The Mist Vol 4 Chapter 32

Vol 4 Chapter 32

"..."

As Kapros watched Je-hwan's movements without saying anything out of bewilderment, Je-hwan soon opened the built-in closet containing the bedding without hesitation and took out a large pillow and blanket, placing them neatly on Kapros's knees. Then, with his usual cool expression, he opened his mouth to ask a question.

"Where are your change of clothes? And the medicine?"

"What are you doing?"

As Kapros raised his upper body, holding his head in disbelief and asked, Je-hwan's eyes narrowed.

"Just lie down. Tell me where the clothes and medicine are."

"..."

Kapros felt irritation rising within him for the first time in a long while due to his throbbing head and Jin Je-hwan's uncompromising behavior. Although he was certainly grateful that Je-hwan had worried about him without even frowning in this unexpected situation, Kapros just wanted to lie down alone comfortably rather than show any more unsightly behavior. He already thought he had shown quite an embarrassing sight by vomiting, and he didn't want to lie down while worrying about Je-hwan on top of that.

"Let me be alone. I'll take the medicine myself."

"It could suddenly become dangerous."

"Has anyone ever died from indigestion?"

"I don't know about that, but you might need to go to the emergency room."

As Kapros glared coldly, Je-hwan's expression gradually hardened, and then he opened his mouth with a face that was hard to describe, one Kapros had never seen before.

"...Mu-heon. If it were any other time, I wouldn't, but right now I could forcibly take you to the hospital with my strength. But I'm not doing that because your will comes first. Now that I've seen you sick, I can't go back alone. Don't say you don't know why."

At those words, muttered so low they were barely audible, with downcast dark eyes and an uncharacteristically insecure expression, Kapros felt a momentary tightness in his chest.

'Don't say you don't know why.'

That was about Yu-wan, Jin Je-hwan's feelings, who had confessed that he didn't see Kapros as just a friend. He had confessed casually and said he would wait casually, but that didn't mean his feelings were casual.

A temporary silence fell in the room, both externally and internally. During that silence, Kapros looked at Je-hwan's black and blue hair, slightly turned away. He now seemed to understand a little about the identity of the awkward air that had been floating between Je-hwan and himself, strangely unconsciously, even before he had vomited.

"Sigh..."

Finally, looking at Je-hwan, who didn't seem like he would just leave no matter what was said, Kapros decided to take a step back.

"Alright... The clothes are in the next room, and the medicine is in the second drawer next to the living room sofa. Bring them and then go. That's okay, right?"

"..."

Je-hwan turned and walked out with long strides without answering. Kapros felt his mind ease a little as he took off his upper clothes. After taking them off, he saw that not only his clothes but also his skin seemed to be soiled as if wet.

'It would be hard to sleep comfortably just by changing clothes like this.'

Remembering that the water he had drawn in the bathtub before going out would still be there, Kapros dragged his legs out. He saw Je-hwan, who had found clothes and medicine and placed them on the table, and even found a rag from somewhere and was cleaning the floor soiled by Kapros's vomit, looking surprised. Kapros was also shocked to see that movie star-like face crouched down, cleaning someone else's vomit.

"Why are you cleaning that? It's dirty. Everyone has cleaning bots."

Ignoring Je-hwan, who remained silent like a mute who had eaten honey, Kapros spoke incredulously, and Je-hwan turned his head to the side sharply. He looked somewhat flustered.

There's a limit to how much help one should give; at this point, the homeowner would die of embarrassment. Shaking his head, Kapros entered the bathroom, roughly wrapped a towel around his waist to prevent his pants from getting wet, and took out another towel to soak in the warm water that filled the bathtub. After scrubbing and wiping his body, he went out to the living room to find Je-hwan still sitting in the same place. After passing by him and putting on new clothes, Kapros turned around to see Je-hwan, with a slightly reddened complexion, bringing medicine and water and handing the medicine to him.

"...Thanks."

Although Kapros wasn't sure exactly what kind of medicine Je-hwan had chosen, seeing that he had even opened it and brought it, he thought Je-hwan must have chosen well, so he swallowed it with water. Je-hwan took the water glass and placed it on the side table, then awkwardly came back to stand beside Kapros's bed.

"You still don't look well. If you go to the hospital now, I could..."

"It's okay. If I don't feel better even after resting, I'll go by myself then."

In fact, Jin Je-hwan's attitude clearly showed that he found it very awkward to say such words of concern for someone, but nevertheless, he continuously tried to persuade Kapros. As he kept talking without giving up to this extent, Kapros now felt embarrassed to refuse.

"Thank you for coming today. Next time we meet, give me a call first."

"Mu-heon."

Quickly saying goodbye, thinking that Je-hwan might forcibly drag him out if this continued, Je-hwan, seeming to realize this, let out a long sigh and bent down to embrace Kapros. It was a light hug without much force.

Suddenly, Kapros thought about how many times he had been embraced like this by this guy. A hug with a man. He had never thought about it before. But surprisingly, the strange thing was that it wasn't unpleasant. As Kapros quietly lowered his eyes, Je-hwan's voice was heard softly.

"It's strange. I keep thinking about you, but you don't."

"..."

"I want to become as important to you as you've become to me, but I don't know how."

The moment Kapros heard that voice tinged with a strange heat, he felt as if he had returned to that time on the rooftop of a house in a Zagreb alley a few months ago, watching the fireworks-like scene created by magic. Slowly and carefully, one word at a time, Je-hwan was trying to convey his feelings to Kapros.

"It's okay if you don't feel the same way I do, but let me worry about you. That much is something even 'friends' can do, right?"