Even a Lonely Squirrel Has Its Burrow - Chapter 82

Chapter 82

 

The discharge process didn’t take long.

 

On the way home, Jang Seokgyu kept glancing at Garam, repeatedly asking if he was really okay. Since Garam could sense his genuine concern, he smiled and nodded each time, but it seemed to irritate Sa Muheon.

 

“Just focus on driving.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

At the sight of Sa Muheon frowning slightly, Jang Seokgyu quickly clamped his mouth shut. Feeling somewhat sorry for him, Garam stole a glance at Sa Muheon, but he merely looked back at Garam as if asking what the problem was. In the end, Garam shrugged his shoulders and faced forward again.

 

When they arrived home, Sa Muheon got out of the car first and extended his hand to Garam. Although Garam felt a bit dissatisfied at being so openly treated like a patient or a child, he said nothing and took the offered hand. Meanwhile, Jang Seokgyu carried Garam’s small amount of belongings and followed behind them.

 

“I could’ve carried that…”

 

“No, no. I can’t let someone who just got discharged from the hospital carry anything.”

 

Technically, being discharged meant he wasn’t a patient anymore, right? Garam tilted his head slightly in confusion, but Jang Seokgyu only laughed and urged him to go inside. Sa Muheon, who had been walking ahead, also turned and gave a slight nod, so Garam had no choice but to move forward.

 

Once inside, Sa Muheon told him to take a quick shower while he prepared a meal and then quickly disappeared into the kitchen. Garam called out in response and headed toward his room.

 

Jang Seokgyu followed him in, placed the belongings he had been carrying down, and cautiously called out to Garam.

 

“Um…”

 

“Yes?”

 

When Garam turned around and their eyes met, Jang Seokgyu immediately bowed deeply. His movement was so low it seemed like he might touch the floor. Surprised, Garam tried to approach him, but Jang Seokgyu spoke first.

 

“I’m sorry!”

 

“Huh? Why, why are you doing this?”

 

Startled, Garam attempted to lift him up, but Jang Seokgyu wouldn’t budge.

 

“This happened because I left you alone. It was something that should never have happened, but it was my poor judgment that caused it. I’m truly sorry.”

 

When Garam applied more strength and managed to pull him upright this time, Jang Seokgyu didn’t resist and stood. His expression was sincere, filled with guilt and self-reproach. Few could say anything harsh in the face of such a look.

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“No, it’s not. I left you alone…”

 

“Really, it’s fine. It’s not your fault, Team Leader Jang. If we’re pointing fingers… it’s his fault.”

 

After a moment of hesitation, Garam referred to Ryu Beomju simply as “that person” instead of using his name. Jang Seokgyu still wore a stiff expression, seemingly believing Garam was just trying to console him. But Garam genuinely didn’t think this incident was Jang Seokgyu’s fault.

 

“To be honest, I never thought something like that would happen at school. That’s why I felt safe enough to go in alone. If I’d had even the slightest inkling it was dangerous, I wouldn’t have insisted on being by myself. Sa Muheon told me to be careful several times, too.”

 

“……”

 

“So, I guess… I let my guard down. Ryu Beomju just took advantage of that.”

 

“…That’s…”

 

Jang Seokgyu seemed ready to argue, but Garam lightly shook his head. That small action was enough to make Jang Seokgyu fall silent.

 

“I let my guard down this time, but I won’t next time.”

 

When Garam said this with a small smile, Jang Seokgyu eventually nodded heavily.

 

“…There won’t be a next time.”

 

“Right.”

 

Only then did Jang Seokgyu’s expression relax slightly. However, when his gaze fell on the bruise marks around Garam’s neck, his face hardened again.

 

“I think you should rest for a while.”

 

While Garam understood his concern, he had already taken nearly a month off not long ago. If he took more time off, it would likely have a significant impact on his grades. But the problem was the worried expression on Jang Seokgyu’s face. It was clear he wouldn’t stop trying to convince Garam unless he got an answer he wanted to hear. In the end, Garam had no choice but to give a vague reply.

 

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll let you know later tonight.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Jang Seokgyu gave a short response, advised Garam to rest well, and then left the house. As Garam came back inside, Sa Muheon, who had been preparing food in the kitchen, called out to him.

 

“Time to eat.”

 

The two of them ate in silence. Only the occasional sound of utensils clinking against dishes broke the quiet. Fortunately, the silence didn’t feel uncomfortable. If anything, Garam was relieved that Sa Muheon wasn’t asking him a lot of questions.

 

After finishing his meal, Garam naturally headed to his room, but Sa Muheon stopped him.

 

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

 

“…Okay.”

 

Garam didn’t refuse. He headed to the living room first, and soon Sa Muheon joined him. Sitting in his usual spot by the window, Sa Muheon remained silent for a long time. Garam, meanwhile, sat comfortably and took in the familiar surroundings of the house. It struck him that he had been living here for quite a while now.

 

“…What did that bastard say to you?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Lost in thought, Garam hadn’t heard the question clearly. When he turned his head, he met Sa Muheon’s gaze, his dark eyes fixed on Garam. Sa Muheon repeated his question.

 

“Ryu Beomju. What did that bastard say to you?”

 

“Oh…”

 

Garam’s brows knitted slightly. As the memory of the incident surfaced, it felt like his breath was caught in his throat.

 

Sa Muheon immediately noticed the change in Garam’s demeanor and moved closer. However, remembering how Garam had flinched at his touch in the hospital, he kept a careful distance and slowly extended his hand.

 

When his hand lightly touched Garam’s, the trembling that Garam hadn’t realized he was doing began to subside under Sa Muheon’s cool touch.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Garam’s voice came out slightly hoarse. As he cleared his throat, Sa Muheon’s expression darkened further.

 

“If it’s too hard to talk about, you don’t have to. I shouldn’t have asked.”

 

“N-No, it’s not that…”

 

Even as he spoke, Garam couldn’t easily find the words to continue. It was then that he realized just recalling the events was enough to make him feel afraid. The realization came with a wave of frustration. Garam’s expression quickly darkened.

 

“……”

 

“Kang Garam.”

 

Sa Muheon was the first to notice the change in Garam’s expression. It wasn’t until he heard Sa Muheon call his name that Garam realized just how distorted his own face had become. Surprised, he tried to relax his expression, but before he could, Sa Muheon lowered himself to the floor in front of the sofa.

 

“Ah…”

 

He kept holding Garam’s hand and looked straight at him. Meeting his firm gaze seemed to bring a small sense of calm to Garam’s heart.

 

“Don’t be anxious. You’re safe here.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“There’s nothing here that can hurt you, and there never will be.”

 

Sa Muheon spoke in a voice slower but clearer than usual, as though he wanted to make sure Garam didn’t miss a single word. When Garam nodded slowly, Sa Muheon continued.

 

“That bastard will never threaten you again.”

 

“……”

 

“I have no intention of letting anyone take you from me.”

 

Perhaps it was just talk, but oddly enough, Garam felt reassured by those words. Listening to him, it really did seem like everything would turn out as he said. Maybe it was the unwavering determination in his expression or the solid trust he had consistently built up until now.

 

Although Sa Muheon’s words were directed at Garam, they also sounded like a vow to himself. The warmth of his hand, transmitted through their clasped hands, spread a comforting heat through Garam’s heart.

 

Then, as Garam gazed at Sa Muheon kneeling before him, a single tear rolled down his cheek.

 

“…I was scared.”

 

It was the first honest confession he had made.

 

Since waking up, Garam hadn’t once spoken about what had happened with Ryu Beomju. Though he had been startled and avoided Sa Muheon’s hand in the hospital, he hadn’t directly brought up the incident.

 

That’s how terrifying it was to recall that moment. And it was just as hard, just as unbearable, to admit that he had been afraid of Ryu Beomju.

 

But as he looked at Sa Muheon, who was comforting him now, he felt like he could tell him anything.

 

“I was really… so scared. I was terrified of what he might do…”

 

“Yeah, I understand. But you’re okay now.”

 

Sa Muheon’s grip on his hand tightened slightly. Garam raised his free hand and roughly wiped away his tears. Before he knew it, soft sobs were escaping his lips.

 

“Sob… that man, hic… he suddenly appeared…”

 

He couldn’t go on after that. The endless stream of tears left him gasping for breath.

 

“I understand. That’s enough. It’s okay.”

 

Sa Muheon stood and gently pulled Garam into his arms.

 

“It’s okay, all right? You don’t have to force yourself to remember.”

 

His soothing voice and the comforting pats on his back and shoulders only caused the tears to fall even harder, as though they had been waiting for this moment. When Garam wrapped his arms around Sa Muheon’s back in return, he felt Sa Muheon’s body stiffen briefly. But the comforting touch resumed as if it had never stopped.

 

Just moments ago, Garam’s heart had been filled with instinctive fear, dread, and discomfort. But being held in Sa Muheon’s embrace, all those negative emotions disappeared in an instant. And at that moment, Garam became aware of a new feeling blooming within him, nurtured by Sa Muheon’s warmth and gentle touch.

 

His reliance on Sa Muheon hadn’t changed. But somewhere along the way, a different kind of emotion had taken root deep in Garam’s heart. As he rested in Sa Muheon’s arms, he listened quietly to the sound of his own pounding heartbeat. The realization grew clearer.

 

This wasn’t just a feeling of dependence. The name of this newly blossomed emotion was love.