Weed ~The One’s Gardener~ - Chapter 25

As she gave a confirming nod as her friend inquired about the medicine she had been taking, her friend then glanced at Hana and turned her gaze back outside. The realization that the unusual stumbling was likely caused by an excessively potent medication meant for someone less tolerant left her taken aback.

“Is that okay?”

“Why not? Crazy b*stard. He doesn’t know what it is, then just picks it up and drinks it? I want him to just die.”

While clenching her teeth, Hana looked out of the window.

…The man was still lingering there.

For years, she had been tormented by this absurd stalker. Although many people became infatuated with her at first sight, it usually led to short-lived and uneventful relationships. They would often end because they couldn’t handle the situation.

Other than receiving emotional messages from the men who were left heartbroken in the early hours of the morning, she hadn’t encountered any harm.

Yet this guy stood out as the most unbearable among them.

Whenever she saw a significant flaw or two, she would tolerate it three times before finally seeking a breakup.

This man’s focus remained solely on her appearance, driven by a desire to possess what others coveted. However, he struggled with his own feelings of inferiority and occasionally belittled her. Despite his limited and superficial understanding, he often bragged and attempted to teach Hana, an expert in the field, which greatly annoyed her.

In essence, this man never made any concessions and instead demanded that she be the one to sacrifice. His aim was merely to have a girlfriend, so he played the role of a boyfriend without delving deeper, leading to a shallow relationship.

This guy was the one she hated the most… someone who tried to manipulate and regulate her every move. On the surface, he appeared decent and held a favorable reputation, making it difficult for her to report the situation effectively.

…On the day she couldn’t stand it and decided to report, that day was the worst.

Hana licked her lips and glared out.

“Because of that b*stard, I…”

‘Because of that b*stard, I couldn’t even stay by grandmother’s deathbed… One day, I’ll kill him with my own hands.’

Suppressing her bitterness, Hana pressed her lips together.

Expressing her feelings like this wasn’t appropriate, especially since her friend had come over for a visit. In addition, they weren’t the type of friends with whom she could discuss such matters openly. However, her friend chose a spot on the floor to sit and began talking first.

“…You say you’re being harassed by a stalker, so is that why you’re moving?”

“Ah, that…”

“Oh, do you really have to move? Can’t you just report it? Oh well… are you avoiding it because it’s messy? You packed all your stuff to move, right? I heard you quit to move to another company?”

“…I want to tidy things up.”

Hana answered simply.

While she had already sorted out her personal matters in advance, she refrained from divulging the precise condition of her body to those around her. After all, there was no specific person she felt compelled to notify nor anyone she truly wished to inform.

Even doctors found it hard to believe, so who would take her seriously?

What could she possibly say? That she was in immense pain and nearing death, asking them to prepare themselves? To hope she went to a better place? It felt like an imposition. Their relationship wasn’t close enough to warrant such discussions.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel a bit unsettled by this predicament she was facing.

“Look, Hana…”

“Yes.”

Her friend has been on the fence about the stalker for a while. It was probably difficult for her to tell the matter right away as soon as she arrived.

“I’m saying… I don’t think I can go on a trip with you.”

Naturally, the purpose behind this friend’s visit today was to finally address a promise they had made ages ago. She rarely reached out through calls or messages, and their occasional gifts served as evidence of their remorse.

The fact that she dared to come at an hour like this was proof that she was pretty sorry about this.

Hana listened silently without changing her expression. Taking a sip of her drink, her gaze didn’t shift towards her friend as she slowly elucidated the situation.

“I was suddenly involved in a project I had been talking about before… you know that, right? This is what I wanted to do, and it’s a really important opportunity for me…”

“Of course, I know.”

Looking out of the corner of her eye, her friend was still looking at the time on her phone while talking. It was true that she probably got involved all of a sudden, and it was hard for her to find time for Hana.

Even if she had such a situation, the fact that she waited outside for over an hour meant that she was truly shameful.

“Right? Ha… Thank God. I knew you would understand, and I’m sorry. Instead, let’s go together next time. Then, I’ll pay for all the travel expenses! Oh, and… well…”

She kept looking sideways at her watch.

Hana laughed inside.

“Yes. We can go next time. Oh, sorry, but I have work to do today.”

“Work? What is it?”

“I had to pack more, and I slept less. You woke me up. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a day off.”

As she told her friend to leave quickly, she noticed a palpable shift in her friend’s complexion as she swiftly rose from their seat. Subsequently, her friend retrieved their phone to check the time and proceeded to express apologies and gratitude in a repetitive manner.

Just before leaving through the front door, she appended a final remark.

“After two months, things will be calming down, so let’s go on a trip or something.”

“Yes. We should.”

Hana easily lied like water flowing. Even if it were a promise, she likely wouldn’t be able to keep it.

In the meanwhile, her friend looked back at her before leaving, feeling a bad premonition. A peculiar intuition gave rise to an odd sensation, though she couldn’t pinpoint the reason behind it. Despite this, she continued to pester Hana in their customary manner.

“Shin Hana, take your medicine in moderation. You are addicted to it.”

“Okay.”

They greeted each other face-to-face appropriately, yet for some unknown reason, Hana still didn’t feel revitalized.

This was it. This was goodbye.

After confirming her friend’s departure by glancing at the window, Hana let herself collapse onto the floor. She had been on her feet for quite some time. Her energy had already depleted. Before she could run out of breath more, she leaned against the wall.

“Ha…”

She released a sigh, though she wasn’t sure if it was born out of exasperation. Her entire being was simply drained.

She was in the process of organizing her home, preparing for her impending move. It wasn’t about switching jobs or companies. Her decision was rooted in her desire to escape the hustle and bustle of this taxing city and its weary populace.

Having learned of her physical condition, there were some good things.

There was no need to work anymore, and there was no pressure to save money. Hana immediately quit her job and checked all the money she had saved.

Perhaps she could prolong her life by a few weeks or even months, exhausting her savings and toiling ceaselessly. Still, that felt wearisome. She had no desperate longing for tomorrow, and she didn’t seem to have lived a life worthy of it.

Lastly, she thought about going on a trip.

Strangely lonely, Hana proposed to her friend that they travel together during the first few weeks. She meticulously arranged her personal matters, prepared for a trip, and even prepared a small gift for her friend who had no other close relatives.

All seemed to be progressing smoothly, until her friend, who initially agreed, reneged on the promise, assuring they would do it next time.

In reality, there wouldn’t be a next time.

As her legs throbbed painfully, Hana sought out a bottle of painkillers within arm’s reach. Though the recommended dosage was one, she picked up two or three more and washed them down with water.

What did it matter? Who would censure her?

Hana shut her eyes. She hoped she could sleep without any pain.

* * *

“Excuse me, how old are you?”

Though it had been documented on the chart countless times, the doctor still posed the question. Every instance prompted a weary sigh from Hana.

This wasn’t even the first time.

It was understandable that confusion would arise.

Confronted with her physical state in person, even those without medical expertise would inquire about it. Even when she walked along the streets, her appearance compelled passersby to steal a second glance. However, after learning of her test results, they’d cluck their tongues in sympathy.

Despite her outwardly youthful and healthy visage, she was rotting on the inside.

Aging. It was a universal experience for all living beings, an inevitable journey that none could escape. Naturally, the speed and characteristics of this journey varied for each individual, but for Hana, it had manifested in a peculiar manner.

On the outside, she appeared to match her age, though her organs seemed to resemble those of an elderly person nearing the end of their natural lifespan due to aging.

‘…I look young yet dying of old.’