To Kiss An Idol

170 The Awesome, Nivritti

Jae-Hwa sat with a soft thud on the couch. She never dreamed that she could have a meal with ASD but she just had breakfast with them. She even worked in the kitchen with them. She looked at Nivritti who was still smiling, staring at the door. She knew they came to thank her as she again helped them.

“You are awesome,” said Jae-Hwa.

“Huh?” asked Nivritti.

“You again helped them, didn’t you?” smiled Jae-Hwa.

“No,” she dismissed her sentence with a sweet smile on her face.

“Liar! They came running to check up on you,” commented Jae-Hwa.

“They are sweet,” replied Nivritti.

“Tell me what happened?” asked Jae-Hwa.

“I told you that MY was sick and I just visited him and have been asking for updates from them since then,” replied Nivritti.

.....

“No, MY said something about you helping him. What is that?”

Nivritti scoffed and smiled at Jae-Hwa. “Nothing, Jae!”

“Don’t try to be humble. Are you still keeping a secret?” teased Jae-Hwa.

“You can say that,” replied Nivritti.

Jae-Hwa immediately jumped from the couch and sat on the table in front of Nivritti. “What, tell me,” she requested.

“Okay, but you cannot tell anyone. We are lucky that those idiots didn’t make us sign an NDA,” said Nivritti.

“NDA?” asked Jae-Hwa, shocked.

“Yeah, all the doctors and nurses who attended MY, had to sign an NDA,” informed Nivritti.

“Really?”

“Yeah, because he is depressed and he didn’t sleep for days and after I talked about mental health, I think he thought a lot about it. And that affected him more. The day we sent him back to get rest, he fainted in his room. ASD, when they went back, they found him on the floor of his room and rushed him to the hospital. He was weak, slightly dehydrated, and depressed,” informed Nivritti.

Jae-Hwa quietly listened to Nivritti. She had concern written all over her face. Even though Young-Chul was better today, but still he looked slightly pale.

“I went for my therapy and accidentally I saw NK. I was concerned as to why he was in a hospital. And I found MY on the hospital bed. I know what toll depression takes on the body and a few things about how to help them. So, I just grabbed Young-Chul’s hands to comfort him,” continued Nivritti.

“What? You held his hand?” asked Jae-Hwa surprised.

“Physical touch, emotional love, a word of appreciation, a positive feedback goes a long way in helping people dealing with mental health problems. I just did that for him. I sat with his hands in mine and said a few words to him. I don’t know if he heard him or not but that calmed him down. He was given sedatives to help him sleep but his mind and heart were in chaos. Somehow, he calmed down and the doctor said that was due to my touch, which is impossible,” sighed Nivritti.

“Why? Why is it impossible?” shouted Jae-Hwa. “You cared for him with all your heart, and he sensed that.”

Nivritti chuckled and softly tapped Jae-Hwa on her forehead. “Stupid girl!”

“And then? Then what happened?” asked Jae-Hwa.

“I sat with him for some time and then I tried to leave but MY held my hand tightly in his sleep and I couldn’t move,” replied Nivritti.

“Woah! What?” shouted Jae-Hwa, shocked. “This is something from movies.”

“Ha-ha. Yeah, then I had to sit with him for hours. A doctor came to see him, a nurse came to change his IV and they both saw my hands in his,” said Nivritti.

“Oh no!” gasped Jae-Hwa.

“Hmm… the doctor was okay with it. He even said that I was helping him but the nurse, oh again I had to threaten her to keep her mouth shut.”

“Just like the restaurant manager?” inquired Jae-Hwa.

“Yes. I let MY hold my hand and sleep. After hours, NK took me to the parking lot so that he could drop me home, but Jae-Geun spotted us and that’s how he too knows about MY. Well not clearly. He just knows that a member of ASD was admitted, which one, he had no idea. He knows how to keep a secret,” said Nivritti.

“So, that’s what you two were talking about at the stairs,” asked Jae-Hwa.

“Yeah, I was thanking him for not telling you,” replied Nivritti.

“But why didn’t you tell me?” inquired Jae-Hwa.

“It was MY’s secret. I could not out him like that. Only he should be allowed to tell his secret to the world. If he is okay with telling the world that he was diagnosed to be depression, I will be there for him, if he decides against it, he still will have my support,” smiled Nivritti.

“You are a very good friend. That’s why I said you are awesome,” Jae-Hwa threw herself at Nivritti and hugged her.

“You are not angry?” asked Nivritti.

“No, I know that if I need you, you will keep my secret and protect me,” replied Jae-Hwa.

“Always!” she too hugged Jae-Hwa back. They remained in the position for a few seconds.

Finally, Jae-Hwa broke the embrace and asked, “so, what should we do today?”

“Today? You have to leave in a few hours, and I cannot go anywhere,” Nivritti pointed at her feet.

“Are you an idiot?” scolded Jae-Hwa.

“Huh?”

“You cannot walk, and you think I will leave you alone, stupid!” rebuked Jae-Hwa.

“But Jae-Geun would be coming here to get you. And what about your parents?” asked Nivritti.

“I will inform them,” replied Jae-Hwa, casually. She stood up and went inside the bedroom and returned with both Nivritti and her phone.

She sat next to Nivritti and called up her house. First, she called her mother and informed her that she will be staying at Nivritti’s place for the night and will return tomorrow directly from the office. When asked if everything was fine, Jae-Hwa chose to not tell her mother about Nivritti’s injury.

She then called up her brother, Jae-Geun.

“Oppa! I am not coming home. Don’t come to get me. I will spend another night here,” she informed on the phone.

“Huh?” Jae-Geun was disappointed. He was looking forward to seeing Nivritti again, but Jae-Hwa spoiled his plan. “Is everything alright? Or do you just love spending time with her?” he asked.

Jae-Hwa contemplated for a few seconds whether to tell him or not. “Um… Oppa! She needs me, she was injured.”

“What?” shouted Jae-Geun. “How? Where?”

“Why are you getting so worked up?” asked Jae-Hwa.

“I… um… ah… I am a doctor, if I hear someone is hurt, it’s obvious that I will be conacred,” replied Jae-Geun.

“Right!”

“Tell me what happened, I will come and take a look,” said Jae-Geun.

“It’s okay, Oppa, I tied the bandage, and her pain is gone now,” replied Jae-Hwa.

“Jaehwa!” shouted Jae-Geun.

“She stubbed her small toe, and her nail broke taking off her skin. We cleaned her wound and applied some antiseptic cream and tied the bandage. You really don’t have to be concerned,” replied Jae-Hwa.

“I will be there in a few minutes,” said Jae-Geun and disconnected the call.

“Ah, shit!” exclaimed Jae-Hwa.

“What?” asked Nivritti.

“He is coming,” replied Jae-Hwa.

“What? Why?”

“To check on your wound,” said Jae-Hwa.

“Didn’t you tell him, it’s okay now?” asked Nivritti.

“He never listens to me,” pouted Jae-Hwa.

“It’s okay. He was supposed to come here, anyway,” smiled Nivritti. “Meanwhile, let’s do some work. We didn’t read any script yesterday.”

“Right! I will bring the laptops,” replied Jae-Hwa and again went into the bedroom.

She brought the laptops and placed them on the table. She then ran to the kitchen and came back with drinks and snacks to munch while reading scripts. Even though they just had food, the sight of snacks made them happy.

While waiting for Jae-Geun, they kept reading scripts and exchanging feedback. After half an hour, the doorbell rang.

“It must be him,” said Nivritti. Jae-Hwa nodded and went to open the door. Jae-Geun rushed inside the house with large bags in his hands.

“Are you okay?” he shouted. He was breathing heavily. His eyebrows knitted with concern.

“I am okay and you need to breathe,” commented Nivritti.

“Then why do you live in a building without a lift?” complained Jae-Geun.

“Oppa! Why are you shouting?” scolded Jae-Hwa.

He stared at her and shoved the bags towards her. “Take this and keep them in the kitchen.”

“What is this?” asked Jae-Hwa.

“Mom packed some food for you both,” he replied.

.....

“Again?” shouted Nivritti.

“What? You don’t like her cooking?” asked Jae-Geun.

“Shut up! Don’t talk rubbish. It’s just she packs a lot of food,” replied Nivritti.

Jae-Hwa started walking towards the kitchen when Jae-Geun grabbed her arm and stopped her. “Give me that packet. That is medicine.” He took a bag back and walked up to Nivritti. He bent down to take a good look at her toe.

He softly grabbed her leg and moved it on his thighs. She jerked her leg away and asked, “what are you doing?”