Chapter 81: The Battle Against the Shot

Lying in the hospital bed, I thought to myself.

Titles were important.

The way you addressed someone could change the level of intimacy between you.

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to change how I addressed Jinhyang from “Boss” to something more affectionate.

‘Let’s do it.’

I clenched my fist, albeit weakly.

Right now, I was a patient, and no matter what I did, I wouldn’t get scolded too harshly.

It was better to take the chance while I had it.

Ahem.

Clearing my throat, I saw Jinhyang’s gaze shift toward me from her book.

The cover read The Ecology of Tigers.

If she was curious about tigers, she could’ve just asked me.

Just as I was thinking that, Jinhyang placed her hand on my stomach.

“Are you in pain?”

“No, I was just thinking about what I should call you.”

At my words, she crossed her arms, seeming deep in thought.

She probably understood my point.

I couldn’t call her “Boss” forever.

“You can call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“Anything I’m comfortable with?”

“Yeah.”

Anything, huh?

That was a bit nerve-wracking, but since she gave me permission first…

With an awkward smile, I called out to her.

“Jinhyang-ah.”

“……”

The moment I said her name, a faint vein popped on Jinhyang’s forehead.

She looked just as awkward as I felt, her expression stiff, as if she were suppressing irritation.

‘Guess that’s a no.’

I knew she wouldn’t harm a patient, but still… it was scary.

I needed to change my approach.

“If you don’t like me calling you just by your name, should I add a respectful suffix?”

Something like Jinhyang-nim or Jinhyang-ssi.

It sounded a little weird for close friends, but at least it was better than calling her “Boss.”

At least I’d get to say her name.

As I looked up at her with a serious expression, she let out a deep sigh.

“Do as you wish, Kang Harang-ssi.”

“Ugh.”

Kang Harang-ssi?

That sounded so formal and distant.

Feeling a sudden wave of dissatisfaction, I lightly flicked her hand with my tail.

A small smack like a playful whip.

Of course, I didn’t hit her hard.

I didn’t like hurting people.

“Why are you upset, Kang Harang-ssi? You were the one who wanted to do this first.”

“Ughhh.”

She was speaking to me in formal language.

It felt… so wrong.

I scrunched up my face and glared at her.

“Boss, don’t use formal speech with me.”

“Why?”

I didn’t really have a solid reason.

It just felt like wearing clothes that didn’t fit.

That was all I could say.

“From now on, I’ll be the only one using honorifics. Got it? If you do it again, I’ll scold you.”

“……Alright.”

Jinhyang nodded lightly before tugging at my cheek.

I thought she wouldn’t do that since I was a patient.

But Jinhyang was ruthless, even with patients.

‘Maybe I should just keep calling her Boss.’

For now, I had no better alternative.

I decided to put the issue of her title on hold.

Lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling

Click.

The hospital room door opened, and someone entered.

Hoping it was someone I knew, I turned toward the door

But it was just a hospital nurse.

“It’s time for your injection.”

“…Injection?”

I stared at the nurse in shock.

On the mobile tray she pushed in, there were various medications and syringes.

The needle was as long as my finger.

“I-I don’t want to…”

Dragging my barely responsive body, I desperately scrambled to the edge of the bed.

I would rather die than get a shot.

That was my firm resolve

But Jinhyang simply picked me up and carried me toward the nurse.

“Why… Why are you doing this…?”

I looked up at her, helplessly clutched in her arms, like a powerless girl being kidnapped by a villain.

“You need the shot to get better quickly.”

“It’ll just hurt if I take it.”

“That’s not true.”

Not true, huh.

Logically, Jinhyang was right getting the shot was meant to help me recover.

‘Damn it, this is bad.’

For me, getting a shot was worse than trimming my claws.

I had to find a way to escape, no matter what.

“O-unnie!”

In desperation, I blurted out the most effective word I could think of.

Just that one word was enough to make Jinhyang freeze in place.

“…Unnie?”

“Y-Yeah! If you let me skip this shot, I’ll call you Unnie forever!”

A lifetime Unnie privilege!

That kind of deal was too good for Jinhyang to pass up.

Heh.

Just as I smirked in victory

Jinhyang’s grip on me tightened, much stronger than usual.

The pressure was so firm that I couldn’t even wriggle or struggle anymore.

“Who tries to negotiate just to avoid a shot?”

“B-But I’m a tiger…!”

“And what does that have to do with getting a shot?”

“It matters! What if a shot meant for humans is dangerous for a tiger…?”

It wasn’t an unreasonable argument.

After all, human medicine could be toxic to a tiger like me.

This time, I had really won.

I was just about to savor my victory when

The nurse holding the syringe smiled sweetly.

“It’s okay. This is a shot that even tigers can take.”

“…Huh?”

There’s a shot like that?

I blinked in disbelief, staring at the syringe in the nurse’s hand.

The liquid at the tip of the needle reflected the light, making it look even sharper.

Getting stabbed with that would definitely hurt.

At this point, I had only one last resort left

Crying like a baby.

“Uwaaaah…”

The sorrow was unbearable.

Lying on the bed, I let the tears fall freely.

My arm still ached where the needle had pierced it.

As the alcohol swab rubbed against my skin, the red blood seeping onto the cotton only made me cry harder.

Before my tears could soak the bed, Jinhyang gently wiped them away with a tissue.

“Did it hurt a lot?”

I didn’t respond.

Silence was my way of protesting.

“Hmph.”

Turning my back to Jinhyang, I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand.

Even after I promised to call her Unnie for life, she still made me get the shot.

Betrayal stung deep, and I didn’t feel like talking to her right now.

“This again? You were fine just a moment ago.”

Jinhyang sighed as she placed a hand on my back.

I briefly considered swatting her hand away with my tail but decided against it.

Honestly, I wasn’t really mad at her.

“I’m not going to say a word for the next ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes?”

“…Actually, ten sounds too long. Five minutes.”

“Alright. Talk when you’re ready.”

Sigh.

Jinhyang let out a soft breath and lifted her hand from my back.

The sudden loss of her touch made me uneasy.

Without thinking, I quickly wrapped my tail around her wrist.

“I don’t mind if you touch me, though…”

I mumbled quietly, almost like talking to myself.

Since it was just a mumble, it didn’t count as breaking my rule.

Silently, I used my tail to guide Jinhyang’s hand

A pat on my back, a gentle stroke along my waist.

She didn’t resist, letting me move her hand however I wanted.

Just as I was starting to feel better

Click.

The sound of the door opening came from behind me.

‘Who is it?’

Curious, I wanted to turn my head, but five minutes hadn’t passed yet.

If I turned and made eye contact with Jinhyang now, it’d be too embarrassing.

‘Ugh, I should’ve said three minutes instead.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly and perked up my ears.

Step, step.

Judging by the familiar sound of footsteps, it had to be Raxy Bora.

“Unnie, what’s wrong with Harang?”

“Because of the shot.”

“A shot?”

“Yeah. She didn’t want to get it, so I had to force her.”

Silence settled in the room.

It lasted about five seconds long enough for me to feel it.

“Harang has every right to be upset.”

“There was no other choice. She needed the shot.”

“That’s true, but…!”

Raxy Bora trailed off and walked toward me.

She crouched down by the bed, aligning her gaze with mine.

“Harang.”

“…”

I wanted to answer with a simple yeah, but my five minutes weren’t up yet.

Instead, I shook Jinhyang’s wrist, signaling her to explain.

“She said she won’t talk for five minutes.”

“Oh? Did she now?”

“Yeah.”

Jinhyang spoke while resting a hand on my hip.

Her touch was so gentle that, without thinking, I reached out and held her hand.

“How much time has passed?”

“Three minutes.”

Exactly three minutes, just as Jinhyang said.

The clock was right in front of me, so I couldn’t even pretend not to know.

‘Ugh.’

Two more minutes left.

But right now, two minutes felt way too long.

I wanted to talk to Raxy Bora.

I wanted to apologize to Jinhyang for getting mad at her.

There was only one thing I could do.

“Five minutes are already up!”

Without hesitation, I spun around and reached out to Jinhyang, silently asking for a hug.

She didn’t hesitate either, scooping me up right away.

As our faces drew close, I quickly nuzzled against her cheek.

I had held back for three whole minutes.

The fact that I managed to endure for so long made me proud of myself.

My tail wagged in excitement.

“Boss, I’m sorry for getting mad. I was being awful.”

Jinhyang didn’t say anything in response.

Instead, she gently patted my back, and that alone made me so happy that I couldn’t help but snuggle into her more.