Chapter 10 Finding Hanyang Injured
The next day Hanyang went out wearing the new cotton coat.
He came back especially late. I went to the barbecue shop where he worked and learned he had taken the day off.
Without a phone I could not reach him. I searched outside for a long time before finding him on the way home.
He sat against the wall, face bruised blue and purple, body covered in blood and dirt. Only the cotton coat stayed clean in his arms.
When he saw me he quickly turned his head away, wiped his mouth, and stood up.
"What are you doing out so late? Go home."
I tried to help him but he dodged and walked ahead.
Still, the injuries were impossible to miss. Once he finished showering I pressed him onto the bed and lifted his shirt.
The same bruises covered his torso. A dull pain hit my chest. "I'll buy medicine for you."
Hanyang grabbed my wrist. "What medicine? It's just a small injury... and it's so late. Where would you even buy it?"
My head went blank with anger. "Then what about these wounds? Just leave them?"
My sudden raised voice startled him. "...They'll heal in a few days."
I seized his wrist and pushed him back onto the bed.
"Hanyang, you don't treat your own life as life! Someone else does!"
He stared at me blankly. After a long moment he squeezed out, "It really doesn't hurt today..."
He even grabbed my hand and pressed it against himself.
"It's just scary to look at. It'll be fine in a few days."
I sighed and followed his motion, pressing down.
Only when I touched certain spots did he frown slightly.
The memory of the day Hanyang died made my heart race. The only way to ease it seemed to be touching him.
Hanyang propped himself up and reached for my sweating forehead.
I caught his hand.
"Fine, I won't go. Then licking will do, right? Saliva disinfects and it's free. You won't refuse, will you?"
I put on a pitiful expression. "If you refuse, I'll have to go out and spend money on medicine."
"Really hopeless." Hanyang cursed and gave in, lying back on the bed.
"Come on."