CH 347

“Whoa, he was alive!” Ju Yeong-Gi exclaimed in mock surprise.

“...”

“Ahahaha! Hey, Yu-Min! Look at this guy! I really thought he was dead!”

“...”

“What are you doing, you brat?! Go and get the good stuff I stashed in the cupboard! Since our good friend returned alive, we better crack open that bottle and celebrate, right! I'm so bloody happy right now, so you better not stop me even if I get drunk outta my mind!”

Kang Jin-Ho sighed under his breath.

Without any exaggeration, Kang Jin-Ho felt like dealing with the aftermath was three times harder than when he was trapped in the tunnel with Choi Yeon-Ha.

Well, every acquaintance in his life couldn't wait to roast him alive, while Kang Jin-Ho found explaining the unexplainable situation a pain in the butt, too.

“Jin-Ho?” Park Yu-Min openly glared at Kang Jin-Ho without saying anything else.

'Please just get angry at me, will you?'

Ju Yeong-Gi's biting sarcasm was already making Kang Jin-Ho flinch uncomfortably. However, Park Yu-Min's glare had ten times the power to make a person feel small and insignificant. Like a general who lost to the opponent's momentum, Kang Jin-Ho stumbled back from his friend's glare.

“I'm sorry, Yu-Min,” Kang Jin-Ho stuttered out his apology.

“Oh, no. You don't have to apologize.” Park Yu-Min firmly shook his head. “You had a good reason why you couldn't call us, right?”

“Yeah.”

“It's not that you didn't call us, but more like you couldn't. And now that's sorted, you came back. Am I right?”

“Correct.” Kang Jin-Ho urgently nodded.

Park Yu-Min suddenly smiled, then nodded in acceptance. “Then, it's all good.”

“...Mm?” Kang Jin-Ho was about to ask for clarification, but Ju Yeong-Gi beat him to it first.

“What do you mean, it's all good?!”

From the look of it, Ju Yeong-Gi seemed beyond enraged at this point.

“Our so-called friend went AWOL for several days before showing up as if nothing is wrong, so how can you not be angry! What the f*ck! Never in my life did I think I'd lose sleep worrying about another dude!”

“You have a point there, Yeong-Gi,” Park Yu-Min willingly agreed with his friend.

“Then, don't we at least deserve an apology from him?!”

“This isn't something to apologize about, though?”

“Why do you say that?!” Ju Yeong-Gi yelled while making a face of a man who couldn't understand it.

Park Yu-Min sighed and began explaining it in detail. “Yeong-Gi, you are thoughtless enough to drown yourself in liquor and black out for a day or two without telling anyone. But Jin-Ho isn't like that.”

“...Eh?”

“Come on, Yeong-Gi. Are you telling me that you really think Jin-Ho is the type to not call us even if he can?”

“W-well, no.”

Getting angry was one thing, but the truth would always remain as truth regardless of Ju Yeong-Gi's emotional state. When he thought about it, Kang Jin-Ho was not the type to make people worry with stuff like that.

Sure, Kang Jin-Ho might have gotten a bit too full of himself lately and often shirked his duties by not showing up at the pizzeria, but he still called his friends a few times a day to confirm the state of the shop and apologize. That was the type of person Kang Jin-Ho was.

“So, we shouldn't get angry about Jin-Ho suddenly not contacting us for a few days. Instead, we should be showing our concern for how hard it must've been for Jin-Ho that he couldn't even call us. Don't you agree that's the right thing to do?”

“Holy cow, Park Yu-Min...!”

Logically speaking, Park Yu-Min was totally correct. However, how could a person live their entire life while relying solely on logic? If that were possible, everyone would've become Jesus or something!

Seeing how Park Yu-Min could calmly utter stuff like that, Ju Yeong-Gi realized his friend was... not exactly 'normal', either.

“W-wait. Does that mean I'm the only human trash here?” Ju Yeong-Gi faltered ungainly.

“No, I'm not saying that. It's just that your thoughts are too shallow, Yeong-Gi.” Park Yu-Min sagely shook his head.

“T-then, what was I supposed to do?”

“Well, if we go with what's acceptable, then I think asking Jin-Ho, 'Just what happened to you that stopped you from calling us for so long? We were worried about you, you know?' is the correct thing.”

“...Don't say stuff that might show up in Hangul textbooks, dammit!” Ju Yeong-Gi shuddered grandly. As he had a condition that made him drowsy at the mere mention of 'Han' from Hangul textbooks, Park Yu-Min's assault proved to be too much to endure.

Park Yu-Min chuckled when his friend shuddered, then glanced at Kang Jin-Ho next. “It wasn't anything too big, right?”

“Mm, well…” Kang Jin-Ho awkwardly scratched his head.

Although brushing it aside with, 'Yes, it was nothing,' would've been the simplest solution, saying that right after Park Yu-Min's explanation felt like Kang Jin-Ho was being too deceitful.

In some situations, a lie made with the good intention of not trying to worry others was still a bad idea.

When Kang Jin-Ho, who had been forthcoming with his replies, began hesitating, Park Yu-Min nodded in understanding. He addressed Kang Jin-Ho as if he had already guessed everything. “I wasn't trying to find out what you were doing, Jin-Ho. Anyway, it must've been tough for you.”

“Mm, yeah.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded slowly.

“I guess there are still some things that can put you in a tough spot, eh?” Park Yu-Min grinned. “Still, I knew you'd take care of it and come home safe and sound. I don't know what happened to you this time, but... If you were having such a tough time dealing with it, I guess it must've been something extraordinary. By the way, you are unhurt, right?”

“Yeah, I'm fine.”

“I see. That's all good, then. But, uh... Can I ask you one more question?”

“What is it?”

“Were you with Miss Choi Yeon-Ha all this time?”

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho suddenly thought he had been left speechless quite a few times today.

If he said yes here, that might breed a huge misunderstanding. If he said no, then he'd become a liar. This meant Kang Jin-Ho would have to explain what exactly he was doing with Choi Yeon-Ha, but...

Didn't that mean he'd have to explain everything?

'Huh. Isn't this weird?'

Despite saying it was alright and everything was good, and Kang Jin-Ho didn't have to say anything else, why did it feel like Park Yu-Min was sneaking a question or two here and there that accurately went for the jugular?

It was like... Kang Jin-Ho's boxing opponent was throwing nothing more than a couple of quick jabs, but getting hit felt like Kang Jin-Ho's flesh was separating from his bones.

Kang Jin-Ho cleared his throat and testily replied, “Yes, we were together. However, not because of the reason you think, Yu-Min.”

“Ohh, really? But we weren't thinking of any reason, though? Why are you suddenly giving us an excuse like that, Jin-Ho? You sound like you're trying to hide something, you know?”

“...Mm?”

Why did Kang Jin-Ho suddenly feel like he was stuck in quicksand, where struggling for his life would only accelerate him sinking deeper into the inescapable depth?

Park Yu-Min noticed the flustered expression on Kang Jin-Ho's face and smiled brightly. “I was only kidding, Jin-Ho. Don't sweat about it.”

“...Yu-Min, you. You seemed to have developed a few nasty personality traits lately.” Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes.

“That's what happens when a person becomes a member of society, Jin-Ho. Besides, I've never been a goody-two-shoes, anyway. Don't you remember? Back when you helped me, I still betrayed you?”

“No, I still remember. Deep down in my soul. And I'll have my payback someday.”

“And I'll patiently wait for you. And punk you again like back then.”

“...Get a bloody room, you two.” Ju Yeong-Gi groaned loudly while shaking his head. “Okay, so? Are you back to work starting today?”

“That's what I'd like to, but…” Kang Jin-Ho scratched the back of his head. “I gotta go visit someone at the hospital. I was planning to go there after we closed, but the hospital said no visitation at night, so…”

“Visiting someone?”

“Yeah. At the hospital.”

Ju Yeong-Gi tilted his head in confusion. However, Park Yu-Min seemed to have figured it out.

He dismissively waved his hand. “Okay, got it. Take your time.”

“Mm. I'm really sorry about this.”

“Nah, it's fine. We'll be okay by ourselves today, so you take care of your side of things. No need to force yourself to come to work later.”

“No, but I was thinking of coming back before the evening rush hour.”

“I'm telling you, you don't have to.” Park Yu-Min firmly stood his ground. “Not having you around doesn't paralyze the operation anymore, Jin-Ho. Thanks to how often you've abandoned us lately, we've learned to cope without you. So, don't worry about us and just finish sorting out your issues first. You coming back without tying up the loose ends will only make us more uncomfortable. You get what I mean, don't you?”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. “In that case... Since I'm gonna be abandoning you guys, let me take one more day off, too. I think I won't come to work tomorrow as well.”

Park Yu-Min gave a solid thumbs-up to his friend. “Got it. Take your time.”

“What the heck?! Why are you two deciding that without…” Ju Yeong-Gi was about to fight for his right to speak, only to flinch and shut his mouth when Park Yu-Min stared at him with a disappointed look.

'Since when did I become like this?'

Ju Yeong-Gi never lost to anyone in how loud he could be, whether it was in the army or the civilian society. So, to think his voice would be quashed to this degree...!

“Thanks. I'll be on my way now.” Kang Jin-Ho got up from the pizzeria's chair, then headed outside.

Ju Yeong-Gi began pouting. “Sure, sure. You handle everything, then!”

“What is it now?” Park Yu-Min stared weirdly at his friend.

“Don't mind me. Who cares about what I think, anyway! Since you're so much smarter and more amazing than me, you can just handle everything, am I right? So, I'll just do as you say from now on!”

“Argh, this idiot...!” Park Yu-Min pounded his chest in frustration.

A dude with such a big body was as small-minded as a human could get. How could such a big grown-up dude act so petty like a little kid?

Park Yu-Min stared in disappointment at Ju Yeong-Gi before finding a way to bring peace back to their lives. “If Jin-Ho's here, we will have to close late again.”

“...Uh?”

“Let's close up early today, okay? And we'll stop by at a local pub on our way. All of us.”

“Nice! Count me in!” Ju Yeong-Gi jumped up in joy at the mere mention of 'pub' and headed to the bathroom to wash the mop.

Park Yu-Min stared at his friend and slowly shook his head.

'Can't tell if he's simple-minded or just innocent...'

Still, there was no changing the fact that Ju Yeong-Gi was a good friend.

***

“Her condition isn't great, Mister Kang,” said the doctor.

Kang Jin-Ho's expression froze still. “But, I was under the impression her physical condition was not bad?”

“Yes. The patient does not have any concerning physical issues other than exhaustion caused by slight malnutrition. By now, the patient should have fully recovered. The problem is not her body, but her mind.”

“Her mind, you say?” Kang Jin-Ho was slightly taken aback.

“Yes.” The doctor frowned a little. “Mister Kang, I heard the patient was involved in some kind of an accident?”

“Yes.”

“I don't know what kind of an accident it was, but it seemed to have been very traumatic for her. The patient is displaying symptoms of paranoia and fear. If strangers approach her, she immediately enters a state of heightened wariness. But when she's alone, the patient enters a state of fearful panic.”

“Mm...!”

“However, it's not serious enough to medically diagnose what condition it is. Actually, the patient's symptoms are fairly common among accident survivors. Given enough time, she should get better. However, in case there is no improvement, the option of using medication to suppress paranoia will have to be seriously looked at, Mister Kang.”

“Does that mean her stay in the hospital will be extended?”

“Not exactly. It's possible to treat her as an outpatient. However, as the patient lives alone, we recommend inpatient treatment instead. Being alone has a higher chance of worsening the patient's depression and paranoia, you see.”

Kang Jin-Ho quietly nodded at the doctor's recommendation.

'Trauma, is it...'

That was not something Kang Jin-Ho could help with. Worrying about her not getting physically hurt was already putting a lot of strain on Kang Jin-Ho's mind, after all. Still, hearing the doctor's diagnosis left a bitter taste in Kang Jin-Ho's mouth.

“I see. Thank you for your hard work, doctor.”

“No problem, Mister Kang.”

Kang Jin-Ho left the doctor's office and got in the elevator to head up to the top floor. The VIP-use single-patient rooms were located up there. Once he arrived at the top floor, Kang Jin-Ho headed to the VIP ward, but then...

“...Mm?”

Unlike the hospitals Kang Jin-Ho had visited previously, this one's VIP ward was separated from the rest, and access through the only doorway required a security code.

Kang Jin-Ho panicked slightly while looking around. He eventually spotted an intercom and pressed the 'call' button.

-This is the VIP ward.

A nurse replied from within the ward.

Kang Jin-Ho awkwardly leaned closer to the intercom and spoke to the receiver. “I'm a visitor. Can you open the door?”

-Which patient room are you visiting, sir?

The nurse asked for the room number, not the patient's name, as if she was worried about exposing the patient's identity.

“Oh, it's room number 2103.”

-Please tell me your name, sir. I'll contact the room and ask if they'll allow visitors.

“I see. My name is Kang Jin-Ho.”

-Thank you, Mister Kang Jin-Ho. Please wait.

That was where the voice from the intercom stopped. Kang Jin-Ho stood straight and scratched his head awkwardly.

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'Hmm. Surprisingly strict, aren't they?'

Kang Jin-Ho had no idea such wards existed in a hospital. Back when Kang Jin-Ho was infiltrating Hwang Jeong-Hu's room...

'...Oh. I used the windows back then.'

Despite the room being on the 20th floor, Kang Jin-Ho still used a window to enter Hwang Jeong-Hu's private hospital room. He didn't bother to go through the ward's entrance back then, so he never got the chance to go through this process.

Clunk!

The door opened with a solid noise, then a nurse stepped outside to smile professionally at Kang Jin-Ho. “Good day, sir. Are you Mister Kang Jin-Ho?”

“Yes.”

“Please come inside.”

Kang Jin-Ho stepped across the doorway while thinking this hospital had some weird procedures to follow.