Proximity

 

 

 

-‘๑’-

1.   Public: from 12-25 ft

 

 

 

I was a medical student on her OJT at the hospital which is owned by our school. Ever since I was a child, all I ever wanted is to be a nurse like my mother. And just a few years to go, I know and I can feel that dream will be mine. It's been two weeks since I started my OJT. I noticed that some patients I handled came from our school, since all the students of our school are insured in this hospital, they get their checkups for free providing that they show their respective identification card to the cashier.

 

 

“Jessica!” 

 

 

My friend Choi Sooyoung greeted me. She's also like me, a future nurse. She's wearing the same white uniform I have on me and holding some papers to write the patients profile since both of us acts as the assistant of Doctor Kim Hyoyeon. 

 

 

There are really a lot of doctors here in the hospital but Dr Kim Hyoyeon and Dr. Hwang Tiffany are the most approachable because they are new doctors. I bet they are new graduates because they are still young. 

 

 

 

“Hi Soo, where's Taeyeon?” I asked

 

 

“Uhm, she said she can't make it today... She has a lot of paper works on school and it's her examination day tomorrow.” she said

 

 

“Oh, poor Taengoo... I'm going to get her some green tea bags later. She must be really stressed out right now.” I said

 

 

“Jessica, Sooyoung?” Dr.Kim Hyoyeon called us

 

 

 

 

“I'll be out for a while, alright? I have an operation until five. Dr.Bae will replace me for a while.” she said to us

 

 

 

“Okay Dr.Kim, Good luck!” Sooyoung said while I smiled to the doctor and made “Fighting sign”

 

 

 

 

“Thanks, take your break now.” Dr.Kim bid goodbye and left the room.

 

 

 

 

“Sunny's already in the cafeteria. Let's go?” Sooyoung asked me

 

 

 

“Sure.”

 

 

 

 

Taeyeon, Sooyoung, Sunny and I are best friends. We've been friends since freshman since all of us came from the province and do not know anyone in the city; we decided to live in the dormitory together. 

 

 

 

 

Sooyoung and I made our way towards the cafeteria. On our way to cafeteria, I saw Dr. Hwang chatting with someone on the hall way. Taeyeon and Sunny works as the assistant of Dr.Hwang. She smiled at me and Sooyoung to greet us and the tall tanned girl she was chatting with faced our direction too. 

 

 

 

She is enchantingly beautiful. Her soft bangs brown hair compliments her skin tone. I feel like my heart started to beat faster when she smiled towards us for a while but to my dismay that didn't last long because she continued to talk with Dr.Hwang.

 

 

 

 

“Sica, Are you alright?” Sooyoung worriedly asked me

 

 

 

“O-Oh, yes. Why did you asked?” I said

 

 

 

“You seem to spaced out and not to move for a minute there.” she said as she smiled

 

 

“R-Right, let's go to Sunny.” I said to her and we continued to walk towards the cafeteria

 

-‘๑’-

 

“Hey Sunny!” Sooyoung greeted Sunny

 

 

“Hello Soo, Hi Sica!” Sunny stood up and greeted us

 

“Have you been waiting for too long?” Sooyoung asked

 

 

“Uhm, quite so.” she answered honestly

 

 

“Sorry babe, the patients line are quite long today so we have to finish them all a while ago.” Sooyoung apologetically said

 

 

“It's okay Soyoungie...I understand. Besides I'm not bored at all, I've been playing some games on my phone while waiting for you guys.” Sunny assured

 

 

“Thank you Sunshine!” Sooyoung smiled sweetly to Sunny

 

 

“Anytime babe.” Sunny replied

 

 

 

I cleared my throat for them to remember my presence

 

 

 

“Seriously, why don't you two just date?” I said as I sat on the chair in front of the two

 

 

 

 

They both coughed violently and remained silent. I broke the silence because I'm hungry. I stole Sooyoung's lunch box.

 

 

“Yah, Jung. That's mine!” Sooyoung complained and took the lunch box away from me

 

 

“Gosh you selfish shikshin!” I hissed

 

 

“Nobody steals my food away from me!” she said

 

 

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” I said

 

 

“What time did Dr.Hwang dismissed you?” Sooyoung asked Sunny

 

 

“Well, she dismissed us a bit early. Her younger cousin visited her.” Sunny replied

 

 

Cousin? Is that the girl Dr.Hwang's chatting with a while ago?

 

 

“W-Who was i-it? The c-cousin I-I mean...” I uttered some nonsense words

 

 

“What's the matter with you Sica? Why are you stammering?” Sunny asked

 

 

“O-Oh, nothing...just forget what I asked” I said as I continued to eat my own packed lunch

 

 

“Sunny, do you want some chicken?” Sooyoung offered her lunch to Sunny

 

 

“Yah, Sooyoung. You didn't give me food but you give Sunny!” I scolded her

 

 

“Dr.Hwang's looking for Taeyeon a while ago... Too bad, she's not around.” Sunny said

 

 

“Yes, I'll help her with her reports later.” Sooyoung said

 

 

“Sooyoungie, such a good girl!” Sunny pinched her cheeks

 

 

“Aaaaa, seriously guys! Just date and get a room. Please, have mercy on me and no PDAs!” I said

 

 

 

The two choked on their food and remained silent again

 

 

 

 

I wonder who that girl...is I hope to see her again soon. But this time, closer...closer than 12 ft away from me.

 

-‘๑’-

2.   Social: 4-12 ft

 

 

3 days had passed after that day... I couldn’t help but to think about that girl. I don't know her but something in me wants to know her. I almost want to ask Dr.Hwang about that girl but I do not want to invade Miss Hwang's personal life so I prevent myself for doing so and just hoped that I'll see her again soon. 

 

 

Since Taeyeon was still not around, and Dr.Kim is not around as well. Dr.Hwang asked me and Sooyoung to help her for today.

 

 

“Taeyeon seems to be a bit busy on school?” Dr.Hwang asked 

 

 

“Yes, she's having both her thesis and OJT at the same time.” I said

 

 

“Well, tell her I missed her already in the hospital!” Dr.Hwang said

 

 

“Okay, we'll do” I answered

 

 

 

I know that Dr.Hwang and Taeyeon are quite close. They get along so well that Dr.Hwang treat Taeyeon like a close friend instead of a trainee. No wonder she missed Taeyeon very much. I also know that Taeyeon has a huge crush on the doctor, but as a friend who respects Taeyeon, I didn't say any word to Dr.Hwang about it.

 

 

 

Since Sooyoung was helping a patient in the OR and Sunny was assisting a senior citizen on the wheelchair towards the elevator, I was the one left in charge on getting the patient's profile. There were not so much patients today so the job was easy. I took the last patient's profile and was about to enter Dr.Hwang's room until somebody called my attention.

 

 

“Miss?” 

 

 

I turned around to look at the one who called me... It was that girl. My gosh she's 4 ft away from me. She looks really stunning!

 

 

“Is Dr.Hwang still in?” she asked me

 

 

“Y-Yes...she's inside.” I said

 

 

“Can I still line up as a patient?” she smiled at me, my heart had that familiar irregular beating pattern. I cannot believe I'm talking with her right now. Thank you Lord in the good heavens!

 

 

“O-Of course...” I answered

 

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

 

“W-What is your name?” I asked

 

 

“Huh?” she asked back

 

 

“P-Patient's profile...” I said nervously

 

 

“Oh, I am Kwon Yuri.” she answered

 

 

 

Kwon Yuri...What a beautiful name!

 

 

 

“W-What do you w-want to consult Dr.Hwang?” I asked

 

 

“My arms and shoulders hurts a bit. I am a member of the school swimming team so I tend to use those quite often” Yuri said

 

 

 

“O-Okay, I-I'll send this in to Dr.Hwang” I said

 

 

 

“Thanks Jessica!” she said

 

 

 

“H-How did you k-know?” I asked

 

 

“Your name plate says it.” she pointed at my name plate

 

 

 

“O-Oh, right” I said embarrass

 

 

 

4 ft away from her and I finally talked to her as a nurse and patient talk to each other. I wish I can asked her more about herself...you know, real conversation.

 

 

 

 

-‘๑’-

3.   Personal: 2.5 to 4 ft.

 

 

After a week, I went to school to take some examination. I still can't forget about my first encounter with Yuri that day. I actually took and copied her number on her profile but knowing taking personal information from patients are forbidden, I didn't text her and just stared at her number for a week. I want to see her again.

 

 

I sighed on my seat and continued to answer my test. After my exam was done, I saw Sooyoung, Taeyeon , Sunny with Yoona and Seohyun waiting for me outside my room.

 

 

Yoona and Seohyun are 2nd year International Studies students. Our courses our so different from each other but we managed to be friends with them. They treated us as their lovely seniors. This two are never separated from each other. They are best of friends

 

 

“Hello Unnie!” Seohyun greeted me

 

 

“Hello, what brings you guys here?” I asked

 

 

“Do you want to watch the swimming competition on the gym area unnie?” Yoona asked

 

 

“Swimming?” I asked

 

 

“Yes, Sooyoung, Sunny and I will come too.” Taeyeon said as she smiled at me

 

 

“Okay.” 

 

 

-‘๑’-

We went to the gym and watched the swimming competition. We were sat somewhere near the front so we can see everything. Swimming... All I can remember in swimming is Kwon Yuri. Where can I find her? I sighed on my seat as I looked at Sooyoung who was munching her chips and sharing it with Sunny until someone called my attention.

 

 

 

“Sica, you've been sighing a lot lately.”  Taeyeon said as she look at me and looked back on her phone

 

 

“Oh, don't mind me. Who are you texting anyway? Someone special isn’t it?” I asked her 

 

 

“H-How did you know?” she asked

 

 

“You've been smiling like an idiot there for few minutes.” I said

 

 

“Oh, am I?” she scratched her head

 

 

“Is that Dr.Hwang?” I smirked

 

 

“O-Oh, why... How did you...” I cut her talk

 

 

“She said she missed you when you didn't appeared in the hospital for few days, I bet you guys will be catching up afterwards.” I

 

 

“Well, I hope so...” she sighed

 

 

“Why sighing there too Taeng?” I chuckled

 

 

“Dr.Hwang and I...We're impossible, right?” Taeyeon said sadly

 

 

“Nothing's impossible...” I said “Cheer up and let's watch! The competition is almost starting!” I cheered her up

 

 

My mouth turned into agape when I saw the swimmer who entered the pool, it was her...Kwon Yuri.

 

 

“On your mark, get's set go!” the referee signaled he start of the game

 

 

 

I saw Yuri dove in and swim fast... 

 

 

 

The people started to cheer for their respective bets, the guy seem to attract a lot of cheer so I did something for Yuri.

 

 

“Go Yuri!!!” I stood up and cheered for her at the top of my lungs

 

 

“Whoa, Jessica...You're such a fan of Yuri. I do not know that you knew her.” Yoona said