I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

Chapter 24

“I swear, I haven’t used the medicine yet.”

[21 minutes]

I’m getting anxious.

“So just give it to me.”

On the floor are the syringes that fell and the one I was about to use.

In the circumstances, it’s understandable to think I’ve used the medicine more than once.

But I’m saying no, I don’t use it so recklessly.

[19 minutes]

“I promise it’s true. I was about to use it, but I haven’t yet.”

I’ve never broken a promise before.

It looks like I was definitely abusing drugs, but that’s not the case.

“...I’m sorry. No.”

“Why?”

“For you.”

That’s not for me.

Han Si-hu doesn’t believe me.

What do I need to do to make him believe me?

My heart starts racing.

“Anyway, you’re treating me like a monster. Doesn’t it matter whether I use a little or a lot of medicine?”

I think I’ve made a mistake.

In my urgent state, I said something wrong.

Han Si-hu’s expression hardens slightly.

“No, it’s not like that. ...You’re my friend.”

He’s managing to say that.

If you’re a friend, you should give me the medicine when I ask for it.

“...I really haven’t used it.”

[17 minutes]

I can’t control my emotions.

My wrist starts to throb.

I can feel the effects of the medicine wearing off.

“Ah, we can just wait. How about this: I can wait about 5 minutes.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Even if you say I’ve already used it, it would be fine just once. Please, okay?”

Let’s say I’ve used a lot of it.

Even so, it should be fine just once.

There shouldn’t be any problem.

When a friend asks like this, I think it’s right to oblige.

“Let me use the medicine.”

You have it, don’t you?

You said you’d give it to me when I need it.

“I’m sorry.”

“Just once.”

[17 minutes]

Suddenly, the doctor’s words about the medicine being more addictive than the previous one come to mind.

Right, it means the medicine was addictive.

“Just calm down for now.”

How about giving me a sedative instead?

There’s no time.

“Ah, haha.”

I’m trying to calm down somehow, but it’s not working.

My heart is racing uncontrollably.

[10 minutes]

Before I know it, only 10 minutes are left.

Why is time disappearing so quickly?

“It hurts, this really hurts. I need the medicine.”@@@@

In desperation, I grab Han Si-hu’s collar.

His eyes tremble.

It’s truly dangerous now.

I need the medicine.

I reach out for the medicine Han Si-hu is holding.

—Thud!

My fingers graze the medicine bottle, but I can’t grab it.

The bottle falls from Han Si-hu’s hand.

The bottle drops.

Downward.

Downward.

To the floor.

Thud.

There’s a dull sound as it hits the ground.

The glass shatters.

The liquid inside spills onto the floor.

My happiness flows away.

My mind goes blank.

“Ah.”

This isn’t what I intended to do.

The blue liquid pours out onto the floor.

I can’t process the information coming into my view.

[7 minutes]

Broken glass shards scatter everywhere.

The blue medicine is on the floor.

Why is it on the floor?

My mind is blank.

I stand frozen in place for a moment.

“W-Wait. I’ll get something to clean it up.”

Han Si-hu says that and heads toward the entrance.

He looks very flustered.

Fear.

I can’t understand the will to prevent me from using the medicine.

If I don’t take it now, I really might want to die.

“I want to use the medicine.”

“I’ll give it to you, so wait.”

“Okay.”

I begged earnestly, and it worked.

After all, he’s the protagonist.

He shows a semblance of mercy at the very least.

[11 minutes]

I’ve calmed down a bit.

[10 minutes]

I can’t calm down.

My heart is racing.

I force myself to settle down.

But that’s unlikely.

If I take the medicine, I’ll feel happy.

In the first place, I should have been happy without taking the medicine.

Why am I in this kind of situation?

Because Han Si-hu isn’t giving me the medicine?

In the end, the blue medicine spilled on the floor.

If I could have put all that into the syringe, how happy would that have been?

The medicine bottle broke.

My happy days vanished.

I believed.

I thought he would give me the medicine.

It’s just that Han Si-hu doesn’t believe me.

He doesn’t think of me as a friend.

At most, I’m just an object to be managed.

In a situation where it’s likely to misunderstand that I’m abusing the medicine, but still.

“Here.”

Gulp.

Han Si-hu hands me the pills.

[43 minutes]

The medicine is replenished again.

“Thank you.”

I express my gratitude.

Even though I’m not really a friend, he’s looking out for me, which is because he’s a good person.

That’s all I can say.

As time passes, everything around feels softer than usual.

I feel happy again.

It seems like I can see a clear sky.

“...Ah he he.”

There’s a rose in my hand.

Isn’t that something magical?

It’s red.

It looks like a bouquet I could give as a gift.

It would be nice to tie it up with a ribbon and give it.

I just received one.

The one Han Si-hu gave me.

It was in my pocket.

When I place it on my hand, it really looks like a bouquet.

The ribbon is stained with red petals.

“Where did the flower go?”

Only blood-stained hands and a blood-stained ribbon remain.

I’m not in my right mind.

I’m becoming more of a mess.

[41 minutes]

Han Si-hu is inspecting the syringe with the medicine while talking to someone.

He looks quite urgent.

Is he going to give me more medicine?

41 minutes is a little risky.

Now the ribbon slips from my hand.

I can’t tell if it melted or fell to the ground.

It’s hard to distinguish.

Is it because I drank the medicine?

It’s not for drinking anyway.

Blood flows from my mouth as well.

“Ah ha...”

It feels like I’m becoming happier.

But my head hurts.

I pick up the syringe that was on the ground.

Even though I failed to put in the medicine, a little bit is still inside.

Even if the needle is damaged, I just stab it in.

Thud.

[1 hour 18 minutes]

Even if I say I haven’t used it, he wouldn’t believe me.

So let’s just say I did.

I don’t have the confidence to persuade him anymore.

If I were Han Si-hu, I wouldn’t believe me either.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

I just keep stabbing.

It’s fun.

Even if the time doesn’t extend further.

The syringe is originally meant to be used once.

Reusing it is dangerous.

Thud. Crack.

While stabbing, the syringe broke.

It’s weaker than I expected.

Now my head really hurts.

Han Si-hu finishes his call and rushes toward me.

Thud.

With a slight dull sound, I fall sideways.

Get up.

I’m not weak, so I can stand up.

Thud.

I try to get up again but fail.

Han Si-hu happened to catch my head, so there was no thud sound.

[1 hour 9 minutes]

Han Si-hu is next to me.

He seems to be asking if I’m okay.

—Thud.

Is it the medicine?

[11 hours 12 minutes]

This is a sedative.

My consciousness is hazy.

I wonder how Han Si-hu sees me.

Why isn’t he giving me the medicine?

If I think about it, the answer will come to me.

I visualize my objective self.

Syringes scattered on the floor.

A broken medicine bottle.

Unraveled bandages.

Liquid spilling from the syringes.

What’s that?

I’m a serious addict.