Correction Chapter 123

“Yes, I’ll look into it and get back to you then.”

“Yes, thank you. Have a good day.”

Jungmin ended the call and placed his phone on the table. After watching the people coming and going on the street beyond the plate-glass window, he soon focused back on his laptop.

A month had already passed since his body recovered and he met Yoo Shinwoo at the detention center. He was busier than ever, taking care of all the things he had put off until now.

It was a series of bitter, sad, and sometimes infuriating days as he realized just how much of himself he had thrown away, crazy with love and a person, but he was enduring it well.

The one silver lining, perhaps, was that his lingering feelings for Yoo Shinwoo had completely disappeared. No, it was more than just disappeared. The person who used to pop into his thoughts all day to a sickening degree was now, as if by a lie, perceived as something less than an insect. He was a truly amazing person, in a way, to make him sever the feelings he had held onto so tenaciously in a single stroke.

“Ah.”

Not long after he put his phone down, it vibrated. As soon as he started to look after himself again, people around him began seeking him out as if they had been waiting. It was something to be thankful for. A moment ago, the call had been from a real estate office, and now, it was from his eldest sister-in-law.

“Yes, sister-in-law. Hello.”

─Brother-in-law~ Have you been well?

She was still as affectionate and warm as ever. A reliable supporter and helper who had trusted and waited for him after he had so irresponsibly left the hospital.

Although his eldest brother was doing a good job as a director, Jungmin actually thought that the synergy was even greater because he had a sister-in-law like her by his side. Of course, he would never be able to tell the two of them that.

“We just saw each other at my parents’ house the day before yesterday.”

─That’s true, but… I was so happy that day when you said you wanted to come back…

The day before yesterday, as soon as he was diagnosed at the hospital that his hand tremors had completely disappeared, Jungmin went to his parents’ house and told them he planned to return to his original position. Naturally, his family was delighted.

In particular, his eldest sister-in-law, the hospital director, told Jungmin to come back to her hospital as if she had been waiting. She even gratefully told him that his position would always be ready for him if he just came back, but Jungmin said he needed a little more time to think, as he felt he would be a burden to the hospital after being away for several years.

─Have you thought about it?

That was why she had waited two days like this and then called. It must have been an immense test of patience for her.

“Yes, since I don’t plan on opening my own practice anyway, I’ll have to go wherever I’m called.”

─Really?!

“Yes, but… as you know, sister-in-law, I’ve been on a break for a while. My hands and my head have probably gotten rusty, so I don’t think I can return right away. Would it be alright if I came back after gaining a little more experience?”

Jungmin was looking at his laptop monitor. He was in the middle of filling out an application form.

─Of course. Absolutely.

“Yes, I have some things I’d like to consult with you about anyway, so I’ll come see you soon.”

─Yes, I’ll be waiting.

After the phone call with his sister-in-law ended, Jungmin saw a man who had, at some point, come and sat down across from him. Even though Jungmin hadn’t said a word, the man had on his own accord brought drinks and snacks to Jungmin’s taste and had waited without making the slightest sound until Jungmin finished his call. He really had improved a lot. Is this the fun of taming someone? It would have been absolutely unimaginable with the Kim Joohwan of the past.

“I know I’m handsome. Stop staring.”

Nope, he’s still the same.

“What about work?”

4 p.m. It was an early time for a company’s CEO to be leaving work.

“I finished and came over. Don’t worry.”

“Alright.”

As Jungmin focused on his laptop again, Kim Joohwan slyly pushed forward what he had bought. As if asking for praise. Jungmin grabbed the drink and gave a short thanks. Then Kim Joohwan, as if hiding his delight, let out a couple of dry coughs and looked at Jungmin.

“What are you writing so diligently?”

“I’m doing the thing you told me about.”

Jungmin turned the monitor to show Kim Joohwan. Seeming unable to see it properly due to the reflection of the sunlight, Kim Joohwan pulled his chair closer to Jungmin. At a distance where their shoulders were almost touching, he looked at the monitor and nodded.

Displayed on the monitor was a “Kenya Volunteer Application Form.” To be precise, it was a medical volunteer application form.

Jungmin had been contemplating how he should start his return to work. He had lost a lot of confidence, so returning immediately felt daunting, and the thought of being able to treat patients well made him suddenly afraid. As if sensing Jungmin’s complicated feelings, Kim Joohwan had told him that a company sponsored by Karl Front was looking for medical staff to volunteer.

Jungmin thought about it for a few days. He had never gone to volunteer before. He had always wanted to go at some point, but he had kept putting it off, thinking it would be better to go when he had more leisure and had matured more as a doctor.

However, after seeing the poor conditions of a village in Kenya, and above all, the persecution against manifested individuals—especially the severity of sexually transmitted diseases among Omegas—he felt that he had to help them.

Becoming a manifestation specialist is difficult even in developed countries due to the strict conditions and screening process, so it would probably be even more so in that country. Once he thought that, his heart felt more at ease, and he felt he should go quickly, so he had been carefully looking into various things and was now writing the final application.

“So you’ve decided to go.”

“Yeah, I’m going to go and learn. The medical staff going with me are all famous people, so I think it will be a great learning experience.”

“Yes, it will definitely be a great driving force for you, sunbae.”

Kim Joohwan was speaking as if in support, but his voice seemed somewhat subdued.

“What’s wrong?”

At Jungmin’s question, Kim Joohwan’s eyes wavered for a brief moment. He seemed flustered, as if his inner thoughts had been exposed.

“Have I only known you for a day or two? You seem to be unhappy about something.”

“…Haa.”

Kim Joohwan ran a hand through his hair. He had a look of bewilderment. He’s handsome even then, seriously. Jungmin could feel the gazes in the vicinity momentarily fix on Kim Joohwan. A few of them seemed to have realized who he was and took pictures, but the man himself didn’t seem to care at all.

“I wanted to send you off like a grown-up…”

“What are you talking about?”

“I thought you seemed to have an older guy fetish, so I thought I had to work hard to satisfy that.”

Jungmin was dumbfounded by Kim Joohwan’s sudden remark.

“But I don’t think I can. I’m a lost cause.”

“It’s not like you’ve only been a lost cause for a day or two…”

“Ah, saying it like that hurts my feelings.”

“So, what is it that you’re so unhappy about now.”

Jungmin leaned his body forward slightly and looked up at Kim Joohwan as he asked.

“Don’t look at me like that. It makes me want to kiss you right here.”

No matter what, that’s not it. Jungmin quickly sat up straight.

“Did you see the date on this?”

Kim Joohwan tapped the monitor.

“The volunteer period? Of course I saw it. It was 3 months, right? Am I mistaken?”

“No. You know it all too well. 3 months.”

“Right, 3 months.”

What on earth is the problem with those 3 months? Jungmin was pondering when a thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he wanted to hit his head. He had thought ‘no way, no way,’ but it seemed to be the right answer, which gave him even more chills. Jungmin looked at Kim Joohwan.

“Ah, don’t tell me… because we can’t see each other for 3 months?”

“……”

That’s the one.

“Ugh, this is giving me the creeps.”

“I’m the one who feels that way even more.”

Kim Joohwan sighed and put a hand to his forehead. He found it absurd himself. Was he really this petty? No, when it came to Jungmin, he was. He had thought his heart couldn’t get any smaller, but it seemed there was still room for it to become more pathetic.

“No wonder you didn’t ask about it at all after you brought it up. I guess you didn’t know when you first sent it either.”

“No, I just saw the official announcement… and figured it would be about a week or a month. Seeing your reaction, sunbae, it seemed like you were going to apply, so I took a closer look… and only then did I realize it was for 3 months.”

“Haha, you must have regretted it a ton.”

“Yes. Still… I thought I should send you off for your sake, sunbae… but this is harder than I thought.”

Kim Joohwan muttered as if talking to himself.

“You’re a younger man through and through.”

Jungmin stroked Kim Joohwan’s hair.

“But that’s your charm. Don’t try to throw it away. Being a punk and having a rotten personality are also parts of what make you you. As long as you don’t cause trouble for other people, it’s fine.”

“I can’t tell if that’s an insult or a compliment.”

“It’s both.”

“Stop it before I kiss you.”

It seems this guy really wants to kiss me. Jungmin thought, and pulled his hand away. It was true that since that incident, he hadn’t had sex or done any sexual acts with him. Kim Joohwan was fervently expressing his feelings in his own way like this, but there hadn’t been any definite conversation between them yet. Kim Joohwan was simply waiting.

“Please provide a lot of support. The situation here seems a lot worse than I thought.”

“I was planning to do just that. We’re planning to build a hospital, a research lab, and even dormitories for the doctors. There aren’t any hotels around there, either.”

For Jungmin to live comfortably for 3 months, they would have to build at least a prefabricated building nearby, so Kim Joohwan had already sent people to get things moving a few days ago.

“Wow, I’ll be able to live comfortably thanks to you.”

“Stay healthy and come back safely.”

“Alright.”

Jungmin pressed the send button and closed his laptop. It was a new beginning.