Emergency Instinct - Chapter 6

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

When the emotions she had suppressed all this time burst out at once, she couldn’t control them.

Ji-an’s tears, crouched in the corner, soon poured out like wailing.

She cried miserably, again and again.

How long had she cried like that?

After pouring it all out, her tangled mind gradually became organized.

Ji-an thought for the first time of words she never wanted to acknowledge, even if it killed her.

Vegetative state.

Yes, Hong Ji-an. Now it’s time to acknowledge and accept it.

Mother has a low chance of recovery.

Though her life was saved through quick treatment, she had been in a vegetative state without consciousness for a year.

What Ji-an had to do from now on was to focus on maintaining life so Mother’s body could endure, and wait, as the doctor recommended.

Being swayed by Grandmother’s threats and forcibly continuing brain stimulation treatment was only tormenting Mother more.

If it was Mother who wished for Ji-an’s happiness, she would never have wanted this…

Her nose stung and tears welled up again.

Acknowledging Mother’s condition felt like giving up. That’s why she had been swept away by emotions as a guardian, not as a doctor.

But now she could finally see.

She had to accept the reality she had been avoiding despite the pain.

Only then could she wait for Mother until the end without exhausting her body and mind.

“Huu…”

Ji-an resolutely wiped away the tears from her reddened eyes.

Get up, Hong Ji-an.

If I fall apart, Mother will be hurt more than anyone.

Mother always said.

‘Ji-an! When you’re happy, Mother is happy too. Our daughter is Mother’s only dream.’

Yes, I’m Mother’s dream. I absolutely can’t crumble.

Though it hurts, let’s move Mother to Han-young Nursing Home.

She changed her mind from wanting to go anywhere as a pay doctor if they just gave her a lot of money out of urgent desperation.

Though expensive treatments not covered by insurance were difficult, she could somehow manage the nursing home and caregiver fees with her resident salary.

“Now, are you done crying?”

It was when she had barely pulled herself together.

A low, deep man’s voice reached her ears.

Ji-an looked up in surprise.

She saw the man she had completely forgotten about.

He stood there like a large umbrella, shielding her from the world.

Only then did Ji-an realize she had been crouched in a corner of the hotel, crying in a disheveled state.

She stood up abruptly in embarrassment and shame. But dizziness rushed in and she staggered weakly.

“I really can’t take my eyes off you.”

The man naturally embraced the swaying Ji-an fully in his arms again.

She didn’t know how many times this was.

Being held in this man’s arms.

She should have pushed him away, but Ji-an didn’t have the strength to stand properly.

Moreover, when she leaned against his warm embrace, her body became languid and her eyelids grew heavy.

Ah, why is this happening?

After shedding tears, the emotional exhaustion must have been too severe.

All strength left her body as if dehydration was setting in.

It made sense that she had no energy. She had been working in the emergency room for days, and hadn’t eaten properly since yesterday.

“You should go to the hospital. I’ll help you.”

The man spoke seriously to Ji-an, who couldn’t easily steady herself.

“No. I’m fine.”

Ji-an shook her head with difficulty.

It wasn’t serious enough to go to the hospital. She didn’t want to go to the hospital on her hard-earned day off either.

“I’m just a little dizzy. I’ll get better if I rest for a moment.”

Ji-an just wanted to lie down anywhere and rest briefly. But she couldn’t stand straight alone and staggered again.

“This won’t do. Let’s go for now.”

The man suddenly scooped Ji-an up. Lightly, as if lifting a child.

“Ah, no, I can walk by myself…”

Ji-an quickly spoke up. But.

“Hold on tight if you don’t want to fall.”

The man paid no attention and started walking.

Startled by his quick movement, Ji-an instinctively embraced him.

***

The man brought Ji-an to an Italian restaurant with a nice atmosphere.

The beautifully plated dishes that came out were all wonderful.

But Ji-an couldn’t touch them and only looked.

At first, the man’s excessive kindness was uncomfortable, and after the food came out, her heart felt heavy.

When Father was alive, they would dress up nicely and have family dinners at restaurants on special occasions.

Mother, who loved pretty things, really liked the romantic atmosphere of restaurants. But after she started raising Ji-an alone, she never had proper dining out, let alone having pretty things.

If I had known, I should have visited some good restaurants with Mother.

During college, studying was hard, and going through internship and residency, she had never had a leisurely meal with Mother due to being busy.

Thinking of Mother lying down, Ji-an’s nose began to sting.

Is it okay to be leisurely like this right now? I should find out if there’s a spot at Han-young Nursing Home first.

As Ji-an worried with a tearful face, the man who had been quietly watching her spoke.

“You don’t look well.”

“…”

“But you look a bit better.”

“No, I think I should…”

As Ji-an tried to get up from her seat, the man stopped her again.

“You said you need to rest. Eat first and catch your breath. That way you’ll have energy to cry again and strength to fight.”

Though it was nothing special, his words were very comforting to Ji-an. As he said, she couldn’t just stay dejected.

She let out a small breath and picked up her fork.

“Thank you.”

She barely managed to say thanks and moved her hand little by little.

It tasted as wonderful as it looked.

As she slowly emptied her plate, cake came out as the final dessert.

It suddenly occurred to her that today was her birthday, and Ji-an swallowed a bitter laugh.

The cake was exceptionally sweet and delicious.

Next birthday, I must come to this restaurant with Mother.

Eat delicious food, light candles on cake…

“Eat this too.”

Suddenly the man pushed his cake plate toward her.

“No. It’s okay.”

Ji-an, who had been lost in her own thoughts, quickly shook her head.

“Eat more. It seems insufficient.”

Only then did Ji-an realize her cake plate was clean. She must have finished the cake without realizing it.

When she glanced sideways, the man smiled with his handsome face.

Come to think of it, he was a man she was grateful to in many ways.

He had helped her at the blind date, stayed by her side while she cried, and even now….

Suddenly remembering how she had sobbed uncontrollably, embarrassment washed over her belatedly.

Ji-an grabbed the nearest glass to cool the heat rising to her face and brought it straight to her lips. But.

“That’s alcohol….”

Along with the man’s murmur, a burning heat struck Ji-an’s throat as it went down. Along with the bitter wine aroma.

“Ugh.”

Ji-an squeezed her eyes shut.

She had thought it was water, but it was the red wine that had come with the meal.

Ji-an was startled by the particularly bitter and astringent taste and coughed, opening her mouth.

That was the moment. He quickly pushed a piece of cake into her mouth.

Ji-an’s eyes widened in surprise.

“That’s why I told you to eat mine, didn’t I?”

“…!”

“If you eat just anything, you’ll get sick.”

He spoke with a voice tinged with laughter.

Ji-an’s face reddened with the rising sweetness, and she couldn’t say anything.

“Really, I can’t take my eyes off you.”

Seeing Ji-an’s flushed face, he poured water into a clear glass for her.

“Drink some water. You don’t seem to handle alcohol well.”

“I don’t get drunk from this little. It’s just that the wine was too bitter. Bitter things don’t suit me.”

Flustered, Ji-an found herself blurting out random words without thinking.

Her face wasn’t red because of the alcohol. It was all because of this man.

He was staring at her so intently. His gaze was so deep that she felt like she was being drawn into it.

“Do you like sweet things?”

He asked as if finding it interesting.

“…Yes. I like sweet wine.”

After taking a sip of water, Ji-an answered quietly while trying to avoid his gaze.

“That’s nice. I like sweet things too.”

“…Liar. You look like someone who likes strong whiskey.”

The man didn’t particularly deny it. Instead, he just twisted his lips as if amused and didn’t take his eyes off her.

Why does he keep looking at me like that?

Isn’t this the perfect situation for misunderstandings?

But what was even more puzzling was herself, unconsciously following his gaze and responding as if enchanted.

She must really be drunk.

Ji-an shook her head to clear her mind and drank all the remaining water.

“If you’re curious, would you like to find out?”

…Find out what?

Unable to speak and raising her gaze, the man stood up from his seat and approached her.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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