Even a Lonely Squirrel Has Its Burrow - Chapter 54

Chapter 54

 

“Huh?”

 

When Garam reached out his hand, Sa Muheon brought his face closer, thinking Garam wanted something.

 

Slap.

 

But when Garam’s hand touched Sa Muheon’s cheek, his eyes widened in surprise. His startled expression quickly softened into a smile.

 

“Are you comforting me?”

 

Without saying anything, Garam pulled his hand back. That alone seemed enough to lift Sa Muheon’s spirits, as he straightened up with a smile.

 

“Thanks.”

 

“…Squeak.”

 

Even though he had been the one to reach out first, Garam felt embarrassed and quickly turned his head away. Sa Muheon chuckled softly and gently placed Garam back on the bed. Sitting alone on the large bed, Garam looked up at him.

 

“Wait a second. They asked me to let them know when you woke up.”

 

With that, Sa Muheon drew back the curtain and stepped outside. Soon, his voice could be faintly heard in the distance.

 

Garam perked up his ears, trying to catch the conversation, but the distance and background noise made it impossible to make out what was being said.

 

Before long, Sa Muheon returned with a nurse. The nurse skillfully examined Garam’s condition and jotted something down before nodding.

 

“You seem to be in a stable condition compared to yesterday. I’ll go fetch the doctor.”

 

“Alright.”

 

“Squeak.”

 

The nurse left quickly with a smile, and Sa Muheon kept fussing over Garam, holding him in his hands while they waited for the doctor.

 

He went on about how hot Garam’s body had felt when he first found him and how worried he had been. Garam felt guilty just listening to him. Fortunately, before Garam could feel even more remorseful, the doctor arrived.

 

“Ah, Kang Garam? You’re awake.”

 

“Squeak.”

 

Garam bowed his head slightly to the doctor. Sitting on Sa Muheon’s hand in squirrel form, he looked less like a polite patient and more like a well-trained, adorable pet squirrel.

 

Sa Muheon stifled a laugh, while the doctor, maintaining a professional demeanor, began examining Garam’s condition.

 

Following the doctor’s instructions, Garam raised his arms and performed a few simple movements. After a thorough check-up, the doctor finally nodded with a slightly brighter expression.

 

“We were concerned that the high fever might leave some lingering effects, but it looks like you’re recovering well.”

 

“Squeak?”

 

Garam squeaked louder in surprise.

 

He had heard bits and pieces from Sa Muheon earlier, but since Sa Muheon had been so careful around him, he thought it might have been exaggerated. Hearing it directly from the doctor made him realize just how serious the situation had been.

 

Sensing Garam’s reaction, the doctor elaborated.

 

“I explained this briefly to your guardian yesterday, but it was a close call. If you had been found any later, it could have been life-threatening.”

 

“Squeak…”

 

Garam was stunned to learn he had been on the brink of death without even realizing it.

 

“It appears that the stress you’ve been under forced you to revert to your original form. Have you been under a lot of stress lately?”

 

“Squeak…”

 

Letting out a sigh-like sound, Garam hung his head.

 

Ever since debt collectors had shown up at his house, Garam hadn’t had a single moment of peace. Although moving into Sa Muheon’s home had provided some stability, the fact that nothing had been resolved still weighed heavily on his mind.

 

Lowering his head, Garam gave a small nod. Not missing the gesture, the doctor continued as if he had expected it.

 

“As you know, smaller animals are more vulnerable to stress. Even if you’re forced back into your original form, situations like this—where your fever spikes—can be much more dangerous for smaller creatures than for larger ones.”

 

“Squeak…”

 

Feeling completely deflated, Garam replied softly.

 

“You were lucky this time, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be as lucky next time. If you feel stressed, it’s best to let your guardian know right away so you can be prepared for emergencies.”

 

“Squeak.”

 

“Good. That covers the main precautions… For now, you won’t be able to transform back into your human form. Even though you seem to be recovering well, you’re not fully healed yet.”

 

Hearing that, Garam suddenly felt even heavier, as if his weakened body had just become more burdensome. Sitting on Sa Muheon’s palm, he slumped down and focused on the doctor’s words.

 

“Yes, if you’re not feeling well, it’s important to go straight to your guardian like you did this time.”

 

“Squeak.”

 

The doctor acknowledged Garam’s actions and continued.

 

“Anyway, once you recover further, you’ll be able to transform again… but it won’t be stable at first. You’ll likely have trouble controlling your ears and tail, which could make daily life a bit challenging.”

 

“Squeak…”

 

Even young children could hide their ears and tails without issue, yet here he was, a fully grown shapeshifter, unable to do the same. The idea of walking around with exposed features was embarrassing, but even more concerning was how others might react.

 

How long would he have to stay like this? Garam looked up at the doctor with worried eyes.

 

“I’m not sure if you were already told, but recovery is expected to take about three weeks.”

 

“Squeak?”

 

“Three whole weeks?”

 

Garam’s mouth fell open at the unexpectedly long recovery time. The doctor continued with a sympathetic expression, as if understanding Garam’s feelings.

 

“If the stress continues, the recovery period could be even longer, so you’ll need to be especially mindful of stress during this time. Also, since there’s a chance your fever might spike again while you’re in this form, your guardian should keep a close watch.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You can pick up the medical certificate I mentioned yesterday from the administration office after making the payment.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Feeling utterly dejected, Garam nodded. Three weeks. And hearing that stress could make it even longer left him so discouraged that he flopped down flat.

 

Startled, Sa Muheon quickly checked on Garam, but Garam lightly tapped his hand to show he was fine.

 

“You’re free to go home now.”

 

“Alright. Thank you.”

 

After confirming Garam was stable, the doctor left with a parting note that it was safe to return home. Sa Muheon gave a polite farewell, and Garam’s squeaks followed after him.

 

“Let’s go home now.”

 

“Squeak!”

 

Garam replied loudly at the welcome news. Hearing his energetic response, Sa Muheon let out a chuckle.

 

—

 

On their way back, Jang Seokgyu, who had been notified in advance, came to pick them up.

 

When Jang Seokgyu saw Garam perched in Sa Muheon’s hand, he frowned slightly.

 

“What on earth happened…?”

 

His voice was filled with concern, and Garam raised his hand as if to show he was okay.

 

“Squeak!”

 

“He’s fine for now. I’ll explain on the way.”

 

At Sa Muheon’s words, Jang Seokgyu quickly opened the car door. Sa Muheon carefully stepped inside, still cradling Garam in his hands as if he were fragile.

 

Feeling a little embarrassed by the excessive care, Garam’s cheeks burned, though thankfully no one could tell since he was in his squirrel form.

 

Jang Seokgyu closed the door just as cautiously and returned to the driver’s seat. Starting the engine, he glanced back at them through the rearview mirror and spoke.

 

“What exactly happened? He was fine just yesterday…”

 

“The doctor said it’s from stress.”

 

“Ah… well, I suppose things have been rough lately.”

 

In the mirror, Garam’s eyes met Jang Seokgyu’s. Clicking his tongue in sympathy, Jang Seokgyu gripped the steering wheel, and the car began to move smoothly. After a brief silence, he spoke again.

 

“How long does he have to stay like that?”

 

“At least three weeks.”

 

“So he won’t be able to go out at all during that time?”

 

“Probably not.”

 

Sa Muheon responded while holding Garam even more securely. Nestled against Sa Muheon’s chest, Garam quietly listened to their conversation.

 

“The doctor said we’ll need to monitor his condition closely. Stress could prolong his recovery or even make things worse, so it’s best for him to rest at home.”

 

“That sounds reasonable. I guess I’ll be taking it easy too.”

 

“No, you’re going back to the office.”

 

Sa Muheon replied with a teasing smile, which made Jang Seokgyu sigh dramatically, earning another chuckle from him.

 

“I was just joking. Since you won’t be coming in for a while, I’ll hold down the fort at the office. Don’t worry about work—just think of this as a short vacation and focus on resting.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Sa Muheon nodded and looked down at Garam in his hands. Sensing the gaze, Garam lifted his head, and Sa Muheon smiled as he gently patted Garam’s head.

 

Even though he wasn’t really a squirrel, Sa Muheon stroked him with the same tenderness as when he had believed Garam was just an animal.

 

Before Garam’s feelings could grow more complicated, Sa Muheon withdrew his hand.

 

Feeling an odd sense of disappointment, Garam stared at the retreating hand before snapping out of it.