* * *
Did I hear that right?
He built this house so we could live together?
But now that he’s said it, I’m seeing everything differently.
The wide hallways and doors are wide enough for a wheelchair.
There were no thresholds or steps that could block wheels, and even the bathroom had a gentle slope leading in.
There were handrails installed along the walls, and near each one, there were braille labels so I could know where I was.
Everything showed clear signs of thoughtful planning to help someone check their surroundings by touch.
Did he really… build this house for me?
I stared blankly at Taehwan’s face.
He grinned and led me to a room.
On the door was a metal plate with braille engraved into it.
I reached out and gently touched it.
It said: Jung Jehee’s Room.
“I told you, didn’t I? That it’d be better if you stayed at my place.”
“……”
“I didn’t say this before, but… I’ve been preparing for a long time. It’s better than the hospital, right? Since I’m an awakened one, the miasma doesn’t affect me. I figured we could live together, and hire a couple of caregivers for emergencies.”
“……”
“But no matter how many times I requested it, I couldn’t get approval. My dad’s really stubborn about this kind of thing. He kept saying absolutely not. But now that you’re finally here… I’m relieved. This house finally found its owner.”
“……”
The more he spoke, the tighter my chest felt. I didn’t know what to say.
Now that I thought about it, I vaguely remember him saying—right after becoming an adult—that he was going to design and build his own place.
I also remember how irritable he got during construction.
He always had somewhere to be, was extra picky about materials and contractors, and had to supervise every little thing.
He got so busy, he was a bit more distant with me during that time.
Back then, I was quietly upset about it, wondering why he was taking so long and saying it would’ve been easier to just buy a finished house.
Then at some point, he stopped mentioning it, and I completely forgot.
But this is the result.
He might not have achieved everything he dreamed of, but he must’ve put in even more effort than I can see now.
And all of it… was for me.
It was just like Taehwan—to want to share the first home he built as an adult with me.
I was grateful, deeply so… but also a little guilty.
While he was preparing all this, hoping I’d be discharged and live comfortably, I was still thinking about dying early.
A simple “thank you” or “I’m sorry” couldn’t begin to express everything I was feeling.
I had a feeling that if I tried to say anything, it would all just come pouring out.
So instead, I just pressed my lips together tightly.
Then Taehwan opened the door to the room.
“Come on, take a look around your room.
Honestly, I decorated this a while back… but I only just bought the bed.
I waited until it was confirmed you’d be coming.”
As he spoke, he gently lowered me onto the bed.
It wasn’t so massive that I could roll around all night without falling off—like he’d once joked—but it was still roomy enough that the two of us could probably sleep on it together.
The mattress and bedding were all soft and fresh.
To be honest, even the hospital’s VIP room bed had felt more luxurious than what I used to have at home—but this was clearly better than both.
The sheets smelled clean and freshly washed.
I found myself hugging the pillow without thinking.
“You like it?”
“Yeah…”
There was no way I couldn’t.
Beyond the bed, there were so many thoughtful details.
A high cabinet and sink like in the hospital.
Windows positioned at the right height for someone in a wheelchair.
Even though this was a room meant for someone with a visual impairment, it had been decorated with extra care.
Everything was arranged so I wouldn’t hurt myself even if I bumped into something.
The more I looked around, the more my heart ached.
After so long in the hospital, I thought there wouldn’t be a single place in the world that belonged to me once I left.
But I was wrong.
This space already existed—carefully thought out and prepared just for me.
That alone was such a relief.
“I really love it. Thank you.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.”
Even though my thanks were too small for the amount of love he’d shown me, Taehwan seemed content, smiling so brightly that I felt a little happier just looking at him.
“My room’s right across the hall. I want to show you, but… it’s a mess since I haven’t been home in a while. I’ll tidy up and show you later. For now, want to take a nap? You woke up early.”
“Yeah. I’m not sleepy yet, but I want to stay here.”
“Sounds good. Let’s change your clothes first. I’ll bring your wheelchair out while you rest.”
We’d left the hospital in a hurry, so I hadn’t brought much.
But this guy—he’d already stocked my room with clothes.
Not just pajamas, but casual outfits and even formal wear neatly filling a large wardrobe.
At that point, I couldn’t help but let out a short laugh.
What would he have done if I’d insisted on going back to my parents’ house instead of coming here…?
“Oh, right. I need to let my mom know I’m here.”
“I’ll contact her separately. I already texted her not to worry since you’re with me in a safe place. I also told the caregiver not to come.”
“Mm, thank you.”
“Alright then, Jung Jehee. Raise your arms.”
He’d said he wasn’t sleepy, but once he changed into comfortable clothes and sprawled on a soft, fragrant bed, his eyes began to close on their own.
Talks of being chased, journalists, S-rank…
After being on edge due to all the sudden chaos, it seemed only natural that his body finally relaxed upon entering this safe space.
His eyes blinked slowly.
Even in the middle of this chase, was it really okay to fall asleep?
‘Well… Taehwan did tell me to sleep, after all…’
Hugging a huge pillow, he blankly stared out the window overlooking a lush green garden, then eventually shut his eyes.
He didn’t think he was that tired, but once he fell asleep, waking up proved surprisingly difficult.
It was his first time in this house, yet he slept like he owned the place…
Maybe it was because it was Taehwan’s house—his scent lingered everywhere, making the place feel familiar rather than strange.
Even the fabric softener scent on the blanket resembled Taehwan’s usual fragrance.
“…Heeya… eat… uhh…”
He thought he vaguely heard Taehwan’s voice trying to wake him, but he’d been sleeping so soundly that he couldn’t open his eyes.
All he did was grab the hand stroking his head.
As he held on tightly and rubbed against the warmth, Taehwan seemed to give up and stopped trying to wake him.
Instead, he simply held Jehee’s hand in return and gently stroked his cheek and hair.
“…Sleep well.”
Thanks to that warm whisper, Jehee slipped back into deep slumber.
…How long had he slept?
—Boom!
A tremendous sound shook the ground, jolting his eyes open.
“Uh…”
The sun was already low, painting the room with hues of crimson dusk.
—Thud, boom! Thud!
The room looked the same as when he’d fallen asleep, aside from the curtains being half-drawn to block the sunlight.
But something was definitely off.
The house was shaking.
Heavy thuds echoed repeatedly.
Something was clearly happening outside the room.
‘There are a lot of potential issues, but the biggest danger is the possibility of being attacked by unregistered Awakeners. It’s safer to be under the Bureau’s protection than out in the open…’
Han Jihye’s warning during his call with Taehwan in the garage suddenly resurfaced.
The possibility that unregistered Awakeners might come after him.
‘Some might try to kidnap you before the Bureau officially takes you under its wing and smuggle you out of the country or do something worse…’
Then Taehwan’s response to that warning also came to mind.
If unregistered Awakeners really had believed the nonsense about the “miracle child” being an S-rank and were here to abduct him…
“……”
It was like ice water had been dumped over him.
His whole body turned cold.
He barely managed to swallow a dry gulp.
He’d been so thrilled about having his own room that he’d completely forgotten the gravity of his situation.
Thinking back, the risk had been obvious.
For someone who boasted about this place being safer than the Bureau, Taehwan had brought him to a house with big windows, easily visible from beyond the walls.
Maybe it was just his ignorance, but there didn’t seem to be many security measures either—not exactly the picture of a fortified safehouse.
He didn’t know what Taehwan and the uncle had been thinking, deciding this place was secure… but maybe sleeping so soundly had been a luxury he couldn’t afford.
‘If something happens to Taehwan because of me…’
A sharp, frozen stab pierced his chest—it was cold and unbearable.
Taehwan had been there for over ten years, closer than even family, watching over him.
The one who’d made a space just for him, who waited patiently.
If something happened to that person because of him…
Scenes from superhero movies he’d watched countless times flashed through his mind—the protagonist, having just awakened their powers, losing a father or a mentor and collapsing in despair.
Of course, he wasn’t protagonist material, and the S-rank stuff was all just a misunderstanding, but still—this situation was way too similar.
“No…”
His heart, which had frozen like death, now began to race furiously.
* * *
