Bring It On! - Chapter 82

Chapter 82.

Was there no way to let Jay’s spirit possess Cha Yoon’s body? I found myself drifting into such absurd fantasies. That was how desperately I wanted to see Jay. I wasn’t asking for him to live inside Cha Yoon’s body forever. 

Just for a brief moment, so I could meet his eyes and exchange even a few words.

It weighed on me that we had been forced to part so suddenly, without even a proper goodbye. I wanted to tell him we made it off the island safely, I’m still a little scattered but I’m adjusting, and… that I miss him. Even if only a few words, I wanted that.

Flipping through the book in my hands, I finally admitted it was nothing but an empty fantasy and slid it back onto the shelf. 

If possession were really that easy and common, wouldn’t shamans be summoning Einstein or Leonardo da Vinci into their bodies, solving the world’s greatest problems with them by now?

I ended my short outing there and returned to the hospital.

“Suho.”

These days, Suho couldn’t breathe properly without an oxygen mask. It must have been uncomfortable, having to wear it constantly, but he never once complained. 

He was sitting on the bed, legs stretched out, watching a video of Jay on his tablet. The footage was from just before the rescue team reached him on the deserted island. A precarious scene that had already racked up over eight million views.

“Are you brushing your teeth, or just goofing off?”

“I was just about to.”

Suho gave a sheepish grin and hurriedly flipped the tablet over. I’d noticed it back when we were stranded. 

He had a sharp instinct for when he was about to get scolded. I squeezed toothpaste onto his blue toothbrush and handed it over.

“Go brush.”

“Okay.”

Though he answered obediently, he lingered on the edge of the bed, staring up at me with wide eyes. 

“Why?” I asked, busy unpacking the word books I’d bought. That’s when his small hand reached up to touch my scarf.

“Noona, are you cold?”

“No?”

“Then why are you always wearing a scarf?”

My hands, folding an empty shopping bag, froze in place.

“Isn’t it because you cut your hair short and feel cold now?”

Suho tugged the scarf downward with innocent curiosity, and I quickly jerked back. Underneath, my skin was covered in bite marks and bruises. 

Cha Yoon had mumbled something about how cutting my hair made my neckline show, then left these marks like he was deliberately staking his claim, ignoring my protests.

“Noona?”

“I have a sore throat, so I have to keep it on.”

“Want me to ask the nurse for a shot?”

“I’m already taking medicine. Now go brush your teeth.”

I all but pushed him into the bathroom before finally pressing my palm to my temple, damp with nervous sweat.

“Haa…”

Just how twisted was Cha Yoon, that he kept leaving these marks even when I told him not to? There was nothing in it for him. He just wanted to see me flustered.

I really ought to buy a turtleneck or two.

Even though I should be saving every penny right now, it looked like I’d be forced into pointless spending. 

With a sigh, I tightened the loose scarf around my neck. At least long-sleeved clothes were necessary this season. Thank goodness the weather was chilly. If I’d had to buy turtlenecks in the middle of summer, I might have died of sheer indignation.

That reminded me. When was Cha Yoon planning on giving back my bag? The luggage he’d snatched like a seizure the day he was discharged. He’d promised to return it after a nap, but there’d been no word since. Said he’d asked Park Jonghoo to move it, but where to?

For now, I was stuck wearing clothes borrowed from his house. I had no idea why he had clothes in my size lying around, but then again, in that huge house, maybe it wasn’t so strange.

Just then, a call came in from Cha Yoon.

“What a gentleman you are,” I muttered, still grumbling inwardly. 

His call was even less welcome than usual. Should I ignore it? After five seconds of hesitation, I picked up anyway. If I ignored him, who knew how much of a scene he’d make. The thought alone was exhausting.

“Yeah.”

— Don’t even call me ‘darling’ anymore?

“I figured you’d bring that up, so I decided not to say hello.”

— But you just did.

“Thirty-one years old, and still acting like a child.”

— And twenty-six, acting like an old man. Be home by eight tonight.

“I’ll come after Suho’s asleep.”

I glanced at the clock on the desk.

“I’ll be there between ten and eleven.”

Even after I gave him a time, there was only silence on the other end. Did the call drop? I tapped the darkened screen, but then I heard his low voice calling my name.

—Is it shamelessness, or just thoughtlessness?

“……”

—Let’s play twenty questions. I assigned four people to that kid and I don’t even remember his face. Why do you think I did that?

“I’m grateful for it. Thanks to you, Suho doesn’t have any inconvenience…”

—Did I ask for thanks? Don’t bother with anything else and just do your job.

His cutting words made irritation and displeasure boil up from deep inside me. But regardless of my feelings, everything Cha Yoon said was true. 

Because of the caregivers and Manager Park he hired with his money, Suho was receiving better care than when I was around. In return, I had agreed to take responsibility for Cha Yoon’s insomnia. Pretending like I was in control and dictating time really was shameless, just as he said. I knew that. Still…

“I’ll be there by ten.”

I chose to act selfish and shameless. To Cha Yoon, I was an irreplaceable presence. No matter how much he disliked me, he had no choice but to let me into his bedroom.

—Ha.

He let out a short, derisive laugh.

“If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

I hung up first. I expected the phone to ring again right away, but surprisingly, it stayed silent.

“Noona, was that hyung?!”

Maybe he heard me talking. Suho burst out of the bathroom and ran toward me. Startled, I rushed to catch him before he could trip.

“Lee Suho, I told you not to run.”

“Was that hyung just now? It was, right?! What did he say? Does he know about my surgery? Why didn’t you let me talk to him?!”

Suho tugged at my clothes, tilting his head up. His big eyes brimmed with disappointment. Quietly, I bit the inside of my lip. 

It felt as if someone had gripped my heart in their fist. It ached and tightened. Jay was gone. I couldn’t keep hiding that truth from Suho forever. But…

“He seemed really busy. It was hard enough to catch him for even that short call. Next time he calls, I’ll definitely let you talk to him.”

“Oh… really? Hyung must be super busy.”

Suho’s plump lips pouted, on the verge of crying. He was always the one to say “It’s okay,” trying to ease my worries, but now he couldn’t hide his hurt. 

Under his breath, he muttered, “I’m having surgery…”

I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and guided him back to the sofa.

“After the surgery’s over, want to go outside?”

His drooping eyes blinked rapidly.

“Outside the hospital?”

“Yeah. If the doctor says it’s okay, we’ll go out, eat something delicious, and play games.”

“Really? Really?! Noona, you promised me!”

Suho bounced with excitement, his mood lifting quickly. I felt relieved, yet guilt weighed heavier. It was like I was exploiting his innocence.

He immediately grabbed his tablet, pressed the mic button, and said “amusement park.” Videos related to amusement parks flooded the screen. I gently stroked his dark hair over and over.

***

My steps toward Cha Yoon’s room felt heavy.

I kept thinking about how I had hung up on him earlier today. We had already fought about communication just yesterday.

Why had I acted so rashly, knowing full well what his personality was like? I’d decided not to move according to his commands, but I couldn’t help worrying about how he’d react. Pressing my aching temples, I stopped in front of his door.

“What’s the point of opening the door when you’re going straight to wash?”

His sharp words from before suddenly echoed in my head. Fine, I’ll wash first. Whether I went to his room now or later, the torment would be the same. At least I could calm myself down while washing.

I grabbed some clothes from the dressing room and headed to the bathroom. But when I got there, I froze in shock.

“What the…?!”

The bathroom was wrecked. The door, the bathtub, the sink, the showerhead. Everything had been ripped out, exposing gray cement like innards.

This morning it had been perfectly fine. How could it end up like this in just half a day? Staring dumbfounded, I finally gave up and opened Cha Yoon’s door. 

I flung it open loudly, but he didn’t even flinch. He turned around with his usual unbothered composure.

“10:04. You’re late.”

His dry voice spilled out. I tossed my change of clothes onto the bed and stepped right up to him. Leaning crookedly, he looked down at me from an angle.

“I’m not late. I was home by ten. I was going to wash first, but…”

“But?”

“Wh-what’s with the bathroom?”

“Oh.”

Even at my startled voice, he acted unconcerned, lounging against the window. His long arm reached out, pulled me by the waist, and dragged me close. I was still in a daze and let myself be pulled helplessly.

“Renovation.”

“Renovation? It was fine this morning. Why suddenly today?”

“The landlord wanted it. Is there a reason needed?”

“…Don’t tell me this is because I hung up on you earlier?”

He stared at me blankly for a moment, then suddenly chuckled as if it were absurd.

“What?”

“You’re just taking it out on me, keeping me from even washing!”

“You’re ridiculous.”

He cracked his neck to the side, muttering. But I kept glaring at him. There was no reason to gut a bathroom in half a day unless it was because of the phone call.

“Why say you can’t wash?”

With a jerk of his chin, he pointed somewhere. Reluctantly, I turned to look. It was his bathroom.

“From now on, come straight here. Don’t go wandering off under the pretense of washing.”

“…When will the renovation be done?”

“Who knows.”