247 Troubled Nigh (1/2)

Yeo Ri's knee-jerk reaction upon waking up was to swing her arm at the person towering over her. Her fight or flight instinct flared up as she pushed away her potential attacker with all the strength her sluggish body could muster.

Thwack!

”—Yeo Ri-ah, it's me! It's your brother!”

Gun guarded himself with his arms in alarm, but did not dodge as the hit landed. A throbbing pain emerged from the place she had swung at. He ignored the pain as his brows furrowed in worry.

Yeo Ri stared at him blankly for a few seconds as she registered his words. Only after she was fully conscious did she lower her guards, and offered him a smile.

”Sorry, Oppa. Did I hurt you? When did you come back?”

”...Just now. It's okay, it doesn't hurt.” Gun replied quietly as he tried to pull off a nonchalant look. Yeo Ri's strange smile was somewhat eerie, and paired with her vacant eyes, it felt as if the person in front of him wasn't really Yeo Ri.

—He was scared, of whoever this Yeo Ri was.

Gun shook his thoughts away. Smiling warmly, he patted her head.

Yeo Ri's eyes flared open at his touch, her body flinching ever-so-slightly, but she continued to smile as if it didn't bother her.

Noticing how she didn't like what he did, Gun stopped. He backed away, still smiling. ”What are you doing outside? You should've slept on the bed, Yeo Ri-ah.”

”I wanted to greet you when you come home, but it seems like I was too exhausted, so I fell asleep,” she replied.

”Oh. You didn't have to,” he shook his head with a sigh, ”You'll be busy tomorrow so you should've gone to bed first, Yeo Ri-ah. Wait here—I'll go get you your meds and some warm milk, okay?”

”Okay.”

Gun blinked once, and finally, the innocent and lovely Yeo Ri was back. Her eyes, curving with affection, stared back at him full of gratification.

His smile, in turn, became more genuine and indulgent.

Within ten minutes, he was back to her side, carrying a mug of steaming milk and a bottle of pills.

”Did Dr. Hong prescribe you something new? I can't find the usual one. How much is the dosage?”