UAI Chapter 12

 Episode 12

A few days later.

Knock knock.

As usual, the bodyguard who was on duty stifled a laugh at the sound of knocking from beneath the door.  

Without needing to look, he already knew who the person knocking was.  

When he slightly opened the door and peeked inside, Sejin was standing there.  

“Sejin, is there something you need?” 

“Uncle! Eat this.”  

Sejin handed the bread that his uncles had bought as a snack to the bodyguard.  

“Oh. You can eat it, Sejin. I don’t need it.”  

“No, Uncle is hungry!”  

The bodyguards, who worked 12-hour shifts, barely had time to visit the restroom, let alone eat while on duty.  

Even though Hajin had told them to eat while working, they refused, saying it was their own code of conduct.  

'How can they work 12 hours without eating? Aren’t they going too far?'

Upon learning this, Sejin began bringing snacks to the bodyguards during meal times.  

Although it was a bit awkward for the bodyguards, it was difficult to refuse food given by such an adorable child who was thinking of them.  

“Ha ha. You should be used to it by now. Just come in, eat quickly, and then go back to work. Otherwise, Sejin might keep bothering you.”  

The caregiver lady chimed in with a laugh.  

In the end, the bodyguard was led into the room by Sejin and sat down at the table in the lounge where food was placed.  

Watching with a smile, Hajin offered the food to the bodyguard.  

“Bodyguard, just give up and come in to eat. Sejin is stubborn, so he’ll keep this up until you give in. Haha.”  

“Well, it’s part of our policy. Haha.”  

The bodyguard scratched his head, embarrassed.  

“It's just a snack, not a full meal, so it should be fine, right? And since we’re the ones who hired you, you don’t have to worry. Please, go ahead and eat.”  

“Yes! Uncle, here!”  

Sejin quickly handed the sandwich to the bodyguard.  

He even pierced a straw into the strawberry milk he loved and placed it in front of him.  

“Thank you. I’ll eat well. And thank you too, Sejin.”  

Eventually, the bodyguard thanked him and took a bite of the sandwich.  

The caregiver lady promptly peeled some fruit and placed it on a plate.  

“This batch of pears is really refreshing and sweet. Here, Sejin, have one too.”  

She handed a pear piece on a fork to Sejin and offered fruit to everyone else as well.  

Sejin happily ate the pear and then poked a strawberry on his plate with his fork.  

“This is so sweet! It’s like I’ve hit the jackpot—I get to eat fruits I couldn’t afford before.”  

For a while, the bodyguard ate his sandwich while Sejin and the others enjoyed the fruits.  

Once the bodyguard had eaten enough, he stood up from his seat and said,  

“Thank you for the food. I’ll go back to my post now.”  

“Is that all you’re going to eat? You’re so big, but you’ve eaten so little!”  

The caregiver lady asked worriedly.  

“Haha. No, it’s fine. Eating too much during work makes it harder to focus, so I usually avoid heavy meals while on duty. I’ve already eaten plenty. I’ll be heading back out now.”  

The bodyguard gave a polite bow and stepped out of the room.  

Watching him leave, Hajin turned to the caregiver lady and said,  

“Auntie, you should go and have your meal too.”  

Both Hajin and Sejin had already eaten lunch, and it was nearly 2 PM.  

“Oh, I’ve had so many snacks that I’m not really hungry.”  

“You should still have a proper meal. Otherwise, you’ll be starving by the time 7 PM rolls around.”  

“Hmm, you’re right. If I don’t eat now, it’ll be hard to find the right time later. I’ll go have a quick bite.”  

“Alright, enjoy your meal!”  

“What will you and Sejin do in the meantime?”  

“We’re planning to take a walk in the rooftop garden soon.”  

“Oh, that sounds great! The weather today is perfect for a walk.”  

“Yes, it’s neither too hot nor too cold—just right.”  

“Okay then, I’ll be off. Sejin, enjoy your walk!”  

“Okay!”  

The caregiver gathered her things and left the room.  

It was now mid-April, and it had been nearly two weeks since Sejin woke up.  

Until now, he had only been walking around inside the hospital room for exercise, but after hearing from the nurse about a rooftop garden exclusively for VIP patients, Hajin decided to take Sejin there today.  

He had wanted to let him enjoy some fresh air, but the ground-level walking paths were too crowded and open for both of them to comfortably visit.  

Though the weather was warm, Hajin made Sejin wear the cardigan Jaewon had gifted him, just in case.  

“Alright, Sejin. Let’s head up to the rooftop and take a walk in the garden.”  

Hajin held Sejin’s hand and stood up.  

“Uncle, Teddy Bear!”  

“Oh, are you bringing Teddy Bear along too?”  

“Yes!”  

The teddy bear that Hwan had given him as a gift had become Sejin’s favorite.  

The soft fur and fluffy texture comforted him and lifted his spirits, so he always kept it close.  

Once they packed the teddy bear into Sejin’s arms, they were finally ready to leave the room.  

“Bodyguard, we’re going up to the rooftop garden for a walk.”  

“I’ll come with you.”  

“Oh, that’s not necessary. The rooftop garden is only for VIP patients, so it’s completely safe. There’s no need to worry.”  

“Still, just in case, I’ll accompany you.”  

“No, really, it’s fine. Please take a break while we’re gone. We’ll be back soon.”  

“Uncle! Bye-bye!”  

Unable to insist further, the bodyguard stayed behind while Hajin and Sejin took the elevator to the rooftop.  

As the rooftop door opened, the garden came into view.  

A winding path stretched ahead, lined with well-maintained, colorful flowers and trees.  

At the far end of the garden, there was a small greenhouse, and benches were placed along the path for visitors to rest.  

“Wow~~!”

Sejin was in awe of the beautifully landscaped garden that didn’t feel like it was on a rooftop.  

Feeling the refreshing breeze after so long, Sejin let go of Hajin’s hand and ran ahead.  

“Huh? Sejin! Be careful, you might fall!”  

Hajin shouted at Sejin, but—  

Thud!

“Oh no!”  

Not watching where he was going, Sejin bumped into someone who was walking in the garden.  

Startled, Hajin quickly ran over to them.  

“I’m so sorry! My nephew wasn’t looking where he was running and bumped into you. Are you hurt anywhere?”  

Hajin bowed apologetically to the person Sejin had collided with.  

“Haha, don’t worry. I wouldn’t get hurt from bumping into a little one like him. But is our little boy okay?”  

The elderly man, who seemed to be in his sixties, asked Sejin with a kind smile.  

“Yes, Grandpa. I’m sorry.”  

Sejin cheerfully apologized, and the old man gently patted his head.  

“What a brave little one! And now that I look closer, you’re quite a good-looking young boy. How old are you, my little friend?”  

“I’m three years old! My name is Lee Sejin!”  

“Oh my, what a loud and confident introduction. Haha!”  

“Heehee!”  

“Hm, if you’re a child admitted here, you must be the one I’ve heard about. They say your family is in show business. So, the person with you must be the famous celebrity, right?”  

At the old man’s words, Hajin bowed again and introduced himself.  

“Yes, hello. My name is Seo Hajin. I’m both a singer and an actor. Sejin here is my nephew.”  

“Haha, nice to meet you. I’m a bit too old to follow entertainment news, so I wouldn’t recognize you. Please don’t take offense.”  

“Not at all. Older folks don’t usually know much about idols, so there’s no need to worry.”  

“Well, since we’ve met by chance, why don’t you and your nephew come visit my room sometime? I’ll serve some delicious refreshments.”  

“Oh, thank you very much.”  

“I mean it. My room is 3005. Come by whenever you like.”  

“Okay, we will. Thank you.”  

“Good, then enjoy your walk. I’ll be heading back now.”  

“Take care on your way.”  

As the old man turned to leave, Sejin suddenly grabbed onto his pant leg.  

“Huh??”  

Surprised, the old man looked at Sejin and asked,  

“Why? Do you have something to say to me?”  

“Grandpa, when can we come?”  

“Hm? When can you come for what?”  

“When can we visit Grandpa?”  

“Hahaha! This little one! Do you want to visit Grandpa’s room soon?”  

“Yes!”  

“Se-Sejin!”  

Hajin called his name, flustered.  

“Haha! It’s alright. Well then, Grandpa is free anytime, so come whenever you want.”  

“Then, how about tomorrow?”  

“Haha. They say you should strike while the iron is hot—what amazing determination! Alright! I’ll prepare something delicious for tomorrow at this time, so come and visit, okay?”  

“Yes!!”  

“No, that’s really not necessary! I’m so sorry. Please don’t pay attention to what Sejin said. I’ll talk to him, so there’s no need for you to trouble yourself.”  

Hajin quickly interjected and apologized.  

“Oh, it’s no trouble. I wasn’t just saying it for the sake of it. Don’t worry, and feel free to visit my room tomorrow at this time with your spirited nephew. Alright?”  

“Oh, thank you. I’m sorry, and I appreciate your kindness.”  

“Great! I’ll look forward to seeing you both tomorrow. Now, I’ll be off for real this time.”  

“Goodbye, take care!”  

“Bye-bye, Grandpa!”  

Sejin enthusiastically waved his little hand, like a fluttering autumn leaf, at the departing old man.  

Once the elevator doors closed and the elderly man disappeared from view, Hajin, who had been quiet until then, looked down at Sejin.  

“Lee Sejin!! Who told you it’s okay to behave like that to someone you’ve just met? Huh? And what were you thinking, running off on your own? What if you tripped and got hurt? Huh?!”  

With his hands on his hips, Hajin scolded him sternly.  

“Uncle, I’m sorry. I was wrong!”  

Hearing his sincere apology, Hajin sighed and knelt down to meet his gaze.  

“Since Sejin seems to understand, I won’t say more, but don’t do it again, okay? Always be polite to others, and don’t run around carelessly outside. If you fall and hurt yourself, it’ll hurt a lot, won’t it?”  

“Yes.”  

“Good. Now, let’s continue our garden walk. Here, hold my hand.”  

Sejin quickly grabbed Hajin’s outstretched hand, and the two began leisurely strolling through the garden.  

‘I have this strong feeling we should get closer to that grandpa. Ever since I became this way, my intuition has been sharper. The moment I saw him, I felt like building a connection with him would be helpful. I can’t miss this chance.  

Who trusts those casual “Let’s grab a meal someday” or “We’ll meet again later” phrases? You have to seize opportunities when they come. In this world, knowing people and building connections is vital, especially in the entertainment industry.  

For both my uncle and my future acting career, I need to build a strong network. The entertainment world revolves around connections, school ties, and regional ties. So, if I meet someone like that, I must befriend them! Uncle, I’m sorry in advance. Hehe.’  

Sejin thought to himself, mischievously.  

Unaware of his nephew’s thoughts, Hajin was enjoying the cool breeze and the sight of the flowers.  

Since the accident involving his sister’s family, he had spent most of his time cooped up at home or shuttling between there and the hospital. He couldn’t even remember the last time he felt this relaxed.  

“Sejin, aren’t the flowers beautiful? Smell them. They even smell wonderful.”  

Sejin squatted down to sniff the flowers while holding his teddy bear close.  

Hajin couldn’t resist capturing the heartwarming scene and quickly started snapping photos with his phone.  

He now understood why parents’ phones are always full of pictures of their kids.  

While his phone was already full of photos of Sejin that his sister and her husband had sent him, now he was the one taking countless pictures. His photo gallery was overflowing with Sejin’s pictures.  

After Sejin finally got tired of posing like a model, the two finished their walk in the garden and returned to the hospital room.  

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