seong-gyeong yet, but since things have come to this, I’ll tell Ban Do-young and Do Ha-min.”

“I’m here too.”

“Oh, well, since I’m telling Do-young anyway, it’s all the same if you hear it too, Sol-young. Just please make sure this doesn’t leak outside, since Jeong-gyu doesn’t want that.”

“Of course, anything for you, teacher.”

“Phew… thank you.”

While entering the hospital building and parking,

Teacher Miso explained to me, Do Ha-min, and Sol-young who had come along about what had happened to Jeong-gyu.

“A traffic accident…? That bastard Jeong-gyu?”

“Yes… it’s been about a month and a half now. Jeong-gyu was riding a motorcycle when he collided badly with a kickboard that darted out from the sidewalk. That’s why he hasn’t been coming to school all this time.”

A collaboration between someone riding a motorcycle without a license and a kickboard rider darting from the sidewalk onto the road.

Just hearing about it made my chest tighten—what a ridiculous traffic accident.

“Considering both were unlicensed and violated traffic signals, it could have been much worse… but unfortunately, when they collided, the kickboard body fell and struck Jeong-gyu’s right leg… I was so shocked when I heard the news and rushed to the hospital…”

“He got what he deserved. Who told him to be out and about instead of being at school during school hours?”

Roughly calculating the time from the day of Jeong-gyu’s accident until now, at least six weeks had passed.

The fact that he still hadn’t been discharged and was staying in the hospital meant his leg probably wasn’t in great shape.

‘Be careful of cars, be careful on the road, be careful of people, be careful of kickboard riders.’

After hearing about Jeong-gyu’s accident,

I started to understand the warnings Teacher Miso emphasized at the end of every class.

There wasn’t a single wrong word in what she said.

Of course, I didn’t feel particularly sympathetic.

It was just an accident where he got what he deserved.

That’s all there was to it.

“A month and a half…”

After hearing about the day of Jeong-gyu’s accident, Do Ha-min opened her phone to check the calendar.

She seemed to be trying to figure out when exactly the accident had occurred.

“Was it that day? When Teacher Miso urgently switched classes with PE.”

“Ah, the day of the class president slut incident… mmph!”

“What? What did you just say, Do-young?”

“Nothing, nothing at all, Teacher Miso! Please continue!”

Do Ha-min hurriedly covered my mouth with her notebook.

“The teacher told you not to use such language, especially when she’s discussing something important. No matter how much you’re you, if you keep talking like that in front of the teacher, you’ll get more than just a scolding or penalty points…”

“Mmph, but that doesn’t mean you should cover my mouth with your used notebook… You almost wiped off all my lip tint.”

“Ah… sorry, I was so flustered I did it without thinking.”

“Do Ha-min, you’re going to seriously hurt someone one day. Walking around with such a dangerous weapon.”

“A, a notebook isn’t that dangerous of a weapon. Oh, are you talking about this pen…?”

No, not that.

Inside your pants.

“Ha-min is right. It was probably that day, since night self-study sessions started then, which is why Do Ha-min remembers it.”

“Ah… yes. I suppose so.”

It wasn’t uncommon for scheduled classes to be adjusted according to teachers’ or school circumstances.

That alone wasn’t particularly memorable.

However, that day was special for both me and Do Ha-min because of certain events,

which is why we couldn’t help but remember the details of that day so clearly.

“The surgery went well, but he needs to remain hospitalized for a while… so on days when I’m not supervising night study like today, I often visit Jeong-gyu to check on his condition.”

“Even as his homeroom teacher, do you need to do that every time, sis? What about his parents?”

“Ah, about that…”

“Now that you mention it, that is strange.”

I somewhat agreed with Sol-young’s comment.

It would be embarrassing to have everyone know you crashed while illegally riding a motorcycle and collided with a kickboard, destroying your leg,

but that doesn’t seem like something you’d need to keep secret from your classmates.

Why hide the news of the accident so thoroughly,

and why make the homeroom teacher visit the hospital instead of his parents?

“Jeong-gyu’s family situation is a bit complicated… Let’s just say he doesn’t have family who can visit him while he’s hospitalized… For now, just leave it at that.”

“…”

“Sol-young, I’m sorry, but could you wait in the car for a bit? I don’t think it’s a good idea for all of us to crowd into the hospital room. Just wait for an hour… no, 30 minutes.”

“That’s fine. I’m on leave and have plenty of time to spare. Besides, we’ve met after a year and a half—I can certainly wait that long.”

“Thank you… Sol-young.”

“Take care then, Driver Ban. It’s chilly today, so make sure to turn on the seat warmers by the time we get back.”

“Do-young! It’s not good to treat your own brother like a driver…!”

“It’s okay, Miso. Being called a driver is actually quite mild. If anything, I feel closer when she calls me that so straightforwardly.”

“B-but still. He’s your only precious brother… Wouldn’t it be better to be a little more affectionate, Do-young?”

“Sigh, if Teacher Miso says so, I guess I have no choice.”

The image of loving siblings that Teacher Miso wanted to see.

Right, what wouldn’t I do for our homeroom teacher?

I should show the appropriate behavior for my future sister-in-law (for real).

With that thought, I confidently extended my right hand toward Sol-young.

“Oppa, I want to buy a gift for my friend in the hospital, so give me your card.”

“…See? I told you ‘driver’ was better.”

“I. Love. You. Op. Pa. Give. Me. Your. Card.”

“What am I, a kiosk?”

Sol-young let out a defeated laugh and handed me his military service card from his wallet.

.

.

.

“Welcome, how may I… Oh, you’re Jeong-gyu’s teacher.”

“Yes. Is he available for visitors now?”

“Yes, it’s still fine. Please go up at your convenience.”

Before heading to Jeong-gyu’s room,

Teacher Miso filled out a visitor form at the reception desk on the first floor.

“Oh, this hospital is quite big. They even have a bakery on the first floor. Let’s buy some bread to take with us. Hey, Do Ha-min, come with me.”

“O-okay. Got it.”

While Teacher Miso was filling out the visitor form,

Do Ha-min and I went to the bakery on the first floor to look at the bread.

“B-but is it okay to buy this much? Didn’t they say we shouldn’t carelessly buy things at shops in hospitals or train stations because they’re expensive?”

“That’s right. When it’s my money or my card.”

“…Huh?”

“But this isn’t my card right now, is it?”

I showed Do Ha-min Sol-young’s military service card gleaming in my hand.

“Hehe, don’t worry too much. I’ll be frugal when I use your card later.”

“…What does that mean?”

“Just saying. Ma’am, please ring all of these up.”

“Oh my, thank you, customer. The total comes to 42,800 won. How would you like to pay?”

“All at once, please.”

So Do Ha-min and I returned to where Teacher Miso was waiting,

both hands full with paper bags containing various types of bread from the bakery.

Honestly, I was a bit worried about the balance since it was the end of the month

and it was a military service card with a soldier’s salary on it,

but fortunately, the payment went through without any issues.

That’s a relief.

My money source, like my dad, isn’t the type to waste money frivolously.

“Teacher Miso, we’re back.”

“Oh, you’re here… Hmm? What’s with all that bread?”

“Well, hospital gifts should look abundant, don’t you think?”

“Excuse me, what brings these students here…”

Just then, the nurses who saw us following Teacher Miso looked up and asked.

“Ah, they’re students from my class. They wanted to see Jeong-gyu, so they came along.”

“I see… What good friends you have. Coming to visit in person and bringing so many gifts…”

“Well, being in the same class makes us friends by default, I suppose.”

Explaining our perpetrator-victim relationship would be too troublesome.

“Oh, then perhaps one of the female students behind you is Jeong-gyu’s girlfriend…? I guess despite his personality, with his looks, his girlfriend must be quite beautiful too…”

“Don’t cross the line, miss.”

“Oh, I guess not. I’m sorry… My mistake.”

“Don’t make that mistake again. It’s offensive.”

I moved closer to Do Ha-min, who had been keeping a distance to avoid the paper bags of bread bumping into each other.

“Ah… I see.”

“That’s unexpected. Really.”

Only then did the nurses at the reception desk nod in understanding.

“T-the room is 401. Take the elevator for even-numbered floors and go straight to the right.”

“Yes, I know. Do-young, Ha-min, shall we go?”

“Of course. Hey, Do Ha-min.”

“Y-yes.”

Unable to use my hands, I pulled my chin inward

and signaled to Do Ha-min.

“Come closer to me.”