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after years of being co-workers, he never reciprocated the feelings you had for him. so you buried them and learned to live with it. that is, until a small encounter leads him to start showing you that he cares.
genre: co-workers to lovers, fluff, slow burn, hospital au
word count: 13k
part 1 || part 2
note: reposted this again since i was temporarily shadowbanned and tumblr’s spam filter hid this from tags & prevented me from notifying my taglist. if you’ve already read and interacted with the original post, tysm for the support 𑣲⋆
The operating room doors slid open behind you as you stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, the scent of antiseptic still clinging to your clothes.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on your body after hours of surgery, your shoulders sore and your mind drained from the pressure earlier, but somehow, it wasn’t the operation occupying your thoughts.
It was him.
Your grip tightened slightly around the surgical cap in your hand as the memory from earlier replayed itself once again, the rooftop, the cold night air, the way Sunghoon looked at you, and the words he was just about to say before the emergency call interrupted everything.
Despite being able to save your patient, you still felt disappointed. Not because of the surgery, not because something went wrong, but because you never got to hear what Sunghoon was trying to tell you before you left.
You let out a quiet sigh, lowering your gaze to the floor as you slowly walked down the hallway. You could’ve sworn he was about to say something important back there.
The look in his eyes, the hesitation in his voice, it all felt like it was leading to something. And now, you were left wondering what exactly it was.
You were so caught up in your thoughts, you didn’t even notice Jungwon stepping beside you until he spoke.
“Hey Y/N, are you okay?” he asked, slightly tilting his head as he looked at you.
You looked up, a little startled from being pulled out of your thoughts so suddenly. “I am,” you answered after a short pause. “I was just thinking about something.”
Jungwon studied your expression for a moment before speaking again. “Wanna talk about it?” he offered gently, noticing how distracted you seemed.
You shook your head lightly and forced a small smile. “No, it’s okay. I think I just need some rest. I’m kinda tired after everything that happened tonight.”
Jungwon nodded in understanding. After hours of dealing with emergencies and surgeries, both of you looked equally exhausted.
“You should head home too, Jungwon,” you said, patting his shoulder lightly. “It’s already morning, and our shift’s finally over.”
“Aren’t you gonna go home?” he asked, his eyebrows raising slightly.
“I am,” you replied softly. “I just need to talk to someone first before I leave.”
Something about the way you said it made Jungwon look at you for a second longer, as if he already had an idea who you were talking about.
Still, he chose not to tease you about it like he normally would. Instead, he simply nodded and gave you a small smile.
“Alright then. Don’t stay too long.”
With that, you said goodbye to Jungwon before walking away, your footsteps echoing softly through the quiet hallway as your thoughts drifted back to Sunghoon once again.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
You headed straight for the doctors’ lounge, hoping to find Sunghoon there after everything that happened earlier. But the moment you stepped inside, your hope dropped almost immediately.
Only then did you nearly bump into Jay, who was just about to enter the lounge himself.
“Oh hey,” he said, slightly surprised as he took a small step back. “You okay?”
“Have you seen Sunghoon?” you asked right away, not answering his question as your concern took over first.
Jay furrowed his brows slightly as he tried to recall, pausing for a moment before speaking. “Yeah, I think I saw him leaving earlier,” he answered slowly. “He probably went home already. Why?”
You shook your head lightly, trying to keep your tone casual even if your thoughts were elsewhere. “It’s nothing serious, I just needed to talk to him about something.”
“Oh,” Jay said with a small nod, sensing it wasn’t something to push further. “Want me to call him? I can tell him you’re looking for him and—”
“It’s okay,” you cut in quickly before he could finish. “I’ll just text him myself instead.”
“Alright then,” Jay replied after a brief pause, giving you a small understanding nod.
You offered him a polite goodbye before walking away, your hand already reaching for your phone.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Sitting inside your car at the parking lot, you stared at your phone, Sunghoon’s contact open on the screen, for what already felt like twenty minutes.
Your thumb hovered over the keyboard, but no matter how many times you tried to start a message, nothing felt right.
You thought about saying, 'Hi, I didn’t get what you were trying to say earlier,' but even that felt too direct.
Then you considered, 'Hey, when are you free? I’ve been a little anxious about what you were going to say,' but that sounded even worse somehow.
You exhaled sharply, leaning back against the driver’s seat as you closed your eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of your own hesitation settle in.
What am I going to do now?
──────────────────────────────
You sat inside the doctors’ lounge with Jungwon, discussing the post operative recovery instructions of different patients while reviewing the medical charts spread across the table between the two of you.
It had already been two days since that night with Sunghoon, yet somehow, the two of you still hadn’t talked ever since the interrupted conversation on the rooftop.
You never ended up texting him that night either.
Every time you tried to type something, you would just stare at the message for minutes before deleting it all over again, unable to figure out the right words to say without sounding awkward or too obvious.
“The bleeding should lessen within the week, right?” Jungwon suddenly asked, pulling you back to reality as he pointed at one of the charts.
You nodded absentmindedly, your eyes still fixed on the papers in your hands even though your mind was somewhere else entirely. “Mm. As long as her vitals remain stable.”
A few more moments of silence passed between the two of you, the only sounds inside the lounge coming from the faint flipping of pages and the distant noises echoing from the hallway outside.
Jungwon glanced at you from the side, his brows slowly furrowing as he noticed the distracted look on your face for what was probably the fifth time today.
“That’s for a different patient,” he pointed out, eyeing the chart you were currently holding.
“Huh?” Your eyebrows lifted in confusion as you quickly checked the name written at the top of the file. “It’s not? I thought we were checking Patient Yoon’s record right now.”
Jungwon let out a quiet sigh before leaning back slightly against his chair. “No, we already finished discussing Patient Yoon earlier,” he explained patiently. “The one we’re reviewing now is Patient Kim.”
“Oh…” you murmured softly after finally realizing your mistake. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even notice.”
“That’s it,” Jungwon said, gently taking the folder from your hands before placing it aside on the table. “Y/N, I’ve noticed you acting strange ever since that surgery two days ago. Is everything alright?” he added, his voice softer this time.
You parted your lips slightly, unsure how you were even supposed to explain everything that had been bothering you these past few days. “I…”
But before you could continue speaking, your phone suddenly vibrated inside your coat pocket.
You quickly pulled it out, only for your heartbeat to falter the moment you saw Sunghoon's name displayed on the screen.
Can we talk? I’m at the hospital garden right now. If you’re busy, just disregard this message. I understand.
You stared at the text for a few seconds longer than necessary, your chest tightening slightly as all the thoughts you had been trying to ignore these past two days suddenly came rushing back all at once.
Slowly, you looked up from your phone and met Jungwon’s gaze.
“I swear I’ll explain everything next time,” you said hurriedly as you stood up from your seat. “I promise. I just… need to go somewhere right now.”
Before Jungwon could even properly respond, you were already heading towards the door in a hurry, almost forgetting the charts scattered across the table.
Jungwon could only shake his head in amusement as he watched you disappear from the lounge, a small smirk forming on his face as he leaned back against his chair.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
As you stood inside the elevator, watching the numbers slowly going up, you could feel your heartbeat growing louder with every passing floor, as though it was echoing right inside your chest.
You didn’t really understand why, but the thought of finally talking to Sunghoon again after everything that had happened that night made you feel extremely nervous, almost like you were walking into something you couldn’t quite predict.
When the doors opened, a bright light from the hospital garden greeted you, and you stepped out towards the glass door that led outside.
The cool air hit your skin as you entered, and your eyes immediately began scanning the area, searching until they eventually landed on Sunghoon sitting alone on a bench at the far end, already waiting for you.
He was looking off at the view beside him, too absorbed to notice you approaching until you called his name.
His head snapped towards your voice the moment it reached him, and almost instantly, a small smile formed on his face as he saw you standing there.
“Hey,” he started, his voice softer than usual as he straightened up slightly. “Glad you could make it.”
You returned his smile, giving him a small, almost hesitant nod before slowly walking over and sitting down on the empty space beside him.
You noticed his posture shift the moment you sat down, his shoulders tensing slightly as if he had been bracing himself for this exact moment.
He cleared his throat, trying his best to relax as he turns to face you fully. “Y/N,” he begins, your name coming out softer than usual, almost careful.
“You know, I can’t stop thinking about that night… and how I didn’t get to tell you how I feel.”
The words land between you two, heavier than the quiet air around the rooftop garden. For a second, all you can hear is the distant hum of the hospital behind you and the faint rustle of leaves above.
Sunghoon looks at you like he’s debating whether to continue or stop, but something in him pushes forward anyway.
“I just…” he exhales, running a hand through his hair, his usual composure slipping just slightly. “I need you to know I wasn’t okay after that.”
He swallows, gaze steady but clearly strained now. “I wasn’t done talking to you that night. And I still–”
“Dr. Park.”
The voice cuts through the moment sharply as both of you turn.
Wonyoung stands a few steps away, slightly out of breath, her eyes flicking between the two of you. “I’ve been looking for you,” she says, shifting her attention to him.
“A patient was asking for you, and she says she has some questions regarding her husband who you performed that procedure on last week,” Wonyoung added.
“Shit, not again,” you heard Sunghoon curse under his breath, his shoulders tensing slightly as he stared at Wonyoung for a brief moment.
He didn't move immediately. His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly as he exhales through his nose, clearly fighting the timing more than the request itself.
“Now?” he asks, frustration evident in his voice.
Wonyoung nods. “It can’t wait. The patient's been waiting for a while now.”
A long beat passes.
Sunghoon closes his eyes for a fraction of a second, like he’s trying to hold onto something slipping away too fast. When he opens them again, he looks at you.
There’s something unfinished there. Something he doesn’t say.
“…I’m sorry,” he murmurs, barely audible, as he was already standing.
And just like that, he’s gone again before the sentence he started ever gets to finish.
──────────────────────────────
A couple of days passed since that moment at the garden, and you still couldn’t fully wrap your head around it, especially the way everything ended so abruptly again before you and Sunghoon could actually talk.
The memory kept replaying in your mind, the interrupted conversation, the timing, and the words he almost said but never got to finish, all of it lingering in a way that only made your thoughts more restless.
Your anxiety only seemed to worsen the more you thought about it, as if your mind refused to let the moment go unfinished.
You wanted to talk to Sunghoon immediately after that second interruption, to finally clear everything up and understand what he meant, but every time you tried to find the right moment, something else always pulled you away.
At one point, you spotted Sunghoon near the hallway vending machine, quietly grabbing a snack after what looked like another long and tiring shift at the hospital.
Even from a distance, you could tell he looked drained, his shoulders slightly heavy as he waited for the machine to finish dispensing his food.
The moment his eyes lifted and met yours from across the hallway, he paused.
You also stopped in your tracks.
For a few seconds, neither of you moved or looked away, just standing there in silence as if both of you were weighing whether this time would finally be the right moment to talk.
You almost walked towards him.
After everything that had happened, and after all the missed chances, it felt like this might finally be it.
But before you could even take a proper step forward, your phone suddenly vibrated inside your pocket, sharply pulling you out of the moment.
You quickly pulled your phone out and saw a message from the senior doctor asking you to head to her office immediately to discuss Jungwon’s recent performance and progress during his rotation.
You looked back up almost immediately after reading the message, hoping he was still there waiting.
But the spot near the vending machine was already empty.
Sunghoon had already walked away again before you even got the chance to say a single word.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
You tried, really tried, to find another chance after that. Even going as far as asking Jay for Sunghoon’s schedule so you could align yours with his, hoping for even a small window to finally talk properly.
But the worst part was realizing that your schedules were completely opposite for the week, with you assigned to night shifts while he was consistently on afternoon duty, making it almost impossible for your paths to cross.
It felt less like bad timing and more like the universe itself was deliberately keeping the two of you from talking to each other.
──────────────────────────────
As you typed away on your laptop during one of your night shifts, you found yourself zoning out every few minutes, your thoughts constantly drifting somewhere else no matter how hard you tried to focus on your work.
The report in front of you was barely halfway done, yet you had already reread the same sentence multiple times without properly processing any of it.
You let out a quiet groan before dropping your head onto your folded arms on the table, completely giving up on pretending you were still being productive.
The sudden action immediately caught Chaewon’s attention from beside you.
She turned her chair slightly towards your direction, her brows furrowing as she looked at you. “What’s wrong with you? You haven’t seemed like yourself this entire week,” she pointed out. “Is your schedule really that bad?”
You glanced at her tiredly, your cheek still pressed against your arms. “Nah, I’m fine,” you mumbled. “It’s not like this is my first time doing night shifts.”
Chaewon let out a sigh before fully turning towards you, crossing her arms as she continued staring suspiciously at your exhausted figure.
“If it’s not the schedule, then what is it?” she asked, clearly unconvinced by your answer.
Before you could even think of an excuse to brush her off, she spoke again almost immediately. “And don’t even try lying to me,” she added, narrowing her eyes at you. “We’ve been friends for years, Y/N. I know when something’s bothering you.”
You let out another deep sigh at that, finally lifting your head from the table as your eyes slowly met hers.
“It’s just…” you started softly, hesitating for a moment as you tried to figure out how you were even supposed to explain all of this out loud. But when you saw the determined look on Chaewon’s face, you realized there was probably no escaping the conversation anymore.
So after a brief pause, you finally decided to continue.
“Two weeks ago, Sunghoon and I went up to the rooftop because I was getting sleepy during my shift and wanted some fresh air,” you began, absentmindedly tracing your finger against the edge of the table.
“At first it was normal, but then he suddenly became serious out of nowhere and looked like he was about to tell me something important.” You paused briefly, the memory replaying clearly in your head. “But before he could even say it, an emergency came up and I had to leave immediately, so I never got to hear what he wanted to say.”
You stopped for a moment and glanced at Chaewon, only to see that she still had her arms crossed and the same serious expression on her face, silently waiting for you to continue.
“Go on,” she said simply.
You sighed before continuing, leaning back in your chair. “And then last Monday, he asked me to meet him at the garden because he said he wanted to talk again.” A frustrated laugh escaped your lips. “But somehow, we got interrupted again before he could tell me anything.”
You looked to the side, disappointment obvious in your expression as you let out another sigh.
“You know what’s frustrating?” you continued quietly. “I’ve been trying everything I can just so we could finally have one proper conversation again, but it’s like the universe itself hates me and keeps finding ways to stop us from talking.”
“Okay, okay, hold on for a second,” Chaewon said the moment you finished talking, raising both of her hands dramatically as if she was trying to process everything you had just told her.
“You said he was going to tell you something important,” she continued, leaning closer towards you with narrowed eyes. “How did you even conclude that it was important? Did he actually say anything before you left?”
“Well…” You looked down at your fingers, fiddling with them as you tried recalling Sunghoon’s exact words.
“He, uh…” You hesitated slightly before continuing. “Back at the rooftop, he told me he started noticing things he didn’t before, and that no matter how much he tried to ignore it, it just kept coming back.” Your grip on your fingers tightened a little as the memory replayed in your head.
“And then at the garden…” You sighed softly. “He said he couldn’t stop thinking about that night and how he still hadn’t gotten the chance to tell me how he feels.”
You shook your head as your eyes drifted towards the ceiling, your thoughts spiraled once again. “You know, I really don’t want to assume anything but…” You exhaled softly, shaking your head. “It just feels too big to ignore.”
Chaewon suddenly lets out a loud squeal before you could even continue further, grabbing both your hands excitedly.
“Oh my god, Y/N,” she practically whisper shouted, shaking your hands dramatically. “You do realize that could only mean one thing, right? He definitely likes you.”
Your eyes widened almost instantly as heat rushed straight to your cheeks.
“What? No, he does not,” you denied quickly, even though your voice lacked confidence. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.” But deep down, there was already a small part of you wondering if Chaewon was actually right.
“Y/N, come on,” Chaewon said, staring at you like the answer was painfully obvious. “I know you can feel it too. What else would he even say? Based on everything you told me, it seriously sounds like he was about to confess.”
“I don’t know…” you mumbled softly, your gaze lowering once again as your heart began beating faster at the thought.
“But what about Wonyoung?” you argued back, still unconvinced despite everything Chaewon had just said. “I saw them together before and, who knows… maybe they’re actually dating.” Chaewon immediately gave you an unimpressed look.
“Oh please,” she scoffed dramatically. “When was the last time you even saw them together, huh?”
You narrowed your eyes slightly as you genuinely tried to remember another moment besides that one incident outside the operating room. But nothing came to mind.
Chaewon noticed your silence almost immediately and pointed at you accusingly.
“Exactly. None, right?” she said proudly, like she had just won an argument. “You saw them together one time and suddenly convinced yourself they were a thing.”
You opened your mouth to respond, but Chaewon was already talking again before you could.
“And besides,” she continued, leaning closer towards you with a knowing grin, “they’re definitely not dating because Sunghoon likes you, not her.”
“I mean… maybe, but—” you started uncertainly, only for Chaewon to cut you off once again.
“No,” she said firmly while shaking her head. “There is no maybe. I’m telling you right now, that man likes you. He just hasn’t gotten the chance to properly tell you yet because the universe apparently enjoys ruining your timing.”
A small laugh escaped you despite yourself.
“Come on,” Chaewon continued, nudging your shoulder playfully. “Aren’t you at least a little happy? It’s not every day the person you like actually likes you back.”
“What?” Your eyes widened slightly as you stared at her. “Who said I like him?”
Chaewon immediately gave you a look.
“I mean liked,” she corrected with a teasing grin. “But honestly, what’s even the difference at this point? Either way, at least he likes you back too, even if it took him literal years to realize it.”
That finally made you smile properly, the warmth spreading across your cheeks impossible to hide anymore.
“Fine,” you sighed, shaking your head in defeat. “I’ll talk to him. And if he really does confess like you keep insisting he will, I promise you’ll be the first person to know.”
Chaewon instantly perked up at that, practically bouncing in her seat from excitement. “Yay!” she squealed happily. “I’m already looking forward to it.”
──────────────────────────────
The hospital cafeteria was unusually quiet that afternoon, with only a few staff members scattered around since the lunch rush had already passed.
The soft clinking of utensils and distant conversations filled the background, but none of it seemed to register in Sunghoon’s mind.
He sat at one of the corner tables with his tray barely touched, his eyes fixed on the screen of his phone as if waiting for something that stubbornly refused to appear.
Across from him, Jay casually ate his lunch while reviewing patient notes placed beside his tray, occasionally flipping through the papers between bites.
“Did you already sign the transfer papers for room 512?” Jay asked after a while, still focused on the documents in front of him.
Sunghoon briefly looked up from his phone. “I said I would, didn’t I?”
The slight sharpness in his tone immediately made Jay pause mid chew.
A short silence followed.
“…Okay,” Jay muttered slowly before returning to his food, deciding not to comment any further.
A few seconds later, Sunoo suddenly dropped onto the empty seat beside Sunghoon with his tray in hand, immediately sensing the weird tension surrounding the table.
He glanced between the two suspiciously before raising an eyebrow.
“Why do you both look like a divorced couple?” he asked casually.
Jay snorted quietly at the comment while Sunghoon only sighed tiredly, rubbing one hand over his face.
“He’s been like this all week,” Jay explained while gesturing towards Sunghoon with his fork.
Sunoo immediately turned towards him. “Still?”
“I’m fine,” Sunghoon replied flatly.
“Mm,” Sunoo hummed unconvinced before casually stealing fries from Jay’s tray. “You know, for someone who claims he’s fine, you’ve been staring at your phone like you’re waiting for your ex to text you back.”
Sunghoon immediately locked his screen before placing the phone face down on the table.
Jay noticed the movement almost instantly. “You’re waiting for her to text you, aren’t you?” he asked slowly.
Sunghoon stayed quiet for just a second too long.
Sunoo’s eyes widened dramatically the moment realization hit him. “Oh my god,” he gasped, pointing at him accusingly. “You are.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Sunghoon muttered under his breath, clearly already irritated by the conversation.
Jay leaned back slightly in his chair, crossing his arms. “Then why do you look annoyed every five minutes?”
That finally earned them a proper response.
Sunghoon exhaled sharply through his nose before leaning back against his chair, looking completely done with both of them.
“Because every single time we try to talk, something interrupts us,” he admitted reluctantly. “First the rooftop. Then the garden. And now our schedules don’t even align properly.”
Sunoo slowly lowered the spoon in his hand, Jay blinked once, then the two of them exchanged a look. “Wow,” Sunoo whispered dramatically. “You’re actually suffering.”
“I hate both of you,” Sunghoon muttered immediately.
Jay ignored him completely, already piecing things together in his head.
Meanwhile, Sunoo suddenly leaned towards Jay slightly, lowering his voice despite the grin spreading across his face.
“I have a plan,” he whispered.
Jay narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Why do I feel like I’m going to regret hearing that?”
Sunoo only smiled wider as he glanced towards Sunghoon, who still looked completely unaware of whatever chaos Sunoo was already planning inside his head.
──────────────────────────────
You were walking through the hospital hallways with your phone in hand, typing out a quick message to Jungwon reminding him to check on one of the post operative patients before his next rounds.
Your attention stayed focused on the screen as you walked, not really paying attention to your surroundings until you suddenly heard someone calling your name from behind.
You stopped in your tracks and turned around.
Sunoo was standing a few feet away from you, a little out of breath, and judging from the panicked look on his face, it seemed like something urgent had happened.
“Can you do me a favor?” he asked the moment he reached you.
Seeing how unusually frantic he looked, you immediately nodded without hesitation. “Of course,” you replied quickly. “What is it?”
Sunoo let out a relieved breath before explaining. “I accidentally left my laptop in the doctors’ lounge, and I have a presentation with the senior doctor in ten minutes.”
He glanced down the hallway before continuing in a rush.
“I was already about to go back and get it myself, but then Jay suddenly called me saying he needed help in the restroom because there’s no tissue and he was, uh…” Sunoo trailed off awkwardly before making a vague hand gesture. “You know…”
“Oh…” you responded slowly, immediately understanding the situation.
“Well, don’t worry about it,” you assured him. “I’ll grab your laptop and bring it straight to the boardroom for you.” You said as you gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder while Sunoo’s face instantly brightened with relief.
“Thank you so much, Y/N,” he said dramatically while clasping his hands together for a second. “You’re seriously a lifesaver.”
Before you could even respond, Sunoo already turned and hurried towards the direction of the restroom.
You watched him run down the hallway, a quiet chuckle escaping your lips as you imagined Jay somewhere inside panicking over the lack of tissue.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
“Hey man, what are you doing here?” Jay asked as he spotted Sunghoon beside the water dispenser, casually filling a cup.
“Drinking water. What else?” Sunghoon replied matter of factly, as if the answer was obvious, before taking a slow sip without even looking at him.
Jay sighed and shook his head slightly, already looking like he regretted approaching him.
“Anyway, you need to go to the doctors’ lounge right now,” he said, his tone turning a bit more serious.
Sunghoon raised a brow at him but didn’t respond immediately, still finishing his sip of water like the urgency didn’t apply to him.
Jay exhaled, clearly impatient, then continued anyway. “I just saw Jungwon getting pretty close to Y/N before I could even step in,” he said casually, watching Sunghoon’s reaction closely. “They’re really close. I'm telling you, one more step and it honestly looked like they were about to kiss.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Sunghoon choked slightly on his water, quickly turning away as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“They… what?” he asked instantly, his voice sharper now, disbelief flashing across his face.
Jay didn’t even need to say anything else.
The second silence fell between them, Sunghoon was already moving. He turned and headed straight for the elevator, walking faster than before as his earlier calmness completely disappeared.
Jay watched as Sunghoon impatiently pressed the elevator button over and over again, jaw tight and foot barely staying still.
When the doors still didn’t open fast enough for him, Sunghoon didn’t even think twice before turning away and heading straight for the stairs instead, leaving Jay standing there, a small smirk on his face.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Meanwhile, you were still inside the doctors’ lounge, carefully scanning every possible surface in search of Sunoo’s missing laptop.
You checked under the desk, between the chairs, and even inside the wall cabinets, but it was nowhere to be found, and the longer you looked, the more you started wondering if the presentation had already started without Sunoo realizing he left it behind.
Before you could think further, the door suddenly swung open with a loud push.
Sunghoon stepped inside, slightly out of breath, his chest rising and falling quickly from running, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead that made a few strands of hair stick to his skin.
“Where’s Jungwon?” he asked immediately, still trying to catch his breath as his eyes quickly scanned the small room.
“Jungwon?” you repeated, clearly confused as you straightened up from where you were searching. “He’s not here. I’m the only one here since Sunoo asked me to look for his laptop.”
“Sunoo?” Sunghoon echoed, his eyebrows lifting slightly as something clicked in his head.
“Yeah,” you continued, still focused on the situation. “He said Jay needed help in the restroom and—” That was enough to make Sunghoon let out a short, humorless laugh.
“Right,” he said, shaking his head. “Jay. The same Jay who literally told me to come here.”
You paused, slowly narrowing your eyes at him as the pieces didn’t quite make sense yet. “But I thought…” you started, still trying to process it.
Sunghoon sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked at your confused expression.
“This was obviously a setup,” he said flatly. “Those two definitely planned this.”
He took a small step forward, then another, before stopping just a few inches away from you. “Do you really not know why they did this?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
You shook your head slowly.
“They wanted us to finally talk,” he admitted, exhaling as if he had been holding it in for a long time. “I kind of told them what happened, so they did this… on purpose.”
Your expression shifted in surprise as the realization finally sank in.
“They did a good job then,” you said, your tone a mix of disbelief and sarcasm as you let out a small breath. “Also,” you continued, “they worked hard setting this up. It’d be a shame if we still got interrupted.”
At that, something shifted in his expression. Sunghoon suddenly looked nervous, like all the urgency he felt earlier had been replaced with something far heavier.
But after a brief pause, he took a deep breath, steadying himself as he finally spoke.
“Y/N,” he started, voice softer but firm, “what I’ve been trying to say this whole time is that I like you. More than you probably realize.”
He swallowed slightly before continuing, his gaze dropping for a second before lifting again.
“I don’t even know when it started, or how it happened, but somewhere along the way, I just did,” he admitted honestly. “Every time we spent time together, I just kept realizing how special you are, and how much I wanted you in my life, not just as a co-worker.”
He let out a quiet breath, almost like he was forcing himself to finish it properly.
“I’m not really good with words,” he added, a faint, almost embarrassed smile tugging at his lips, “and I know this probably came out of nowhere, but I just needed to finally say it.”
When he finished, he looked down, scratching the back of his neck as his ears slowly turned a deep shade of red.
And for a moment, the room fell completely silent.
You couldn’t believe it. Chaewon was right.
And even though a part of you had started to believe it too, hearing it directly from Sunghoon still made your chest tighten in a way you didn’t expect.
The person you once liked, the one you thought had slipped further and further away from you, was standing right in front of you, saying he liked you back.
You just stared at him, completely speechless, your thoughts scattered as your heart pounded so loudly it almost drowned everything else out.
Slowly, you brought a hand to your chest, as if trying to steady your breathing, still trying to process the fact that this was actually happening.
“Sunghoon…” you called softly.
At the sound of your voice, his shoulders tensed slightly before his gaze slowly lifted from the floor to meet your eyes again.
Seeing the nervous look on his face made your chest warm.
You took a small step closer to him before gently slipping your hand into his, your fingers curling around his carefully as if reassuring him that this was real.
“I like you too,” you admitted softly, smiling at him. “And I think I’d like to give this... us... a try.” Your thumb brushed lightly against his hand as you continued.
“I mean, I already know you, but I still want to know more about you. Not just as co-workers or friends this time.”
The moment you finished speaking, the tension in Sunghoon’s expression immediately softened. A smile slowly spread across his face, one that looked far too relieved and happy to hide.
“I’d like that too,” he replied quietly.
For a few seconds, neither of you moved.
You simply stood there hand in hand, staring at each other in the middle of the doctors’ lounge like the rest of the hospital had faded into the background.
And somehow, after weeks of interruptions, misunderstandings, and almost confessions, finally being able to stand there with him like this felt unreal.
Then, after a moment, Sunghoon cleared his throat awkwardly. “So… uh…” he started, clearly trying to gather his thoughts. “What now?”
You immediately caught the nervousness mixed with awkwardness in his voice, and it made you laugh softly.
Of course Park Sunghoon, who had just confessed so seriously a minute ago, suddenly looked completely lost now that you actually liked him back.
You smiled teasingly before answering. “Take me on a date, silly.”
“Yeah.” He coughed awkwardly, looking away for a second. “…Right. A date.”
A faint embarrassed smile appeared on his face as he scratched the back of his neck.
“Sorry,” he admitted. “I’m just not really used to confessing. Usually girls are the ones confessing to me, not the other way around.”
You immediately rolled your eyes at the subtle cockiness hidden in his words, though the smile on your face only widened.
“Really?” you replied sarcastically. “Well, I’m not exactly surprised the great Park Sunghoon experiences things like that.”
Sunghoon chuckled softly at your response before giving your hand a gentle squeeze. “Mm,” he hummed quietly. “But you know what?”
You raised an eyebrow.
“You’re actually the first girl I’ve ever confessed to.”
That instantly made your cheeks warm.
“Well, it was obvious,” you teased, trying to hide your embarrassment. “You looked like you were about to trip over your own words earlier.”
Sunghoon frowned playfully at you, making you laugh. “Kidding,” you said quickly before lightly pinching his cheeks. “But honestly… I’m flattered.”
That immediately brought the smile back to his face.
For a moment, the two of you simply stood there again, unable to stop smiling like idiots in front of each other.
Then Sunghoon spoke once more.
“So…” he started carefully, suddenly looking nervous again. “About that date…”
You waited patiently for him to continue.
“Are you free this Saturday?”
“I am,” you answered almost immediately, making his expression brighten instantly.
“Good,” he said, trying to sound calm despite the obvious excitement in his voice. “Then I’ll pick you up at your place.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The two of you eventually stepped out of the doctors’ lounge together, still caught up in your own conversation as you walked down the hallway side by side.
The atmosphere between you and Sunghoon felt noticeably lighter now, as if the weeks of tension and misunderstandings had finally disappeared the moment everything was confessed.
A few steps away from the lounge, near the end of the hallway, stood Jay and Sunoo pretending to look casual while waiting nearby.
The second they spotted the two of you walking out together, both of them immediately exchanged triumphant looks before giving each other an exaggerated high five.
“See?” Sunoo said proudly, pointing at himself. “I told you my plan would work.”
Jay let out a quiet scoff, though the grin on his face made it obvious he was just as satisfied with the outcome.
Meanwhile, you smiled at yourself as the realization finally sank in.
“I seriously thought Jay being stuck in the restroom was real,” you admitted while looking over at Sunghoon, your voice echoing slightly through the quiet hallway. “I even imagined him waiting there helplessly for Sunoo to save him.”
Sunghoon laughed quietly beside you while by the end of the hallway, Jay’s expression immediately dropped in horror.
“You told her that?” Jay asked Sunoo instantly, turning towards him with complete disbelief written all over his face.
Sunoo looked completely unapologetic.
“Well yeah,” he replied casually with a shrug. “What else was I supposed to tell her? Besides, it wasn’t only because of my amazing acting skills that she believed me.”
He flipped his imaginary long hair dramatically after saying that, earning an unimpressed stare from Jay.
Jay sighed heavily before dragging one hand down his face in defeat.
“I can’t believe you,” he muttered, already regretting every life decision that led him into helping Sunoo with the plan.
──────────────────────────────
Inside the operating room, you and Jungwon were busy cleaning up after surgery, carefully organizing the instruments and tidying the area while the nurses finished the last few tasks nearby.
The familiar scent of antiseptic still lingered in the room, and despite the exhausting operation earlier, the atmosphere felt calmer now that everything was finally over.
As you were arranging a few files on the counter, your phone suddenly vibrated inside your pocket.
You quickly removed your gloves before pulling your phone out, your eyes immediately scanning the screen.
The moment you saw Sunghoon’s name appear on the notification, asking if you wanted to have lunch together later, an unconscious smile slowly spread across your face before you could even stop it.
“You look happy.”
Jungwon’s voice suddenly echoed from across the room, making you glance up. “That must be Dr. Park.”
Your head immediately snapped towards his direction, eyes widening while your mouth fell open in surprise.
“How d– did you know it was Sunghoon?” you asked, stuttering from embarrassment.
“Oh, come on,” Jungwon replied while taking off his gloves, clearly amused by your reaction. He walked over before casually sitting on the chair nearby, crossing one leg over the other.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed how your entire mood changes every time you hear his name or whenever you see him in the hallways,” he continued, looking at you knowingly.
You simply stared at him in shock. Was I really that obvious?
“You really like him.” Jungwon looked at you for a moment before shaking his head lightly. “And honestly, based on everything I’ve seen, I know he likes you too.”
That somehow shocked you even more. How did Jungwon realize Sunghoon liked you before you even figured it out yourself?
“How… how did you know?” you mumbled quietly, still staring at him in disbelief.
Jungwon chuckled softly at your reaction before leaning back against the chair.
“It’s really obvious once you pay attention,” he explained. “Remember that time we went out for gelato together?” You immediately nodded, already remembering the awkward encounter afterward.
“He kept glaring at me the entire way back to the hospital,” Jungwon continued dramatically. “Honestly, it felt like I committed some unforgivable crime just by standing beside you.”
You couldn’t help but laugh lightly at the memory.
“And the funny thing is,” he added while pointing at you, “he still looks at me like that whenever he sees us together.”
Your laughter slowly faded into embarrassment as you remembered all the moments Sunghoon acted strangely around Jungwon before.
“I know…” Jungwon quickly raised both hands in surrender after seeing your expression shift. “I probably should’ve told you sooner, but I wanted you to realize it yourself.”
Then a teasing smile slowly appeared on his face.
“And judging from your reaction right now, I’m guessing he already confessed.”
“He did,” you admitted softly, still sounding shocked about everything yourself.
You stared at Jungwon for another second before shaking your head in disbelief.
“You’re seriously so observant,” you said while walking closer to him. “I didn’t realize you noticed that much.”
Without thinking much about it, you reached over and ruffled his hair playfully like he was a little kid, immediately earning an annoyed glare from him.
“Well,” Jungwon said while standing up from his chair and fixing his messy hair, “now that you’re gonna be a couple, you might want to tell him to stop getting jealous every time he sees us together.”
He pointed at himself as if presenting evidence.
“I don’t think I can survive those death stares much longer whenever I’m beside you.”
You laughed again at his exaggerated complaint.
“Of course I’ll tell him that, Jungwon,” you replied apologetically before lightly pinching the cheek beside his dimples. “And I’m sorry if he treated you like that because of me.”
“Okay,” Jungwon said immediately while pushing your hand away. “Maybe you should stop treating me like a child and start helping clean up again before the senior doctor walks in and sees us gossiping inside the operating room.”
“Right,” you replied with a small laugh before finally returning to work, though the smile on your face still hadn’t disappeared ever since reading Sunghoon’s text.
──────────────────────────────
Saturday came in a flash, and before you knew it, you were standing in front of your mirror, carefully applying a final layer of lipstick before pressing your lips together and checking the result.
You were nervous, of course, the kind that sat quietly in your chest but never fully left, because your first date with Sunghoon had once felt so far away it almost seemed impossible, and now it was finally happening.
You glanced at yourself again, probably for the hundredth time, making sure everything looked right before your eyes landed on your outfit.
A soft smile formed on your lips as you admired the light blue sundress you were wearing, the fabric flowing gently as you moved, making you feel both pretty and a little more nervous at the same time.
Before you could overthink anything further, the doorbell rang.
You flinched slightly at the sound, your heart jumping as reality suddenly set in.
Quickly grabbing your purse, you made your way downstairs, each step feeling a little heavier and faster at the same time until you finally reached the front door.
You paused there for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady yourself before finally reaching for the handle.
When you opened the door, Sunghoon was already standing there.
He was dressed in a cream colored button up shirt, the sleeves loosely rolled up to his forearms, giving him a relaxed yet effortlessly put together look. His shirt was neatly tucked into a pair of off white high waisted trousers, and his hair was styled neatly with his bangs pushed slightly to the right, revealing his forehead and the subtle undercut on the side.
For a second, you forgot how to breathe properly.
His eyes immediately lit up the moment they landed on you.
“Hi,” he said softly, his voice gentler than usual. “You look beautiful.”
As he spoke, his gaze slowly moved over your outfit from top to bottom, as if trying to take in every detail at once.
You felt your cheeks heat up almost instantly, but you still managed to smile at him.
“Thank you,” you replied softly. “You look handsome too, as always.”
That made his smile widen just a little more, like he was trying to hide how pleased he was.
“I do get that compliment a lot,” he said lightly, his tone teasing, “but it definitely feels different when it comes from you.”
You let out a quiet chuckle, feeling your face grow even warmer.
“Let’s just go,” you said quickly, trying to hide how flustered you were becoming.
Sunghoon noticed it immediately, of course, and instead of letting it go, he only teased you a little more under his breath before gently reaching for your hand.
His fingers intertwined with yours so naturally it almost felt like they were always meant to fit there.
Once you stepped outside together, you were greeted by his familiar silver BMW parked just by the curb, shining softly under the daylight.
The two of you walked toward it side by side as Sunghoon opened the passenger door for you without a word.
You carefully slipped inside, giving him a small ‘thank you’ as he closed the door gently behind you before walking around to the other side to join you.
Once inside, Sunghoon placed the car key into the ignition and started the engine, the vehicle coming to life with a soft hum.
As he began to drive, you couldn’t help but notice how tightly he was gripping the steering wheel, along with the way his eyes kept flicking towards the road, then briefly to his watch, as if silently counting down the minutes of his own nervousness.
It was unusual seeing him like this.
At the hospital, he was always composed, confident, and steady, the kind of person who seemed like he had everything under control no matter the situation.
But here, in the quiet space of the car with just the two of you, he looked almost human in a different way, and that realization made your chest feel strangely warm.
Without thinking too much about it, you gently placed your hand over his, the one resting near the gear shifter, softly grounding him in the moment.
“Hey,” you said quietly, your voice gentle and reassuring as your fingers lightly brushed against his. “Don’t be nervous. It’s just me.”
Sunghoon glanced at you when the car slowed at a red light, his expression softening as a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“That’s exactly why I’m nervous,” he admitted honestly, his voice quieter than usual. “Because it’s you.”
Your heart immediately skipped at his words, warmth spreading through you as you smiled back at him.
“Don’t be,” you replied, trying to sound calm despite the way your stomach flipped. “You look more nervous now than you did during your medical procedure yesterday.”
Sunghoon let out a soft shake of his head, as if your comparison was completely unreasonable.
“That procedure was easier,” he said simply, a small smile on his face.
That made you laugh lightly, unable to help yourself as you watched the faint dimples appear on his cheeks as he smiled.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
You arrived at a riverfront restaurant just as Sunghoon turned off the engine and stepped out of the car.
As always, he quickly walked around to your side and opened the door for you, offering his hand to help you out with a small, familiar smile.
Together, the two of you made your way towards the entrance.
This time, Sunghoon’s hand didn’t just hold yours, it shifted gently to the small of your back, guiding you forward with a quiet confidence that made your heart feel strangely light.
At the hostess stand, the woman greeted you both politely.
“Reservation for Park Sunghoon,” Sunghoon said smoothly.
The hostess checked the list for a moment before nodding and gesturing towards the dining area. “Table for two, this way please.”
You followed her lead as she guided you through the restaurant, past softly lit tables and towards a corner seat right beside the glass paneled windows. From there, the view opened up beautifully, the river stretching out wide under the soft glow of the setting sun.
You thanked the hostess as she left, and Sunghoon immediately pulled out your chair for you.
Once you were both seated, your attention drifted almost instantly to the view outside.
The sunset painted the sky in warm shades of orange and gold, reflecting softly over the water and creating a calm, almost dreamlike atmosphere.
“The view’s beautiful,” you murmured softly, your eyes still fixed outside as you took it all in.
“Mm,” Sunghoon hummed in agreement.
But when you finally turned your head to look at him, you realized his gaze wasn’t on the sunset at all.
He was already looking at you.
“Yeah,” he said quietly, his voice softer than before. “It really is.”
For a moment, neither of you said anything.
The moment lingered just long enough for your heart to skip, but before you could react properly, a waiter arrived at your table and politely handed you the menu.
“Good evening, I am Minho, your waiter for tonight. What can I get you both?” the waiter asked, his gaze shifting between you and Sunghoon while holding a pen and notepad ready.
“I’d like a steak, medium rare, with vegetables on the side and mashed potatoes,” Sunghoon said as he scanned the menu one last time before looking up at you.
“And for the lovely lady?” the waiter added politely, turning his attention to you as he waited for your order.
“Um…” you hesitated, eyes still scanning the menu.
Almost everything on it looked expensive. Why did Sunghoon choose this restaurant for a first date? It was beautiful, yes, but definitely way out of your usual range.
You were so caught up in staring that you didn’t realize how long you had been silent, until Sunghoon called your name gently. “Y/N, still deciding?” he asked softly.
That snapped you back to reality.
“Sorry,” you said quickly. “I’ll just have the baby back ribs.”
“Alright, and for the sides?” the waiter continued.
“I’ll just have the same as him,” you replied without thinking too much about it.
“Anything else?” the waiter asked again.
“I think I’m already good with mine,” Sunghoon said, then turned to you. “How about you?”
“I’m good too,” you answered.
“Great,” the waiter said with a nod. “How about drinks?” he added while flipping a page on his notepad.
“I’ll have a Coke, please,” Sunghoon answered.
The waiter wrote it down before turning to you. “Ma’am?”
“I’ll have the same,” you said.
“Okay then. Your orders will be ready in fifteen minutes,” he said as he collected the menu from both of you.
Sunghoon thanked him, and the waiter walked away towards the kitchen.
A few moments later, another waiter arrived to place glasses of water on your table along with complimentary snacks, a small bowl of nuts.
You opened your mouth to speak, but Sunghoon beat you to it.
“She’s allergic to nuts,” he said immediately, offering a polite smile. “You can take it back, it's alright.”
The waiter nodded and quickly removed the bowl.
Once he left, you turned to Sunghoon. “Thank you,” you said softly. He only shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
He took a sip of water, while you hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“You know…” you began casually, “I liked you back then too.”
The moment the words left your mouth, Sunghoon choked on his drink.
You stared at him for a second, trying your hardest not to laugh as he quickly patted his chest, recovering.
“I…” he said between coughs. “I didn’t know.”
You let out a soft chuckle.
“I just never told you,” you explained. “It was during our first year working together. I saw how good you were at your job, and how calm you always were even under pressure. I think I started liking you even when you were still a bit cold to me back then.”
That made Sunghoon go completely quiet. For once tonight, he didn’t have a quick reply.
He just sat there staring at you, eyes widened and cheeks slowly turning red.
Then he let out a long breath, almost like he was releasing all the tension he had been carrying for years.
“Do you know how much I overthought confessing to you?” he admitted. “I really thought I didn’t stand a chance. I had no idea you felt the same all this time.”
You smiled at him gently.
“Sorry,” you teased lightly. “I guess I was just good at hiding it.”
That earned a small laugh from him.
“Yeah,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “You really are.”
You leaned back a little, then added casually, “I actually thought you and Nurse Wonyoung were dating at one point.”
Sunghoon immediately frowned in confusion. “Why would you think that?”
“Well…” you mumbled, “I saw you two in the hallway before, and she was really close to you while talking. I just assumed… since you didn’t move away or anything.”
Sunghoon let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry you saw that,” he said honestly. “I zone out a lot, especially when I’m tired. I wasn’t even really paying attention that day. I only realized she was talking to me when she tapped my shoulder.”
“Oh,” you said, nodding slowly as it finally made sense.
Then you quickly added, a bit embarrassed, “Sorry for assuming things like that… and maybe eavesdropping a little.”
He smiled softly. “It’s okay.”
Then his expression softened even more as he reached across the table and gently took your hand.
“And just so you know,” he said quietly, thumb brushing lightly against your skin, “there’s no one else I like. There never really was.”
His eyes stayed on yours as he added, even softer this time, “It was always you.”
Your heart felt like it stopped for a second.
You smiled at him, unable to hide how warm you felt as he looked at you like that, like you were the only person in the room.
But just as the moment between you and Sunghoon started to deepen again, a waiter arrived at your table with a polite smile, carefully setting down the dishes one by one as if nothing important had just been interrupted.
“Steak for you, and ribs for the lady,” he announced calmly while placing the plates in front of you.
He then followed with the drinks, setting them down neatly beside each respective plate.
“And your drinks,” he added with a small nod before stepping back.
“Enjoy your meal.”
The moment he walked away, there was a brief silence between you and Sunghoon.
You both just stared at each other for a second, as if processing what had just happened again, before the tension completely broke.
And then, almost at the same time, you both burst into laughter.
It wasn’t loud at first, just soft chuckles that quickly grew as the absurd timing finally caught up with both of you.
Sunghoon leaned back slightly in his chair, still laughing as he shook his head in disbelief.
“Getting interrupted for the third time,” he said between laughs, wiping at the corner of his eye, still smiling brightly, “damn it.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
As the two of you continued eating, the conversation settled into something more comfortable, the kind of quiet that didn’t feel awkward anymore but instead felt warm.
Sunghoon set his utensils down for a moment and reached for a tissue, wiping his mouth before glancing up at you as if he had been thinking about something for a while.
“By the way,” he said casually, though there was a hint of honesty in his tone, “I used to think you and Jungwon were dating too.”
You paused mid-bite, eyes widening slightly as you slowly set your fork down.
“Why?” you asked, genuinely surprised.
He shrugged, leaning back slightly in his chair.
“You two are really close,” he explained. “And you’re always together at work. I guess… seeing you with him all the time made me a bit jealous.”
The last part came out quieter than the rest, almost like he didn’t fully intend to admit it out loud.
That made you smile immediately, your expression softening as you looked at him.
There was something about seeing him like this, honest and a little vulnerable, that made your chest feel warm.
“Don’t worry,” you said gently. “I never thought of Jungwon that way. He’s like a little brother to me. With me being an only child, I always kind of wanted a younger brother. And I think Jungwon naturally filled that role without even trying.”
Sunghoon nodded slowly, listening to you carefully as he picked up his glass of water again.
Then, almost casually, you added, “I should say, I only ever had my eyes on you since day one.”
That made him freeze for a split second.
His gaze immediately shifted away from you, as if suddenly finding the table extremely interesting, while the tips of his ears turned visibly red.
You couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction. “You’re so cute when you’re flustered,” you teased lightly.
And that only made things worse.
Sunghoon’s ears turned an even deeper shade of red as he quickly looked back at you, clearly trying to regain his composure while failing miserably at it.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Dinner ended with conversations that seemed to flow endlessly between the two of you, moving from light teasing to stories about your personal lives, with occasional complaints about work slipping in between.
Somewhere along the way, you realized you were seeing a completely different side of Sunghoon tonight. Not the composed doctor everyone admired at the hospital, nor the cold and intimidating co-worker you first met years ago.
This version of him was softer, quieter, and unexpectedly easy to talk to. And the more he smiled at you throughout the night, the more it felt like you were slowly getting to know the real him.
By the time the two of you stepped out of the restaurant, night had already fully settled over the city.
The warm sunset from earlier was long gone, replaced by a dark sky scattered with faint stars above, while the city lights reflected beautifully against the river nearby.
You found yourself smiling to your own thoughts, grateful for how wonderful the night had already been. Honestly, if the date ended there, you would’ve already gone home happy.
So naturally, you expected Sunghoon to lead you towards the parking lot.
But instead, he guided you towards the front side of the restaurant and further down the pathway connected to a nearby marina. Your brows furrowed slightly in confusion as you followed him.
Then you saw it.
A small yacht sat docked by the far end of the marina, gently swaying against the water under the city lights.
You immediately turned to Sunghoon with widened eyes. “We’re riding that?” you asked, completely caught off guard.
Sunghoon only smiled at your reaction, clearly pleased that he had surprised you. “Yeah,” he answered simply. “The night’s not over yet.”
Before you could even process it properly, he intertwined his fingers with yours again and gently led you towards the yacht.
A man you assumed was the driver was already waiting nearby. He greeted the two of you politely while Sunghoon returned a small nod before stepping aboard first.
Then he turned back to you and extended his hand carefully. You placed your hand in his, allowing him to help you step inside safely.
“I didn’t know this restaurant lets customers go on yacht rides,” you admitted while glancing around the elegant interior in amazement.
“They don’t,” Sunghoon replied casually.
You looked back at him.
“I rented it.”
Your mouth parted in disbelief. “You did not.”
Sunghoon chuckled softly at your reaction, clearly amused by how shocked you looked. “I wanted tonight to be perfect,” he admitted quietly.
Your chest immediately tightened at his words.
Looking at him standing there under the soft marina lights, you realized just how much thought he had put into every single part of tonight.
“It’s already perfect,” you replied softly while holding his hand tighter. “Because I’m with you.”
For a second, Sunghoon simply stared at you again with that same look he always gave you lately, soft, affectionate, and almost disbelieving that this was real.
Then he smiled.
“Come on,” he said gently before leading you towards the edge of the yacht.
The two of you stood beside the metal railings at the front of the yacht just as the engine finally started beneath your feet.
A few moments later, the yacht slowly began pulling away from the marina, the city lights gradually growing farther behind you.
You rested your hands against the railing while admiring the view around you.
The buildings along the shore glowed beautifully against the dark water, their reflections shimmering with every small movement of the waves.
A cool breeze brushed softly against your skin, causing your dress to sway gently with the wind as you inhaled deeply, letting yourself fully enjoy the moment.
Then you turned your head slightly towards Sunghoon.
He was quietly watching the waves beside you, his expression calmer than you had ever seen it before.
As if sensing your gaze, he looked back at you almost immediately, a soft smile already forming on his lips.
“Thank you, Sunghoon,” you said sincerely. “You really made our first date special.”
Without overthinking it, you leaned closer and pressed a gentle kiss against his cheek.
Sunghoon froze for half a second before letting out a shy laugh, the tips of his ears turning red once again.
“You’re welcome,” he replied sheepishly, smiling at you in a way that made your heart race all over again. “Anything for you.”
Just then, a burst of bright color suddenly illuminated the sky beside you, followed by the loud crack of fireworks echoing over the river.
Your eyes widened in surprise as another one exploded shortly after, then another, until the dark night sky was filled with shimmering colors and cascading lights reflected beautifully against the water below.
You turned towards them in awe, the glow from the fireworks dancing across your face as you watched them bloom overhead.
“Did you plan this too?” you asked, glancing at Sunghoon with disbelief still evident in your voice.
Sunghoon shook his head with a small laugh.
“No,” he admitted. “But I did read online that there’s usually a fireworks display by the river every Saturday night.”
You looked at him fondly before smiling to yourself.
“You really are a meticulous person,” you teased softly before turning your attention back to the fireworks.
The colors reflected beautifully in your eyes as you admired the display, completely mesmerized by how close everything felt from the yacht.
For a few moments, neither of you spoke.
The only sounds surrounding you were the waves beneath the yacht, the distant city noise, and the fireworks continuously bursting above.
Then, quietly, you heard Sunghoon call your name.
“Y/N.”
“Hm?” you hummed softly before turning back to him.
The moment you did, your breath caught slightly.
Sunghoon was already staring at you.
Not at the fireworks.
Not at the view.
Just you.
His eyes slowly moved from yours down to your lips before he swallowed nervously, almost like he was trying to gather courage.
Then, slowly, he stepped closer.
You stayed still as he closed the distance between you, already sensing what he wanted to do from the way his gaze softened.
He stopped only inches away, close enough for you to feel his breath against your skin.
One of his hands gently cupped your cheek while your noses nearly brushed from how little space remained between you.
But even then, he still didn’t kiss you immediately. Instead, Sunghoon looked into your eyes first, almost silently asking for permission, waiting to see if you would pull away.
When he found no hesitation in your expression, only warmth, he finally leaned in as his lips met yours softly.
Your breath hitched at the contact, your entire body freezing for half a second as the reality of the moment sank in. You were kissing Sunghoon.
And somehow, despite everything that had happened between you both, it still felt unreal.
Then slowly, you closed your eyes and kissed him back.
His lips moved gently against yours, warm and careful, fitting perfectly with your own as if this moment had been waiting to happen for a long time now.
His other hand slid carefully to your back, pulling you slightly closer while your fingers instinctively clutched the fabric of his shirt.
The world around you seemed to blur after that.
The fireworks, the river, the city lights, everything faded quietly into the background while the two of you stayed there wrapped in each other’s presence.
For the first time in weeks, nothing interrupted you.
Eventually, Sunghoon pulled away slightly, both of you breathing softly as he rested his forehead against yours.
Then he looked at you again, his eyes filled with something so sincere it made your chest ache.
“Y/N,” he said quietly, still holding you close. “Will you make me the happiest person alive and be my girlfriend?”
The hopeful look in his eyes immediately made you smile.
“Of course, Sunghoon,” you answered softly. “I’d love to.”
The smile that spread across his face afterward was so wide and genuine that you could even see the small sharpness of his fangs appearing as he laughed quietly in relief.
Then, unable to help himself, he leaned in once more.
Beneath the fireworks still bursting across the night sky, reflecting in the water around you, the two of you fell into another kiss, slower this time, softer, like neither of you were in any hurry to let go of the moment.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
After spending a little more time together on the yacht, simply talking while the city lights reflected against the water, Sunghoon eventually drove you home.
The car ride back felt calmer compared to earlier, but in the best way possible.
Your intertwined hands rested quietly between the two of you for most of the drive, and every now and then, you would catch him glancing at you during red lights with the same soft smile he had been wearing the entire night.
Soon, his car slowly pulled over in front of your apartment.
Neither of you moved immediately after the engine stopped. It was almost as if neither of you wanted the night to end just yet.
Eventually, you unbuckled your seatbelt before turning to him with a small smile still lingering on your lips.
“Goodnight, Sunghoon,” you said softly. “And thank you for such a memorable first date.”
Sunghoon smiled back at you instantly as he slowly reached over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering for a brief second against your cheek.
“Goodnight, pretty,” he murmured softly.
That immediately made your cheeks warm again.
You laughed quietly under your breath before finally opening the car door and stepping outside.
The cool night air greeted you once more as you adjusted your purse over your shoulder before turning back to him.
“Drive safely, okay?” you reminded him.
Sunghoon nodded obediently, still smiling at you like he couldn’t quite believe tonight actually happened.
“I will.”
You waved goodbye before walking towards the entrance of your apartment, but just before stepping inside, you glanced back over your shoulder.
Sunghoon was still there.
Still sitting inside the car, watching you carefully as if making sure you got inside safely before he could finally leave.
When he noticed you looking back at him again, a soft smile immediately appeared on his face as he lifted his hand for another small wave.
You smiled back, feeling your chest warm all over again before finally unlocking the front door of your apartment and stepping inside.
Just before the door fully closed behind you, you glanced outside one last time and saw Sunghoon finally driving away, his car disappearing slowly down the quiet street.
You stayed there for a moment, leaning lightly against the door as your heart continued racing from everything that had happened tonight.
Then a smile slowly spreads across your lips.
Because one thing was certain.
There was no way you would ever forget your first date with Park Sunghoon.
──────────────────────────────
The doctors’ lounge was quieter than usual that Monday morning.
Not empty, never empty, but calm in that brief window between rounds where the hospital almost forgot how chaotic it could become a few minutes later.
You were seated on one of the chairs, half-focused on a chart in your hands, though your attention kept drifting away for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with work.
Sunghoon was beside you.
Too close to feel strictly professional. Too calm to feel entirely fair.
He was scrolling through a report on his phone, but his knee was lightly brushing yours under the small table between you, like it had become something so natural neither of you bothered acknowledging it anymore.
You glanced at him from the side, watching him for a moment before finally speaking.
“You’re distracting me,” you said softly, though your eyes were still lowered towards the chart as if you were trying to pretend otherwise.
“I’m not doing anything,” he replied immediately, not even bothering to look up from his phone.
“That’s the problem,” you murmured under your breath, and that was enough to finally make him turn his head to you.
His expression was relaxed, almost effortless, but his eyes softened the moment they landed on you, like they always did now without him even trying.
“You’re in a mood today,” he said.
“You’re in my space,” you corrected immediately.
He hummed thoughtfully, as if actually considering your complaint, then casually reached out to fix your hair that had fallen across your face. His fingers lingered near your head just a second too long before he pulled back.
“You missed a patient earlier,” he said simply.
“I didn’t,” you insisted right away, narrowing your eyes at him in protest.
“You did,” he repeated, entirely unbothered, as if it was the most obvious truth in the world.
You tried to look offended, but the faint curve forming at the corner of your lips completely betrayed you, and Sunghoon noticed it immediately.
He leaned back against the chaur again, looking far too satisfied with himself, though his hand still remained loosely intertwined with yours between you, as if neither of you had thought to let go or found a reason to.
And for a brief moment, everything around you just… settled in a way that felt unfamiliar but not uncomfortable, almost like the world had decided to pause just long enough for you to exist like this without interruption.
Too peaceful.
Too soft.
Too domestic for two people who used to struggle just to exist in the same schedule without missing each other entirely.
“Oh my god.”
Both of you turned at the same time towards the entrance.
Sunoo was standing there holding a folder in one hand, staring at the scene in front of him with an expression so deeply offended that it looked like he had walked in on something he could never unsee.
“I need you both to know,” he said flatly, his tone completely devoid of emotion, “this is disgusting.”
You blinked slowly. “Excuse me?”
Sunghoon didn’t even react much, only glancing at him briefly before returning to his relaxed posture as if nothing about this situation was worth changing.
Sunoo stepped further inside, pointing between the two of you with increasing intensity.
“This,” he continued, voice rising slightly now, “this right here is exactly what I suffered for.”
You frowned. “You suffered?”
He scoffed loudly, like the question itself was insulting. “Do you have any idea how exhausting it was to watch two emotionally unavailable doctors practically orbit each other for weeks without doing anything about it? I have aged. I am not the same person anymore.”
Sunghoon finally spoke, still calm. “We were not orbiting each other.”
Sunoo stared at him for a long, deliberate second.
“You interrupted your own confession multiple times,” he said flatly.
Silence fell for a beat.
“…Okay,” Sunghoon admitted after a pause, completely unfazed.
You pressed your lips together, trying not to laugh as Sunoo nodded. “Anyway. You’re welcome. I single-handedly improved your love life. I should be rewarded.”
“You should be working,” Sunghoon replied.
“That’s what you choose to say after I changed your love life?” he asked, acting shocked.
Then he turned towards the door dramatically. “Whatever, I’m leaving before I get secondhand diabetes from watching this. It’s honestly offensive.”
Sunghoon tilted his head slightly. “You’re the one who planned all of this.”
“And I regret nothing,” Sunoo said instantly, pausing only to add, “except Jay. I regret doing the plan with Jay.” Then he turned and walked out just as quickly as he had come in.
“Try not to be too in love!” he called over his shoulder. “It’s embarrassing!”
The door closed behind him, and the lounge finally fell into silence again.
For a few seconds, neither of you said anything, as if both of you were still processing the sheer chaos that had just walked in and out of the room.
Then you both laughed.
Soft at first, then a little easier, like something that had been stuck in your chest for weeks had finally loosened.
“He’s unbelievable,” you said between breaths.
“He’s going to get worse,” Sunghoon replied calmly.
“i thought that was already his worst,” you countered immediately.
“Nope, he still has more of that,” he said seriously.
That made you laugh again, and when it finally faded, the silence that followed didn’t feel empty anymore, but instead warm and steady in a way that made staying in it feel easy.
Sunghoon’s phone vibrated shortly after.
He checked it, and almost instantly, his expression shifted in that subtle way you were beginning to recognize, his shoulders tightening for just a moment before easing back down again.
You noticed immediately. “Work?”
He nodded once. “Emergency consult.”
There was a brief pause between you that felt heavier than words, though not uncomfortable, just aware.
He slipped his phone back into his pocket and stood up slowly, taking his time as if he wasn’t fully in a hurry to leave just yet.
Before you could even say anything, he stepped closer.
One hand lifted to your cheek again, familiar now, like it had always belonged there.
You didn’t get the chance to tease him before he leaned in and kissed you.
It was a soft and sudden one, a kiss that felt like there wasn’t any hesitation anymore, just certainty.
When he pulled away, he stayed close for a moment longer, his forehead almost brushing yours as if he didn’t want to let go yet.
His phone vibrated again, cutting through the quiet between you.
“Duty calls,” he murmured quietly, like it was both an excuse and an apology at the same time.
You watched the way his expression shifted for a second before he straightened fully, as if putting distance back in place with quiet discipline.
His gaze lingered on you for a second, warm but already pulling away.
“Don’t miss me too much,” he murmured quietly.
“I won’t,” you replied immediately, without even thinking.
He let out a quiet laugh, the kind that made it obvious he didn’t believe you for a second, then turned to leave.
But not before glancing back over his shoulder one last time, giving you a quick wink before finally walking out of the lounge.
You stayed seated for a little longer after he left, fingers lightly touching your lips as if your body was trying to memorize the feeling even as your mind replayed it on its own.
And somehow, the hospital still looked the same.
But nothing about you felt the same anymore.
══════════════════════════════
author's note: thank you so much for all the love and support you’ve given this story from part 1 until part 2 🫶
i’m sorry it took me a while to finish part 2. i really wanted the story to flow properly while still keeping the slow burn feel without making everything happen too fast
honestly, i had so much fun writing this fic that i found myself giggling and feeling butterflies while rereading some scenes myself 😭 i really hope you guys felt the same emotions while reading it too
this story became really special to me, especially because i enjoyed writing every interaction, every interruption, and every little moment between Y/N and sunghoon
thank you again for reading until the end and for supporting my writing >< your comments and support are honestly what keeps me motivated to continue writing and improving with every fic i make
omg 😭 apparently my account got flagged for spam because i sent too many similar messages (i'm shadowbanned), and now my fic isn’t showing up in the tags 🥹
because of that, i’ll have to temporarily unpublish part 2 and repost it once tumblr fixes everything and my account is no longer affected :((
i’m really sorry to everyone who has been waiting for the update, and i truly hope this gets resolved soon 🫶
small update 😭 tumblr removed my messaging feature because i was trying to message people from my taglist about my new fic since tumblr wouldn’t let me tag them 💔 if you didn’t get tagged in “when duty calls pt. 2,” THAT’S WHY PLSDKSKS i promise i didn’t forget anyone 🫶
and as it turns out, i also can't leave comments/replies too 😔
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after years of being co-workers, he never reciprocated the feelings you had for him. so you buried them and learned to live with it.
that is, until a small encounter leads him to start showing you that he cares.
genre: co-workers to lovers, fluff, slow burn, hospital au
word count: 12k
It's 2 am, and you're at the hospital.
Seated in the doctors' lounge, you go through your previous patients' charts, updating them one-by-one. From their vitals, medications, progress notes, everything has to be precised and double checked.
Being an OB-GYN means your life rarely follows a normal schedule.
Most nights are spent awake. On call, in delivery rooms, watching life come into the world one patient at a time. It’s exhausting, relentless… but familiar. Somewhere along the way, the chaos became routine.
You barely notice how late it’s gotten anymore.
The quiet scratch of your pen against paper is suddenly interrupted by a soft clink.
Then a cup of coffee appears beside you.
You pause, eyes shifting from the chart to the cup, then upward to the person who placed it there.
Park Sunghoon.
Four years of working in the same hospital, and he still has a way of showing up without a sound. White coat neat as ever, expression calm in that almost unreadable way of his. He works as a neurosurgeon, precise, composed, and annoyingly consistent.
“Night shift again?” he asks, already pulling a chair a few steps away before sitting down.
You lean back slightly, exhaling as you close the file in front of you. "Yeah, I wasn't able to finish these in one go so I had to switch schedules with Dr. Choi."
“I get it,” Sunghoon replies, offering a small, understanding smile. “There are days when I end up doing the same thing too.”
“Well, thanks for the coffee, I really needed this,” you say, taking a sip. You pause, then look up at him surprised. “You even remembered my order?”
Sunghoon simply purses his lips and shrugs, as if it were nothing, before reaching for his own cup. “You’re welcome.” Just as he’s about to say more, his phone vibrates.
“They need me there. I guess I’ll see you later.” He stands from his chair and lightly pats your shoulder before heading toward the door.
You glance at the cup of coffee in your hands, a small frown forming. You’d only been to the café together twice: once three months ago, and again just two weeks ago. How could he have memorized my order?
A warm feeling slowly blooms in your chest as you think about Sunghoon and his sudden thoughtfulness.
It reminds you of a time when your feelings for him were harder to ignore. Back during your first week working together, when he introduced himself as the newly hired neurosurgeon. What started as simple admiration gradually turned into something more.
Those feelings lasted for an entire year. But between the long hours, the need to stay professional, and your own reluctance to risk it all, you chose to bury them. You kept telling yourself that workplace romance should be avoided, that work always comes first, and that romance simply wasn’t worth the risk. Eventually, you convinced yourself that being nothing more than co-workers was for the best.
You shake your head, snapping yourself out of your thoughts. “Why am I suddenly thinking about the past?” you murmur under your breath. “He probably just has a really good memory.”
With that, you turn back to your work, forcing the lingering warmth in your chest to fade.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Sunghoon, who was on his way to a patient’s room after leaving you alone in the doctors’ lounge, caught himself smiling slightly, especially when he recalled the look of surprise on your face when you realized he had remembered your order.
Back then, he hadn’t paid much attention to you. He hadn’t gone out of his way to learn the little things. Like how you took your coffee or whether you preferred something sweet on the side. But ever since that small hangout with you and a few co-workers three months ago, something had shifted. A quiet curiosity about you had begun to grow.
It wasn’t just because you were one of the best rookie OB-GYNs the hospital had seen. It was also the way you cared for others, not just your patients, but people in general.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Three months ago…
As the rest of the group prepared to leave the café, you lingered behind, glancing at your phone as if you had just remembered something.
“I just remembered I need to buy something before I go. You guys go ahead,” you told Chaewon, your friend. She nodded, calling out a quick goodbye before catching up with the others.
Once they were gone, you stepped back towards the counter and ordered two croissants and a bottle of water. After paying, you hurried outside, scanning the area as if looking for someone.
What you didn’t realize was that Sunghoon had stayed behind. He had gone to the restroom just before everyone left, assuming he’d catch up with the group afterward.
As he stepped out and dried his hands, he paused when he spotted you still there. From inside the café, he watched as you approached a beggar and a small child sitting near the parking lot.
You crouched down to their level, handing them the food you had just bought. A gentle smile spread across your face as you spoke to them softly, though he couldn’t hear the words. After a moment, you gave a small wave before turning to leave.
Sunghoon stood there a little longer than he meant to, quietly processing what he had just seen. Something about that moment stayed with him. The sincerity, the kindness, the way you did it without expecting anything in return.
It made him realize that maybe you were more than just a co-worker he had known for years.
And somehow, from that day on, he found himself paying closer attention.
──────────────────────────────
The elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime, sealing you into the quiet hum of fluorescent light and mirrored steel.
You pressed your back lightly against the wall, exhaling through your nose as the display above the doors blinked from floor to floor. The senior doctor’s message still lingered in your mind: Come to my office. I need to introduce you to someone.
The elevator slowed briefly at the 5th floor, then continued upward. You checked your watch out of habit, fingers tapping once against your coat sleeve.
Just then, the doors opened with a gentle ding. You looked around to find out nobody there, until your eyes caught movement at the far end of the corridor.
A familiar figure stood just outside the elevator’s reach, hands tucked into his white coat pockets, posture relaxed in a way that somehow still looked presentable. Sunghoon.
He nods slightly when he sees you inside, stepping into the empty space beside you. He presses the button, and the elevator doors slide shut with a soft chime.
“Busy today?” he asks, breaking the silence a few seconds after stepping in.
“Not really. I just need to meet with the senior doctor.”
“Oh? How come?” he asks, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. It’s rare for either of you to be called in, usually only for major announcements or worse, bad news. So when you first read the message, you had been just as puzzled.
You shrug lightly. “I’m not entirely sure. She did mention introducing someone, though. Maybe a new employee.”
Sunghoon nods, taking that in.
“How about you?” you ask, turning to him. “Anything big happening today?”
“Actually, I have a procedure at 5 pm,” he says casually.
You instinctively glance at your watch. “That’s in thirty minutes.”
"I know." Sunghoon replied. "You don't seem like you're in a rush." You replied, noticing his chill attitude.
"Well it's a minor one. Just a lumbar puncture, won't take long." He says, seeing your expression.
“Huh… that’s your version of minor?” You mutter, brows lifting slightly as you look at him.
Sunghoon lets out a quiet breath, almost a huff of amusement, barely there. “You just get used to it.”
You shake your head, a small smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. “Still sounds intense.”
“It’s routine,” he says simply, like that alone should settle it. And somehow, coming from him, it almost does.
The elevator hums softly as it slows, the numbers above the door blinking once before stopping.
Your floor.
The doors slide open.
You hesitate for only a second, then shift your weight forward, stepping out into the hallway. Before fully turning away, you glance back at him.
“Good luck, Sunghoon.”
He meets your gaze, calm as ever. “I don't need it.”
That almost makes you scoff, but instead you just exhale a small laugh. “Still, good luck.”
The doors begin to close behind you.
And just before they shut completely, you catch it, the smallest hint of a smile on his face, gone just as quickly as it appears.
You walk straight to the end of the hallway, where the senior doctor’s office is located.
Stopping in front of the door, you knock three times. A voice from inside calls, “Come in.”
Taking the cue, you twist the doorknob open and step inside. Dr. Lim stands near her desk, a folder in hand. Beside her is a young man with sharp, cat-like eyes, standing straight with quiet composure.
You close the door behind you and walk toward them.
“Dr. Kang,” the senior doctor says, closing the file in her hand, “This is Jungwon, a newly assigned resident. He’ll be rotating in OB-GYN under your supervision.”
You turn your attention to him just as he steps forward, extending his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Dr. Kang.”
You shake his hand without hesitation, offering a small, welcoming smile. “Nice to meet you too, Jungwon. Welcome to the OB-GYN department.”
He smiles back, his expression calm and professional, no trace of nervousness in sight.
“Alright,” Dr. Lim continues smoothly, already reaching for another document on her desk. “Jungwon, you’ll report to Dr. Kang starting today. She’ll orient you with the ward and your responsibilities.”
Jungwon nods. “Understood, ma’am.”
The senior doctor looks up once more, this time addressing both of you. “OB-GYN is a demanding department. I expect discipline and clear communication. Dr. Kang, he’s your responsibility during this rotation.”
You give a small nod in acknowledgment.
Dr. Lim leans back slightly, signaling the end of the meeting. “Now that’s settled. You may go.”
You turn first, straightening your posture as you head for the door. Jungwon follows a step behind, attentive.
Once you’re outside in the hallway, you turn to face him.
“First things first,” you say, folding your arms lightly. “Call me by my first name, Y/N. No ‘Dr. Kang.’ It makes me feel older than I am.”
Jungwon lets out a small chuckle. “Got it. Y/N it is.”
“As Dr. Lim mentioned, I’ll be your supervisor for the duration of your rotation in OB-GYN,” you continue. “Since it’s your first day, I’ll give you a quick tour of the facilities so you can start familiarizing yourself.”
You gesture forward. “Let’s go.”
The two of you head towards the elevator. “The OB-GYN department is on the third floor,” you add, pressing the button.
When the doors open, you’re greeted by the nurses’ station. The nurses on duty look up from their desks.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Kang,” they greet in unison.
“Good afternoon,” you reply with a polite nod before turning slightly to Jungwon. “This is Jungwon, our new resident. He’ll be working here starting today.”
Jungwon smiles and greets them, and they return the gesture warmly.
You lead him down the left hallway lined with patient rooms. “This is where admitted patients stay, postpartum mothers, as well as those recovering from surgery,” you explain. “The rooms along the right hallway are mainly for regular check-ups and consultations.”
“And over here…” you continue, walking towards the far end where a large door with glass panels stands. “…is the Labor, Delivery, and Recovery Room. LDR for short.”
You push the door open just enough to step inside and the shift is immediate.
A strained breath cuts through the air, followed by a low cry. A patient grips the bed rails, her knuckles pale, while a nurse guides her breathing with steady reassurance.
“Active labor,” you say calmly as you step further in. “This is where things start to pick up.”
Jungwon stays close behind you, noticeably quieter now, his eyes taking everything in.
A monitor beside the bed beeps steadily, then suddenly dips. The nurse straightens. “Doctor, heart rate’s dropping.”
Before the tour can even pause, you’re already moving.
“Position her to the left,” you instruct, your tone calm but firm. “Give her oxygen.” The room shifts instantly, quick hands, precise movements, controlled urgency.
The patient gasps, her eyes squeezed shut as another contraction hits. You glance at the monitor. Then steady again, as the beeping evens out.
“Good,” you murmur, stepping back as if it were second nature. “Keep monitoring.”
“Yes, doctor.”
The tension doesn’t disappear, but it eases just enough. You turn back to Jungwon, your expression composed.
“It can change that fast,” you say simply. “You learn to respond before it becomes a problem.”
He nods, still processing what he just witnessed.
“Come on,” you add, already heading for the door. “Let’s continue.”
“On the opposite end,” you say, pointing down the hallway, “is the operating room.”
You walk in that direction, with Jungwon following closely behind.
You push the operating room doors open, and a wave of sterile, cool air greets you as you step inside.
Bright overhead lights reflect off stainless steel instruments neatly arranged on trays. The operating table sits at the center, surrounded by monitors and machines humming quietly in the background.
“Procedures like cesarean sections and gynecologic surgeries are done here,” you explain, your voice steady as it echoes slightly in the room. “And when things don’t go as planned…”
You pause for a brief moment, your gaze flicking toward the operating table.
“…that is where we take over.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The tour continues as you guide Jungwon through the rest of the facility, from the ultrasound rooms to the examination areas, and finally to the newborn units. You explain each section with ease, answering his occasional questions, barely noticing how quickly time slips by.
It isn’t until you glance at your watch that you pause.
“Oh, it’s already 6 pm,” you say, a little surprised. “Perfect timing. My shift ends now, and since I’ve already shown you around the entire OB-GYN department, we can both head home.”
“Wait, really?” Jungwon asks, clearly caught off guard.
You nod. “Yes. Once I leave, there won’t be anyone to supervise you anyway. And since it’s your first day, I’ll let you off early this time. Your real work starts tomorrow.”
“Ah…” Jungwon exhales in relief, a small grin forming. “I’ll be ready by then,” he assures you, determination settling into his expression.
“Good to hear,” you reply with a faint smile. “Well, I’ll get going now. See you tomorrow, Jungwon.”
“See you, Doc,” he says.
You give him a small wave before leaving.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
After gathering your things, you take the elevator down to the underground parking area. The space is quieter now, the hum of engines and distant footsteps echoing faintly. You spot your car a short distance away and walk towards it, pressing your key fob to unlock it.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, you place your bag on the passenger side and reach for the ignition.
You turn the key.
Click.
Nothing.
You try again.
Click. Click.
The engine doesn’t turn over.
A faint frown forms as you attempt a few more times, but the sound only grows weaker until the car falls completely silent and unresponsive.
"Unbelievable,” you mutter, letting your forehead rest briefly against the steering wheel.
You sigh, leaning back as frustration settles in. Your eyes drift to your bag beside you.
“How am I supposed to go home now...”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
A few minutes later, you find yourself standing outside the hospital entrance, arms folded loosely as you scan the road.
You decided to take a cab instead, but even after waiting for several minutes, none stop. The few that passed by are already occupied, their headlights briefly illuminating you before disappearing down the street.
You shift your weight, glancing down the road again, hoping the next one will finally be empty.
Then, a sleek silver BMW pulls up in front of you, the engine purring softly as the window rolls down.
You look over to see who it is.
Sunghoon sits behind the wheel, one hand resting loosely on it while the other drapes over the passenger seat’s headrest, his posture relaxed.
“Need a ride home?” he asks.
“I—”
Before you can even answer, he leans over and pushes the passenger door open. That leaves you with little room to refuse.
You step in, closing the door gently behind you.
Settling into the passenger seat, you sit a little stiffly, your gaze fixed on the window beside you.
It’s your first time riding in a car alone with him, something you never really imagined would happen. And not just any car, but his.
For a moment, the air inside feels thick with unspoken tension. Neither of you says anything, the quiet stretching just a bit too long.
After a while, Sunghoon clears his throat, breaking the silence. “So… what happened to your car?”
You turn slightly to look at him. “The battery died. I’ve been so busy these past few weeks that I forgot to get it replaced.”
“I see.” He nods once. “How long were you waiting out there?”
“About twenty minutes,” you reply.
“Good thing I saw you then,” he says, a faint chuckle slipping through. “You looked like you were about to lose your patience.”
You let out a small laugh. “Honestly, I was. And thank you, by the way. If you hadn’t shown up, I probably would’ve ended up walking home.”
That earns another quiet hum of amusement from him.
After that, the conversation fades, but this time, the silence feels different. Softer. Easier. The low hum of the engine and the faint music playing on the radio fill the space comfortably.
For once, it isn’t awkward.
The car slows to a stop at a red light. Sunghoon glances your way, his expression unreadable but calm. “You hungry?”
“I think I’m good,” you reply, but almost immediately, your stomach betrays you with a low rumble. Shit.
You freeze for a second, suddenly remembering that you skipped lunch earlier, too distracted and a little too nervous about the senior doctor’s message.
Sunghoon lets out a quiet laugh at the sound. “Let’s grab something to eat,” he says, already easing his foot back on the gas as the light turns green. “My treat.”
You don’t argue.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
A few minutes later, you find yourselves at a casual Italian fast-food restaurant. The warm lighting and soft chatter from other customers make the place feel cozy despite the rush hour.
You scan the area and spot a small booth tucked into the corner. “There,” you say, heading towards it.
You slide into the seat while Sunghoon remains standing beside the table. “What would you like to eat?” he asks.
“I think pasta’s fine,” you answer.
He nods. “Alright. I’ll order for us. Just wait here, okay?”
“Okay.”
You watch as he walks toward the counter, joining the short line. For a moment, you find yourself absentmindedly observing him the way he stands, calm and composed even in something as simple as ordering food.
A few minutes later, he returns carrying a tray.
He sets a plate of pasta in front of you, his lasagna beside it, then hands you your drink.
“And this one’s for you,” he adds, placing a slice of pizza next to your plate.
You blink, confused. “I didn’t order that.”
He sits across from you, completely unfazed. “I did. I figured the pasta wouldn’t be enough since you’re hungry.”
You cough lightly, feeling your cheeks warm. “Oh… uh, thank you.”
You start eating, your gaze fixed anywhere but him. Somehow, the earlier ease from the car ride has shifted again, replaced by a quiet, awkward tension.
You never really imagined this. Sitting across from him, sharing a meal like this. It almost feels unreal, like something out of place in your usual routine.
You can feel his gaze on you, subtle but unmistakable.
“What happened with the senior doctor earlier?” he asks, snapping you out of your thoughts.
You look up, surprised, but your shoulders relax now that the conversation has shifted. “She introduced me to a new resident,” you explain. “He’ll be under my supervision.”
Sunghoon nods, taking a bite of his food.
“His name’s Jungwon,” you continue, twirling your pasta with your fork. “From what I’ve seen so far, he has potential. He wasn’t nervous at all, even when we went to the LDR earlier.”
“That’s good,” Sunghoon says. “At least he seems passionate from the start.”
You nod, but then the thought that’s been lingering in your mind resurfaces. You hesitate just for a second before speaking.
“Sunghoon… can I ask you something?” He looks up. “Sure.”
“Not to sound rude or anything, but why are you suddenly talking to me?” you ask, your voice softer now. “I mean… we’ve been co-workers for four years, and this is the first time you’ve bought me coffee or talked to me for more than ten minutes.”
For a brief moment, he looks genuinely caught off guard. His eyes widen slightly, and a faint blush creeps up to his ears as he scratches the back of his neck. “That’s… uh…”
"I just thought that I've been so shy these past years that I don't get to socialize with my co-workers that much. You know, I just recently became close with that dermatologist, Kim Sunoo." He replied.
You nodded, a small smile forming. “That’s good to hear. I remember you skipped the Christmas party for two years straight. It’s nice to see you stepping out of your comfort zone.”
He smiles back. “I guess it is.”
The conversation drifts into something lighter after that, and before you realize it, dinner is over.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Soon enough, you’re back in his car, this time parked in front of your apartment building.
You unbuckle your seatbelt, turning slightly towards him. “Thank you for the ride, Sunghoon. And for the food.”
He smiles softly. “Don’t mention it. If you ever need a ride home, you can just call me.”
You stopped. “But… I don’t have your number.”
“Here.” He unlocks his phone and hands it to you. You take it, typing your number into his contacts before handing it back. “There.”
You step out of the car, the cool night air brushing against your skin. “Goodnight, Sunghoon,” you say, closing the door halfway and then you heard him speak, “Goodnight, Y/N.”
You pause for just a moment before shutting the door completely, the sound echoing softly in the quiet street.
Later that night, as you lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling, your mind drifts back to everything that happened.
The coffee. The car ride. Dinner.
Him.
Your heart beats a little faster, your cheeks warming at the memories.
Those feelings you buried years ago? They’re being dug up by none other than Park Sunghoon himself.
──────────────────────────────
Three weeks after that dinner with Sunghoon, the two of you have grown noticeably more comfortable around each other. He even picked you up from your apartment the morning after that night, insisting so you wouldn’t have to take the subway to work.
And now, you’re back in the thick of it. Endless patients, heavy workloads, night shifts, deadlines, and back-to-back surgeries taking up most of your time.
“Doc, I’m done with my rounds for now,” Jungwon says, appearing beside you while you’re busy taking a patient’s blood pressure.
You finish up, offering the patient a small reassuring smile before noting down the readings on the chart.
“Good,” you say, turning to him. “I want you to check on Baby Jung in the newborn unit. When I assessed the baby earlier this morning, the condition was a bit unstable. If that continues, report back to me so we’ll coordinate with the Pediatrics Department.”
“You got it.” Jungwon gives a quick salute before turning to leave.
“Oh, and Jungwon,” you call out just as he’s a few steps away. “Don’t forget the dessert you promised me for lunch.”
He chuckles, glancing back. “Of course, Doc. See you at the cafeteria later.”
Over the past three weeks, you and Jungwon have also grown closer, spending nearly every day working side by side. You’re grateful to have someone to share the hectic schedules and overwhelming workload with as it makes everything feel just a little lighter.
You grab the clipboard with your patient records and head towards the elevator. Your phone vibrates in your pocket, and you pull it out, about to read the message but you bumped into someone.
The impact causes the clipboard to slip from your hands, papers scattering across the floor.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry!” a voice says quickly.
You crouch down to gather the papers, the other person doing the same.
As you pick them up and glance up, a nurse you don’t recognize hands you a few sheets. “Here you go.”
“Thank you,” you reply, standing up.
“I’m really sorry again, Doctor…” Her eyes flicker to your coat, reading the name stitched onto it. “…Kang.”
You shake your head lightly. “It’s okay. I wasn’t looking either. It’s partly my fault.”
You pause for a moment, studying her. “By the way, what’s your name? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
She smiles sweetly. “I’m Jang Wonyoung. I just started working here yesterday.”
“Well, it’s nice meeting you, Wonyoung,” you say with a friendly smile. “Sorry our first meeting had to be like this.”
“That’s alright,” she replies. “Have a nice day, Dr. Kang.”
She gives a small wave before heading off.
You continue towards the elevator and pressed the button. While waiting, you check your phone and read Jungwon’s message. He mentions that the newborn unit is a bit crowded with nurses and a few parents, and that he’ll update you once he gets inside.
Ding.
The elevator doors open.
You look up and see Sunghoon inside.
A smile forms on your lips as you step in, slipping your phone back into your pocket.
“Funny how we always run into each other at the elevator,” you say, turning to him.
“It is,” he replies, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Maybe I should start charging you for getting to see a handsome face like mine every time the doors open.”
You let out a laugh, and he joins in, the sound light and easy between you.
“Anyway,” he continues once the laughter fades. “Where are you planning to eat lunch? Sunoo and a friend of mine are trying out a newly opened restaurant nearby. Want to join us?”
“I’d love to,” you say, “but Jungwon and I already made plans, and he’s treating me to dessert, so I can’t really say no to that.” You nudge his side playfully.
“Ah, I see.” He nods, though you can’t help but notice the slight disappointment in his tone. “Maybe next time.”
“Definitely next time,” you reply.
The elevator doors slide open at your floor.
You step out, then glance back at him. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
And with that, you walk away, unaware of the way his gaze lingers on you just a second longer than usual.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Lunchtime arrives, and you’ve been sitting there for almost an hour.
Your plate is already empty, your drink long finished, and yet there’s still no sign of Jungwon or the dessert he promised.
You let out a quiet sigh, resting your cheek against your palm as you glance towards the cafeteria doors. Maybe I should’ve just gone with Sunghoon instead…
Just as the thought crosses your mind, the doors swing open and Jungwon rushes in, scanning the room before spotting you.
“Y/N, I’m so sorry I’m late, a patient was—” He’s panting so hard he can’t even finish his sentence.
“Woah, hey. Sit down first,” you say quickly.
He does as told, and you hand him your spare bottle of water. He takes it immediately, drinking it down in one go.
Once he’s done, he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and looks at you apologetically. “I really wanted to come earlier, but a patient asked me to stay with her until her husband arrived. I didn’t expect it to take that long… if I had known, I wouldn’t have stayed.”
You nod, your expression softening. “It’s okay. I would’ve done the same thing.”
“Did you at least eat lunch?” you ask.
“I did,” he replies. “The patient felt bad for making me wait, so she gave me some food.”
“Then I guess that leaves us with dessert,” you say, pointing lightly at him. “Now go get me that dessert you promised.”
Jungwon stands up immediately and heads to the counter.
A few minutes later, he returns, but this time, there’s a slight frown on his face.
“They ran out,” he says. “I guess it’s my fault for getting here late.”
You sigh, leaning back in your chair. “So… what are we supposed to have for dessert now?”
Jungwon pauses, thinking for a moment before his expression brightens. “I know a place. Come with me.”
A short while later, the two of you find yourselves standing in front of a gelato shop in town.
“I come here whenever I’m craving something sweet,” Jungwon says, a hint of excitement in his voice. “They make the best gelato.”
He steps ahead of you, holding the door open.
“You’re really serious about this gelato, huh?” you tease with a small laugh.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Across the street, inside the newly opened restaurant, Sunghoon sits with Sunoo and Jay.
“Is that Y/N?” Sunoo suddenly says, pointing towards the window.
Sunghoon’s attention shifts instantly, his gaze following the direction.
Outside, he sees you with Jungwon.
“She’s with the resident,” Sunoo adds, still watching.
“They seem close,” Jay comments casually. “Maybe a little too close. I can’t even remember the last time I became friends with a resident.”
Sunoo gasps softly, covering his mouth. “Right? I thought I was the only one who noticed.”
Sunghoon’s grip on his fork tightens slightly as he listens, his eyes still fixed on the scene outside. On the way Jungwon holds the door open for you and the way you laugh.
“Do you think maybe they’re—”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Sunghoon cuts in, his tone sharper than usual. “Can we just eat in peace and not start rumors?”
Sunoo scoffs, side-eyeing him. “Geez. I was just saying.”
Sunghoon then goes back to eating, but the air at the table has shifted.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
After finishing your gelato, you and Jungwon stepped outside.
Just as you’re about to leave, you spot Sunoo approaching the shop.
You wave at him, and he waves back enthusiastically, a grin spreading across his face.
“What are you doing here?” you ask.
“Getting dessert,” he replies. “Do they have mint chocolate here?”
“Yeah they have tons of flavors, actually. I think you’ll like all of them,” you say with a small laugh.
“Really?” Sunoo’s eyes light up. “I can’t wait!”
He practically skips toward the entrance.
Moments later, Sunghoon and Jay approach.
“Hi,” you greet as they stop in front of you.
“Hello,” Jay replies, glancing inside. “Is Sunoo in there?” You nodded.
“I’ll see if there's a flavor I like,” he says, turning to Sunghoon. “You want anything?”
Sunghoon shakes his head. “I’m good.”
Jay heads inside, leaving the two of you and Jungwon, who has just stepped beside you in an awkward silence.
“Hey,” you say to Sunghoon, but this time, something feels off.
“Right,” you say, trying to ease the tension. “Jungwon, this is Dr. Park Sunghoon, my friend.”
You gesture towards Jungwon. “And Sunghoon, this is Jungwon, the resident I told you about.”
Jungwon immediately extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Park.”
For a second, Sunghoon just stares at it, his thick brows slightly furrowed.
You clear your throat softly. Only then does Sunghoon take his hand, briefly.
“Uh huh,” he mutters.
Jungwon withdraws his hand, the smile on his face still polite, though a little uncertain now.
Just then, Sunoo and Jay return. With Sunoo holding his three scoops of mint chocolate chip gelato.
“Let’s head back,” Jay says. “Lunch break’s almost over.”
The five of you began walking back towards the hospital. Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Jay walked ahead, while you and Jungwon trail slightly behind.
“Jungwon… I’m sorry about that,” you say quietly. “Sunghoon isn’t usually like that. I don’t know what got into him.”
“It’s okay,” Jungwon replies, giving you a reassuring smile. “Maybe he just had a bad day.”
“Still… I’ll talk to him.” Before he could respond, you jogged forward.
“Sunghoon,” you call.
No response.
You try again.
Still nothing.
You frown slightly before reaching out and poking his side.
He flinches, finally turning to look at you. “What was that for?”
“You weren’t listening, so I had to resort to that,” you say, pouting slightly. His expression softens just a bit.
“…Sorry. What did you want to say?” He asks as you crossed your arms. “Why were you rude to Jungwon earlier? The kid was just trying to introduce himself.”
“I wasn’t,” he replied, looking away.
“You were,” you insist. “What’s wrong? Are you upset because I didn’t join you for lunch?”
There’s a flicker of something in his eyes as he looks back at you.
“No,” he says quickly. “It’s not that. A waiter messed up my order earlier, so I didn’t really enjoy the meal,” he lied, his voice a little too fast, as if he’s trying to convince both you and himself.
“Oh… that sucks,” you say, your tone softening. “So you really just had a bad day.”
“Yeah,” he mutters, scratching the back of his neck. His ears tint slightly red.
“You should leave them a bad review,” you say lightly. “They don’t deserve all that hype.”
A faint smile tugs at his lips. “Maybe I should.”
──────────────────────────────
It was now time for the yearly medical mission, this time held in Gangwon Province.
Early in the morning, before the sun had fully risen, doctors were already gathered at the back of the hospital, loading supplies into vans. The atmosphere was focused, everyone moving with practiced efficiency.
Once you finished loading your things into the vehicle, the senior doctor, Ms. Lim, arrived to announce the car assignments. Most of the staff, doctors and nurses alike were placed in the larger vans, while only three were assigned to the smaller car.
That included you, Chaewon, and a pharmacist.
“We better get moving. The drive will take two to three hours, and I don’t want us arriving late,” Ms. Lim said as everyone began heading toward their assigned vehicles.
You stepped into the small car first, with Chaewon following right after. “Great, seatmates,” you said lightly, earning a smile from her as she settled beside you. The pharmacist sat in the front passenger seat, next to the driver.
Even with only four people inside, the space felt slightly cramped, with a few supplies stacked behind your seats, signaling the long drive ahead.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
You arrived in Gangwon Province after two and a half hours.
You stretched your arms as soon as you stepped out of the car. “Finally, we’re here,” you said, glancing at Chaewon beside you.
“Look at the view,” she pointed out.
Ahead of you, mountains covered in green stretched into the distance, the early sunlight rising over them and casting a soft glow across the landscape. The air was noticeably cooler and cleaner, a quiet reminder that you were far from the city now.
Around you, doctors and staff had already started unloading supplies from the vehicles. You moved towards the car again and joined in, helping carry boxes as the medical mission was about to start.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The medical mission is taking place at a public school gym that is converted into a temporary clinic.
Folding tables are set up in sections for each department, with simple privacy screens dividing consultation areas. Nurses move between stations guiding patients, while rows of chairs line the sides of the gym for those waiting their turn.
You sat at a small table marked for OB-GYN consultations, flipping through charts as a line of patients steadily forms in front of you, the hum of the makeshift clinic filling the space around you.
The check-up began smoothly, most patients were cooperative, listening attentively as you gave instructions and advice. Those who needed minor procedures were guided to the adjacent room for outpatient care, while you stayed at your station, calmly writing prescriptions and updating charts.
From across the space, Sunghoon sat at a parallel table, his gaze occasionally lifting towards you. He observed the way you spoke to each patient, reassuring and always gentle in tone, together with the soft smile you gave even in the middle of a busy line.
“Man, you gotta stop staring at her. There are patients on their way,” Jay said quietly from beside him.
“I— I wasn’t staring,” Sunghoon replied immediately, shifting his attention to the neatly arranged supplies in front of him, pretending to align them even though they were already perfectly in order. “Just… observing.”
Jay let out a small hum of disbelief. “Whatever you say.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Lunchtime came, with your team providing free food for all the attendees. A long line formed as patients waited for their meals, the gym still buzzing with quiet conversation and movement.
You sat at the table assigned for the doctors, with Sunghoon taking the empty seat beside you.
“Hi,” you greeted as he greeted back.
“How’s the consultation so far? I saw there are a lot of patients in your area,” he asked as he started eating.
“It’s going well. I haven’t had this much fun in a while,” you admitted, earning a small nod from him.
“Good to hear you’re enjoying it,” he said simply.
“I am,” you continued. “It’s always a pleasure helping people.”
The conversation flowed easily as you both ate. When you finished your meal, you reached for the brownie included in the tray, but Sunghoon stopped you.
“Don’t.” You looked up at him, confused.
“It has nuts,” Sunghoon added.
“Oh,” you blinked, then set it back down. “Right.”
A beat passed before you asked, “How did you know I’m allergic to peanuts?”
He cleared his throat, looking down at his food. “I saw you separate the nuts when you were eating that salad last week. And I've seen the EpiPen you always carry in your pocket.”
You stared at him for a second longer than intended, your chest tightening.
“You noticed that?”
He gave a small shrug. “It’s hard not to.”
A quiet warmth settled in your chest, though you kept your expression calm. “Well… thank you for warning me.”
You glanced back at the brownie, then sighed softly. “But it feels like a waste to just leave it.”
Before you could say more, Sunghoon reached over and took it from your plate.
“Always so considerate,” he said, before taking a bite himself.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
It was already night by the time the medical mission ended.
Everyone looked exhausted, evident in the way people moved slower than usual, taking their time packing up supplies. The once busy area had quieted down, replaced by tired chatter and the occasional sigh.
You grabbed your things and made your way to the car, opening the trunk.
“Here, I got it.”
Before you could protest, Sunghoon had already taken the supplies from your hands and placed them neatly inside.
“Thanks,” you say, watching as he closes the trunk.
Just then, Chaewon comes rushing over, slightly out of breath. “Y/N, I asked Ms. Lim earlier if I could transfer to the van since I felt claustrophobic in the smaller car. She said I could, but only if someone switched places with me. I tried asking around, but no one wants to,” she groans, squeezing your hands in mild panic.
You give her a sympathetic look. “Chae, maybe we can—”
“I’ll switch seats with you.”
Both of you turn as Sunghoon speaks up, having clearly overheard the conversation.
“You would?” Chaewon asks, her face lighting up.
He gives a small nod. “Yeah.”
“Oh my gosh, thank you!” she squeals, then quickly turns back to you. “But Y/N, is it okay if I’m not your seatmate anymore?”
You smile softly. “It’s fine. I know how much you hate small spaces.”
Chaewon beams before pulling you into a quick hug. “Thank you, Y/N. You’re the best.”
“Everyone, let’s go!” Ms. Lim calls out.
“I have to go, see you at the hospital!” Chaewon says, waving as she hurries off.
You wave back before heading to the car. You slide into your seat, and a moment later, Sunghoon follows, settling beside you.
“She’s right,” he mutters, shifting slightly. “It is cramped in here.”
Your shoulders brush against his from how little space there is.
“Yeah,” you sigh. “We just have to endure it for two and a half hours.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The car ride begins, the hum of the engine blending with the low chatter of others. You pull out your phone, texting Jungwon about updates from the hospital. The screen blurs slightly as you blink slowly, fatigue catching up to you.
You let out a quiet yawn while waiting for his reply, your eyelids growing heavier by the second.
“Tired?” Sunghoon asks softly from beside you.
“Mm,” you hum in response, too drained to form a proper sentence.
“You should get some sleep,” he says. “I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”
"Maybe I should.”
You lean your head against the window, eyes slowly closing as the gentle motion of the car puts you to sleep.
A few minutes pass.
Sunghoon glances at you, noticing the way your head keeps tilting awkwardly against the glass, your body shifting uncomfortably with every bump on the road.
Carefully, he moves a little closer.
Slowly, so carefully you don’t wake, he lifts a hand and gently guides your head away from the window, letting it rest against his shoulder instead.
“There…” he whispers softly.
Your head settles against him, your breathing evening out as you remain asleep, now in a far more comfortable position.
He stays still, not wanting to disturb you. But as the quiet of the ride settles in, he begins to feel his own exhaustion creeping in.
His eyes flutter shut.
And soon enough, he falls asleep too.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Unbeknownst to the two of you, Sunoo, who had already taken the front seat earlier, insisting he wanted to ride shotgun instead of being stuck in the back with the supplies on the van, was quietly watching a movie on his phone.
At some point, he glanced up from his screen and caught a glimpse of the back seat through the rearview mirror.
His brows lifted slightly.
He shifted in his seat and turned just enough to look behind him directly.
There you were, fast asleep, your head resting gently on Sunghoon’s shoulder.
And Sunghoon, also asleep, his head slightly tilted toward yours.
A slow, mischievous grin spread across Sunoo’s face.
He paused his movie and casually raised his phone, snapping a photo of the two of you, clearly entertained.
“Interesting…” he muttered under his breath before returning his attention to the screen, as if nothing had happened.
──────────────────────────────
The morning two days after, you step out of the elevator, heading towards the doctors’ lounge, only to stop in your tracks.
A few feet ahead, you spot Sunghoon walking out of the operating room. He’s in the middle of removing his surgical gown and cap, his hair slightly disheveled as he runs a hand through it to fix it.
For a moment, you just watch him.
You were about to walk over, maybe ask how the surgery went when someone beats you to it.
“Doctor.”
You glance over.
It’s the nurse you met before, Wonyoung.
“How was the surgery?” she asks, her voice softer than usual.
“It was fine,” Sunghoon replies.
“Of course it went well. You’re good at what you do,” she says, stepping a little closer than necessary. “Do you need help with anything, Dr. Park? I can assist you in cleaning up.”
Before he can respond, she reaches out, noticing his collar slightly crooked from removing his surgical gown and fixes it herself.
You freeze.
For a second, you can’t quite believe what you’re seeing. Your lips part slightly as you watch the interaction unfold, something uneasy settling in your chest.
She’s clearly flirting.
You wait, expecting Sunghoon to step back, to say something, to at least react.
But he doesn’t.
He just stands there, looking at her, almost as if he’s momentarily zoned out.
Something about that makes your chest tighten.
“Tsk.” You crossed your arms and turn away, not bothering to watch any longer.
Your steps are quicker now as you head straight to the doctors’ lounge, pushing the door open a little harder than necessary.
The sudden noise makes Jungwon look up from his laptop, slightly startled. “Y/N?” he says.
You pause, then let out a small breath. “Jungwon. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I’m just working on a report,” he replies, closing his laptop halfway. “What’s up? You look a little… irritated.”
You sit down beside him, crossing your arms as you lean back.
“Jungwon, do you know that newly hired nurse? The tall one who looks more like a supermodel than a nurse?”
He turns his chair toward you, giving you his full attention. His brows knit slightly as he thinks. “Nurse Wonyoung?”
“Yes, her,” you say quickly. “I just saw her flirting with Sunghoon out there. Can you believe that? A nurse who’s barely been here a month, hitting on a doctor?”
Jungwon lets out a small chuckle once you finish.
“Yeah, I believe you,” he says. “You don’t usually get this worked up over something small.”
You narrow your eyes slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means…” he leans back a bit, a teasing glint in his eyes, “you sound jealous.”
“Jealous?” you repeat, almost scoffing. “Of course not. He's my friend and I’m just looking out for him. You know it’s against company rules to date someone new.”
You can feel the warmth creeping up your cheeks.
“…Yeah right,” Jungwon says, clearly unconvinced.
You quickly stood up, not wanting to entertain his teasing any further. “Whatever. I’m going to grab something to eat.”
“Alright, Doc,” Jungwon says with a small teasing grin as you head for the door.
You walk down the hallway, your gaze lowered as you fumble through the pockets of your coat, searching for some cash. Distracted, you don’t notice where you’re going and end up bumping into someone.
It’s Sunghoon.
Your expression shifts almost instantly, your mood dropping the moment you realize it’s him.
“Where are you heading?” he asks, one brow slightly raised.
“Just going to buy some food,” you reply.
“Want me to come with you?” he offers.
“I’m fine,” you say a little too quickly. “I can manage on my own. Besides, I have a hysterectomy scheduled after this. I need to get back right away.”
The lie slips out easily, even though you know the surgery isn’t for another hour.
“Okay… just don’t forget to—”
You don’t let him finish.
You walked past him without another word, your steps just a little faster than before, the image of what you saw earlier still lingering stubbornly in your mind.
Maybe it was better to avoid him and push those resurfacing feelings back down. So that in the end, you wouldn’t end up getting hurt.
──────────────────────────────
The next few weeks stayed the same, you avoided Sunghoon as much as you could.
You grew distant. Conversations were cut short, small talk nonexistent, and every interaction between you was kept strictly professional.
It felt like the friendship you built with him had never existed at all, as you treated him the same way you had for years before.
“Working the night shift again?” He asked as you were waiting for your coffee at the vending machine.
You froze for a split second at the sound of his voice behind you, but quickly composed yourself.
“Yeah.”
The cup dropped into the slot. You took it without looking at him as you walked past him.
Sunghoon could only watch your retreating figure, letting out a quiet sigh as another attempt to start a conversation with you failed.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Sunghoon leaned back against the counter in the doctors' lounge, arms crossed, gaze fixed somewhere distant. Jay glanced up from his phone and watched him for a moment before speaking.
“You’ve been like that all week,” he said.
Sunghoon didn’t respond.
“Actually,” Jay added, setting his phone down, “ever since she started avoiding you.”
That finally made Sunghoon look at him. “Avoiding?”
Jay let out a short scoff. “You didn’t notice?”
Before Sunghoon could answer, the door opened and Sunoo walked in, drink in hand, immediately sensing the tension.
“Notice what?” he asked casually.
Jay nodded towards Sunghoon. “He just realized.”
Sunoo blinked once, then laughed lightly. “No way.”
“What are you talking about?” Sunghoon frowned.
Sunoo leaned against the table, studying him. “You’ve been acting off for weeks.”
“I haven’t—”
“You have,” Jay cut in. “You’re more distracted. You forget small things, double-check things you normally don’t.”
Sunoo added, “And you keep looking towards her area even when you’re not assigned there.”
Sunghoon’s jaw tightened slightly. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It does,” Jay said calmly. A brief silence followed before Sunoo tilted his head.
“You didn’t even realize she was avoiding you until now.”
Sunghoon paused, thinking back. Vague replies, shorter conversations, the way you left early, the lack of eye contact. “…I thought she was just busy,” he muttered.
Jay shook his head. “You don’t believe that.”
Sunghoon didn’t answer.
Sunoo exhaled softly. “You’re not just noticing her.” He smirks slightly. “You’re affected by her.”
The words hung in the air.
Sunghoon scoffed weakly, but it lacked certainty. “I’m not affected.”
“Then why do you look like that every time she walks past you and doesn’t stop?” Sunoo asked simply.
Silence.
Jay crossed his arms. “You didn’t care before.”
Sunghoon frowned slightly. "What do you mean?”
“You used to be fine,” Jay said. “Now you’re not.”
Sunghoon ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "She’s been acting weird...”
Jay immediately corrected him. “No. You’ve been acting weird.”
Sunghoon looked between them, irritation flickering but it didn’t last. Because it was starting to feel… accurate.
Sunoo sighed and pushed himself off the table. “You know what your problem is?”
Sunghoon looked up. “What?”
“You think noticing her is enough,” Sunoo said simply.
That made him pause.
Jay added more quietly, “It’s not.”
Sunghoon frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Sunoo stepped closer, voice steady now. “You don’t get to just notice her forever.”
“You either do something about it or someone else eventually will. Like perhaps, Jungwon?”
That landed differently.
Sunghoon’s expression hardened. "What am I supposed to do?” Jay answered immediately. “Tell her.”
Sunghoon blinked. “Tell her what?” Sunoo lets out a short laugh. “Don’t act like you don’t know.”
He pulled out his phone and unlocked it, tapping a few times before turning the screen toward Sunghoon.
The photo from the night of the medical mission appeared. You, asleep, your head resting on his shoulder. Him, leaning slightly toward you, closer than he remembered.
The room went quiet.
“How did you get that?" He coughs. "And you know, that was just an accident. I didn't mean to end up in that position,” Sunghoon said after a moment, but his voice was quieter now.
Sunoo hummed. “Sure.”
Jay added, almost matter-of-fact, “You don’t let people that close.”
Sunghoon didn’t respond. His eyes stayed on the photo longer than necessary. “Since when did I start doing things like that?” he muttered under his breath.
Neither Sunoo nor Jay answered.
Instead, they just watched him, because for the first time, Sunghoon wasn’t denying it anymore. He was thinking.
Then Sunoo spoke again, softer but sharper.
“You don’t have to keep pretending you don’t feel anything. We know.”
Jay nodded once. “Just talk to her.”
Sunoo tilted his phone slightly, still showing the photo. “Before someone else does.”
And this time, Sunghoon didn’t argue.
──────────────────────────────
You push through the operating room doors, the sterile air hitting you instantly as the urgency inside the room becomes clear. The patient is already on the table, breaths uneven, the monitor beside her flashing unstable vitals.
“Doctor, her blood pressure is dropping,” one of the nurses calls out.
“I see it,” you reply, already gloving up. “Prepare for immediate delivery.”
Jungwon stands across from you, already scrubbed in, eyes focused but tense. This is different from the cases he’s seen before, this one is slipping, and even he can feel it. The usual controlled rhythm of the operating room feels tighter, heavier.
You moved quickly, voice steady despite the rising pressure. “Ma’am, stay with me, okay? You’re doing well. Just a little more.”
The woman turns her head slightly towards you, her face pale, lips trembling. “Doctor…” her voice is weak, barely audible. “If something happens…”
You shake your head immediately. “Nothing is going to happen. We’re getting both of you through this.”
She lets out a shaky breath, her fingers weakly gripping the sheets. “Please… just save the baby.”
“No,” you say firmly, without hesitation. “We’re saving both of you. Stay with me.”
“Heart rate dropping!” another nurse calls.
“Let’s move, now.” The room shifts into rapid motion.
“Push,” you instruct, your tone controlled but urgent. “You have to push for me.” With one final effort, the baby is delivered.
A second of silence, then a cry fills the room, strong and alive.
“Baby’s out,” you announced, a flicker of relief passing through the team.
But it doesn’t last.
“Doctor, she’s bleeding heavily!”
You look down, there's far more blood than before as it pooled rapidly.
“Start uterotonics. Apply pressure, now!” you order, your voice sharper now.
Jungwon hesitates for a fraction of a second before moving, following your commands, his movements slightly rushed.
“Ma’am, stay with me!” you call, louder now. “Stay with me!”
The monitor begins to slow.
“No, no, come on,” you mutter under your breath. “We’re not losing you.”
“BP unrecordable!”
“Prepare for resuscitation!”
The flatline cuts through the room. Followed by a long, continuous sound.
“No!” you shout, immediately stepping in. “Start CPR!”
You begin compressions, counting under your breath, your movements precise but desperate.
“Come on… come on…” you whisper, your voice cracking just slightly.
Jungwon watches for a brief moment, then steps in to assist, swallowing hard as he follows your lead.
Minutes pass, but the monitor doesn’t change.
The sound remains flat as your movements slow down.
The weight of the silence settles heavily in the room, no one daring to speak. For a moment, you just stare at the monitor, as if waiting for it to change. It doesn’t.
You inhale slowly, forcing yourself to straighten.
“Time of death,” you say, your voice quieter now, but steady as you glance at the clock. “4:56 pm.”
The baby’s cries echo faintly from across the room, a sharp contrast to the stillness surrounding you.
You turn your head towards Jungwon, your expression composed, but your eyes betray a flicker of something deeper.
“Transfer the baby to the newborn unit,” you instruct. “Go with the nurses.”
Jungwon nods, swallowing hard as two nurses carefully prepare the infant.
He hesitates for just a moment, looking back at you, before following them out.
You exhaled deeply, looking at the patient lying before you. Then you instructed the nurses on what to do with the body, ending with, “I’ll go inform her husband.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Pushing the operating room doors open, you stepped out into the hallway. The bright lights feel harsher now, the noise around you dull and distant. Across from you, her husband sits in the waiting area. The moment he sees you, he stands up quickly.
“Doc… how are they?” he asks as you approach.
You take a slow breath, steadying yourself, gathering the courage to say the words.
“I’m sorry, sir… but your wife didn’t make it,” you say quietly.
His shoulders drop as he looks down, his composure breaking as he starts to cry.
“…And the baby?” he asks after a moment, wiping at his tears.
“She’s alive,” you reply gently. “They’ve taken her to the newborn unit. I’ll let you know when it’s okay for you to visit.”
He nods weakly, trying to hold himself together.
“I’m… I’m sorry again for your loss,” you add, trying to sound professional despite the lump in your throat.
“It’s okay,” he says, though his voice trembles. “At least… at least you saved our baby. Thank you for that.”
You nod, offering a small, sympathetic smile as he turns and walks away, his steps heavy and unsteady.
You know it wasn't your fault, but deep down you still feel disappointed in yourself for not saving her.
As a doctor, moments like these are inevitable. But for you, it has only happened six times, including today. You always do your best to save your patients’ lives and you usually succeed. So when the worst happens, you can’t help but feel responsible, as if the loss was yours to carry.
You step aside, pressing a hand lightly against the wall as you take in a sharp breath. Tears begin to fall, quiet at first, then harder as the memory resurfaces, your patient’s face, the way she looked at you, trusting you when you promised to save both her and her baby.
“Y/N?” You heard someone call and you look up to see Sunghoon. You stared at him for a while, your expression a mix of surprise and nervous at the thought of him seeing your vulnerable side.
“Sunghoon, I—”
Before you can finish, he closes the distance and pulls you into a gentle embrace. One hand comes up to cradle the back of your head, guiding it to rest against his shoulder, while the other slowly rubs your back.
“Shh… it’s okay,” he murmurs softly. “You don’t have to explain anything.” He holds you carefully, like you might fall apart at any second.
You stayed like that for a while, crying into his shoulder, his arms wrapped securely around you.
You’re not sure how, but the simple gesture made you feel safe. The comfort you didn’t even realize you needed is suddenly there, steady and warm, easing the tightness in your chest little by little.
“I couldn’t save her,” you manage to say, your voice breaking as you pull away slightly, shaking your head. “I tried… but it wasn’t enough.”
“Hey, look at me.”
His hands gently cup your cheeks, guiding your gaze back to his.
“It’s not your fault,” he says softly. “It never was. So don’t blame yourself for what happened. You did everything you could.” His voice remains calm, comforting. “I’m like that too, I don’t always get to save my patients. But what matters is that you tried. That’s what counts.”
You swallow, nodding slowly as his words sink in.
“You’re right. Thank you,” you whisper.
He gives you a small, reassuring smile. “You don’t have to thank me. Just know that I’m always here for you.”
Your breath catches at that.
Your brows knit slightly as you search his face, trying to find even the slightest hint that he’s joking, but there’s nothing. Just sincerity, clear and unwavering in his eyes.
“Sunghoon…” you murmur.
“Yeah?” he responds, tilting his head slightly.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” you ask quietly. “I’ve been a jerk to you these past few weeks but you’re still here, comforting me.”
Your gaze drops again, guilt creeping in.
“I don’t think I deserve your kindness… or even your friendship.”
Sunghoon shakes his head almost immediately. He lifts your chin gently with his finger, making you look at him again.
“I don’t care about the past few weeks,” he says. “You needed someone, so I came.”
Something in your chest stirs at that, soft and unfamiliar, yet overwhelming all at once. Your lips tremble slightly as your eyes begin to sting again.
“I’m so sorry,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper. “I promise I won’t do it again.”
Before he can respond, you step forward and wrapped your arms around him once more, holding him tighter this time.
Sunghoon lets out a soft chuckle, clearly caught off guard, but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, he gently pats your back, his touch warm and reassuring as you cling to him.
──────────────────────────────
The next day after the incident, you, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Chaewon went out to eat together. It was Sunghoon’s idea, he said it might help cheer you up after everything that happened.
You sat at the table with Chaewon beside you and Sunghoon across from you.
As you waited for your food, you glanced at him and smiled. “Sunghoon, thank you for this. I really needed it. I’m glad to have a friend like you.”
Then you looked over at Chaewon and Sunoo. “And you guys too.”
“Aww, no problem, babes. We’re always here to cheer you up,” Chaewon replied, wrapping an arm around you in a side hug.
“Friends?” Sunoo suddenly echoed, glancing at Sunghoon from the corner of his eye.
You blinked, confused.
“Oh– I mean… yeah, you’re welcome,” he quickly corrected, offering an awkward smile.
Before you could question it further, the food arrived, filling the table and momentarily shifting everyone’s attention.
The conversation died down as you all started eating, the clinking of utensils replacing it.
A few minutes in, Sunoo suddenly stood up.
“I just need to go to the restroom,” he said casually, then turned to Sunghoon. “Come with me.”
Before Sunghoon could even react, Sunoo was already pulling him up from his seat. Sunghoon barely had time to set his fork down, looking completely caught off guard as he was dragged along.
You watched them walk away, brows slightly furrowed.
“What was that about?” Chaewon asked.
You shrugged, just as confused. “I have no idea.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
As you walked back to the hospital, you decided to bring up what happened earlier.
“So… are you going to tell me what that was about, or am I supposed to pretend it was nothing?” you asked, glancing at Sunghoon.
“What? That?” Sunghoon replied casually, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Sunoo was just overreacting about something.”
“Really…” you said, clearly unconvinced. “What kind of something?”
He rolled his eyes slightly, though a small smile tugged at his lips. “It’s just between me and him. Don’t worry. I’ll tell you if it ever concerns you.”
You let out a quiet sigh, deciding not to push further. “Okay, fine. I’ll believe you. As long as it’s not about a secret crush or anything, then I’m out.”
“What?” Sunghoon suddenly said, a bit too quickly.
You frowned, studying his reaction. “Huh…?” Then it clicked. “Wait… I’m right?”
“N-no, you’re not,” he denied, but the tips of his ears turned noticeably red.
A laugh slipped out of you. “Hey, relax. I won’t tell anyone,” you said, nudging him lightly. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
He glanced at you, still unsure whether to believe you.
“I think I already have an idea who it is,” you added, a teasing smile forming. “And don’t worry, I support you.”
“Oh…” Sunghoon exhaled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “T– thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” you replied with a small smile.
You looked away after that, your chest tightening just a little, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Relief, because Sunghoon trusted you with something so personal, and disappointment, because you hadn’t expected him to like Wonyoung back.
You thought you had successfully buried those feelings long ago, but hearing him admit he had a crush still stung more than you were willing to admit.
It’s fine, you told yourself. As long as you stayed good friends, that would be enough.
──────────────────────────────
The fluorescent lights in the doctors’ lounge felt harsher than usual.
Maybe it was the hour. Maybe it was the exhaustion settling deep into your bones. Or maybe it was the way the numbers on the chart in front of you refused to make sense no matter how many times you read them.
Beside you, the cup of coffee you bought earlier had long gone lukewarm.
You reached for it anyway, bringing it to your lips in a half-hearted attempt to wake yourself up.
The bitter taste lingered, but it did little to chase away the heaviness in your eyes. If anything, it only reminded you how tired you really were.
You blinked once. Twice.
Still, the words blurred.
With a quiet sigh, you leaned back slightly in your chair, pressing your fingers against your temple as if that would somehow force your mind to cooperate. It didn’t. If anything, the silence of the room only made your thoughts louder and harder to ignore.
You didn’t even realize you were staring blankly at the same line for the past five minutes.
“You’re going to misread that.”
The voice came from behind you, calm and familiar, cutting through your haze like it always did.
You didn’t turn immediately. Instead, you let out a small breath, somewhere between a tired laugh and defeat.
“I’m not,” you muttered weakly, eyes still on the chart. “I’m just… taking my time.”
There was a pause. Then the sound of footsteps, slow, unhurried, coming closer.
“You’ve been ‘taking your time’ on the same page since I got here,” he replied.
You finally turned, meeting Sunghoon’s gaze. His expression wasn’t mocking, nor was it particularly soft, it was something in between, the kind you had learned to read over the years. Observant. Quietly concerned.
You straightened a little in your seat, as if that alone could prove your point.
“I’m fine,” you insisted, though even you could hear how unconvincing it sounded.
His eyes flickered briefly to the untouched coffee beside you, then back to your face.
“You didn’t even finish that,” he pointed out.
You glanced at the cup, then away. “It’s not working,” you admitted under your breath.
That was when his expression shifted, just slightly.
“…Come on.”
You frowned slightly. “What?”
“Come on,” he repeated, already turning away as if he expected you to follow.
You stared at his back for a second, then let out a quiet sigh before pushing your chair back. The legs scraped softly against the floor as you stood, grabbing your coat almost out of habit.
“Where are we going?” you asked, trailing after him.
“Fresh air,” he said simply. “Since that clearly isn’t working.”
You glanced back once at the abandoned cup of coffee on the table before following him out.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The hallway was quieter than usual.
Your footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floors, falling into rhythm with his. Neither of you spoke, and yet the silence felt… comfortable. Familiar. It wrapped around the two of you like something well-worn, something neither of you questioned anymore.
The elevator ride was short.
You leaned lightly against the wall, arms loosely crossed, your head tilting back just enough for your eyes to close for a second. The hum of the elevator was almost lulling, dangerously so.
“You’re actually going to fall asleep standing up,” Sunghoon muttered.
You opened one eye lazily. “I’m not that far gone.”
He didn’t respond, but you felt his gaze stayed on you for a brief moment.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The rooftop door creaked softly as he pushed it open.
The moment you stepped out, the cold night air hits your face, sharp and refreshing. It stole the warmth lingering on your skin and replaced it with something clearer.
You inhaled deeply.
And for the first time in hours, your head felt lighter.
“…Okay,” you admitted, stepping forward. “That actually helped.”
The wind picked up slightly, brushing past you and tugging at the edges of your coat. Fabric shifted, swaying gently with each passing breeze, the night wrapping itself around you in quiet movements.
You walked towards the railing, resting your hands against the cool metal as you looked out at the city below. Lights flickered in the distance, cars moving like slow, distant streams.
For a moment, everything felt far away.
“Thanks for this,” you said softly.
No response.
You glanced over your shoulder.
Sunghoon stood a few steps behind you, his hands tucked into his coat pockets, his posture relaxed but his gaze wasn’t on the view.
It was on you.
You turned slightly, brows knitting together. “What?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he took a step closer.
Then another.
The faint sound of his shoes against the concrete felt louder than it should have, each step closing the space between you until he was standing beside you, closer than usual.
Close enough for you to notice the way the wind shifted his hair slightly.
Close enough to see the way his eyes caught the city lights.
The way they seemed to twinkle, just barely, as he looked at you, not distant, but focused in a way that made your chest tighten without warning.
Something in your expression must have changed, because his gaze softened a little.
“You know, lately…” he began slowly, his voice lower now, steadier but heavier somehow. “I’ve been noticing things I didn’t before.”
Your breath hitched, just slightly.
“I thought it was nothing,” he continued. “I told myself it didn’t matter.” Then he took another step closer.
You didn’t move.
“But it keeps coming back,” he said, softer now. “No matter how much I try to ignore it.”
Your heart was beating faster now, louder than the wind, louder than your thoughts.
You couldn’t look away, not when he was standing this close, not when his voice sounded like that.
“Look, Y/N…” he said, your name quieter than you had ever heard it from him.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you something—”
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Your phone rang.
The sudden noise felt almost too loud in contrast to the stillness that had built up around you. You flinched slightly, breaking eye contact as you reached into your pocket.
Jungwon’s name flashes on your caller ID the moment you pick up.
Before you can even speak, his voice comes through urgently. “Y/N, there’s a woman in active labor with complications. We need you here now.”
“Okay, I’m coming,” you reply, your voice cutting through the quiet rooftop.
The wind is still, almost cruelly calm compared to the urgency in his tone.
You turn to Sunghoon, and for a brief second, your expression softens with guilt. “There’s an emergency. You can tell me that next time, okay?”
“Oh… okay,” he says quietly, the disappointment flickering across his face before he can hide it.
“I’m sorry, I have to go,” you add, already stepping back.
And just like that, you’re gone.
Sunghoon watches as you rush towards the door, your coat trailing behind you, footsteps echoing sharply before fading completely into the hospital corridor.
The rooftop falls silent again.
He stays there for a moment longer, unmoving, the wind brushing through his hair as if time itself has slowed down just for him.
A small breath escapes him, almost a sigh, as he looks at the empty space where you were standing just seconds ago.
author's note: wow, 12K words, this is actually my first time writing a fic that reached this word count
i really enjoyed writing this, which is probably why it ended up this long haha. as a med student myself, i got especially excited while writing the medical parts. and i think this is, by far, my favorite fic that I’ve written so far
i hope you were able to read it until the end >< even if it didn’t fully meet your expectations, i genuinely did my best to pour my heart into this fic (which I think I somehow did hehe)
OMG 1000 notes in just 3 days??!!?? this has never happened to any of my fics before 🥹 thank you so much for all the love and support you have given this story, also the comments i've been receiving about my writing 🫶 i appreciate it all so much, it makes my hard work worth it and my writer heart full ❤️
i promise to update a part 2 once i’ve created a plot with a good flow for it. since i just published part 1, i still haven’t written anything for part 2 yet, but i’ll make sure to continue it once I have everything planned out properly :))
after years of being co-workers, he never reciprocated the feelings you had for him. so you buried them and learned to live with it.
that is, until a small encounter leads him to start showing you that he cares.
genre: co-workers to lovers, fluff, slow burn, hospital au
word count: 12k
part 1 || part 2
It's 2 am, and you're at the hospital.
Seated in the doctors' lounge, you go through your previous patients' charts, updating them one-by-one. From their vitals, medications, progress notes, everything has to be precised and double checked.
Being an OB-GYN means your life rarely follows a normal schedule.
Most nights are spent awake. On call, in delivery rooms, watching life come into the world one patient at a time. It’s exhausting, relentless… but familiar. Somewhere along the way, the chaos became routine.
You barely notice how late it’s gotten anymore.
The quiet scratch of your pen against paper is suddenly interrupted by a soft clink.
Then a cup of coffee appears beside you.
You pause, eyes shifting from the chart to the cup, then upward to the person who placed it there.
Park Sunghoon.
Four years of working in the same hospital, and he still has a way of showing up without a sound. White coat neat as ever, expression calm in that almost unreadable way of his. He works as a neurologist, precise, composed, and annoyingly consistent.
“Night shift again?” he asks, already pulling a chair a few steps away before sitting down.
You lean back slightly, exhaling as you close the file in front of you. "Yeah, I wasn't able to finish these in one go so I had to switch schedules with Dr. Choi."
“I get it,” Sunghoon replies, offering a small, understanding smile. “There are days when I end up doing the same thing too.”
“Well, thanks for the coffee, I really needed this,” you say, taking a sip. You pause, then look up at him surprised. “You even remembered my order?”
Sunghoon simply purses his lips and shrugs, as if it were nothing, before reaching for his own cup. “You’re welcome.” Just as he’s about to say more, his phone vibrates.
“They need me there. I guess I’ll see you later.” He stands from his chair and lightly pats your shoulder before heading toward the door.
You glance at the cup of coffee in your hands, a small frown forming. You’d only been to the café together twice: once three months ago, and again just two weeks ago. How could he have memorized my order?
A warm feeling slowly blooms in your chest as you think about Sunghoon and his sudden thoughtfulness.
It reminds you of a time when your feelings for him were harder to ignore. Back during your first week working together, when he introduced himself as the newly hired neurologist. What started as simple admiration gradually turned into something more.
Those feelings lasted for an entire year. But between the long hours, the need to stay professional, and your own reluctance to risk it all, you chose to bury them. You kept telling yourself that workplace romance should be avoided, that work always comes first, and that romance simply wasn’t worth the risk. Eventually, you convinced yourself that being nothing more than co-workers was for the best.
You shake your head, snapping yourself out of your thoughts. “Why am I suddenly thinking about the past?” you murmur under your breath. “He probably just has a really good memory.”
With that, you turn back to your work, forcing the lingering warmth in your chest to fade.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Sunghoon, who was on his way to a patient’s room after leaving you alone in the doctors’ lounge, caught himself smiling slightly, especially when he recalled the look of surprise on your face when you realized he had remembered your order.
Back then, he hadn’t paid much attention to you. He hadn’t gone out of his way to learn the little things. Like how you took your coffee or whether you preferred something sweet on the side. But ever since that small hangout with you and a few co-workers three months ago, something had shifted. A quiet curiosity about you had begun to grow.
It wasn’t just because you were one of the best rookie OB-GYNs the hospital had seen. It was also the way you cared for others, not just your patients, but people in general.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Three months ago…
As the rest of the group prepared to leave the café, you lingered behind, glancing at your phone as if you had just remembered something.
“I just remembered I need to buy something before I go. You guys go ahead,” you told Chaewon, your friend. She nodded, calling out a quick goodbye before catching up with the others.
Once they were gone, you stepped back towards the counter and ordered two croissants and a bottle of water. After paying, you hurried outside, scanning the area as if looking for someone.
What you didn’t realize was that Sunghoon had stayed behind. He had gone to the restroom just before everyone left, assuming he’d catch up with the group afterward.
As he stepped out and dried his hands, he paused when he spotted you still there. From inside the café, he watched as you approached a beggar and a small child sitting near the parking lot.
You crouched down to their level, handing them the food you had just bought. A gentle smile spread across your face as you spoke to them softly, though he couldn’t hear the words. After a moment, you gave a small wave before turning to leave.
Sunghoon stood there a little longer than he meant to, quietly processing what he had just seen. Something about that moment stayed with him. The sincerity, the kindness, the way you did it without expecting anything in return.
It made him realize that maybe you were more than just a co-worker he had known for years.
And somehow, from that day on, he found himself paying closer attention.
──────────────────────────────
The elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime, sealing you into the quiet hum of fluorescent light and mirrored steel.
You pressed your back lightly against the wall, exhaling through your nose as the display above the doors blinked from floor to floor. The senior doctor’s message still lingered in your mind: Come to my office. I need to introduce you to someone.
The elevator slowed briefly at the 5th floor, then continued upward. You checked your watch out of habit, fingers tapping once against your coat sleeve.
Just then, the doors opened with a gentle ding. You looked around to find out nobody there, until your eyes caught movement at the far end of the corridor.
A familiar figure stood just outside the elevator’s reach, hands tucked into his white coat pockets, posture relaxed in a way that somehow still looked presentable. Sunghoon.
He nods slightly when he sees you inside, stepping into the empty space beside you. He presses the button, and the elevator doors slide shut with a soft chime.
“Busy today?” he asks, breaking the silence a few seconds after stepping in.
“Not really. I just need to meet with the senior doctor.”
“Oh? How come?” he asks, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. It’s rare for either of you to be called in, usually only for major announcements or worse, bad news. So when you first read the message, you had been just as puzzled.
You shrug lightly. “I’m not entirely sure. She did mention introducing someone, though. Maybe a new employee.”
Sunghoon nods, taking that in.
“How about you?” you ask, turning to him. “Anything big happening today?”
“Actually, I have a procedure at 5 pm,” he says casually.
You instinctively glance at your watch. “That’s in thirty minutes.”
"I know." Sunghoon replied. "You don't seem like you're in a rush." You replied, noticing his chill attitude.
"Well it's a minor one. Just a lumbar puncture, won't take long." He says, seeing your expression.
“Huh… that’s your version of minor?” You mutter, brows lifting slightly as you look at him.
Sunghoon lets out a quiet breath, almost a huff of amusement, barely there. “You just get used to it.”
You shake your head, a small smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. “Still sounds intense.”
“It’s routine,” he says simply, like that alone should settle it. And somehow, coming from him, it almost does.
The elevator hums softly as it slows, the numbers above the door blinking once before stopping.
Your floor.
The doors slide open.
You hesitate for only a second, then shift your weight forward, stepping out into the hallway. Before fully turning away, you glance back at him.
“Good luck, Sunghoon.”
He meets your gaze, calm as ever. “I don't need it.”
That almost makes you scoff, but instead you just exhale a small laugh. “Still, good luck.”
The doors begin to close behind you.
And just before they shut completely, you catch it, the smallest hint of a smile on his face, gone just as quickly as it appears.
You walk straight to the end of the hallway, where the senior doctor’s office is located.
Stopping in front of the door, you knock three times. A voice from inside calls, “Come in.”
Taking the cue, you twist the doorknob open and step inside. Dr. Lim stands near her desk, a folder in hand. Beside her is a young man with sharp, cat-like eyes, standing straight with quiet composure.
You close the door behind you and walk toward them.
“Dr. Kang,” the senior doctor says, closing the file in her hand, “This is Jungwon, a newly assigned resident. He’ll be rotating in OB-GYN under your supervision.”
You turn your attention to him just as he steps forward, extending his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Dr. Kang.”
You shake his hand without hesitation, offering a small, welcoming smile. “Nice to meet you too, Jungwon. Welcome to the OB-GYN department.”
He smiles back, his expression calm and professional, no trace of nervousness in sight.
“Alright,” Dr. Lim continues smoothly, already reaching for another document on her desk. “Jungwon, you’ll report to Dr. Kang starting today. She’ll orient you with the ward and your responsibilities.”
Jungwon nods. “Understood, ma’am.”
The senior doctor looks up once more, this time addressing both of you. “OB-GYN is a demanding department. I expect discipline and clear communication. Dr. Kang, he’s your responsibility during this rotation.”
You give a small nod in acknowledgment.
Dr. Lim leans back slightly, signaling the end of the meeting. “Now that’s settled. You may go.”
You turn first, straightening your posture as you head for the door. Jungwon follows a step behind, attentive.
Once you’re outside in the hallway, you turn to face him.
“First things first,” you say, folding your arms lightly. “Call me by my first name, Y/N. No ‘Dr. Kang.’ It makes me feel older than I am.”
Jungwon lets out a small chuckle. “Got it. Y/N it is.”
“As Dr. Lim mentioned, I’ll be your supervisor for the duration of your rotation in OB-GYN,” you continue. “Since it’s your first day, I’ll give you a quick tour of the facilities so you can start familiarizing yourself.”
You gesture forward. “Let’s go.”
The two of you head towards the elevator. “The OB-GYN department is on the third floor,” you add, pressing the button.
When the doors open, you’re greeted by the nurses’ station. The nurses on duty look up from their desks.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Kang,” they greet in unison.
“Good afternoon,” you reply with a polite nod before turning slightly to Jungwon. “This is Jungwon, our new resident. He’ll be working here starting today.”
Jungwon smiles and greets them, and they return the gesture warmly.
You lead him down the left hallway lined with patient rooms. “This is where admitted patients stay, postpartum mothers, as well as those recovering from surgery,” you explain. “The rooms along the right hallway are mainly for regular check-ups and consultations.”
“And over here…” you continue, walking towards the far end where a large door with glass panels stands. “…is the Labor, Delivery, and Recovery Room. LDR for short.”
You push the door open just enough to step inside and the shift is immediate.
A strained breath cuts through the air, followed by a low cry. A patient grips the bed rails, her knuckles pale, while a nurse guides her breathing with steady reassurance.
“Active labor,” you say calmly as you step further in. “This is where things start to pick up.”
Jungwon stays close behind you, noticeably quieter now, his eyes taking everything in.
A monitor beside the bed beeps steadily, then suddenly dips. The nurse straightens. “Doctor, heart rate’s dropping.”
Before the tour can even pause, you’re already moving.
“Position her to the left,” you instruct, your tone calm but firm. “Give her oxygen.” The room shifts instantly, quick hands, precise movements, controlled urgency.
The patient gasps, her eyes squeezed shut as another contraction hits. You glance at the monitor. Then steady again, as the beeping evens out.
“Good,” you murmur, stepping back as if it were second nature. “Keep monitoring.”
“Yes, doctor.”
The tension doesn’t disappear, but it eases just enough. You turn back to Jungwon, your expression composed.
“It can change that fast,” you say simply. “You learn to respond before it becomes a problem.”
He nods, still processing what he just witnessed.
“Come on,” you add, already heading for the door. “Let’s continue.”
“On the opposite end,” you say, pointing down the hallway, “is the operating room.”
You walk in that direction, with Jungwon following closely behind.
You push the operating room doors open, and a wave of sterile, cool air greets you as you step inside.
Bright overhead lights reflect off stainless steel instruments neatly arranged on trays. The operating table sits at the center, surrounded by monitors and machines humming quietly in the background.
“Procedures like cesarean sections and gynecologic surgeries are done here,” you explain, your voice steady as it echoes slightly in the room. “And when things don’t go as planned…”
You pause for a brief moment, your gaze flicking toward the operating table.
“…that is where we take over.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The tour continues as you guide Jungwon through the rest of the facility, from the ultrasound rooms to the examination areas, and finally to the newborn units. You explain each section with ease, answering his occasional questions, barely noticing how quickly time slips by.
It isn’t until you glance at your watch that you pause.
“Oh, it’s already 6 pm,” you say, a little surprised. “Perfect timing. My shift ends now, and since I’ve already shown you around the entire OB-GYN department, we can both head home.”
“Wait, really?” Jungwon asks, clearly caught off guard.
You nod. “Yes. Once I leave, there won’t be anyone to supervise you anyway. And since it’s your first day, I’ll let you off early this time. Your real work starts tomorrow.”
“Ah…” Jungwon exhales in relief, a small grin forming. “I’ll be ready by then,” he assures you, determination settling into his expression.
“Good to hear,” you reply with a faint smile. “Well, I’ll get going now. See you tomorrow, Jungwon.”
“See you, Doc,” he says.
You give him a small wave before leaving.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
After gathering your things, you take the elevator down to the underground parking area. The space is quieter now, the hum of engines and distant footsteps echoing faintly. You spot your car a short distance away and walk towards it, pressing your key fob to unlock it.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, you place your bag on the passenger side and reach for the ignition.
You turn the key.
Click.
Nothing.
You try again.
Click. Click.
The engine doesn’t turn over.
A faint frown forms as you attempt a few more times, but the sound only grows weaker until the car falls completely silent and unresponsive.
"Unbelievable,” you mutter, letting your forehead rest briefly against the steering wheel.
You sigh, leaning back as frustration settles in. Your eyes drift to your bag beside you.
“How am I supposed to go home now...”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
A few minutes later, you find yourself standing outside the hospital entrance, arms folded loosely as you scan the road.
You decided to take a cab instead, but even after waiting for several minutes, none stop. The few that passed by are already occupied, their headlights briefly illuminating you before disappearing down the street.
You shift your weight, glancing down the road again, hoping the next one will finally be empty.
Then, a sleek silver BMW pulls up in front of you, the engine purring softly as the window rolls down.
You look over to see who it is.
Sunghoon sits behind the wheel, one hand resting loosely on it while the other drapes over the passenger seat’s headrest, his posture relaxed.
“Need a ride home?” he asks.
“I—”
Before you can even answer, he leans over and pushes the passenger door open. That leaves you with little room to refuse.
You step in, closing the door gently behind you.
Settling into the passenger seat, you sit a little stiffly, your gaze fixed on the window beside you.
It’s your first time riding in a car alone with him, something you never really imagined would happen. And not just any car, but his.
For a moment, the air inside feels thick with unspoken tension. Neither of you says anything, the quiet stretching just a bit too long.
After a while, Sunghoon clears his throat, breaking the silence. “So… what happened to your car?”
You turn slightly to look at him. “The battery died. I’ve been so busy these past few weeks that I forgot to get it replaced.”
“I see.” He nods once. “How long were you waiting out there?”
“About twenty minutes,” you reply.
“Good thing I saw you then,” he says, a faint chuckle slipping through. “You looked like you were about to lose your patience.”
You let out a small laugh. “Honestly, I was. And thank you, by the way. If you hadn’t shown up, I probably would’ve ended up walking home.”
That earns another quiet hum of amusement from him.
After that, the conversation fades, but this time, the silence feels different. Softer. Easier. The low hum of the engine and the faint music playing on the radio fill the space comfortably.
For once, it isn’t awkward.
The car slows to a stop at a red light. Sunghoon glances your way, his expression unreadable but calm. “You hungry?”
“I think I’m good,” you reply, but almost immediately, your stomach betrays you with a low rumble. Shit.
You freeze for a second, suddenly remembering that you skipped lunch earlier, too distracted and a little too nervous about the senior doctor’s message.
Sunghoon lets out a quiet laugh at the sound. “Let’s grab something to eat,” he says, already easing his foot back on the gas as the light turns green. “My treat.”
You don’t argue.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
A few minutes later, you find yourselves at a casual Italian fast-food restaurant. The warm lighting and soft chatter from other customers make the place feel cozy despite the rush hour.
You scan the area and spot a small booth tucked into the corner. “There,” you say, heading towards it.
You slide into the seat while Sunghoon remains standing beside the table. “What would you like to eat?” he asks.
“I think pasta’s fine,” you answer.
He nods. “Alright. I’ll order for us. Just wait here, okay?”
“Okay.”
You watch as he walks toward the counter, joining the short line. For a moment, you find yourself absentmindedly observing him the way he stands, calm and composed even in something as simple as ordering food.
A few minutes later, he returns carrying a tray.
He sets a plate of pasta in front of you, his lasagna beside it, then hands you your drink.
“And this one’s for you,” he adds, placing a slice of pizza next to your plate.
You blink, confused. “I didn’t order that.”
He sits across from you, completely unfazed. “I did. I figured the pasta wouldn’t be enough since you’re hungry.”
You cough lightly, feeling your cheeks warm. “Oh… uh, thank you.”
You start eating, your gaze fixed anywhere but him. Somehow, the earlier ease from the car ride has shifted again, replaced by a quiet, awkward tension.
You never really imagined this. Sitting across from him, sharing a meal like this. It almost feels unreal, like something out of place in your usual routine.
You can feel his gaze on you, subtle but unmistakable.
“What happened with the senior doctor earlier?” he asks, snapping you out of your thoughts.
You look up, surprised, but your shoulders relax now that the conversation has shifted. “She introduced me to a new resident,” you explain. “He’ll be under my supervision.”
Sunghoon nods, taking a bite of his food.
“His name’s Jungwon,” you continue, twirling your pasta with your fork. “From what I’ve seen so far, he has potential. He wasn’t nervous at all, even when we went to the LDR earlier.”
“That’s good,” Sunghoon says. “At least he seems passionate from the start.”
You nod, but then the thought that’s been lingering in your mind resurfaces. You hesitate just for a second before speaking.
“Sunghoon… can I ask you something?” He looks up. “Sure.”
“Not to sound rude or anything, but why are you suddenly talking to me?” you ask, your voice softer now. “I mean… we’ve been co-workers for four years, and this is the first time you’ve bought me coffee or talked to me for more than ten minutes.”
For a brief moment, he looks genuinely caught off guard. His eyes widen slightly, and a faint blush creeps up to his ears as he scratches the back of his neck. “That’s… uh…”
"I just thought that I've been so shy these past years that I don't get to socialize with my co-workers that much. You know, I just recently became close with that dermatologist, Kim Sunoo." He replied.
You nodded, a small smile forming. “That’s good to hear. I remember you skipped the Christmas party for two years straight. It’s nice to see you stepping out of your comfort zone.”
He smiles back. “I guess it is.”
The conversation drifts into something lighter after that, and before you realize it, dinner is over.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Soon enough, you’re back in his car, this time parked in front of your apartment.
You unbuckled your seatbelt, turning slightly towards him. “Thank you for the ride, Sunghoon. And for the food.”
He smiles softly. “Don’t mention it. If you ever need a ride home, you can just call me.”
You stopped. “But… I don’t have your number.”
“Here.” He unlocks his phone and hands it to you. You take it, typing your number into his contacts before handing it back. “There.”
You step out of the car, the cool night air brushing against your skin. “Goodnight, Sunghoon,” you say, closing the door halfway and then you heard him speak, “Goodnight, Y/N.”
You pause for just a moment before shutting the door completely, the sound echoing softly in the quiet street.
Later that night, as you lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling, your mind drifts back to everything that happened.
The coffee. The car ride. Dinner.
Him.
Your heart beats a little faster, your cheeks warming at the memories.
Those feelings you buried years ago? They’re being dug up by none other than Park Sunghoon himself.
──────────────────────────────
Three weeks after that dinner with Sunghoon, the two of you have grown noticeably more comfortable around each other. He even picked you up from your apartment the morning after that night, insisting so you wouldn’t have to take the subway to work.
And now, you’re back in the thick of it. Endless patients, heavy workloads, night shifts, deadlines, and back-to-back surgeries taking up most of your time.
“Doc, I’m done with my rounds for now,” Jungwon says, appearing beside you while you’re busy taking a patient’s blood pressure.
You finish up, offering the patient a small reassuring smile before noting down the readings on the chart.
“Good,” you say, turning to him. “I want you to check on Baby Jung in the newborn unit. When I assessed the baby earlier this morning, the condition was a bit unstable. If that continues, report back to me so we’ll coordinate with the Pediatrics Department.”
“You got it.” Jungwon gives a quick salute before turning to leave.
“Oh, and Jungwon,” you call out just as he’s a few steps away. “Don’t forget the dessert you promised me for lunch.”
He chuckles, glancing back. “Of course, Doc. See you at the cafeteria later.”
Over the past three weeks, you and Jungwon have also grown closer, spending nearly every day working side by side. You’re grateful to have someone to share the hectic schedules and overwhelming workload with as it makes everything feel just a little lighter.
You grab the clipboard with your patient records and head towards the elevator. Your phone vibrates in your pocket, and you pull it out, about to read the message but you bumped into someone.
The impact causes the clipboard to slip from your hands, papers scattering across the floor.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry!” a voice says quickly.
You crouch down to gather the papers, the other person doing the same.
As you pick them up and glance up, a nurse you don’t recognize hands you a few sheets. “Here you go.”
“Thank you,” you reply, standing up.
“I’m really sorry again, Doctor…” Her eyes flicker to your coat, reading the name stitched onto it. “…Kang.”
You shake your head lightly. “It’s okay. I wasn’t looking either. It’s partly my fault.”
You pause for a moment, studying her. “By the way, what’s your name? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
She smiles sweetly. “I’m Jang Wonyoung. I just started working here yesterday.”
“Well, it’s nice meeting you, Wonyoung,” you say with a friendly smile. “Sorry our first meeting had to be like this.”
“That’s alright,” she replies. “Have a nice day, Dr. Kang.”
She gives a small wave before heading off.
You continue towards the elevator and pressed the button. While waiting, you check your phone and read Jungwon’s message. He mentions that the newborn unit is a bit crowded with nurses and a few parents, and that he’ll update you once he gets inside.
Ding.
The elevator doors open.
You look up and see Sunghoon inside.
A smile forms on your lips as you step in, slipping your phone back into your pocket.
“Funny how we always run into each other at the elevator,” you say, turning to him.
“It is,” he replies, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Maybe I should start charging you for getting to see a handsome face like mine every time the doors open.”
You let out a laugh, and he joins in, the sound light and easy between you.
“Anyway,” he continues once the laughter fades. “Where are you planning to eat lunch? Sunoo and a friend of mine are trying out a newly opened restaurant nearby. Want to join us?”
“I’d love to,” you say, “but Jungwon and I already made plans, and he’s treating me to dessert, so I can’t really say no to that.” You nudge his side playfully.
“Ah, I see.” He nods, though you can’t help but notice the slight disappointment in his tone. “Maybe next time.”
“Definitely next time,” you reply.
The elevator doors slide open at your floor.
You step out, then glance back at him. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
And with that, you walked away, unaware of the way his gaze lingers on you just a second longer than usual.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Lunchtime arrives, and you’ve been sitting there for almost an hour.
Your plate is already empty, your drink long finished, and yet there’s still no sign of Jungwon or the dessert he promised.
You let out a quiet sigh, resting your cheek against your palm as you glance towards the cafeteria doors. Maybe I should’ve just gone with Sunghoon instead…
Just as the thought crosses your mind, the doors swing open and Jungwon rushes in, scanning the room before spotting you.
“Y/N, I’m so sorry I’m late, a patient was—” He’s panting so hard he can’t even finish his sentence.
“Woah, hey. Sit down first,” you say quickly.
He does as told, and you hand him your spare bottle of water. He takes it immediately, drinking it down in one go.
Once he’s done, he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and looks at you apologetically. “I really wanted to come earlier, but a patient asked me to stay with her until her husband arrived. I didn’t expect it to take that long… if I had known, I wouldn’t have stayed.”
You nod, your expression softening. “It’s okay. I would’ve done the same thing.”
“Did you at least eat lunch?” you ask.
“I did,” he replies. “The patient felt bad for making me wait, so she gave me some food.”
“Then I guess that leaves us with dessert,” you say, pointing lightly at him. “Now go get me that dessert you promised.”
Jungwon stands up immediately and heads to the counter.
A few minutes later, he returns, but this time, there’s a slight frown on his face.
“They ran out,” he says. “I guess it’s my fault for getting here late.”
You sigh, leaning back in your chair. “So… what are we supposed to have for dessert now?”
Jungwon pauses, thinking for a moment before his expression brightens. “I know a place. Come with me.”
A short while later, the two of you find yourselves standing in front of a gelato shop in town.
“I come here whenever I’m craving something sweet,” Jungwon says, a hint of excitement in his voice. “They make the best gelato.”
He steps ahead of you, holding the door open.
“You’re really serious about this gelato, huh?” you tease with a small laugh.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Across the street, inside the newly opened restaurant, Sunghoon sits with Sunoo and Jay.
“Is that Y/N?” Sunoo suddenly says, pointing towards the window.
Sunghoon’s attention shifts instantly, his gaze following the direction.
Outside, he sees you with Jungwon.
“She’s with the resident,” Sunoo adds, still watching.
“They seem close,” Jay comments casually. “Maybe a little too close. I can’t even remember the last time I became friends with a resident.”
Sunoo gasps softly, covering his mouth. “Right? I thought I was the only one who noticed.”
Sunghoon’s grip on his fork tightens slightly as he listens, his eyes still fixed on the scene outside. On the way Jungwon holds the door open for you and the way you laugh.
“Do you think maybe they’re—”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Sunghoon cuts in, his tone sharper than usual. “Can we just eat in peace and not start rumors?”
Sunoo scoffs, side-eyeing him. “Geez. I was just saying.”
Sunghoon then goes back to eating, but the air at the table has shifted.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
After finishing your gelato, you and Jungwon stepped outside.
Just as you’re about to leave, you spot Sunoo approaching the shop.
You wave at him, and he waves back enthusiastically, a grin spreading across his face.
“What are you doing here?” you ask.
“Getting dessert,” he replies. “Do they have mint chocolate here?”
“Yeah they have tons of flavors, actually. I think you’ll like all of them,” you say with a small laugh.
“Really?” Sunoo’s eyes light up. “I can’t wait!”
He practically skips toward the entrance.
Moments later, Sunghoon and Jay approach.
“Hi,” you greet as they stop in front of you.
“Hello,” Jay replies, glancing inside. “Is Sunoo in there?” You nodded.
“I’ll see if there's a flavor I like,” he says, turning to Sunghoon. “You want anything?”
Sunghoon shakes his head. “I’m good.”
Jay heads inside, leaving the two of you and Jungwon, who has just stepped beside you in an awkward silence.
“Hey,” you say to Sunghoon, but this time, something feels off.
“Right,” you say, trying to ease the tension. “Jungwon, this is Dr. Park Sunghoon, my friend.”
You gesture towards Jungwon. “And Sunghoon, this is Jungwon, the resident I told you about.”
Jungwon immediately extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Park.”
For a second, Sunghoon just stares at it, his thick brows slightly furrowed.
You clear your throat softly. Only then does Sunghoon take his hand, briefly.
“Uh huh,” he mutters.
Jungwon withdraws his hand, the smile on his face still polite, though a little uncertain now.
Just then, Sunoo and Jay return. With Sunoo holding his three scoops of mint chocolate chip gelato.
“Let’s head back,” Jay says. “Lunch break’s almost over.”
The five of you began walking back towards the hospital. Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Jay walked ahead, while you and Jungwon trail slightly behind.
“Jungwon… I’m sorry about that,” you say quietly. “Sunghoon isn’t usually like that. I don’t know what got into him.”
“It’s okay,” Jungwon replies, giving you a reassuring smile. “Maybe he just had a bad day.”
“Still… I’ll talk to him.” Before he could respond, you jogged forward.
“Sunghoon,” you call.
No response.
You try again.
Still nothing.
You frown slightly before reaching out and poking his side.
He flinches, finally turning to look at you. “What was that for?”
“You weren’t listening, so I had to resort to that,” you say, pouting slightly. His expression softens just a bit.
“…Sorry. What did you want to say?” He asks as you crossed your arms. “Why were you rude to Jungwon earlier? The kid was just trying to introduce himself.”
“I wasn’t,” he replied, looking away.
“You were,” you insist. “What’s wrong? Are you upset because I didn’t join you for lunch?”
There’s a flicker of something in his eyes as he looks back at you.
“No,” he says quickly. “It’s not that. A waiter messed up my order earlier, so I didn’t really enjoy the meal,” he lied, his voice a little too fast, as if he’s trying to convince both you and himself.
“Oh… that sucks,” you say, your tone softening. “So you really just had a bad day.”
“Yeah,” he mutters, scratching the back of his neck. His ears tint slightly red.
“You should leave them a bad review,” you say lightly. “They don’t deserve all that hype.”
A faint smile tugs at his lips. “Maybe I should.”
──────────────────────────────
It was now time for the yearly medical mission, this time held in Gangwon Province.
Early in the morning, before the sun had fully risen, doctors were already gathered at the back of the hospital, loading supplies into vans. The atmosphere was focused, everyone moving with practiced efficiency.
Once you finished loading your things into the vehicle, the senior doctor, Ms. Lim, arrived to announce the car assignments. Most of the staff, doctors and nurses alike were placed in the larger vans, while only three were assigned to the smaller car.
That included you, Chaewon, and a pharmacist.
“We better get moving. The drive will take two to three hours, and I don’t want us arriving late,” Ms. Lim said as everyone began heading toward their assigned vehicles.
You stepped into the small car first, with Chaewon following right after. “Great, seatmates,” you said lightly, earning a smile from her as she settled beside you. The pharmacist sat in the front passenger seat, next to the driver.
Even with only four people inside, the space felt slightly cramped, with a few supplies stacked behind your seats, signaling the long drive ahead.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
You arrived in Gangwon Province after two and a half hours.
You stretched your arms as soon as you stepped out of the car. “Finally, we’re here,” you said, glancing at Chaewon beside you.
“Look at the view,” she pointed out.
Ahead of you, mountains covered in green stretched into the distance, the early sunlight rising over them and casting a soft glow across the landscape. The air was noticeably cooler and cleaner, a quiet reminder that you were far from the city now.
Around you, doctors and staff had already started unloading supplies from the vehicles. You moved towards the car again and joined in, helping carry boxes as the medical mission was about to start.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The medical mission is taking place at a public school gym that is converted into a temporary clinic.
Folding tables are set up in sections for each department, with simple privacy screens dividing consultation areas. Nurses move between stations guiding patients, while rows of chairs line the sides of the gym for those waiting their turn.
You sat at a small table marked for OB-GYN consultations, flipping through charts as a line of patients steadily forms in front of you, the hum of the makeshift clinic filling the space around you.
The check-up began smoothly, most patients were cooperative, listening attentively as you gave instructions and advice. Those who needed minor procedures were guided to the adjacent room for outpatient care, while you stayed at your station, calmly writing prescriptions and updating charts.
From across the space, Sunghoon sat at a parallel table, his gaze occasionally lifting towards you. He observed the way you spoke to each patient, reassuring and always gentle in tone, together with the soft smile you gave even in the middle of a busy line.
“Man, you gotta stop staring at her. There are patients on their way,” Jay said quietly from beside him.
“I— I wasn’t staring,” Sunghoon replied immediately, shifting his attention to the neatly arranged supplies in front of him, pretending to align them even though they were already perfectly in order. “Just… observing.”
Jay let out a small hum of disbelief. “Whatever you say.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Lunchtime came, with your team providing free food for all the attendees. A long line formed as patients waited for their meals, the gym still buzzing with quiet conversation and movement.
You sat at the table assigned for the doctors, with Sunghoon taking the empty seat beside you.
“Hi,” you greeted as he greeted back.
“How’s the consultation so far? I saw there are a lot of patients in your area,” he asked as he started eating.
“It’s going well. I haven’t had this much fun in a while,” you admitted, earning a small nod from him.
“Good to hear you’re enjoying it,” he said simply.
“I am,” you continued. “It’s always a pleasure helping people.”
The conversation flowed easily as you both ate. When you finished your meal, you reached for the brownie included in the tray, but Sunghoon stopped you.
“Don’t.” You looked up at him, confused.
“It has nuts,” Sunghoon added.
“Oh,” you blinked, then set it back down. “Right.”
A beat passed before you asked, “How did you know I’m allergic to nuts?”
He cleared his throat, looking down at his food. “I saw you separate the nuts when you were eating that salad last week. And I've seen the EpiPen you always carry in your pocket.”
You stared at him for a second longer than intended, your chest tightening.
“You noticed that?”
He gave a small shrug. “It’s hard not to.”
A quiet warmth settled in your chest, though you kept your expression calm. “Well… thank you for warning me.”
You glanced back at the brownie, then sighed softly. “But it feels like a waste to just leave it.”
Before you could say more, Sunghoon reached over and took it from your plate.
“Always so considerate,” he said, before taking a bite himself.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
It was already night by the time the medical mission ended.
Everyone looked exhausted, evident in the way people moved slower than usual, taking their time packing up supplies. The once busy area had quieted down, replaced by tired chatter and the occasional sigh.
You grabbed your things and made your way to the car, opening the trunk.
“Here, I got it.”
Before you could protest, Sunghoon had already taken the supplies from your hands and placed them neatly inside.
“Thanks,” you say, watching as he closes the trunk.
Just then, Chaewon comes rushing over, slightly out of breath. “Y/N, I asked Ms. Lim earlier if I could transfer to the van since I felt claustrophobic in the smaller car. She said I could, but only if someone switched places with me. I tried asking around, but no one wants to,” she groans, squeezing your hands in mild panic.
You give her a sympathetic look. “Chae, maybe we can—”
“I’ll switch seats with you.”
Both of you turn as Sunghoon speaks up, having clearly overheard the conversation.
“You would?” Chaewon asks, her face lighting up.
He gives a small nod. “Yeah.”
“Oh my gosh, thank you!” she squeals, then quickly turns back to you. “But Y/N, is it okay if I’m not your seatmate anymore?”
You smile softly. “It’s fine. I know how much you hate small spaces.”
Chaewon beams before pulling you into a quick hug. “Thank you, Y/N. You’re the best.”
“Everyone, let’s go!” Ms. Lim calls out.
“I have to go, see you at the hospital!” Chaewon says, waving as she hurries off.
You wave back before heading to the car. You slide into your seat, and a moment later, Sunghoon follows, settling beside you.
“She’s right,” he mutters, shifting slightly. “It is cramped in here.”
Your shoulders brush against his from how little space there is.
“Yeah,” you sigh. “We just have to endure it for two and a half hours.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The car ride begins, the hum of the engine blending with the low chatter of others. You pull out your phone, texting Jungwon about updates from the hospital. The screen blurs slightly as you blink slowly, fatigue catching up to you.
You let out a quiet yawn while waiting for his reply, your eyelids growing heavier by the second.
“Tired?” Sunghoon asks softly from beside you.
“Mm,” you hum in response, too drained to form a proper sentence.
“You should get some sleep,” he says. “I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”
"Maybe I should.”
You lean your head against the window, eyes slowly closing as the gentle motion of the car puts you to sleep.
A few minutes pass.
Sunghoon glances at you, noticing the way your head keeps tilting awkwardly against the glass, your body shifting uncomfortably with every bump on the road.
Carefully, he moves a little closer.
Slowly, so carefully you don’t wake, he lifts a hand and gently guides your head away from the window, letting it rest against his shoulder instead.
“There…” he whispers softly.
Your head settles against him, your breathing evening out as you remain asleep, now in a far more comfortable position.
He stays still, not wanting to disturb you. But as the quiet of the ride settles in, he begins to feel his own exhaustion creeping in.
His eyes flutter shut.
And soon enough, he falls asleep too.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Unbeknownst to the two of you, Sunoo, who had already taken the front seat earlier, insisting he wanted to ride shotgun instead of being stuck in the back with the supplies on the van, was quietly watching a movie on his phone.
At some point, he glanced up from his screen and caught a glimpse of the back seat through the rearview mirror.
His brows lifted slightly.
He shifted in his seat and turned just enough to look behind him directly.
There you were, fast asleep, your head resting gently on Sunghoon’s shoulder.
And Sunghoon, also asleep, his head slightly tilted toward yours.
A slow, mischievous grin spread across Sunoo’s face.
He paused his movie and casually raised his phone, snapping a photo of the two of you, clearly entertained.
“Interesting…” he muttered under his breath before returning his attention to the screen, as if nothing had happened.
──────────────────────────────
The morning two days after, you step out of the elevator, heading towards the doctors’ lounge, only to stop in your tracks.
A few feet ahead, you spot Sunghoon walking out of the operating room. He’s in the middle of removing his surgical gown and cap, his hair slightly disheveled as he runs a hand through it to fix it.
For a moment, you just watch him.
You were about to walk over, maybe ask how the procedure went when someone beats you to it.
“Doctor.”
You glance over.
It’s the nurse you met before, Wonyoung.
“How was the procedure?” she asks, her voice softer than usual.
“It was fine,” Sunghoon replies.
“Of course it went well. You’re good at what you do,” she says, stepping a little closer than necessary. “Do you need help with anything, Dr. Park? I can assist you in cleaning up.”
Before he can respond, she reaches out, noticing his collar slightly crooked from removing his surgical gown and fixes it herself.
You freeze.
For a second, you can’t quite believe what you’re seeing. Your lips part slightly as you watch the interaction unfold, something uneasy settling in your chest.
She’s clearly flirting.
You wait, expecting Sunghoon to step back, to say something, to at least react.
But he doesn’t.
He just stands there, looking at her, almost as if he’s momentarily zoned out.
Something about that makes your chest tighten.
“Tsk.” You crossed your arms and turn away, not bothering to watch any longer.
Your steps are quicker now as you head straight to the doctors’ lounge, pushing the door open a little harder than necessary.
The sudden noise makes Jungwon look up from his laptop, slightly startled. “Y/N?” he says.
You pause, then let out a small breath. “Jungwon. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I’m just working on a report,” he replies, closing his laptop halfway. “What’s up? You look a little… irritated.”
You sit down beside him, crossing your arms as you lean back.
“Jungwon, do you know that newly hired nurse? The tall one who looks more like a supermodel than a nurse?”
He turns his chair toward you, giving you his full attention. His brows knit slightly as he thinks. “Nurse Wonyoung?”
“Yes, her,” you say quickly. “I just saw her flirting with Sunghoon out there. Can you believe that? A nurse who’s barely been here a month, hitting on a doctor?”
Jungwon lets out a small chuckle once you finish.
“Yeah, I believe you,” he says. “You don’t usually get this worked up over something small.”
You narrow your eyes slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means…” he leans back a bit, a teasing glint in his eyes, “you sound jealous.”
“Jealous?” you repeat, almost scoffing. “Of course not. He's my friend and I’m just looking out for him. You know it’s against company rules to date someone new.”
You can feel the warmth creeping up your cheeks.
“…Yeah right,” Jungwon says, clearly unconvinced.
You quickly stood up, not wanting to entertain his teasing any further. “Whatever. I’m going to grab something to eat.”
“Alright, Doc,” Jungwon says with a small teasing grin as you head for the door.
You walk down the hallway, your gaze lowered as you fumble through the pockets of your coat, searching for some cash. Distracted, you don’t notice where you’re going and end up bumping into someone.
It’s Sunghoon.
Your expression shifts almost instantly, your mood dropping the moment you realize it’s him.
“Where are you heading?” he asks, one brow slightly raised.
“Just going to buy some food,” you reply.
“Want me to come with you?” he offers.
“I’m fine,” you say a little too quickly. “I can manage on my own. Besides, I have a hysterectomy scheduled after this. I need to get back right away.”
The lie slips out easily, even though you know the surgery isn’t for another hour.
“Okay… just don’t forget to—”
You don’t let him finish.
You walked past him without another word, your steps just a little faster than before, the image of what you saw earlier still lingering stubbornly in your mind.
Maybe it was better to avoid him and push those resurfacing feelings back down. So that in the end, you wouldn’t end up getting hurt.
──────────────────────────────
The next few weeks stayed the same, you avoided Sunghoon as much as you could.
You grew distant. Conversations were cut short, small talk nonexistent, and every interaction between you was kept strictly professional.
It felt like the friendship you built with him had never existed at all, as you treated him the same way you had for years before.
“Working the night shift again?” He asked as you were waiting for your coffee at the vending machine.
You froze for a split second at the sound of his voice behind you, but quickly composed yourself.
“Yeah.”
The cup dropped into the slot. You took it without looking at him as you walked past him.
Sunghoon could only watch your retreating figure, letting out a quiet sigh as another attempt to start a conversation with you failed.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Sunghoon leaned back against the counter in the doctors' lounge, arms crossed, gaze fixed somewhere distant. Jay glanced up from his phone and watched him for a moment before speaking.
“You’ve been like that all week,” he said.
Sunghoon didn’t respond.
“Actually,” Jay added, setting his phone down, “ever since she started avoiding you.”
That finally made Sunghoon look at him. “Avoiding?”
Jay let out a short scoff. “You didn’t notice?”
Before Sunghoon could answer, the door opened and Sunoo walked in, drink in hand, immediately sensing the tension.
“Notice what?” he asked casually.
Jay nodded towards Sunghoon. “He just realized.”
Sunoo blinked once, then laughed lightly. “No way.”
“What are you talking about?” Sunghoon frowned.
Sunoo leaned against the table, studying him. “You’ve been acting off for weeks.”
“I haven’t—”
“You have,” Jay cut in. “You’re more distracted. You forget small things, double-check things you normally don’t.”
Sunoo added, “And you keep looking towards her area even when you’re not assigned there.”
Sunghoon’s jaw tightened slightly. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It does,” Jay said calmly. A brief silence followed before Sunoo tilted his head.
“You didn’t even realize she was avoiding you until now.”
Sunghoon paused, thinking back. Vague replies, shorter conversations, the way you left early, the lack of eye contact. “…I thought she was just busy,” he muttered.
Jay shook his head. “You don’t believe that.”
Sunghoon didn’t answer.
Sunoo exhaled softly. “You’re not just noticing her.” He smirks slightly. “You’re affected by her.”
The words hung in the air.
Sunghoon scoffed weakly, but it lacked certainty. “I’m not affected.”
“Then why do you look like that every time she walks past you and doesn’t stop?” Sunoo asked simply.
Silence.
Jay crossed his arms. “You didn’t care before.”
Sunghoon frowned slightly. "What do you mean?”
“You used to be fine,” Jay said. “Now you’re not.”
Sunghoon ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "She’s been acting weird...”
Jay immediately corrected him. “No. You’ve been acting weird.”
Sunghoon looked between them, irritation flickering but it didn’t last. Because it was starting to feel… accurate.
Sunoo sighed and pushed himself off the table. “You know what your problem is?”
Sunghoon looked up. “What?”
“You think noticing her is enough,” Sunoo said simply.
That made him pause.
Jay added more quietly, “It’s not.”
Sunghoon frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Sunoo stepped closer, voice steady now. “You don’t get to just notice her forever.”
“You either do something about it or someone else eventually will. Like perhaps, Jungwon?”
That landed differently.
Sunghoon’s expression hardened. "What am I supposed to do?” Jay answered immediately. “Tell her.”
Sunghoon blinked. “Tell her what?” Sunoo lets out a short laugh. “Don’t act like you don’t know.”
He pulled out his phone and unlocked it, tapping a few times before turning the screen toward Sunghoon.
The photo from the night of the medical mission appeared. You, asleep, your head resting on his shoulder. Him, leaning slightly toward you, closer than he remembered.
The room went quiet.
“How did you get that?" He coughs. "And you know, that was just an accident. I didn't mean to end up in that position,” Sunghoon said after a moment, but his voice was quieter now.
Sunoo hummed. “Sure.”
Jay added, almost matter-of-fact, “You don’t let people that close.”
Sunghoon didn’t respond. His eyes stayed on the photo longer than necessary. “Since when did I start doing things like that?” he muttered under his breath.
Neither Sunoo nor Jay answered.
Instead, they just watched him, because for the first time, Sunghoon wasn’t denying it anymore. He was thinking.
Then Sunoo spoke again, softer but sharper.
“You don’t have to keep pretending you don’t feel anything. We know.”
Jay nodded once. “Just talk to her.”
Sunoo tilted his phone slightly, still showing the photo. “Before someone else does.”
And this time, Sunghoon didn’t argue.
──────────────────────────────
You push through the operating room doors, the sterile air hitting you instantly as the urgency inside the room becomes clear. The patient is already on the table, breaths uneven, the monitor beside her flashing unstable vitals.
“Doctor, her blood pressure is dropping,” one of the nurses calls out.
“I see it,” you reply, already gloving up. “Prepare for immediate delivery.”
Jungwon stands across from you, already scrubbed in, eyes focused but tense. This is different from the cases he’s seen before, this one is slipping, and even he can feel it. The usual controlled rhythm of the operating room feels tighter, heavier.
You moved quickly, voice steady despite the rising pressure. “Ma’am, stay with me, okay? You’re doing well. Just a little more.”
The woman turns her head slightly towards you, her face pale, lips trembling. “Doctor…” her voice is weak, barely audible. “If something happens…”
You shake your head immediately. “Nothing is going to happen. We’re getting both of you through this.”
She lets out a shaky breath, her fingers weakly gripping the sheets. “Please… just save the baby.”
“No,” you say firmly, without hesitation. “We’re saving both of you. Stay with me.”
“Heart rate dropping!” another nurse calls.
“Let’s move, now.” The room shifts into rapid motion.
“Push,” you instruct, your tone controlled but urgent. “You have to push for me.” With one final effort, the baby is delivered.
A second of silence, then a cry fills the room, strong and alive.
“Baby’s out,” you announced, a flicker of relief passing through the team.
But it doesn’t last.
“Doctor, she’s bleeding heavily!”
You look down, there's far more blood than before as it pooled rapidly.
“Start uterotonics. Apply pressure, now!” you order, your voice sharper now.
Jungwon hesitates for a fraction of a second before moving, following your commands, his movements slightly rushed.
“Ma’am, stay with me!” you call, louder now. “Stay with me!”
The monitor begins to slow.
“No, no, come on,” you mutter under your breath. “We’re not losing you.”
“BP unrecordable!”
“Prepare for resuscitation!”
The flatline cuts through the room. Followed by a long, continuous sound.
“No!” you shout, immediately stepping in. “Start CPR!”
You begin compressions, counting under your breath, your movements precise but desperate.
“Come on… come on…” you whisper, your voice cracking just slightly.
Jungwon watches for a brief moment, then steps in to assist, swallowing hard as he follows your lead.
Minutes pass, but the monitor doesn’t change.
The sound remains flat as your movements slow down.
The weight of the silence settles heavily in the room, no one daring to speak. For a moment, you just stare at the monitor, as if waiting for it to change. It doesn’t.
You inhale slowly, forcing yourself to straighten.
“Time of death,” you say, your voice quieter now, but steady as you glance at the clock. “4:56 pm.”
The baby’s cries echo faintly from across the room, a sharp contrast to the stillness surrounding you.
You turn your head towards Jungwon, your expression composed, but your eyes betray a flicker of something deeper.
“Transfer the baby to the newborn unit,” you instruct. “Go with the nurses.”
Jungwon nods, swallowing hard as two nurses carefully prepare the infant.
He hesitates for just a moment, looking back at you, before following them out.
You exhaled deeply, looking at the patient lying before you. Then you instructed the nurses on what to do with the body, ending with, “I’ll go inform her husband.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
Pushing the operating room doors open, you stepped out into the hallway. The bright lights feel harsher now, the noise around you dull and distant. Across from you, her husband sits in the waiting area. The moment he sees you, he stands up quickly.
“Doc… how are they?” he asks as you approach.
You take a slow breath, steadying yourself, gathering the courage to say the words.
“I’m sorry, sir… but your wife didn’t make it,” you say quietly.
His shoulders drop as he looks down, his composure breaking as he starts to cry.
“…And the baby?” he asks after a moment, wiping at his tears.
“She’s alive,” you reply gently. “They’ve taken her to the newborn unit. I’ll let you know when it’s okay for you to visit.”
He nods weakly, trying to hold himself together.
“I’m… I’m sorry again for your loss,” you add, trying to sound professional despite the lump in your throat.
“It’s okay,” he says, though his voice trembles. “At least… at least you saved our baby. Thank you for that.”
You nod, offering a small, sympathetic smile as he turns and walks away, his steps heavy and unsteady.
You know it wasn't your fault, but deep down you still feel disappointed in yourself for not saving her.
As a doctor, moments like these are inevitable. But for you, it has only happened six times, including today. You always do your best to save your patients’ lives and you usually succeed. So when the worst happens, you can’t help but feel responsible, as if the loss was yours to carry.
You step aside, pressing a hand lightly against the wall as you take in a sharp breath. Tears begin to fall, quiet at first, then harder as the memory resurfaces, your patient’s face, the way she looked at you, trusting you when you promised to save both her and her baby.
“Y/N?” You heard someone call and you look up to see Sunghoon. You stared at him for a while, your expression a mix of surprise and nervous at the thought of him seeing your vulnerable side.
“Sunghoon, I—”
Before you can finish, he closes the distance and pulls you into a gentle embrace. One hand comes up to cradle the back of your head, guiding it to rest against his shoulder, while the other slowly rubs your back.
“Shh… it’s okay,” he murmurs softly. “You don’t have to explain anything.” He holds you carefully, like you might fall apart at any second.
You stayed like that for a while, crying into his shoulder, his arms wrapped securely around you.
You’re not sure how, but the simple gesture made you feel safe. The comfort you didn’t even realize you needed is suddenly there, steady and warm, easing the tightness in your chest little by little.
“I couldn’t save her,” you manage to say, your voice breaking as you pull away slightly, shaking your head. “I tried… but it wasn’t enough.”
“Hey, look at me.”
His hands gently cups your cheeks, guiding your gaze back to his.
“It’s not your fault,” he says softly. “It never was. So don’t blame yourself for what happened. You did everything you could.” His voice remains calm, comforting. “I’m like that too, I don’t always get to save my patients. But what matters is that you tried. That’s what counts.”
You swallow, nodding slowly as his words sink in.
“You’re right. Thank you,” you whisper.
He gives you a small, reassuring smile. “You don’t have to thank me. Just know that I’m always here for you.”
Your breath catches at that.
Your brows knit slightly as you search his face, trying to find even the slightest hint that he’s joking, but there’s nothing. Just sincerity, clear and unwavering in his eyes.
“Sunghoon…” you murmur.
“Yeah?” he responds, tilting his head slightly.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” you ask quietly. “I’ve been a jerk to you these past few weeks but you’re still here, comforting me.”
Your gaze drops again, guilt creeping in.
“I don’t think I deserve your kindness… or even your friendship.”
Sunghoon shakes his head almost immediately. He lifts your chin gently with his finger, making you look at him again.
“I don’t care about the past few weeks,” he says. “You needed someone, so I came.”
Something in your chest stirs at that, soft and unfamiliar, yet overwhelming all at once. Your lips tremble slightly as your eyes begin to sting again.
“I’m so sorry,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper. “I promise I won’t do it again.”
Before he can respond, you step forward and wrapped your arms around him once more, holding him tighter this time.
Sunghoon lets out a soft chuckle, clearly caught off guard, but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, he gently pats your back, his touch warm and reassuring as you cling to him.
──────────────────────────────
The next day after the incident, you, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Chaewon went out to eat together. It was Sunghoon’s idea, he said it might help cheer you up after everything that happened.
You sat at the table with Chaewon beside you and Sunghoon across from you.
As you waited for your food, you glanced at him and smiled. “Sunghoon, thank you for this. I really needed it. I’m glad to have a friend like you.”
Then you looked over at Chaewon and Sunoo. “And you guys too.”
“Aww, no problem, babes. We’re always here to cheer you up,” Chaewon replied, wrapping an arm around you in a side hug.
“Friends?” Sunoo suddenly echoed, glancing at Sunghoon from the corner of his eye.
You blinked, confused.
“Oh– I mean… yeah, you’re welcome,” he quickly corrected, offering an awkward smile.
Before you could question it further, the food arrived, filling the table and momentarily shifting everyone’s attention.
The conversation died down as you all started eating, the clinking of utensils replacing it.
A few minutes in, Sunoo suddenly stood up.
“I just need to go to the restroom,” he said casually, then turned to Sunghoon. “Come with me.”
Before Sunghoon could even react, Sunoo was already pulling him up from his seat. Sunghoon barely had time to set his fork down, looking completely caught off guard as he was dragged along.
You watched them walk away, brows slightly furrowed.
“What was that about?” Chaewon asked.
You shrugged, just as confused. “I have no idea.”
ᯓ★ ݁˖
As you walked back to the hospital, you decided to bring up what happened earlier.
“So… are you going to tell me what that was about, or am I supposed to pretend it was nothing?” you asked, glancing at Sunghoon.
“What? That?” Sunghoon replied casually, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Sunoo was just overreacting about something.”
“Really…” you said, clearly unconvinced. “What kind of something?”
He rolled his eyes slightly, though a small smile tugged at his lips. “It’s just between me and him. Don’t worry. I’ll tell you if it ever concerns you.”
You let out a quiet sigh, deciding not to push further. “Okay, fine. I’ll believe you. As long as it’s not about a secret crush or anything, then I’m out.”
“What?” Sunghoon suddenly said, a bit too quickly.
You frowned, studying his reaction. “Huh…?” Then it clicked. “Wait… I’m right?”
“N-no, you’re not,” he denied, but the tips of his ears turned noticeably red.
A laugh slipped out of you. “Hey, relax. I won’t tell anyone,” you said, nudging him lightly. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
He glanced at you, still unsure whether to believe you.
“I think I already have an idea who it is,” you added, a teasing smile forming. “And don’t worry, I support you.”
“Oh…” Sunghoon exhaled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “T– thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” you replied with a small smile.
You looked away after that, your chest tightening just a little, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Relief, because Sunghoon trusted you with something so personal, and disappointment, because you hadn’t expected him to like Wonyoung back.
You thought you had successfully buried those feelings long ago, but hearing him admit he had a crush still stung more than you were willing to admit.
It’s fine, you told yourself. As long as you stayed good friends, that would be enough.
──────────────────────────────
The fluorescent lights in the doctors’ lounge felt harsher than usual.
Maybe it was the hour. Maybe it was the exhaustion settling deep into your bones. Or maybe it was the way the numbers on the chart in front of you refused to make sense no matter how many times you read them.
Beside you, the cup of coffee you bought earlier had long gone lukewarm.
You reached for it anyway, bringing it to your lips in a half-hearted attempt to wake yourself up.
The bitter taste lingered, but it did little to chase away the heaviness in your eyes. If anything, it only reminded you how tired you really were.
You blinked once. Twice.
Still, the words blurred.
With a quiet sigh, you leaned back slightly in your chair, pressing your fingers against your temple as if that would somehow force your mind to cooperate. It didn’t. If anything, the silence of the room only made your thoughts louder and harder to ignore.
You didn’t even realize you were staring blankly at the same line for the past five minutes.
“You’re going to misread that.”
The voice came from behind you, calm and familiar, cutting through your haze like it always did.
You didn’t turn immediately. Instead, you let out a small breath, somewhere between a tired laugh and defeat.
“I’m not,” you muttered weakly, eyes still on the chart. “I’m just… taking my time.”
There was a pause. Then the sound of footsteps, slow, unhurried, coming closer.
“You’ve been ‘taking your time’ on the same page since I got here,” he replied.
You finally turned, meeting Sunghoon’s gaze. His expression wasn’t mocking, nor was it particularly soft, it was something in between, the kind you had learned to read over the years. Observant. Quietly concerned.
You straightened a little in your seat, as if that alone could prove your point.
“I’m fine,” you insisted, though even you could hear how unconvincing it sounded.
His eyes flickered briefly to the untouched coffee beside you, then back to your face.
“You didn’t even finish that,” he pointed out.
You glanced at the cup, then away. “It’s not working,” you admitted under your breath.
That was when his expression shifted, just slightly.
“…Come on.”
You frowned slightly. “What?”
“Come on,” he repeated, already turning away as if he expected you to follow.
You stared at his back for a second, then let out a quiet sigh before pushing your chair back. The legs scraped softly against the floor as you stood, grabbing your coat almost out of habit.
“Where are we going?” you asked, trailing after him.
“Fresh air,” he said simply. “Since that clearly isn’t working.”
You glanced back once at the abandoned cup of coffee on the table before following him out.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The hallway was quieter than usual.
Your footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floors, falling into rhythm with his. Neither of you spoke, and yet the silence felt… comfortable. Familiar. It wrapped around the two of you like something well-worn, something neither of you questioned anymore.
The elevator ride was short.
You leaned lightly against the wall, arms loosely crossed, your head tilting back just enough for your eyes to close for a second. The hum of the elevator was almost lulling, dangerously so.
“You’re actually going to fall asleep standing up,” Sunghoon muttered.
You opened one eye lazily. “I’m not that far gone.”
He didn’t respond, but you felt his gaze stayed on you for a brief moment.
ᯓ★ ݁˖
The rooftop door creaked softly as he pushed it open.
The moment you stepped out, the cold night air hits your face, sharp and refreshing. It stole the warmth lingering on your skin and replaced it with something clearer.
You inhaled deeply.
And for the first time in hours, your head felt lighter.
“…Okay,” you admitted, stepping forward. “That actually helped.”
The wind picked up slightly, brushing past you and tugging at the edges of your coat. Fabric shifted, swaying gently with each passing breeze, the night wrapping itself around you in quiet movements.
You walked towards the railing, resting your hands against the cool metal as you looked out at the city below. Lights flickered in the distance, cars moving like slow, distant streams.
For a moment, everything felt far away.
“Thanks for this,” you said softly.
No response.
You glanced over your shoulder.
Sunghoon stood a few steps behind you, his hands tucked into his coat pockets, his posture relaxed but his gaze wasn’t on the view.
It was on you.
You turned slightly, brows knitting together. “What?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he took a step closer.
Then another.
The faint sound of his shoes against the concrete felt louder than it should have, each step closing the space between you until he was standing beside you, closer than usual.
Close enough for you to notice the way the wind shifted his hair slightly.
Close enough to see the way his eyes caught the city lights.
The way they seemed to twinkle, just barely, as he looked at you, not distant, but focused in a way that made your chest tighten without warning.
Something in your expression must have changed, because his gaze softened a little.
“You know, lately…” he began slowly, his voice lower now, steadier but heavier somehow. “I’ve been noticing things I didn’t before.”
Your breath hitched, just slightly.
“I thought it was nothing,” he continued. “I told myself it didn’t matter.” Then he took another step closer.
You didn’t move.
“But it keeps coming back,” he said, softer now. “No matter how much I try to ignore it.”
Your heart was beating faster now, louder than the wind, louder than your thoughts.
You couldn’t look away, not when he was standing this close, not when his voice sounded like that.
“Look, Y/N…” he said, your name quieter than you had ever heard it from him.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you something—”
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Your phone rang.
The sudden noise felt almost too loud in contrast to the stillness that had built up around you. You flinched slightly, breaking eye contact as you reached into your pocket.
Jungwon’s name flashes on your caller ID the moment you pick up.
Before you can even speak, his voice comes through urgently. “Y/N, there’s a woman in active labor with complications. We need you here now.”
“Okay, I’m coming,” you reply, your voice cutting through the quiet rooftop.
The wind is still, almost cruelly calm compared to the urgency in his tone.
You turn to Sunghoon, and for a brief second, your expression softens with guilt. “There’s an emergency. You can tell me that next time, okay?”
“Oh… okay,” he says quietly, the disappointment flickering across his face before he can hide it.
“I’m sorry, I have to go,” you add, already stepping back.
And just like that, you’re gone.
Sunghoon watches as you rush towards the door, your coat trailing behind you, footsteps echoing sharply before fading completely into the hospital corridor.
The rooftop falls silent again.
He stays there for a moment longer, unmoving, the wind brushing through his hair as if time itself has slowed down just for him.
A small breath escapes him, almost a sigh, as he looks at the empty space where you were standing just seconds ago.
══════════════════════════════
author's note: wow, 12K words, this is actually my first time writing a fic that reached this word count
i really enjoyed writing this, which is probably why it ended up this long haha. as a med student myself, i got especially excited while writing the medical parts. and i think this is, by far, my favorite fic that I’ve written so far
i hope you were able to read it until the end >< even if it didn’t fully meet your expectations, i genuinely did my best to pour my heart into this fic (which i think i somehow did hehe)
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a little sneak peak of the story i've been working on for the past few days 👀 it's not yet done, but i think i'll be able to post it next week or the week after
in light of recent events within the group and the fandom, i’ve decided that i will no longer be writing fics that include heeseung.
at first, i thought it would still be okay since he was once part of the group. however, as time passed and i reflected on the situation and its impact on the members, i realized that continuing to write about him no longer feels right for me.
moving forward, this account will focus more on 02z (the current hyung line).
i won’t be deleting my previous works involving him, as they remain meaningful to me and are part of my journey as a writer.
i understand that not everyone may agree with this decision, but i hope it can be respected.
ENHYPEN AND THEIR REACTION WHEN YOU SUDDENLY KISS THEM ✧ hyung line
LEE HEESEUNG 💋
You and Heeseung were sitting on the hood of his car by the cliff, the city lights glowing beneath you like a quiet ocean of gold.
It had become your weekly thing. Late-night drives with no real plan, just music playing softly in the background and the comfort of being together. No homeworks. No schedules. Just him and you under the open sky.
The air was cool, brushing against your skin and making your hair sway gently. Heeseung sat close enough that your shoulders touched every now and then.
“So I told myself I wouldn’t buy anything,” he said, laughing under his breath. “I was just going to look.”
You already knew where this was going.
“But then I saw this keyboard for my computer. And it wasn’t like the others, okay? The keys felt smoother, the typing sound warmer… it just felt different.”
He looked so serious explaining it, like it was the most important discovery of the day. His eyes sparkled when he talked about his collection.
The breeze pushed his hair away from his forehead, and he absentmindedly brushed it back, still rambling.
You weren’t really listening anymore.
You were watching him.
The way his lips curved when he smiled. The way his voice softened when he talked about something he loved. The way he looked so happy just sharing it with you.
Your chest fluttered.
“And then Ni-ki said I had too many keyboards already and that I shouldn’t—”
You leaned in without thinking.
Your lips pressed against his, cutting him off mid-sentence.
He went quiet instantly.
For a brief second, he seemed caught off guard but then he kissed you back just as quickly, a small amused smile forming against your lips. The kiss was soft, warm, natural… like it was something he’d been expecting without knowing it.
After a few seconds, you pulled away slowly, giving him a shy little smile. The wind picked up again, blowing your hair across your face.
You lifted your hand to fix it—
But before you could, his hand slid behind your neck.
His fingers were warm against your skin as he gently pulled you back in.
This time, the kiss wasn’t just soft.
It was slower. Deeper. More certain.
One of his hands stayed at your neck, holding you steady, while the other moved to cup your cheek. You felt your heart start pounding as your arms wrapped around his neck, pulling yourself closer.
The city lights below blurred into nothing.
For a moment, it was just the two of you, the quiet wind, and the way his lips moved against yours like he didn’t want to stop.
When you finally pulled back to breathe, your cheeks were warm and your lips tingled.
“W–what was that for?” you asked softly, trying to hide how flustered you felt.
Heeseung chuckled, the sound low and fond. His thumb brushed over your flushed cheek, eyes locked on yours.
“Baby,” he murmured, a teasing smile playing on his lips, “you should always finish what you started.”
He winked lightly.
Before you could even respond, he leaned in again, kissing you slow and unhurried, like he had all the time in the world.
PARK JONGSEONG 💋
You were leaning back against the kitchen island, watching Jay as he stood by the stove, completely focused.
His back was turned to you, sleeves slightly rolled up, one hand stirring the pasta sauce like he was on a cooking show instead of in his own kitchen. The smell filled the room, warm and comforting.
You liked seeing him like this.
Calm. Concentrated. A little serious.
He turned off the stove and grabbed a spoon, dipping it into the sauce before bringing it up to his lips to taste.
“Hm,” he hummed thoughtfully. “I think it’s a bit salty… but it’s still enough for me.”
Finally, he turned around.
“Will you taste it for me?”
You looked up from the pan and saw him holding the spoon out toward you.
But before you could even focus on the sauce, you noticed something else.
A small smudge of red sauce right on his upper lip.
Just between his lips, barely there, but enough.
You smirked.
Instead of taking the spoon, you pushed yourself off the counter and walked toward him. He raised an eyebrow, confused by the look on your face.
You placed your hands on his shoulders.
And before he could ask what you were doing, you leaned in, gently licking the smudge of sauce from his upper lip.
You pulled back slightly, smiling teasingly.
“I think it already tastes good.”
Jay went completely still.
The spoon slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor with a small clatter, but he didn’t even react to it. His eyes were wide, lips slightly parted, as if his brain needed a second to catch up.
He blinked.
Then blinked again.
“That was completely… unnecessary,” he said finally, disbelief written all over his face.
You laughed, unable to help yourself.
“Sorry, Jay,” you said once you calmed down a little. “I promise I’ll taste it properly this time, okay?”
He let out a small huff, still trying to compose himself. Without breaking eye contact for too long, he bent down to pick up the spoon and placed it in the sink.
He grabbed a new one, scooped up some sauce again, and turned back toward you.
He dipped it into the sauce again and turned back toward you.
You reached for it—
But suddenly, his arm slid around your waist, pulling you firmly against him.
You gasped softly at the sudden contact, your hands landing on his chest for balance.
Before you could react, he lifted the spoon and gently brushed the sauce against your lips.
“You had your turn,” he said calmly.
His voice was steadier now.
“Now it’s mine.” His eyes held yours with something playful underneath.
He leaned in slightly, closing the small distance between you, and slowly tasted the sauce from your lips.
This time, you were the one frozen.
His hand remained secure at your waist as he pulled back just enough to look at you, a subtle, satisfied smile forming on his face.
“So?” he asked quietly, raising a brow. “Still think it tastes good?”
SIM JAEYUN 💋
The dining table had slowly turned into a battlefield of papers, notes, and your half-finished physics homework. Across from you, Jake sat with his notebook open, pencil in hand, patiently trying to explain the same concept for what felt like the tenth time.
It had been almost an hour.
“And you see,” he continued, tapping lightly on your paper, “charges create invisible regions around them where other charges would feel a force, and once you understand that—”
His voice kept going.
But you weren’t hearing it anymore.
Your focus had shifted somewhere else entirely.
Specifically, to his lips.
The way they moved when he explained something. The way he kept licking them unconsciously. The way he bit down on the lower one while thinking. It was a habit of his, one he probably didn’t even realize he had.
Your brain had completely left the physics lesson.
“Y/N,” he said suddenly, pausing mid-explanation. “Are you even listening?”
Your eyes widened instantly, embarrassed at being caught.
“Sorry, I was just…” Your gaze dropped again, first to his lips, then back up to his eyes. “…distracted.”
Jake let out a small sigh, leaning back slightly in his chair.
“We’ve been here for an hour already,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “You have to avoid getting distracted or otherwise—”
That was it.
Without giving yourself time to think, you reached forward, grabbing the side of his hoodie and pulling him toward you.
Your lips crashed against his.
For a second, he didn’t respond, clearly surprised as his hands hovered awkwardly in the air. Then slowly, his hands found your waist, steadying you. Once he adjusted, he kissed back, softer at first.
You tilted your head slightly, deepening the kiss, your fingers gripping the fabric of his hoodie as you pulled him closer. It had been building for the past hour, and now you couldn’t pretend otherwise.
When you finally pulled away, both of you were breathing heavier. His lips were slightly swollen, yours tingling from the sudden boldness.
For a moment, he just looked at you.
Then a smirk formed on his face.
“Nice try,” he said, voice calm despite the faint flush on his cheeks. “But you still need to finish your homework.”
You leaned back into your chair with a dramatic groan, covering your face with your hands.
Jake only chuckled, picking up the pencil again.
PARK SUNGHOON 💋
The tension in the room had been building for the past ten minutes.
You were sitting on the couch while Sunghoon stood in front of you, arms moving as he spoke, frustration clear in his voice.
The argument itself was petty.
He had planned to surprise his mom after months of touring, but you didn’t know, and you ended up spilling the news a day early.
“No, Y/N, you just don’t get it,” he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I planned everything while I was overseas. From the day I’d arrive, my gift for her, even asking my sister to help me with it. And you completely ruined it.”
You sighed.
“Hoon, I don’t know what you’re so worried about. Your mom said it was okay. She was even happy to know you were home.”
He let out a breath and finally sat down beside you, though his expression was still clearly annoyed.
“I know,” he muttered. “But that doesn’t make it any better that you ruined the surprise.”
You were about to argue back, to tell him he was overreacting, but he kept going, dragging the conversation further. Explaining again why it mattered. Why he had wanted it to be perfect.
You crossed your arms and rolled your eyes, staring at him as he spoke, clearly irritated.
But then you noticed something.
The tense jaw, the way his brows were drawn together, his hair slightly messy from running his hands through it. Despite the argument, he looked… hot.
Your irritation slowly melted into something else.
Before you could stop yourself, you scooted a little closer.
He was still mid-sentence when you grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him toward you, crashing your lips against his.
He didn’t kiss back.
Of course he wouldn't.
His body was stiff, clearly caught off guard and still half-annoyed.
After a few seconds, you pulled away, leaning back with your arms crossed again like nothing happened.
He stared at you.
His cheeks, and even the tips of his ears were tinted red.
For the first time since the argument started, he was speechless.
“You—” he began, but cut himself off.
Before you could react, his hand grabbed your arm and pulled you suddenly into his lap.
Your breath caught as his lips met yours again, this time with no hesitation.
He kissed you like he missed you.
And he did.
It had been months. Touring, schedules, distance, and this was the first time you’d shared a proper kiss since he came home.
His hand moved from your back down to your thigh, stroking gently, holding you close like he didn’t want space between you anymore.
The frustration from earlier seemed to disappear into the kiss.
When he finally pulled away, his lips slightly swollen, he looked at you with a faint smirk.
“Just so you know,” he said quietly, “I’m still mad at you.”
But there wasn’t a single trace of anger left on his face.
“Yeah, okay,” you shrugged, wrapping your arms around his neck.
Without waiting for another word, Sunghoon leaned in again, pushing your back against the couch as his lips found yours once more. The earlier argument completely forgotten in the warmth of being close again.
══════════════════════════════
author's note: i'm back after months of being inactive :)) sorry if i made you guys wait, my schedule was really packed due to my internship
tyyy for the continued support, i promise to update more fics this time around
heeseung leaving the group???!?!? this can't be happening 😭😭😭 i mean, why would he leave? he can just release a solo album while staying in the group like yeonjun :(((
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hello, i'm sooo sorry for being inactive. i've been juggling my internship and school lately that i don't have time to post :(( tho i promise to update by next month since i already have a few ideas in mind 😚
you thought tonight was just about meeting heeseung’s parents, but as it turns out, he had other ideas.
warnings: smut (mdni), explicit content, unprotected sex, car sex, hard dom!hee, fingering, marking, p in v, cursing, making out, dirty talk
word count: 3.1k
It was the day you were finally meeting Heeseung’s parents. After a year and a half together, he decided it was time.
You stood in front of the mirror, checking yourself for the hundredth time. After hours of deciding, you’d settled on a simple navy blue dress just above the knee.
The puffer sleeves made it formal, and the fitted fabric hugged your frame without feeling revealing.
Still, nerves gnawed at you. Will they like me? Will I say something wrong? What if they think I’m not good enough? Your stomach flipped at the thought of meeting them for the first time.
You took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself, but your hands kept fidgeting with the hem of your dress.
The doorbell rang, making your heart skip.
One last glance in the mirror, a quick adjustment to your already perfectly styled hair, you opened the door.
Heeseung stood there, wearing a black blazer over a sleek black v-neck. His eyes lit up when he saw you, and the corners of his mouth lifted in that familiar, heart-stopping smile.
“Damn. You trying to kill me or what? That dress looks so good on you,” he said, and you couldn’t help the soft laugh that escaped you.
“You look good too, Hee,” you replied, feeling your cheeks heat up.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and pressed a quick kiss to your cheek.
The simple gesture made your stomach flutter, and you realized how much you liked these small, familiar moments before any chaos began.
“Ready?” he asked, voice gentle.
“Yeah… but I’m nervous,” you admitted, biting your lip.
“Don’t be,” he murmured, brushing your hair back and kissing your cheek again, inhaling the scent of your perfume. His lips trailed lower to your neck, teasing, playful. “I can think of some ways to make you less nervous.”
You laughed, a little breathless. “Heeseung, we need to go. Your parents are going to be mad if we’re late.”
He straightened, giving you a sly, almost triumphant look, leaning in toward your lips, but you held up a hand, blocking him.
“No kissing until the night is over. I worked hard on this perfect lip combo, if you kiss me, we’ll end up making out. And you’ll ruin my hair too.”
He pouted, but his grin never faded. “Fine,” he said, sulky. “But after this dinner, you’re all mine.”
You rolled your eyes, laughing softly, letting him take your hand as he led you out. Every step toward the car made the anticipation grow, but with his hand in yours and that teasing smile still on his face, the nerves felt manageable, just barely.
You both arrived at the restaurant, and the moment you stepped inside, your nerves spiked. Without thinking, you clung to Heeseung’s arm like it was the only thing keeping you steady.
He noticed right away, slowing his steps and rubbing gentle circles over your knuckles in silent reassurance.
“You’re okay,” he murmured softly.
As you approached the table, Heeseung spotted his parents first. His mom looked up, her expression instantly lighting up.
“Oh my, you must be Y/N,” she said as she stood.
Before you could properly greet her, she pulled you into a warm hug. It caught you off guard enough that your hand slipped from Heeseung’s arm, but you hugged her back, letting out a small, nervous laugh.
When she pulled away, you smiled at her. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lee.”
“You too, dear,” she replied fondly, clearly pleased.
His dad stepped forward next, offering a firm but friendly smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” he said, extending his hand.
You quickly took it. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. Lee.”
His mom clapped her hands together lightly, eyes moving between the three of you.
“Alright, let’s sit before the food gets cold,” she urged with a gentle laugh.
Heeseung guided you toward the table, keeping close. He pulled out a chair for you, waiting until you were seated before taking his place beside you, his knee brushing yours, a quiet reminder that he was right there.
After a few bites, his mother set down her fork and turned to you, eyes curious but kind. “So, Y/N… are you a student? Or do you work?”
Your stomach sank a little. You weren’t as accomplished as Heeseung, or at least, not yet, but you were working hard to carve out a future you wanted. Your voice shook slightly as you answered.
“Actually… I’m still a student,” you said, forcing yourself to meet her gaze. “I’m majoring in architecture. I… I hope to work on sustainable housing projects after college. Designing spaces that are not only functional, but also environmentally friendly. I’ve always loved thinking about how people live, and how spaces can make life easier or more beautiful for them. That’s what I want to focus on.”
His mother repeated the word softly. “Architecture…” She sliced her meat slowly, still looking thoughtful.
You felt your pulse hammering, waiting for her reaction, fearing she might think you were too young, too inexperienced, or not serious enough.
But after a moment, her expression shifted. The tension in her shoulders eased, and a warm smile spread across her face.
“That’s really nice to hear, dear. I’m so glad our son finally found someone who has her future planned.”
You felt a rush of relief, the tight knot of nerves in your chest loosening. “Thank you,” you said, smiling genuinely.
She nodded, her tone lighter now. “You know, most girls Heeseung brings over usually don’t know what they want yet. Or they just say they’ll figure it out after they’re married to him,” she said, laughing softly.
Her husband chuckled along with her, the memory obviously amusing to them. “That’s true,” he added with a small shake of his head. “He had a few girlfriends before… none of them really had a plan for themselves.”
The conversation flowed from there. She asked about your classes, the professors you liked, and the projects you were excited about.
Heeseung’s dad chimed in occasionally, curious about your long-term goals and subtly teasing you about the difficulty of balancing school with life outside the classroom.
You found yourself relaxing a little more with every question, every smile, every shared laugh.
As you chatted, Heeseung’s hand brushed your thigh under the table, gentle and familiar. He didn’t need words, his touch was a quiet reassurance, a grounding presence. You let him, smiling to yourself.
But as you were busy eating, listening to his dad talk about a client they had this week, you felt Heeseung’s hand inch higher along your thigh.
His hand slipped beneath your dress, stroking your inner thigh, and you let out a sharp gasp at the unexpected movement.
His parents looked up at you, his dad pausing mid-sentence.
“Are you alright, dear?” his mother asked, concern in her voice. You glanced at Heeseung and caught his small, teasing smirk aimed right at you.
“I— I’m alright,” you stammered, forcing a laugh. “It’s just… I remembered I still haven’t finished my homework for next week. Sorry for making you worry.”
His mother’s expression softened, and she smiled. “It’s alright,” she said kindly, while his dad resumed his story as if nothing had happened.
From under the table, you kicked Heeseung’s leg, irritated at how effortlessly he made you lie to his parents. He simply chuckled at your reaction, his hand never leaving your thigh.
Dessert arrived in a flash, the waiters setting a vanilla cheesecake topped with fresh berries in front of each of you. The sweet aroma mixed with the warmth of the restaurant, making the table feel even cozier.
You took a slice, and as you were about to take a bite, Heeseung’s hand moved higher than it already was, stroking you through the fabric of your panties.
A soft moan escaped you, and you immediately took a bite of the cheesecake, trying to suppress the sound.
His father’s attention flicked to you, a faint smile on his face. “The cheesecake must taste that good,” he commented, clearly amused by your reaction.
“I— it is,” you managed to say, though Heeseung’s fingers continued their work, sending waves of heat through you.
“Heeseung, behave! Your parents are right in front of us,” you whispered sharply, though he only smirked at how riled up you were.
“I can’t help it,” he murmured, flashing a glance at the fingers still moving under your dress.
“It’s not my fault you look so damn good in that dress.” He leaned in to place a quick kiss on your cheek, leaving you flustered.
His mother looked over, completely unaware of what was happening beneath the table, and smiled warmly. “You look so cute together,” she said.
“Thank you, Mrs. Lee. That means so much to me,” you replied softly.
You didn’t bother asking Heeseung to stop, pointing it out would only make things worse. Instead, you pushed his hand away, closing your legs so he couldn’t touch you again.
“Feisty,” he chuckled at your reaction, a teasing glint in his eyes.
As dinner came to an end, you found yourselves standing by the restaurant exit, exchanging goodbyes.
The evening had been warmer and more relaxed than you’d expected, but your heart still fluttered from the nerves that had built up all night.
“I’m really glad we met you, Y/N. You’re a wonderful girl. Our son is so lucky to have you,” Heeseung’s mom said, her smile soft and sincere. The words made your chest warm, a small smile appearing on your face.
“I feel the same. Heeseung’s very lucky to have you as parents. I can tell he was raised well by you guys,” you replied, your voice honest and sincere.
“You’re too sweet,” she said, giving you one last gentle hug, lingering just a little longer than expected.
His dad patted your shoulder with a friendly smile. “Well, we’re heading out first. It’s already past our bedtime,” he said, his tone light but kind.
You chuckled. “Okay. Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Lee. See you again soon.”
They waved as they walked toward the door, leaving a cozy emptiness in their wake.
You took a deep breath, letting the tension ease slightly, before turning to Heeseung — who, of course, had that mischievous look on his face that immediately made your pulse quicken.
“Oh, stop that,” you said, swatting his arm playfully, though part of you couldn’t help but wonder exactly what he was planning next.
“Stop what?” he chuckled, feigning innocence, but the teasing glint in his eyes betrayed him completely.
“You know what I mean,” you replied, rolling your eyes as you began walking toward the parking lot.
By the time you reached the car, his hand had found your waist, fingers pressing just enough to make you shiver. He leaned down to kiss the top of your head, his lips brushing lightly against your hair.
“You know, you’ve been looking like a fine meal since earlier. I’d bet you taste even better than the dessert they served us,” he murmured against your skin.
You laughed softly, swatting his arm again. “What’s with you today? You can’t seem to keep your hands off me.”
“I told you, you look good enough to eat,” he replied, his voice low and teasing. “I haven’t seen you in a dress in a long time.”
His hand slid from your waist to your hip, squeezing just enough to make you squeak lightly, and then lingered on your backside with a playful firmness.
“Heeseung!” you exclaimed, half scolding, half laughing, but he only chuckled, clearly enjoying your reaction.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the car keys, pressing the button to unlock the doors.
You moved toward the passenger seat, still feeling the lingering heat of his touch, but before you could sit down, he grabbed your arm gently and spun you around, pressing your back against the car.
“Sorry,” he murmured, his breath warm against your ear. “I just can’t wait anymore.”
Your heart raced as his lips pressed to yours, a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was urgent, hungry, and full of unspoken desire.
Your teeth met lightly, lips collided, and instinctively, your hands flew from your sides to his neck, pulling him closer. Your bodies were pressed together, and the intensity made it impossible to think of anything else for a moment.
He growled softly into the kiss, and when you allowed him in, his tongue found yours, teasing and exploring in a way that made your knees weak.
You let out a soft moan, muffled against his lips, and he only deepened the kiss, clearly enjoying your reaction.
When you finally pulled back just enough to breathe, your lipstick had smeared against his mouth, a quiet trace of how undone the kiss had left you both.
Your eyes stayed on his as your breaths mingled, his gaze dark and smoldering with desire, the pull between you growing stronger instead of easing.
“Heeseung…” you whispered, your voice shaky, but he cut you off with a firm command.
“Go to the backseat,” he said, authoritative but low, leaving no room for argument.
You froze, surprised by the sudden tone, but when he added a softer, “Please,” you nodded, a mix of anticipation and excitement running through you.
You stepped into the backseat, and he followed, locking the door behind him. The tension inside the car was almost tangible, and your pulse throbbed in anticipation of what was coming next.
Heeseung didn’t waste another second. He moved to the side, pressing your back firmly against the seat.
Your body tensed, heart hammering at the sudden closeness, but the heat pooling between your legs told you just how ready you were.
Once you were pinned, his lips returned to yours; rougher, hungrier than before. You hadn’t thought it could get any more intense, yet every touch and tug of his lips proved you wrong.
His mouth demanded yours, devouring it with urgency, and your knees felt weak against the seat.
But he didn’t linger there. His lips trailed down to your exposed collarbone, where he switches between licking, biting, and sucking, leaving small, fiery marks in his wake.
You couldn’t help but moan, hands tangling in his hair as you pulled him closer, desperate for every bit of sensation.
When he finally lifted his lips, his hands gripped your waist, lifting the dress higher until it gathered at your stomach.
He had a clear view of your panties, already damp from the teasing he had begun earlier at the restaurant.
With one swift motion, he removed them, tossing them onto the driver’s seat.
“Fuck, I’ve been waiting all night for this,” he muttered, stroking your inner thighs with deliberate pressure.
You gasped, shivering at the proximity of his fingers to your clit. He smirked at your reaction, enjoying the way you trembled beneath him, before starting to tease your entrance with his fingers.
“Hee, stop teasing,” you cried out, your voice shaking.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he murmured, though the smirk on his face told you he was anything but sorry. He was savoring every moment of having you at his mercy.
After a few more seconds of teasing, a single finger slipped inside you, stretching your wet folds and sending shivers through your spine.
“Shit,” you managed to gasp as he began pumping, slow and deliberate at first. Not satisfied, he added a second finger, causing a louder, involuntary moan to escape you.
His fingers moved faster, one hand gripping your hip tightly while the other pumped into you with precision.
He paused briefly, curling them just so, and you arched, letting out a long, needy groan. Every movement seemed perfectly designed to make you lose control.
“Heeseung,” you gasped, breathless. “I’m gonna—”
“Not yet,” he cut you off firmly. “Not until my dick is inside you.”
You nodded, trying desperately to collect yourself as he withdrew his fingers, leaving you aching and trembling in anticipation.
He wasted no time removing his pants, the hard outline of him visible even through his boxers. Then, he discarded those as well, leaving himself completely exposed.
The sight made your stomach flutter, and you bit your lip to keep from moaning.
Locking eyes with you, he positioned himself at your entrance, a small, possessive smirk on his lips.
He slid in, filling you completely, and your mouth gasped at the sudden fullness. He didn’t pause, thrusting hard and fast, every movement deliberate and hungry.
Your walls clenched around him, fingers digging into the headrest as your breath came in short, ragged gasps.
“Fuck, that feels so good,” he breathed, gripping your hips tightly as he continued thrusting with relentless force.
The car seemed to shudder with each movement, the tight space amplifying every sensation.
Your hands moved as it clutched his shoulders, nails digging in as his pace only grew more urgent. The windows fogged up, mixing with your ragged breaths as you tried to keep a grip on control.
“Hee!” you cried, knees trembling. “I… I can’t take it anymore!”
“It’s okay, baby. You can cum now. Let’s do it together,” he whispered, his hand stroking your hips gently, his voice low and reassuring amidst the chaos.
You finally broke first, the pleasure you’d been holding back rushing through you in uncontrollable waves.
Then, with a final, desperate thrust, Heeseung followed. His warmth spilling into you as the moment pulled you both under.
He collapsed on top of you, head resting against your stomach, still inside you. The heat between you both lingered, heavy and intimate.
“You were amazing,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to your stomach, his voice husky with satisfaction.
The moment was interrupted suddenly as a beam of light cut through the car windows. A voice called out, sharp and questioning.
“Is someone in there?” The guard’s voice echoed closer, a flashlight sweeping toward the car.
“Shit, we need to move,” Heeseung cursed under his breath, sliding out of you and scrambling to regain control.
His hands were everywhere at once: tugging your dress back down, smoothing the fabric over your thighs like he was trying to erase the evidence of what just happened.
He barely spared himself a second, pulling on his boxers and abandoning his pants entirely, movements rushed and clumsy with adrenaline still buzzing through him.
The flashlight beam lingered too close for comfort. Heeseung didn’t hesitate. He slipped into the driver’s seat, starting the engine as it roared to life.
The tires crunched against the pavement as he pulled away, leaving the guard standing there, confused and blinking in the sudden quiet.
From the backseat, you couldn’t help it, laughter spilled out of you, breathless and unrestrained, as you watched him grip the steering wheel like his life depended on it, his jaw tight, with nerves written all over his face.
He glanced at you through the rearview mirror, flustered and flushed, as you laughed even harder, the night finally catching up to both of you.
