The front hall of the Lee residence was bathed in a soft, low amber glow.
I kicked off my heavy sneakers at the entryway, the house quiet except for the muffled hum of a television coming from the main living room.
I shuffled toward the kitchen, pausing to glance over the marble island. Ha-neul was curled up on the sofa in her favorite oversized lounge set, completely absorbed in a late-night K-drama broadcast.
As the floorboards creaked under my weight, she grabbed the remote, turning the volume down a notch before glancing over her shoulder at me.
"You're early today," I murmured, my voice sounding raspy even to my own ears.
Ha-neul scoffed lightly, adjusting her glasses. "It's just that you're far later than usual today, Mountain. I've been home at my regular time."
I pulled my phone out to check the digital clock. The glowing numbers read 9:42 PM. Right. Far past my usual return window.
I opened the refrigerator, poured myself a long glass of chilled apple juice, and drank three gulps, trying to soothe a faint, prickling dry scratch in the back of my throat. I carried the half empty glass back toward the living room and sank onto the edge of the leather couch across from her.
"Where's everyone else?" I asked, rubbing my temples.
Ha-neul shot me a dry, administrative glare from over her screen.
"You really don't bother reading the family group chat, do you? Dad is busy at clinic and Ji-hoon-hyung is at an evening alumni banquet, and Mom is still at the JBC station."
She narrowed her eyes, pointing the remote control directly at my knee.
"Also... how many times has Mom told you to take off your outside coat and street pants before sitting on the sofa?"
I let out a tired, defeatist groan.
"Fine, fine..."
I finished off the last drop of juice, stood up, and retreated to my bedroom. I shed my heavy street clothes and pulled on a set of warm, soft flannel pajamas. My shoulders and joints felt a little sore, but I dismissed the sensation immediately. I've had a crazy week—exams, PE normatives, breaking up with Sora, a JBC tour, and surviving a chaebol family dinner with the Parks.
'I'm just exhausted.'
I walked back into the living room, offered Ha-neul a brief, tired nod, and said, "Good night, Ha-neul-ah."
She glanced up from the screen, her brow furrowing slightly at my subdued tone.
"Yeah. Don't forget our math lesson is tomorrow. Good night."
I hit the pillow, and within two minutes, my brain pulled the plug on the world.
***
When I woke up the next morning, my eyes felt like they were coated in sand.
I didn't even need to sit up to recognize the heavy, unmistakable fog settling over my skull. It was that terrifying, undeniable feeling of falling genuinely sick.
"Aish..." I groaned, staring up at the ceiling as my core throbbed with a dull ache. "To get sick on the weekend... of all the stupid times..."
My mind flashed back to Ji-hoon's constant, nagging lectures every time the temperature dropped below zero: "San-gun, you can't just rely on your big muscles! Korean winter wind cuts straight through denim! Wear proper thermal underwear!"
"I really should have listened to him," I regretted bitterly, dragging my body into an upright position.
My limbs felt leaden and weak, and a wave of feverish heat radiated from my neck. My throat felt like it had been scrubbed with sandpaper, making every swallow a painful chore.
I definitely had a high fever.
I dragged myself out of bed, leaning against the doorframe for support. I don't want to cause a massive scene or burden anyone, I reasoned, my stubborn independence taking over. Mom is tired from work, and Ha-neul has her Olympiad prep. I'll just go to the kitchen, make some scalding hot tea, and sweat it out in my room.
I shuffled down, shivering, the cold wooden hallway toward the kitchen.