Chapter III: Jiyong & Dara

Jiyong's Office:

Her heart was pounding so hard she swore she could hear it. There, sitting in the big leather chair right in front of her, was a man that looked eerily similar to Mino.

It was like seeing a ghost. Almost the same face, same eyes, same hair color, same skin tone. If she didn't know any better, she would say that Jiyong and Mino could have been brothers. He was sitting at his desk clicking something on his computer.

He heard her gasp and turned to look at her. He had almost the same reaction as her. The first thing that stood out were her eyes. They're the exact same shape & shade as Hayi. He slowly got up from his chair and made his way toward her.

She watched him come closer to her. She couldn't breathe. She needed to snap out of it.

‘This man is not Mino! Mino died and he's never coming back. This man is not Mino!’ She chanted to herself. She quickly recovered from her mental battle when she noticed that Jiyong was now standing right in front of her and staring at her just as much as she was staring at him. It was like he was trying to recognize her as well.

They studied each other for about ten long seconds before Jiyong finally decided to speak up. It got awkward quickly and there was so much tension in the air.

"You must be Dr. Park. I'm Kwon Jiyong." He said as he continued to study her face. She fidgeted a bit before speaking up as well.

"Yes I'm Sandara Park." She confirmed.

"Nice to meet you." She added as she shifted a bit. The stilettos were starting to get to her or maybe it was just his presence.

‘Not Mino, but he's just so similar…focus here…don't freak.’ She thought to herself as she tried to find her center.

"Let's get started then." He suggested as he walked back over to his desk. He motioned for her to sit down and reached for a file.

Dara took a look around his office to distract her mind for a bit. It was huge, like everything else in the hospital. Two sides of the office were made up thick floor to ceiling glass, giving you a spectacular view of the city. There was a bookshelf that lined most of the third wall. On closer inspection, you could see that it was filled with encyclopedias, medical dictionaries, binders and binders of hospital codes and laws as well as some books on hospital ethics and business. There was another door next to the library that appeared to hold a private bathroom behind it. There was also a rather comfortable looking couch next to the double door. A few potted trees stood next to each door.

His desk was another thing. It was entirely black and had a sort of curved build. On it, were his computer, fax machine, intercom, telephone and a few picture frames that Dara couldn't see because they were facing the other way.

While he was shuffling through the file, Dara took the opportunity to study his face again. Now that she wasn't so flustered, she noticed that although the resemblance was great, there were some things that were unique about Jiyong. For one thing, his hair stood up in the back; she had to stifle a laugh at this. He had a strong build by the looks of it. Not too muscular but not thin either. He was at least a head taller than her and had an air of importance around him that was a mix of strength, business, and oddly enough, a bit of protectiveness. He didn't look like the type to smile either. He looked like a smirker; the arrogant smiler as Dara liked to put it. He stopped shuffling through the file and turned to face her.

"From what I've read in your file, you'd be quite a benefit to our hospital," he began. "Your record is impressive and your references speak for themselves. Dr. Goo Hyesun is an automatic acceptance to me. I hear she only takes the best of the best under her wing. What I'm curious about is how you managed to pull off skipping almost four years of med school." He stated as he leaned his body forward and lacing his fingers together. He maintained eye contact with her the entire time he spoke to her. Those hazelnut eyes were just so alluring.

Dara leaned back, as if her personal space was being invaded even though Jiyong was at least three feet away. His eyes, as she just now noticed, were completely dark brown. They were mysterious and calculating as if they were passing judgment on her.

’Definitely not like Mino.’ She thought as she sat up straighter and began to explain.

"After high school I immediately enrolled in University studying under medicine of course. At the same time, I proceeded to enroll at the Busan institute of diagnostic research and development. Believe me when I say it wasn't easy, but I persevered." She saidd while he just nodded indicating that he was following along.

"I graduated two and half years later and got my degree in biological sciences. After I graduated I got married. I still had one year left at the Busan Institute, when I found out I was expecting a child. So I finished my course, got my degree in Medicine and then I had my so." She finished.

Jiyong looked impressed, and he would never have thought she was a parent on top of it all. He smirked.

‘Somehow I knew he was a smirker.’ She thought to herself.

"That's quite an accomplishment to achieve at such an age. Your specialty is in OB/GYN and pediatrics. What made you choose those professions? From what I know, you've worked on several subjects. Why these two?" He asked with special interest as he went through her files again.

Dara was quiet for a while. That question really did strike a soft spot in her and she knew exactly what she would tell him.

"I've studied everything I could in school, but nothing motivated me more than Obstetrics. My mother died while giving birth to me. Her body couldn't handle the stress. So I dedicated my life to helping every expectant mom that I could. I know how hard it is to grow up without a mom. I just want to prevent that from happening to others. No child should be without a mother, and after I had my son I also took an interest in pediatrics." She answered.

Now it was Jiyong who was quiet. Although he never loved Taeyeon, he wished that there were something that could have been done to save her. Because of that, Hayi had to be raised without her, and Jiyong could only do so much himself. He looked up at the new doctor. Her eyes were somewhat downcast but as she looked up, Jiyong looked from her to the picture that was right in front of him of Hayi as a baby. He couldn't help but think that their eyes are exactly the same. Her answer seemed to be all that Jiyong needed to hear.

"…You're right. No child should ever be without a mother." He agreed.

"And if you're the miracle worker that this file says you are then welcome to Seoul Medical." He saidd as he stood up and extended his hand to her.

"Thank you. I look forward to working here." She returned as she took his hand. His hand made hers look small and weak. It practically swallowed her palm. His handshake was firm but gentle.

Jiyong couldn't help but take note of the softness of her hands as they broke the contact. He sat back down and thought about her references: Dr. Goo Hyesun as well as Youngbae and Jieun Dong.

"So you're acquainted with a few of our surgeons here; Youngbae and Jieun Dong to be exact. How exactly do you know them?"

"IU. I mean Jieun, and I went to high school and university together." She replied.

"She and I were roommates. We kept in touch over the years and I would visit Youngbae and IU occasionally. They're my son's godparents after all."

"You mentioned that you have a son. How old is he?"

"His name is Hanbin and he just turned five last month. Today is his first day at Seoul Daycare Center." She stated, smiling as she remembered the light of her life and the accident-free morning they had.

"My daughter Hayi attends that school as well. She'll be five this coming October." He said as he tried to stop the smile that was making its presence known. As far as they were concerned, the meeting was over. Yet somehow he found himself just… talking to her.

"Oh so you have a daughter? I'll bet she looks just like you." She stated confidently.

Jiyong smirked, "What makes you say that?"

It was true that Hayi did look like him, but there must have been a reason why Dara was so sure.

"I am Obstetrician, and genetics was one of my favorite subjects. You have very defined and dominant traits that have a high probability of being passed on to your children. So let me guess, Hayi has dark brown hair, your nose your lips and maybe even your eyes right?" She asked as she studied his face some more.

"Close." Jiyong answered as he reached back toward his desk to take one of the picture frames out. He brought it back to Dara and showed her. Dara took the picture and smiled.

"Ohhhhh she's precious and she really does look li