Chapter 18

Drip, drip, Seojin, who was drenched from the water pouring out of the washing machine like a waterfall, stood soaked. The sound of water droplets falling from his clothes and hair echoed loudly in the room.

“Why, why, why?”

Haji, looking at the partially washed blankets and the soaked floor, stammered in confusion.

“Sunbae, are you okay?”

Haji, who had been startled by the waterlogged situation, regained her composure and called out to Seojin, who stood frozen in place.

“Sigh…”

Seojin, wiping the water off his face with his hand, straightened his back and let out a long breath.

“Towel.”

“Pardon?”

“Get me a towel.”

“Oh, yes, yes.”

Haji, who was too flustered to understand his words, hurried to find a dry towel in the bathroom.

“Here, hold on a second.”

Standing barefoot in front of Seojin, Haji thought she should start by drying his hair with the towel. Water was dripping from his black hair, down his sharp face, to his Adam’s apple, and soaking his white shirt.

The skin under that white shirt…

Startled, Haji looked up. Avoiding his bare skin, she saw Seojin calmly closing his eyes, waiting for her touch.

Get a grip.

“Are you okay?”

The question was almost pointless as he clearly didn’t look okay. She asked just to confirm his condition.

“Not sure.”

“You’re cold, right?”

“Seems like it.”

The evenings were still chilly in spring. The breeze coming through the slightly open window felt even colder at that moment.

Haji stretched her arms up to dry the hair of the man who was at least 20 centimeters taller than her with the towel.

“You should take a shower.”

“I should.”

His eyes, tired and wet, slowly appeared between his eyelids. Then, his slightly upturned lips created a puzzled expression.

“Still, it’s fortunate.”

“What is…?”

What could be fortunate in this situation?

“That it was me.”

“Pardon?”

“It was fortunate that it was me who got wet.”

Otherwise, it would have been you.

It felt like she could hear his unspoken words. The spring breeze that came in made her nose feel cold.

“We’ll have to wash the blankets again.”

Seojin draped the towel over his neck and left the veranda.

“Yes…”

Of course.

Haji, dazed by his words, nodded her head.

***

Haji, hugging a spare blanket from her room, headed to Seojin’s room. Hesitating at the door, she took a small deep breath.

In truth, she felt terribly sorry for Seojin. He was probably lying on the bed without any blankets because of her.

“I’m coming in.”

She waited, but there was no response. So, Haji pressed her ear close to the door.

“Sunbae? It’s me.”

Even calling out to Seojin, there was no sign of movement from inside.

Earlier, after Seojin, who had been doused with water, went to take a shower, Haji restarted the drum washing machine. She had a spare blanket, but Seojin didn’t.

But after pressing the washing machine buttons several times and it still wouldn’t work, she realized it was broken.

“Should I come in?”

Haji slowly pushed the door open with her body, hugging the blanket tightly.

Entering cautiously, she heard rough, labored breathing.

“Sunbae?”

Sensing something was wrong, Haji quickly walked to Seojin’s bed. His already pale face was as white as a sheet, with no trace of blood. Moreover, Seojin’s usually smooth face was now covered in beads of sweat.

“Sunbae, are you okay?”

Startled by his appearance, Haji threw the blanket she was holding onto the bed and reached out her hand. As expected, his forehead was burning with fever.

“He’s burning up…”

Panicked, Haji unfolded the blanket she had brought and covered Seojin with it. Biting her lip as she looked at his face, she ran out to her room.

“There should be a thermometer.”

Where is it? Where did I put it?

Having moved her things not too long ago, her memory was hazy. Her hands wandered as she searched for the first aid kit.

“Ah, here it is.”

After rummaging through various places and making a mess, she finally found the first aid kit. It had been under the table next to her bed all along.

Hugging the first aid kit to her chest, Haji hurried back to Seojin.

She was in a rush. She feared that if she delayed even a moment, he would get worse.

“Let me take your temperature.”

Speaking softly so as not to wake him, Haji placed the thermometer under Seojin’s arm.

Normally, Seojin would have woken up, but he seemed to be deeply asleep due to accumulated fatigue and fever.

“Ah, 38.8 degrees…”

As expected, his temperature was high. Hearing his labored breathing made her heart pound heavily.

“Should I call an ambulance?”

No, people don’t usually call an ambulance for this.

Even when she had a high fever, she just took medicine and slept it off.

But…

“I don’t have any medicine.”

There was no cold medicine in the first aid kit. It was unlikely that any hospitals or pharmacies would be open on a weekend evening.

“What should I do?”

Haji bit her lip, unsure of what to do.

She had never taken care of someone else before. She was used to enduring pain alone since childhood, rarely going to the hospital.

“What should I do in this situation…?”

Holding her phone, Haji dialed a number. But then she hesitated, her fingers frozen.

Looking at Seonghee’s number, Haji glanced at Seojin’s face. If she contacted Seonghee now, she would surely come over, and then she would find out about their relationship.

Neither she nor Seojin wanted that.

“But still…”

I can’t not do anything.

Seeing Seojin lying there sick made her heart feel heavy.

***

Ding dong.

The intercom buzzed, and soon the door opened.

Standing in front of the neighbor’s door, Haji bowed her head with a troubled expression.

“Sorry for bothering you at this hour.”

“What’s the matter?”

Sensing that something was wrong from Haji’s expression, the neighbor’s child’s mother asked worriedly.

“Do you have any cold medicine? There’s a high fever, but we don’t have any medicine.”

“Your husband must be sick? Hold on. I’ll go check.”

The child’s mother went inside and quickly returned with some medicine.

“There’s this one. It’s not very strong, but it’s better than nothing.”

“Thank you.”

“Is your husband very sick?”

“Ah, my husband…”

Haji awkwardly repeated the word “husband” and trailed off, causing the child’s mother to tilt her head in confusion.

“Isn’t he your husband? He told us you were his wife last time.”

“Well…”

Caught in a situation where lying or telling the truth both felt wrong, Haji’s face turned red.

She felt guilty lying to someone who was helping her.

“You’re very shy, aren’t you? You’re quite different from your husband.”

Her husband had spoken so confidently.

The child’s mother mumbled to herself and then smiled at Haji.

“Does he have a high fever?”

“Very high.”

“Then you should give him the medicine and also try that method.”

“What method?”

The child’s mother smiled, curious to see if this shy bride could handle it.

“Since he’s your husband, you can do it.”

“What method is that…?”

Haji, slightly scared, moistened her dry lips.

“You have to undress him.”

“Pardon?”

“Undress him to bring down the fever.”

Haji’s mouth dropped open. She was so shocked she didn’t even consider that she might be seen as strange.

“Oh my, you’re very shy, aren’t you?”

“Is that really the best way?”

“There’s no other option right now. Do you see any hospitals open at this hour? It’s not serious enough to go to the emergency room, is it?”

That was true. On a dark weekend evening, there was nowhere to go.

“Undress him and wipe him down with cold water. It will help.”

“Wipe him down?”

Haji’s hand holding the medicine trembled slightly.

Seeing this, the child’s mother patted her arm and laughed softly.

“I was shy too when I was newlywed. But you live together and see everything eventually.”

Though she said this to try and understand Haji, it only made Haji’s eyes widen in panic.

She couldn’t say they weren’t close enough to see everything, so she just kept her mouth shut.

***

Haji stood in front of the bed, looking down at Seojin. Seeing his pillow soaked with sweat, she clenched her fists.

I can do this. I can…

After giving him the medicine, she steadied herself for the next step. Seojin, who had struggled to take the medicine, soon fell back asleep. She clenched her hands tightly, trying to maintain a solemn attitude.

“He’s sick, and I’m the only one here.”

I have no choice.

Mumbling to herself, Haji took a deep breath and grabbed the blanket she had covered him with.

With a swift motion, she pulled the blanket off, causing Seojin’s damp hair to lift slightly. Worried he might wake up, she watched him closely and sighed in relief when she saw he was still asleep.

She felt like she was doing something wrong, even though it was for his sake.

“This is really the only option.”

Haji, conveying to the sleeping Seojin that she had no other choice, lightly grabbed the hem of his T-shirt.

I need to lift this up.

She had never undressed someone before, especially not someone lying down.

Haji, repeatedly gripping and releasing his T-shirt, suddenly straightened her back.

“I should get the cold water first.”

Deciding to leave the hardest task for last, Haji ran to the kitchen.