24ES | Chapter 7.2

That sudden gratitude left Yesung blinking in surprise, the burger halfway out of its wrapping. A laugh bubbled up unexpectedly but caught in his throat, triggering a dry cough. He spoke, bewildered.

“Hey… you bought this with your own money. What are you even thanking me for?”

“I didn’t think you’d want to eat with me. That’s why I only bought yours. I never imagined you’d just hand me fries like this.”

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You know me too well. Apparently, all those cold shoulders weren’t wasted. He wasn’t wrong, but…

“What the hell do you think of me?”

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Was that really how he came across to Hageon? That he was so heartless he’d eat in front of someone without sharing? Irritated, Yesung scowled, but Hageon just smiled faintly, picking up the fries.

“I’ll enjoy it. Thank you.”

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So he wasn’t going to answer, huh? Fine. Yesung wasn’t the type to push someone who didn’t want to talk.

…Not that he needed to. He had a vague idea already.

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Turning back to the burger, Yesung unwrapped it, pausing when he saw what was inside.

“Hmm?”

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It was his usual order. Curious, he also pulled out the drink, expecting cola—but it wasn’t. It was iced Americano.

Yesung’s expression shifted as he stared at the burger and the coffee. Was this deliberate? Did Hageon buy coffee because he knew Yesung had another long night ahead? Was it thoughtfulness, or did he know Yesung preferred coffee over cola?

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While he pondered, Hageon interrupted his thoughts.

“Why aren’t you eating? Is it not to your taste?”

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Though the question was cautious, his eyes were full of curiosity, clearly finding Yesung’s hesitation strange.

Yesung’s gaze narrowed. In this hospital, only Kang Baek-o knew his preferences this well. No doubt Baek-o was the one who had told Hageon.

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Locking eyes with Hageon, Yesung couldn’t help but recall the PICU nurse’s earlier words. About how Hageon seemed to treat him differently. And how he, in turn, didn’t push him away as harshly as others.

Meeting Hageon’s calm, dark pupils, Yesung finally spoke.

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“Why… do you like me?”

It was a question born of frustration. He had never asked this, even after Hageon’s second confession, but now he needed to know. Maybe understanding would help him handle this better.

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Hageon’s eyes widened momentarily before he regained composure and answered.

“Because you’re my sunbae. I like you because you’re you. Even if you’re cold to me, even if you’re kind to others but harsh to me… it doesn’t matter. I just like you.”

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He’d known all along about Yesung’s walls and his distance, but none of it mattered to him.

‘What the hell…’

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No conditions, no expectations—just one-sided devotion. Yesung felt suffocated by the weight of it. His brows furrowed.

‘What did I ever do for him to feel this way…?’

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Whenever he saw Hageon act like this, guilt gnawed at him. Like he was missing something crucial from the past. Like he was forgetting something that only existed in Hageon’s memories.

Noticing his darkened expression, Hageon quickly shifted the conversation.

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“Your food’s getting cold, sunbae. You should eat.”

Yesung lifted his gaze and looked at him, then silently took a big bite of the burger. As expected, his usual order never failed. The familiar flavor teased his taste buds, still as delicious as ever. But for some reason…

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It didn’t feel the same as before. Was it because his mind felt unsettled? It was like swallowing a lump of stone.

Even so, Yesung didn’t put the burger down. He kept eating, bite after bite, and finished every last bit of the burger and the iced Americano that Jung Hageon had brought—without leaving a single crumb behind.

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***

“You’re here, doctor.”

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“Yes, hello, ma’am. I’m here to check on Geonwoo.”

“Alright.”

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After pulling an all-nighter on a paper and being called out for an emergency, Yesung had barely managed to squeeze in an hour of sleep before it was time for the morning rounds. He headed straight to the pediatric ward. Asking for the guardian’s permission, Yesung slipped off his stethoscope and bent down.

“Hello, Geonwoo.”

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“Geonwoo… do you recognize the doctor?”

Geonwoo, who had been looking up at Yesung, turned his gaze towards his mother and nodded. Moisture collected inside his oxygen mask covering his nose and mouth.

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“That’s good… that’s really good, Geonwoo…”

The child smacked his lips beneath the mask. Yesung, who had been straightening out his disheveled coat, noticed the gesture and immediately responded.

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“Yes, Geonwoo, did you want to say something to the doctor?”

“…Dok, doktor.”

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The child’s voice was weak, barely audible. Yesung had to concentrate fully on him to catch his words. He met the child’s eyes.

“Yes, Geonwoo.”

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“Doktor… I no hurt. No… no hurt now.”

“Wow. So, Geonwoo, you’re not hurting anymore? Really?”

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Geonwoo slowly nodded his head. Yesung was touched by the child’s subtle way of communicating and smiled.

“That’s wonderful, Geonwoo, not hurting anymore. I promised, didn’t I? That I’d make sure you wouldn’t hurt. You held on just like you promised with the doctor, and that’s why it doesn’t hurt anymore, Geonwoo.”

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“You should thank the doctor for keeping his promise, Geonwoo.”

“Thank… thank, eung…”

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“No, ma’am. Let’s wait until Geonwoo is fully recovered and then we can exchange thanks. That will be enough then.”

The child was still struggling with difficult words. Yesung waved his hands to reassure the guardian and stood up straight.

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Then, Park Joohyuk, who had been waiting behind, passed a chart to Yesung as if he had been waiting for just the moment. Yesung met the guardian’s eyes.

“Compared to yesterday, his numbers have improved a lot, ma’am. Geonwoo is holding on well, so we’ll keep a close eye on him.”

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“Yes, doctor.”

“Geonwoo has been holding on well up to now. He did yesterday, and… so I believe he can get through this time too. I believe in that.”

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“Yes… yes, yes.”

The guardian finally burst into tears she had been holding back. Unable to cry freely because her child was watching, she sobbed restrainedly.

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Yesung comforted her.

“Don’t cry, Geonwoo’s mom. Especially now, you need to eat well and stay strong. That way you can look after Geonwoo better, and he will gain strength seeing you strong.”

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“Uh, yes, doctor. I will, definitely. Geonwoo is holding on, so I can’t fall apart now. We’ll get through this crisis too. We will. Both Geonwoo and I, just as we always have…”

It was not so much a conversation with Yesung as a vow she was making to herself. Yesung responded with a faint smile to her firm resolve and left the room.

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Park Joohyuk followed him out.

“Make sure to check on Geonwoo’s condition hourly. Call me immediately if there’s any problem.”

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“Yes, sunbae.”

Yesung, having given his firm instructions to Park Joohyuk, moved on to check on the next patient with heavy steps.

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“Ah… the sky is so clear.”

Oblivious to human feelings, the cloudless, cheerfully bright sky seemed only to deepen the gloom. Sitting down carelessly on the cold ground, Yesung blinked his eyes.

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Geonwoo had passed away. The child, who had just turned four this year, had first been admitted to the hospital two years ago but had faded away before ever truly blossoming.

His heart felt like it was being squeezed, yet strangely, no tears came. Automatically, Yesung reached into his pocket for a cigarette and pulled one out. He fiddled with it without lighting it when the rooftop door creaked open.

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“Uh…”

“Sunbae.”

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It felt like déjà vu, not just once but many times over. Yesung let out a dry laugh.

“How did you know to come here this time?”

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“Dr. Park told me.”

Jung Hageon, who had casually revealed his source, sat down right next to Yesung. Yesung frowned.

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“…So you heard everything?”

“Yes.”

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“That Park Joohyuk…”

Yesung didn’t hold back in cursing Park Joohyuk. Unexpectedly, Jung Hageon came to his defense.

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“I just asked him where you were. He didn’t know where you were but told me what happened.”

Why was he suddenly taking Park Joohyuk’s side? It oddly irritated Yesung.

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“…That’s the problem.”

“What?”

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“It’s his loose lips. That’s the problem. Park Joohyuk talks too much. He spills everything to anyone who asks.”

Jung Hageon looked genuinely puzzled, tilting his head as his black hair flowed with the movement.

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“Is it wrong to answer when asked?”

“…It’s not about just answering a question. There are things you should and shouldn’t say… What am I even doing? Let’s drop it.”

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Yesung was late in responding, distracted by watching Hageon’s hair ripple over his white face. He started to explain why he felt annoyed but then stopped, realizing it might not make sense to him, and maybe the root issue wasn’t with Park Joohyuk after all.

‘Why does this guy have to be so handsome?’

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It was a thought that crossed his mind every time, but today it seemed particularly striking.

The wind tousled his jet-black hair, slightly curled at the ends. Just below, his thick, straight eyebrows framed his eyes distinctly. Despite a job that necessitated all-nighters, his skin remained untroubled and pale.

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The most striking feature remained his eyes, the black pupils shimmering intensely. At times, they were so clear it was hard to guess his thoughts; at others, they seemed to ripple with deep emotions, making it impossible not to know his gaze.

Yesung had thought from the first encounter that Hageon’s face was really his type.

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As Yesung’s gaze dropped below Hageon’s face, he noted that, as usual, he was wearing scrubs.

…Not exactly fashionable.

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Had Yesung ever seen him in anything but scrubs since Hageon started at Hanguk University Hospital? He scowled.

“Don’t you have surgery? Aren’t you busy?”

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“I just finished one. It’s okay.”

“…Then at least go change your clothes.”

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“There’s another surgery soon. Better to do something else with the time.”

‘Like what, follow me around like a puppy or stare at my face?’

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He should be resting, or eating, instead of spending time like this.

Yesung wanted to suggest more productive activities. Did Hageon even realize how he looked?

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His good skin was turning rough; the dark circles under his eyes were another story. That handsome face looked utterly worn out.

“Tsk.”

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Yesung clicked his tongue, lost in his thoughts about Hageon, when a rustling sound occurred. Something was placed in his hand.

“…What’s this?”

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“A lollipop.”

Yesung knew that. It was even the same brand he usually carried around, one he had given to Hageon before. It wasn’t that he didn’t know what it was. He was questioning why Hageon was giving it to him now. Glancing at him questioningly, Hageon pointed to the hand holding the cigarette.

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Hesitating whether to smoke or not…

“I’m helping you. But since smoking is bad for you, have this instead of a cigarette today.”

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His voice was calm but firm.

Guess that’s the doctor in him.

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