Waterway (1)
“Jung Hayan has awakened.”
The news came right after Cha Hee-ra had just left.
The timing itself seemed a bit odd, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that it didn’t make me happy. What had happened to her still felt so vivid in my head.
It was ridiculous, but I wanted to see her right away. Of course, it didn’t mean that I was falling for Hayan, but I was allowed to be affectionate with her, wasn’t I?
It was still a little too early to call it love. Plus, the fact that she had saved my life was probably interfering with how I truly felt about her.
“Ah. I’d better go visit her.”
“Yes, of course.”
“I will allow the Guild Master to take over the acquisition of work today. Mr. Park Jung-gi and Miss Mi-young, please review the instructions after you’ve finished all the work.”
“Yes, of course.”
After I tapped them both on the shoulder, I left them to suffer with Kim Hyunsung and began to make my way towards where Jung Hayan was kept.
Seeing that it was quiet inside, I was probably the first to get there.
“Hayan.”
“O-Oh…”
I’ve gone to visit Jung Hayan every day, but this was the first time I’d be visiting her awake. However, Hayan looked depressed, scared even, and I quickly formed a hunch.
‘Perhaps…’
It must have been because of the vulgar words I’d screamed at her before she blacked out-me yelling at and telling her to get out of the way. Thus, it would be natural for her to show such a reaction. Perhaps she felt like I hated her now.
Jung Hayan was in a precarious state at the time, but she must have remembered what I said.
For some reason, it felt a little embarrassing to say thank you due to the awkward atmosphere. I knew she must be feeling the same way.
However, I soon realized I didn’t even need to say anything. The moment | opened my arms, Jung Hayan bounced between them and hugged me tightly.
“O-Oppa… H-Hic…”
“Hayan, I’m very grateful and sorry.”
“Oppa…”
Jung Hayan thought of this as an excuse to rub her head against my chest. Even her weird habits looked cute to me today.
As she looked healthier than usual, the worries in my heart began to fade away.
“It hurt a lot, right?”
I asked her, stroking her back where there had been many scars. That was the part that worried me the most.
However, as I slightly lifted her upper garment, a happy gasp escaped from my lips.
‘There are no scars left.’
Meanwhile, Jung Hayan was staring up at me with a reddened face. I realized what this looked like to her and promptly released her top, my cheeks reddening.
Of course, her expression shifted into one of disappointment as I did so.
“You’re fine now, thank goodness.”
“Ah… Well, thank you for your concern, Oppa.”
“It’s natural for me to worry. You can’t do that next time, Hayan.”
“Of course…”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Yes, Oppa.”
As I stroked her cheek gently, her body trembled, much like a frightened animal. Though it was not much different from the usual, I probably regarded her a bit differently this time.
I felt sincerely grateful to her and worried about her wellbeing. She must have had a hard time trying to adjust to the way I was looking at her now. I could understand Jung Hayan’s feelings of affection for me now.
It was then that, all of a sudden, she let out a little scream.
“Ah!”
“W-What…”
Jung Hayan began to breathe harshly, embracing her stomach and seemingly in pain.
“Where does it hurt?”
“I’m fine. I’m fine.”
Her expression started to change as she replied, and I could see her struggling to calm herself down.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes, Oppa. My stomach just hurts a little… The wound from the knife gets sore a lot.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice to bring in Hee-young?”
“No, no, it’s fine… This is just a little pain…”
It felt unsettling to see her act this way. My feelings of worry came back, this time, for a different reason altogether.
This was the same feeling back in the Cursed Shrine expedition. It felt like Jung Hayan would start to harm herself if I left her alone. I knew she was not really in pain.
Therefore, the only thing to do was to correct Hayan’s abnormal behavior from the very beginning. What really annoyed me was the fact that…
‘My heart is weakening.’
My conscience kept replaying the memory of Jung Hayan holding onto me while bleeding nonstop. I could still feel the hot blood and her voice, whispering that she would protect me.
I guiltily wondered if I should doubt her acting. It wouldn’t be bad to play along for once.
Jung Hayan got stabbed instead of you… Think of that.’
As I quietly stroked her head once more, Hayan continued trembling.
“Ah… It hurts…”
“I think I should call Sun Hee-young in now…”
“Ah, no… It feels better when Oppa strokes the affected area…”
At this point, it felt ridiculous to continue going with the flow.
However, it was then that Jung Hayan raised her top, exposing her bare flesh to me. I reached out to stroke the skin, and her expression shifted.
‘Ah, is she expecting a prize?’
If so, there was no reason to hesitate.
I placed my hand on her stomach, and her expression changed completely.
All the while, Jung Hayan kept mumbling about being in pain, but I knew that she was just pretending at this point. In fact, she looked as if she had just been given the entire world.
“Are you okay now?”
“Uh, a little further down than that…”
“Here?”
“Further…”
“How about here?”
“Just a little further down…”
‘Fuck, how far do I have to go?’
“A little further down… Oppa, just a little more…”
‘Hayan, stop telling me to go further down…’
“Just a little more…’
‘Stop’
Something had changed in Jung Hayan. It felt like she had appealed to my sympathy for her, turned it into some kind of trick, and used it to her advantage.
Was she learning this from me? She had definitely changed. I shook my head to rid myself of these thoughts. Jung Hayan was still a kid, after all.
‘Still, though, it wouldn’t hurt to try.’
In the first place, Jung Hayan didn’t have a talent for this kind of thing. However, I felt like I could not stop at this point, even if I wanted to.
Seeing as she continued to goad me to trail my hand further down, she would get what she wanted soon enough.
As I finally started to give in and give her her reward, I felt a voice speak up from behind us.
“Where are you sick?” It was Sun Hee-young.
“I went to find my Hyung, but it appears as if he was already here.”
“Hayan, I’m glad you’re awake.”
It wasn’t just her.
There was Park Deokgu, who looked at us with a knowing expression, and Kim Ye-ri, whose eyes were being covered by an embarrassed Kim Hyunsung.
“I already know this,” Kim Ye-ri’s soft voice drifted out. “You’re about to make a child…”
‘What is this kid saying?’
My face turned red in an instant. I quietly mumbled as I pulled my arm out, hoping no one would notice.
“It’s because Jung Hayan had a stomachache. I was just checking it out.”
“Yeah… Oh, I’m sure we weren’t interrupting anything.”
“Would it be better for us to come back later on?”
‘Park Deokgu, you bastard.’
“No, no, I really was just checking it out.”
For the first time, I could understand why Jung Hayan liked to stutter.
Past the incident, however, our party seemed glad to be reunited once again. Everyone laughed but did not say anything about it, happy expressions apparent on their faces. Even Jung Hayan, whose cheeks were bright red, seemed happy.
Of course, we couldn’t forget that the guild was still very busy. Nevertheless, it was nice for everyone to stop by to spend some time together. It was only for a short while, but I was happy that we could have a conversation together once more.
Of course, as the chattiest one, Park Deokgu enjoyed this reunion the most. My ears had gone sore.
“Well, I was really surprised! When I told her that my Hyung was going to the capital, Hayan suddenly opened her eyes! I think this is what we call the power of love! Ahh!”
“It was only a matter of time until I would wake up, Deokgu. It’s all thanks to the perfect treatments I’ve been receiving.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I was really surprised to wake up, myself…”
‘Huh.’
Inferring from Park Deokgu’s story, I had doubts about whether Jung Hayan had woken up earlier or not. However, that wasn’t important right now.
I felt more worried about her stable reaction. According to Park Deokgu, she already knew that I was leaving for the capital.
At this point, I had already expected her to cry or to throw a tantrum. As thought about this, someone else spoke up.
“Ah, it must be so hard for Hayan…”
‘Ah, shit.
“Shouldn’t she come with Hyung? Isn’t that a good idea?”
This pig…’
“The Mercenary Queen has given her permission, Kiyoung. I’ve thought about it a little, and I’ve decided on the fact that Jung Hayan is indeed still unfit for
work.”
‘Ah, then you’re definitely blind.’
“I think being with Kiyoung will help her mentally.”
I knew they just didn’t want to deal with Jung Hayan after I left.
Kim Hyunsung, even you…
They were all definitely aiming for me.