Tae Hoon immediately asked the receptionist where Ji Hye was being treated once he arrived at the hospital. After the receptionist gave him the location, Tae Hoon ran as fast as he could.
"Ji Hye!" Tae Hoon shouted when his two eyes caught Ji Hye sitting on the bed eating a sandwich. Ji Hye was clearly shocked when she saw Tae Hoon's strange condition, his breathing was labored and sweat was pouring down his face.
"Tae Hoon, what are you doing here?" asked Ji Hye with rounded eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me you were sick?!" shouted Tae Hoon as he approached Ji Hye.
"Oh, sorry. My phone died, so I couldn't contact anyone."
Tae Hoon's face grimaced and his lips trembled. It was a look filled with anxiety and worry. His heart felt like it was going to burst when he heard the news that Ji Hye was in the hospital.
"How are you doing now?" asked Tae Hoon after he had managed to calm his rising emotions.
Ji Hye smiled slightly and replied in a quiet tone, "I'm fine. Thank you for coming here."
Tae Hoon let out a long breath, then took a chair and sat next to Ji Hye. He stared closely at Ji Hye, before opening his voice, "I was so worried about not seeing you all day."
Ji Hye was quite surprised to hear the fact that Tae Hoon was worried about her. That statement somehow managed to make her heart warm up and subconsciously her face blushed slightly.
"Thank you for worrying about me."
Tae Hoon exhaled roughly once again. "Are you sick from being drunk last night?"
"Um? I don't think so."
Hearing that answer, Tae Hoon successfully exhaled in relief. Then, Ji Hye asked again, "Did you just get home from college?"
"Oh, yes. I was—" Tae Hoon's mouth stopped moving. His head recalled the promise he had made with So Hyun earlier that morning. He was supposed to be on his way to So Hyun's place right now, but he accidentally went to the hospital to visit Ji Hye instead.
"Kugh!" Tae Hoon rubbed his face roughly at having neglected the promise he made. He had to leave now, but he still felt very worried for Ji Hye who was staying at the hospital alone.
"What's wrong?" Ji Hye asked when she saw Tae Hoon's expression suddenly turn strange. Ji Hye could tell that Tae Hoon was currently worried about something.
"Nothing." Tae Hoon answered hurriedly while taking out his cell phone. Then he searched for the number of So Hyun who had called him earlier. After that, he sent So Hyun a message.
From : Kim Tae Hoon
-So Hyun, I'm so sorry. I had some sudden business, so I couldn't come. I'm really sorry.
After sending the message, Tae Hoon put his phone back into his pocket, then turned back to Ji Hye. Tae Hoon felt a little guilty that he couldn't keep his promise. But he was confident that So Hyun would understand and let it go like she did before.
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The weather was quite hot and stifling. But that didn't make So Hyun move from her spot. She continued to sit on the lawn chair as she waited for Tae Hoon's arrival. Three hours had passed, but Tae Hoon still hadn't come. So Hyun wanted to call Tae Hoon and ask his whereabouts, but unfortunately, her phone died because it ran out of battery.
Even so, So Hyun still wanted to wait, because she was sure that Tae Hoon would definitely come to keep his promise.
An hour passed, and the park became more crowded. Two hours passed, the people who had been having a picnic in the park had started to leave. Three hours passed, it was getting dark, but So Hyun still didn't move an inch from her spot. Four hours passed, only a few people were walking around the park. The weather was getting colder and a little cloudy.
Anyone don't know what So Hyun was thinking that she was still willing to wait until the evening and remain unmoving. It was already eight o'clock in the evening, and So Hyun still hadn't eaten anything all day.
From quite a distance across the street, there was Hyun Woo who was walking around carrying a bouquet of Daisy flowers. As he turned his head, his eyes accidentally caught the figure of So Hyun who was sitting on a chair at the edge of the garden. His eyes squinted to confirm that the woman was really the So Hyun he knew.
"What the hell? Is their date over so soon?"
Hyun Woo wanted to cross over, walk up to So Hyun and ask her directly, but they weren't that close to share personal information. Besides, he knew very well that So Hyun only cared about Tae Hoon, so he didn't want to interfere with their relationship.
Hyun Woo therefore chose to continue on his way.
-
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"Are you sure you're okay?" Tae Hoon asked once again when he saw Ji Hye making up the patient's bed. Tae Hoon had also persuaded Ji Hye repeatedly to let the girl rest in the hospital since her body temperature was still quite hot.
"Yes, I'm completely well." Ji Hye gave a little smile—without glancing at Tae Hoon. In truth, Ji Hye still wanted to stay longer—especially when she saw Taehyung worrying so much about her. But she still had some personal business to attend to.
"You should have stayed and rested longer," Taehyung said.
"No, I didn't. It would have been a waste of my time."
Tae Hoon let out a long, heavy breath. He was honestly still very worried if Ji Hye suddenly developed a fever like today. Especially since the fever came suddenly without any symptoms.
"Hey, Kim Tae Hoon! What are you doing here?"
Tae Hoon reflexively turned around when someone called him. He was so surprised to see Hyun Woo who came with a bouquet of Daisy flowers.
"Oh, Hyun Woo, you came already?" Ji Hye said with a sweet smile.
"Hey, Kim Tae Hoon! Why did you end your date so soon?" Hyun Woo stared intently at Tae Hoon and ignored the welcome Ji Hye gave her.
Tae Hoon's forehead successfully creased. "What did you say? Who's dating? I just came here to see Ji Hye."
"I don't mean Ji Hye, but So Hyun!"
"So Hyun?" Tae Hoon's brow furrowed again. His expression was filled with confusion. "What do you mean? We didn't get to meet because I had business here."
"What?!" Hyun Woo suddenly shouted, successfully startling the people around him. "Are you crazy?! Why did you do that?!"
"What's wrong with you?!" retorted Tae Hoon, who raised his voice slightly in annoyance at Hyun Woo's rudeness.
"You canceled your appointment unilaterally and made him wait alone until nightfall there?! Are you really a gentleman?!"
"What are you saying? I already gave her a message that our appointment was canceled."
"Then why did I see So Hyun sitting alone in the park like she was waiting for someone? What else was she doing if not waiting for you?!" Hyun Woo's anger burned as his breath caught. He stared in disbelief at his best friend who he had always been proud of. How could a man unilaterally break a promise he made by himself? Especially to a woman. Hyun Woo really couldn't understand.
Tae Hoon was speechless, and ended up with both eyes perfectly rounded. "What did you say, So Hyun was waiting for me?"
"That's right, asshole. Do I need to make it clear to you one more time?"
Tae Hoon was silent for a long time. He really didn't expect it to turn out like this. He was sure that So Hyun had read his message and they were back to their business. If So Hyun was really still waiting for him until now, then he would never forgive himself.
Tae Hoon ran with all his might away from Ji Hye and Hyun Woo without saying a word. He stood on the side of the road, then hailed a taxi and left. Along the way, Tae Hoon couldn't stop cursing himself for breaking the promise he made to himself.
Meanwhile, where So Hyun was, there was a drunk man who was approaching her.
"Hey sweetie, why are you alone in this place? It's late," the man asked with a smug smile.
"I'm waiting for someone," So Hyun replied coldly without even glancing at the man. So Hyun was surprised that the man suddenly sat next to her without asking permission. To make matters worse, the man kept trying to get closer to So Hyun while sticking out his hand.
"Sweetie, would you like to come with me? I know a very interesting place. You'll definitely like it."
"No, thanks."
"Oh, come on. I really want to be alone with you. You're so beautiful."
"I can't, sorry."
"Come on, sweetie."
"Kyaa!" So Hyun gasped in surprise when she felt her right hand suddenly pull. When she turned her head, it turned out that the man was holding her hand. "Please let me go."
Instead of obeying, the man strengthened his grip even more, causing So Hyun to whimper in pain. Then the man stood up while trying to pull So Hyun to come with him.
"Come on, sweetie."
"I said let me go, or I'll call the police!"
The drunk man grimaced, and felt annoyed. He no longer cared about So Hyun's consent. He turned around and walked away while pulling So Hyun's hand.
"Excuse me! Let go of my hand! Eugh!" moaned So Hyun as she tried to break free from the man's grasp.
Both of So Hyun's legs successfully trembled. She didn't want to be dragged into the drunken man's crime, but she didn't have enough energy because she was starving. She also couldn't call the police because her cell phone was dead. There were also no people around, so she couldn't call for help.
"Anyone please help me—"
Just about to shout, a man suddenly appeared from behind, and immediately released So Hyun's hand from the drunk man's grasp.
"Shit, damn it!" The drunk man turned around in annoyance. A hard punch landed right on his cheek, knocking him to the ground.
So Hyun turned around, her eyes lit up as she saw the figure she was so eager to meet today. Unconsciously, the corners of her eyes rose in both pleasure and relief.
"Let's get out of here." Tae Hoon turned around and led So Hyun away. Right now his emotions were running high, so he chose to leave right away because he did not want to victimize the drunk man just because of his anger.