Yeonrok’s diagnosis was a cold with body aches and symptoms of insufficient contact with his Name Partner.
In a dazed state, he underwent various tests for several hours at a hospital specializing in Name Manifestors. Surprisingly, it seemed Moon Gyeonwoo had stayed by his side throughout all the procedures at the hospital. Every time he occasionally came to his senses, Moon Gyeonwoo was there beside him. He would either discuss the patient’s physical condition with the doctors mixing in difficult-to-understand medical terms, or glance at Yeonrok with an expression that gave no clue what he was thinking.
‘Ugh, I don’t want this…’
Even with his consciousness hazy, Yeonrok groaned, embarrassed at feeling indebted to someone he disliked. Each time he woke from sleep, he seemed to see Kim Jeongseong with a face full of worry, and he also seemed to see Yeom Cheonho, who had barely made time to come, apologizing for being neglectful, but Yeonrok’s best was mumbling unconscious replies.
‘Why is the President apologizing?’
Yeom Cheonho, while suffering under a heavy workload, was the person who paid the most attention to Yeonrok and had the most contact with him. If even he hadn’t taken care of him, wouldn’t he have collapsed long ago…? And Ms. Park must have been very startled. I stopped in the middle of eating, what a waste. Having such disorganized thoughts, Yeonrok fell asleep again.
After receiving IV fluids and fever reducers at the hospital for half a day like that, he was in a condition fit for discharge. Still feverish and dazed, Yeonrok returned home with the support of bodyguards and fell asleep again as if collapsing.
How long had he slept like that? Something felt strange. It had been soft and warm until just now, but suddenly his chest felt bare.
“Mm, cold…”
Muttering as he opened his eyes, Yeonrok made eye contact with Moon Gyeonwoo and screamed. Moon Gyeonwoo had removed his pajama top and was examining his chest very intently. At Yeonrok’s scream, Moon Gyeonwoo also seemed startled and jumped silently. Soon he fixed his expression as if nothing had happened and spoke nonchalantly.
“Why are you screaming?”
“You were undressing me! You pervert!”
“You should speak correctly. I was just observing your Name.”
How can he be so shameless! Yeonrok’s eyes widened as he hurriedly fastened his pajamas. Strangely, Moon Gyeonwoo seemed to look somewhat regretfully at the ‘name’ disappearing between the clothes. Groaning, Yeonrok barely sat up, drank a glass of water, and protested in a hoarse voice.
“And why are you dropping honorifics…”
“Don’t you remember? You cursed at me first and dropped honorifics at the hospital.”
I cursed at Moon Gyeonwoo? Flinching, Yeonrok avoided his gaze and buried his face in the pillow, pretending to still be sleepy.
“I don’t know, I don’t remember. I wasn’t in my right mind…”
“You say you don’t remember, but you’re dropping honorifics well.”
Though Moon Gyeonwoo spoke annoyingly, Yeonrok pretended not to hear and looked around. When he opened the cover on the tray on the nightstand, there was samgyetang porridge. Hungry, Yeonrok began eating with a pleased heart when Moon Gyeonwoo rustled and pulled something out to hand over.
“Take your medicine too.”
Even while glaring at him, Yeonrok obediently complied. He was very slightly a little bit grateful that he’d stayed attached to him continuously from the hospital until now. After swallowing the medicine, Yeonrok gave him looks while glancing to hint when he would leave. Whether the person who looked sharp-witted really didn’t understand the meaning of those glances or was ignoring them. He was just looking at his tablet with his arms crossed, so Yeonrok had no choice but to ask.
“Aren’t you going to work?”
“Name Manifestors can take paid sick leave due to insufficient contact with their Name Partner.”
Then Moon Gyeonwoo pulled out a thermometer and suddenly tried to stick it in Yeonrok’s ear. When Yeonrok, who didn’t like it at all, resisted this way and that, he firmly grabbed and held his ear. Yeonrok, whose ear was suddenly pinched, screamed.
“It hurts!”
“Don’t act like a child.”
Beep. When measured, his temperature was 38.1°C. Moon Gyeonwoo raised an eyebrow and scribbled something on his tablet. Rubbing his stinging ear while glaring at Moon Gyeonwoo, Yeonrok asked.
“Did you by any chance come to my room last night?”
“What would I be doing there?”
Looking at his curt tone and gaze, it definitely didn’t seem like he was the one who’d tried to open the bathroom door. Then who on earth was it? Making groaning sounds, Yeonrok staggered to the bathroom. Even by the time he barely squeezed out the strength to wash up and return, Moon Gyeonwoo was still keeping his position. Finally, Yeonrok issued an eviction order.
“Leave now…”
Without even responding, Moon Gyeonwoo just tapped on his tablet. Since his body wasn’t well and the person he got along with worst was in the same space, Yeonrok, who was irritated, groaned loudly for him to hear as he pulled the blanket. It was when he pulled it up to his eyes and tried to sleep.
Knock knock, a knocking sound was heard. Before he could say to come in, the door burst open and Choi Hwan appeared with an awkward face. Moon Gyeonwoo welcomed him with a bright face.
“Hwan. What brings you here?”
I see. So that’s why Moon Gyeonwoo was acting like this. Only now did Yeonrok realize that Moon Gyeonwoo was taking care of him on behalf of his wrongdoing lover.
“No, well…”
He seemed to know his guilt as he kept glancing at Yeonrok. He was a bit less shameless than usual and his movements were also sluggish. Seeing the pretty face that had abandoned him at the club, Yeonrok suddenly felt his fever rising more, so this time he pulled the blanket over his head.
“You’re busy with work, so rest when you have time.”
Unlike when dealing with Yeonrok earlier, Moon Gyeonwoo’s voice was endlessly affectionate and gentle. Not wanting to hear it, Yeonrok covered his ears from inside the blanket, but the conversation sounds were still clearly audible.
“I finished all of today’s filming before coming. I’m fine for about three or four days.”
“Really? Wasn’t filming hard?”
After flirting with his lover for a while, Choi Hwan cleared his throat. Then he poked Yeonrok, who was lying in the blanket without moving.
“Hey.”
“…”
“Hey hey. I bought fruit.”
Yeonrok just grumbled without responding. As Choi Hwan loitered and kept poking the blanket, Moon Gyeonwoo couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled off the blanket. When furious Yeonrok glared at Choi Hwan, the other couldn’t meet his eyes and turned his head.
“What.”
“No, I said I bought fruit…”
“You eat it to your heart’s content.”
Yeonrok pulled the blanket hard, but Moon Gyeonwoo wouldn’t let go. Yeonrok felt a bit miserable. Why don’t I have a lover and my Name Partner is worse than not having one… Whether thanks to Moon Gyeonwoo or from embarrassment, Choi Hwan swaggered and plopped down the fruit basket, spouting this:
“Shouldn’t you listen a bit when someone talks to you?”
“This is really funny.”
Yeonrok snorted. Maybe if it were Yeom Cheonho, but these two people had no right to say such things to him. How much had he been ignored by them when he’d just entered this house not long ago?
“No, that day, I was a bit drunk and forgot about you.”
“…”
“I thought you’d go back fine on your own.”
“…”
“…I’m really sorry, okay? Are you listening? I said I’m sorry.”
As Choi Hwan kept making apologies that weren’t even apologies and being bothersome, and it was also tiring to tussle with Moon Gyeonwoo who was resolutely holding the blanket, Yeonrok shouted.
“Ah! Enough, so get out! Let a person rest!”
Uncharacteristically, Choi Hwan flinched and looked at Yeonrok’s mood with a deflated face. Then, as if he’d mistreated his lover a bit, Moon Gyeonwoo frowned and interfered.
“When someone is apologizing like this, you should accept it a bit instead of yelling.”
“Hyung… I’m fine.”
“Anyway, Hwan, you’re so kind.”
Hwan is kind? Kind? All the kind people must have died and left! Feeling very miserable and extremely angry, Yeonrok started throwing the pillows and cushions from the bed at the two people.
“Fuck… Get lost! You all get lost! Leave! I’m going to be alone!”
“Ah! Why are you suddenly like this?!”
Choi Hwan was startled and dodged the flying pillows and cushions. Moon Gyeonwoo, who was closest, couldn’t even dodge while protecting his tablet and got hit smack on the head with a cushion, then glared in a bad mood. Regardless, fuming Yeonrok looked around and when he looked at the fruit basket, Choi Hwan quickly moved the fruit basket away. It seemed he didn’t want to get hit with fruit.
“You’re sick, so why do you want to be alone?”
Grumbling, Choi Hwan picked up the pillow and pretended to put it back in its place, then suddenly heavily pinned Yeonrok down. Caught off guard and also lacking energy, Yeonrok was pinned down without even making a sound and rolled up like kimbap in the blanket. It was absurd. After a grunt, Choi Hwan half-shoved Yeonrok into his arms. Extremely displeased, Yeonrok struggled. However, there was already a strength difference normally, and in his current poor condition, it was impossible.
“Do you really have to care for him like that?”
Very displeased that his lover was hugging another person, Moon Gyeonwoo asked in a voice full of complaint. Choi Hwan stuck his hand into the blanket, groped the very angry Yeonrok, then roughly grabbed his arm which was easy to hold while saying.
“It’s bothersome for me too, but anyway, it is partly my fault. I have to take responsibility.”
“That’s why I said I’d take care of him instead.”
“Hey, how could I leave only you to have a hard time?”
