My Girlfriend Is Very Good To Me [EN]: Chapter 212

<211> The Overly Caring Boyfriend (Side Story – END)

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One day after the wedding.

I had a dream.

A lucid dream where I was fully aware that I was dreaming. Moreover, I was somehow looking down at myself from a third-person perspective, as if watching myself. Not the current me, but the me from around twenty years old.

It was strange and a little scary, but since I knew it was a dream, I just relaxed.

And the me in my dream seemed… happy. He was the me from that time, always getting involved everywhere, laughing and chatting with the people around him.

The strange thing was that the university jacket I was wearing wasn’t from Seoyeon University. It was blurry, so I couldn’t tell exactly, but it was definitely from another university.

I’ve never worn that in my life, so did the me in the dream go to that university?

That time, which felt both long and fleeting, passed and the scene changed. Heena was sitting in front of me. It was natural for Heena to be by my side, but something seemed awkward between us.

I found it strange, but I couldn’t ask her what was wrong.

Anyway, Heena and I were sitting face to face, having a drink, and then I saw us enjoying a date. In this part, it was obvious that I liked Heena a lot. It was clear in all my actions and gestures.

Probably, if you asked anyone, a hundred out of a hundred would say, “That guy likes that girl!” But on the other hand, Heena felt kind but somewhat distant.

How should I explain this? It was like our relationship when we first started dating was reversed.

“Yeon-hoo, do you even carry a handkerchief?”

“I bought one after dating you. To put it down when we sit on benches like this. Manner points?”

“Oh~ Han Yeon-hoo~ That’s a little cheesy!”

“I feel like flicking my girlfriend’s forehead…”

It was similar to when we were dating, but also different. In the dream, Heena was a very friendly girlfriend, and I was a boyfriend who couldn’t do enough for her.

I thought it was strange, but I nodded without realizing it. That was definitely me. If I had gotten to know Heena slowly and then started dating, I would have acted like that.

Anyway, my relationship with Heena looked good. It’s a bit much to say it myself. The surrounding scenery was also familiar; it was the downtown area where Heena and I used to go on dates.

So we went on dates together.

Sometimes doing homework or studying.

“You’re doing better than I thought?”

“Um, could you close your eyes for a bit?”

“Sorry, it’s just funny to see your desperate face.”

“Wow… I’m so happy! I’m a man who can make his girlfriend laugh just with his face!”

“I’ll keep striving to improve.”

When the atmosphere was right, we even kissed. Heena seemed playful throughout.

Watching it made me feel warm, like watching a video full of memories.

And I could be even more certain. That wasn’t another me. It was just me. It was the version of me from when we met in a different way and started dating.

Thanks to that, I watched our cute and youthful date with an even more relaxed heart. I wanted to watch it for as long as possible.

I wanted to, but…

To our couple, who seemed to be filled with only happiness, just like we are now,

Misfortune came in an instant.

Screeeeeech!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With Heena’s car accident.

Tears came out. Even though I knew it was a dream, I couldn’t stop crying as I imagined how much Heena must have hurt.

And that was the same for the me in the dream who went to visit Heena in the hospital. He outwardly pretended to be strong and hugged Heena, but I could feel him crying inside.

Heena’s so pretty face was now more than half covered in scars. I didn’t think it was ugly. It just hurt my heart as if my own body was injured.

“Sniff… it hurts… my… legs… also… sob… don’t… sob… move… and my face…”

I felt pathetic that all I could do was pat Heena, who was crying in my arms.

“It’s okay. You can get better. I heard a little bit earlier that you can move your legs enough if you do rehabilitation. So don’t worry. I’ll be by your side.”

Yeah. I’ll be by your side forever, Heena.

So don’t cry. I’ll always be there for you.

Both the me in the dream and the me watching it made the same resolution.

But from then on, Heena’s rehabilitation was clearly not smooth. Even after several scene changes, her condition did not improve, and Heena always looked tired.

The only comfort for such Heena was.

“Yo! Heena! Oppa’s [an affectionate term for an older brother or male friend] here!”

“What do you mean oppa. Did you listen to the class well?”

“Yeah. It was so boring. The assignments are crazy…”

It was me.

Before coming to visit, and after leaving, I was always crying, but I still tried to show a bright 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’] in front of Heena.

Before I knew it, the dream was no longer a dream. While watching Heena and me from a third-person perspective, I was naturally moving as the me in the dream.

There was no sense of incongruity at all. This was definitely me, and my body moved exactly as I thought I should.

“Okay. You said you have rehabilitation tomorrow morning, right? I’ll come a little earlier tomorrow.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye~”

That day, I talked to Heena as much as I wanted about what happened during the day, and on the way back,

I had a conversation with Yoon-sung, who was waiting for me.

“But… are you going to keep dating her?”

I looked at my old friend who was saying the obvious. I wasn’t angry. He wasn’t telling me to break up, and his eyes were full of concern for me.

“What, Heena?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course, you idiot.”

“I don’t care if you like it… but they say she’s almost hopeless. Her legs.”

“…Hoo. She does seem a little tired.”

I already knew that rehabilitation wasn’t easy. More than anything, Heena’s heart seemed to be on the verge of collapse. Even when she was doing rehabilitation exercises, her body was moving, but her mind seemed to be somewhere else.

I couldn’t even bring myself to say anything rashly. I was afraid Heena would lose the strength to endure.

But, but it’s okay.

“Um… I don’t know if I should say this here, but are you really okay? If you keep seeing her, it’s going to be even harder in the future…”

“Um…”

I pretended to 고민 [Korean word for ‘worry’ or ‘ponder’], but in fact, my mind was already 확고 [Korean word for ‘firm’ or ‘determined’]. There was no need to 고민 [Korean word for ‘worry’ or ‘ponder’].

“I thought about it after listening to you.”

“And?”

“I’m not breaking up.”

“Why?”

Why?

“Just… just because I like her.”

“Sometimes Heena seems to be having a hard time.”

“Rehabilitation isn’t going as planned… there must be other things.”

“Maybe if I told her to break up, she might smile and say okay.”

“Honestly… Heena didn’t like me as much as I liked her.”

“And I think she feels a little sorry that I come to see her every day.”

“But I don’t care about any of that.”

“It’s not like she told me to break up.”

“I’m not breaking up because I just like her, and I’m going to keep coming because I want to see my girlfriend.”

“Not out of obligation or pity.”

“Actually, I don’t think I’m that good of a guy, and at first I wondered if that was it. I wondered if my heart would cool down like those guys at school who secretly badmouth Heena.”

“That’s not it.”

“I want to see her every day, and I like it when I see her.”

“Like when we first started dating.”

“I guess I just like her too much.”

I told my friend, who was worried about me, my true feelings. I said a lot of things, but in the end, there was only one reason.

Because I like Heena. Because I love her.

I didn’t care about the car accident. I was just sad that the person I loved was hurting. I will always be by Heena’s side.

It was okay even if Heena didn’t love me as much as I loved her.

So what?

I love Heena this much.

I want to be by her side.

I can spend my whole life, my life, only for Heena.

That is.

My love.

After meeting Yoon-sung, the scene changed again. But I could see something different.

How should I put it?

I started to see determination in Heena’s eyes. Even while I was watching, she was doing her best in rehabilitation, regardless of my gaze.

I didn’t know why she had suddenly changed, but I cheered her on. Even if her condition didn’t improve any further, I was very happy that Heena had the will to recover.

“Ooh… Han Yeon-hoo. Are you really okay with her? Look at her eyes. She’s scary…”

“W-Well… Heena. I-It’s good that you’re working hard, but shouldn’t you take it easy…?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do it in moderation! Oppa, stay for a bit later.”

But honestly, I was a little scared. I was 벌벌 떨며 [Korean phrase for ‘trembling’] and told Heesung hyung [Korean term for ‘older brother’ used by a male] to do it 적당히 [Korean word for ‘moderately’].

By the way, Heesung hyung in the dream isn’t much different either? He’s such a consistent hyung.

After Heena started to put all her effort into rehabilitation exercises, time passed quickly.

One week, one month.

And one year.

Surprisingly, Heena’s condition was clearly improving. It wasn’t to the point where she could be completely cured, but she was able to get out of her wheelchair and walk with crutches.

I was happy. I cheered. Heena, me, and Heesung hyung too. The dream’s mother-in-law and father-in-law too. Everyone became one and cried and congratulated us.

Heena, who was crying in my arms, was as pretty as the current Heena. She was giving me a look full of affection, just like now.

Even though it was a dream, my heart was filled with joy and anticipation. I was so looking forward to the future with Heena.

I focused on studying for the life I would walk with Heena, helped with rehabilitation, and introduced Heena to my family.

And my mom and dad were, as expected, my mom and dad.

No matter what Heena’s condition was, they loved me and only looked at the heart I loved. They sincerely welcomed Heena, my girlfriend.

“You’ve been through a lot… Yeon-hoo, you have to help her well in the future.”

“Yes. You have to be her strength by her side so that Heena can gain strength.”

“No, of course… right, Heena? Uh… Hee, Heena?”

“Sniff… Th-Thank… hiccup… you… sob… n-nida [formal Korean ending]… sob…”

Heena burst into tears at the warmth, but she had to get used to it in the future. My parents, whom I respect, will love you forever without changing. Sometimes I think they like you more than me.

Every day was smooth sailing.

Heena’s rehabilitation was even smoother, and my studies and life were much more stable than before.

Moreover, Heena was now in a state where she could go out alone with crutches. Thanks to that, we were able to make a date for the two of us for the first time in a long time.

At Heena’s words that she would show her most beautiful 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’], we promised to meet at the bus stop in front of the hospital, not in the hospital.

I also sought a lot of advice from people around me. I would take care of the date plan myself, but I also wanted to show Heena my best 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’].

So I woke up early in the morning, got my hair done at the hair salon, and after 고민 [Korean word for ‘worry’ or ‘ponder’] all day with Yoonjung noona [Korean term for ‘older sister’ used by a male], I put on the clothes I had picked out.

“I’m off!”

“Yeon-hoo, fighting! Grab your girlfriend’s heart tightly!”

“Have a good time.”

I left the house with a spring in my step. I walked through the familiar alleyway and waited for the signal at the crosswalk on the main road to take the subway.

Every second of this moment to meet Heena was precious. Whether she dressed up or not, Heena was the prettiest in the world, but I couldn’t help but be excited since she said it so confidently.

And I wanted to show her my best 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’] too.

So, while looking at the texts I had exchanged with Heena in the morning, I was about to cross the crosswalk with a silly face.

The world slowed down.

In front of me, there was a child about Somang’s age, running ahead innocently, breaking free from his mother’s hand.

From the opposite side on the left, I saw a car speeding towards the child’s direction without slowing down.

And when all of those situations came into my view, a myriad of thoughts flashed through my head.

Isn’t it too late to go now?

Won’t the car stop even right in front of me?

Won’t I be in danger together if I try to save him by force?

If that happens, won’t Heena wait for a long time?

It’s not good for Heena’s legs to stand outside for a long time, will she be okay?

Actually, it didn’t matter. My body was already running towards the child, the small child who reminded me of Somang.

After pushing the child forward as if throwing him.

Bang!

I collided with the car. Even though it was a dream, I felt an immense pain all over my body. My vision was turned upside down, and I fell to the floor like a broken toy doll. I couldn’t hear the loud noises around me at all.

I just cried.

Thinking that Heena must have been in so much pain too.

Thinking that I wouldn’t be able to contact her and she would be waiting outside for a long time because of me.

Thinking that she was finally able to smile brightly, but Heena would cry again because of me.

Finally.

Finally, I was able to dream of a future with Heena, but thinking that I wouldn’t be able to do it together.

Tears flowed.

After the accident, everything went dark for a moment.

Like when I first realized it was a dream, I was looking down from above.

I was watching Heena, who was exhausted from crying and fell asleep, and then cried again when she woke up. Her eyes had lost their vitality, and she was spending her days like that.

I wanted to comfort her. I wanted to shout out loud that I was here, so don’t cry, but I couldn’t make any sound.

Like that.

In her room.

When Heena’s body, weakened by her body and mind, finally began to tilt slowly.

Like a lie.

Time began to rewind quickly. Like rewinding a tangled thread back to the beginning.

The accident I experienced.

Heena’s rehabilitation exercises.

The accident Heena experienced.

Our youthful dates.

Our first meeting.

And even passing that, passing the me when I entered university.

The me in high school came into view.

I was gathering with my friends whenever I had time to play basketball, and I was spending time dozing off during late night self-study, as usual.

Such a somewhat enjoyable yet boring day came to an end, and I was on my way home.

On that road.

There was an incredibly pretty female student with a smile blooming like a flower, waiting for me.

The child looked at me clearly with trembling eyes, as if something was welling up inside her.

Soon, she opened her small mouth and said.

That confession that changed my entire life.

“Will you date me?”

“……”

I opened my eyes. I could feel tears flowing down my cheeks.

I had a long dream. A long dream that was faint, yet definitely 자리 잡고 [Korean phrase for ‘taking its place’] in a corner of my memory.

I raised my head slightly and looked around. I was sitting on the sofa, and I could recall that I had taken a nap while leaning back due to fatigue.

When I looked at the time, I realized that less than 5 minutes had passed since I had closed my eyes. It was really just a short time.

My beloved Sarang and Somang were sitting on the floor in front of me, drawing together, and I could faintly hear Heena humming from the kitchen.

I wiped my eyes with my sleeve so that no one would see. I had no idea what kind of dream I had just had.

As I was in a bit of confusion, Heena slowly approached me from the kitchen.

“Oh? Honey, your eyes are red. Did you cry?”

“Cry? Why would I cry.”

“Your eyes are a little swollen too…”

“I’m telling you, no. More than that, Heena.”

“Yes?”

“When we first met…”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t say anything more there. I didn’t know how to start such a silly story. It felt like it would only weigh me down if I dismissed it as a funny story.

So, Heena tilted her head and smiled at me, who couldn’t continue speaking.

The moment I saw that, I thought, what does it matter? My wife is by my side like this.

The Heena who was my girlfriend in the dream is now my wife, always devoted to me.

Just as my devotion opened Heena’s heart, my girlfriend also made the present with endless devotion and love.

So all I had to do was be together.

Like this, the happy life I couldn’t achieve back then.

“I think you’ve become prettier now than when we first met…”

“Oh, what suddenly… how much?”

“Thiiiiis much?”

“Hehehe, but I’m getting old now…”

“What does it matter when you’re getting prettier and prettier.”

“Really? It’s okay if I’m pretty to you!”

“You’re the prettiest in the world. Really.”

“You too! You’re the coolest in the world!”

Yeah. This was enough. This one pretty smile that we show each other was enough.

“Ah! Only Mom and Dad again! Hug me too!”

“Somangie wants to sit on Daddy’s lap too.”

“It’s Mom’s turn first today. You two draw some more and come back~”

“I was going to sit first! Mom!”

“Daddy…”

“Somangie is using her 애교 [Korean word for ‘acting cute’] attack again! Again!”

“Oh my.”

Our family was never quiet, but I was happy because we were together. More than anything, I was even happier because Heena was smiling brightly.

I love you, Heena.

Even in that sad past, and even now.

And in the future too.

I loved you, and I will love you.

I’ll only make you smile forever.

Forever, by your side.

– The End –

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