"nurse hyerim reporting for duty!"

"dumbass, go to school."

"it's a saturday."

jeongguk sighed as he sank into the cushioned, white blankets of the hospital bed. he'd been stuck in this boring beige room for two weeks! with his legs mangled by the car accident, he was basically incarcerated in the hospital.

the front of the car had collapsed into his legs resulting in severe trauma. thankfully, the human knee was apparently a complex organ that could suffer various injuries, so the doctors reassured him that his broken bones would heal with time. time felt like forever... but with hyerim patiently coming to see him everyday, he unconsciously hoped forever lasted longer.

it hurt like hell, though. and what hurt the most was that he couldn't run away. when his father visited him, he could only lay still, tucked in layers of bed sheets, and suffer in silence under the weighty judgement of his father.

although, for once, he was grateful that his father was an image-conscious asshole, because he dropped all charges of car theft and bribed the prosecutors to let go of the case completely. there was no way that jeon jeongguk, son of jeon jeongshik, was a criminal.

jeongguk would never forget that look of disgust that was etched in his father's face as he beheld jeongguk in a fixed, disappointed stare.

"jeongguk. say ah~!" hyerim sang as she held an apple slice to his mouth with a fork. he grunted in annoyance, rolling his eyes as he turned his head the opposite direction defiantly.

another thing he couldn't run from: this persistent and utterly clueless girl.

"how are you feeling jeongguk? do your knees hurt a lot?" she whispered as she traced a small index finger on his cast.

"no." yes, it hurts so bad.

"even the cut on your cheek looks painful. you're so strong, jeongguk," she commended, grinning brightly at him. he gazed at her, focusing on her gleaming obsidian eyes that crinkled sightly whenever she smiled.

"still, what were you thinking?! stealing a car, driving to the outskirts of busan... and you didn't even tell me!" she added, as if it was the worst part of the whole ordeal.

"i don't have to to tell you anything," he said curtly, crossing his arms. his fractured wrist ached in agony. he fought it with a twisted smile.

"why? you wanna be bonnie and clyde with me?"

"who are bonnie and clyde?" she asked curiously, batting her eyes in interest. she nibbled the slice of apple with her front teeth.

"hmm... they were lovers."

hyerim's eyes grew wide with surprise as jeongguk grabbed her collar and yanked her closer with his uninjured arm. "next time i plan on stealing a car, i'll be sure to tell you, little bonnie."

with his mouth, he took the apple slice that hung from her lips.

blushing would have been bad enough, but hyerim turned as red as a beetroot, her face so hot you could fry an egg on it. jeongguk grinned as he pushed her away gently, chewing on the apple slice.

its sweet juice rolled on his tongue. it was strange... apples had never tasted so good.

"jeez jeongguk! why do you like to tease me so much?" hyerim muttered breathily as she pressed her small hand to her forehead.  "actually, no— don't answer that. i already know that you just want to annoy me."

she laughed heartily, music to his ears, raising another apple slice to his lips. "too bad though, you'll never get rid of me."

"hyerim. can i ask you something?"

she shrugged. "what is it?"

"why are you always so happy?"

hyerim pushed the apple slice into his mouth, before leaning back and smiling. "it's the only thing i can do for anyone."

it was strange that her smile seemed different... bittersweet, almost.