I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: SemiPickle

━━━━━━♡♥♡━━━━━━

I tried to see what Si-Hoo was doing.

The moment I stepped outside to follow him, I got caught.

It was as if he had planted a surveillance device on me because he noticed immediately.

And, as expected, he appeared right in front of me.

“How did you know?”

I had left the house at a time when there was no way he could have noticed.

Did he teleport or something?

“I told you not to come outside. It’s dangerous out there.”

“Why?”

“Please stay at home for now. Especially when I’m not around…”

“……”

Si-Hoo was acting strange again.

Way too strange.

And after organizing my thoughts, I came to a conclusion—I might be seriously ill.

“Si-Hoo, so this is…”

“What’s wrong?”

“I must have amnesia, right? That’s what this is.”

It was a reasonable assumption.

“Because suddenly you’ve gotten taller, everything about you seems different, the house feels off, and… I’m even taking strange medications…”

It’s clear my memories are messed up.

Did I have some sort of accident?

Si-Hoo stayed silent.

“Answer me. Are you going to keep hiding the truth from me, or will you finally tell me?”

“I’ll explain later. Not now.”

“Why can’t you explain it now?”

He’s hiding so much from me.

It’s disappointing.

But I could tell he must have his reasons.

“It’s a reason you’ll understand. So, please, can we talk about this later? It’s all for your sake.”

He said this while holding my hand.

It felt warm.

“For my sake?”

“Yes.”

If that’s the case, I’ll trust him.

Sure.

I should listen to him.

Right.

But holding hands like this…

“Um, Si-Hoo?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re burning up. Are you sick?”

His hands weren’t just warm—they were hot.

He seemed to be sweating coldly as well.

Si-Hoo was definitely unwell.

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“That’s a lie. Don’t lie to me—you’re clearly sick.”

Si-Hoo’s health had been deteriorating lately.

It seemed like he was also using some kind of medicine excessively.

What’s going on?

“It’s temporary. I’m just tired from training.”

“Training? What kind of training?”

“You know. The kind I do to protect you.”

I remembered it.

The sight of Si-Hoo swinging a sword, saying he’d protect me.

But does practicing swordsmanship cause a fever?

It really just seemed like he was ill.

“…Hmm…”

But I couldn’t argue with him.

Whatever he was doing, he was even cutting down on sleep.

I should listen to him.

Right.

“I’m sorry. Once everything is over… I’ll stay with you all the time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“You promise?”

“Yeah, I promise.”

Si-Hoo always kept his promises.

So, I guess I could be at ease?

“Still, you need to take care of your body, okay? Don’t push yourself when you’re sick, got it?”

“Don’t worry.”

I don’t need to worry, right?

That’s true, isn’t it?

I forced a smile.

—

It seemed like Si-Hoo was coming back, so I looked out the window.

It was late at night again.

What was he up to?

He wasn’t alone.

There was someone with him.

It looked like they were supporting Si-Hoo, helping him walk.

Long white hair stood out prominently.

A woman?

Why was someone like her with Si-Hoo?

I’d never seen her before.

Did something bad happen to Si-Hoo?

She looked dangerous.

Si-Hoo didn’t seem to be in good condition.

He staggered like he was drunk, leaning on her for support.

“Who?”

Who is that?

She might be dangerous.

She might have something to do with why Si-Hoo has been acting strange.

“Who? Who is she?”

A weapon.

I needed a weapon.

I grabbed a kitchen knife from the counter.

Then I dashed out the door.

I had never fought anyone before.

I wasn’t even sure I could stab someone with this knife.

“Who is she, who is she, who is she?”

Running barefoot made my feet hurt.

But I couldn’t just stand by when Si-Hoo might be in danger.

How could he say not to worry and then come back like this?

I saw Si-Hoo and the white-haired woman.

“Ah-?”

The white-haired woman looked startled.

“Wh-Who are you? What did you do to Si-Hoo?”

I yelled, pointing the knife at her.

“Ah, oh, I’m Si-Hoo’s friend. Don’t worry.”

“That’s a lie. Si-Hoo never mentioned meeting a friend. I’ve never seen a friend like you.”

That was a lie.

She was suspicious.

“…I’m a colleague, someone he works with. Si-Hoo overexerted himself and collapsed, so I’m bringing him home.”

“A colleague?”

“Something like that.”

“What do you do? What are you doing with Si-Hoo?”

Si-Hoo had colleagues?

Why didn’t he tell me?

I couldn’t let my suspicions go.

I gripped the knife tightly.

The blade trembled in my hands.

“Answer me. I’ll stab you if you’re a bad person.”

“I’m not a bad person. I’ll leave Si-Hoo here. Talk to him, and you’ll see for yourself. Here.”

The white-haired woman gently laid an unconscious Si-Hoo on the ground.

What was this?

That expression of guilt on her face…

People who had wronged me in the past had shown me that same look.

“Si-Hoo!”

I ran to him immediately.

The white-haired woman disappeared as if fleeing.

The important thing is Si-Hoo.

“Si-Hoo.”

No response.

I supported him and brought him inside the house for now.

“Are you okay? Huh? Hey?”

He didn’t look okay.

He seemed even worse.

His fever had risen higher, and his breathing was labored.

Who was that woman earlier?

Why did he meet her in secret?

And why was he leaning on her for support?

He doesn’t even want to lean on me.

When will he explain the truth to me?

Plop.

Si-Hoo collapsed onto the blanket as if falling.

“What exactly happened…”

He seemed quite close to that woman who called herself his colleague.

White hair, and she was somewhat pretty.

She even had this strangely noble aura.

I grabbed a kitchen knife, thinking I should stab her if she’s a bad person.

But what if she’s a good person?

She’s not his girlfriend, right?

Could he have gotten a lover without telling me?

Even if he did, it’s not like I could say anything about it.

I’d just feel annoyed.

“Si-Hoo.”

The kitchen knife was still in my hand.

To deal with whoever the bad person is.

Who could be the bad one?

Si-Hoo was unconscious.

“Si-Hoo?”

I whispered into his ear.

You promised to protect me.

I don’t know what you’re doing out there or who you’re meeting behind my back…

“Don’t abandon me… okay?”

The blade of the knife glinted.

Of course, I wasn’t planning to stab Si-Hoo.

“Hehehe.”

Yeah, that’s it.

If I told him not to leave me, I need to become someone he won’t want to abandon.

If I act too childish, he’ll dislike it.

I need to help Si-Hoo.

I don’t like the idea of one person clinging like a parasite.

Give and take.

I need to give Si-Hoo something too.

“When you wake up, you’re going to go out again, right?”

No response.

Si-Hoo seemed to be asleep.

“You’ll just tell me to wait again, without explaining anything.”

Still, I believed there must be a reason.

But if that reason is to meet a woman, I’d be disappointed.

If you’re going to meet someone, just say so and go!

Tell me directly if I’m getting in the way.

What are you even doing?

I rolled up Si-Hoo’s sleeve.

I didn’t know what kind of drugs he was using, but there were more injection marks.

Do people usually use syringes this much?

Why?

“You’re using drugs all over the place… are you even going to the hospital?”

No response.

Si-Hoo seemed to smell faintly of medicine.

I even thought I smelled another woman’s scent on him, which irritated me.

“…When you wake up, you have to explain everything to me, okay?”

He had to.

“I’ll make breakfast, so…”

It was 3 a.m.

I couldn’t sleep at all.

Extreme thoughts kept coming to me.

***

Eventually, Si-Hoo woke up.

Did it take about five hours?

It was morning.

“Are you awake?”

I had been awake the entire time.

I placed a wet towel on his forehead when his fever rose.

“Ah… um?”

He looked around.

“The house…?”

He was trying to clear his mind.

I hoped he’d wake up quickly.

He had a lot to explain to me.

“Don’t you remember?”

“Ah… so I came home.”

What exactly had he done that he couldn’t remember coming back?

Suspicious.

But he’d remember being with that woman.

“You collapsed in front of the house.”

The girl left you there.

“I see. Sorry, you must’ve had a hard time carrying me.”

“What were you doing yesterday?”

“……”

Again, no answer.

“Are you doing something alone? Or are there others with you?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“That’s too much.”

“Sorry, I’ll explain later. I really will…”

The same conversation kept repeating.

There was no progress.

Si-Hoo wouldn’t say anything.

“Ah, it’s 8 o’clock… I need to head out again. Sorry.”

“Wait, eat before you go. I made something, even if it’s simple.”

“Ah…”

There weren’t many ingredients, and I wasn’t great at cooking.

I just mixed rice with tuna and soy sauce.

If we had instant noodles with it, it’d be decent.

Si-Hoo seemed like he couldn’t refuse, so he sat at the table.

He took a bite of the food.

“It’s good.”

“Right?”

He took a few more bites, but then said reluctantly, “I’d like to eat more, but… I really need to go quickly.”

“Not… good?”

“No, it’s not that, I’m just busy.”

That busy?

What is he doing that’s so urgent?

“Come back early today. Let’s hang out together.”

I feel like I’m forgetting how to have fun.

“I’ll try my best. Once this is over, everything will be fine.”

What exactly will be fine?

I’m not fine.

Si-Hoo wouldn’t just not come back one day, would he?

He wouldn’t suddenly cut contact, saying he’s done with me, right?

“Hey… isn’t the house clean? I cleaned it up. Did well, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Am I being helpful to you?”

I asked him directly.

“You’re already more than enough help, even if you don’t do anything.”

He said that, but he’s meeting another woman.

He doesn’t tell me anything.

I must not be someone he finds suitable to work or do things with.

I’m not someone he trusts.

He trusts that white-haired woman more than me?

It really hurts.

I don’t think this is right.

“You’re not lying, are you?”

I clasped my hands behind my back and asked hesitantly.

“No.”

“I’m the most helpful person to you, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m your closest friend, right? You only hang out with me, right?”

“Of course.”

“If you had to choose between me and someone else, you’d choose me, right?”

“Of course, you.”

Then I felt relieved.

Thank goodness.

“If that’s a lie…”

“It’s not a lie.”

“…Okay!”

Take care.

You can go.

For now.

Si-Hoo left the house.

I unclasped my hands from behind my back.

I set down the kitchen knife I had been hiding behind me.