Chapter 54: In the Infirmary

Physical education at this school was extremely perfunctory.

Neither students, school, nor even the PE teacher cared about building basic physical strength. Whether soccer or running, just participating half-heartedly was enough. Sometimes it even felt like gauging where the line was for upsetting the teacher.

There were exceptions though. Like So-yul, who strived to build an excellent model student image with all teachers.

Never dozing off during class. Devoting evenings to piano practice. Even pretending to be a couple with me. Yet always seeming fine – it made me wonder if she was really human.

That’s why I noticed something wasn’t right with So-yul during PE that day.

“So-yul, are you okay?”

During the break given after running around the gym for warm-up. My ears naturally turned toward the voice from across the way.

Glancing over, So-yul was talking with her arts track friend.

So-yul gave a light smile.

“Me? Why?”

“No, you seem to be stumbling. Your eyes are bloodshot. Your legs are shaking too.”

Her friend answered with clear worry.

Looking now, it was definitely true.

Her complexion was bad enough to notice from far away. Come to think of it, she’d seemed unusually low on energy while running too. I’d thought it strange how she kept falling to the back of the line.

“Ah~ Maybe I’m just a bit tired lately. I’m fine!”

So-yul reassured her friend while patting her thin chest.

Her friend didn’t seem very reassured though…

Indeed, even her answer that she was fine lacked energy. For So-yul who tried to hide weakness to admit she was tired – it was natural to feel somewhat worried.

“Alright~ Everyone gather here~”

Just then, the teacher’s booming voice rang out.

Seems break time was over.

Though I was concerned about So-yul’s condition, she said she was OK so I couldn’t stop her. Plus what right did I have to speak up when I was just a fake boyfriend?

As I moved toward the teacher with just this anxious feeling…

For some reason, So-yul’s body tilted to one side.

Her legs that had been barely holding up gave way. Her amber hair flew where she had been standing. Her whole body seemed to lose strength, unable to even reach out to support herself.

All these scenes passed by like slow motion in an instant…

Finally, So-yul collapsed straight down where she stood.

“Han So-yul!”

“So-yul!”

Urgent voices immediately came from the girls’ side. The boys were just as shocked though staying quiet. Every eye in the gym fixed on So-yul lying on the floor.

Even the teacher who had been calling everyone over ran over in one step.

“Han So-yul, Han So-yul. Wake up.”

Though the teacher grabbed her shoulders and shook her, So-yul didn’t move. She showed no reaction to the surrounding students calling her either.

Watching this, even some unpleasant thoughts flashed through my mind for a moment.

The teacher’s eyes turned to us. Perhaps judging this wasn’t an ordinary situation? Their glancing left and right held both bewilderment and urgency.

Then pointing at me:

“Min Woo-jin. You’re the tallest in this class, right? Come carry So-yul to the infirmary on your back quickly.”

As if they’d planned it, they threw out these words.

◎

“…Mmm.”

On the way running to the infirmary with So-yul on my back. Not long after starting, a faint groan tickled my ear.

I’d thought she’d completely lost consciousness but seems that wasn’t the case. I’d worried what we’d do if she had to be taken to the emergency room.

Letting out a relieved sigh, I asked:

“Han So-yul. Are you conscious?”

“Yeah.”

Her answering voice was slightly cracked. I could also sense she felt somewhat awkward.

Just from this I could easily guess she wasn’t in perfect condition.

“Do you remember what happened? You collapsed after running during PE. The teacher told the tallest person to take you to the infirmary, so I ended up carrying you.”

“Yeah. I mostly know. I remember until my vision tilted.”

Then she must be hazy on what happened after collapsing. Natural since she’d been unconscious for a while. Thank goodness she came to her senses quickly at least.

Soon a light breath touched my neck. Complete with giggling.

“Good thing I have a tall boyfriend.”

What a ridiculous thing to say.

“This isn’t the time for jokes. Do you have any idea how worried I was before you regained consciousness?”

My questioning tone was quite sharp even to my own ears. Though I hadn’t meant to lecture a patient. I felt slight regret the moment the words left my mouth.

But what could I do? Worry sometimes takes the form of anger.

Undeterred by my response, So-yul asked playfully:

“…You were worried?”

Her words probing for openings left me speechless.

At times like this, I had a set response to give:

“Well, I am your boyfriend even if it’s fake.”

“…Pfft.”

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, just. Thinking about it, I guess that’s not wrong.”

So-yul answered in a whisper and tightened her arms crossed over her chest.

A soft, tender sensation transmitted across my back. I could clearly feel her body temperature slightly higher than usual. I thought I could even faintly smell sweat.

Though I wondered if she realized it herself, in this position I couldn’t help but be aware that So-yul was a girl.

Her summer PE uniform was thin, and because she’d tensed up we were pressed even closer together.

Well, even with such a small, delicate body, being this close made it impossible not to feel.

So-yul’s earlier words were right.

It really was fortunate that the tallest boy in our class happened to be none other than me.

◎

“Seems like momentary dizziness from accumulated fatigue, so lying down to rest for a bit should help.”

Finally arriving at the infirmary. The teacher’s diagnosis ended there.

She’d quickly regained consciousness while being carried. She’d even recovered enough energy to keep joking around. Though her condition was poor, she had no external injuries. Her pulse and blood pressure were normal too.

At this level, even going to the hospital would just get told to rest well.

Now I could feel somewhat relieved. When she suddenly collapsed I’d worried something serious had happened. If it was just momentary dizziness, I could let go of some worry.

As I felt that relief, the teacher added:

“Sorry but I need to step out for a bit. I’ll leave the door open, so you can go when you feel better. I’ll be back in about 20 minutes, so let me know then if you’re still feeling unwell.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

So-yul answered with a gentle smile from the bed.

For some reason, an inexplicable premonition crossed my mind.

The teacher hurriedly left the infirmary, perhaps having urgent business. As promised, they left without locking the door.

Inside the infirmary remained just So-yul lying on the bed and me standing blankly.

“Well then, rest comfortably by yourself. I’ll head back now too.”

As I said this and turned around… I felt a delicate hand tugging at my clothes.

Needless to say, it was So-yul.

“Where are you going?”

“The gym.”

“Why?”

“Seems your mind isn’t fully back yet, but we’re in the middle of class.”

“My mind is back. I know it’s class time too.”

“If your mind’s back then there’s no problem now. Can I go?”

“…What kind of boyfriend leaves his collapsed girlfriend?”

So-yul grumbled in a voice full of weakness.

I wondered if any man existed who could turn away after hearing such a question.

Looking back at So-yul, I said:

“Anyone could come by. We almost got caught by the head of student affairs last time too.”

“The head of student affairs must be in class now too. And if students come… it should be fine if we close the curtain.”

“How could it be fine for a boy and girl to be behind the infirmary bed curtain?”

…I said that, but I wasn’t cold-blooded enough to leave someone who was sick.

Along with fear of our relationship being discovered, there was also an equal desire to take care of the person I liked.

“Alright.”

I whispered while standing by the bed.

A subtle smile appeared on So-yul’s lips.

Her hair was spread out on the pillow. Her face seemed slightly pale too. Her eyes were still somewhat bloodshot.

Her usual innocent appearance had completely vanished, leaving behind an incredibly delicate So-yul.

While a distinctly feminine atmosphere could be felt, a sense of concern also welled up from deep in my chest.

“Just take a nap first. The teacher said it seems like fatigue too. Better to catch up on sleep than waste time talking with me.”

“It’s okay. And if I close my eyes now I’ll probably sleep for hours. Model students don’t skip class…”

Still going on about being a model student when she was exhausted enough to collapse. Really seemed like she wouldn’t listen to anyone.

“Just asking, but have you been sleeping properly lately?”

“Of course. I make sure to sleep once every day.”

“Who counts sleep by number of times… Then I hope you’re not skipping meals too?”

“…Only sometimes when the piano really isn’t going well.”

Really now. No wonder she collapsed.

Though I’d expected the competition practice to be hard, I hadn’t known she was suffering this much. While So-yul hiding it until reaching this state was one thing, I who hadn’t paid attention was also failing as a fake boyfriend.

Feeling guilt spread through my whole chest, I bit down hard on my molars.

“I appreciate your concern, but I can’t help it.”

So-yul added explanation as if protesting.

“You know how important this competition is to me. Mom and Dad are coming to watch too. I absolutely have to place in the top ranks. It’s common for other kids to practice this much too.”

“Even so.”

“You cut down on sleep before exams too. It’s similar.”

Having waited to counter, So-yul then hardened her expression and:

“Plus for me… this might be an opportunity that won’t come twice.”

“…”

It was hard to carelessly open my mouth.

Because I knew So-yul’s situation all too well.

Continued pressure from her parents to quit piano. Not getting recognition even after giving a performance she didn’t need to be ashamed of at the arts festival.

With the competition approaching in this situation, So-yul had no choice but to give it her all.

But I wondered.

What result would await after pushing herself this hard?

Maybe So-yul was just trying to shake off anxiety by forcing herself past her limits.

Of course I hoped that wasn’t the case.

I hoped she’d place in the top ranks of the competition as she wanted, gain her parents’ approval, and just smile happily.

But my hopes alone wouldn’t make anything happen.

“Still…”

Then So-yul hesitantly started:

“If you pat my head… I might fall asleep without realizing.”

…

“You want me to pat your head?”

“N-no, that’s not it. If I sleep now I’ll miss class. I don’t want to sleep, but.”

“But?”

When I quietly asked back, So-yul said with an incredibly shy look:

“It feels like I’ll fall asleep if my boyfriend pats my head…”

That’s the same thing.

I’d even declared I’d definitely pat her head whenever she asked. Yet somehow So-yul seemed embarrassed to ask me.

Really, So-yul only getting shy at times like this. It was truly amusing.

“…If I pat your head, will you really sleep properly?”

“Yeah. I promise. Until I fall asleep, keep patting.”

“Then I’ll end up skipping class too until you wake up.”

“It’s okay. I’ll fall asleep quickly.”

So-yul answered while slightly pulling up her blanket.

Her lips pressed together shyly created a ticklish sensation somewhere inside me.

I should have taken So-yul back and returned, yet here I still was. Maybe I was starting to seem suspicious.

The class was probably worried about So-yul too. I should have quickly returned to the gym.

In other words, this wasn’t the time to hesitate needlessly.

“Alright. Close your eyes. I’ll pat your head until you fall asleep.”

“Okay…”

So-yul barely answered in a tiny voice.

I wondered where the person who had insisted she hadn’t asked to be patted had disappeared to.

I’d been resolved to pat her head for a while now. Plus she said she’d go to sleep without complaint if I just endured the embarrassment for a moment. I had no reason at all to refuse.

I reached out toward So-yul’s hair without hesitation.

So-yul also gently closed her eyes. The corners of her mouth were slightly raised.

In that state, I softly placed my hand on So-yul’s head.

I saw So-yul’s body jerk as soon as my palm touched.

Her hair that was always neatly arranged was disheveled today. Her eyes and mouth had lost all strength too.

This appearance different from usual created charm hard to see normally. For instance, her delicate and feminine side.

…Here I was having inappropriate thoughts in front of someone struggling. Really, I needed to reflect.

Anyway, I moved my hand to stroke So-yul’s head.

As always, I felt a ticklish sensation from her silky flowing hair.

A faint smile appeared on So-yul’s lips.

Only then did I realize I too wore a slight smile.

So-yul often teased me. So-yul quietly accepting my touch was still unfamiliar. Though somewhat sorry, it was enough to bring out my inner playfulness.

I playfully stopped my palm.

So-yul, who had been contentedly accepting my touch with a smile, immediately transformed into a sulky expression.

Though she wouldn’t open her mouth since she’d promised to sleep, her face clearly showed her dissatisfaction.

After a moment, So-yul’s eyelids moved slightly.

She definitely seemed to be trying to peek at me through narrowed eyes.

Perhaps confirming the playfulness and smile on my face, So-yul’s cheeks gradually puffed up. Though not speaking, she looked like she was complaining for me to hurry up and pat her.

As I kept my hand still wondering how long she’d hold out, So-yul seemed to finally give up.

Soon So-yul rubbed her head against my still palm herself.

This was like using her head to pat my hand. My chest warmed at the gesture that could have been aegyo or childishness.

When I moved my hand again, So-yul deflated her puffed up cheeks. A slight smile crossed her lips, seeming pleased to regain the desired sensation.

That didn’t last long either.

Soon So-yul’s breathing turned into soft snores.

Even when I removed my hand, So-yul showed no reaction. She just maintained a peaceful expression with closed eyes. She didn’t puff her cheeks or rub her head against the missing touch with disappointment.

She only wore a gentle smile with a completely relaxed face.

I quietly looked down at So-yul sleeping soundly.

Without any worries, concerns, or tension, just peacefully traveling through dreamland.

Maybe this was So-yul’s happiest moment, I thought.

I wasn’t any different.

Time spent with So-yul was simply incredibly happy for me.

Could we really call this relationship fake?

Could my feelings remain fake forever?

If I gave up the excellent excuse of being fake lovers… what would happen to us?

Holding these complicated feelings, I just kept letting time pass.

Finally it was early July.

A few days before the competition.