The moment Principal No discovered I Soyeong, his face hardened stiffly.
"Ms. I? What are you doing here?"
His voice was so cold it was offensive.
I Soyeong flinched and lowered her head.
"Principal. Hello."
"Forget the greeting, answer me. Why have you come here?"
A silence, as though frozen, flowed through the surroundings. Bak Geumja and the nursing assistants held their breath and watched the situation.
After hesitating, I Soyeong opened her mouth.
"I came because of Mr. No."
At those words, Principal No's face grew even harder.
"If you've come as a fellow colleague, I can understand. But if you have other intentions, turn back now."
"Principal, I just······."
"Do you know what situation Seongjin is in right now? His life is in danger, and in a state where he's barely conscious, if a teacher suddenly appears, have you thought about what might happen?"
Principal No's voice, brimming with anger, struck sharply against her ears. His face was flushed with agitation.
"What that child needs right now is stability. Not emotional stimulation."
Tears quickly welled up in I Soyeong's eyes. But she bit her lip. After taking a deep breath, she clenched her teeth and continued speaking.
"I didn't come today as a colleague. As someone who loves······ someone who loves him, I came because I wanted to see if Seongjin was all right."
"What? Go back right now! I won't even tell Seongjin that you came."
"Principal, wait a moment."
Just then, Taeho cut in.
"This isn't something the Director should be concerned with. This is a family matter."
"If it were a family matter within the household, that would be true, but this is inside the hospital I am responsible for. If it is something that could affect the patient, I cannot help but intervene."
At Taeho's firm attitude, Principal No hesitated and looked at him.
It was a completely different side of Taeho, who had always been gentle.
"Do you know why Mr. No contracted that illness?"
"What do you mean······ why he got the illness?"
"Five months ago, Mr. No drank a lot of alcohol and sustained a major head injury. Do you know why Mr. No, who usually didn't drink much, drank so much that day?"
"That is······."
"It was because you opposed the relationship between the two of them."
"What, did Seongjin say that?"
Principal No's face flushed red again.
"Mr. No, who had fallen into deep despair, was in a state of giving up when the accident happened that day. His condition has worsened from that day until now."
Principal No wanted to retort but had nothing to say. Now that he thought about it, after opposing the marriage, his son had seemed to wander, and there had been a time when he returned almost at dawn.
There had been an accident that day?
But why hadn't he said a single word to me until now?
"While receiving treatment, even while unconscious, do you know what Mr. No said the most?"
"······."
"It was 'Soyeong, don't go.' That desperate heart, that heart wanting to see Ms. I even once more, is what kept Mr. No—who should have collapsed long ago—hanging on until now."
"Hup······."
Upon hearing that, I Soyeong covered her face. The tears she had held back burst forth like a waterfall.
"Principal, Ms. I Soyeong is not a burdensome obstacle to Mr. No, but his only hope. She is the reason Mr. No must live."
"······."
Principal No stood frozen in his spot, saying nothing. His stubbornly raised eyebrows trembled.
Wiping her tears, I Soyeong spoke.
"After hearing that Father opposed me, my pride was hurt and I tried to break up with him. But after hearing that Seongjin was in great pain, my mind changed. I realized that I love Seongjin far more than my own pride. Now, it seems Father's heart is uncomfortable, so I will visit again next time. Because I cannot show an uncomfortable appearance in front of Seongjin."
I Soyeong bowed deeply.
Principal No flinched, but he said nothing until I Soyeong left Geumsan Clinic.
"······."
Standing there like a stone, the moment I Soyeong left Geumsan Clinic, Principal No staggered.
"Sit over here."
Taeho supported Principal No and seated him on the sofa.
After sitting blankly for a moment, Principal No asked in a trembling voice.
"Director."
"Yes."
"Did I······ did I make Seongjin like this? Did I······."
A voice that still couldn't believe it.
"That wasn't your intention, but the result is the same. However, it is not too late even now. Please think about what would help your son."
"······."
The shoulders of Principal No, sitting with his fists tightly clenched and trembling, looked particularly narrow.
***
"Mr. No, we will now begin the new treatment."
Taeho carefully attached the microneedle patch to the back of No Seongjin's neck. It was a small circular patch 5cm in diameter, but inside it contained the efforts of the Geumsan Research Institute researchers over the past four days.
"Do you feel anything strange?"
"No, I don't feel anything at all. Will this really be effective?"
No Seongjin touched the back of his neck with a skeptical expression.
"From now on, the herbal medicine components will slowly absorb through the skin. Over 12 hours, continuously. We'll treat the brain hematoma directly with the microneedle patch. Twice a day, every 12 hours, we'll replace it with a new patch."
Taeho explained while showing the diet chart.
"We also need to remove accumulated protein metabolism byproducts. We'll restrict potassium and phosphorus, and additionally prescribe medicine to restore kidney function. Finally, you must drink more than three liters of water a day. This is to quickly discharge toxins from the body."
"Could there be any side effects?"
Principal No asked anxiously.
"Since it doesn't pass through the kidneys this time, it's safe. But we'll check the levels daily with blood tests."
***
Three days after starting treatment, Taeho and the medical staff closely observed No Seongjin's condition. Everyone was cautious because of the previous crisis.
"Mr. No, how is your condition today?"
"It definitely feels different. My stomach isn't uncomfortable like last time······."
No Seongjin spread out his hand.
"My hand tremors seem to have lessened a bit too."
"Your blood pressure is stable, and your pulse is normal too."
Bak Geumja said while measuring blood pressure and pulse.
Finally, Taeho tapped Rema, and Rema displayed the diagnostic results.
-Analysis results: Intracranial pressure is gradually decreasing, and kidney function indicators are also improving. No side effects observed.
One week after beginning treatment with the microneedle patch.
The results had clearly improved.
The hematoma was shrinking, and kidney and liver function indicators were gradually getting better.
Principal No was relieved to see his son's condition improving. But one corner of his heart was heavy. Because his son's face had been dark the whole time. Though his body was getting better, his heart seemed empty, as if he were not truly alive.
Principal No asked his son, who was gazing at a distant mountain, with worry.
"Seongjin, what's wrong? Are you still feeling very unwell?"
"No, I'm fine."
No Seongjin shook his head, but in that movement, in that expression, the shadow hidden within was something his father, Principal No, could clearly feel.
That night, Principal No couldn't sleep and watched over his son. Watching No Seongjin sigh as he stared at the hospital room ceiling all night long, his chest hurt indescribably.
***
One night, Taeho saw Principal No sitting blankly alone in the corridor in front of the hospital room.
The hospital corridor, emptied of all patients, was silent.
Taeho sat down next to Principal No without a word.
Principal No opened his mouth with a cracked voice.
"Director. ······I must have been a real fool."
Taeho looked at him cautiously.
"What do you mean?"
"Seongjin's body is recovering bit by bit, but his heart seems to be hurting even more. That child doesn't smile. Every time he looks at me with those wounded eyes······ my heart feels torn."
Principal No's voice trembled.
"I have lived my whole life looking only at that child. How precious and lovely he was, the only son obtained after ten years of marriage······ He was my reason for living. My heart would swell every time I saw Seongjin. Good at sports, upright character, even became a teacher······ I couldn't have been prouder."
Taeho quietly nodded while listening.
The thought suddenly crossed his mind that if his late father were watching him now, would he be proud?
"That's why I believed the person suitable for that child······ had to be a young lady raised with love in an affluent family. But the person he brought saying he wanted to marry was this teacher. Ms. I lives with a disabled single mother. Thinking that my son would have to bear that burden too, I simply couldn't approve of that marriage."
Principal No let out a deep sigh.
"It was my greed. I couldn't think about how deep that child's heart was. Now I understand. That I tore that child's heart apart."
Principal No covered his forehead and exhaled deeply.
Silence flowed for a moment.
"If it weren't for my son, I wouldn't have opposed Ms. I Soyeong so much. Ms. I is truly a kind person too. Resilient and upright despite a difficult environment."
Principal No looked at Taeho. The corners of his eyes were stained with tears he hadn't been able to wipe away.
"I want to apologize in person now. I want to win back that child's heart. As a father, before it's too late, I want to ask for forgiveness."
"Principal. That sincerity will surely be conveyed."
Taeho answered calmly.
Principal No nodded.
Deep regret in his heart.
Sometimes, the latest can also be the fastest.
***
Late at night, the school building that had been lively with children's voices was all submerged in silent darkness.
"Hhew······."
The basic academic competency improvement plan for underachieving students was finally finished.
With a weary face, I Soyeong organized the documents on her desk. Perhaps because her heart was complicated, her body felt heavier than usual too.
When she exited the main entrance of the school, the night air brushed coldly against her cheeks. As she descended the stairs, she discovered a human figure and flinched in surprise, stopping.
"Ms. I?"
A familiar voice from within the darkness.
Standing under the streetlight was Principal No Deukguk.
I Soyeong answered in confusion.
"Principal, why are you here at this late hour······?"
"I was waiting for you."
Principal No slowly walked up to I Soyeong.
An expression of having something to say.
But perhaps unable to open his mouth easily, Principal No hesitated for a long time.
I Soyeong simply stared at Principal No with surprised eyes.
Principal No let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth with difficulty.
"Since it has come to this, I will speak frankly. I was truly a foolish person. Claiming it was for Seongjin's sake, I committed a great wrong against you."
At those words, I Soyeong's heart sank.
"Principal, please don't say such things."
"No. It is all my fault. Only now do I realize how great a wound I have given you all this time. To Seongjin······ I learned too late what a great existence you were to my son."
I Soyeong clenched her fingers tightly.
Painful memories from all that time gnawed at her heart like awls.
She had heard absurd insulting evaluations from Principal No: that her eyes were small, that her face looked unlucky and he didn't like it. She also recalled the contemptuous gaze Principal No had cast upon her whenever they met at school.
She also recalled how she had cried quietly alone each time that happened.
"Why······ why are you saying these things to me?"
I Soyeong's voice trembled.
"I realized too late. Please forgive me. Please stay by Seongjin's side. So that child can smile again······ I beg you."
Principal No bowed his head deeply.
I Soyeong could not easily open her mouth. Inside her heart, the desire to forgive and still unhealed wounds swirled like a storm.
In the end, she couldn't give any answer.
"······."
"······."
The two stood like that for a long time.
Finally, Principal No opened his mouth first. Rather than hearing an immediate refusal from I Soyeong, he wanted to leave room for her to think.
"You don't need to decide right away. Please think it over slowly. I feel I've asked too much of you. I am truly sorry."
Principal No slowly turned his aged body. His back as he walked away looked indescribably lonely.
I Soyeong stood there at a loss, watching Principal No's retreating figure grow distant.
"Haah······."
A sigh escaped from deep within her heart.
At that moment, her phone vibrated. The name that appeared on the LCD screen was 'No Seongjin.'