Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 60

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 60

It might have been my imagination, but my aunt’s voice sounded unusually weak today.
Was something wrong?
The moment I decided to head up to Seoul from Busan, I made up my mind to see her first.
“Aunt, I’ll stop by to see you as soon as I get to Seoul.”
—Yes, that’s good. Your aunt would love that. I’ll have to make that japchae you like so much.
“I don’t like japchae anymore. Why would you go through all that trouble?”
—Your taste doesn’t change like that. You always said my japchae was the best.
“That’s true, but you work so hard. Don’t make it anymore.”
—Even if your aunt were to die tomorrow, I’d still make whatever you love.
“Don’t say things like that! You know I hate hearing that.”
My aunt was all the family I had, and no matter how much of a joke it was meant to be, I couldn’t bear to hear words like that.
—Alright, alright. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll live to see you get married, have children, and watch those grandchildren grow up and have families of their own.
“Right, I’m going to get married at sixty anyway. You’ll need to stick around for that, right?”
—Of course. Any aches or pains?
“No, I’m healthy.”
—Good, I’ve heard your voice now. That’s enough. Your aunt’s going to hang up.
“Wait, Aunt!”
—Yes?
“What happened with that doctor who opened a clinic in the shopping center next door?”
—What’s going to happen? He’ll have to close up shop.
“No, don’t say that. Why don’t you try getting along with him? Go on some dates, start a life together.”
—Our young one sure has plenty of free time. Stop meddling and take care of yourself instead. Wait—are you outside? I hear a car.
“Yes, I’m at the Hospital Entrance. I came out for some fresh air. I need to get back in now.”
—Alright, be careful.
“I love you, Aunt.”
I’d have to tell her about Cha Tae Moon eventually, but I wasn’t sure when was the right time.
Maybe it would be better to wait until things progressed a bit further.
—Ha ha, tomorrow the sun will rise from the west. Our young one is the first to say she loves her aunt.
“I always love you. You know that.”
—Yes, your aunt loves you very much too. Now go on inside.
“Okay, I’m hanging up.”
After ending the call, I stared blankly at my phone. I quietly retraced the conversation I’d had with my aunt.
For a long while, I couldn’t bring myself to leave, lost in some inexplicable, unsettling feeling.
What was it? Why had my mood suddenly turned so melancholy?
Was it because I’d left home?
A belated loneliness seemed to be creeping in.
Or perhaps it was hearing my aunt’s voice that made it worse.
I pulled my gaze from my phone and turned to head back inside.
That’s when I ran into Lee Jae Hyung, a Fellow, just coming out of the Emergency Room.
“Han Bom, what are you doing out here alone?”
Lee Jae Hyung, with his thick Busan dialect, greeted me in his characteristic lilt.
Ha Jun’s words from earlier flashed across my mind.
No, surely not.
“I just came out to get some fresh air for a moment. I was about to head back in. You must be on Night Duty tonight.”
“Yes, patients should be coming in soon, but it’s surprisingly quiet.”
My eyes widened.
He’d just uttered that taboo without a care in the world!
Lee Jae Hyung, catching every flicker of my expression, burst out laughing.
“Ha ha ha, I don’t believe in such superstitions.”
“That’s not a superstition—it’s science. The moment you say things are quiet, patients come flooding in like you wouldn’t believe. That’s the Emergency Room for you…….”
“Oh, I didn’t say patients were quiet—I said things were quiet. Oops. Now what do we do? If patients start pouring in, it’s all Han Bom’s fault.”
“No, that’s not…….”
“Ha ha ha, just joking. Your startled face is so cute.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. By the way, are you doing okay? You look tired.”
His eyes studying my face held a weight to them, a seriousness that made me pause.
“Please, speak freely. I’m much your junior here.”
“Still, I shouldn’t take it for granted. Let’s see how things go as we get closer.”
“……Ah, yes.”
“How does it feel, being back in Busan? You came here during your internship, didn’t you?”
“Yes. It doesn’t seem like much has changed since then.”
This awkwardness—what was I supposed to do with it?
Though Bom was generally quick to warm to people, blessed with an easy charm, something about hearing him speak favorably of her had made the whole exchange feel strained.
“Have you been up to Dalmatgi Pass? It’s close by from here. I know a restaurant with a great atmosphere—want to check it out with me?”
“Ah, no thank you. That’s kind of you.”
It felt burdensome. Deeply burdensome.
“Come on, don’t feel pressured. I just……”
As he fumbled through her refusal, his words trailed off and his gaze drifted past her shoulder, fixing on something behind.
Tap-tap.
The familiar sound of footsteps carried on the wind, reaching her ear.
Bom turned slowly to look behind her.
“Bom.”
A low voice emerged from the man silhouetted against the darkness.
It was Cha Tae Moon.
“How did you……”
Bom stared at the man before her for a long moment, finding it hard to believe it was really him.
Was this really the professor?
“I wanted to see you.”
His voice, pleasant to hear, cut through the wind and sank into her ears.
His sudden appearance, completely unexpected, sent her heart rippling like waves.
A bright smile bloomed across her face. Tae Moon, facing her, wore a handsome smile of his own.

***

Tae Moon stepped out of the taxi before the Hospital Entrance and looked up at the building, swallowed by darkness.
Somewhere inside was Bom.
He’d originally planned to leave tomorrow, Friday, but unable to bear the longing any longer, he’d taken an evening train after work, arriving a day early.
As he slowly made his way forward and reached for his phone, someone came into view.
He narrowed his eyes, studying them. His head tilted slightly, questioning.
My Bom was on a date with some man at an hour when she should be sleeping?
It was a scene he hadn’t anticipated, but on the other hand, it struck him as rather convenient.
Time to show this fellow exactly who Bom belonged to.
Tae Moon’s eyes gleamed sharply as he took a long stride toward Bom.
At his approach, the doctor who had been speaking warmly with Bom looked at him with puzzlement.
Tae Moon’s arrival set him on guard—he recognized this as the man Soo Ho had spoken of.
“Bom.”
Come here.
Why are you standing there?
At the sound of his name, Bom turned slowly around.
Her beautiful eyes went wide, and a radiant smile bloomed across her face.
As she stepped toward him, joy overflowed from her expression.
He reached up and gently ruffled her small head in greeting, and she laughed softly.
“……Who are you?”
The man standing behind Bom finally spoke.
Tae Moon’s eyebrows rose slightly.
Only then did Bom, aware of the man at her back, blush and introduce the two of them.
“Sir, this is a Surgery Department Professor at our hospital.”
Disappointed to hear himself introduced merely as a professor, Tae Moon gave a slight smile before his expression hardened, and he extended his hand to the man.
“It’s a pleasure. I’m Cha Tae Moon, Surgery Department Professor.”
“Ah, yes. I’m Lee Jae Hyung, EM Fellow. Nice to meet you.”
As Lee Jae Hyung clasped the extended hand, his eyes widened slightly, as if something had just clicked into place.
He found himself thinking that anyone with even a passing interest in the hospital would likely know who Tae Moon was.
Regardless, after releasing the handshake, Tae Moon turned his gaze back to Bom, who was smiling shyly.
“Bom, why were you outside?”
Tae Moon gently reached for a strand of her hair as the wind scattered it, and tucked it carefully back into place.
Lee Jae Hyung, standing beside Bom, felt his eyes go wide with dawning realization.
“Oh, I just stepped out for a breath of air for a moment… I was about to head back in.”
“Is that so? Are you on night duty tonight?”
“Oh, no!”
Bom cried out urgently. She didn’t miss the fact that she was afraid he might leave at any moment.
Where would I go, leaving you here? I came all this way to see you.
At her endearing response, Cha Tae Moon smiled gently and nodded before turning to Lee Jae Hyung. “I came down to see our Bom today. Would it be all right if I took her with me?”
“Oh, of course, sir.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Yes, I should head back inside now. Please, take your time.”
The man who had been speaking in dialect switched effortlessly to standard speech and turned to leave.
Yet he couldn’t quite hide the careful look in his eyes as he observed just what sort of relationship these two shared.

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