a latte for your thoughts?
// a fan fiction dedicated to the winter garden couple of hospital playlist //
"Ikjun, do you have my warm cup of hot latte?" Jeong won said, while walking towards him in the hospital's open space to take a break during his night shift.
"Here. Isn't it tiring in the PICU these days?" Ikjun replied with worried eyes.
"A little. I don't mind it though.
Yah, do you remember my liver transplant patient, Mina?"
"Yeah, the one where we had to cut the donor's liver to a quarter because it won't fit the tiny baby's body. What about her?"
"I went to her a while ago. She woke up, and winked at me like this!" Jeongwon lit up whenever he talks about his patients' recovery. His eyes sparkled and his smile widened. He repeated the wink so much that it could have been mistaken for a blink. In fact, he was so giddy that he didn't notice someone approaching.
"Professor Ikjun? The test results of patient Jiwon are out. Could you take a look at it?"
Jang Gyeoul, the third year resident of General Surgery has been standing there for a few moments, waiting for the two professors to actually notice.
While hiding his laugh, Ikjun followed suit. Jeongwon was left on the bench with an unwavering smile on his face.
Looking at him, one would think that his drink was too sweet to make him smile like that. Eavesdropping on their conversation would transform him into a humanitarian. But to delve into his thoughts --- now that, that's a different story.
It's nice to actually see an angel, once in a while. Just enough to keep me on my feet. I might be even enthralled by its eyes that don't wink but are enveloped with fascinating halo-like things. Even if this angel doesn't have wings, it has the most power to chase evil away. I wasn't sure if this angel could save me --- until it actually did.
"Yah, Ahn Jeongwon, are you sleeping here again?" Junwan said, while entering their shared office.
"O~ I just finished my night shift. I just lied down."
"I also haven't eaten yet. Let's eat breakfast."
"Will you stop bugging me if I eat?" Junwan then pulled Jeongwon out of the cot, and dragged him to the packed cafeteria to fall in line.
"One iced latte, please. Oh, and a sandwich."
With the same baggy eyes and pale skin, Gyeoul was ordering her morning coffee. Just enough to keep her awake until she gets home.
"Annyeonghaseyo~" She greeted the two professors.
"De~" Jeongwon said, while Junwan nodded in response.
CODE BLUE --- CS. 3RD FLOOR. CODE BLUE --- CS. 3RD FLOOR.
Without a beat, Junwan, a Cardiothoracic Surgery Professor, left hurriedly. Jeongwon was then left alone. Gyeoul took her order and searched for a seat.
"One warm cup of hot latte and a pancake, please."
After getting his order, Jeongwon followed through and tried to find his way in the crowd. It was full of doctors and nurses waiting to start their morning shifts, so the noise was understandable.
"Professor! Here!" Gyeoul pointed to a newly vacant seat in front of her. The morning rush got the best of them that Jeongwon didn't think twice and made his way.
The crowd was boisterous. Jeongwon and Gyeoul's silence was awkward. It was not the kind of environment you'd want after a 12-hour shift.
But it was all worth it. At least for one of them.
"How was the Emergency Room last night?" Jeongwon blurted after taking a bite of his pancake.
"It's okay. There were a lot of unpredictable cases, most of which were tiring, as usual." Gyeoul's detailed answer was so calm. It seemed that the Professor's unexpected friendliness didn't bother her.
"Do you have someone to take you home?"
"What? No. I can go by myself." With a polite tone, Gyeoul showed her surprise with the question.
"I'll give you a ride home."
"No, you don't need to---"
"I insist. I still haven't bought you the meal you asked from me, anyway. Can a ride home suffice?"
Gyeoul was bewildered. But with the professor's kind nature, it seemed like something he would do for literally anyone. He wasn't called the "Buddha" for nothing, anyway.
"It's that apartment on the right, Professor."
"Yes. Thank you for the ride."
"It's not a problem. The next time we catch ourselves on a rough patch, I can take you home again."
Gyeoul smiled. Her first that day. Then, she opened the door to get out.
"Oh, shit! I forgot!" The car stopped. Jeongwon's shock even surprised Gyeoul.
"Why, Professor? What happened?"
"I totally forgot about it. I was scheduled to get my car battery change the other week, then I forgot and was planning to do it today."
Sleeping in the cot that morning wasn't just to save time to rest up. He actually had long, overdue chores and was saving some energy to do them.
"Do you have a contact to a car battery seller?" Gyeoul asked.
"Yeah, I'll contact them now."
It was still early in the morning, around 6 o'clock. The service opened at 9 o'clock, so delivery wasn't possible after an hour or so.
Gyeoul stayed with him until things got settled. It was getting chilly, and the overwhelming fatigue got the best out of Jeongwon.
"Professor, you could rest a little in my place... if you like. You can sleep while waiting."
Jeongwon hesitated a bit, but decided to give in.
"I'll just get an extra pillow and some blankets." said Gyeoul, while Jeongwon helped in fixing the convertible sofa bed in her living room.
Once fixed, he sat and removed his shoes.
"You live alone?" he asked Gyeoul once she got back.
"Yes, for a while now." she replied as she handed him the pillow.
"I'll just be in my room. You can call me if you need anything."
"Thank you... Also, I'm sorry for being so troublesome." His shy look gave him away.
"It's nothing, don't worry." Gyeoul smiled, and went into her room.
Jeongwon lied down. He couldn't believe what was happening --- and how the situation could naturally give a wrong impression. If he told Ikjun about this, he would make fun of him and joke about how he got things to escalate so quickly. Junwan would tap him on the back and commend him for finally picking up some tricks of his. Songhwa would be very much amused, and would romanticize the whole situation. Meanwhile, Seokhyeong would remind him that he's an OB-GYN Professor, and that he delivers babies very well. He would be of service to Jeongwon if ever he needed one.
His thoughts started to tone down, and after no time, he was asleep.
"Professor? I fixed some lunch. Do you want to eat?" Gyeoul wore an apron over some loose shirt and pajamas now, and sun was already high up.
Jeongwon looked at his wrist watch.
"I'm sorry, did the service arrive? I must have been in a deep sleep."
"Yes, they arrived a few hours ago. I tried to wake you, but you were soundly asleep."
"I'm really sorry. You had to pay them, didn't you? I'll just pay you back."
"The receipts are there, over the table."
Jeongwon went to get them, and was distracted with the smell of food coming from the kitchen.
"Professor, I fixed some lunch for us, if you want to eat..."
He felt ashamed to take another offer, but hearing his stomach grumble made him look the other way, again.
Gyeoul was already fixing the table for two, while Jeongwon sat quietly and contemplated how much trouble he caused her all in a single day.
"I'm really sorry... I meant to wake up, seriously. I was just really tired from last night."
"It's okay." Gyeoul said with a chuckle. "I'm not holding anything against you, Professor." she added as she handed out his chopsticks.
"Thank you for the meal." he then said.
Everything was new to Ahn Jeongwon. He didn't need to wipe the table, or arrange the food, or even wear an apron. He didn't even need to worry if he was going to get enough food, as everything was already at his disposal. This new scenario keeps him gushing.
Being alone with a girl, in her apartment, eating her cooked food, and feeling something that only grown-ups alone in an enclosed space would feel. It wasn't like this was the first time something like this is happening, he often said to himself. It somehow eased his discomfort.
All while knowing the truth that this is in fact the first time.
But it's not like Jeongwon didn't have the opportunity and ability to; he just chose not to. His faith led him to a different path, and he was decisive to go this way. For the longest time, this weighed more than any choice he had to make in his life. But this time, something, or perhaps someone, was gonna tip the scale.
"Yah! Jang Gyeoul! What's this?" Chu Minha screamed as Gyeoul entered the GS Department, in time for another night shift.
Someone left iced latte for her. With a double bacon sandwich. And some patches to ease pain. It came with a written note, saying:
"To my Good Samaritan. Thank you~
The handwriting made Gyeoul smile.
"Why did Pediatric Surgeon Prof. Ahn Jeongwon gave you coffee? And why are you smiling?"
"Nothing. It's just to repay a good deed."
"That's the most vague yet unsuspicious answer I've ever heard! Good deeds really cannot be questioned at all. I wish someone would also give me coffee." Minha wouldn't stop, but Gyeoul wasn't listening either.
She focused on the note. And the coffee. And the sandwich.
While remembering the long day with Ahn Jeongwon.
