Chapter 51
Baek I-hae and Seo Do-gyeom were dating.
But since it was the first relationship for both of them, they had no idea what they were supposed to do now that they were officially together. Instead, after becoming conscious of their new status, they found themselves even more embarrassed to make eye contact.
On the way home, Seo Do-gyeom took her hand.
‘We held hands even before we started dating. So what are we supposed to do now that we are?’
Baek I-hae thought to herself, her face flushing red as she unnecessarily overthought it and looked away. It felt like her hand was starting to sweat.
She fidgeted, worried that Seo Do-gyeom might notice.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Baek I-hae stole a quick glance at Seo Do-gyeom. As he walked awkwardly, staring straight ahead, she noticed his ears and neck had turned bright red.
His steps were stiffer than usual, too. Only then did she realize she wasn’t the only one feeling tense, and she burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing?”
Seo Do-gyeom asked, genuinely puzzled, and Baek I-hae shook her head.
Unlike her, he didn’t even seem to recognize that he was tense.
He’s cute.
Baek I-hae thought as she looked at him. Who would have thought she’d find that stoic man adorable?
‘Fine, I’ll just do what I want. The status window doesn’t move the way I want it to anyway.’
Even after deciding to date Seo Do-gyeom, the status window showed no reaction at all.
If that was the case, maybe it was a silent permission for her to proceed as she wished.
‘If Seo Do-gyeom likes me, then I can like him back. If he really falls for another woman… I can step back then.’
But as if mocking her, the moment she smiled, a flashing red light appeared right in front of her nose.
The status window, appearing belatedly, filled her vision.
[!Warning!
A development unfit for a ‘happy ending’ has occurred.]
[!Warning!
This is a romantic relationship the player does not intend. Breakup is recommended.]
Baek I-hae blinked slowly.
“I-hae, what’s wrong?”
Seo Do-gyeom stopped walking when she suddenly halted, following her lead.
It wasn’t easy for her to tell him not to worry, since he couldn’t see the status window.
[!Warning!
Breakup is strongly recommended!]
‘Break up?’
There was no problem at all. She had just finally realized what she truly wanted and was mustering the courage to pursue it.
Seo Do-gyeom didn’t have another woman, so why give up already?
‘Why? I said I’d step back if another woman appears for Seo Do-gyeom! So why tell me to break up now?!’
[!Warning!
This is a romantic relationship the player does not intend.]
The player was undoubtedly the mysterious figure who had spoken to Baek I-hae. An entity she couldn’t tell if it was human or divine.
A relationship the player does not intend.
Did that mean opposition because Baek I-hae wasn’t the female lead?
In the past, she might have felt devastated, as if her existence was being denied, but now Baek I-hae felt anger surging up inside her.
‘Why me?’
Ye Eun-seol had told her not to give up. Baek I-hae had mulled over those words, agonized, and decided she would do just that.
So she couldn’t give up this easily.
‘I won’t give up. As long as Seo Do-gyeom likes me, I have no intention of letting go.’
She wouldn’t force it, but as long as her feelings remained, she had no plans to release him.
As if it had seen her resolute expression, the status window flickered ominously in red before disappearing.
Just as she wondered if it was giving up like that.
“Cough!”
“Baek I-hae!”
Baek I-hae coughed violently, and when she covered her mouth, blood stained her hand.
It was only a small amount of blood, but the shocked Seo Do-gyeom pulled her into his arms, looking panicked.
“I’m fi—ne.”
She felt no pain. Baek I-hae wiped her mouth and tried to calm the flustered Seo Do-gyeom.
Even so, her face had gone pale, so it wasn’t very convincing.
Still uneasy, Seo Do-gyeom hoisted her onto his back and ran. Heading not home but to the hospital, he held her firmly, as if afraid he might drop her.
Baek I-hae, piggybacked on him, couldn’t bring herself to stop him. More accurately, she didn’t have the presence of mind to do so.
[A penalty is given to ‘Baek I-hae’ for ignoring the warning.]
[The ‘terminal illness’ keyword is assigned.
From now on, your vitality will be drained the longer you continue this imperfect romance. After death, you will return to your original world. However, the pain of death will be as real as in reality.
The way to escape the penalty is to end the imperfect romance with Seo Do-gyeom.]
Of course, her mind was elsewhere, fixated on the pitch-black status window visible beside Seo Do-gyeom.
Penalty. Terminal illness. Death.
The reward for the quest related to Baek Yeong was also a return to the original world. And now, the end of this penalty was the same—return.
‘At this point, it feels like it’s just telling me I’ve served my purpose and should disappear.’
Baek I-hae let out a hollow laugh.
The elated mood she’d had just moments ago, thinking about starting a relationship with Seo Do-gyeom, came crashing down.
It plummeted so far below that she couldn’t even gauge the depth.
***
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Seo Do-gyeom headed straight to the emergency room. He even calmly explained the situation on her behalf, saying she’d vomited blood.
But naturally, Baek I-hae received no abnormal findings.
The doctor, looking perplexed, only asked again if she had really coughed up blood.
“I-hae noona!”
While waiting at the hospital for various tests since the cause was unknown, Seo-yeol came running after hearing the news.
Perhaps because of her previous hospitalization. Seeing Baek I-hae sitting there with a slightly pale face, Seo-yeol hugged her tightly.
“Why, why are you sick? Don’t be sick, noona. Okay?”
His hand clutching her sleeve was trembling pathetically. Maybe it was because of the bloodstain on her clothes.
Baek I-hae stroked his back to calm him, seeing how shocked Seo-yeol looked.
“I’m fine, Yeol-ah.”
“If you’re fine, why did you suddenly cough up blood!”
“Well…”
How could she explain that the damned status window had suddenly turned her into a terminally ill girl?
As Baek I-hae pressed her lips shut, Seo-yeol looked like he was about to burst into tears any second. His face showed he was misunderstanding it as her hiding her illness.
While she was flustered and didn’t know what to do, a hand appeared, grabbing the back of Seo-yeol’s neck and pulling him away.
“You shouldn’t burden the patient.”
“Dad!”
So Seo I-heum had come too, following Seo-yeol. He must have come in a hurry, as he was still wearing his indoor glasses.
With three eye-catching men around, she could feel the glances from the hospital staff and other patients nearby.
Despite those stares, Seo I-heum knelt down to meet Baek I-hae’s eyes and asked.
“I-hae, don’t hide it and tell me. Did you have any pre-existing condition?”
“No. As far as I know, nothing.”
“Then maybe there’s an underlying illness you didn’t know about. Since we’re here, let’s get a full check-up.”
“I’m really fine!”
Flustered, Baek I-hae grabbed Seo I-heum’s sleeve as he tried to stand up. Partly because she knew the reason, but also because she didn’t want him to waste money on unnecessary things.
Given Seo I-heum’s personality, it didn’t seem like he’d stop at just a simple check.
As if reading her anxious mind, Seo I-heum placed his hand over hers and patted it gently.
“Uncle isn’t fine.”
“But… I really am okay.”
“Uncle is anxious, so could you do it for my sake, just to put my mind at ease?”
When he asked so humbly like that, how could she look at his face and say no?
Baek I-hae chewed on her lip before slowly nodding. In the end, Baek I-hae ended up hospitalized for the tests.
Fasting-related tests were scheduled for tomorrow, and today was a whirlwind of CT scans and more.
Seo Do-gyeom, along with Seo-yeol and Seo I-heum, took turns accompanying her like guardians, to the point it felt overwhelming.
“I have my part-time job tomorrow…”
“I’ll call and say you can’t go.”
When Seo I-heum asked for the phone number, Baek I-hae quickly shook her head.
She couldn’t risk letting Baek Yeong’s existence slip. There was still the main quest to clear!
“I’ll ask a friend to pass on the message!”
Missing work right after the first day.
She could hear Baek Yeong’s favorability dropping.
It was the moment when Baek I-hae let out a deep sigh and was left alone in the hospital room to change into the familiar patient gown.
“…This is really the worst.”
Muttering in a small voice, Baek I-hae sank down and covered her face.
The sobs she’d been forcibly holding back, afraid they might be heard outside, were building up inside her.
