Chapter 12: Carrying You on My Back
The sound of an ambulance siren echoed in the early dawn, striking fear into the hearts of those in the old apartment building and causing a stir throughout the complex. Rumors spread at the speed of light.
"Someone was murdered!"
"A brutal sexual assault!"
"That house got robbed, the killer wiped out the whole family!"
While the whole neighborhood buzzed in terror and speculation, the person at the center of it all sat quietly in the ambulance, eyes wide open, causing the accompanying medics to urge the driver to go faster out of worry.
"Hang in there, miss!"
Ahn Hae seemed to tune out the nurse's encouraging words, her eyes fixed on the ceiling of the ambulance, tightly clutching a small note in her hand as if her life depended on it. Judging from the slight upward twitch of her lips she was trying to suppress, it was clear she was… overjoyed.
Eventually, she couldn't hold it in anymore and let out a soft, satisfied laugh, confusing the nurses even more. But she didn't care—her mind was filled only with the gentle image of Leo.
Fifteen minutes earlier.
Leo hurriedly helped Ahn Hae sit down on a chair, then crouched in front of her to examine her ankle, which was visibly swollen.
"What are you doing?"
His sudden action startled her, and she instinctively pulled her leg back in fear, only to make it hurt more. She winced in pain.
Leo frowned, clearly unhappy, and firmly placed her foot on his knee.
"Hold still so I can take a look."
Leo rarely used that serious tone—especially not with fans. Hearing it up close, Ahn Hae felt like she was under some kind of spell, her resistance completely disarmed. She obediently let him check her ankle.
"It's definitely a sprain."
Leo examined it carefully, making Ahn Hae feel flustered. Her face heated up, and she turned her head away in embarrassment, afraid he'd notice the way she was openly swooning over him. Good thing she had chosen warm yellow lights for her apartment; otherwise, her strawberry-red cheeks would've been too obvious.
"I'll take you to the hospital, okay?"
As soon as she heard that, Ahn Hae quickly shook off her shyness and objected, "No! I'm fine. Don't do that!"
"It's all swollen and red. How is that fine?" he frowned.
"A bit of ointment and massage, and it'll go away. It's really not a big deal," Ahn Hae chuckled awkwardly. "Besides… if you take me to the hospital, things will get messy."
Leo looked at the forced smile on her pain-stricken face and sighed. She was clearly hurting, sweating even, but still trying to act tough.
Seeing her like that stirred something in him. It reminded him of the days when he had no one by his side and had to endure pain all alone—because even if he cried or broke down, there'd be no one to comfort him.
"I'll call an ambulance then," Leo said, already standing up and pulling out his phone.
"Wait!" Ahn Hae lunged forward to stop him, but he easily dodged her. "It's not that serious—I don't need an ambulance!"
"Ahn Hae," Leo said, voice low and firm. "Just listen to me, okay?"
He looked her straight in the eyes—deep, dark, and full of something old and heavy. For a second, she froze.
She had seen that look before—in her own reflection during those hopeless nights standing at the edge of life and death. It was the look of someone completely alone, helpless, with no one to turn to.
Why did Leo have that look? What had he been through?
Suddenly, Leo felt like a stranger. Not the bright, optimistic Leo she had admired and drawn strength from, but someone entirely different. Yet strangely, this Leo didn't push her away—he pulled her in, made her want to dig deeper into those shadowed eyes to uncover what he had buried.
"…Okay. Call them."
Her sudden obedience caught Leo off guard.
"Oh… right…"
But with getting her to the hospital now the top priority, he didn't waste another second. It was as if he was afraid she might change her mind again.
Ahn Hae looked up at him, his back turned as he made the call. The moonlight cast a soft silver glow on his broad shoulders. Maybe it was the pain messing with her mind, but his back looked unbearably lonely—so much so that she just wanted to run up and hug him from behind.
Everything tonight felt surreal to Ahn Hae, like a dream—too fast, too blurry. She wasn't even sure it was real. But still, she wanted to savor it a little longer—the way Leo was worrying about her.
"They said the ambulance will be here in ten minutes. Let me carry you downstairs."
Leo grabbed her coat from the hanger and helped her put it on. Then, he knelt and turned his back to her.
Ahn Hae hesitated, wanting to refuse. But she didn't want to see that look of disappointment in his eyes again, so she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Sorry to trouble you…"
Feeling her weight settle onto his back, Leo stood up and carried her out. He supported her legs with his arms but kept his hands carefully positioned so they wouldn't touch her skin. It was a small gesture, but it made Ahn Hae feel safe and respected.
Ahn Hae wasn't heavy—lighter than most people her age—but carrying an adult wasn't easy. She noticed sweat forming on Leo's temples, even in the winter air. Without thinking, she reached up and wiped it for him.
Leo froze.
"What are you doing?" His voice wasn't angry—more like amused.
"I… I wiped your sweat."
Realizing what she'd done, Ahn Hae was mortified. She had touched her idol—was she insane? Thankfully, he couldn't see her fake smile since she was on his back.
But then, she heard him chuckle softly. Maybe he wasn't mad?
"Well, then… could you wipe the other side too?"
"Huh?"
"This side's getting jealous."
"Oh—uh, sure!"
Ahn Hae quickly did as told, wiping the other side. Thankfully, she couldn't see the blush creeping up Leo's cheeks—whether from exhaustion or her adorable gestures, even he didn't know. But his smile reached his eyes.
Downstairs, Leo gently set her down on the steps to wait for the ambulance. He sat beside her, breathing heavily.
Seeing him like that made her heart ache. She spoke in a guilty voice, "I'm sorry…"
"Why are you apologizing?" Leo looked confused. "I should be the one saying sorry."
"What? But you didn't do anything wrong…"
"I showed up at your place uninvited, and now you're hurt… I must look like a complete jerk."
Ahn Hae panicked. "Don't say that! The fan community will kill me!"
Leo wasn't used to her strange lingo, so he just gave a helpless smile. "I'm sorry, Ahn Hae."
"…It's okay."
It had been so long since anyone apologized to Ahn Hae that she forgot what it felt like. She was always the one apologizing first—when her boss harassed her, when customers gave her a hard time at the convenience store. She'd said "I'm sorry" so many times, the words had lost their meaning.
But Leo said it to her—genuinely, sincerely. Her eyes stung a little.
"I really mean it. Thank you."
Leo blinked. "For what?"
"Nothing, really. I just… wanted to say thanks. For everything." Ahn Hae smiled. "Just knowing you is already a blessing, but getting to talk to you like this… it makes me feel like choosing to keep living was the right choice."
Leo was taken aback by her heartfelt words. Her eyes glowed with a light like morning sunshine—warm and radiant. That gaze watered a seed buried deep inside his soul, something he hadn't realized was growing there. It wasn't unpleasant—it felt soft. Sweet, even.
Suddenly, the distant sound of a siren blared.
"It's here! You have to hide!" Ahn Hae shouted in a panic.
Leo laughed at her mouse-like reaction, but instead of running, he pulled a pink sticky note from his pocket and handed it to her. She recognized it—it was from her desk. When had he taken it?
"This is my Kakao account. Let me know how things go at the hospital, okay?"
Ahn Hae stared at the note in shock. A celebrity's private account was... private. Why was he giving it to her, a fangirl he had only met twice?
She looked up at Leo, her face clearly screaming, "Are you out of your mind?"
Leo shook his head, completely defeated. "I'm perfectly sane. I just think you're a good person, Ahn Hae. I'd like to be friends. Is that okay?"
His last question came out almost like a plea. With that pitiful look on his face, how could she possibly say no? She nodded like she was hypnotized.
"O-okay!"
"Then I'll go. Don't forget to message me!"
Seeing the ambulance pull into the alley, Leo quickly said goodbye, pulled his mask on, and walked off—but not before glancing back one more time to check on her.
As for Ahn Hae, she sat there, completely dazed, clutching the note like a precious treasure. Even when the medics loaded her into the ambulance, she was still grinning—so much so that they began to wonder if they were taking her to the wrong kind of hospital.
* * *