New Normal - Chapter 83

The last expression etched in Jisoo’s face, that wounded look in her eyes, haunted Juwon endlessly. Only now did he truly realize what it meant to lose someone’s trust. He had tried, too late, to mend things by offering his sincerity, but what he received in return was nothing but a chillingly cold indifference.

“Now, after all this time… what’s the point.”

Muttering to himself, Juwon turned restlessly in bed. With his eyes shut, he mocked himself bitterly. This wasn’t his first relationship. Breaking up with a woman wasn’t new either. But this time… he was being pathetic. Pathetic, and in pain.

For some reason, he felt like a child again, on the verge of breaking down in tears. Juwon clenched his jaw hard. What was the big deal? Hadn’t he always known that time healed everything? But even as he tried to reason with himself, it hit him again just how much he had cared for her—how much he had truly loved her. The realization came belatedly.

Always belatedly.

Realizations always arrived too late, leaving nothing but regret in their wake. Longing, emptiness, self-reproach, all the feelings he had forced down came surging up, choking his breath. His chest heaved. Juwon squeezed his eyes shut, his body trembling as though the dam of his endurance had finally burst. A shiver ran through him. His throat burned, every muscle ached as if he had been beaten black and blue. Heat spread relentlessly through his body, and he clenched his fists as though in prayer.

It must be a fever, a brutal one. He had certainly been pushing himself too hard lately. But since becoming an adult, he had never been this sick, never felt this close to death. The shrill buzz of his phone shattered the silence of the room.

Juwon tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids kept slipping shut. His thoughts blurred, reality and dream tangled, and in the haze, all he could see were the faces he longed for his father, his mother, and…

That unbearable fear of being left alone in the world, the suffocating sense of losing his mind, swallowed him whole. At last, he broke down like a child, pressing his face into the sheets as tears streamed down. His phone vibrated and rang ceaselessly, but he couldn’t lift a finger. His body was frozen, pinned as though under sleep paralysis.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

Then came the doorbell, loud and insistent, followed by heavy knocking at the front door. Through his fever-blurred vision, the room wavered. He had changed the door code not long ago, too many unannounced visitors. But of all times, now… The bell wouldn’t stop, nor did the phone’s vibrations. Juwon tried to stretch out his hand, but his body was unbearably heavy, refusing to obey. Cold sweat trickled from his forehead down his cheeks, and yet his skin still burned as though set aflame.

It hurts so much.

He whispered faintly before finally losing consciousness.

***

Sunlight filtered through pale curtains, brushing softly across the hospital room.

Bathed in that gentle light, Juwon slowly opened his eyes. His body felt light, his head clear. Like watching dust drift lazily through the air in an old film, he stared blankly.

The faint smell of disinfectant—undeniably a hospital. When he lowered his gaze, he noticed the IV needle stuck into the back of his hand.

Hospitalized, huh… ridiculous.

Juwon let out a long sigh and closed his eyes again.

“Hyung, you’re awake?”

A familiar voice made him blink open. His vision, clearer than yesterday, landed on his younger brother, Jungwon, watching him closely.

“…How did I get here?”

Juwon pushed himself upright, rubbing his face as he asked. His voice was hoarse, but his expression was as stoic as ever. Relief and worry flickered across Jungwon’s face.

“How else? I drove you to the ER. I saved your life, hyung. What the hell is going on with you lately?”

Juwon winced at his brother’s sharp tone, pressing a hand to his throbbing temple.

“Don’t yell. My head’s ringing.”

“Do you even know your fever was over 40 degrees? You weren’t answering your phone, your house was locked, I had to break in. Do you know how terrified I was when I saw you collapsed like that?”

Jungwon dropped into the chair by the bed, dragging a hand down his face. Gone was his usual playfulness. Only raw worry and tension lingered.

Clicking his tongue, Juwon glanced at his disheveled brother.

“Fine. Thanks for saving me. But why were you even at my place yesterday?”

The blunt question made Jungwon gape.

“Are you serious right now? Did you forget? We had a family gathering yesterday. Everyone was waiting for you.”

Juwon blinked in silence.

“Unbelievable. Chae Juwon, you’re out of your mind these days. Uncle, Aunt, Moongyu hyung, sister-in-law—everyone was there. You promised you’d come. Then suddenly, you didn’t show, didn’t answer calls. Grandpa was so worried he sent me to check, and that’s how I found you.”

Jungwon’s words left Juwon staring blankly at nothing before exhaling a long sigh. I really have lost it. He rubbed his cheek in irritation.

“…Grandpa?”

“He’s in the director’s office. When he heard you collapsed, he panicked. Called Doctor Gong in the middle of the night, it was chaos. Hyung, I’ve never seen him so shaken.”

Hearing that, Juwon buried his face in his hands. Since the sudden death of their parents, the family had carried their trauma in silence. The thought of his grandfather’s trembling face weighed heavy on his chest.

Just then, the door opened quietly. Chairman Chae Heejung entered the room. At the sound, Juwon raised his head, meeting his grandfather’s tired eyes. Despite the fatigue, his gaze held nothing but tenderness.

“What kind of man collapses like this?”

Glancing at Jungwon, the chairman scolded briefly, in his usual terse manner. Juwon only gave a faint smile.

“Don’t laugh. You nearly gave me ten years off my life. I’ve worked myself to the bone for you, and then you go and fall sick like this. How do you expect this old man to bear it?”

For a moment, his voice faltered. Heat pricked Juwon’s throat as he lowered his head, feeling his grandfather’s hand gently pat his shoulder.

“Sorry. I’ve just… been busy.”

The curt reply drew a quiet sigh from the chairman. With a glance, he sent Jungwon out of the room. Once they were alone, his voice softened.

“…How’s your body? Any lingering pain?”

Juwon hesitated, then murmured, “I’m fine. Feeling better now.”

But his grandfather’s eyes still carried worry. He studied Juwon’s face, then spoke in a low, steady tone.

“When you were little, the whole house fell apart if you so much as caught a cold. Your mother, your grandmother he doted on you endlessly. Of course, so did I.”

His voice was heavy with nostalgia and sorrow, filling the quiet hospital room. Juwon listened silently, his head bowed. The mention of his parents still made his chest tighten. Old wounds never healed easily. After a pause, his grandfather fixed him with a searching gaze.

“Is something troubling you these days?”

Juwon remained silent. The old man sighed, weary.

“You broke up with that curator girl, didn’t you?”

At once, Juwon’s face stiffened. Though he already knew his grandfather kept tabs on him, the words still struck like a blow. He couldn’t answer, his heart stalling in his chest. He lifted his head slowly, meeting his grandfather’s eyes in confusion. The old man sighed and continued.

“Did she find out about the Myeongnyun-dong house deal? Is that why?”

When Juwon didn’t reply, his grandfather shook his head.

“I contacted her. That young lady, Shin Jisoo.”

Juwon’s breath stopped. His lips parted in disbelief, but no sound came. He was too shocked.

“You… contacted her? Grandpa, you—Shin Jisoo?”

“Yes. I contacted her. And I met her.”

“You met her? When? Why? What did you say? No, wait—”

But before he could finish, the hospital door opened. Juwon’s gaze snapped toward it. Slow, steady footsteps approached. And then,an all too familiar face came into view. His chest dropped like a stone.