episode_0213

Usually, if you ask someone what they need, most people will state what they need for themselves.

At least in my experience, a significant number of them did.

“Well, you see…”

“I’m just asking, so please speak comfortably.”

At the gentle invitation, the grandmother quietly offered her opinion.

“Other things are fine. We can manage somehow.”

“Yes.”

“We don’t have fresh ingredients. Like vegetables or eggs.”

“Ah…”

The grandmother was a little different from that ‘majority’.

It was a request not for herself, but for everyone.

I felt the image of warm, caring, and generous grandparents, like those seen in old dramas.

She spoke even those words carefully, truly a person without greed.

If all elders in the world were even half like this grandmother, what would it be like?

Though I can’t be sure, wouldn’t the idea of respecting elders have truly taken root?

As I imagined an impossible scenario, the grandmother shared various thoughts.

“I wonder if we could try growing even lettuce or bean sprouts.”

“Wouldn’t that be difficult inside the building?”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. The problem is just not having it.”

“Hmm… I understand. I’ll look around and see if there are any.”

“It’s snowing heavily, so not right now. I just meant it would be good to have them.”

‘Fresh ingredients…’

It was an absurd request given the current situation.

Knowing that, the grandmother was only hinting at it.

Right now, there’s nothing to produce even if the president’s grandfather came and demanded it.

There’s nothing outside, but I have it.

Okay for now.

I praised myself for having worked so hard.

My concern isn’t ‘Where can I find it?’ but ‘What should I take out first?’

Perhaps this is the ease of the prepared.

As the grandmother finished speaking, Dr. Jang naturally interjected.

“I’ll organize the list for you soon. But there’s something I need to tell you.”

Dr. Jang seemed calm, yet slightly worried.

“Lawrence is a bit…”

“…Is there a problem?”

Dr. Jang nodded slightly.

“Her nutritional deficiency and imbalance are severe.”

“I was told it wasn’t quite malnutrition.”

“That’s right. But it’s almost at that level. And not only she, but the fetus is also very weakened.”

“…The fetus?”

“Its heartbeat is very slightly weak.”

“……”

Unconsciously, I held my breath.

“For her health, too, a balanced diet is necessary…”

The things Dr. Jang was saying felt heavy.

To think that a baby, not even born yet, was having problems.

…It was a sense of crisis that felt somewhat unfamiliar.

“The grandmother and everyone else are trying, but it’s still a bit lacking.”

“And from what I observed, the mother is a bit of a picky eater.”

“That’s right. Her food intake isn’t much.”

“…What should I do?”

I put down my cup and asked seriously.

“The grandmother and I will try to balance the nutrition in her meals somehow. So, we need nutritional supplements to fill in the lacking parts.”

“Like vitamins?”

“That, and iron is definitely needed.”

“Iron… Where can I get those?”

Dr. Jang showed no hesitation at my confirming question.

“First, a large pharmacy. If they don’t have them, you’ll have to look for a public health center.”

“A public health center…?”

“Each local public health center supports pregnant women. It’s better than you might think.”

“I see. Understood.”

“They’re necessary not just for Lawrence, but for everyone.”

With limited food, calorie intake can be satisfied.

The deficiencies are made up for with nutritional supplements.

If until now the focus was on filling stomachs, now details are needed.

‘Indeed.’

Listening to Dr. Jang’s further explanation, it was convincing.

I nodded, thinking first of borrowing a map from Commander Choi.

Knowing at least the approximate location would be advantageous for putting in the legwork.

“And…”

It seemed there was something else needed.

“You might think this is a bit unusual, but…”

“For now, just say whatever comes to mind.”

“We need cosmetics.”

“…Cosmetics?”

At the word ‘cosmetics,’ I blinked.

Although it was an unexpected item to be mentioned, it was curious…

“We need lotion or moisturizer.”

Dr. Jang specified them and explained their necessity.

“Thanks to Seonghan, we can keep our bodies clean. That’s a real relief, and this part is truly significant.”

“Hmm.”

“However, if we consider health a bit more, these things are necessary.”

“Is it because of dryness?”

“That’s right. If left untreated, it can cause itching or inflammation. It can also crack and hurt, and easily lead to skin conditions.”

“Ah…”

In short, it meant letting a condition worsen.

“Miri’s father and the two women are currently in that condition.”

“…What is their condition?”

I asked seriously, hearing that they already had symptoms.

“All the symptoms I mentioned have appeared. Miri’s father’s wounds have even started to fester. Heize’s skin is badly damaged from many injuries. They must have suffered a lot.”

“……”

“Currently, I’ve prescribed oral medication and ointment for them. While severe, it’s not critical, so they can fully recover.”

“……”

I let out a small sigh.

‘This glutton, really…’

She had always been energetic and cheerful, so I hadn’t even considered it.

Moreover, she was covered by a military uniform, so I couldn’t have known.

Just how much had she been enduring?

Dr. Jang concluded by saying that with a little more attention to their care, minor illnesses could be prevented.

I quietly examined the faces of my companions.

After hearing Dr. Jang’s words and observing closely, I could definitely see their skin was dry.

While their overall condition seemed reasonably healthy…

‘……’

The grandmother’s hands looked chapped and severely dry.

To the extent that the fine wrinkles stood out clearly.

Shia’s hands were similar.

Not to the same degree as the grandmother, but her outer skin felt dry.

And looking at her facial skin too…

“Wh-why? Am I very unsightly?”

As I stared openly at her face, Shia covered her cheeks with her hands.

“No, it’s clean and smooth, isn’t it?”

“Eh?”

“Do you put anything on your face?”

“Oh, no? What I had ran out, so I just wash my face.”

“Really?”

“…Stop looking. I’m dry and a mess right now…”

Shia, truly thinking that, blushed and turned her body away from me.

She looks perfectly fine even now…

“Young man. You shouldn’t stare at a young woman’s face like that.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“You’ll stare a hole right through her. Hehehe~”

“……”

The people present chuckled softly.

In embarrassment, I scratched the side of my head.

As the laughter subsided, Dr. Jang calmly opened her mouth.

“First of all, the patients don’t need to worry.”

“Yes.”

“As Seonghan knows, it’s hard to say that frequent exposure to medicine is good.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s why I brought it up. From the perspective of maintaining health and preventing illness.”

“I see. I understand.”

Dr. Jang said she would organize the necessary items and immediately left her seat.

I glanced briefly at Shia, who still wouldn’t show her face.

Honestly, I couldn’t really tell if her face was dry.

But if I give her cosmetics for her to take care of herself…

‘…She’ll get even prettier than that?’

Cosmetics rose to the top of the farming list.

It wasn’t just because of Shia; everyone said they needed them.

I also felt like my cheeks were getting a bit chapped.

It was a chance to get various things while I was at it.

The grandmother also headed to her room, saying she would rest, and Shia also tried to get up.

“Shia.”

“Yes?”

At my call, Shia settled back down on the sofa.

“Do you know how to speak English?”

“English? To some extent.”

“Really?”

“Representative-nim, my senior, and Young-cheol Oppa can speak it too.”

“Oh??”

It seemed the members from entertainment agencies were good at English.

“They said we needed to broaden our scope of activities, so I learned a little bit. Among idols, many also learn Japanese and Chinese.”

“Wow…”

To think they study even after becoming celebrities.

The entertainment industry doesn’t seem like an easy place at all.

As I expressed my astonishment, Shia quietly asked me.

“Is it because of the unnies?”

“Unnies?”

“Yes. They’re one year older than me. Lawrence Unnie is three years older.”

“Ah… I didn’t know that.”

“…Oppa, aren’t you a bit too uninterested?”

“No, well… it’s been hectic.”

“Do you know how old I am?”

“You said you were 24.”

“I just turned 25, you know? …But you still knew.”

I chuckled at Shia’s playful scolding, then stopped laughing.

“…To think I’m thirty…”

“Oh?”

“Wow… I didn’t even realize I’d gotten older.”

The first point where my body realized the passage of time.

The starting point where I slowly began to dislike mentioning my age.

A carton of eggs [an idiom referring to turning 30 years old].

…The day I thought would never come had arrived.

“Wow… Hyung-nim, you’re thirty with that face…”

“Hyung-nim. Share your secret…”

Dong-woo complained, and Incheol admired.

“It’s nothing new, but Oppa really has a baby face. I’m jealous.”

“……”

“But why English?”

I quietly made a request to Shia, who was circling back to the main point.

“I’d like you to look after Heize and Lawrence a bit.”

“Ah.”

“I can’t tell you the details, but they’ve suffered a lot.”

“I heard a little. That they had a very hard time because of people…”

Shia, having heard something, wore a sympathetic expression.

“I made it clear they should learn Korean, but that takes time. I don’t speak English.”

“So Oppa has something he can’t do?”

“Hmph!”

“Giggle~”

The bashful look she had when she called her face dry was nowhere to be seen.

…She’s playful, but cute, so I’ll let it slide this once.

“You’re similar in age and both women. I hope you’ll look after them a bit.”

Each of them had their reasons for following me.

Although I brought them, there wasn’t much I could do for them.

Just making sure they ate well, as a basic necessity.

Beyond that, I wasn’t sure what else I should do or how.

Heize, and Lawrence too, try not to show how hard things are for them.

I realized that once again through my conversation with Dr. Jang.

I thought it would be good if there was someone to look after them before they let their conditions worsen themselves.

And if possible, it would be even better if they could also heal their wounded hearts a bit.

Since they’re similar in age and all women, wouldn’t it be alright?

And since Shia happens to speak English, it’s worth looking forward to.

“Don’t worry. I actually chatted with them a bit when I helped them bathe. We communicated well.”

“…Then I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. But Oppa.”

Shia smiled faintly and pressed her hip close to mine.

Unconsciously, I subtly leaned my upper body away.

“…What’s this about?”

“Oppa, I’m doing you a favor, don’t I get anything?”

“What?”

“Don’t I get a reward or something?”

“…Hah.”

I let out an exasperated laugh at her sweet eye-smile.

As she pressed close, a soft, pleasant scent wafted over me.

“Oppa?”

“Alright, so step back a bit.”

“Huh? Why?”

“……”

…She definitely knew what she was doing.

Behind her sweet smile, a hint of mischief was clearly visible.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Hmm…”

Shia reacted seriously to my words.

After a moment of deep thought, Shia soon opened her mouth.

“There’s nothing I need right now.”

“Really…?”

“As a reward, will you grant me one wish later?”

“Hmm…”

A wish ticket, huh.

If so, I’d be losing too much…

“…Yes?”

To look up at me with such unfair eyes.

“…Alright.”

“Really? Is it a promise?”

“I said alright.”

“Yay! Then~ here!”

“……”

“What are you doing? Hurry!”

“Sigh…”

She held out her slender pinky finger, prettily extended.

Seriously, she’s not a child.

Click—

“Stamp.”

Click—

“Copy.”

“Honestly…”

Swish—

The soft, pliable touch brushing against my palm was impressive.

It was strange, as her hands clearly looked a bit rough earlier.

“If you break the promise, you’ll pay back ten times over.”

“What, are you a loan shark?”

As I muttered softly, she curved her eyes brightly in a smile and went into the room.

After Shia left, I looked down at my hand.

On the fingertips, scarred and calloused, I still felt the lingering touch of soft skin.

‘…She’s not even an elementary school student.’

The unfamiliar ticklish feeling wasn’t bad.

A gentle laugh almost escaped me, but…

“……”

“……”

“……”

Dong-woo and Incheol, who had remained, were staring intently at me.

And their facial expressions began to change moment by moment.

It was a complex expression, evolving from playful to mischievous, then annoying and smug.

“Phew~ It’s hot. Is it just hot in here?”

“It’s spring, alright. Spring has come, but outside a snowstorm is raging.”

“Is it abnormal weather? Huh? What’s this?”

“Why? Is there something?”

Dong-woo opened his eyes exaggeratedly wide.

“The world is pink!”

“Ugh~~ It’s so sappy I could die!”

“Incheol Hyung. I feel like I just watched a web drama commercial.”

“Me too. It feels like it’s rated for all ages, but why is my heart pounding so much?”

“Oh, you too, Hyung? Me too!”

“Oh man~ What are we going to do~”

“……”

The two of them were wriggling and making a huge fuss in excitement.

Watching two grown men squealing, my fists clenched automatically.

Crunch—! Crack!

My grip strength made my bones and muscles twist and creak.

At this, Dong-woo and Incheol shut their mouths and widened their eyes.

“Th-that’s the hand of a romance male lead!”

“That hand touched by the female lead!”

“Is this pure love?!”

“Ah, pure love is good. But a harem isn’t bad either.”

“Ah, this Hyung doesn’t know the charm of pure love.”

“You rookie who doesn’t know the happiness of ‘the more, the better [an idiom meaning that having more of something is always advantageous].’”

“……”

These guys seem to have gone crazy.