TL: looloo
Schedule: 4/Week Mon-Thu (switching schedules from Wed-Sat)
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How many hours had passed? I had collapsed, unable to even scream properly, only letting out pained groans, until soone who heard called 119 and had taken to the hospital.
The college entrance exam was completely out of the question now. It might as well have been on the other side of the Pacific. I really wanted to crawl there if I had to, but my arm hurt so badly that it was impossible.
Anyway, after being rushed to the hospital, I received an injection and underwent a dical examination.
It was a stroke of luck, albeit a small one, that my right elbow was only fractured, not completely shattered, so I didn't need surgery. But I did get a cast.
Thanks to the dicine, or maybe the injection I received halfway through, the pain had significantly subsided. Once I regained so consciousness, a nurse ca to collect my personal information.
Mourning my smartphone, which was split in two just like my elbow, I borrowed a phone to contact my parents.
By the ti lunch was approaching, not only my parents but also my entire family had gathered in my hospital room.
"How's your arm? Are you hurting anywhere else?"
"No, I'm a bit sore all over, but there's no other broken bones."
"That's good... You did well. You can always take the entrance exam next year. You really did well."
My mom said this as she checked over my body. I nearly cried... but I didn't. Honestly, it still didn't feel real to .
Yoonjung noona, on the other hand, was crying beside .
"Sob... You worked so hard... What now..."
"It's okay. Like mom said, I can just take it next year."
Trying to lighten the mood, which had turned a bit gloomy thanks to my weeping sister, I forced a smile. Although I wasn't in the mood to laugh and joke, if I looked as morose as I felt, we wouldn't be able to say anything to each other.
"Ah, why's the mood so down? This year, I guess I'll just help out Sunhoo hyung at the workshop or sothing."
"Yeah, you can join us anyti. We'll work you like a slave."
"Shut your mouth."
-Click- Fortunately, my nonsense was well-received, and we started to chat about this and that when dad and Jeongwoo hyung entered the hospital room.
But as soon as they entered, Jeongwoo hyung silently started gathering my belongings.
"Yeonho, let's move to a different room."
"Suddenly? I thought I could just be discharged today and continue treatnt as an outpatient."
Earlier, the doctor said that as long as I took my dication and kept the cast on, it would be okay to go ho.
Looking at dad with confusion, he pointed outside and explained the reason.
"The grandmother and her son whom you helped earlier ca by. They've offered to cover all the hospital bills. Let's get so physical therapy later and stay a few more days to monitor your condition."
"Oh, how's the grandmother? Is she okay?"
I wouldn't have known what to do if the grandmother had been hurt after I had thrown my body to save her during the college entrance exam.
"Yes, she's fine. She sprained her ankle, but there's no serious injury. She's usually hypertensive, so she suddenly showed signs of anemia."
"That's a relief."
Right, as long as she's safe.
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Raei Translations
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Damn.
I was moved to a private room as a gesture of gratitude. My arm was still in pain, but it wasn't unbearable like right after the injury. It felt a bit excessive, but I had no reason to refuse their kind offer, especially since it resulted in missing the college entrance exam.
Sitting on the hospital bed, I marveled at the private room I was seeing for the first ti. anwhile, the grandmother and a gentleman ca in.
"I really... I'm so grateful... I don't know how I can ever repay you..."
As soon as they arrived, tears started streaming down their faces, and they even knelt in front of to express their gratitude, which made hurriedly ask them to stand up.
I learned that they were about to get the grandmother ho for a few days for a wedding that was just around the corner, and that's how this incident happened today.
The grandfather had already passed away due to old age, and there were no other relatives. They were each other's only family.
"How can I make up for causing you to miss such an important exam today... I'm so sorry..."
The grandmother kept apologizing and crying. Honestly, even if there hadn't been any special circumstances, I wouldnt have regretted my actions.
What if I hadn't reached out my hand when she was well within my reach?
I probably would have spent the whole day thinking about it and ended up ruining the exam anyway.
It might sound like a moral victory, but at least that's how I felt. Moreover, when they said they were each other's only family, and I had helped them, it felt like a weight was lifted from my heart.
The grandmother and the gentleman kept expressing their gratitude and apologies, even offering compensation, but my dad and I dissuaded them. We understood their feelings, but it wasn't necessary.
So, they ended up promising to cover all my hospital expenses and the cost of my smartphone, leaving their business card in case I needed any further help. I sneakily looked at it before my dad could take it it seed like he was the president of a health company.
After they left, I sat on my bed with a more settled heart than before.
"Yeonho, don't worry and take it easy. Taking a year off and starting slowly won't matter in the long run."
"That's true. When you go to the military and see others, you'll realize that delaying a year is really not a big deal."
I had already more or less co to terms with the situation and accepted it. Still, everyone around kept trying to comfort . Even Sunhoo hyung's attempt at consolation was quite refreshing. I didn't know he had it in him to be so empathetic.
Anyway, they were saying all this out of concern for .
But now, more than missing the college entrance exam or even the inconvenience caused by the fracture in my right arm, what really concerned was Heena.
Despite her efforts to make sure nothing went wrong, it all ended up like this.
Of course, she'd be upset about my injury, but more than that, I was troubled by the thought that Heena had spent over a year diligently teaching , and now, I couldn't even take the exam. I felt terribly sorry.
Just thinking about it made sigh.
As I was pondering how to break the news to Heena, Sunhoo hyung handed his phone.
Hey!! Han Yeonho!! Are you okay?!
Ah, shouting. It's Heeseong hyung.
"Yeah, I'm fine, so lower the volu. I might end up in the hospital with a burst eardrum."
Ah... seriously, be more careful. Damn it...
Despite his rough manner, I could feel his concern. This hyung really does like .
"Well, what can I do now that it's co to this? Maybe it's actually a good thing. Later, please contact Heena for . My phones completely wrecked..."
I'll just pick her up and bring her over, so just know that.
"That would be great. Heena must be really worried, so please speak kindly to her."
It would be good if it just ended with worry... Anyway, I heard about it, but you're not in any serious danger, right?"
"In fact, I was told I could be discharged today, but they're covering all the hospital and other expenses, so I'm staying a few more days for comfort."
Alright, got it. See you later.
"Okay~ Drive safely, dont let Heena get hurt~"
After hanging up the phone, I returned it to Sunhoo hyung and lay back on the hospital bed.
Honestly, I don't think I'll be in the mood to study for two or three months, but I should maintain so level of understanding and start again in March. By then, Heena and the others will be busy with college life, so I can study on my own.
Sigh.
It's distressing to think that everyone has to move on. Damn.
The hospital food had a rather unique taste, so I ended up eating the kimbap my mom had packed for in the morning. After that, I wandered around the hospital out of sheer boredom, heard about how the physical therapy would be conducted.
Then, everyone went back ho. It wasn't a serious situation, and it seed odd for them all to stay. Actually, it was right after my admission, so they had let it slide, but the visiting hours for lunch had long passed.
My parents said they would co back with my clothes.
Sitting alone in the small room, I felt really bored. Especially since I had been studying every spare mont recently, this free ti felt even more pronounced.
Especially without Heena by my side.
Thinking about my girlfriend at random monts, I checked the ti. It was about when the college entrance exams would be finishing, and students would be heading ho.
The university hospital where I was staying wasn't far from the school where Heena was taking her exam, so she might be coming soon.
-Tap tap tap tap!!!
Just as I was idly wondering when she would arrive, suddenly, there was a lot of commotion outside my hospital room.
Thinking soone had brought a child for a visit, I didn't pay much attention and lay down.
-Bang!!
"Yeonho!!!!!"
Bursting in with all her might, throwing the door open.
A face sared with tears, her hair a ss, clinging to her face.
It was my girlfriend.
"Ah... you're here?"
"Are you okay?! How badly are you hurt?"
As expected, she examined my body with a more serious expression than I anticipated, even though she must have heard so details from Heeseong hyung.
Closely inspecting , she finally looked at my casted elbow and started to cry.
Seeing her like this, I felt grateful and sowhat overwheld by the depth of her concern for .
That's probably why, instead of reassuring her, I unintentionally started with an apology.
I was afraid that if I said anything more comforting, I might start crying too.
"I'm sorry."
"Sob... For what...?"
"For not being able to take the exam after you spent so much ti teaching ."
I made this unnecessary comnt, even though it wasnt a situation to be too worried about. I was both touched and embarrassed by her dramatic reaction.
But...
"What does that matter!!!!"
My words were drowned out by Heena's loud outcry, the likes of which I had never heard before. She looked furiously upset at , the first ti I'd seen her like this since we started dating.
"You're... hurt... like this... Sob... Why would... that... matter..."
She burst into tears, clutching my hospital gown and burying her face in my chest.
Right. Heena would worry about my well-being over anything else, whether I ssed up the exam or not.
It was obvious when I thought about it, but I had unnecessarily brought up sothing else to hide my embarrassnt. I reflected on this internally and hugged Heena, who was holding onto and sobbing heavily.
"I'm sorry for getting hurt. I'll be more careful in the future. So, please don't cry, okay?"
A four-week injury was minor, but making my girlfriend cry like this felt like a grave sin.
Why does the exam matter right now? Seeing her so upset over sothing as trivial as this injury, I resolved to be more cautious with myself in the future.
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