Chapter 92: Flowers Filling the Hospital Room

“Flower delivery.”

Suddenly the hospital room door opened, and a delivery person entered with a large bouquet.

Ignoring the flustered So-won, his parents received the bouquet as if accustomed to it.

“Where are these flowers from?”

“Who knows?

Ever since you were hospitalized, flowers have been delivered every day.

Maybe the Association is sending them?”

So-won’s parents replaced the flowers already in the vase with the newly delivered ones.

The flowers were modest rather than showy, but they were made up entirely of good-smelling blooms.

The spacious hospital room quickly filled with a fresh floral scent.

Even So-won, wearing his oxygen mask, could feel the refreshing air.

‘Tae-woo ssi…’

His parents had answered that they didn’t know who sent them, but So-won thought he knew.

Looking at the freshly bloomed flowers, So-won smiled shyly.

Knock, knock.

Just then, a knocking sound was heard.

Thinking it might be Tae-woo, So-won looked toward the slowly opening door with a small hope.

But the person who soon appeared was an Association employee in a suit.

“Hello, I am a lawyer from the Esper Association.”

Confirming it was not Tae-woo, So-won’s disappointment was visible.

The Association employee who entered the room handed a fruit basket to his parents and exchanged greetings.

Then he approached So-won and bowed his head.

“Guide Lee So-won-nim, I am truly sorry you had to experience such an unpleasant incident.

I heard you woke up yesterday, and I have a few things to discuss with you, so I came a little early.”

So-won nodded.

It was disappointing that it wasn’t Tae-woo, but he had been curious about how things were progressing anyway.

The Association employee explained what would happen next.

The first thing he told him was that the police would soon come to take a statement, and that he would return to assist then, so not to worry.

He also relayed that So-won’s kidnapping had become a major international issue, and that journalists were camped outside in large numbers.

He warned that although security had been tightened so they couldn’t enter So-won’s room, So-won should be careful when going outside.

He also offered to assign a bodyguard if So-won wished, but So-won shook his head.

“What would you like to do regarding Esper Choi Si-hyeok’s disposition?”

“That person… where is he now?”

“Esper Choi Si-hyeok is currently detained in a special facility.

He is under strict surveillance to prevent escape, so you may rest assured.”

“…….”

So-won did not open his mouth easily.

He himself had suffered, but more than himself, Tae-woo had suffered far greater harm.

While searching for the kidnapped So-won, his physical condition had deteriorated greatly, and in the end he had gone berserk, leading to a bomb on his neck…

“Ugh…”

Remembering that time, his arm throbbed violently and his stomach churned.

As So-won’s face turned pale, his parents and the Association employee, who had been watching him, were greatly startled and rose from their seats.

Only after So-won raised his hand to signal he was fine could he reassure them.

“I’m not sure yet.

May I think about it a little longer and tell you later?”

“Yes.

You may take your time and tell me whenever you’re ready.”

He had something in mind, but he needed to discuss it with Tae-woo first.

Because Tae-woo had suffered greater harm from this incident, and since Si-hyeok’s disposition was also related to Tae-woo, it was right for Tae-woo to make the choice.

“May I ask one more thing?”

“Of course.”

“How is Tae-woo ssi’s condition now?”

What So-won was most curious about right now was Tae-woo’s condition.

Unable to learn any news of Tae-woo since he was discharged, So-won’s anxiety had been growing day by day.

When So-won asked, the Association employee continued.

“Esper Kang Tae-woo has fortunately recovered from his injuries, but because his waves are still unstable, he is currently receiving machine guiding.”

“…….”

So-won’s expression darkened.

He felt sorry for Tae-woo, who had to receive machine guiding even though So-won was here.

He wanted to be discharged quickly and go to him, but… if he went in a body that couldn’t even walk, he would only be a hindrance.

After all the explanations were finished, the Association employee left his business card, saying to contact him if anything came up, and departed.

After he left, So-won’s parents angrily stormed about how the Association managed Espers to allow such things to happen.

While his parents badmouthed the Association beside him, So-won looked at the tightly closed door and waited for Tae-woo.

Since even an Association employee had come after learning he was awake, So-won thought Tae-woo would soon come to visit him as well.

But days passed, and Tae-woo did not even show his face.

***

Lying on the bed, eating one piece of fruit after another that his parents fed him, So-won asked.

“When did they say I can be discharged?”

“Why, is there something urgent?”

“I have to go guide Tae-woo ssi…”

“What?

You want to go see him already when he just went berserk not long ago?

No.

When we get word that his condition is stabilized, then you can go.”

“Ugh…”

At the mention of Tae-woo’s name, his parents made a disgusted face and fed So-won another piece of fruit.

So-won chewed the fruit in his mouth and nodded.

Although it was Si-hyeok who had kidnapped him, Tae-woo’s reputation had also suffered by association.

Because Tae-woo had gone berserk, because it was discovered that what he always wore around his neck was a bomb, and even because his parents had learned that it had exploded this time.

Fortunately, they believed that his broken wrist was due to the accident.

If they learned that Tae-woo had lost his reason and done this to his arm, his parents might seek out Tae-woo and harshly blame him.

So-won’s parents repeatedly urged him not to see Tae-woo for the time being.

Thinking of his parents, who must have suffered greatly while he was kidnapped, So-won answered that he understood for now, but he had no intention of obediently following their words.

Fortunately, the bandages were soon removed.

The doctor removed the bandages, saying that although his skin had not yet returned to its original color, he was recovering smoothly, and since lying down for too long was not good, he should start walking.

The follow-up examination results were also good.

Thanks to that, having removed the uncomfortable oxygen mask and the IV, So-won looked fairly recovered.

Seeing So-won with a brighter complexion, his parents breathed a sigh of relief and said they would go home for a while, then left the hospital.

Left alone, So-won got out of bed for the first time in a while and tried moving his legs.

Perhaps because he had been lying down for so long, his legs were stiff and didn’t move well.

He thought it might also be because the poison had spread to his knees and damaged his muscles.

Grunting to himself as he practiced walking, So-won grabbed the IV pole next to his bed and went out of the hospital room.

Only after walking halfway down the corridor did he remember the Association employee’s warning to be careful not to run into journalists.

So-won quickly looked around, but whether journalists were not allowed on his floor, it was quiet with no one walking about.

So-won wandered the corridor looking for a public phone.

But no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t find anything resembling a phone, and instead only his legs ached from walking around the wide corridor.

Eventually, So-won stopped a passing nurse and asked.

“Um… could I possibly use a phone?”

“Ah, I’ll help you so you can use one right away.”

When So-won asked, the nurse kindly smiled and guided him.

Only then did So-won’s face brighten as he followed the nurse.

“You can use this phone.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as So-won picked up the receiver, he dialed Tae-woo’s number.

He had memorized Tae-woo’s number so well that he could dial it even with his eyes closed.

-The person you are calling has turned off their phone.

Please leave a message after the beep…

But even when he called Tae-woo, he only heard a recording saying the phone was turned off; Tae-woo did not answer.

Returning to his room, So-won sighed and murmured to himself.

“I need to get back to Tae-woo ssi quickly and guide him…”

So-won’s face grew anxious.

It was impossible to stabilize Tae-woo’s waves and alleviate his pain with mere machine guiding.

Moreover, having gone berserk, Tae-woo needed guiding more desperately than ever.

‘Discharge is still far off, but…’

So-won put on his outer clothes and snuck out of the hospital room.

Pulling the hood of his long padded coat down low, So-won avoided the nurses’ eyes and went outside.

He succeeded in escaping the hospital safely, but the problem lay elsewhere.

So-won faced the journalists blocking the hospital entrance and sucked in his breath.

Countless journalists were stationed outside the building.

He had been told journalists were camped outside, but their number far exceeded what So-won had expected.

“…….”

So-won kept his head deeply bowed and quietly passed by them.

The journalists did not notice So-won, whose presence was faint.

“Ah…!”

The moment he stepped forward with relief, So-won stepped on snow piled on the ground and slipped.

Fortunately he didn’t fall, but he staggered greatly, drawing the attention of nearby journalists toward him.

Feeling multiple pairs of eyes turn to him, So-won broke out in a cold sweat.

Should he run?

He was debating whether to flee right then, but perhaps the journalists did not imagine that So-won would have come out alone, as they soon lost interest and began scanning toward the hospital rooms instead.

Phew.

So-won thought it was fortunate and continued moving his steps, staggering unsteadily.

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