* * *
“Just look at him. He can’t even sit up properly. Are you out of your mind? He’s someone who’s spent thirteen years in a hospital bed. I don’t care if he’s awakened—he hasn’t even fully recovered yet!”
“Ugh… I-I’m okay. It’s for… safety…”
“No, you’re not okay! You didn’t even get his consent before putting those on—that’s a clear violation of his human rights!”
“Mr. Lim Taehwan.”
“Wearing these for too long could even shorten his lifespan. Just take one off, Jehee.”
“The mandatory use of restraints was authorized in advance.”
Even with Taehwan practically yelling, Han Jihye remained completely unshaken.
Just like her first impression—calm, composed, icy.
She only said what was necessary, her expression unchanged.
She adjusted her watch and showed the screen to Taehwan.
It was too high up for me to see his expression, but his voice that followed was filled with disbelief.
“What…? It was authorized…?”
“Yes. And per protocol, I should’ve had hunters accompany me to force the restraints on. But as the assigned officer, I believed Jung Jehee would cooperate willingly, so I proposed a simplified procedure. You’re aware this is actually the lighter version of what could’ve been enforced.”
“Ah…”
Despite everything, being acknowledged by Han Jihye as someone she could “trust to cooperate” made me feel kind of… happy.
Even though I had no strength left, I chuckled weakly, like an idiot.
Taehwan shot me a sharp glare, clearly unhappy—but it couldn’t be helped.
Being trusted, in any form, didn’t seem like a bad thing to me.
And since Han Jihye works for the Hunter Management Bureau… she might even end up as a colleague someday.
I put in all the strength I had left to take Taehwan’s hand.
He pressed his lips together tightly.
His face was stormy, but he didn’t immediately argue back.
That must mean Han Jihye’s words weren’t wrong.
“I know Jung Jehee isn’t the kind of person to act recklessly. That’s exactly why no measures were taken until now. But the situation has changed—we can’t rely solely on character anymore.”
“……”
“I assume you remember Jung Jehee’s threatening behavior in the cafeteria. You were there. You’re an awakened individual yourself. Don’t you agree?”
“……”
“…Huh?”
Threatening behavior?
…Me?
It caught me completely off guard… but the moment she said it, I remembered how Taehwan suddenly pulled me out of the cafeteria.
And when I came to my senses, everyone on that floor had been eyeing me with open hostility.
They wouldn’t have reacted like that without a reason.
I must’ve done something to cause it.
But to think it was “threatening behavior”… that’s honestly a shock.
Do I have some hidden violent side in me…? E
ven if I was angry, I… And with awakened powers, threatening behavior is especially dangerous.
No wonder the Bureau’s being strict.
“……”
Taehwan stayed silent, lips pressed tightly.
But the atmosphere had gotten heavy.
He was still glaring daggers at Han Jihye, brimming with restrained fury.
Since all of this started because of me, I tried to muster the energy to mediate.
“Taehwan… I’m really okay. If… it’s not for too long, then… I can get through the tests quickly…”
I couldn’t even finish saying “then they can remove them.”
Just sitting still and talking was enough to leave me breathless.
My face felt like it was on fire.
“Jehee, stop talking. I get it. I’m not mad anymore.”
“Haa… okay…”
In the end, I only made him worry more.
He leaned down beside me and wiped my face.
That’s when I realized—I’d been sweating buckets.
Hoping he wouldn’t get even more worked up, I gripped his wrist.
My hands were trembling nonstop, but I didn’t let go.
Sometimes, charging in only makes things worse.
I didn’t want him to lose his calm—or himself—over worrying about me.
Maybe he picked up on what I was thinking.
He gently pulled his hand from mine and squeezed it instead.
He looked at me for a long moment, then exhaled quietly.
After a short silence, still holding my hand, Taehwan stood and turned back to Han Jihye.
“Jehee won’t act out again. I’ll make sure he stays in the hospital room, and no one else will come into contact with him. You can assign a monitor if you want. I won’t ask for all the restraints to be removed. But using two enhanced types is overkill. He just awakened—he’s not even in control of his power yet. One should be enough.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
I could feel just how much Taehwan was holding himself back for my sake.
I squeezed his large hand with what little strength I had and added my own voice.
After all, hearing it from the person involved would have more weight.
“I… I’m so exhausted… I… I’d like to ask for… haa… a favor too……”
Han Jihye, who had been silently watching me, finally gave a small nod.
“All right. I’ll ask if it’s possible to reduce the number of restraints to just one.”
Taehwan got what he wanted.
The restraints on my wrists were reduced to just one.
It wasn’t released right away—they ran some tests first.
Based on the medical team and expert opinions that I couldn’t fully access my powers in this state, they decided it was safe to ease the restriction.
Honestly, I was so relieved.
As soon as one restraint was removed, I finally felt like I could breathe again.
If they’d kept them on any longer, I might’ve had to keep pushing through like I was drowning underwater.
But even with the restraint loosened, there was no fixing the exhaustion already in my body.
After my first outing in over a decade, the many tests, and having the restraints on, there came a point when I just couldn’t fight off the overwhelming sleep.
“Jehee, is it okay if I hold you?”
“……”
“I’m worried you’ll fall out of the wheelchair like this.”
“Yeah… hold me…”
I couldn’t even sit properly in the wheelchair, drifting in and out of dreams.
Taehwan, unable to just watch, ended up scooping me into his arms.
I didn’t even have the strength to wrap my arms around his neck, so I just leaned my head on his broad shoulder and fell asleep like that.
“Mm…”
How much time had passed?
I woke up at dawn, under the pale glow of moonlight.
I was still in Taehwan’s arms, lying on the hospital room’s sofa.
One of his large hands was stroking my hair, and the other was gently touching my restrained wrist.
Aside from that little sound I made, I hadn’t moved at all, but Taehwan noticed I was awake right away.
“Sorry. Did I wake you?”
“No… I’m okay…”
I’ve owed a lot to this big body of his, so sleeping on him like this isn’t anything new.
Him stroking my hair, either.
It’s especially comforting with my eyes closed.
Even though I had been sleeping peacefully, the reason I woke up was probably…
“Water…”
“Hang on. I’ll get it.”
He moved right away.
After laying me down on the sofa, he brought me a cup of lukewarm water.
I tried to take the cup, but I didn’t have the strength in my hands, so I had to drink it while still cradled in his arms.
I wasn’t about to pass out like earlier, but my body was still weak.
The water helped clear my head a little.
Enough that I could talk, at least.
“…Sorry. You can’t even go home because of me.”
“Once you’re discharged and we live together, I’ll spend enough time at home then. If I go too often now, I’ll get sick of it. Better to keep a little distance for now.”
“…Pfft.”
He says the most ridiculous things with such a straight face.
How does someone get sick of home?
My heart had felt heavy, but Taehwan’s joke made me smile.
Seriously… he’s such a good friend.
“…What about work?”
“I crammed a lot before this, so I’m on leave for a while.”
“I see…”
Wasting another vacation because of me.
I feel bad… but in a situation like this, where an unawakened civilian can’t help me, the only option I had was Taehwan.
“Thanks. For always being here.”
“If you’re really thankful, quit moaning and get better fast.”
“Yeah. I mean… if I needed restraints, it must mean… I’m really strong, right…? I’ll recover.”
“……”
Taehwan, who’d been teasing just a moment ago, suddenly went silent.
The change in atmosphere felt strange, so I tried to see his face—but his large hand gently pulled my head toward his neck.
I couldn’t see his expression anymore.
“Jehee.”
“…Yeah?”
“When you get discharged… Do you want to study abroad with me? Anywhere is fine.”
* * *
