Putting his hand on his chest, Jongin continued staring at the ceiling as he lied on his mattress wide awake. He couldn’t shake the feeling of jealousy when he saw Areum being carried by Bogum. Sure, he told Bogum that they should make it fair but Jongin always knew that Bogum has actually some leading points.

Areum and Bogum had a relationship 9 years ago and despite those long years, Jongin could tell that they still have that connection. He could tell it by how Bogum looks at her and how Areum would turn awkward when Bogum’s around.

It’s a tough race. He’s competing with a strong one.

“Jeon Wonwoo, why do you like Doctor Lee?” he suddenly asked and Wonwoo looked at him, dropping the book that he’s reading in the process. The two of them were housed in one room and Wonwoo’s just sitting on his own mattress, minding his own business.

“Well…I guess because she’s charming,” Wonwoo replied softly, assessing the situation. He actually sensed that something’s off with Jongin after Areum and Bogum came back to the site from their visit to the nearby village.

“Charming. What else?”

“She’s pretty.”

Jongin nodded blankly. “And?”

Wonwoo stared at Jongin for some time. There’s really something wrong with him – that’s the conclusion that he came out with.

“I don’t know. Why are you asking?” Wonwoo asked. He’s feeling a little jittery since Jongin looked so depressed. He might do something to him.

“Jeon Wonwoo,” Jongin sighed before slowly turning to the other doctor. Wonwoo flinched. He couldn’t figure out what’s going on inside Jongin’s mind. “I like you.”

“Huh?”

Wonwoo was staring at Jongin with eyes wide opened. His mind’s as blank as a white paper. What should he do when he’s in a room with a guy who just confessed that he likes him? He never encountered such situation before so he couldn’t think of what he should do. He just moved a little and pulled his blanket close to his chest.

“M-Me?” Wonwoo asked meekly.

Jongin narrowed his eyes. “Stop imagining things you stupid. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m telling you that I like you as a friend.”

Wonwoo sighed in relief before smiling like a fool. “Thank goodness. I just lost 10 years of my life,” he muttered while holding his chest.

“I don’t like Doctor Lee. I think I already love her.”

That was just a straight-up confession and Wonwoo froze. Jongin has his unique way of getting people tongue-tied. Wonwoo’s just blinking there with a ‘why the hell are you telling that to me?’ kind of expression on his face.

“Have you ever thought of how it would be to marry her? How it would feel to start your own family with her?” Jongin blankly asked. Wonwoo thought that he must be really desperate. Jongin knew that he also likes Areum. What is Jongin thinking about by asking him that?

“Well,” Wonwoo started while sitting properly. “I haven’t thought of those before. I’m just fond of her.”

Jongin looked back at him. “Those thoughts have been flooding me like forever,” he muttered before pausing. “Wonwoo, you have my back, right?”

“Huh?”

“I don’t really mind competing with you for Doctor Lee but right now, Director Stone’s leading and I don’t know what to do.”

He looked and sounded desperate.

Wonwoo stared at him.

What is he supposed to do?

Does he really like Doctor Lee like Jongin does? Is he willing to give way?

Areum couldn’t move that much because of her swollen ankle. She’s stuck on her seat while checking up on the people. Like a gum, Jongin’s been stuck beside her. Whenever she would look at him, he would smile brightly at her. She still couldn’t help but ask herself if anything happened that night. Jongin was acting weird after waking up and he said something about drinking eel extracts.

Out of the blue, the warmth of his skin when he traced his scar struck her and she would just look away. There was something about that event that made her heart skip a bit. And when Jongin playfully lied about a cockroach on her hair, she’s sure that she was expecting something to happen between them. Thinking of how she anticipated his lips to press on hers makes her shudder. Why is her heart wavering a lot nowadays?

She’s always certain about her choices and tastes. Before she met Jongin, her heart really couldn’t open for younger suitors. Jongin was the one who pounded and even kicked the door of her heart, making a little crack on it. That little crack looks like getting bigger whenever she would make contact with him.

Her heart’s torn into two. Park Bogum’s making a comeback while Kim Jongin’s making a debut.

“Doctor Lee, are you okay?” Jongin suddenly asked, placing his hand on her forehead. Areum flinched before turning to him. He looked like he was just innocently asking her. Despite that innocent look on his face, she couldn’t help but picture the playful side on him. Areum moved a little and Jongin pulled his hand.

“I’m okay,” she replied before fixing her gown.

“Your face is turning red. Is it because of the heat? It’s pretty hot today. I hope it will not rain again tonight,” he muttered and when Areum looked at his direction, he was taking off his white gown, revealing his white shirt. Although he’s wearing his shirt, the sight of him being shirtless was the only thing that’s pasted in her mind. Now that she’s thinking about it, Jongin’s body’s actually smoking hot.

Omo. What am I imagining right now? Areum asked herself, slightly slapping herself to get back her sanity. She started fanning herself with the paper that she grabbed from her table.

“Are you feeling hot?” Jongin asked when he noticed what she’s doing.

Lee Areum, get your acts straight. What are you thinking about? And what is wrong with the weather today? Sitting with this hot- I mean fetus is making the day even freaking hotter. Wait. What?

“Here.”

Areum almost jumped off her seat when Jongin pressed a cold bottle of water on her cheek. That really felt good though. She reached for the bottle and when his hand brushed against hers, she felt that tingling feeling rushing down her spine. Areum stared at Jongin as he continued his work.

The serious look on his face while checking the man’s breathing is just heart fluttering. She looked down, feeling a bit embarrassed with her thoughts.

“Doctor Kim, excuse me, the result of the blood sample just came,” Sojin suddenly said, tapping Jongin’s shoulder. The latter looked at her before looking at the man he’s checking on.

“Doctor Lee, can you check on him instead? I need to go and look at the results,” Jongin stated, turning to Areum and she quickly nodded. Jongin smiled at her before standing and walking away with Sojin. Areum looked at the man and told him to transfer seats in front of her.

She looked at Jongin for the last time before a smile came to her face. He looks different when he’s working and when he’s being serious. Either way, being serious or being playful, Jongin’s already slowly claiming a part of her heart.

“I believe that your condition will get better if you take your medicine as prescribed,” Jongin stated, nodding with a smile on his face. Mr. Yoon, who rushed back to the site when he got the call, shook Jongin’s hand firmly.

“Thank you, Doctor Kim. Thank you very much.”

“No. You don’t really need to thank me,” Jongin replied with a chuckle.

“If it wasn’t for this medical mission, I wouldn’t have known about my condition. Thanking you is like thanking the whole staff of this mission,” Mr. Yoon commented. Even with that mask that he’s wearing, Jongin could see the smile written all over his face. Even his eyes are smiling.

“I hope that you’ll get better, Mr. Yoon.”

And with a last firm handshake, Mr. Yoon left with his wife. Jongin smiled to himself while looking at their backs as they walked away. Seeing people smiling like that makes his life as a doctor worth it. He knows the feeling of being a patient. With that connection, he’s trying his best to be a better doctor everyday.

He turned to Sojin who was checking their supplies of medicines. “Nurse Goo, I’m heading back to my post,” he said and Sojin nodded.

As he got out of the room, he saw Bogum walking towards Areum who was sitting by herself. She looked like she’s taking a little break. Bogum was holding a packed lunch for the staff. Jongin’s warning lights inside his brain flashed and he quickly grabbed the packed lunch which Wonwoo was holding and bolted like lightning towards Areum.

And…goal!!

Jongin just dived a winning shot, beating Bogum in making a delivery by 5 seconds. The bright smile so bright that it hid the little wince that came to his face for a second there. “Lunch delivery for the pretty Doctor Lee,” he commented before winking.

Areum’s face flushed red before pushing Jongin away. “Stop doing that when we’re working,” she said before reaching for the packed snack. Jongin just chuckled, ruffling his hair before sitting back on his seat.

“I can’t help it,” he sheepishly said.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw Bogum stop for a while before walking towards them.

“Do you mind if I join you?” Bogum asked, looking at Areum with a smile. She looked surprised.

I mind. I really min