Page 106 of Wish Upon a K-Star

I press the wound harder. His weight is now leaning almost completely onto me. I wrap my arm around his shoulder to hold him steady. Or maybe it’s to hold me steady. I let my cheek rest gently on the top of his head. Where is Ana? Why isn’t anyone coming to help?

“How did you know?” I ask.

“You were gone too long. Shin Hyeri would never shirk her responsibilities.”

I laugh. “So, my good manners alerted you?”

“Maybe I’m a little bit psychic too.”

I laugh again, but it turns into a bit of a sob. “Sure, let’s go with that.”

“Hyeri?” Minseok asks, his voice slurred. “Earlier, you were right, I never should have made that decision for you. I never should have done a lot of things to you.…”

“Oppa, I didn’t—”

The door bursts open with a flood of people and shouting voices.

Medics enter, carefully taking Minseok from me and lifting him onto a gurney. They carry him away before I can protest.

I fall to the floor, staring at the crumpled jacket in my hands, covered in his blood.

“Hyeri!” Hongjoo hurries into the room, and her eyes widen as she sees me. She practically slides across the floor, her arms coming around me.

“Eonni!” The word comes out as a sob and finally, the tears I held back start to fall.

It’s been twelve hours and no one will tell me how Minseok is doing.

I’ve been kept in the hospital overnight for observation. Even though the worst of my injuries was a dislocated shoulder and a few bruises.

I haven’t seen anyone except my nurses and Hongjoo all night.

If no one gives me an update on Minseok soon, I’m just going to go find him myself.

In fact, I start to climb out of my bed and slip on the little disposable slippers the hospital provides. I have no idea where Hongjoo put my shoes or my clothes. But I don’t care.

I’m trying to put my IV on the portable pole when the door opens. I freeze guiltily, assuming it’s probably Hongjoo. But it’s not. It’s Kim Ana.

She’s also attached to an IV, but she’s wearing normal clothes. Not her dress from the awards, but a set of sweats. I guess her manager brought them for her.

“Ana, are you okay?”

She stops a foot away from me, frowning, like she’s not sure what to say.

“What is it? Is it Minseok?” My chest constricts with fear.

“No, I don’t know anything about his status,” she clarifies quickly. “But I wanted to see you.”

“Okay” is all I say, waiting for her to continue.

“I guess I just wanted to say thank you.”

I laugh. “I don’t even remember half the things I said or did. I just wanted to get away from him.”

“So, do you remember what he said about all the things he did to you? The rumors? Leaking your information?”

I nod. “Yeah, I remember.”

“When they were taking him away, he was rambling about a pool. How he didn’t know you couldn’t swim. Does that mean anything to you?”

---