Heavens Fated

Hee-sung pushed open the door to the nurse's office, the familiar scent of antiseptic and cool air washing over him. The quiet hum of the air conditioning was a welcome relief from the summer heat pressing against his skin.

The school nurse, a woman in her early forties with sharp, attentive eyes and a perpetually tired expression, glanced up from her paperwork. Her short brown hair was tied back neatly, and she wore a plain white coat over her uniform. Seeing Hee-sung, she sighed softly and shook her head with a small smile.

"Ah, you're back again?" she said, her voice a mix of amusement and mild concern.

Hee-sung nodded as he stepped further into the room. "Yeah," he muttered, rubbing his temple.

"Do you have your medication?" she asked, already reaching for a cup from the small stack on her desk.

"Yeah," he confirmed, fishing the small bottle from his pocket. "Can I get some water?"

The nurse handed him the cup and gestured to the farthest bed. "Go ahead and lie down for a bit. You can shut your eyes for an hour until it kicks in. School's almost over anyway."

"Thanks." Hee-sung took the water, downed the pill quickly, and made his way to the bed in the corner. It was his favourite spot, positioned perfectly under the AC unit. As he sank onto the mattress, the cool air swept over him, easing the tension in his body. Closing his eyes, he let himself drift off.

A slight rustling sound pulled Hee-sung from the depths of sleep. Blinking groggily, his vision slowly adjusted to the sight of a grinning face hovering above him.

"AHH!, when will you stop scaring me?" he groaned, voice thick with sleep.

Sang-pil smirked, lazily popping a gummy bear into his mouth. "Sorry, dude, just letting you know school finishes in ten minutes. Thought you'd rather be woken up by me than the bell."

Hee-sung eyed him dully before deadpanning, "Hmm… I honestly don't know… Yep, I'd rather the bell."

"Hey!" Sang-pil exclaimed, almost offended.

"Hahaha, I'm just kidding, just kidding." Hee-sung chuckled, sitting up and stretching. "Thanks for being so thoughtful."

"No problem," Sang-pil replied, tossing another gummy bear into his mouth and chewing dramatically.

Hee-sung rubbed his temple, the dull ache that had been present earlier now a mere whisper. "So, how's your head?" Sang-pil asked, a hint of concern lacing his otherwise casual tone.

"Better after the medication."

"Do you still not know the cause?"

Hee-sung hesitated, the weight of Sang-pil's concerned gaze pressing against him. They had been friends since childhood, and Sang-pil had been there when things had been much worse. He still remembered the day in elementary school when Hee-sung had collapsed from the pain. Two weeks in the hospital, countless tests, and endless worry—Sang-pil had visited every day, refusing to leave his side. When Hee-sung finally told him about the medication that helped, Sang-pil had been relieved beyond words.

"You haven't had these headaches in a while. What triggered it?" Sang-pil narrowed his eyes before gasping dramatically. "Don't tell me… DID YOU ALMOST FORGET TO TAKE IT?!"

Before Hee-sung could react, Sang-pil smacked him on the arm.

"Ow!" Hee-sung yelped, rubbing the sore spot.

"Unbelievable," Sang-pil huffed. "You better not mess around with this. I hate seeing you like that."

Hee-sung offered a sheepish smile. "Yeah, there must've been a lot on my mind today. I won't make that mistake again, sorry."

"You better not." Sang-pil's voice softened slightly, the usual playfulness in his eyes giving way to something more serious. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then the final bell rang, breaking the silence.

Hee-sung stood up, rolling his shoulders before patting Sang-pil's shoulder. "Ah, it's 15:30. Let's go."

The final bell echoed through the speakers, signalling the end of the school day. Hee-sung stepped out of the nurse's office with Sang-pil at his side, the lingering coolness of the air-conditioned room quickly replaced by the warm, stuffy air of the hallway. Students were already packing up, the usual end-of-day chaos filling the space with chatter and the clatter of lockers slamming shut.

Hee-sung rolled his shoulders, adjusting the strap of his bag before letting out a quiet breath. The day had been long, and though the dull ache in his head had faded, his mind was still buzzing with everything they had learned.

Beside him, Sang-pil stretched with a dramatic groan, as if he'd been trapped in a cage all day.

Sang-pil not even having to say anything as Hee-sung huffed a tired chuckle, reaching for his locker. "Yeah, no kidding."

With a soft click, he shut the door, casting one last glance at the crowded hallway before stepping forward. Whatever stress the day had brought, he could at least leave it behind... until tomorrow.

----

[15:52]

The Academy was finally done for the day. Hee-Sung let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding as he slung his backpack over his shoulder. His mind was still buzzing from his last class, but at least he could finally go home.

Beside him, Sang-Pil stretched his arms over his head with a satisfied sigh. "Man, that was brutal. Feels like the professors were all out to get us today."

Hee-Sung gave a half-hearted chuckle. "Yeah, no kidding."

The two began their walk down the hill, the descent far easier than the exhausting trek up that morning. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting the Safe Zone in hues of deep orange and soft violet. The cool breeze brushed past them, carrying the distant sounds of the city winding down.

"You sure you're good?" Sang-Pil asked after a moment. "I mean, you looked out of it earlier."

Hee-Sung hesitated before giving a small nod. "Yeah. Just… a lot on my mind."

Sang-Pil studied him for a second before sighing. "Alright, well, don't overthink too much. And hey—good luck with your aunt."

Hee-Sung groaned, already dreading the impending conversation. "I'll need it."

Sang-Pil smirked. "Try not to get grounded."

"No promises."

They exchanged a brief farewell before parting ways, and Hee-Sung soon found himself standing outside his house, staring at the door. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, trying to summon the will to step inside. He knew Aunt Cha was going to be waiting. He knew exactly what she was going to say.

And yet, he still wasn't ready.

As if she could sense his hesitation, the door swung open before he even reached for the handle. Aunt Cha stood there, arms crossed, her sharp eyes locking onto him immediately.

Hee-Sung swallowed hard and gave her a sheepish, nervous smile. She wasn't the affectionate type, but she wasn't cold either. Kind, caring—yes. But strict, serious, and unwavering when it came to discipline, training, chores, curfew, and, most importantly, his medication.

"You know we need to talk, right?" she said after a long silence.

Hee-Sung sighed. "Yes."

He stepped inside, slipping off his shoes and setting down his backpack as he followed her into the living room. Aunt Cha motioned to the couch, and he sat down while she took her usual seat opposite him.

Another beat of silence. Then—

"The Academy called," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "They told me you had another episode."

Hee-Sung fidgeted with his fingers, guilt settling deep in his stomach. He knew he had messed up. The headaches could be avoided if he just took his medication properly, and yet—

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I had a lot on my mind, so I almost forgot BUT! I didn't."

Aunt Cha's gaze hardened. "That's not the point. I told you to never miss a dose. What have I always told you?"

Hee-Sung sighed, reciting the familiar words. "Carelessness can lead to mistakes, mistakes to accidents, and accidents to injuries."

"Good," she said. "Don't let it happen again."

She leaned back into the sofa, folding her arms as she studied him. After a moment, she raised a brow. "So, what was on your mind that made you almost forget to take something you take every single day?"