After twenty long days of staying confined in the hospital, Jihoon was finally allowed to return home.
However, freedom didn't necessarily mean recovery. His right leg was still imprisoned in a plaster cast, his head and ribs swaddled in bandages that needed changing every few days.
It could be conveyed that the journey to full healing would most likely be slow, accompanied by cautious steps and scheduled check-ups.
At the same time, Ryul had naturally taken on the role of a caretaker ever since Jihoon's discharge. And Jihoon, who had no one else to lean on this closely, found himself relying on the man in ways that made him guilty to think about too deeply.
*
In the haze of a late afternoon, the two men stood face-to-face beside the bed, carrying out the same routine they would follow right after a hair wash. The floral scent of shampoo remained close to Jihoon's skin, his damp hair sticking in loose strands against his forehead.
