episode_0129

She was Sun-il’s younger sister, Kim Yu-jin.

Life confined to a hospital room is more boring than imaginable.

She needed a way to pass the time, and the girl occasionally revisited distant memories. Most of the remembered scenes were of the playground.

Before her mother abandoned her and her brother.

Swings, slides, seesaws… A space filled with all kinds of playground equipment.

The same children came out every day. After a few days, they naturally formed groups and played together. Like some kind of club.

─I wanna play too.

That was the desire of the child whose pronunciation was still clumsy.

But who would let her join?

Yu-jin was too young, even among the children.

No child wants to take care of a baby when they come all the way here. When they want to play like crazy all day long, there was no one who would let Yu-jin join in any game, as it would obviously be frustrating.

─Me too… me too…

How many days did she whine like that?

─Ugh, just get lost!

Eventually, Yu-jin was pushed over and fell.

It was a painful memory, of course, but Yu-jin was also curious.

Because the memories after that were vague. It seemed that her oppa, after learning about this, had taken Yu-jin’s hand and led her away.

What did he say? What expression did he have?

…She couldn’t remember well.

◈◈◈◈◈

The point in time before the broadcast of the first episode of Special Task Force 808.

Yu-jin’s hospital ward was exceptionally close-knit, like a family.

“It’s Yu-jin! Yu-jin is cute as always today!”

“Yu-jin, shall we have lunch together later?”

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a hotel for patients.

The price was one that an ordinary family couldn’t even dream of, so there were only a few people, and there were no particularly difficult people. Also, Yu-jin, who became a much-needed companion to everyone who was lonely, couldn’t help but be popular.

“Yu-jin, if you have time, come visit our room.”

“Want some fruit? I got a lot this time.”

Then one day, Yu-jin started grabbing people’s sleeves. There was something she really wanted to say.

“After dinner! Let’s gather and watch TV together!”

“It’s our Yu-jin’s request, of course, we have to watch it.”

“What time exactly should I go?”

“That’s right. They said Yu-jin’s oppa would be on it, right?”

No one refused.

Yu-jin’s usual conduct was upright, and at the same time, everyone knew that she was Sun-il’s younger sister. The hospitalization life was already boring, so watching a drama would make it better.

That was the reason why they all gathered in the spacious lounge.

“What kind of drama is this?”

“Special Task Force… Even the name is difficult for me.”

“I’m not even interested in dramas. I only came because of Yu-jin.”

Overall, the atmosphere was that they gathered for Yu-jin. That was the case until they watched the first episode of Special Task Force 808.

“There’s Yu-jin’s oppa! Sun-il-ssi!”

“Oh my, the siblings are shining together.”

Playing with Yu-jin was the main thing, rather than watching the drama, and they were just happy to see Sun-il appear from time to time.

Yes, that’s how it was when the first episode started.

“….”

But on Thursday, when they finished watching the second episode.

[Special Task Force 808]

[The third episode will continue next week.]

The atmosphere in the lounge changed dramatically.

“…It’s more interesting than I thought?”

“My daughters at home are already going crazy because of this. They’re losing their minds because there are two handsome men.”

“So this is why everyone talks about dramas.”

“It makes you wait eagerly. I’m curious about what happens next.”

Those who gathered in the lounge began to gather voluntarily. They still took good care of Yu-jin, but when the drama started, they were too busy paying attention to the content.

“That’s him! Is Lee Ga-ram Lieutenant a traitor?”

“Wow, that torture is delicious. Is it okay to watch this in a hospital?”

“I don’t know if that’s acting or if he’s really crazy…”

Yu-jin gradually lost her words.

Special Task Force 808 supposedly has two main characters, but it was different for the girl. Only Kim Yu-han was the main character.

The interest in Lee Gang-cheol was clearly lower.

“Kim Yu-han is starting again.”

“I like him acting like a crazy person like that.”

“That’s right. You can’t predict him.”

Kim Sun-il’s mentions decreased noticeably, and patients who liked to lie down started gathering in the lounge. But it was still Kim Yu-han who led them.

“….”

The girl suddenly revisited the promises her oppa had made.

That she was the best at something, that everyone would come to find him, that this role would be different. Now that she thought about it, nothing had been kept. To the point where her heart ached.

And most importantly, one thing.

‘…Oppa, you haven’t changed.’

Kim Sun-il didn’t look happy at all.

“My daughter is a reporter in the entertainment industry, and she’s complaining that she’s been too busy lately because of that Kim Yu-han guy.”

“Hahaha! A fictional character is harassing a real person.”

“I got a call from my son today. I wondered why he called me so endearingly? But he said he wanted to dye his hair…”

The girl stopped heading to the lounge at some point.

“Yu-jin! It’s starting soon!”

“Aren’t you going to watch it today?”

Even if someone came to find her from time to time, she didn’t go out.

She didn’t want to go out. She didn’t want to see it.

The time she forced herself to sleep, even when she couldn’t sleep, increased, and she occasionally suffered from a fever of unknown origin. In the meantime, she even skipped meals. It was okay. Because she didn’t have any motivation anymore.

However, the boulder in her heart seemed to have grown bigger.

Oppa was not happy this time either. Because of Yu-jin.

That day when they had to take the falling snow with their bodies, the result might have been different if Yu-jin hadn’t whined. Oppa might have been happy. Then he would have done better.

At least, that’s what the girl thought.

.

.

.

.

.

And now.

On the way up to the hospital ward, Sun-il told the three members of Mystic all the details of the current situation.

After finishing the story, he sighed deeply.

“…As expected, she’s stuck in her room again today.”

“So, your younger sister watched up to episode 6 and was greatly disappointed? And she’s blaming herself a lot?”

“Yeah.”

Kim Sun-il quietly nodded at Seo Yeon-ju’s words.

“No matter how much I tell her not to blame herself, it’s useless.”

“What about asking her to wait until episode 8?”

“I did. But she doesn’t seem to trust my words anymore. You guys have heard the story of the boy who cried wolf, right?”

“Of course, we’ve heard it.”

“It’s similar to my situation now. I’ve lied countless times to comfort my younger sister, saying that I’m happy, and it’s finally come to this. I can’t blame anyone. It’s my karma.”

Sua, Yeon-ju, and Kim Yi-seo nodded at the same time. It was understandable that his younger sister couldn’t trust Sun-il’s words.

Moreover, the twist in episode 8 is something that any viewer would have a hard time predicting. It would be strange to have hope.

But in this situation, an anomaly occurred. The entire production team of Special Task Force 808 came to visit.

Kim Sun-il opened his mouth.

“Actually, I still can’t believe it. I’m shaking.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been through so many shoots so far, but this has never happened before. Of course, I never expected it either. Usually, we’re strangers the moment the filming ends.”

Sun-il’s gaze turned to Sua as he said that. Sua was the one who came up with the idea and carried it out.

Sua found it difficult to define what to call these heartwarming things. There was only one thing she wished for.

Sua said.

“Everyone except me is dressed up in their roles, I don’t know if she’ll welcome it. I hope your younger sister likes it.”

“She’ll definitely be happy.”

Meanwhile, Seo Yeon-ju, who had finished dressing up in her uniform, said.

“We should slowly take her out. It starts in five minutes, you know?”

It wasn’t a lie.

The Special Task Force 808 banner was hung in the upper right corner and the advertisements were starting to air, so the broadcast would start in at least 10 minutes.

The mission of the actors who were dressed up was simple. To comfort the younger sister who was greatly disappointed and take her outside. Just before knocking on the hospital room, Seo Yeon-ju asked one more time.

“Are we really the only ones going in?”

“Yeah.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for you, her oppa, to go in with us? Even if your younger sister is misunderstanding a lot.”

Kim Sun-il hesitated for a moment before answering.

“…That’s true. But I don’t think I have the right to do that yet.”

His face was calm, but his voice sounded a little sad.

◈◈◈◈◈

Heavenly luck followed.

His younger sister came out.

His younger sister showed interest in the dressed-up actors. Thinking about it, it’s not surprising. Who wouldn’t be interested when the world that was only in the TV is unfolding before their eyes?

Yu-jin took Yeon-ju’s hand and went outside.

The PD picked up the girl and sat her in a seat similar to the grand preceptor’s chair.

Immediately after, gifts poured out.

“….”

Yu-jin couldn’t come to her senses like a chick that had just come into the world. And she occasionally started glancing at Kim Sun-il.

Kim Sun-il didn’t meet her gaze, but Sua thought that was enough for now. At this moment, it was certain that Yu-jin at least had the mind to watch episode 8.