“What should I refute first? That we’re not that kind of relationship? Or, even if we were, Secretary Ryu wouldn’t manipulate the votes?”

“So you saw me as a coldhearted person?”

“Should I say I saw you as someone who can distinguish between work and personal life?”

Really, not giving an inch.

Kyung Joon chuckled again and stared at the dimly lit audience seats.

He actually came to find Seo Ha to congratulate her. To say she did well. That her efforts had paid off. He wanted to tell her that it was the first time a rookie designer had set a record with twentyfour designs.

He didn’t know why it was so embarrassing to say that. Maybe because he had never said it before.

“Ahem, ahem.”

As Kyung Joon cleared his throat a few times to dispel the embarrassment, Seo Ha suddenly began humming a song.

“I am Seo Ha, dreaming Seo Ha…”

A surprised gaze landed on Seo Ha’s profile. Not sensing that gaze, Seo Ha continued to hum.

“In dreams, I can be anything. I am Seo Ha, sleepless Seo Ha…”

It couldn’t be. But it couldn’t not be.

No matter how similar, Jo Seo Ha couldn’t be Yoon Seo Ha. But if she wasn’t Yoon Seo Ha, it wouldn’t make sense. They were so identical. Everything resembled each other.

Instead of the congratulatory words that lingered in his mouth, Kyung Joon suddenly grabbed Seo Ha’s hand and stood up abruptly.

“Kyaa!”

Seo Ha let out a surprised sound and stood up, holding Kyung Joon’s hand in bewilderment.

“I almost tripped! Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Let’s go somewhere. Right now.”

“Go where? I have to go to the company and sort things out!”

“We can do that tomorrow.”

Kyung Joon tightly held Jo Seo Ha’s hand and walked out briskly, taking the elevator. He didn’t let go of her hand until he opened the passenger door and pushed Seo Ha into the car.

“Fasten your seatbelt.”

“Where are we going? A kidnapping?”

“To the hospital.”

“Why the hospital?”

“To meet your friend.”

Kyung Joon wanted to see if Yoon Seo Ha was still lying in the hospital. Of course, a single phone call would tell him her exact position, but he felt the need to see for himself.

“… Are you talking about Yoon Seo Ha?”

Kyung Joon silently nodded. Perhaps it was just his mood, but even Seo Ha’s voice asking that question felt a bit awkward and strange.

From that moment on, the two didn’t exchange a single word on the way to the hospital. It was the same when they swiped their cards and took the elevator. Kyung Joon was confused by his own strange behavior, and Seo Ha…

“Do we really have to see her? Why?”

She was scared.

In Seo Ha’s memory, Yoon Seo Ha had always been happy. She shone the brightest everywhere and received more love than anyone. Would Yoon Seo Ha, who had been in a coma for years, still retain her previous appearance? Absolutely not.

“You said she’s your closest friend. You promised to visit her in the hospital.”

But that wasn’t today. Today, I was feeling so small. I was celebrating the success of the evaluation meeting all by myself, with no one around.

“I’m just… not ready yet.”

“Let’s go. I have to tell her that you’re doing a great job taking her place.”

Kyung Joon firmly held Seo Ha’s hand as she tried to back away. With her fingertips still caught by Kyung Joon, Seo Ha walked down the corridor and stood in front of the hospital room.

Rustle.

Tap.

The sound of their footsteps echoed in the large hospital room.

Seo Ha unknowingly tightly held Kyung Joon’s hand. As they approached the bed hidden by a white curtain, the tension increased. Before she knew it, her palms were damp with sweat.

Beep, beep, beep, beep…

The sound of the machine indicating that Yoon Seo Ha’s life was continuing grew louder.

“Yoon Seo Ha.”

Kyung Joon opened his mouth. Seo Ha reflexively looked at him, then realizing he wasn’t addressing her, quickly turned her gaze back to the curtain.

“I’m here. Your friend is here too.”

What’s with you? Why are you speaking informally again?

Despite the situation, Seo Ha wanted to point out his choice of words.

Kyung Joon’s hand reached the edge of the white curtain. Slowly, the shape of the person lying straight on the bed behind the curtain was revealed. Feet, knees, waist, chest, face.

“Gasp…!”

Seo Ha covered her mouth with one hand.

It was an indescribable feeling. Was it even possible to look at her own comatose body, only breathing, through someone else’s eyes?

“Aren’t you going to say hello?”

Kyung Joon asked dryly. In the meantime, he examined Yoon Seo Ha’s hair and posture, and checked if the life support devices were properly attached. It was clear he had visited more than once or twice.

“Hello. Yes, we should say hello.”

Seo Ha removed her hand from her mouth and took a deep breath. The pungent smell of disinfectant seemed to have been waiting for this moment to invade her nostrils all at once.

“Yo, Yoon Seo Ha.”

As soon as she uttered her own name, a tangible fear washed over her. The ‘Yoon Seo Ha’ in front of her might suddenly open her eyes and sit up.

If that happened, she had an odd premonition that she would never be able to regain her body.

“Um, I, I am…”

“Why are you trembling so much?”

Kyung Joon’s hand gripped Seo Ha’s shoulders. Only then did Seo Ha realize she was trembling. Her stomach churned with emptiness.

“Wait a moment. The restroom…”

“We’ll just say hello and go. The doctor said that even in a coma, the patient might be able to hear voices, so at least tell her you came. Tell her to wake up quickly.”

No, you can’t wake up now. Don’t wake up in my body, Yoon Seo Ha!

“I don’t want to!”

Unknowingly, Seo Ha forcefully shook off Kyung Joon’s hand and pushed him away. As a result, her body swayed, and her lost hand flailed in the air.

“Kyah!”

“No!”

Both of their voices echoed through the hospital room at the same time. The oxygen mask that Seo Ha’s swinging hand caught dangled from its cord.

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