KIBM Ch 13

Flash.

Eyes opened.

As always, it was still dawn, before the sun had risen.

Bosung pressed his palm hard between his eyebrows and sat up in bed.

Last night. He was plagued by nightmares.

Was it because of the baby roe deer?

Or was it because of Yoon Songju, who had crawled under the car?

…Hyung! 

Bosung shook his head at the hallucination that echoed in his dream.

Trying to find a reason for a simple nightmare was also a kind of sickness.

He pulled back the curtains.

A light drizzle was falling. It was a sign that jogging was out for today.

Bosung threw off the t-shirt he was wearing and started doing push-ups. Because of habit, if he didn’t exercise, even lightly, the start of his day wouldn’t feel fresh.

This was especially true on mornings after having nightmares.

He needed to move his body to get rid of distracting thoughts.

Like the silently falling drizzle, silent afterimages floated in Bosung’s mind.

Bosung’s body, supported by strong arms on the floor, moved up and down.

The well-defined muscles of his body moved beautifully.

Just like his hardened body, his disturbed mind seemed to be hardening as well.

After completing 50 push-ups, Bosung got up.

He threw his clothes on the sofa and headed straight for the shower.

It was a morning that desperately needed a refreshing shower.

˚⊹🩺₊˚⊹♡

The center was busy from early morning.

Two baby roe deer born yesterday were added to the baby roe deer that Giwoo had rescued.

As if they had promised, Giwoo and Songju entered the center almost simultaneously.

“I’ve been watching since yesterday, but I haven’t seen the mother.”

Songju received the baby roe deer.

The fawn appeared to be suffering from malnutrition and dehydration. Its mouth was parched, as if it hadn’t had a proper drink.

“Where did you bring it from?”

“The bushes right outside the tunnel.”

“It was in a dangerous place.”

“I heard that a pregnant roe deer almost got hit by a car a few days ago. I wonder if this is her fawn.”

“A pregnant roe deer?”

Giwoo hesitated momentarily at Songju’s question before continuing.

“According to our director, it seems like Dr. Cheon Bosung hit a pregnant roe deer near the tunnel…”

“That happened?”

“Fortunately, it wasn’t a roadkill, but I think the roe deer might have been injured then. That’s why she might have just given birth and…”

Died.

Giwoo swallowed the rest of the sentence.

Around this time of year, many fawns are rescued. Last year, they took care of nine fawns for several days. Half of them were rescued by Giwoo.

Back then, too, they were fawns that had lost their mothers and were thin from lack of food and water.

“It’s lucky that Kwak Giwoo found it.”

Songju stroked the fawn’s head and continued.

“I’ll be counting on your sharp eyes this year, too.”

“Of course. I have four eyes, so trust me.”

Giwoo pushed up their glasses and smiled slightly.

“And when you rescue them, make sure to…”

“‘Always check if the mother is around. She might have hidden the fawn in the bushes or shrubs and gone to find food.’ Is that what you were going to say?”

Songju laughed.

“Exactly.”

“Don’t worry. I observe the fawn’s condition and wait at least half a day to a full day before rescuing them.”

The clock struck 9:00 sharp. Songju’s eyes widened.

“Oh! You’re going to be late. Hurry up and go. You have to pay a fine if you’re late.”

Giwoo seemed relaxed.

“I’m already late.”

Even if they hurried, they couldn’t avoid the fine anyway.

So, Songju chatted with Giwoo a little longer. Worth 5,000 won per minute. No, it was worth more than that.

The more they talked, the brighter Giwoo’s face became.

˚⊹🩺₊˚⊹♡

Turtleman Lily was slowly roaming around Cloud Animal Hospital.

Director Heo Junhee, who had arrived at work early for the first time in a while, was staring out the window.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Not ‘what,’ but Cheon Bosung.”

“Ah, Dr. Cheon?”

Nurse Na checked the time and chuckled.

“He’s going to be fined again. Since even Dr. Kwak Giwoo is late today, we might be able to have a beef dinner soon.”

“Why don’t we just run a business with the fines?”

“If you just give me permission, I’ll put them all in my pocket.”

“Against the rules.”

‘Everyone uses it together for a purpose’ was the way the fines were used.

“We bought a lot of pork with the fines Dr. Cheon paid. How about we invite the center staff, too?”

“It would be good to share it together.”

“Then I’ll contact them.”

Director Heo Junhee nodded and, after checking that Lily was slowly walking near the flowerpot, turned his gaze back to the window.

“When is our Lily’s house going to arrive?”

He was wondering if Bosung would find and bring Lily’s house as requested the previous day.

Lily’s house, which had a broken handle and had to be reordered, would arrive in a week at the earliest. So, Bosung had to bring the house today for Lily to be comfortable.

To be precise, for Director Heo himself to be comfortable.

“He’s not someone to be late without a reason.”

He tried calling just in case, but Bosung didn’t answer. He hadn’t checked his messages either.

He had heard the reason for Bosung’s tardiness yesterday from Sangchul at the center.

‘Oh, the new doctor at Cloud Animal Hospital helped rescue a roe deer yesterday. Please thank him.’

Was there something else on his way today?

Nurse Na’s shout brought him back to reality.

“I spoke with Yoon Songju. The center staff will be here on time, too.”

The fact that they were on time meant that everyone was at the center without any special issues.

“He’s late.”

The door opened along with his murmur.

He turned around just in case, but it was Giwoo, not Bosung, who entered.

Nurse Na immediately approached.

“You’re late. Did you prepare the fine?”

Laughter bloomed amidst the exchange of cash.

Director Heo’s mind was preoccupied with the Lily house that Bosung would bring.

But time passed relentlessly,

and amidst the long wait, lunchtime arrived.

Songju, Sangchul, Jiyu, and the center’s rehabilitation manager entered the open Cloud Animal Hospital one after another.

The waiting room sofa was pushed to the corner, and a portable table was unfolded in its place. People sat around in groups of three or five. It was bustling with people from Cloud Animal Hospital and the Wildlife Rescue Center.

But amidst the bustle, Bosung was absent.

“Dr. Cheon Bosung is treating us, but it looks like the main character isn’t coming.”

Songju looked at the empty seat.

Suddenly, the scene of the house next door that they had seen on their way to work this morning came to mind.

The lights were on in the house.

The car was in the garage.

It was a morning no different from usual. But he hadn’t come to work? Why?

Just as their characteristic nosiness was about to kick in, Nurse Na caught their attention.

“I’m not the one who bought it, but as the one who prepared it, let me just say,”

Clearing their throat, they said grandly,

“This is premium pork. It’s boiled pork made with fresh pork belly, not frozen, so please eat a lot.”

A plate of thickly sliced boiled pork was placed in front of everyone.

Director Heo sighed.

“Dr. Cheon should be eating this with us.”

Nurse Na, wearing sanitary gloves, tore off a piece of kimchi and said,

“I called him several times, but he didn’t answer.”

“I wonder if something really happened.”

A piece of kimchi was gently placed on Director Heo’s boiled pork.

“I think it’s probably because of what I said yesterday.”

“What did you say?”

“I said skipping work is exempt from fines.”

Saying so, Nurse Na laughed.

“I think he’s not coming to work today because he doesn’t want to pay the late fee.”

“He’s not that kind of person.”

Director Heo knew that Bosung was quite disciplined.

Going to school during his school days and going to the hospital after graduation were Bosung’s only routine and rule.

He had never seen Bosung make separate appointments, and it was unimaginable that he would be lazing around at home. Besides, he couldn’t possibly have any appointments here, not in Seoul.

Still not giving up, Director Heo looked out the window.

Songju’s gaze followed Director Heo’s.

˚⊹🩺₊˚⊹♡

The drizzle that had fallen the previous day continued into the next.

Songju, ready for work, left the house. As they opened their umbrella, the phone rang. It was Director Heo Junhee of Cloud Animal Hospital.

—Oh, Yoon.

“What’s up so early in the morning?”

—I was wondering if the car was in the garage next door.

He was asking about Bosung.

Songju, stepping out the gate, said,

“The car’s there.”

The car hadn’t moved since yesterday.

The fact that only the front of the car was wet meant that it had only been rained on, not driven.

A worried “Hmm” came from the other end of the phone.

“He still isn’t answering?”

—No. Until yesterday, I was worried about Lily’s house, but now I’m worried about Cheon. I wonder if something happened.

“I’m sure he’s fine.”

Although they said that, Songju was also concerned.

After all, they hadn’t seen Bosung since yesterday, a person they usually encountered once or twice, sometimes two or three times a day.

—Just in case, could you check on him? The passcode is 0707…

Director Heo seemed to have a second thought and said again,

—No, if you open the door and go in, with his personality, he’ll go ballistic. Just ring the doorbell a few times. I was worried, so I called the hospital in Seoul early this morning, but it seems like the director there can’t reach him either.

“Has this ever happened before?”

—No, never. He might find calls bothersome, but he’s not one to avoid them.

That was Bosung’s personality.

Just like his direct way of speaking, he was the type to confront things head-on rather than avoiding them. So, Director Heo thought that Bosung wasn’t avoiding the calls, but rather unable to answer them.

“I’ll check and let you know.”

—Will you be okay?

“Of course. It’s right next door.”

After hanging up, Songju rang the doorbell.

It was dead. Come to think of it, it was also dead on the first day, so they had pressed the doorbell at the front door.

Songju opened the low gate and stepped into the yard.

The feeling was a little different now than when they first entered.

Standing in front of the entrance, Songju rang the doorbell.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

The doorbell sounded particularly loud because of the silence.

But there was no response.

Looking closer, they could see a faint light. It didn’t seem to be the living room light, maybe the kitchen light?

Come to think of it, the light is on.

The car in the garage hasn’t moved since yesterday, and Cheon Bosung is nowhere to be seen.

Reviewing the series of events, a chilling unease washed over them.

Bang, bang, bang.

This time, they knocked on the door, not the doorbell.

“Cheon Bosung!”

Bang, bang.

“I know you’re in there.”

Of course, it was a guess.

Based on the data they had gathered from their short time knowing Bosung, in a situation like this, it would be more like him to come out boldly and argue,

‘What is it? Why do you keep knocking on my door?’

So, the fact that he couldn’t come out and argue meant that something had happened.

Songju folded their umbrella.

If Bosung hadn’t changed it, the passcode was likely the one Director Heo knew.

Songju entered the passcode.

And shouted,

“I’m coming in!”

At the same time, they opened the front door.

It was the moment Songju stepped into Bosung’s territory.