Feel Different

Ailine forced her eyes open, fighting against the sharp white light that stabbed her vision. The hospital ceiling was too bright—too clean—and the sterile smell of disinfectant rushed into her nose, making her stomach churn.

Her sight was still blurry. Through the haze, she noticed a tall figure standing beside her bed. The voice she heard earlier… it was familiar. Far too familiar.

And when the silhouette slowly sharpened into a clear shape, her heart twisted painfully.

Owen Young.

Her ex-boyfriend.

Her first love.

The boy she once adored with all her heart—now a grown man standing only inches away.

“Miss Su, please don’t get up! You might fall—”

A nurse quickly held her shoulders, stopping her from sitting up.

Ailine felt her head throbbing. Her body ached as if crushed by exhaustion. When she turned slightly, something stung her hand—an IV needle. Something cold touched her nose—oxygen tubing. She instinctively tried to remove it, but the nurse held her hand.

“Miss Su, please… don’t do that. Your condition is very unstable.”

It made sense. With a fever this high, her actions might be affected. Even Ailine herself felt her mind floating, unable to fully grasp reality.

She tried to speak, but her throat was dry and burning. Did she also catch a throat infection?

And then that voice came again.

Clearer. Colder.

“Miss Su, please cooperate. Don’t make it harder for the medical team.”

Cold. Formal. Emotionless.

This… wasn’t the Owen she knew. He had never spoken to her with such distance.

And—Miss Su?

He addressed her with her surname?

So formal. So unfamiliar.

Was she mistaken? Maybe this wasn’t Owen at all?

But that was impossible.

“…,” Ailine could only stare, speechless.

“I’m Dr. Young,” he continued flatly. “I’m in charge of examining your condition.”

Young.

Same surname.

Same voice.

Same posture.

There was no way she misrecognized him.

Ailine fell silent again, trapped in her own whirling thoughts, until the nurse gently tapped her shoulder.

“Miss Su? Are you listening?”

“…Y-Yes,” she answered weakly.

“Dr. Young will begin the examination now, all right?”

Ailine nodded slowly. “Sure…”

Owen stepped closer, lifting a small penlight to check her pupils.

His fingers brushed her skin.

Cold.

So cold.

Those hands once held hers warmly. Now they felt like distant winter air.

Had he always been like this, and she simply never noticed?

When Owen moved the stethoscope toward her chest, Ailine reflexively grabbed his wrist.

“W-What are you g— I mean… what are you going to do?” she panicked, switching mid-sentence to a more formal tone.

“I’m checking your heartbeat with this,” he replied calmly, lifting the stethoscope.

“O-Oh… I see…”

“Miss Su?”

“Yes?”

“Please release my hand.”

“H-Hand?”

Ailine looked down and saw her tight grip on his wrist.

“O-Oh my god—sorry!”

She instantly let go, face burning with embarrassment.

Owen didn’t respond to her awkwardness. He simply continued the examination, professional to the bone.

Which unfortunately meant—

He definitely heard her heartbeat racing like crazy.

After testing her abdomen—making her wince several times—Owen turned to consult the nurse, discussing her results. Emma was called in.

Emma rushed in with a terrified expression, and the moment her eyes landed on Ailine, she nearly cried as she hugged her.

“Miss Ailine, thank goodness you’re awake!”

Her voice was so loud that Owen had to step in.

“Ma’am, please lower your voice. She’s still very weak.”

Emma immediately covered her mouth and apologized. It wasn’t unusual for her to panic; after all, she had always been fiercely protective of Ailine—not just as an assistant, but as someone whose life had been saved by her.

“I’m fine, Emma…” Ailine whispered, trying to reassure her.

“You’re not fine! You were clutching your stomach earlier—doesn’t it hurt so much?” Emma’s tears fell freely.

Ailine could only offer a faint smile.

Emma always treated her like a younger sister.

Then Owen delivered the diagnosis, calm but firm:

“Severe exhaustion, malnutrition, gastric irritation, and reflux. We need to admit her for full observation and perform further tests such as a CT scan or an ultrasound.”

“Hospitalization? No, no—I can’t!” Ailine protested. “We have a wrap-up shooting event tomorrow. I must attend.”

Owen immediately turned to her.

His gaze was sharp—almost scolding.

Emma interjected firmly:

“Miss Ailine, please stop being stubborn! I’ve already contacted Manager Layla. You’re officially off work until you recover!”

“But—”

“No buts, Miss Ailine! Everyone is worried about you. Please think about your health for once!”

Emma’s words hit her harder than Owen’s cold tone ever could.

Slowly… reluctantly…

Ailine fell silent.

She knew her body had reached its limit.

She had no energy left to argue.

Eventually, around 11 PM, she was moved to a VVIP room to rest properly.

---

VVIP Room — 2 A.M.

Ailine opened her eyes slightly, awakened by soft footsteps approaching. Emma was asleep on the small companion bed beside hers.

“Someone’s coming…? Who…?” she muttered.

She saw the silhouette.

Definitely a man.

A nurse…?

Or—

Her instincts made her shut her eyes quickly, pretending to sleep.

Why was she even doing this?

She had no idea.

Maybe instinct. Maybe panic.

The footsteps stopped beside her bed.

1 minute

2 minutes

3 minutes…

He checked her IV line… quietly fixed her blanket… gently brushed aside the strands of hair covering her cheek.

b?rushed aside the strands of hair covering her cheek?

A nurse wouldn’t do that, right?

Not like this.

Her breath caught.

A stalker?

A sasaeng fan?

Her mind raced.

But no...

The movements were too controlled.

Too careful.

Too… familiar.

He didn’t touch her improperly.

Didn’t linger in a creepy way.

He simply made sure everything was okay.

Then he stepped back, walked to the door, and left—closing it softly.

Ailine waited until his footsteps disappeared fully before opening her eyes.

Her heartbeat thumped wildly, not from fever but something else entirely.

“That was… Owen, right?” she whispered to herself.

Her lips curled into a tiny, shaky smile.

“Maybe… maybe he isn’t as cold as he looks.”