NTH 32

“You evil bastard, Kwon Jeha, how could you do this to me, ahhh!”

The moment the needle went in, Nana’s head dropped limply to the side as if he had fainted.

Although he knew that Nana was exaggerating his pain, the needle did look thick to Jeha, and there were more than just one or two round plastic containers for transporting blood. Worried, Jeha asked the doctor in a low voice.

“Do you normally draw this much blood?”

“I heard that this person is not registered in the family register.”

“What does that have to do with the amount of blood drawn?”

“There is a high probability that this person has not received any of the mandatory vaccinations provided by the state. He may be vulnerable to various diseases because antibodies have not been formed, so I plan to run as many tests as possible. For that, I need several blood samples.”

Jeha nodded, but Nana was still not convinced. Jeha soothed him as he lay there limply.

“Nana, it’s almost done, so just bear with it a little longer.”

“It was a really sad and difficult life. I didn’t know Jeha would backstab me like this at the end, but I was very grateful for everything until now…”

“Stop the drama and get up.”

“I feel so dizzy from lack of blood.”

“Do you even know what your blood type is?”

“I don’t know. How should I know.”

Thinking ‘of course he doesn’t,’ Jeha requested of the doctor.

“When you check the test results, please be sure to let me know his blood type as well.”

“Understood.”

After finishing the examination, the doctor transferred a mysterious liquid from a small bottle into a thin syringe.

“Now, I’m going to give you an injection containing antibiotics and antipyretic ingredients.”

“You said it wasn’t a shot! Where are you going to poke me again!”

Nana, who had been weakly burying his head in the pillow, suddenly opened his eyes wide and shrieked, causing the doctor to flinch and answer slowly.

“What I did earlier was not an injection but a blood draw, and this is, um… a butt shot.”

“No! I’m not getting it! I know you just want to see my butt, you perverted mister!”

“Nana, be quiet and lie face down.”

“You too, Jeha, you want to see my butt with him, uwaaah!”

Jeha lifted Nana as if he were a piece of paper and laid him face down on the bed so that his stomach was touching it. When he forcibly pulled down his pajama pants and underwear, his white, soft buttocks were completely exposed.

Jeha was a little surprised at himself for thinking that he didn’t want to show it to others, even though he knew it was for a purely medical purpose. When the doctor slapped Nana’s butt with his palm a couple of times before giving the injection, Jeha secretly made a displeased face and furrowed his brow behind him.

The doctor gave the injection to Nana, who was pretending to cry sorrowfully, and pressed the injection site with an alcohol swab.

“It’s an antibiotic shot, so it will hurt a bit. You need to rub and press it for about five minutes, so I will do it for you…”

“Nana, you rub it yourself. Is the examination all done?”

“Everything that can be done here has been done. The rest needs to be done by taking the blood samples to the lab. His energy is very low, so it would be good for him to get an IV drip with nutritional supplements, what do you think?”

“I’ll hear the examination results on my way out, so please give him the nutritional supplement first.”

“Understood.”

The doctor, now seemingly without the energy to argue, pricked a thin needle into the back of Nana’s hand and connected the IV. Jeha removed the fever-reducing patch that was still on Nana’s forehead.

“I’m going to talk with the doctor in the living room for a bit, so you rest.”

“Is it over now? Then can I watch TV? I slept so much earlier, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”

“Sure.”

Jeha turned on the TV and placed the remote control next to Nana, then went out with the doctor. As they sat on the living room sofa, Manager Jeong brought cups of warm herbal tea and placed them in front of the doctor and Jeha.

“So how does he seem?”

When Jeha asked, the doctor adjusted his glasses and answered.

“Visually, there doesn’t seem to be a major problem, but his energy is very low. His blood pressure is also extremely low compared to the normal range.”

“Are you saying he has low blood pressure?”

“That’s right. He is probably experiencing symptoms like dizziness, tinnitus, and cold hands and feet. And his breathing and pulse are very weak for his apparent age. It seems to be congenital.”

“What should he do to get better?”

“If no specific disease is found in the blood test results, for now, the only way is to not overexert himself, live a stable life, eat nutritious food, and get enough rest. Taking herbal medicine that can replenish his energy would also be a good idea.”

Hearing that, Jeha looked at Manager Jeong without a word. Manager Jeong took out his phone from the inner pocket of his jacket.

“I will bring an oriental medicine doctor tomorrow right away.”

“Don’t forget the bed, either.”

“Yes, yes.”

After Manager Jeong and the doctor left, Jeha went into his room where Nana was.

Nana was watching a program on an educational channel called ‘Let’s Go, Global Village Exploration’. It was about a producer who personally traveled to various villages in foreign countries, ate the local food, and talked with the local people. It was a calm and unstimulating program that would, at best, only get the viewership of the national anthem.

“There are so many channels, why are you watching something like this.”

When Jeha, who sat on the edge of the bed, asked, Nana’s eyes widened.

“What’s wrong with this? It’s fun, isn’t it?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s amazing that there are really places like that in the world. Look over there. It’s a place called Oxford. The buildings are so cool. Doesn’t it look like wizards live there?”

Surprised by the word ‘Oxford’, Jeha looked at the TV screen. The producer, standing in front of the cathedral of Oxford University, which is also famous as a movie filming location, was introducing the history of the building. A smile appeared on Jeha’s face.

“That’s the university I graduated from.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes. I lived in that city for about nine years, from my undergraduate admission until I finished my doctoral program.”

“That’s amazing. I want to go to a place like that before I die, but it’ll probably be difficult. I have no money and no passport.”

Nana said it lightly, but Jeha’s heart was heavy. The moment he heard ‘before I die’, he remembered Gu Minho’s words that Nana’s remaining lifespan was at most a year. He tried to ignore the feeling of a lump in his throat.

“Let’s go together when we get a chance later.”

“How? To go to a foreign country, I’d have to hide in a box of smuggled goods, wouldn’t I?”

“After you go through the resident registration process, you can get a passport and fly there, so just don’t get sick until then.”

Perhaps because Jeha’s words didn’t sound very realistic, Nana looked back at the TV screen without any particular response.

After staying by Nana’s side for a while, Jeha checked that the IV fluid was almost gone.

“I think this is all done, shall I take out the needle?”

“Okay.”

As he carefully pulled the needle out from the pale back of the hand where the bones were visible, Nana stared at Jeha as if he had something to say.

“Hey, I want to wash up a bit.”

“Your fever probably hasn’t gone down completely yet.”

“I’m much better now. I’ve been sweating a lot, so I want to take a shower.”

“Then I’ll fill the bathtub with hot water for you, so go in there and wash.”

As Jeha was about to get up from the bed, Nana held onto his arm.

“Am I washing alone?”

“What?”

“I’m a little dizzy right now, and I’m scared I might slip, so can’t you help me?”

Jeha couldn’t bring himself to refuse the request of Nana, whose eyes were sparkling nonchalantly.

After filling the large bathtub with water and placing Nana’s underwear and pajamas, which Manager Jeong had bought, in the bathroom, Jeha went back to the room.

“The water is ready.”

“Okay. I’m coming.”

Nana, who was leaning against the headboard cushion and still watching ‘Let’s Go, Global Village Exploration’, answered. Jeha, who saw him suddenly put a hand to his forehead as he tried to turn off the TV and get out of bed, quickly approached him.

“Are you dizzy?”

“Yeah. When you get up from lying down or sitting, you always feel dizzy, don’t you.”

“What do you mean, ‘always’? I’ve never felt that.”

“Really? Wasn’t it like that for everyone?”

“No. It’s because your blood pressure is low. The doctor who came earlier said you have severe low blood pressure.”

“What’s low blood pressure?”

Nana tilted his head with an expression devoid of any playfulness. Instead of answering, Jeha put his hands under Nana’s knees and lifted him up lightly.

“Wow! Princess carry!”