Don't You Need an Omega Lucky Charm - Chapter 5.1
Haon could not take his eyes off Cha Jeongwon’s receding back as he grew completely distant this time.
“Did I say something unnecessary?”
His heart grew heavy.
“Ayy, let’s not worry about it.”
Just by escaping without severe injuries, he had done all he could for Cha Jeongwon.
Haon left the hospital through a different door than the one Cha Jeongwon had used.
The temperature difference between inside and outside was quite large.
“It’s cold because it’s night.”
He shivered in the chilly March night wind.
Haon sniffled once, and as he was about to step in the direction of his studio apartment, he paused.
“Ah. 5885.”
Only now did his friend’s phone number come to mind. But he was already too late.
“I can just pay him back.”
Cha Jeongwon had said he covered the cost because it was an accident caused by him, but Haon had no intention of accepting it so meekly.
“The cost of going to the emergency room once is… Whoa!”
His body tilted completely backward. Haon flailed both arms in the air as if fumbling through space. A sound of breaking ice echoed beneath the soles of his sneakers.
Just barely before falling on his butt, he placed his hands on the ground to support himself. Even so, his heart was pounding wildly.
“Ha, I almost died for real.”
Haon stood up while gritting his teeth tightly.
Even though he had only almost fallen, cold sweat broke out along his spine. Haon dusted off his clothes and let out several rough breaths.
In that instant, his reflection mirrored in the hospital’s glass door caught his eye. He was standing there with a stupid expression while pressing one hand against his chest.
“Why is there still ice remaining in March…”
He grumbled and looked down.
Between the corner of the sidewalk and the drain, thin ice seemed to remain in the shaded spots.
Pieces of broken ice were scattered in the shape of footprints.
“If I had slipped badly here, I almost would have gone back to the hospital.”
The thought of how much the emergency room costs crossed his mind again. For no reason, the bridge of his nose felt cold, so he sniffled.
***
As soon as Haon entered his studio apartment, he let out a harsh breath. His back was soaked in sweat.
Kim Hyeongyu, Haon’s classmate and roommate who was just stepping out after washing up, stopped wiping his face with a towel and looked at Haon.
“What’s wrong with your face? Are you escaping the hospital when you’re still not doing well?”
“The elevator broke down.”
Haon leaned against the door and took off his shoes. Even his voice sounded out of breath.
It was only after taking off his socks that the strength in his legs gave out. It wasn’t even that high of a floor, but perhaps because his muscles were thoroughly startled, his thighs trembled uncontrollably.
“Hey, if it broke down, you should have called the caretaker.”
Kim Hyeongyu hung the towel around his neck and knitted his brows.
“There was no one in the office, and I didn’t have my phone either.”
Even while grumbling, short gasps leaked out every now and then.
“Ah, right. Here. Your phone.”
As if he had just remembered, Kim Hyeongyu retrieved Haon’s phone and handed it over. Hyeongyu must have picked it up after it fell somewhere when Haon rolled down the stairs. Among various misfortunes, it was a relief at least.
“Nothing is going right today.”
When was the last time things had gotten so twisted up like this?
As Haon quietly pondered over today’s events, he suddenly felt a surge of resentment and glared at Kim Hyeongyu.
“Hey. Then doesn’t that mean you saw me pass out and get rushed to the hospital too? I almost died, so what’s with that nonchalant attitude!”
“No, I went to the hospital with you too! Besides, Jeongwon senior was there with you. I thought he’d take good care of you. He was the one who told me to grab your stuff, too.”
‘What? Was Cha Jeongwon not passed out? Then what about when he woke up earlier? Did he fall back asleep?’
Even so, still. This guy knew everything and didn’t even come visit his friend in the hospital?
Just as he was about to spit fire from his mouth, the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong.
“Ah, the chicken is here!”
Kim Hyeongyu slipped into his slippers and ran to the entrance. He had used the chicken as an excuse to escape.
“I ordered it to help you recover your strength.”
On top of that, tempting him with food.
Before Haon could even reply, the door opened and the delivery driver held out a plastic bag.
“Room 501, you ordered delivery, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
While Hyeongyu received the bag, Haon glanced out toward the hallway. The elevator doors were wide open.
The number 5 was brightly lit on the floor display window.
“Enjoy your meal.”
The delivery driver bowed his head naturally in greeting. And then he walked toward the elevator.
Haon stared blankly at his receding back.
