D-Doctor? H-He’s a doctor? Isn’t he too young to be a doctor?

Areum’s jaw dropped, looking at Jongin who was grinning. She still couldn’t wrap her mind with the sudden revelation. All this time, Areum just thought that he’s a dance teacher whose sideline is hitting on girls with his greasy pickup lines.

She raised her hand and hit his head. Jongin yelped as he touched the back of his head while staring at Areum in sheer horror.

“What was the about?” he asked, feeling wronged. “Hey kid, stop joking around. Lying is really bad. Don’t go around telling people that you’re a doctor. And how do you know Bogum? Tell me honestly,” she replied.

“Addressing him by his first name, huh? Do you know him personally?” Jongin asked and Areum bit her lip. “You don’t need to answer it if you don’t want to. And I’m not lying. I’m a doctor. He was my senior back at JL Hospital and I’d like to call him Doctor Stone because just like his nickname, he’s like a stone. He’s hard to understand.”

Bogum? Doctor Stone? Areum’s mind started to be filled by those questions. Maybe Bogum really changed during the years that they were apart. Besides, the way that he talked to her a while ago was completely different. He really sounded distanced.

“Oh? Is that you Jongin?”

The two looked to their right and saw Professor Cho, the head of the Psychiatry Department, heading towards them. “Professor Cho, long time no see,” Jongin greeted, bowing before shaking the hand of the older man. The latter patted Jongin’s back, laughing.

“I heard from your grandpa that you came back. I didn’t expect that you’d leave your position at JL Hospital just to come back here. You really grew up well. You were such a small kid when I last saw you,” Professor Cho commented and Jongin just laughed with him.

“I just missed Korea. You haven’t aged. You still look good as usual.”

He looks like a totally different person. Scary. And he’s good at flattering people. This kid really studied well. He can be a conman. Areum thought as she stared at the two catch up.

“I need to go. I have a meeting. Say hello to your grandpa,” the older man said after talking some more. Jongin politely nodded and looked at him as he took his leave.

“So…you really are a doctor?” Areum managed to ask when they started walking to the doctor’s lounge. Jongin nodded in reply quickly. “But…who is your grandpa. It looks like Professor Cho’s close with him.”

“Ah, grandpa? He’s the chairman here,” he replied casually. Areum nodded slowly. “I see. The chairman here. W-Wait. What? The chairman here? You mean Chairman Kim? The Chairman Kim? The owner of Hyoshin Hospital?” she asked, eyes wide open.

“As far as I know, he’s the chairman here so yes. He’s my grandpa,” he answered.

Areum rushed to his side, examining his head. “You’re not hurt, right? I did not hit you that hard, right? How many fingers am I holding? Your head’s just okay, righ-”

“I’m okay,” Jongin said, holding her hand which she held in front of him. “Do you see me in a new light now that you know who I truly am?” he asked and Areum nodded right away.

“How do you see me now?”

“A golden boy who’ll get my entire life ruined if I mishandle.”

Jongin grinned before a loud laughter left his mouth. Areum couldn’t help but stare at him. The sound of his laughter’s adorable. And how his eyes smile is just too cute. “If you mishandle. So does that mean that you’ll handle me well?” he asked after calming down.

“Huh?”

“Are you going to handle my heart very well?” he asked, stepping forward. Areum stepped back, eyes narrowed. She looked around and glared at Jongin.

“What the hell are you saying? Seriously, you should stop joking around. I already told you, you’re not my type,” she replied almost whispering. People might hear them and in that hospital, news travel lightning fast.

“I also already told you that I’m not joking around. I’m serious. Besides, there’s one thing that you don’t know about me,” he said.

“W-What is it?”

“I always get what I want,” he replied, winking at her.

Areum shivered. What the hell did she just hear? 

Blank.

Areum’s head is blank.

“Areum, what happened? Areum. Lee Areum. Hey,” Hyeri called out, waving her hand in front her friend’s face. Areum slowly looked at Hyeri before whining again. “Stop doing that. My customers will think that I’m treating you badly.”

The café’s already beaming with life as customers come and go. “So you’re telling me that the blond guy who you asked to marry you turned out to be the owner of Hyoshin Hospital’s grandson?”

Areum nodded lifelessly.

“Then that’s perfect for you,” Hyeri chirped.

“Perfect in what way?”

“He’s a doctor, you’re a doctor and he already has a future. You’re both successful and he looks good.”

Areum frowned at her friend’s answer. “I already told you. Younger guys-”

“Are not your type. I heard that more than a hundred times now. But Areum, I’m begging you, don’t just set the limit. Age doesn’t matter when it comes to love. You just don’t set a bracket for who you will fall for. Honestly speaking, I think you’re just afraid to love someone again. Despite asking favors of setting you up for a date, I think it’s just a façade.”

“What are you talking about? What façade?”

“Your heart’s still waiting for Bogum.”

Areum flinched at her friend’s remark. Was she waiting for him all this time? “No, I’m not. Everything about us is in the past. We broke up 9 years ago and I already moved on. Besides, he looks like a completely different person now. He’s our new director. He just came back from the U.S.”

“WHAT?”

Even Areum looked at Hyeri in shock. Her voice was too loud and Areum noticed the other people in that café looking at them. “He came back and he’s your new director?”

“Lower your voice. Yes, he is. I was more than shocked when he introduced himself as the new director. He looked so different. I guess he already has a family of his own,” Areum replied, voice getting softer and softer. Hyeri hit her head with her fork and Areum glared at her.

“See? You’re still affected by him. You moved on, my . If you really moved on, you wouldn’t look like a zombie while telling me that.”

Areum pouted, not really thinking of retorting to that. She just stared outside the window, sighing. “Hey, if you’re not going to date that younger blond doctor, Jinki made a list of his free officemates. Here, he even took their photos. Some of them know that you’re a doctor and even asked for your picture. Jinki gave them your photo. Look at it and pick someone you want to go on a date with.”

Hyeri pushed her phone and Areum reached for it. She looked at the pictures like she was some kind of casting director of an agency. “Don’t tell me you can’t find one,” Hyeri commented.

Areum stopped scrolling and stared for some seconds before smiling. She showed the picture to Hyeri and she nodded. “I thought you’d pick him and you did."

“Choi Minho, 33 years old. He’s the same age as me and he looks really good in his suit,” Areum stated.

“I’ll tell Jinki and the two of you will set the time and date. I hope everything will go well.”

“I really hope so,” Areum nodded in agreement as she gave Hyeri’s phone back. The former grabbed her glass of drink.

“Oh? Is that the blond doctor?” Hyeri suddenly asked and Areum coughed up. “Who?” she asked. Hyeri pointed at the counter and there, Areum saw Jongin concentrated on looking at the menu. He had his hands pocketed. He looked like he just ended his shift at the hospital. He was carrying a big bag on his back. Even if she stares at him for a day, he really doesn’t look like a doctor.

Why would he be there out of all the café’s around the hospital? Areum lowered her head, trying to stay hidden from his sight.

“He looks way better in person. Areum, I really don’t get why you’re not grabbing such catch right away. If I were you, I’d be all over him now,” Hyeri commented and Areum just grunted. “Look at his knife-like jawline. He looks so hot with that hair.”

Areum rolled her eyes. “Areum, how are you still alive after talking to him? He’s like a burning fire. He’s so hot,” Hyeri added.

“Excuse me, Jaejin’s mom, don’t forget that you have a husband and two kids. Stop drooling over him,” Areum whispered, hitting her friend’s hand.

“Areum, she’s looking here,” Hyeri whispered back and Areum leaned on the table, trying not to show her face. “Is he looking away now?” she asked after a while.

“No. He’s actually walking towards here.”