Vol 4 Ch 3

The next day.

Even though the swollen area below ached, I followed CEO Jang down to the lobby. Pulling my hood over my head to cover my face, I slipped my feet into my sneakers without properly putting them on and got into the elevator with him.

Under the bright lights, I saw that the wound on his chin was still there. For some reason, my tongue felt dry, and I couldn’t meet his gaze any longer, so I called out to him.

“CEO.”

“What.”

“Would it be alright if I went to the hospital early after you go to work?”

CEO Jang replied indifferently, telling me to do as I pleased.

As we stepped outside, a car was parked at the entrance. An employee waiting for him in front of it flinched in surprise upon seeing CEO Jang’s face.

“CEO, your chin…?”

Unless it involved money, CEO Jang never listened to what others said. Without responding, he immediately got into the back seat. The employee hurriedly followed and climbed into the driver’s seat.

From the back seat, the man looked up at me through the car window. Then, as if making a point, he brushed his chin with the back of his hand.

I pressed my lips together and watched the car until it disappeared before turning back home.

I felt sorry for the employee who would now be dragged around earlier than usual, but I had no choice. I had to take turns with the caregiver who would be alone in the hospital room. After all, I couldn’t even go in and out of the hospital freely without CEO Jang’s permission.

Braving the cold wave again today, I arrived at the hospital. I bought some traditional snacks and drinks for the caregiver before knocking on the door.

“Oh, you’re here.”

The caregiver greeted me with an exhausted expression. I told her that I would take over from now on and suggested she take a break in the lounge. She refused a few times but eventually relented and left, asking me to take care of things.

Dragging a chair close to the bed, I sat down.

Lying in bed, my mother looked peaceful. On the monitor, three faint lines wavered precariously like candle flames flickering under the wind. Weak, but still moving. Fluttering like a small bird.

Once again, I placed my hopes on those tiny movements and stayed by my mother’s side.

The hospital room was silent. Having had restless sleep for several nights, I was soon overcome by drowsiness. My head nodded like a sick hen as I dozed off.

Then, a sensation brushed against the back of my hand, jolting me awake. I quickly lifted my head and looked down near my hand. My mother’s hand had touched mine.

I pressed the nurse call button at once.

When a nurse answered the call, I spoke urgently. I told her my mother seemed to have woken up and asked her to come quickly.

Before long, the doctor and nurse entered the room. The doctor examined my mother’s condition from various angles—shining a laser into her eyes, slightly opening her mouth to check her throat, and pressing a stethoscope against her chest.

I clasped my trembling hands together, waiting anxiously for him to say something.

Finally, the doctor removed his glasses and turned to me. The words that fell from his lips were despairing.

“I’m sorry, but there are no particular signs of improvement.”

“I was asleep, and something touched the back of my hand. That’s why I woke up.”

“You were asleep.”

A brief flicker passed through the doctor’s gaze. It was the expression of someone who had dealt with countless family members like me.

“A coma due to a cerebral hemorrhage. The situation is very severe. The fact that she’s held on this long is remarkable. Even if she wakes up, she’ll barely be able to open and close her eyes.”

“…….”

I stood there like a scarecrow, unable to say anything.

The doctor’s hand landed lightly on my shoulder, giving it a gentle pat before moving away. At that touch, my body slumped to the side.

The caregiver, who had returned to the room at some point, pulled me close and comforted me.

“Oh dear.”

“…….”

“Student, Ms. Im Sunhwa will get up soon. You’ve been waiting like this.”

Even as she comforted me, her words barely registered.

No hope.

I had heard those words countless times, but each time, they left a gaping hole in my chest.

My mother’s vital signs were weak but unmistakably present.

Why did they all insist there was no hope?

***

Returning home in a daze, I sat blankly on the sofa, wasting time.

I couldn’t shake off the shock from earlier. The doctor’s words kept replaying in my mind.

Most doctors informed family members of the worst-case scenario, urging them to prepare for the inevitable. I knew this all too well after scouring the internet multiple times.

“…….”

It wasn’t uncommon to see people diagnosed with only months to live appear on television years later, miraculously healthy.

Even my mother had been told she wouldn’t last a few months, but it had already been a year.

That alone was hopeful.

“…Ha.”

I tried to steer my thoughts in a positive direction, but I kept imagining the worst outcomes.

Silence filled the room.

Tick, tock.

Only the ticking of the second hand could be heard, so I absentmindedly fiddled with my wristwatch.

Lowering my gaze, I checked the time.

Four o’clock. Too early for him to be home.

What time would he come back today?

He was so unpredictable that I couldn’t even guess.

…Should I try calling him?

With trembling hands, I picked up my phone and dialed his number.

Listening to the dial tone, I suddenly wondered what I was doing.

It was the middle of his workday.

I should just hang up.

Just as I was about to,

—”Yeah.”

CEO Jang answered.

I hesitated, fiddling with the receiver before murmuring,

“…I’m sorry.”

Then, cowardly, I hung up on him.

Beep—

Of course, the phone immediately started ringing again.

Afraid to answer, unsure of what to say, I just sat there beside the phone.

The phone rang persistently, drawn out, just like his temperament—then suddenly stopped.

I flinched at the abrupt silence.

Sighing, I thought about how he would interrogate me the moment he got home.

CEO Jang came back earlier than usual.

I expected him to be furious for ignoring his calls.

But instead, he simply furrowed his brows, looked at my face, and asked in a low voice,

“Why do you look like that?”

If someone asks why my face looks like this, how am I supposed to answer?

I felt like I should apologize, but instead, I forced an awkward smile and shook my head.

He studied me for a long time before taking off his jacket and handing it to me.

Then, as usual, he headed to the shower.

Standing there with his jacket in my hand, I hesitated before stepping toward his retreating back.

Then, I wrapped my arms around his waist.

His shoulders flinched to a stop.

Resting my cheek against his back, I felt him turn to look at me.

“…….”

“…….”

I had no idea what I wanted to do.

I just pressed my cheek against his back.

This house was too big to be alone in.

With only the bare minimum of furniture, it lacked any sense of warmth.

Left alone in such a place, I was already exhausted beyond measure.

I stood there, absorbing his body heat.

CEO Jang, who had been silently watching me, eventually undressed me.

He led me into the shower, and we intertwined.

His hot lips trailed over my chin, licked my neck, bit and sucked my chest.

As sharp tingles shot through my nipples, the tangled mess in my mind was soon washed away by pleasure.

“Ah, ngh…!”

I buried my face against his heated body, arms wrapped tightly around his neck—the same embrace that had always held me when I woke from nightmares.

My vision blurred, and my nose tingled.

“…Hhk!”

A stifled sob echoed against the tiled walls.

My cheeks were damp.

I couldn’t tell if it was tears or water.

At least, since I was in the shower, it didn’t matter.

Biting down on my lower lip, I let it all fade away.

“…….”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

CEO Jang suddenly grabbed my cheek, twisting it in his grasp. My cheeks bulged from the pressure, and I tried to turn my face away, not wanting to show my expression. But he didn’t let me. He firmly held my chin in place, forcing me to meet his gaze. He even shook me slightly. My jaw ached so much I almost let out a cry.

“I asked you a question.”

“…It hurts.”

I trailed off, rubbing my chin with the back of my hand. CEO Jang was watching as tears welled up and spilled from my eyes. Embarrassed for some reason, I tucked my lips inward. Then, through the slight gap between his teeth—teeth that had bitten down on my lips and body—came a muttered, “…You little brat.”

Before I could react, his lips covered mine again. A sound, almost like a whimper, mixed with the faint noise of water and scattered into the air.

***

After everything, I lay sprawled on the bed, gazing out the wide window of the room. Snowflakes, fine as pine dust, drifted down. Watching the dreamlike scenery outside, I murmured as if I had forgotten reality itself.

“Today, Mom…”

I was about to call her Mom like I always did but hesitated, choosing my words differently.

“Mother’s fingertips twitched a little.”

“…….”

“I was startled and called the doctor. But after examining her, he said it was most likely just muscle stiffness.”

“He sure knows how to run his mouth about how incompetent he is.”

CEO Jang’s low voice tapped against the walls. The doctor had only stated the facts, but he still received Jang’s merciless criticism.

A weak chuckle escaped me. Strangely, his harsh words made me laugh. I had been struggling to hold in the pain of my heart splitting in two, but suddenly, it felt a little lighter.

Then, without warning, his bare arm wrapped around my waist. He didn’t know the meaning of gentleness—he squeezed me with the exact strength he wanted. It wasn’t an embrace. It was more like a restraint. I felt suffocated, but I didn’t say anything. Complaining wasn’t an option.

Maybe it was because I was in his arms. This house, which had always felt too big, too empty, suddenly felt full the moment he arrived.

As I quietly closed my eyes, silence settled over us like a blanket.