“Sungmin-ah, I feel like eating something good for the lunch today. Can you get me something spicy?” his mom requested her son who was busy cleaning her bed while she was sitting on the chair a little away from the bed.

“Umma, you know eating spicy food isn’t good for you.” He frowned cutely.

“My boy, how long do I have anyways? Let me be happy!” she joked. Sungmin’s face turned sad hearing that.

“How can you make fun of something so serious?” he pouted.

“Cheongminnie~ I can’t not enjoy my few days left by not eating what I want to eat. And spicy is good for cancer!” his mom childishly bawled, giving her son the taste of her long forgotten aegyo.

“But umma you have stomach problem.”

“Cheongminnie~” she gave her aegyo her best shot.

“Umma~” he hit her back with his aegyo.

“Pwease~” his mom hadn’t stopped with her childish act and Sungmin heavily sighed and finally gave up.

“Fine! Stay here and rest. I’ll go and get something healthy yet spicy for you from the restaurant nearby.” He childishly stomped his way out of his mom’s ward and was met with Doctor Choi on his way. He was pouting, deeply.

“Why are you pouting like your life depends on it, young man?” the doctor was rather amused to see the intern so cute despite wearing a grumpy expression.

Sungmin bowed ninety degree to the doctor but the frown and pout weren’t ready to leave his face.

“My lovely umma decided to become childish to get something out of me. Is it ok to let her eat spicy food despite her gastro intestinal tract being upset?” he talked his mind out to the doctor who was apparently attending to his mom’s case.

“Why? Is she bored with the food the hospital serves?” Doctor Choi chuckled.

“Well, that seems to be the case. So, can she?” he worriedly asked.

“Usually, I’d be saying no to such requests from my patients. But if she becomes happy by giving into her temptations once in a while, I can give my approval. It’s not supposed to be a good example as a health provider though.” he lightly snickered. “It’s more important for her to be happy. But, be careful with the concentration of spice in her meal. Let her enjoy her meal for once.” The doctor sadly smiled as he pat the younger’s right shoulder with his left hand.

“Now, why are you still frowning?” he added as he noticed that the previous expression on the intern’s face hadn’t faltered.

“I just got back from the pharmacy after a long and tiring day. It wasn’t even proper ten minutes of my return and she already kicked me out of her room.” He creased his eyebrows even further. The doctor couldn’t help but chuckle again.

“You are really cute.” He pinched the intern’s left chubby cheek as he smiled widely. The two were interrupted as the senior doctor’s pager’s ringtone resonated through his lab coat’s pocket. “I have a meeting. I’ll see you afterwards. Alright?” he smiled at the boy as the boy nodded his head in agreement and left to where the elevators were.

Now what should I get for umma? She’s become so unpredictable recently. He sulked more as the thought crossed his mind.

………………………………………………………………….

“Doctor Kyuhyun, the chief pharmacist has called for you.” the messenger boy came running to the pharmacist who was sipping onto his Americano as he was preparing an Internal Purchase Request.

“Now?” he hoisted his right eyebrow and questioned the messenger boy.

“He said it’s urgent.”

“Okay. You can go.” Kyuhyun said as he got off his office chair —new chair— and dumped his half filled coffee cup into the bin.

If there was anyone Kyuhyun genuinely respected, it was the chief pharmacist. The chief pharmacist was the only one who could scold, teach, taunt and laugh at Kyuhyun without making the latter angry in a bad way. He was the now-successful pharmacist’s old mentor. However, one lesson was never learnt by Kyuhyun that his mentor had tried teaching him for years now; patience.

Oh! Anger management too…

“Can I enter, Doctor Lee?” Kyuhyun knocked on the door and entered the room after getting a, “Yes.” as an answer from inside.

“I have been waiting for you.” the senior-most pharmacist smiled at Kyuhyun and got the spectacles off his nose. The latter just bowed slightly as a gesture of apology. “Take a seat.”

After Kyuhyun settled on one of the single couch, the senior doctor decided to talk.

“I’ve been receiving some reports concerning you recently. Mind to talk about it?” he gently inquired. Kyuhyun frowned.

“This is the very first time something against you has been reported. I was asked to keep the names of the complainers anonymous so I won’t disclose them. But I’m very astonished by what has reached my ears.” he continued as Kyuhyun didn’t say anything. The younger one was getting the whiff of the whole meeting now. He was; after all; a smart and capable pharmacist.

“And what is even more astonishing is that it all started after you got an intern under your supervision this month.” Doctor Lee added. He then got off his own chair and rounded his table, finally going to another single couch adjacent to the one Kyuhyun was on, and took a seat across the younger pharmacist.

“Do you not want to mentor the interns anymore?” he inquired further. However, Kyuhyun was still mute. He was getting frustrated thinking about the possibility of people who might have complained against him.

“Or do you want me to change your intern to someone else?” this question; however, got the immediate reaction from the younger pharmacist. He abruptly spun his head towards the chief pharmacist and responded with a quick “No!”

“I mean, it’s nothing. I can handle.” He added slowly.

“I was reported about the damage you made in your cabin two weeks back. Care to explain?” he softly asked as he rested his left hand on the younger’s right thigh. “Kyuhyun-ah, you know I’m there for you.” He softly whispered. He was, what Kyuhyun considered; as a father to him.

“It’s just something personal.” Kyuhyun groaned.

“But that personal matter is starting to affect those around you, Kyuhyun-ah.” Kyuhyun stayed silent as he stared at his lap. He could defy everyone else, but not the man in front of him. That was the amount of respect he had for the other.

“I can change the current intern with someone else, if you want that is.”

“No. I want to train this intern.” Kyuhyun finally looked up. His eyes were flickering with determination. “In fact, I would like to extend the training period to two