Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Songhwa encountered her share of head injuries throughout her career. it gave her an unwitting distaste for thrill-seeking, danger-craving adrenaline junkies with a blatant disregard for overall well-being. Sure, safety gear helped, but they were all one freak accident away from the emergency room.

She lost count of all the trauma patients lost to terrible accidents. The ones who died quickly were considered lucky; many were left suspended in a vegetative state between life and death, to say they were alive would be… generous.

Then there were the ones who were truly lucky, evading death and all debilitating injuries yet too stubborn for complete prevention.

To warn against dangerous activities would be futile, she realised. People did what they wanted, some enjoyed it while others regretted it. At the end of the day, she was there to mend the pieces where she could.

Nonetheless, she retained a strong aversion to any and all risk hunters.

Motorcyclists, she had since decided, were her least favourite.

So when a new colleague sauntered in with a helmet and riding gear in tow, she could only tamp down her immeasurable distaste.

—

“Have you seen him?” Seonbin asked excitedly, rushing up next to Seokmin.

“Who?” Came a tired answer, intercepted by a yawn.

“Have you not seen him? Everyone is talking about him- “

“Who?” Seokmin tried again, tapping the lift button impatiently.

“You must have heard-“

Chihong joined them just then, nodding in greeting. In that moment, Seokmin never felt more grateful for his presence.

“Who?” He asked helplessly, eyes swimming with confusion.

Chihong returned a look of fleeting amusement before quickly filling him in. Despite having the barest of contextual clues, he seemed to be on par with Seonbin’s line of questioning.

“The new assistant professor in general surgery, he came in today.”

The answer only fuelled Seonbin’s energy. “I heard he used to go to school with Professor Chae and the others. Do you think she knows him?”

A “ding” signalled the lift’s arrival and the doors opened to reveal their favourite professor within. Songhwa smiled.

“Care to join me for lunch?”

If possible, Seonbin perked up even more. Unquestionably, Chihong lit up. Seokmin looked between the two, wondering what other joys in life he was missing out on.

“Of course, Professor Chae,” Chihong slid into place beside her as Seonbin took the other spot and quickly got to interrogating.

“Do you know Professor Lee Ikjun?”

In an instant, the mood shifted and Seonbin was quick to regret her blatant curiosity.

—

From lunch, the neurosurgery residents gathered two things: 1. Professor Chae’s distaste for motorcyclists could not be understated, 2. She seemed friendly with Professor Lee at best, they shared mutual friends, many of whom worked in the same hospital, but she was uncharacteristically icy at every mention of him.

The trio nodded through a long rant on road hazards and the dangers of motorcycles “especially on a rainy day” that wavered vastly between professional and a touch too personal. While it was never a secret that she found traffic accident cases upsetting, she was never this vocal about her thoughts.

“But it must be nice to work with your old friend again,” was Chihong’s poor attempt at enlivening the situation.

Songhwa gave a non-committal hum.

While she had politely answered most of their burning questions about the famed new arrival, there was a hint of irateness fluttering beneath her skin that sometimes emerged in a slight furrow of her brows or twist of her lips. Professor Chae Songhwa was the epitome of niceties and pleasantries in their time working together, aside from the occasional bouts of needed strictness, it was rare to see such an expression from her.

Soon after, they had the misfortune of witnessing an interaction between the two professors and Seonbin never wanted more than to be anywhere else:

As the lift doors slid close, an unfamiliar call came.

“Wait! Incoming!”

Seonbin held the doors open and a man slid in, white coat flying with an air well-suited to the dramatics of his entrance.

He straightened and beamed, thanking the crowd for the wait.

It was Professor Lee Ikjun in all his glory. He looked well settled for someone who had only been here half a day; he greeted Seonbin and Chihong by name (both whom, Seonbin was sure, had met him for a fleeting second that morning) and took a moment to introduce himself to Seokmin. The trio held their breaths as he rounded to Songhwa, still smiling.

Songhwa’s expression remained unchanged.

“Professor Lee,” She greeted coolly.

“Did you have a good lunch?" Ikjun greeted happily in return. "I saw you out there, was waiting for your invitation."

He waggled his brows playfully at Songhwa, bumping her shoulder.

Seonbin felt her jaw drop.

Was he flirting?

She could feel Chihong stiffen beside her.

To her right, Seokmin choked.

Professor Chae, to her credit, did not bat an eye. “Didn’t look like you needed it.”

Professor Lee remained relentless, ignoring all hints and pressing forward. "How about coffee? We could have some later."

Songhwa looked over to the residents meaningfully before sliding her gaze back to the newcomer.

Her "no" was all but firm, eyes fixed and unwavering.

The lift doors opened and she stalked out briskly, unheeding of the occupants left within. Ikjun, still grinning, looked to the younger doctors and gestured at the open door. “Is it your floor?”

Chihong was left stammering a goodbye on their behalf as they scurried out.

It would seem the new professor was as ignorant as he was charismatic.

—

“Songhwa has been avoiding me all day,” Ikjun whined noisily.

Not even a day in and Jeongwon was tired of him.

“You haven’t been following her around, have you?” Junwan scolded from his seat across.

“Of course not! I ran into her a few times, that’s all,” Ikjun cried indignantly.

“Don’t run into her, problem solved,” Jeongwon rolled his eyes, tapping a pen impatiently against his temple. Typical Ikjun, making a mountain out of a molehill.

Predictably, Ikjun scowled. “I can’t plan that, we work in the same building. If I had known this would be a problem-“

There was a muffled groan as Junwan’s cushion hit Ikjun squarely in the face. “Take the stairs, Ikjun. Don’t make this our problem.”

Jeongwon took his cue and parrotted, “Yeah, Ikjun, don’t make it our problem.”

—

When Songhwa received a text asking to join the others for lunch, she pointedly ignored it.

Perhaps she was being petty, but she wasn’t about to admit that. They could pretend she was busy - which she was- but lunch took precedence.

Then she roped her junior doctors in for lunch and promptly regretted it.

Lee Ikjun, the extroverted, bubbly, sunshine of a person, was the talk of town. Of course he had made himself known to Chihong and Seonbin in the hours he had been here, of course the nurses gossiped fervently about the new arrival, of course he drew attention with that motorcycle of his, so undeniably eye-catching in not only his mode of transport but also his choice of wardrobe, head to toe in black with his leather jacket and boots upon his arrival.

Of course she looked (stared), he might have caught her (definitely did), but it didn’t change anything.

It didn't change how she felt.

—

Ikjun made a few wrong turns and ended up in the neurosurgery department, feeling a little stumped. His phone vibrated with a few more texts from Nurse Soobin, updating him on a patient's condition. Nothing too urgent, but he would very much like to be there still.

He whirled around, wondering how he ended up so far from where he was supposed to be, on a completely different floor. Grumbling to himself, he walked on and stumbled right into a few familiar faces.

"Professor Lee, what are you doing here?" Seonbin asked, eyes darting around warily.

Ikjun followed her gaze curiously, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

"I may have gotten lost," he shrugged, caught between embarrassment and feigned nonchalance. He settled on the latter, deciding that he was new enough to be lost.

"Where are you going? He can take you there," Seonbin offered Chihong up eagerly. "He has time."

Chihong raised his brows incredulously, ready to retract the offer when they were swiftly interrupted.

"He doesn't. I'm still waiting for his report. And yours too, Seobin," Songhwa levelled a disapproving look at the pair. It was just enough to startle the group and send the two residents into a nervous frenzy.

"A report? That's so boring, Songhwa-" Ikjun wrinkled his nose almost instinctively, only for all complaints to fade as an icy glare turned on him.

"Sure, get that report done. Good luck," he said instead. He waved a hand at the young doctors, motioning for them to leave.

Chihong looked defeated to be caught in this conversation, turning on his heels, tail between his legs. Seonbin scurried off after him, any and all guilt dissipating into fervent curiosity as she threw back multiple glances. Ikjun allowed himself a parting wave, which Seonbin returned with a pitying look.

Unsure of why he was on the receiving end of such a foreboding expression, he gave an involuntary shudder. He turned his attention back to Songhwa only to find her gone.

“Stop loitering here, let’s go,” Songhwa’s voice chided from around the corner, footsteps fading.

Ikjun beamed and quickly caught uo with her.

“Are you taking me back to GS?” He could barely keep the growing grin off his face.

“How did you even lose your way? You are impossible sometimes.”

“I was thinking about things. I got distracted,” Ikjun looked over to Songhwa, who was steadfastly keeping her gaze straight ahead. “Are you free tonight? Want to have dinner? I haven’t seen you much today.”

They greeted then sidestepped a bleary Seokmin who mumbled apologies as he stumbled his way down in the opposite direction.

“Not today, I have a new case.”

“That’s what you said before lunch.”

Songhwa tried to ignore the pout in Ikjun’s voice, but was pulled in by his disappointed gaze.

“Maybe tomorrow,” she placated before she could stop herself.

The mood instantly brightened. “Great!”

—

Seonbin and Chihong hunkered down at their laptops, pouring over notes as a gloomy silence weighed down heavily.

The door clicked open and Seokmin shuffled in. He dropped into the nearest chair, a squeak sounding in return. The other occupants barely spared him a glance, giving a half-hearted greeting as they typed away.

“What’s up with you two? You look worse than I do,” Seokmin commented drily.

He sunk further back into his seat, closing his eyes. When there was no response, he took it upon himself to continue.

“I thought I was sleepwalking earlier. Professor Chae was with Professor Lee, he asked her out for dinner. No one could be that clueless, right? She doesn’t seem to like him too much. Maybe-“

“No way!” Seonbin gasped.

There was a noisy roll of a chair before Seokmin felt an impact that jolted him awake. He opened his eyes to find Seonbin’s face much too close to his. He inched back a little and tried to find his breath.

“I-um- heard it, definitely heard it.”

If possible, Seonbin lit up even brighter than before. “He asked to have lunch with her too in the lift! There has to be something going on! Professor Lee came here earlier, claimed he was lost-“

Seokmin snorted.

“-and ended up right here in NS, right where Professor Chae works! He likes her, doesn’t he? Maybe-“

“Professor Chae definitely doesn’t like him that way,” Chihong piped up.

Seokmin, though cornered, allowed himself to nod. “She seems to tolerate him at best.”

Seonbin exhaled loudly, shoulders deflating.

“Well, there might be a backstory there,” Seokmin offered, faltering at Seonbin’s face of defeat. “They have known each other for so long, we could ask Dr Bong.”

With that, the room brightened.

—

When the sun had long set and the city had fallen into sleepy silence, Songhwa finally returned home. Greeted by darkness, she navigated the entrance, depositing her keys and coat through ease of memory.

She stretched out into a hearty yawn, thinking only of a hot shower and her bed.

The city lights shone through her undrawn curtains, just enough to mark the outlines of her bedroom. She thought to turn on the lights but changed her mind at the last moment, choosing to grope for her clothes instead.

She took her time in the shower, letting her worries of the day wash away. Steam rose around her in a soft, comforting embrace. She thought about Ikjun’s presence in the hospital, new yet familiar. She wondered if she could get used to it, whether it would take a day or a year.

She took a hand to the mirror and swiped away the collected blur of condensation. She caught a glimpse of her wet hair and furrowed brows before the fog took over again.

Songhwa couldn’t help but laugh. To think Ikjun’s arrival would take up so much of her mind; she thought she had enough time to get used to the idea, but it would seem that she was wrong.

Songhwa slipped into her pyjamas, sighing loudly. She tossed her dirty clothes into the laundry basket and opened the bathroom door, only to run face-first into a figure right by the exit.

“What are you doing? It’s occupied,” Songhwa scolded.

“You were taking too long, I was waiting for you to come out,” Ikjun shot back, his bleary-eyed haze gone in an instant.

“Weren’t you asleep? I was afraid of waking you.” Songhwa stepped around him, only to find the previously dark room glowing in the warm light of bedside lamps.

Ikjun snorted in response. “All the running water woke me up. Come on, I’ll dry your hair.”

He guided her to the vanity and sat her before the mirror. Songhwa took the chance to study him through the reflection, his focused gaze and tongue between his lips. He looked a lot more at ease than in the day. Sure, he was all radiant smiles with a sunny disposition, but Songhwa could read him like a book. He squirmed in new environments and loved nothing more than to fit in. He had made a point to meet everyone he could on his first day, despite his extroverted nature, Songhwa could see the signs of exhaustion seeping into his features by lunch.

But he was good at hiding it, no one else noticed, she was sure.

Ikjun was busy running his fingers through her hair, waving the hair dryer noisily overhead.

“Are you still mad at me?” He asked over the loud droning.

Songhwa pressed her lips into a thin line as she mulled over an answer.

Her short hair did not spare her much time. As the hair dryer turned off, she could feel Ikjun’s gaze burning into her.

“We spoke about this,” Songhwa avoided his eyes in the mirror, grabbing a comb for distraction. “I thought we agreed on no motorcycles to work.”

She could see his black helmet sitting innocuously near the door. As much as it reminded her of the person she loved, it was also an undeniable siren of a potential danger that loomed.

She hated bringing her work home.

Before marriage, they had agreed to keep work and home life separate, even working at different hospitals to prevent overlaps. It got increasingly difficult over the years, when the hours intertwined and their schedules brimmed with endless tasks. Slowly, they learnt that it was next to impossible, and they managed it with pockets of stolen time, mixed in with lots of patience and understanding.

But there were times patience and understanding wore down into fights. An early point of contention was instigated by Songhwa after losing a traffic accident patient on a rainy day, his motorcycle smashed along with his skull. The sight of Ikjun’s helmet had set her off after work, and it only devolved from there.

It was followed closely by a minor accident that left Ikjun hospitalised. It was enough to send her simultaneously into a flying rage and sobbing mess. She alternated between the two in the days that followed before they finally came to a compromise: no motorcycles to or from work and definitely none on rainy days.

As much as she valued her husband’s interests, she still prioritised his safety. Ikjun’s agreement was a reluctant one, brought upon by his own reflection, but not without the help of Iksun’s and Junwan’s chiding.

This time, he did the lion’s share of reflecting, nodding quietly in the mirror before answering, “I’m sorry, I was running late today and it was the fastest way I could think of to reach on time. Not a great first day.”

He slipped his arms around her shoulders and rested his face into the crook of her neck. Songhwa could feel his warm breath tickling her skin and the last of her frustration melting away in his embrace. She was always too soft on him.

“That’s because of the conference, I told you to give yourself some time to deal with the jetlag,” She kept her voice stern, even as she stroked circles into his hair.

His answer was a soft whine into her shoulder, coupled by an unintelligible murmur.

“Hmm?”

Ikjun gave his head the slightest shift. “I said I was excited to work with you.”

Songhwa snorted. “That’s silly, we work in different departments.”

Another shift. “No, I mean working in the same building. We can go to work together, and eat together…It’ll be fun.”

“Like a date?”

Ikjun lifted his head and met her eyes.

“We’re married Songhwa, anything can be a date if you like.”

At the earnestness of his words, Songhwa could only laugh.

“You’re so silly, Ikjun.” She shot him a look of disbelief, before breaking into another round of giggles.

She felt Ikjun’s arm snake around her waist and she reciprocated with a tender hand to his cheek. He was smiling at her again, a smile he only gave her, always when they were alone. She was certain he wasn’t even aware of it: the slight upturn of his lips, almost imperceptible compared to his usual beaming grin, but it was his eyes that always stole her breath.

It was the depth of it, she once explained, in the fumbling trials of her youth, to her friends’ confusion. Much later, she realised it was sincerity. A genuine love and respect that never diminished with the years. It only grew, as did hers.

“I’ll drive you to work tomorrow, it’s a date, okay?”

She barely finished when Ikjun leaned in, the last of her words escaping in an exhale.

“Of course,” he answered, and pressed a kiss to her lips.

—

Chapter Text

“This is kind of nice,” Songhwa shot Ikjun an uncharacteristically shy smile as she turned off the car engine.

Ikjun quirked a brow, his eyes shining playfully. “Kind of?”

Songhwa nodded her head but did not elaborate. Going on drives with her partner was a quiet bliss she always found great comfort in, today was certainly no exception. When Ikjun got an offer at Yulje, she was secretly looking forward to all the stolen time to and from work. The thought of it made her heart flutter and her steps lighter.

When Ikjun accepted his position, Songhwa spent the entire day grinning like a fool. At some point, it caught her colleagues’ attention and she had nurses teasing her for the days that followed.

Today was almost a dream come true. Mundane as it was, Songhwa was utterly delighted.

They exited the car and Songhwa slipped her arms around his, barely able to quash the growing grin. Ikjun took her bag, returning a soft smile.

“People will see us,” he reminded quietly. The way he had closed his hand around hers belied the empty words of warning that left his lips.

Songhwa only shook her head. “Not at this time.”

With that, she pulled him into a kiss, long enough to steal his breath away.

It was moments before Ikjun returned to his senses, and the awareness of his new environment settling in. It was his second day on the job and his wife was quelling his nervousness as much as she was setting it alight.

He pulled back, brows furrowed as he struggled to find words.

“I haven’t established enough of a reputation to get caught like this.”

Songhwa baulked and then snorted.

“We are in the car park, I think you’re fine,” She laughed. “It’s not like anyone saw us.”

Songhwa took a step back, only to catch Seokhyung’s disenchanted eyes staring right back at her from behind Ikjun.

“How long have you been standing there?” Songhwa stumbled in surprise.

Seokhyung remained at a distance, watching the couple with dispirited eyes.

Ikjun whirled around, his initial shock quickly dissipating into defeat when he saw their friend. He groaned, rolling his eyes and scrunching up his nose in a mix of frustration and annoyance.

“Longer than I would have liked,” Seokhyung answered drily.

“I knew someone would see us!” Ikjun complained, giving a desperate wring of his wrists. “And it is always you!”

Seokhyung was unperturbed. “Don’t be embarrassed if you’re going to be publicly affectionate.”

He made his way towards the lift lobby, his steps knocked askew when Ikjun caught up, heavy with intent, and slung an arm around his shoulder, serenading love songs into his ear. Seokhyung shoved his friend off once and then twice, before finally relenting to his unfortunate fate.

Songhwa trailed behind the pair in amusement. It wasn’t the peaceful morning she was used to, but she secretly enjoyed every moment of it.

—

On a slow day in the emergency room, Seokmin was complaining to Dr Bong about his case load while Chihong was busy scribbling down the last of his notes.

Seokmin received little sympathy though he did get a handful of good advice before Dr Bong took his leave. Sullen, Seokmin let his eyes wander to the nurses’ station, currently a hubbub of activity as Professor Lee Ikjun stood with Gyoeul and two familiar-faced interns, giving what seemed to be a drawn out monologue as the nurses watched on.

Gyoeul interrupted with a few words and Professor Lee reacted with immediate glee. He adjusted his glasses with a forefinger but it only slipped down his nose again. He quickly returned to his pen and paper, writing in apparent excitement.

“Are those glasses popular?” Seokmin asked lazily.

“What glasses?” Chihong responded distractedly. He nibbled on his pen thoughtfully, before adding a final line.

“Those glasses,” Seokmin tapped his friend’s shoulder impatiently. Chihong finally looked up and followed Seokmin’s gaze into the distance.

“Professor Lee’s?” He squinted curiously, not for the lack of seeing but for the sight so undeniably laid out before him. He tested his jaw carefully and then his lips. Unfortunately, it was his voice that failed him, stammering and wavering with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

“Those…those look like Professor Chae’s glasses...”

The pen in Chihong’s grip drooped in his confusion as he turned to Seokmin for confirmation. Unfortunately, the other doctor took no notice.

“That’s it, that’s what I’m saying,” Seokmin agreed with an eagerness to his tone that did not carry to his face. A note of boredom touched his voice as he stretched out into the beginning of a yawn. “Must be trendy among people in their 40s. Does it make them look younger?”

Chihong looked back to Professor Lee, watching as he adjusted his glasses yet again.

“Professor Chae looks young even without her glasses,” Chihong muttered in a quiet protest.

Next to him, Seokmin paid no heed, his attention already drifting away. He made his way out the emergency room and Chihong followed a little reluctantly, throwing back curious glances as he went.

—

Chihong spent lunch time pretending not to look at Professor Chae, who was heartily enjoying her meal. The person in question was far too oblivious, distracted by food and chatter. Unfortunately for him, Seonbin caught him red-handed.

“Professor Chae, you look a little different today,” she started with feigned innocence, but not before throwing a teasing smirk at Chihong. He only avoided her gaze, ignoring the embarrassment that crept up his cheeks in a flush. “Did you get new glasses?”

Songhwa paused at the question, raising a hand to her face. It landed uncertainly on the thin silver frame of her glasses, her brows disappearing behind her fringe.

“New glasses?” Songhwa repeated blankly.

“The frames look different,” Seonbin explained, gesturing to her face.

Songhwa removed her glasses and studied them curiously. Her gaze flittered between confusion and surprise before plummeting into an instant realisation. It took another second for her expression to school itself into a careful calm as she tucked the frames into her coat pocket.

“Oh, yes, I did. I think I prefer my old pair though.”

“I think they look good on you,” Seonbin was quick to compliment. “I’m sure Chihong thinks so too.”

Chihong choked as the pair turned to him expectantly.

“It’s not that bad, is it?” Songhwa laughed as he devolved into a coughing fit. She pushed her cup of water to him, which he accepted gratefully. “I like them enough.”

Her words were playful, yet oddly defensive.

“So you’ll keep them?” Seonbin asked.

Songhwa smiled, eyes twinkling with an inexplicable mirth. “Yes, I’ll keep this along with my old pair.”

She left her new glasses in her pocket where it remained for the rest of the meal.

—

Seonbin walked up to Professor Chae’s office, a folder in hand, and rapped her knuckles on the door.

She waited for an answer but none came. Knocking again, she opened the door, apologies on the tip of her tongue as she stepped in.

Only it died at her lips, and a small exclamation of surprise escaped her instead.

Before her was Professor Lee Ikjun, spectacles low on his nose and staring back at her, wide-eyed. He was crouched over at the desk, in the midst of rummaging through drawers (very suspiciously, Seonbin thought). His eyes darted from Seonbin to the door behind her before he finally reached up a hand and slicked back invisible strands into his already styled hair.

“How can I help you?” He asked as he eased himself into Professor Chae’s seat, looking too comfortable for Seonbin’s liking.

“You’re not Professor Chae,” Seonbin retorted without any heat and with even less intelligence than she would have liked.

“Unfortunately, no. She left not too long ago, would you like to leave a message?” He picked up a pen and poised it over a scrap paper with all the seriousness of a personal secretary.

Seonbin almost answered in kind, but she stopped herself with a quick shake of her head.

“I’ll look for her later. I was supposed to meet her here…”

Seonbin gave a small bow and tried to step away, but the sheer incredulity of the situation kept her rooted to the spot. Rude and nosy as it was, she just had to know.

“Professor Lee, what are you doing here? Does Professor Chae know you are here?”

Ikjun followed her eyes across the table where loose items were messily scattered, clearly a contrast to Songhwa’s usual neatness. The half-opened drawers did not help his case, especially not when she had caught him red-handed, rifling through Songhwa’s belongings without a shred of shame.

Now he was sitting in her chair, not a hair out of place, masquerading innocence that had neither party convinced.

He nodded, still eager to play the part. “She knows, yeah-“

“Seonbin? I thought we were meeting downstairs,” Songhwa’s voice rang out before her face appeared by the door. She entered her office and stopped short at the sight of Ikjun behind her desk. “What are you doing? Ya- why is it so messy?”

She marched over to him and gave a half-hearted smack to his shoulder. Her hand lingered as she frowned down at him and her unearthed drawers disapprovingly.

“Don’t leave it like that, what are you even looking for…”

Songhwa’s voice trailed off quietly as the pair locked eyes. There was a pause, the air still and the couple standing a little too close. Seonbin felt her discomfort rising rapidly, every fibre of her being was screaming for her to leave, to just catch her professor another time, yet she couldn’t look away. She held her breath and waited.

Finally, Songhwa tore her eyes away from Ikjun, belatedly remembering Seonbin’s presence. Songhwa’s free hand fluttered over her coat pocket in a strange abortive motion before falling back down to her side. But the younger doctor barely took notice, transfixed by the hand that was sitting on the shoulder so innocently.

There was something to it, she was sure. She just didn’t know what it was.

“Let’s go downstairs,” Songhwa announced.

She leaned over Ikjun and retrieved her phone, leaving a last warning to clean up the mess. Seonbin followed her out the office, filing the events for future reference.

—

The sun hung low in the orange dusk, casting long shadows that snaked its way over the courtyard. Ikjun slithered his way along the garden’s edge, trying his best at camouflaging against a stretch of glass and walls.

“I can see you,” Songhwa said flatly, in a tone that belied the fond amusement that shone through her smile.

“Do you think anyone else did?” Ikjun peered around suspiciously before dropping down next to Songhwa, ducking his head and hovering a hand in front of his face.

“Definitely.”

She swatted his obstructing hand away and pulled a pair of glasses from her pocket, unfolding them and gently sliding them back onto his face. She adjusted the glasses and then his hair, nodding with satisfaction at her handiwork.

In return, Ikjun slid up right next to Songhwa, pressing against her shoulder. He felt around for the opening of her coat pocket, and with fumbling hands, slipped something into it.

“Stop being so sneaky,” Songhwa admonished as she removed her glasses from her pocket. “People are going to think there’s something weird going on.”

“Isn’t there? I thought we were doing this exchange in secret.” Ikjun whispered.

“I said quietly, not secretly. This is embarrassing enough as it is,” Songhwa huffed.

Despite that, a smile graced her lips and she shook her head.

“At least Junwan didn’t catch you, he called me dumb at least 10 different ways,” Ikjun complained.

“Well, you did take my glasses.”

“and you took mine! I did try to get them back-”

“That was closer to burglary-“

—

A week into Professor Lee Ikjun’s arrival felt much longer.

Seokmin had lost count of how many times he ran into him in the NS department, the cafeteria or anywhere else, and how many times Chihong or Seonbin told him about their encounters.

They were usually innocent enough, humorous exchanges or friendly advice, nothing that would strike Seokmin as out of the ordinary. Yet, he found himself expecting to run into the new doctor at every turn. He seemed to be everywhere.

In that short week, Professor Lee Ikjun had solidified his presence in Yulje.

What Seokmin had failed to witness thus far though, was his arrival.

It added to Seokmin’s surprise that morning to see him in the lobby, waiting for the lift before the crowd arrived.

“So he comes and goes too, I thought he was one with Yulje,” Seokmin murmured into his coffee.

“What are you on about?” Seonbin furrowed her brows at her phone, paying little heed to her babbling colleague.

“I don’t know, he’s always around, I- is he holding hands with Professor Chae?” Whatever feeble explanation Seokmin had fell short when he caught a clearer view of the two professors, fingers entangled in a loose grip as they stood side by side.

Professor Lee had his own bag and, almost hidden from view behind it, was Professor Chae’s handbag, both clutched in his free hand.

“No way,” Seonbin scoffed, looking up.

She wasn’t sure what she expected, but it wasn’t the slackening of her jaws or fingers along with any semblance of thought that seemed to leave her in an instant.

“Isn’t that cute?” Minha gushed, nodding with vigour as she stepped into place beside Seokmin. “That’s what I want when I get married.”

“Married?” Seokmin echoed, rivulets of coffee dribbling from his mouth back into his cup.

Minha frowned at him in disgust and handed him a tissue. “Yes, married.”

Her gaze quickly shifted into a dreamy one as she turned away, eyes gleaming as she imagined her next words.

“I’ll go to work with my husband, we’ll have lunch together-“

“You’re getting married?” Chihong interrupted with his arrival. He picked up Seonbin’s fallen bag and tried handing it back to no avail.

“No,” Minha sighed in frustration, “But I would like to.”

She jerked her head to the sight that had two of her colleagues captivated and shell-shocked.

“That’s what I would like.”

Chihong followed her gaze. He blinked once, then twice. The figure of Professor Lee was unmistakable, standing next to Professor Chae with an ease he was almost envious of. He noted the imperceptible gap between the pair, the way their hands were clasped and… oh.

Oh.

The shock and realisation seemed to have surfaced, just enough for Minha to catch on. Her brows raised in disbelief, eyes darting between the three NS residents.

“You know they are married, right?” When there was no answer, Minha repeated herself, more for her own reassurance. “You know that, right?”

As if to prove her point, the professors exchanged a kiss, chaste yet unabashed. It was enough for Chihong to feel a flush rushing up his neck and pulling his eyes away.

The pair disappeared into a lift, leaving the group in stupefied silence.

Minha was undecided between confusion and mirth. The professors’ union was common knowledge. It was the talk of town when Professor Lee first arrived, even Professor Chae’s displeasure at him in the initial hours was not lost to meddling eyes and ears of the hospital walls.

“I didn’t know that,” Seonbin was the first to recover, her voice small.

Minha settled for sympathy, patting Seonbin on the shoulder in a half-hearted attempt to abate the shock.

Gyoeul, munching on her cream bun while watching the events unfold, chose to speak up then. “Guess you haven’t heard about their son.”

With that, Seokmin lost all his coffee to the hospital floor.

—