# Chapter 148
“You’re being discharged already?”
“Yeah.”
Kim Junwoo, who had returned from his overseas trip with a deeply tanned body, handed me some souvenirs. What I received was a herring-flavored snack, which he said he picked because it reminded him of me.
“Wow, what is all this?”
Oh Seulbi, unable to hide her astonishment, examined the items one by one with an ambiguous expression.
“Coriander-flavored salt, tuna oil… and what’s this, curry ketchup? Hey, are you turning into Yoon Taeho? You’ve brought nothing but unusual things.”
“What’s wrong with you!? These are precious items! I brought them all for you guys to use… If you don’t want them, give them back.”
“Ah, who said I didn’t like them? I was about to say thank you.”
Oh Seulbi stopped Kim Junwoo as he was about to put everything back in his bag, flashed a smile, and gathered the condiments one by one. While I was enjoying watching Kim Yuna’s excited eyes as she examined the items with interest, my phone rang.
[I’m coming with Uncle. We’ll arrive soon.]
After checking the message from Moon Seoheon, I turned my gaze to the kids sitting in front of me. I wondered if I should send away these kids who had come as a surprise on my last day in the hospital.
They might be surprised to see Teacher Jaewon and Moon Seoheon entering together. But I couldn’t turn away someone coming to give me a ride to Bundang, so I was in a dilemma.
Sensing my troubled gaze, Oh Seulbi soon expressed her curiosity.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“No, nothing. Just give me a moment to send a message.”
As I picked up my phone, trying to divert their attention, they soon began chatting among themselves, thinking it was nothing important.
[There are club members at the hospital now. I’ll send them away soon, so come a bit later.]
Just in case, I sent the message, and Moon Seoheon replied immediately.
[It’s fine, just leave them be. Uncle says it’s okay too.]
“Huh?”
Weren’t they supposed to hide the fact that they were cousins? In my bewilderment, a short exclamation burst out, and the three pairs of eyes turned to me simultaneously.
“What’s going on? Is there really a problem?”
“Are you perhaps staying longer in the hospital?”
“No, no. I am being discharged today. My treatment is all finished. I’ll be taking supplementary classes at home starting tomorrow.”
Seeing their worried expressions, I spoke as if to reassure them, and their expressions soon softened.
With the summer break coming to an end soon, there was a lot to prepare. I had missed all the supplementary classes, and since I needed to achieve good grades in the exams held in the latter half of the year, it was going to be quite a busy schedule. For example, a tutor would visit during the remaining period to help me catch up on the curriculum I had missed.
My parents willingly agreed, seemingly trusting the person Kwak Junhee had introduced.
On the day when I switched bodies again with Yoon Taeho and exchanged hearts with Moon Seoheon, I expressed to my parents that I wanted to continue attending the school rather than transfer. Both of them were surprised but decided to respect my decision. They said they would support me, and that was already three days ago. Luck was on my side as the hospital also announced my discharge.
After that, unlike Moon Seoheon who visited every day after school, The Four only contacted me asking if I was okay, which bothered me a little, but I decided to put off seeing them since we would meet eventually anyway.
Moreover, I was curious about what had happened to Yoo Wono, who had become involved in the situation somewhat because of me, so I asked about him, but I only received the vague answer that he was the same as usual. I couldn’t ask any further… well, knowing him, he might really be enjoying the present as he pleases, just like always.
I gave up thinking there was no need for me to inquire further.
Above all, what I needed to focus on now was what would happen after the summer break. Even though it didn’t seem to present any major difficulties compared to before, I was a bit worried about the exams and my relationships with The Four, whom I would frequently encounter from now on.
I felt somewhat complex when I remembered Kwak Junhee’s voice asking about my wellbeing over the phone, as if he had heard about my discharge date. I had no way to repay him for the help he was giving, such as finding a tutor for me.
I looked out the window to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.
The rain, which had been pouring as if to drown the entire world, had finally stopped at dawn, and since early morning, there wasn’t a cloud in sight, revealing bright, sunny weather.
While looking at the afternoon sunlight breaking into golden fragments as it crossed through the window, I placed my hand on the windowsill.
The statement that they would arrive soon was true; through the window, I saw Moon Seoheon walking with Teacher Jaewon.
Unlike the surrounding landscape, which had been submerged and turned into a wasteland, they looked quite peaceful walking in the warm sunshine. I had the illusion that wherever they left their traces along the path, the black landscape was filled with colorful watercolors.
It seems the more I recognize my feelings of liking him, the more deeply infatuated I become.
But since it wasn’t a bad feeling, I let out a smile and opened the window. Somehow knowing that I was watching, he raised his head and immediately waved when our eyes met.
I waved back conspicuously, and Moon Seoheon grinned. Even though it was an expression I had been seeing often lately, the clearly conveyed emotion felt so warm and unique.
After confirming that the two had entered the building, I turned my body and sat on the bed. I had already packed everything, so all that remained was to catch a ride home.
“Kim Junwoo, aren’t you getting any extra education? You missed supplementary classes too.”
“I’m not going to university anyway, I just need to do okay on the exams. I don’t really care about grades anymore.”
Oh Seulbi, who had been jutting out her lips in surprise, soon twisted them and said:
“Anyway, it must be nice to be a gold spoon. I’m studying for certifications to get extra points now. After the break ends, it’ll be hell again, and next year I’ll have to hunker down and just study… Days of just sleeping in the dormitory and going back and forth between the classroom and library. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up.”
“Ah, why are you picking on me again? Did I say I’m just playing around?”
When Kim Junwoo shouted with a frown, Oh Seulbi, realizing her joke had gone too far, quickly apologized.
“Well, sorry. I said it because I’m envious.”
Though it wasn’t a serious attitude, Kim Junwoo seemed to accept it and let it go. But judging by his small grumbling, it was right to say he had given up.
“What certification are you studying for? Are you trying to get a nutritionist certificate?”
At Kim Yuna’s curious question, Oh Seulbi comfortably leaned back on the sofa and waved her hand dismissively.
“No. I’m planning to get that when I go to university. What I’m studying now is for a food technician certification, but I’m thinking of getting a food processing technician certificate too since it’s supposedly easier to obtain. Anyway, the more certificates, the higher the score.”
I thought the names were so similar, what’s the difference, but I quietly listened to Oh Seulbi’s serious expression. Then the arrow turned to me.
“Taeho, you’re lucky. You already have a Korean cuisine technician certificate.”
At the sudden topic, I could only open my eyes wide without answering. After silently receiving the envious gaze directed at me, I just smiled awkwardly since it had become difficult to respond.
I agreed that it was a good certificate, but it was completely useless to me, though maybe not to the real Yoon Taeho. With my inability to cook, having it would be like a shiny but worthless apple.
“Are you going to take over your father’s restaurant right after graduation, senior? It’s a famous restaurant that’s even been on TV, right?”
“Um… no. I’m planning to go to university.”
All three jumped up in surprise, as if they hadn’t expected this at all. Is this really such a surprising thing?
Honestly, when I had thought about returning the body to Yoon Taeho, I hadn’t seriously considered this, so it might be surprising from others’ perspectives. After all, the original Yoon Taeho’s cooking was probably greatly influenced by his father.
But as someone now living here in his place, I wanted to do what I was good at. Thinking about it, I still wasn’t sure what I should do, but for now, I wanted to go to university.
I hadn’t even properly attended high school, having dropped out, let alone experienced university life, so I wanted to try living that experience.
“I didn’t know you were thinking about university.”
“I’ve never been there, so I was curious.”
“…Of course you’ve never been there.”
“Ah, well, that’s right.”
I was wiping away the cold sweat from the strange looks they were giving me when the hospital room door opened, and Teacher Jaewon and Moon Seoheon entered.
“Oh? Teacher, what brings you here? …And…”
Surprised by the sudden visitors, the three looked back and forth between them. Then, as Moon Seoheon passed by, ignoring everyone except me as if they didn’t exist, they similarly ignored him and approached the teacher.
“I heard Taeho is being discharged today, so I came to give him a ride.”
“Ah, then we’ll help with the luggage too.”
Watching the kids naturally follow the teacher to help with the luggage, I let out a laugh. All my worries about how to introduce them without causing surprise seemed pointless, as everyone just did their own thing.
Well, since they know I’m friends with Moon Seoheon, they probably won’t find it strange that he visited. But I wonder if they would be shocked if they learned about the relationship between Moon Seoheon and me?
It was hard to tell if Teacher Jaewon knew everything or if his expression was no different from usual. Still, since he wasn’t opposed to the relationship between Moon Seoheon and me the last time, there probably wasn’t much to worry about.
“Is that all you need to take?”
“Yeah.”
My luggage consisted of just one suitcase and three shopping bags, including the gifts from Kim Junwoo. Since they each carried one, Teacher Jaewon and I ended up with empty hands.
Following Moon Seoheon, who was dragging the suitcase, we went outside the hospital, and I finally realized that my body had recovered. Of course, there were still precautions to take, such as avoiding vigorous movement, but anywhere other than the hospital was fine.
