Irina knew all along. That people were approaching the hospital room door. And that their destination would be this room, Baek Seojin's hospital room.
'What should I do....'
Before acting, let's think one more time. Please, my daughter. Recalling her mother's words, Irina actually did think for a moment.
The problem was that this "thinking" lasted only about 1 second.
"W-what are you doing?!"
And Irina's actions were much faster than her thoughts.
Suddenly straddling Baek Seojin, she declared as if making a proclamation.
"Only someone as strong as me can catch my interest. Someone who can understand me. Someone who can be with me. Someone who can survive being with me!"
This wasn't a lie or an act, but her sincere feelings.
Why she showed such interest in this person? In Baek Seojin. It was the first time she'd seen it. Someone with a level so similar to hers.
He had broken Kwak Hyuk's spear in two and countered with a blow that even wounded him. When she heard that from Han Jiyoon, she was so excited she couldn't sleep.
She thought she would never meet such a person in her lifetime.
Someone else who could understand her. Someone else bound by this enormous power. No, this curse.
'I was wrong. Indeed, no one is ever truly alone in this world!'
If not for her mother's warning to stay quietly at home, She would have gone straight to the hospital where Baek Seojin was admitted. And she might have grabbed him by the collar and shaken him awake.
'He was like my secret favorite restaurant. Now he's become too famous.'
TN: I know how that feels Irina, but for a real restaurant, not a person hahaha. Gatekeeping restaurant at its finest.
Should she have pretended not to know him during the Gate incident? No. Even if it wasn't for that, he would have become famous for something else. Better to make the first move and establish him as her connection.
Having reached that conclusion, Irina pressed down on Baek Seojin more firmly. Almost as if trying to provoke whoever was about to enter the room.
The door opened, and a doctor, a nurse, and a female student entered. She glared at Irina with eyes full of anger the moment she saw her.
At Kim Suhyeon's angry cry, Irina let out a sigh.
Seriously, I might be crazy, but you're not exactly sane either. How can you not show even the slightest surprise at seeing me?
Irina inwardly clicked her tongue and reached out her hand. Then she grabbed the throat of Kim Suhyeon, who was rushing toward her.
"Hey. Be quiet. Don't you know you should be silent in a hospital room?"
"Y-you're the one... who's...! What are you doing to Examiner...!"
Wow... she really doesn't back down, does she?
Old man. I don't know about anything else, but you raised your granddaughter well.
I didn't expect her to be this bold. Or should I say crazy? Anyway. Others would be trembling with fear, but not her.
After shaking her head, Irina released Kim Suhyeon's neck and stepped back slightly. Kim Suhyeon then approached Baek Seojin, who was lying on the bed in a daze.
"Ah, yes. Suhyeon. Have you been well?"
"Yes! I'm... No, that's not the point! Are you okay?! Are you hurt anywhere...?"
"Hey. Wait a minute. Someone might think I was trying to kill Seojin oppa."
At Irina's words, Kim Suhyeon glared at her. More precisely, she showed a sharp reaction to the term "Seojin oppa."
"What's with that look? Why are you looking at me like I'm a villain?"
"You shameless person! What were you trying to do while the Examiner was unconscious?!"
"What are you talking about? I might be wild, but I'm not that depraved."
So she is at least aware that she's wild. Baek Seojin, as well as the doctor and nurse, showed surprised expressions.
"Hey. This is a hospital room."
Tsk, Irina clicked her tongue and restrained Kim Suhyeon.
Normally, it should be Kim Suhyeon restraining Irina. Why does she seem more normal right now, despite being the "crazy woman"? While Baek Seojin was pondering this, Irina continued.
"Don't you know to keep quiet? At least I wasn't shouting."
At Irina's words, Kim Suhyeon bit her lip with a small sound. She realized her voice had been much too loud.
"B-but! Just now, you were...!"
"Suhyeon. That was because Irina fell."
Baek Seojin quickly intervened, silently mouthing "Right, Irina?" He gave her a pleading look, asking her to play along. As a bonus, he would treat her to dinner soon if she would just let this go.
What should I do? Should I go along with Seojin oppa just this once? But then that strange woman might stick to oppa even more.
Look, look at that. While pretending to be innocent, she's actually quite shameless. Just look at her sneakily rubbing her cheek against him!
From what I've heard, she's supposed to be extremely timid. No, not just timid. Wasn't she supposed to be a total coward? Looking at her now, she's not timid at all. She's secretly plotting behind my back.
"Isn't that right, Irina?"
As Baek Seojin asked again, Irina finally nodded. Somehow, she kept finding herself giving in to this man. Wait, is that right? Or not. To be honest, I don't like losing either.
"Yes. Let's say it was like that."
The answer was somewhat unsatisfying, but it was enough to move on.
At Irina's response, Baek Seojin gave a "See, Suhyeon" look and patted her shoulder. Then, suddenly, Kim Suhyeon erased all traces of her fierce glare, Fell into Baek Seojin's arms, and burst into tears with sobs.
'Good grief. This is sickening.'
Looking as if the sight made her nauseated, Irina pretended to retch. It also irritated her to see Baek Seojin comforting Kim Suhyeon.
Meanwhile, the doctor, who had been silently observing, cautiously spoke.
"Um, excuse me. How did you get in here?"
"What? You're asking the obvious. I came to visit. Is there a problem?"
"Well... yes, there is? The hospital is quiet despite Irina's presence, and moreover, patient Baek Seojin had no guardian and was still unconscious, so visitors are supposed to be limited to related parties..."
Shh. Quiet. Irina placed her index finger to her lips with a smile. At her gesture, both the doctor and nurse sealed their mouths with a "Hup!" It was because of Irina's eyes—smiling, yet not smiling at all.
"Now, doctor? Let's stop doing useless things. Patient Baek Seojin has regained consciousness, right? Aren't you going to examine him? Surely you're not just going to say, 'Oh my, you're awake. Congratulations.'"
As Irina spoke, her eyes flashed as if saying, "Be prepared if you don't examine him." Thanks to that, the doctor nodded three times in just one second, saying "Of course I will!"
Since the patient had regained consciousness, there were many examinations to be done. So, while apologizing to the two visitors, the doctor asked them to step out for now.
Kim Suhyeon had no choice but to nod at the doctor's request.
It was a bit sad to be sent away right after arriving for a visit. But she had confirmed with her own eyes that Baek Seojin was awake, so that was enough. Even though she had seen his face for less than 5 minutes, it was better than nothing.
It would have been even better if this blonde, blue-eyed woman wasn't here. While she was privately nursing the feelings she couldn't express outwardly—
"Stop cursing me in your head. Say it out loud for once."
At Irina's words, Kim Suhyeon involuntarily flinched. What? Did this woman just read my mind?
"You're looking at me with a face full of complaints. Aren't you?"
That expression saying she knew everything. That voice telling her to be honest. Kim Suhyeon didn't respond to Irina's words.
She couldn't say yes because something held her back. But she couldn't say no because that would be a lie.
"It's rude to ignore someone to their face. That makes me a little sad."
Don't engage, don't engage. Her opponent is Irina. She's someone better left alone. So just stay quiet without saying anything...
"Fine. Then just listen. You, stop acting like a gatekeeper. People might think you and Seojin oppa are dating. Don't overdo it, just quietly..."
"You're not his girlfriend either."
The thread of reason she had been clutching finally snapped. As Kim Suhyeon's eyes sharpened, Irina let out a "Huh?" in surprise.
"Right. I'm not either. But at least I've mentioned dating him."
"So what? Did the Examiner accept?"
"No. Seojin oppa seems to be a virgin and puts up quite the wall."
"There is no 'in the end.' Just because I got rejected doesn't mean it's over. Whether I keep pursuing him or not is none of your business. Why are you interfering in someone else's affairs? It's nothing more, nothing less."
Kim Suhyeon bit her lip as she was about to say something. As Irina had said, she and Baek Seojin were nothing to each other. Just an examiner and an Academy student. Nothing more, nothing less.
'She's right. The way I'm acting now... is out of line.'
Kim Suhyeon clenched her fists and tried hard to maintain her composure. But no matter how much she tried to calm down, seeing Irina immediately raised her guard.
"You think I'm the one interfering, but from my perspective, you're the one interfering."
"If you understand, then take it easy. That behavior doesn't look good to others, and it might make Seojin oppa uncomfortable."
"Hmm? What did you say?"
"That applies to you too, Irina. You doing that to the Examiner... it doesn't look good to others, and the Examiner might feel uncomfortable."
Hmm, as expected. There's no hope for a verbal resolution. Should I slap her a few times? That would feel satisfying. ...But come to think of it, she's Kang Minseong's granddaughter.
What should I do, how can I get rid of her without causing problems? After much deliberation, something suddenly flashed in Irina's mind.