Between Sunwoo Jin and me, a brief silence ensued.

“…….”

“…….”

What’s with this atmosphere?

‘Awkward!’

I don’t know why, but suddenly being alone with Sunwoo Jin felt insanely awkward.

‘I didn’t expect him to come at this hour.’

Although I thought he might come someday, I never imagined he would show up unannounced like this when I was defenseless.

I rolled my eyes and quickly turned my head to find the right words.

“Um…”

“Me.”

Darn it. Of all times, our words overlapped, making it even more awkward.

“You go first.”

“No, you go first…”

Blurring the end of my sentence, I subtly passed the conversational ball to him. However, Sunwoo Jin also didn’t open his mouth. Silence fell again.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Then, I suddenly realized that I had intended to go out.

‘Right, maybe it’ll be less awkward if we walk and talk?’

At least, sitting quietly waiting for each other to speak in this quiet place seemed less appealing.

‘Alright, let’s go!’

Having made up my mind, I spoke to Sunwoo Jin.

“I was actually about to go out. Want to walk together and talk?”

With that, I walked out with Sunwoo Jin.

Since we didn’t have a specific destination, we decided to stroll around the walking path built around the hospital.

Outside was already dark, but perhaps due to the warm weather, patients like me were seen here and there.

The occasional night breeze was gentle.

Sunwoo Jin, who seemed to have come straight from school, was dressed in a school uniform. There was a bandage on his left cheek, and various scars were visible on his exposed arms. Probably from the last injury. Thinking that he came to save me and got hurt, I felt really sorry.

We walked in silence for a while.

“Is your head okay?”

Sunwoo Jin was the first to open his mouth. I hurriedly replied.

“Huh? Oh… yeah, I’m all better now.”

“All better?”

“Yeah…”

Please don’t ask more. I have nothing to say.

Fortunately, Sunwoo Jin just frowned slightly and didn’t bring up the topic further.

Secretly sighing with relief, I opened my mouth.

“Are you okay? You were quite injured that day too.”

To that, Sunwoo Jin said with a bewildered expression.

“Now you’re worried about me? After getting beaten up like that?”

“I’m all better now…”

To be honest, it’s already in the past, and since there are no scars, I didn’t feel the seriousness of it.

Moreover, I was hit and immediately collapsed, so the memory of that moment was very faint. So, from my perspective, Sunwoo Jin getting hurt seemed more significant.

‘Isn’t it him who should have been hospitalized?’

But Sunwoo Jin seemed fine despite dealing with so many people.

What Seong Jichan said about trusting him didn’t seem entirely baseless.

‘He fought really well back then.’

I didn’t get a proper look because I was busy talking to Choi Yuhan, but I remember Sunwoo Jin practically flying around among the thugs from Haseongsang High. Maybe he has a talent for fighting…

Ah, it’s not the time for this.

“Uh… Thank you.”
I spoke up belatedly. Sunwoo Jin responded bluntly, “What?”

“You came to rescue me.”

I added an explanation, “If it weren’t for you, I would have been in big trouble. I was really grateful back then.”

Actually, even if Sunwoo Jin hadn’t come, I would have been released, but anyway, the sincerity was what mattered.

Above all, I was truly thankful. I never expected anyone to come.

However, even to my words of gratitude, Sunwoo Jin remained silent for a moment.

‘Why isn’t he responding?’

I glanced at Sunwoo Jin. Contrary to my expectations that he would wear his usual chubby expression, his face looked serious.

‘What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?’

I reviewed the words I had spoken, but there was nothing that could be a problem no matter how much I thought about it.

Then, after a while, Sunwoo Jin spoke.

“…Sorry.”

“Huh?”

I asked in surprise, “Why are you sorry?”

When Sunwoo Jin apologized to me, I felt like something was wrong. I was the one who should be sorry. However, Sunwoo Jin’s expression didn’t relax as I expected.

“Is it because of me getting hit?”

There was no response.

‘Huh?’

Only then did I realize the seriousness of the issue.

‘Wait, is he really apologizing?’

Seeing Sunwoo Jin in such a dejected state was unprecedented. Normally, he would be nonchalant and, if anything, somewhat arrogant. He seemed like someone who wouldn’t feel sorry, let alone apologize to others.

It felt strange. Witnessing Sunwoo Jin like this was strange, and the fact that it was because of me was even stranger.

I urgently stopped Sunwoo Jin.

“Don’t apologize.”

Sunwoo Jin stared at me intently.

“It was just an accident that I got hurt. It’s not your fault.”

Sunwoo Jin didn’t hit me, and he didn’t provoke those guys to attack me.

His actions were not to blame for my injuries. At least, that’s how I saw it.

‘If I hadn’t stepped forward in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened.’

Of course, if that were the case, Sunwoo Jin would have been the one injured.

I don’t know why I suddenly acted so altruistically, but anyway, I had no regrets about this incident. Above all, the system healed me cleanly. If the ending is good, everything is good, right?

“So, don’t make that weird expression. It doesn’t suit you.”

Instead of responding, Sunwoo Jin stared at me for a long time. There were intense emotions in his eyes, but I couldn’t exactly read the meaning of that expression.

I stared back at Sunwoo Jin silently, hoping my sincerity would come through.

Eventually, Sunwoo Jin chuckled.

“You’re funny.”

“What?”

“That you’re wearing a patient gown.”

Suddenly?

Wasn’t this a serious atmosphere? I expressed my awkwardness all over my face.

“Isn’t it funny?”

“It might be for you.”

This guy?

Sunwoo Jin burst into laughter as he looked at my face. It felt strange because it was the first time I had seen Sunwoo Jin laugh so heartily.
Sunwoo Jin laughed freely for a while before opening his mouth again.

“Still, don’t do that next time.”

In the end, it was my concern.

Somehow, Sunwoo Jin’s atmosphere felt different than usual. Everything, from the air surrounding him to the gaze looking at me, seemed different.

But for some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t dwell on this issue any further. The reason was unknown. I quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, right. By the way, this is your hospital?”

Sunwoo Jin looked at me for a moment before answering.

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know that. So, are your parents doctors?”

Honestly, whether they were doctors or not didn’t matter at all, but I just wanted to get out of this atmosphere.

Before hearing the answer, I rattled on nervously.

“Wow, you’re really from a well-off family. Buy me an ice cream later.”

“Your dream is modest.”

“Well, can you buy me something more expensive then?”

“We’ll see.”

It wasn’t that easy.

So, I continued talking with Sunwoo Jin as we walked along the promenade.

I was the one mainly chattering, and Sunwoo Jin threw in a word or two from time to time, but anyway, it was an enjoyable time.

As time passed, it was time for Sunwoo Jin to leave.

I bid farewell to Sunwoo Jin.

“Goodbye. See you at school.”

Instead of a farewell, Sunwoo Jin said something else.

“Don’t get sick.”

Leaving those words behind, Sunwoo Jin departed. I watched his retreating figure for a moment and then returned to the hospital room.

As I entered the room and closed the door, the system appeared.