“Saya? What’s that sound?”

Woohyun was on his way back to Seoul and I was stuck in my car in the middle of a massive traffic jam. As if that weren’t enough, I had a splitting headache and a nauseous feeling that was threatening to explode on the pretty Volvo next to me.

“There’s a huge traffic jam at Myungdong,” I said, my voice breaking. I took a deep breath and continued. “I’ve been stuck here for the past 45 minutes…”

“Myungdong?” Alarm rang out in Woohyun’s voice. “If you’re in Myungdong then contact Hoya!”

I sighed. “I was in his café during his lunch break, about half-an-hour before I got stuck here.. Its too far, forget it. Let the poor guy work. And its just a traffic jam, I’ll be out of here before you.”

Woohyun muttered something incoherent and I heard an announcement being made from his side of the line. The kind of announcements that rang across railway stations.

“You’ve reached??”

“Yes I have.” He sounded smug and as much I didn’t want to, I felt like telling him about my health. The nausea was getting worse and my head was spinning. Was this what they called a migraine? And even if I did tell him, what could he do?

Strangely reassured by his helplessness, I confessed. “Okay, Woohyun.” I took another deep breath in and swallowed back the urge to throw up. “I’m not feeling well and sooner or later, the Volvo next to me will be decorated with today’s lunch AND breakfast.”

Whatever Woohyun must have been doing stopped. After a moment of silence, I pulled my handphone away from my ear.

“Thanks for telling me! Information travels at the speed of light, doesn’t it?!” A few more scoldings later, he ordered for me to put down my phone and drink some water.

“It’ll suppress the nausea for a little while,” he murmured, sounding extremely upset. “Now tell me, where is your car standing? Give me the exact position.”

About twenty minutes later, I was sweating like a pig and gasping for breath. The bottle of water I always carried with me was empty and my mouth was running out of saliva. I touched my forehead and moaned as my cold hands recognized the burning fever. Suddenly, a commotion broke out in front of me. I lifted my head off  the steering wheel and couldn’t believe my eyes.

 Perched on top of the traffic light pole at the centre of the road was none other than my boyfriend, his duffel bag tightly strapped across his chest, his neck straining to look for me.

“SAYAA??” His eyes found me and in a flash, he was standing next to me.

“Get out,” he said in a commanding voice. I nodded but upon stepping out, collapsed in his arms. Behind me, I heard someone gasp.

“Saya? Woohyun, what the hell…”

“I’ll take her to the hospital Hoya, alright? You sit inside the car and bring it out whenever this jam solves itself. And thanks for coming.”

“Stop thanking me and go!”

Even the most irritated people stayed frozen in their spots as Woohyun zigzagged across cars and mopeds, while I was half-conscious on his back.

“If you want I can slow down…”

“JUST GO!” My desperate voice made him move faster and in a matter of minutes, we were in the emergency room of the city hospital. The doctors seemed to know him pretty well.

“Woohyun! Oh my.. who is that?” Woohyun spun around so that the old man could see my face. I was placed down on a gurney and glanced at the professional with tired eyes.

“My, my…” the doctor murmured. “Don’t worry. Woohyun brought you in. You’ll be fine.”

Upon hearing those very words, I calmly closed my eyes.