“Don’t forget what you said. Is it only me who remembers?”
Kang Hyun, who had received his own words back, let out a hollow chuckle.

“You always answer back.”
“Executive Director Kang Hyun, will you hurry up and scoop some porridge? I’m going to drop my arm at this rate.”
Ji An complained, subtly shaking the side dish of braised meat she’d prepared earlier.

“Alright.”
Kang Hyun finally picked up the spoon.

He didn’t have an appetite at all, but it was hard to resist Ji An who was biting her lips and raising her eyebrows.

Despite swallowing the smooth porridge, it felt as if his throat was choked up.

Kang Hyun, who was looking down at Ji An serving him side dishes tenderly, forced himself to eat the porridge.

Whether it was still because of the fever, or the porridge was too hot in his mouth, the corner of his eyes that blinked regularly felt hot.

“Um, Executive Director.”
“Yes.”
Ji An, who had been quietly watching him swallow the half bowl of porridge and medicine, called out to Kang Hyun in a small voice.

“Do you remember what happened last night?”
“I remember you saying it was reassuring to always have me behind you.”
After that, there was a loud noise in his ears, like a snail’s shell twisting, filling his ears.

It was all darkness after that.

“If you have something to say, say it now.”
“Ah, no. I’ll say it when the opportunity comes.”
Ji An’s earlobes turned red as she busily cleaned up the table.

“What did you say?”
“Later.”
“I’m going to get more sick from curiosity.”
“Stop joking and lie down again. I’m going to get a wet towel.”
Kang Hyun, who had been admiring her cute little ears, followed Ji An’s stern advice and leaned back against the headboard of the bed.

“I’ll change your pillow. It’s too wet.”
Ji An soaked a towel of the right size in water and returned with an extra pillow. She was very passionate about nursing, even rolling up her sleeves.

“Executive Director Kang Hyun, would you lie down now?”
Kang Hyun laid his body down according to the rhythm of Ji An, who was directing him like a doctor.

He was worried that Seo Yoon, who was often sick, would get infected and get hurt, but he didn’t want to resist either.

After knowing that Seo Yoon was alive, something that had been tightly coiled seemed to suddenly unwind, and he felt weak.

He had never been at ease from a past he didn’t even remember, so he was tired enough now.

“Is it not too cold?”
“Yes.”
Ji An casually sat on the bed and placed the wet towel on his forehead, still beaded with cold sweat.

“You sweated a lot. I’ll get another towel and wipe you down. You’ll feel much lighter after a good sweat. Like after a sauna.”
Before he could answer, Ji An quickly disappeared and came back with the same towel to sit by Kang Hyun’s side again.

“It feels like I’m lying in a nursing home.”
“It’s not so bad to have someone with you when you’re sick. It can get really lonely.”
“Yeah, it must have been lonely.”
His always sharply torn eyes relaxed due to drowsiness.

He liked the cool feeling of the cloth touching his hot neck, as if he was immersed in a warm bath.

Soon, the long fingers that put down the towel tidied up his messy bangs.

“Do you know how surprised I was when you suddenly fell under the table? My heart was pounding in my feet.”
“That’s impossible, you’re quite a bluff.”
“No, why didn’t you say anything when you were so sick? You kept drinking even when I told you to take off your wet clothes.”
“You drank with me.”
“Hmm, I guess I was trying to be your drinking buddy.”
“Thank you.”
A low chuckle followed the grating sound of his throat clearing.

When Kang Hyun’s eyelids began to close slowly, Ji An stifled her breath, stood up, and moved away.

“You should rest now. Call me if you need anything.”
As Ji An turned to the door to say goodbye, she was startled by the warm hand gripping her wrist.

“Secretary Seo, do you pity me? Sympathy, compassion, you know, something like that.”
“If I say no, I’d be less than human.”
What he said about not wanting to show this side of him to his subordinates was nonsense.

If he could gain even a little compassion from her, it would be a shameless comfort.

“I guess it’s a blessing in disguise.”
With a rustle, his grip loosened, and the redeyed eyes, halfclosed, finally closed completely.

The 2night 3day workshop ended in a total disaster.

Kang Hyun was sick for a whole day, and Ji An, who took the baton from him, was sick for the next day.

Just what did it mean to be merely by her side?

Was this a hospital or a resort? It was hard to tell.

Without even dipping her feet in the seawater, Jian had left the East Sea. She leaned her back against the passenger seat, swallowing her regrets.

“I can go back next time,” she mumbled to herself on the way home, hugging her arm as if to comfort herself.

“Do you want something to drink? I’ll buy it, so please stay in the car.”
“All the cafes are closed.”
“Convenience store. I’ll be back. It’s dark outside, don’t get off.”