Part II - Heartbeat

Pulse

A/N:  Thank you all for your comments! I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves this manga! Here chapter 2, enjoy!

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We often hear the phrase ‘You don’t know what you have until it’s gone’. And that’s because it’s true. We tend to take things for granted and only truly see how much they mean to us when we’re close to losing them.

 

And this particular phrase in particular fits quite well with situations regarding life and love.

 

The hospital hallway was like something out of Star Trek, Everything that could shine, did shine. There was stainless steel, sleek floors and the art on the walls were all natural images in colors as bright as glacier melt-water or spring flowers. The air had a pure fragrance, not sterile, just clean. In the background played music at just the right level to give the patients and staff an emotional lift.

 

Compared to other hospitals this is one of the best Wendy has been in.

 

“Miss Son.”

 

The brunette is taken out of her thoughts by the nurse calling her name.

 

“The doctor will see you now, please proceed to the examination room.”

 

“Okay.”

 

The brunette stands up, her hand tucked into the pockets of her hoodie as she starts making way to the examination room. On her way there she sees the doctor from before at the vending machine, she presses a couple of buttons and after a few moments takes her soda and leans forward on the railing as she sighs.

 

Wendy passes her, initially letting her be, but something tells her to stop and do she does, she pauses and turns to the doctor observing her for a second, her dark hair up in a half messy ponytail, her features both sharp yet soft against the fluorescent lighting.

 

“Aside from your feelings of responsibility and your duty as a doctor you feel absolutely no empathy for the families of your patients do you?”

 

Joohyun pauses mid zip, her eyes widened for a second in surprise. “Wha..” She turns to see a girl, looking at her. Brunette, slightly shorter than her,definitely younger and dare she say adorable looking.

 

“I… I’m sorry?” The doctor asks dumbfounded. “Do we know each other?”

 

Wendy smiles. “Oh no, not at all.” She says, shaking her head. “I just happened to notice you this morning and I’ve been wanting to ask you something.” She continued. “I hope I’m not disturbing you too much, um, doctor…” She squints, getting closer to the raven’s chest right where the name was stitched on her lab coat.

 

Joohyun, too surprised by the boldness of the girl in front of her could only look at her confused.

 

“...Doctor Joohyun.” The brunette looked up noticing the look of confusion on the doctor’s face. She giggled. “I’m sorry, It’s just that I’m nearsighted and I forgot my glasses today.”

 

Joohyun blinked.

 

What a peculiar character…

 

“Uh, where you saying something?” The doctor asked after a second of the two just looking at one another.

 

“My name is Wendy…”

 

Joohyun tunes her out once again when her pager beeps.

 

“I’ve been meaning to ask you, when you–”

 

“Excuse me.” The raven interrupted, already turning around and walking away. “I have an urgent case I must attend to.”

 

“Oh.” Wendy mumbled. “‘Kay, bye then!” She yells happily. “Should’ve known.” She mumbles to herself. “These doctors are all the same.”

 

—------------------------------

 

“Mm… it hasn’t progressed too far yet.”

 

Doctor Bae recovered quickly from her encounter with the peculiar short brunette, going into work mode as soon as she got to her patient. She was now reviewing said patient's emergency MRI with her intern.

 

“We’re lucky we found it in time, but the best way out of this is probably to operate.” She said, taking off her glasses. “I’ll go inform the patient and family. As soon as we get the okay, I’ll page you to book the OR.”

 

“Yes, Doctor.” The intern said as they opened the door.

 

Just then her fellow cardiothoracic surgeon came through the door. “Oh Doctor. Bae. Your shift’s not over?”

 

Joohyun chuckled. “Not for a while, I’m afraid.”

 

“We’re on the same boat then.” Doctor Sojung said, as she placed the MRI print on the light board. Frowning as she did so.

 

Joohyun, ever the heart surgery lover she was, couldn't help but take a look at it. The print shows a patient with a clear case of cardiomyopathy, she could see the walls of the heart chambers were thickened.

 

Joohyun whistled. “You’ve got quite the interesting case on your hands.”

 

Doctor Sojung turned briefly to her, not noticing she was still in the room with her. “It’s a case that was just transferred over to me.” She sighed. “The patient’s so young though…”

 

“I’m assuming they’ve had this since birth?”

 

“Yes, but she seems to be taking very good care of herself.”

 

Joohyun briefly bit her lip, the cardiothoracic surgeon part of herself, a.k.a 95% of her, was very curious about this case so she couldn’t but to ask.. “Would it be a bit much if I asked to see her history?”

 

“Not at all!” Sojung shook her head, giving her the patient’s chart. “A second opinion from you would be great, actually.”

 

As Joohyun opened the chart she couldn’t help but gasp internally at the picture of the patient,a brief flashback of a girl smiling brightly at her shows in her memory for a moment, it was that girl, the girl she met a few moments ago.

 

“She looks…” She paused. “Surprisingly healthy for someone with this kind of condition.”

 

Sojung nodded. “It’s somewhat hard for me to believe she’s suffering from a heart disease. What a shame…” She sighed. “Someone so young should be able to go out and enjoy life to the fullest. But it seems like she’ll only be spending the rest of hers in and out of hospitals.”

 

“SHe might have a chance at a normal life if she receives a heart transplant.”

 

Sojung huffs, putting away the prints. “She’s already on the list, but she isn’t considered a high-priority case. Plus finding a compatible donor for her is going to be hard.”

 

Joohyun didn’t know what to think, she’s seen patients like this, a lot of them, while some go out fighting and win, others lose, but they lose knowing they did all they could. Other simply gave up and tried to continue living life without expectations… but this girl..

 

Her personality’s so cheerful and bubbly…

 

Is this the attitude, the demeanor of someone who knows full well that they’re creeping closer to death every moment?

 

—--------------------

 

Later that day if you happen to pass by the consultation room 102, you could be witness to a very, very rare sight. Doctor Bae Joohyun fidgeting with her hands in her lab coat pocket as she stared at the door in front of her.

 

What am I doing? She asks herself for the nth. time. She has been standing here for the last 10 minutes. She’s just some weird girl right? Once again another flash of that smiling girl crosses her mind, she sighs.

 

The strangest thing is, she’s actually refusing to sign the contract for her transplant operation.

 

The word Sojung mentioned that morning stayed in her memory.

 

That’s right.

 

I’m just curious, that’s all.

 

She nods.

 

Right. Besides, it seems like she had a question for me this morning.

 

“NO! I WON’T DO IT!! I TOLD YOU I DON’T WANT THIS!!”

 

Joohyun stepped back with surprise at the yelling coming from the other side of the door… the hell?

 

“CAN YOU JUST NOT BE SELFISH FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE??”

 

The door opened…

 

“NO!! I DON’T KNOW AND I DON’T CARE!! IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DO AS I SAY THEN DON’T SHOW YOUR FACE TO ME AGAIN YOU STUPID IDIOT!!”

 

“Hey, wha… hmph!

 

“Oh my God.”

 

“Oops…”

 

“Oh… you’re in for it now…”

 

Seulgi grinned quickly as the doctor picked the pillow which was used as a projectile, a projectile she was sadly the victim of.

 

“Well, Doctor’s here now.. so…” She turns around giving a quick wave to Wendy and a quick 90 degree angle bow to the doctor. “She’s all yours, Doc!! I’ll come again some other time!!”

 

Wendy gasps and frowns at the coward of a sister she had. “OH, SO NOW YOU’RE LEAVING ME, SEULGI!!” She stands up and stands on the door, embarrassment from earlier all forgotten as her annoyance comes back full force. “YOU ARE THE WORST SISTER EVER!! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!!!” She yelled at the retrieting Seulgi.

 

“Ahem…”

 

Wendy stilled, blushing appearing to her cheeks as she slowly and sheepishly turned around.

 

“Uhh…”

 

Irene looked at her unblinking.

 

Wendy bowed. “I’m terribly sorry about that, doctor.”

 

“Please keep in mind that hospitals are meant to be quiet places.”

 

“Yes.. I–” Wendy stood straight. “Hey wait, you’re the doctor from this morning!”You ran off before I got to ask you my question!” She accused.

 

Just like that Joohyun’s serious demeanor deflated. “Um…” She cleared . “Well, yes, you see…” She scrambled around the brain trying to come up with an excuse. “You remembered huh… I…”

 

“What about Doctor Chu? The one who saw me first?” Wendy asked, unaware of Joohyuns internal turmoil.

 

“Uh.. she, uh… Doctor Chu’s busy right now.”

 

Wendy plopped down on the bed, hugging a pillow grumpily. “Don’t tell me you're here for even more testing.”

 

Joohyun opened to respond, but once again she was interrupted by the peculiar patient.

 

“I’m tired ,ever since I got here, I’ve been pricked, punctured and poked… I’m already bruised all over…” Wendy rambled on. “Another doctor, another examination.” She huffed. “I’m getting sick of this.”

 

“Um…” Joohyun swallowed. “Well, it’s nothing too big. Just a routine physical examination.”

 

The small brunette sighed. “Fine.”

 

The doctor nodded and reached out to the chart hanging from the edge of the bed. “About your little outburst earlier…” She began as she quickly went through the latest up

dated on her chart. “Are you not aware of the consequences that will have on your condition? It’s very risky for you to be getting angry like that.” She looked up. “Letting your emotions get the best of you may severely affect how well your heart operates.”

 

Wendy sighs. “It’s not like I want to get angry…” She rolls her eyes. “It it weren’t for my stupid sister pushing all my buttons all the freaking time… I.. why are you smiling?”

 

Joohyun chuckled. “You’re the perfect archetype of the poor sickly girl… the baby of the family suffering from a heart disease. Always being doted on by her parents… them complying to her every whim, just for her to grow up to be a spoiled brat.” She hangs back the chart and crosses her arms. “All because they’re afraid that they’ll aggravate her condition.”

 

“What of it?” Wendy asked indignantly. “I’m not selfish without reason!” She turned her face to the pillow, her voice breaking. “I-I- I just.. If my idiot sister here hadn’t gotten on my nerves in the first place…”She sniffled and Joohyun widened her eyes in panic. “And besides I don’t even have a dad… or a mom… to take care of me anymore anyways…”

 

Uh, , , , , … great doing Joohyun

 

 

“Uh…” . “Uh-uhh… I- I apologize… I didn’t mean it like that…”

 

Wendy raised her head, eyes full of tears and biggest pout on her face. “You’re just a big meanie…”

 

“Uh, I’m so sorry, please forgive my behavior.”

 

“No!! I won’t!!”

 

“I…”

 

“You’re the worst doctor ever… I’m telling on you!”

 

“Uh… it really wasn’t on purpose…”

 

Wendy sniffled. “I guess I could forgive you but on one condition.” She said, as Joohyun looked at her with wide eyes and a panicked look on her face. Crying people, she’s not the best at handling them. What can you do?”

 

“Wh–what?”

 

“You have to treat me a meal.”

 

The nerve of this girl…

 

“Yeah, fine, okay.” Joohyun relented. “I’ll treat you to something as an apology, but that’ll have to wait for another day. It’s already too late now.”

 

And just like that all signs of tears were gone from the brunette’s face.

 

“You’re the kindest doctor ever!” She said with a big smile.

 

There really is more to this little brat than meets the eye. Joohyun thinks she might’ve slipped big time.

 

“Alright.” Joohyun sighs. “Now that that’s out of the way, I’ll continue with the check up. Is that okay with you?”

 

Wendy nods in response.

 

“If you would please remove your shirt.”

 

“Oh..O-okay.” The brunette blushed as she undid the first few buttons of her shirt, looking away out of shyness as Joohyun pressed the cold stethoscope on her chest.

 

Joohyun was calmly doing the check up, but rest assured there was an odd feeling she got when Wendy revealed her chest. It wasn’t as if she was completely uncovered but she could see her smooth skin and the sides of her .

 

“That’s good I’ll just listen over here for a moment.” She said, unconsciously taking a step closer to the brunette. “This won’t take long.” One step closer. “This time breath deeply… slowly…”

 

Yes. There was heart murmur that she could hear, so Joohyun closed her eyes to concentrate on the sound, the thumping of her heart resonating on her ears, it was oddly… calming…

 

“Um… doctor.” Wendy said after a moment. “How much longer is this going to take?”She asked. “I’m getting cold.”

 

That seemed to snap Joohyun out of her trance, and realized just how close she was to the other girl, quickly she stood up straight and took a step back. “Ah… I’m sorry. We are done here.”

 

Wendy nodded with a slight blush as she redid her shirt.

 

“From the sounds of it, you’re still within the standard range so there’s nothing to worry about.” The raven smiled. “Just make sure to take care of yourself and get lots of rest.”

 

Wendy nodded. “Oh, Oh! Don’t forget that free meal you promised me!” She said with a bright smile. “Is lunchtime tomorrow alright? I’ll be waiting for you!”

 

“Uh–” Jeez what is with this girl making her get speechless every damn second. “Yes, I-uh– I won’t forget. I promise.”

 

With a nod she took her leave, and as soon as the door closed behind her she released a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

 

What the hell happened? …

 

Back there as she was listening to the girl's heart, for even just a moment it felt as if… as if her own heart was beating on time with hers…

 

No… There’s no way. It’s impossible.

 
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Comments

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girlkisser
#1
Chapter 11: huh
girlkisser
#2
HIIIIIIIIIIII
JeTiHyun
#3
Chapter 11: Oh ho! I can't wait for the next chapter
Qila98
#4
Chapter 11: Cant wait for the next chapter!
WluvsBaetokki #5
Chapter 11: Why are they so adorable my god!
baejoonism #6
Chapter 11: Aww that was cute aquarium and water park date!! Joohyun's starting to have feelings but i wonder if gonna tell that to wendy this soon hmm.. thanks for the update!!
wndylv_eia
#7
this chapter is so short but cute.🤗 but i seriously wonder what joohyun feels for seungwan now. is she slowly falling in love or just playing with seungwan's feelings. pls update soon, authornim!
wensky #8
Chapter 11: ><
wensky #9
THANK GOD
xzonkedx
#10
Definitely yes!