minho knocked the door and waited until he got the permission

" come in "

he took a deep breath and went into his father's office room , walking forward and stopped opposite to the wooden desk

" apoji , i'm here " minho bowed

his father continued with reading the online medical article displayed on the laptop screen

minho was still in bow when he spoke again " i came here to inform you that i got my cardiothoracic residency "

his father attention shifted from the laptop and to minho
" did you think i wouldn't be able to stop it if i wanted to ? do you think i'm spineless in this field ! "

minho's father stood up and walked toward minho who was still in bow , he snapped " i myself allowed that to happen ! i wouldn't wish people to say that choi minho didn't get the residency he chose , for others to think that you're a helpless brat "

he continued " but you will have to shift that residency on your own behave too , you can't be but a neurosurgeon "

minho rose his head with a challenging eyes " i will not shift departments , i chose the cardiothoracic "

" lower your eyes , you're shaming the whole choi family !!
what we had built for decades , who would handle everything when my time comes to rest , who do you think i did all that for "

" it was for your own self apoji , no one chose for you and i too want to choose for myself , the things you're offering i don't want them "

the father clenched on his teeth and rose his hand in the air for a slap

" minho's appa , stop it " his mother intruded the office abruptly

she went and embraced her arms around minho protectively " our minho would never shame us , he will think about it all over again , right minho ? "

minho stiffened between her hands as he pressed his lips tightly shut , subtly protesting

his father frowned and snapped warning " look at this arrogant ungrateful little .. "

his mother embraced minho tighter " minho~yah please , you promised .. "

although minho promised for no more than a talk with his father which he already fulfilled , he wanted to end the drama for the time being anyway

minho had his fists clenched as he answered them " i will .. think about it again "

-------------------------------
few days later ~2:00 a.m ~ ER ~ seohyun pov

" that will do for tonight , but please could you pass by the clinic tomorrow morning , you'll get a definite resolve for your condition " i smiled kindly for the female patient accompanied by her boyfriend ...

" thank you Dr " she said forcing a smile

her boyfriend her cheek with his hand dearly , his eyes almost in tears " are you okay babe , i don't think i can live without you "

she smiled at him with weary eyes " don't worry i'm fine now "

a hug and a kiss then they left the ER in a heart warming settings ; the female leaning on her boyfriend shoulder , while the later had his arm secured around her waist in both physical and mental support

and that was the ER 2:15 a.m little happy ending ~

it was getting a little plain after the lovely couple who showed affection - extra affection- left , although it triggered most of the medical staff annoyance with their 'what the hell' gazes but they managed to send off the love birds with a smile

it wasn't out of their jealousy and they weren't all emotionally dead- yet , but almost all of them couldn't comprehend the true value of love , they couldn't be any romantic especially when they should have been sleeping soundly as any other species around Seoul

in contrary , i enjoyed the scene ; having a caring boyfriend who would look after you past midnight and rush you to the emergency room just because your 'heart aches' , which turns out to be due to the severe trauma of him ignoring your calls for a whole two hours because he was busy with work ?!

" Dr.Seo , that was a splendid job there " heechul the ER resident mocked

" thank you , i wouldn't have succeeded without your wisdom guidance " i replied in the same fake tone for him

all what i did was an ECG which turned out completely healthy , then by digging further into the couple personal life until the word 'quarrel' was exposed and the mystery was solved

and while Dr.heechul was capable of doing the simple job and much more ; he had his hands busy doing nothing so it was easier for him to call a resident from the cardiothoracic surgery to take care of emotionally stressed patient only because -heart - was involved in her documented complain

i left the ER and took the elevator to my department floor , my hand massaging my own stiff shoulder when i walked across the almost deserted hallway , by the night the hospital gets plain and cold with few staff hovering which by single look at them you could tell how they gave up on their bodies' circadian rhythm and social life

it was depressing kind of environment that i would question myself everyday why i had to be here out of all places in the world

the tricky case from earlier was a refreshment for my cold romance cells which had been dormant for years now
having no time for dramas and novels , and worse having no idea how the young are living their lives nowadays beyond these walls , i was clueless wether they still do dating and the little cute activities ; going to karaokes , have movie dates and text good night sweet letters

it would be nice to have the time and energy to do those too , but being an old hag at heart was probably much worse than growing gray hair and walking with a stake

i arrived the residents room , kicked my crocus off and laid down on the lower bed beneath nana's

i tried to close my eyes and relax however it felt as if i'm not supposed to relax yet or ever

it was hard to sleep deeply when i was subconsciously expecting anything to happen any moment and get called ..

i closed my eyes hearing my stomach growls because i was too tired to grab a ramen .. i always had to pick between satisfying my stomach and sleep and the later would always always win

i wish .. if i could go .. home

~ ~ ~
one hour later - 3:30 a.m

the phone rang next to my pillow , and when i opened my eyes it was still pitch black night

i quickly realized it was an emergency , because a surgeon's phone ringing near dawn meant two things : something awful happened and they need to get off and move

" Dr.seo , it's me jimin , Dongwook is missing "

" i'll be there ! " i hopped from the bed as my feet automatically slid into my crocus

" should i inform Dr.jung too ? " jimin asked worried

" anyia , let's look for him first maybe we could find him "

" okay "

we ended the call and met at the department ward , indeed Dongwook's bed was empty while the other patients were sleeping soundly

" sorry jimin , but could you look for him at the lobby while i take a look in the department , it might take time for him to guess the way around so maybe he could still be here somewhere "

" okay , please be cautious Dr.Seo "

" you too "

jimin looked worried as she ran to the elevator , no wonder since the patient had a lot of rumors going about him , even the other patients voiced their concern about sharing the same ward as him

yet there was nothing to prove , he had no criminal file and his identity wasn't checked yet .

i looked throughout the department floor , in storage rooms , wards and restrooms but he wasn't found there

instead i found minho laying on some abandoned bed at the old section of the department

" minho , what are you doing here ? "

he rose from laying down to grin at me " well , my own space ! and what are you doing anyway ? "

" i'm busy now , later " i waved him a bye and continued with my search

when dongwook was no where around the department , i took the emergency staircase to the lower floor - that's when i heard a spotless cough !

i stopped my run and listened attentively to the sound

and another strained cough helped me to locate the person two floors away , i went upstairs and found dongwook laying against the wall

" dongwook - ssi , are you alright ??? " i reached out for him , he was coughing onto his fist

" i'm .. fine , but stay away , don't touch "

for the first impression i raised my guard until i realized his words weren't out of hostility but self consciousness
" it's okay , wait here please "

i hurried to bring a wheel chair then went back to him , helped him to the chair and informed jimin that i found dongwook , then wheeled him to his bed

we arrived his ward and jimin helped him to get into his bed , she secured his oxygen mask while i checked his vitals , auscultating his chest and heart , thankfully his condition didn't deteriorate much further than how it already was

" do you feel any better dongwook-ssi ? "

he removed the mask " much , i'm sorry for troubling you "

on a scale of kind to Dr.jung , dongwook was an angel

" don't worry about it dongwook-ssi , but if you need to go anywhere please ask me and i'll accompany you " i said , although i believed he was trying to runaway instead

i grabbed a chair from the corner of the ward , placing the chair next to his bed and sat down

jimin read the air and excused herself " i'll go now Dr.seo "

" thank you " i smiled at her with grace , right before i remember THAT issue and so i lost my fake grace and hopped from the seat whispering to her " please don't tell Dr.jung or i'll be done for "

she chuckled " ok , don't worry"

i got my nerves calmed down again and sat down , regaining my fake grace with a smile to dongwook and explained " i was just asking her to keep a secret "

he nodded " yeah "

he didn't seem like a criminal , he looked as normal as any young adult having troubles with the world , probably if he opened up more we could help him much further than now

" dongwook-ssi , you don't like being here ? or do you have somewhere you need to go "

his expression flattened " wether here or outside , it doesn't matter much "

" i'm a little hurt you know " i acted in pain , " dongwook-ssi , if you stay here for a little longer maybe we could become friends , i might not look like it but i'm good at running errands and listening "

he was drowning into his depression shell more as he murmured " everyone dies but why i'm still alive when i'm this weak "

" you're not weak , you're just sick for now and once you get better i'm sure you could runaway easily " i said while he started coughing and raising from the bed so i went and elevated the bed headrest for him

i continued with encouraging smile " next time you could be in japan by the time i lazily get out of bed and look for you , fighting !! "

he smiled bitterly " you remind me of her much , jihee "

so he got contacts after all , good we could ask them to help him

i asked cautiously " she didn't visit you here yet , did she ? "

" she's dead " he answered casually and met my shocked gaze with a smirk " i killed her ."

~ ~

it was 4:30 a.m when i returned back to my bed , took off my crocus and laid down once again , placing my phone next to the pillow and hoping nothing will happen for the next few hours, and hoping for all what had happened to be only a nightmare
--------------------------------

next day ~

university hospital 8:00 p.m - emergency room

'yonghwa examining the patient'

seohyun : " Dr. jung , are you going home yet ? "

yonghwa : " No "

10:00 p.m - yonghwa at his office

seohyun : " Dr. jung , are you going home yet ? "

" No "

12 :00 a.m , yonghwa passing by in the corridor

" Dr. jung , are you .. "

" NO "

1:30 a.m , yonghwa left the operation room and tossed his used gown in the basket

" Dr. jung , are you going home ? "

" what time is it now ? "

" 1:30 a.m , so are you going home ? "

" No "

almost a week passed since the marriage but apparently it was impossible to go home , Dr.jung loved being at the hospital for days in raw and i wasn't going to step a foot in there without his company ..
i went through a lot last time dealing with his cave evil spirits , i wouldn't wish to do it alone once again

i bought a cola and went to visit minho's corner to check on him for tonight , he was sitting on his bed reading a textbook

" minho~yah " i placed the drink on the book obscuring the page he was reading and sat on the bed next to him

he accepted the drink and closed the book " gomawo "

" why are you here ? there's a vacant bed in the residents room you know "

though a ty room , he shouldn't slack off and live the real misery like us

he showed dislike " i wouldn't feel comfortable sleeping with a woman around .. there's nana and all "

i gave half a nod in understanding when i froze looking at him " what do you mean ! only her ?? "

he dropped his gaze, troubled to answer " ah well she's the only woman i could think of .. "

i grabbed tightly onto the collar of his coat " YOU ERT !! "

" what have i done ? " he murmured in disbelief

talking about good timing - additional passerby stopped walking to witness the loud party , Dr.minhyuk the anesthesiologist !

i grinned at Dr.minhyuk and lessened the impact of my earlier troublesome words " the way you talked i mean .. oh what's up Dr.minhyuk ? "

minho slid my hands away off his collar and invited Dr.minhyuk casually " please have a seat "

the cutie refused with an eye smile " i doubt the poor bed could take a third party "

i interjected " eeh Dr.minhyuk , i would give up my spot for you "

he chuckled " next time , now i have something to discuss with Dr.jung for the morning operation "

did he say Dr.jung !!! .. what to do now ! it's minho who got to be called a ert , if he heard about this i'm safe anyway

" minho don't forget about the meeting tomorrow " he reminded , " and see you later seohyun~ah "

my eyes followed Dr.minhyuk as he walked away " you are assisting Dr.jung tomorrow ? "

" yeah , as a 2nd assistant " minho replied

i couldn't help my jealousy but tried my best tone it down
" hmmm , but it's still a major operation .. i think you're getting his favor - Dr.jung i mean "

minho clicked his drink open " wether he likes them or not , Dr.jung just picks the ones who would make his job easier "

" yaaah ! what do you mean ! are you saying i'm less of a surgeon than you are "

he smiled kindly " be patient , i think you'll definitely have your chance " , he continued " and mess it up - the usual "

" that's .. i can't deny " i approved with a chuckle .

" thanks to me ; you are a ert to Dr.jung now " i teased minho with a shrug

" i can live with it ! anyway , seohyun why don't you go home for tonight ? you aren't on call "

i wish !!!

i returned the question to him
" what about you , lately you don't go home that much either "

minho sighed and rested his back against the wall properly
" i don't like how i'm nothing but my family's shadow there , i prefer being here as just minho "

i reached for my juice and sipped the flavor quietly

minho continued with a lower tone " i had a talk with my father and he asked me to shift departments "

" what !! " i chewed on my lips worriedly . " are you going to leave ? "

he turned his head to look at me properly " of course i'm not going to , it's my choice to be here .. "

he looked forward again as he continued " i respect them and thankful for what they did for me but my life and my choices are my own "

his family were right to be worried , i had met with his mother a few times , and she was really nice .. so i really believed that minho would follow his family career after how much hype they prepared for him

i wanted to be with minho , he was my only college friend who went through the bad and the good with me , i was even more confident with him around sharing the same department , but i can't be selfish and i shouldn't pull him down ..

" but minho ~ i think you should consider your family proposal after all "

he was shocked and disappointed by my words

" i don't think they're trying to control you or whatever ; if you were to love someone wouldn't you follow their path eventually ? like doing same things to understand each other better "

he scoffed " how would i know ! i'm here with you all the time "

i giggled " ah right , my bad ! you've got no life too "

his eyes reflected how he had his own reason , i waited for him to voice it but he never did .

the way he always said he didn't care about whatever speciality he get made me believe he chose cardio thoracic for one reason ; to be the antagonist of what his family specialized

i continued " it's up to you anyway , i know you would be successful anywhere "

he gave a halfhearted nod and i continued lecturing " and you're not 'just' a minho here , don't say it however you want to "

he side glanced me with fake affection " then what i am to you ? "

" dunno , 'some' minho maybe " i replied with uninterested tone

" you little .. " he pulled my pony tail and i huffed at him as i reached for my vibrating phone in my coat pocket

" woah , it's Dr.jung " i panicked as i checked the caller , " that was fast , do you think he wants to confirm that you are a ert ! "

minho showed no interest and reached for his book again , got the right page to resume his readings , while i answered the call

" yes , Dr.jung "

if i ever knew he would react that much toward gossips - sorry minho -

" i'm going home tonight " Dr.jung said the mere words which sent me to cloud nine

" why did you keep the good news until the end " i teased happily and he responded with a terrific silence which probably endangered the call life span

so i quickly managed to say " i'll come too ! wait for me "

" why do i have to ? " he asked with a flat tone

i hopped from the bed and gestured for minho that i'm going , he gave his nod

" because it's already this late and you said nothing about it for the whole day " i answered , the plan was to waste time until i get to the residents room for my bag

" i'm leaving the department now " he informed and cut the call so abruptly that i had to re-check on the phone touch screen to make sure it's not a phone malfunctioning disconnection but his way to end a call

anyway the plan failed so i had to run through the floor to do the task and then toward his office which was just around the corner and luckily i caught up with Dr.jung calling the elevator

------------------------------

2:15 a.m yonghwa's villa

" finally , home sweet home ~ " seohyun sang the line