“Please, tell me what happened to my father!” Gomi begged, her voice shaky with desperation. The nurses were just standing around after calling it an emergency—why aren’t they doing something?

The older nurse, who Gomi overheard being called Nurse Shin, hesitated before finally heading in her direction. Her furrowed brow and the way she exchanged uneasy glances with the fidgeting younger nurse only made Gomi more anxious.

“Where is Nurse Lee?” Gomi asked, her patience wearing thin. “She’s the one who’s been in charge of my father.”

“I’ll page her,” Nurse Shin said softly, though her attention seemed elsewhere, her fingers already moving to dial. After a short call, she hung up and met Gomi’s gaze. “Nurse Lee will be here shortly to provide you with more details.”

Gomi’s anxiety spiked as two men in dark suits approached the nurse’s station, whispering with Nurse Shin, who shook her head in a way that made Gomi’s heart race even faster.

Just then, a familiar face came rushing down the hall toward her. It was Nurse Lee, her chin-length brown bob swaying with each hurried step.

“Miss Gomi!” she called.

“Nurse Lee, what happened to my father?” Gomi blurted out before the nurse could even catch her breath.

The deep furrow in Nurse Lee’s brow and the worry in her eyes sent a chill down Gomi’s spine. “He… had a relapse in his treatment.”

A relapse? Gomi’s stomach dropped, but there was no urgency in Nurse Lee’s voice, which confused her.

“Is it… is it serious?” she asked, her voice a little steadier now.

Nurse Lee gave her a small smile and shook her head. “It’s manageable, but he’ll need some extra care.”

“Can I see him?” Gomi asked, already stepping toward the hallway.

Nurse Lee nodded and gestured for them to follow. Jenny gave her a reassuring pat on the back as they made their way down the sterile hallway.

Nurse Lee pushed the door open, and there was Gomi’s dad, lying in bed, his black hair a bit disheveled, his face pale but peaceful. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was a small comfort, but the sight of the IV in his arm was unsettling.

Gomi rushed to his bedside, grabbing his hand. “Dad, can you hear me?”

He didn’t respond. His hand was cold, and for a brief moment, panic started to rise in her chest.

“Is it really serious?” Gomi asked, turning toward Nurse Lee. “Why did he relapse? What caused it?”

“Well…” Nurse Lee began, fumbling with the IV pouch. “That is—”

Suddenly, Gomi’s father shot upright in bed like a zombie in a horror film, his eyes wide open. “I relapsed because I missed you so much!”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Gomi’s eyes widened in disbelief, her hands frozen in place.

“What took you so long?” her father asked, grinning from ear to ear and holding his arms out for a hug. “I missed your pretty face.”

Gomi’s lips twitched in frustration, and she hit him lightly on the shoulder. “How could you joke about your health like that?!”

“Ow!” he winced, clutching his arm dramatically. “I’m a patient! You can’t just hit a patient, right Nurse Lee? Tell her!”

“I’m sorry for making you worry,” Nurse Lee apologized with a slight bow, clearly used to Mr. Kim’s antics.

“It’s so boring here. Nurse Lee is the only one who will play with me,” her dad whined, pursing his lips in mock sadness.

Gomi sighed, the tension finally releasing from her shoulders. “I’m so sorry for my father’s childish behavior, Nurse Lee.”

Nurse Lee smiled warmly. “It’s no problem at all. He brightens up this wing of the hospital, so you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. His treatment is finished for today.”

“I’ll go grab us some drinks!” Jenny said cheerfully, darting out of the room before Gomi could respond.

Her dad patted her head softly. “Do you forgive me, Daughter?”

Gomi frowned but couldn’t stop a small smile from tugging at her lips. “You’re lucky you’re already in a hospital bed.”

He shivered playfully, hugging himself. “Does Bomi come out during the day now?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Bomi would’ve burned this whole place down.”

“Alright, alright,” he laughed, throwing his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry! You know I was just kidding. But how’s the new apartment? Is it in a safe area?”

Gomi paused, debating how much to tell him. “Safe enough for me.” It wasn’t entirely a lie, but not the truth either.

Her father’s expression darkened with concern. “Gomi, you’re strong, but you don’t need to take unnecessary risks.”

“Don’t worry! I learned taekwondo from the best master,” she said with a grin, flexing her arm. “I’ll be fine.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “You’re too much like me. I’m always making my daughter worry.”

Just then, Jenny popped her head back in, balancing three canned fruit juices in her arms. “Mr. Kim, it’s been so long!”

“Jenny!” he exclaimed, his face lighting up. “You’ve grown so much. I remember when you got gum stuck in your hair, and we had matching haircuts.”

Jenny blushed, laughing. “Ugh, don’t remind me! Everyone started calling me Johnny because I looked like a boy!”

Her dad chuckled and raised his juice in a toast. “Jenny, I’m counting on you to keep an eye on my daughter. These Seoul boys don’t stand a chance against Day Gomi.”

“Hey!” Gomi protested, but they both just laughed.

As the laughter filled the room, Gomi’s heart felt lighter. Seeing the color return to her dad’s face and hearing his voice strong again gave her hope. The treatment seemed to be working.

But in the back of her mind, the fear still lingered. What if she lost him, too?