Summer had come to Norbury.
June had begun to make its presence felt.
It warmed the cobblestones and wrapped ivy around the windows.
The town was a little warmer now.
But the tongues of gossip burned hotter than the sun.
Jun got up early every morning and quietly did his duties.
The stares from people were increasing and growing filled with hatred.
Patients who came in were uncomfortable with his presence in the room.
Some would stop talking when they saw him, whispers would rise, and then they'd act as if nothing had happened.
Levi looked directly into the eyes of his patients, weighing every word.
But he couldn't accuse any of them openly.
Because in this town, guilt wasn't declared out loud — it was shaped in silence.
The last patient had long since left the clinic, and the sun had set.
Levi was reviewing prescriptions, while Jun cleaned the chairs and straightened the beds.
Then, the clinic door was knocked — hard.
It was a hand without manners, rushed and rude.
Levi raised his head and looked toward the door.
Jun glanced out of the corner of his eye and went back to work, but his ear was on the door.
When Levi opened it, Knat was standing before them.
A sly expression on his face, a look of contempt in his eyes.
He barged into the clinic wearing a stained jacket and with filthy hands.
"Ohh... so you're still here," he said, looking at Jun.
Levi recognized the man — the one who had harassed Jun on the street and received a punch from Levi. He immediately intervened:
"What are you doing here?"
Knat looked around the clinic indifferently.
"I'm concerned about the town's safety, and I want people to know who this boy helping them really is," he said, motioning toward Jun with his head. "Where he came from, who he is... But I hear that kind of information has already caused you trouble. So I came by out of concern for you."
His grinning expression made Levi's stomach turn.
Jun wasn't surprised, but he also couldn't understand why the man was doing this.
His eyes grew with rage; they were about to pop out of his head.
This man wasn't just causing trouble for him — he was dragging Levi into it too.
Jun was still weaker than Knat, but he didn't care anymore. Maybe punching this man would calm him down.
He took slow but determined steps toward Knat to do just that.
The man kept talking:
"The rumors are bound to grow. Maybe you'll end up back on the streets. Or do you have other plans? And now that summer's here... it's so hot outside. Hmm, what do you say?"
Knat was worse than a rabid dog.
Levi understood what Jun was about to do and quickly stepped in front of him, responding to Knat:
"What a pity," said Levi. "You must have so little going on that you came all the way here to pick on a kid. Maybe you're so alone that this is the only way you know how to talk to people. How sad. But instead of bothering Jun, you should have asked me for help. I could've arranged you a job at the pig farm. You'd adjust easily."
"A kid, huh?" said Knat. "So, what exactly are you doing with this 'kid' in the clinic, Doctor? Maybe I should tell your patients all about that too."
"There's nothing between us!" shouted Jun.
"I'm just a beggar, and I'm only helping him. Levi is a doctor — a respected doctor. He deserves people way better than me. I'm just a temporary presence in this clinic, I'll be leaving soon. Levi took pity on me and brought me here to help. That's all. He's never had any other feelings for me."
(Just then, a couple walking down the street heard the shouting and entered the clinic.)
"This can't happen anyway — the law doesn't allow it. Even if it did, I'm an uneducated, filthy beggar. Levi is just helping me. So... stop spreading more gossip. Let the doctor stay here in peace."
His tears defied gravity in that moment, but soon they would gently slide down his cheek.
Levi was frozen.
He hadn't heard Jun's voice in days, and now he was hearing all this.
"Enough," he said in a firm voice. "We're closing the clinic now. Everyone out."
Knat, with that filthy grin, glanced over his shoulder as he left.
The couple quietly slipped out and vanished into the street.
Levi locked the clinic door and walked over to Jun.
Jun had let his tears fall while still standing.
These were the things he had wanted to say for days.
He had thought about this for days — that this was how he could save Levi.
Besides, Levi didn't want him anymore. He hadn't even looked at him.
"Are you okay?" Levi asked. It was the only question he could manage.
"Yes," said Jun.
"About leaving…" Levi hadn't finished when Jun interrupted:
"I've caused too much trouble for you. I'm sorry. These rumors… I wish I could tell everyone how impossible it all is. How could it be possible? You're perfect. I came from the streets. And even if that wasn't the case, even a small rumor was enough to hurt you. If it were true... who knows what would happen? So I'm leaving. Thank you for everything.
And... I understand now why you didn't continue that night. But with these feelings inside me, I can't stay by your side anymore.
I might not be able to control myself.
By morning, I'll be gone. Goodnight."
Jun said all this while standing beside Levi but never looking at him.
He turned and went back to the little space where his bed was.
There was nothing to pack, nothing to take with him.
He would return to the streets just as he had come to the clinic that first day.