Chapter 80 (2/2)
They stood in front of a university hospital.
When they walked into an office, a woman inside greeted Shin.
“Hey.”
“… Hey.”
The woman… looked like Shin.
When Woojin’s eyes widened, Shin laughed. The woman was as tall as Shin but much slimmer. The way she smiled looked so much like Shin that Woojin became speechless. The woman gestured for them to sit and introduced herself to Woojin.
“Hello. My name is Minji Kim and I am a psychiatrist.”
“…”
“And yes, I am Shin’s older sister. I assume it’s obvious.”
When Woojin didn’t’ respond, Shin tapped his shoulder. Finally, Woojin nodded, still silent. Minji continued, “Nice to meet you. I heard so much about you, Mr. Woojin.”
“…”
“I look like Shin, so maybe it will help you feel more comfortable when you talk to me.”
Woojin wondered how much Shin told his sister about him. When Woojin looked up at him, Shin remained nonchalant and smoothed Woojin’s coat. It seemed that Shin was going to feign ignorance, making Woojin frown.
Minji noticed this interaction and smiled. Woojin had to admit that she did remind him of Shin, and it did make him feel more relaxed. Minji seemed like a very calm, competent woman.
Minji said to him with a smile, “Shin is a bit childish and he still thinks that if he can’t see it with his own eyes, it doesn’t exist.”
“Sis!”
This finally made Woojin smile. For a long time, Woojin had been feeling guilty towards Shin’s family. A long time ago, Shin mentioned his older sister and how he left his home because she and his parents were suffocating him. Now that Woojin could see Minji, he was certain that whatever she did was out of love for her little brother.
“Knowing my brother, I am pretty sure he didn’t tell you about me and where I work.”
“… Why do you say that?”
“Shin is the type that always worries about burdening someone and making him or her run away from him. Well, I guess I can’t guarantee that I am completely right. I would say I have about a 67% chance that I guessed right?”
The way Minji talked was so adorable that Woojin laughed, which made Shin surprised. Woojin rarely laughed and in fact, Shin only saw Woojin laugh when they were alone. Minji continued, “Shin told me one of his friends had difficulty remembering traumatic events from his childhood. Shin seemed very worried, and he never asks me for a favor, so I knew he would bring someone very important to him.”
“I see.”
“So you went to the same high school as Shin, Mr. Woojin?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must know what Shin’s most traumatic event was in his life.”
Shin’s eyes widened, but Minji ignored him and crossed her arms. Her voice was kind, but her words were sharp and straightforward. For some reason, her demeanor made Woojin want to talk. Her face and her eyes looked so familiar that Woojin realized this might work.
Woojin replied, “I don’t know the details, but I assume it has something to do with swimming.”
“Hmm… If you can say that in front of Shin so casually, you must be very close to him, Mr. Woojin. You see, Shin is a strange little guy…”
“Sis, please! Stop!”
Shin looked so desperately embarrassed while Minji looked calm. Woojin smiled again.
Minji added, “We will do our sessions without Shin. Well, it will be more like chat rather than sessions.”
“…”
“To be honest, I wouldn’t even consider it a treatment.”
“…”
“More like gossiping. Talking like two old friends. And by chance if you remember your past, that would be a bonus. We can talk about Shin when he was little, and how awful he was.”
Shin seemed resigned.
***
Before leaving the room, Shin whispered to Woojin, “You aren’t angry with me, are you?”
Woojin patted Shin’s nose and replied, “Thank you.”
“… I didn’t expect that.”
“…I really mean it.”
“You aren’t falling in love with my sister, right?”
“Hmm… maybe.”
“…”
Woojin smiled and Shin told him he would wait for him at the nearby café. Shin whispered, “Good luck. Have a good time.”