Chapter 2: Stranger in a Hospital Bed

“Ugh…”

Where am I?

I remember picking out triangle kimbap and cola at the convenience store, heading to the counter.

After that, nothing.

“An unfamiliar ceiling.”

For a moment, I thought I’d been kidnapped.

But the needle in my arm and the IV drip in front of me made it clear this wasn’t a kidnapping.

“This is a hospital. I’m perfectly healthy, so why am I here?”

“What? Why are you up? Please, stay calm!”

“You shouldn’t be getting up right now!”

“I’m calm enough as it is.”

I tried to explain, but the nurses forced me back onto the bed.

They’re telling me to stay calm, but they’re the ones making me restless.

“Excuse me, why am I here?”

“We got a call saying you were dying, so we brought you in quickly.”

“What? I was dying?”

Did I feel any pain at the store?

No, just a brief headache, nothing else.

Am I actually sick?

They say if three people claim there’s a tiger, you start to believe it.

With doctors and nurses insisting I’m ill, I began doubting my own body.

So, I asked the god who was probably watching.

‘Hey, God?’

[Busy here. What’s up?]

‘I’m really not sick, right?’

The god answered without hesitation.

[It’s a long story, but you won’t have any minor ailments. I’ll explain the rest later.]

With the god’s assurance of my health, I figured I could leave.

I requested discharge, but they refused, saying tests weren’t complete.

“It’s likely a serious condition we don’t yet understand. Stay a few days for observation.”

“Likely, but you’re not saying I definitely have a disease, right?”

“It’d be strange if you didn’t. Just stay a few days.”

Frustrating, but I had no choice.

The god guaranteed I’m not sick, but if I told the staff that, they’d probably send me to a mental hospital.

“Fine, if the tests show I’m healthy, I’ll leave immediately.”

“Agreed.”

I secured a discharge promise.

Honestly, I wanted to leave and eat something tasty, but this was the best I could do.

Well, almost.

“Dinner’s here!”

“What’s on the menu tonight?”

“Nutritional porridge for you. We prepared it separately since we don’t know what might happen if you eat like the others.”

Right, the one thing I wasn’t satisfied with was the food.

Lunch was plain porridge, dinner was nutritional porridge.

And they gave me small portions, saying too much could upset my stomach.

“…I’m hungry.”

The tests were more extensive than I expected.

Over half were ones I’d never heard of.

They said results would come tomorrow.

Exhausted from the tests, I walked down the hospital hallway when a kid looked at me in awe.

“Wow, you’re so pretty…”

Two days ago, I was a man, so hearing this felt strange.

But I decided to play along, smiling as I approached.

“Am I that pretty?”

“Yes! You’re the prettiest person I’ve ever seen! But you look really sick. Are you okay?”

His pure concern was adorable.

I patted his head gently and said softly,

“I’m healthy enough. What about you? Why are you here?”

“Well, I got tired playing soccer and collapsed. When I woke up, I was in the hospital, and my mom was crying.”

If his mom was crying, he must have a serious condition.

Seeing him smile so innocently made my heart ache.

“Oh? What did the doctor say?”

“He said surgery might fix it, but I might have some trouble later.”

“So you can get better? That’s great!”

Hiding my heavy heart, I gave an exaggerated smile to cheer him up.

It was all I could do.

“Yeah… but I’m scared of the surgery. They said it’ll hurt a lot. But seeing you makes me feel braver!”

“You’re so brave!”

“Yep! Hehe, I’m super brave!”

His voice was full of energy again.

Proud of him, I patted his head once more and stood up.

I felt bad, but standing longer might make me collapse from exhaustion.

“Have a good surgery and live healthily.”

“Thanks!”

As I said goodbye and headed to my room, the god spoke.

[You can encourage others too?]

“I’ve heard encouragement before, so why not give it?”

[Fair enough.]

“If it helps even a little, I’ll say it as much as needed. You saw how he perked up, right?”

[Hm, I think it was something else that helped him.]

“Kidding? By the way, didn’t you promise to explain something?”

I’d been curious about this body all day through the tests.

[Simple. I added a few settings when you came here.]

“What settings?”

[I—]

I wanted an answer, but the god betrayed my curiosity.

[Break time’s over. I’ll tell you next time.]

F*ck, just tell me.

*

[Side, Kid]

“Son, you need surgery to get better. It’ll hurt for a bit, then it’s over.”

“No! I don’t want it… I hate pain…”

“If you keep being stubborn, you’ll get in trouble with Mom.”

“I hate you, Mom!”

I ran to the hospital lounge to escape Mom’s nagging.

Why does she keep pushing me to get that awful surgery?

“I hate pain.”

The doctor said it might hurt.

Most doctors say it won’t, so if he says it will, how bad must it be?

Wandering the hospital halls, I saw the prettiest person I’d ever seen walking toward me.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

“Wow, she’s so pretty…”

As I stared, she smiled and came over, patting my head.

“Am I that pretty?”

But up close, her face looked strange.

Pretty, but sick and tired.

A face enduring pain, smiling but not really smiling.

“Yes! You’re the prettiest person I’ve ever seen! But you look really sick. Are you okay?”

Worried, I asked if she was alright, and she just smiled and patted my head.

“I’m healthy enough. What about you? Why are you here?”

“Well, I got tired playing soccer and collapsed. When I woke up, I was in the hospital, and my mom was crying.”

I still remember it clearly.

I called for Mom, and she looked at me, then left and sobbed outside.

‘Son, are you hurting anywhere?’

‘My chest stings a bit, but it’s not too bad! Hehe.’

‘Okay…? Tell me if it hurts.’

Thinking back, it wasn’t a good memory.

I never want to see Mom cry like that again.

She must’ve thought my head-shaking was funny because she stopped patting and asked,

“Oh? What did the doctor say?”

“He said surgery might fix it, but I might have some trouble later.”

“So you can get better? That’s great!”

She smiled brightly and encouraged me.

How could someone that sick care about others?

She must be an angel hiding her wings.

“Yeah… but I’m scared of the surgery. They said it’ll hurt a lot. But seeing you makes me feel braver!”

“You’re so brave!”

“Yep! Hehe, I’m super brave!”

She smiled softly, stood up, and waved goodbye.

“Have a good surgery. I hope you live healthily. I’ve gotta go, but stay healthy, okay?”

“Thanks!”

Maybe she meant that since her body can’t heal, I should stay healthy?

Her words made me decide.

I’d get the surgery.

“Thank you, Noona. You gave me courage.”

I turned and ran to my room.

“Mom! I’ve made up my mind! I’ll do the surgery!”

“What? Really?”

Mom was shocked, then tears fell, one by one.

“Mom? Don’t cry… When you cry, I get sad…”

“Okay, I won’t cry. Sorry, son.”

Maybe living pain-free for a long time is something others envy?

Thinking of her expression as she said goodbye, she looked so sad.

Will I see her again after the surgery?

Hehe, I hope she appears in my dreams, healthy.