Chapter VII (1/2)
“Chaerin-ah…”“who…”“Chaerin…”“what…”“CL…” Chaerin opened her eyes.“Sorry for waking you up…” – Thunder spoke, not looking at her – “I…I’m going to work. There’s an omelet…and orange juice.”He was weird, Chaerin thought.
She soon understood why.
She had shorts and a bra on. Only that.
Because she had had a heat the night before, Chaerin had replaced her shirt and pants for a bra and shorts. She had also gotten rid of the blanket.“You should have wakened me up earlier” – she said, covering her body with a pillow.“Your community work ended a weak ago.” – Thunder spoke, still not facing her - “One hundred days, remember?”One hundred days…
That’s true.
One hundred days had already passed, but Chaerin had stopped counting on day seventy-one, as the calendar on the desk next to the bed suggested.“I better go…” – Thunder left, not looking back.Chaerin felt something weird on her chest.
Looking at the elephant alarm clock the kids had made for her, she couldn’t help but smile. The thought of not playing with them anymore made her heart skip just a bit.
The day had passed so slowly… It was so boring to be there all alone, with nothing to do…Chaerin had gotten used to waking up early, and doing the chores.
She had leant how to cook, in order to save money. Ordering food was way more expensive than doing it herself.At 5pm, while she changed the armchair’s position for the fifth time, the phone rang.
Hey, it could be Dara! That’d be good. Chaerin was never there when Dara called.“Hello!” – Chaerin got the phone excitedly.“Hello, are you Lee Chaerin?” – the caller said. It was a woman but it was not Dara.“Yeah.” – she answered matter of factly. Perhaps it was another of her father’s secretary trying to convince her to take the business. It had happened a thousand times already.“Miss Lee, could you come to the Central Hospital? Park Sanghyun had given this number… Miss Lee? Miss Lee, are you there?”Hospital? Thunder?
Chaerin rushed through the door.
She couldn’t… she couldn’t lose him too. “Please, please…not him.” – she repeated as a mantra, entering the hospital in a hurry.“Please, Park Sanghyun!” – She told the receptionist – “What’s his room? Who was the doctor? Is he very hurt? Is he going through surgery?!” – she spoke without breathing.“Hey, hey, hey! Calm your tatas, lady!” – The foreign receptionist said, getting up from her seat – “Your man’s over there” – she completed, pointing at the end of the corridor.Chaerin was slightly shocked. The way that woman had spoken was way too informal, but she didn’t mind. She didn’t have time for that.She rushed to end of the corridor, where Thunder sat.“Thunder!” – she shouted, running on his direction.“Hey…” – he answered getting up from his seat.Chaerin hugged him. A tight hug.
“Are you okay?! Gosh, I was so worried! Damn it!” – she spoke still hugging him.“I’m fine…” – Thunder said. He was very surprised by her action.“What happened?” – Chaerin let go of him to check his face and body – “Where’s hurting?”“Calm down, CL” – Thunder smiled – “I just broke a finger.” – he said, showing the cast on his index finger.Chaerin held him again.
“Thank God it was just this…” – she said.
It felt good to be held by Chaerin. She looked so concerned… like it would really make a difference on her life if it had been more that just a broken finger.Thunder put his arms around her.
“Let’s go home…” – he suggested.
On their way home, Chaerin would take a look at Thunder every five minutes.