Vol 7 Chapter 15

But this time the caller wasn't Min-hoo, but Master's wife. Kapros was momentarily flustered and straightened his posture from his relaxed stance.

"Master's wife."

[ I've been trying to call for a while, but it was busy. ]

"Ah... yes."

It seemed Master's wife had called while he was talking with Min-hoo. Since he had set his phone to accept only one call at a time, he apologized for not knowing.

[ Did you rest well after being discharged yesterday? Are you still in much pain? Have you eaten? ]

"Yes. I rested well and the injuries are fine. I've eaten well too."

She must have been very worried, as Kapros struggled to give appropriate answers to the several questions Master's wife threw at once. Though he actually hadn't eaten yet, he had no choice because she would obviously worry if he said so.

Master's wife, who had been studying his face as if trying to determine whether his words were true or not, let out a deep sigh. It was the same sigh he had heard every day during his three days of hospitalization.

[ What's with that face.... I shouldn't have given you that number, making you like this again... ]

[ -Ahem, ahem! ]

The sudden cough that came at the right timing must have been from Master, though he couldn't see him. Both of them had been quite upset about giving him Jeong Seung-jo's address and number after his hospitalization. Though they knew they couldn't do anything about it now that they had given him the address, they seemed unable to help thinking they should have taken more time.

Kapros tried to smile as best he could, though awkwardly, to reassure them.

"I was just hospitalized longer for a regular checkup. There's no problem at all."

Perhaps somewhat reassured even by his awkward expression, Master's wife's face brightened a little.

[ Well... You don't have to come to work for a while until you're better. ]

"Please don't say that. I'm really fine."

[ -This kid. Rest when told to rest. A sick person is no help at all. ]

Master's voice chimed in from behind. Kapros had to spend several more minutes trying to convince the two stubborn people. Only after emphasizing several times that he wasn't in pain at all and wanted to come work did Master's wife finally relent.

[ Really... Your stubbornness hasn't changed since before. Do as you wish. But know that even if you come and say you're in pain, we won't let you leave early. ]

"Thank you."

[ ...But.... ]

"Yes?"

[ Mu-heon. Are you... going there again? ]

Though it was time to end the call, Master's wife hesitated before asking an unexpected question. By 'there' she meant...

'Jeong Seung-jo... huh.'

"I..."

Reflexively, the image of Seung-jo waiting with a cane in front of his house the day before yesterday came to mind, making his chest feel a bit tight.

'Come to think of it, how did he know my address to come here?'

He had been too exhausted yesterday to think about that part....

'Could it be?'

Kapros quickly raised his head and asked.

"Master's wife. Did you... call Jeong Seung-jo when I was hospitalized?"

Master's wife's expression changed slightly for a moment.

[ Did he come to see you? ]

So that was it...

"The day before yesterday, briefly... we met."

[ Actually... after you were hospitalized, I called him once more. You wouldn't tell us properly why you were hurt, but we've known you for years - how could we not know the reason? Then when he heard about your hospitalization, he asked for your contact information. ]

"What? He... asked first?"

Surprised by the unexpected words, Kapros unconsciously asked loudly. Master's wife nodded with a worried face.

[ Yes. Then he hung up right away, so I called you today... Though I'm glad nothing serious happened, Mu-heon. I don't think you need to force yourself to endure this if it's difficult for you. ]

For Jeong Seung-jo to ask Master and Master's wife for his contact information first.... Why? Just to return the cane? And to tell him not to try meeting anymore? Was that all?

While feeling his heart beating faster and faster amid the confusion, Kapros tried to speak calmly.

"No. Master's wife. You and Master said before that you would respect my thoughts. Then please trust me until the end. I... absolutely don't want to back down yet. I don't want to run away from this much. So I'll continue."

This was the answer to Master's wife's earlier question. This was just the beginning. Once he had decided to move forward, he had no intention of giving up here no matter who tried to stop him. Perhaps reading such firm determination from him, Master's wife's expression darkened further.

[ Mu-heon.... ]

"I'm sorry for making you worry. But I feel like if not now, I'll never have another chance. That's why."

[ ...When you say that, how can I stop you anymore. ]

At her answer tinged with resignation, Kapros finally felt relieved. His intentions had been properly conveyed.

"Then I'll see you the day after tomorrow."

[ Alright. Make sure to eat your meals and take your medicine. Are you still exercising too? What's with that face. Getting all scruffy.... Sigh. I'm hanging up now, so rest well. ]

"Yes."

The call ended with those words. Forgetting his intention to go to the kitchen, Kapros kept recalling just one part of his conversation with Master's wife.

'Jeong Seung-jo asked for my contact information first...'

Kapros knew Jeong Seung-jo as well as Seung-jo knew him. Seung-jo.... He wasn't someone who would try to meet, even by chance, if he really didn't want to associate. If he really wasn't interested, he wasn't someone who would care even a hair about returning something like a cane that could have been thrown away.

So, even if it was just to return the cane, perhaps it wasn't... completely hopeless. While trying his best to unravel his thoughts positively, Kapros clenched his fist tightly. Though the pain of his nails digging into his palm felt as sharp as the chest pain he had felt the day before yesterday.

But he couldn't back down here. Absolutely not.