“You’re hurt! Why didn’t you say anything when the police officer asked earlier?” Su Ah, startled by his wound, raised her voice.

“It’s just a small scratch. I’m not really hurt.”
“That’s not… not really…”
Su Ah tried to say something more, but her phone vibrated in her pocket.

[Su Ah!] “Manager,”
It was Ji Hoon.

[I just got a call saying they’ll be visiting the police station soon to check the convenience store’s CCTV, what happened?] He had heard a rough idea of the situation through the police officer, but he wanted a more detailed explanation.

“So, this man was about to hit a woman, and when I tried to stop him, the man pulled out a knife…”
Distracted by Ha Joon’s wound at the end of her gaze, she couldn’t continue her explanation properly.

[I see. You must’ve been surprised. Let’s talk about this later.] Thinking that Su Ah’s disorganized words were just due to shock, Ji Hoon was about to end the call.

“But Ha Joon got hurt badly…”
[What? Ha Joon is hurt?] Upon hearing that Ha Joon was hurt, Ji Hoon’s voice rose instantly.

“Yes… He was badly cut by a knife, he should’ve taken an ambulance earlier, but he said he was okay…”
“I told you, I’m really fine. It’s just a scratch.”
Between Su Ah’s words, Ha Joon’s voice came through.

Seeing the scratch, he must have been hurt.

For a moment, Ji Hoon’s expression hardened.

[Su Ah.] “Yes?”
[I’m a bit far away right now, so I don’t think I can go immediately.] He had thought about going for a drive outside thinking nothing serious would happen, and then this happened.

“Yes, I understand. You went for a training.”
[Yes, yes, training. So, Su Ah, can you take Ha Joon home?] “Home?”

[Yeah. I can’t go into details right now, but there’s a reason why Ha Joon can’t go to the hospital.] “….”
[So, unless it’s a surgery, a doctor usually comes to his house to deal with it.] Ah, a fear of hospitals.

Su Ah recalled the sight of Ha Joon at the hospital a few days ago from Ji Hoon’s words.

[I’m sorry, but I will contact the hospital, so can you take care of Ha Joon until I get there?] There was no choice. Knowing Ha Joon’s character, he wouldn’t quietly wait at home for the doctor, and someone needed to keep him in check.

She was confident that Su Ah would fulfill that role well.

“I’m not sorry. Of course, I should do it. I’ll leave right away.”
[Alright. Thank you. I’ll hurry as much as I can.] “Don’t worry, take care on your way.”
After finishing her call with Ji Hoon, Su Ah deeply pocketed her vibrating phone.

Then she immediately lifted her head, met Ha Joon’s gaze, and opened her mouth.

“Let’s go. To your home, Ha Joon.”
“What?”
As if he had heard something unbelievable, Ha Joon’s eyes widened.

“I know you can’t go to the hospital, Ha Joon. So, in cases like this, you receive treatment at home. So, let’s go. To your home.”
Ji Hoon is saying such unnecessary things again…

“I can go by myself.”
“No. That’s not possible.”
As expected, Su Ah firmly cut off his response.

There was Ji Hoon’s request to keep a close watch, but more than anything, she couldn’t send the man who got hurt because of her alone.

“You have to. You have to go with me. Until the manager arrives, you have to stay with me no matter what.”
Looking at Su Ah’s determined eyes and voice, Ha Joon thought.

Just like that day at the pension, I won’t be able to win against her this time either.

In the end, Ha Joon got into the taxi with Su Ah.

Even a long while after they had departed, the air inside the taxi remained heavy.

The only sound that could be heard was the occasional sigh that Ha Joon expelled.

“I’m sorry.”
Having been observant of his mood, Su Ah dropped her gaze and strained to get the words out.

“Why are you, Su Ah?”
“I should have waited until the police arrived, like you said, Ha Joon. Then you wouldn’t have been hurt like this.”
[Helping others is good, but it would be better to do so in a situation where safety is assured.] It was something Dae Eun always said whenever she got hurt from impulsively jumping in to help someone without thinking of the consequences.

Back then, she had laughed it off, saying that such a minor injury would heal quickly, but it was only today that she understood the meaning of those words.

It wasn’t just her problem.

Because of her, someone else who had nothing to do with it could also get hurt.

Her head, as well as her heart, became complicated.

Ha Joon’s gaze landed on Su Ah’s drooping shoulders.

“Forget what I said earlier. It was something that slipped out without me realizing it because I was surprised.”
It was a hastily offered word of comfort, seeing Su Ah’s dejected shoulders.

Ha Joon started speaking again.

“You were impressive. To the point that, if the police don’t give it, I’d like to give you a bravery award myself.”
I’m not usually a person who cries easily. But why do I feel choked up all of a sudden at those words?

The tears of regret she had been holding back burst out at his comforting words.

“I’m sorry you got hurt because of me. Sob.”
Flustered at Su Ah’s escalating crying, Ha Joon didn’t know what to do.