If anyone told me a hospital cafeteria would be the setting of my slow descent into emotional chaos, I would've laughed.
But here I was—stirring lukewarm coffee with a flimsy plastic stirrer, sitting across from Bo-ra who somehow still looked fresh despite the harsh fluorescent lights and the smell of antiseptic everywhere. Her soft hair was tucked into a hoodie, her eyes alert, but gentle. Meanwhile, I probably looked like a sleep-deprived extra from a zombie film.
She had brought me lunch. Again. Because apparently, I'd forgotten how to eat ever since Grandpa's collapse. My stomach growled in agreement when I saw the neatly packed bento box.
"You need to eat properly," she scolded gently. "You're not doing your grandfather any favors by starving yourself into a ghost."
"I'm not a ghost," I mumbled, poking at the rice.
"You're translucent," she fired back with a half-smirk. "That counts."
I sighed. Even when she was nagging me, she somehow made it sound like a warm hug. We found a table by the window in the cafeteria, and for a few blessed moments, it was peaceful.
Until I said, "Be right back. Gonna hit the restroom."
When I returned, my brain didn't register what I was seeing at first. I stopped mid-step.
Bo-ra was laughing.
With someone else.
A guy. A familiar guy.
No, no, no.
Min-hyuk.
And he had a bandaged arm.
You've got to be kidding me.
He was the very picture of charming misery—sling and all. And there was Bo-ra, leaning slightly toward him, a concerned look on her face like she was his private nurse. They were grinning at each other like they were in a drama where the leads reunite at a hospital and discover they still have feelings.
I didn't realize what I was feeling. But I felt it. This knot tightening in my chest, this irrational urge to throw Min-hyuk's coffee across the cafeteria.
I cleared my throat loudly.
Bo-ra looked up and blinked. "Oh, Yul! You're back!"
"Yup," I said, sliding into the seat beside her. Right beside her. Like, shoulder-pressing-against-hers beside her. Totally intentional.
Min-hyuk blinked at me and smiled politely. "Yul, right? Nice to see you again."
I tilted my head. "Again?"
He chuckled, scratching the back of his neck with his non-injured arm. "Yeah, I'm Min-hyuk. I was the one who walked Bo-ra home a few nights ago."
…Oh. So that was the knight in shining armor Bo-ra mentioned in passing. The one who "just happened to be there."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Right. The human GPS," I muttered.
Bo-ra shot me a side-glance, confused. "Yul…"
But I was already in motion. I wrapped an arm around Bo-ra's shoulder in the most casual, absolutely-not-planned move of my life.
"Bo-ra, do you want another coffee? I can grab you one. Or maybe a hot pack? You said you get cold easily, right?" I asked sweetly.
She froze. Like a cat sensing danger.
"Uh, I'm okay…?" she said slowly.
I turned to Min-hyuk. "So, how'd you injure your arm? Let me guess—saving puppies from a burning building?"
Min-hyuk chuckled good-naturedly. "Basketball accident, actually."
"Ah. Close enough," I said with a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.
Bo-ra glanced at me, then at Min-hyuk, then back at me. "Yul, are you okay?"
"Never better."
She raised a brow, clearly not buying it. But instead of calling me out, she just… played along. Huh?
I realized she was being weirdly calm. Suspiciously calm.
Because if she called me out, Min-hyuk might find out.
About us.
About the fake marriage.
Her eyes told me everything: Don't blow our cover.
So now we were both trapped in a weird game of fake couple charades, while Min-hyuk—poor guy—sat between us, completely oblivious.
I leaned in even closer. "Bo-ra, should I feed you the rice? Open wide?"
Her eye twitched. "Yul."
I grinned. "I'm just being attentive."
Min-hyuk blinked. "Wait, are you two…?"
Bo-ra quickly grabbed my arm. "Yes! Very much. In love. Deeply."
I nearly choked on my coffee.
Her voice went an octave higher. "We're just really… affectionate. Haha. That's normal, right?"
Min-hyuk nodded slowly, still clearly confused. "Right…"
I saw her jaw tighten slightly, the corners of her smile twitching. She was trying to look cute, but I knew that face. That was the I-will-murder-you-later-in-the-hallway face.
But I couldn't help it.
I was enjoying this way too much.
Bo-ra's hand was still gripping my arm like a vise. "Yul, can I talk to you for a sec?"
I gave Min-hyuk a wave. "Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back."
She dragged me to a quiet corner by the vending machines.
"What. Are. You. Doing?" she hissed.
I blinked innocently. "What? I'm just being a devoted husband."
"You're acting like a jealous drama lead!"
"I am not jealous," I said quickly.
"Then why are you clinging to me like Velcro?"
"Because he was flirting with you!"
She stared at me.
I stared at her.
Wait. What did I just say?
"Flirting?" she repeated.
"…Chatting. Casually. Whatever," I said, trying to backtrack.
She folded her arms. "Yul, are you jealous of Min-hyuk?"
"No!" I blurted. "I don't get jealous. I get… aware."
"Aware?"
"Of threats."
"…He has a sprained arm."
I groaned. "Okay, fine! Maybe I was a little annoyed. But you were smiling at him like he was handing you a golden retriever!"
Bo-ra burst into laughter. "Oh my god. You're ridiculous."
I muttered, "I'm charming."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered.
And just for a second… it felt real.
To be continued…