↱ECHO↲ ⇾seongjoong⇽

第十九

He doesn't know much about his patient's relationship with his own mother, but if it's anything like the one with his father, then it's strained at best.

Perhaps Hongjoong has misstepped.

Perhaps Seonghwa had been moved by his consideration that night and was merely acting in the moment.

Perhaps he doesn't feel the same way about Hongjoong that the nurse is beginning to realize he feels about his patient.

It's for the best, he tells himself.

Because his infatuation had caused him to forget the one person in his life that he had given everything to— Seongie.

With this heavy in his heart, Hongjoong leashes Joy up and makes his way down to the first floor.

He's surprised to find the therapy room vacant and his patient sitting by the large windows overlooking Seoul with a cigarette in his hand.

Wrinkling his nose, the nurse hangs back by the staircase, watching Seonghwa curiously.

He's taking a phone call, his raspy voice curling up into the air much like the smoke from the stick dangling in his fingers.

Hongjoong really wishes he wouldn't smoke; he seems to be doing it more everyday, citing stress as the main reason and even Jongho's incessant nagging at him to stop doesn't seem to be helping.

"Wooyoung, it will be ok," Seonghwa breathes out, rubbing his temple with his forearm.

"I'm sorry it happened like that. I really am. But soon it will be over and you'll be back here with me." He pauses then to listen to a reply before laughing.

"I miss you so much too. Can't wait for you to be home."

Letting out a breath, Hongjoong tugs at Joy and leaves the apartment.

He's heard enough of that.

He tells himself that the reason Seonghwa's words have irritated him so much is because the elder makes him sound replaceable, like his work as a nurse means nothing and he's just some b-grade stand in for Wooyoung, who Seonghwa truly cares about.

A sour feeling roils in Hongjoong's gut as he stands outside and lets Joy frolic through the gardens.

He really liked Wooyoung when they first met, had found the man kind and soft-hearted— which he is— but a part of him is now... jealous.

Now that he realizes that he likes his patient as more than a possible friend, hearing that Wooyoung was Seonghwa's first love doesn't sit well with him.

Obviously, nothing would come of the infatuation— Seonghwa had stated as much himself— but it still doesn't quell the rapidly-rising insecurity within the nurse.

Which is ridiculous, because isn't Hongjoong the one hung up on his first love?

Did he not take this job in the first place because Seonghwa looked so similar to Seongie?

Isn't he nothing but a hypocrite?

Nothing will happen between them, he leaves in less than two months, and Wooyoung may be coming back early anyway, so—