[02:18 PM]
The nurses' station is louder than usual with phones ringing, charts being shuffled, and residents walking back and forth with tablets in their hands.
You're standing next to the medication cart tying to breathe normally while the head nurse scrolls through a patient chart.
"Intern Y/N?"
Your stomach drops.
You literally look like a scared chihuahua shaking with your eyes almost popping out of your head, "Yes?"
As if on cue... before she can continue, a familiar voice cuts in.
"What happened?"
Your heart nearly sinks even further. You don't even have to turn around to know who it is.
It's Resident Doctor Jeon Wonwoo. Tall. Calm. Usually quiet. And usually patient. But right now?
His expression is tight.
The nurse turns the tablet toward him.
"She entered the wrong dosage adjustment in Mr. Han's chart."
The words feel like they echo through the entire floor. A few nurses pause. Another resident looks over. Your face burns.
Wonwoo takes the tablet from the nurse's hands and scans the chart quickly, eyes sharp behind his glasses.
Silence.
Then--
"Y/N." Your heart nearly stops when he says your name.
You step closer. "Yes, doctor."
His gaze lifts from the screen to you. And suddenly it feels like everyone in the hallways is watching.
"You adjusted the medication without confirming the lab results."
You swallow.
"I-I thought the potassium levels-"
"You thought." The words cut in quickly. Not loud. But firm enough that several nurses glance over.
As if knowing that everyone on the floor is listening in now, Wonwoo's voice lowers slightly. "You don't think in this situation. You verify."
Your hands tighten around the clipboard.
"I-I'm sorry-"
He scoffed, "Apologies don't prevent patient complications."
The air goes still. A nurse nearby pretends to check a chart but is obviously listening in. Wonwoo sighs quietly, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Fix the chart. Now."
"Yes, sir." You move quickly, correcting the entry as your hands shake slightly and you can feel more eyes on you. When you finish, you step back. "It's been corrected."
Wonwoo takes the tablet from you and checks it again. A few seconds pass. Then he nods.
"Good." He says, but the tension on his shoulders doesn't disappear. Instead he glances toward the hallway. "Follow me."
Your stomach twists as you watch him walk away and quickly follow right behind him into the empty on-call room.
The moment the door closes behind you, the hospital noise disappears. Just fluorescent lights and the qiet hum of the building. Wonwoo's back is turned facing you as he has one hand on his hip and the other is holding onto the railing of the top bunk bed.
You stare at the floor as you can feel the tears welling up in your eyes. "I'm sorry."
Wonwoo exhales slowly. Then runs a hand through his hair. "Y/N. Look at me."
You hesitate a little. Then you do.
His expression is different now. Still serious. But softer.
"You know why I reacted like that?"
You nod. "I could've hurt the patient."
"Yes." He steps a little closer. "But you didn't."
You release a shaky breath as you feel two hands cupping your face in them.
"You're a good intern, Y/N. I know that better than anyone else here."
You blink as a tear slips out and onto his hands, " I just made a pretty big mistake."
"And that's completely normal. I mean you know how many mistakes I've made when I was an intern." His voice is now softer. "But that one? You cannot make that one again. Okay?"
You nod immediately. "I won't."
Silence settles between you, then he sighs. "....And I'm sorry."
Your head lifts. "What?"
He pushes his glasses up and his right hand comes up to rub the back of his neck, "I shouldn't have called you out like that in front of everyone."
Your eyes widen slightly.
"Wonwoo, you're my resident. You had to."
"I still could've handle it better." His voice drops a little quieter. "Especially because it's you."
Your heart stutters. There it is. The line neither of you can acknowledge in public. The quiet secret relationship. The reason he has to be extra careful with you.
You step a little closer. "It's okay." You softly smile.
Wonwoo studies your face. "You're not upset or mad at me?"
You shake your head. "I mean, you already know me I can be a little sensitive sometimes. But I can never really be mad at you." You let out a small laugh. "If anything, that lowkey was kinda hot."
He freezes and nearly chokes on air, "I'm sorry. What?"
You grin. "Scary intimidating resident doctor Jeon Wonwoo."
His ears turn red immediately as he lets out a small laugh, "You're unbelievable."
You laugh quietly.
"Relax. I learned my lesson."
Wonwoo just shakes his head as the tension in his shoulders finally disappears. While you're still lowkey laughing to yourself, he turns towards you and reaches out to wrap you in his arms.
"I love you," he murmurs. Your chest warms.
As you two were enjoying this moment together, the door suddenly swings open.
"Oh!" Two very familiar voices exclaim at once as you and Wonwoo jump apart.
Standing in the doorway are residents Hoshi and DK grinning like they just discovered something incredible.
"Ooooohhhhhh we KNEW it!" You soul leaves your body as Wonwoo pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Can you guys just leave?"
Of course they weren't going to listen. Instead, Hoshi walks further into the room still grinning like an idiot.
"No, no, don't stop on our account. We're just here to grab our waters."
DK follows suit shortly and they both sit at the round table with their hands under their heads and they look between you & Wonwoo.
"So this is why you're always hovering around the intern floor," DK teases as Wonwoo sighs.
"I'm her supervising resident."
Hoshi grins even wider then wiggles his eyebrows, "Yeah yeah. 'Supervising.'"
You cover your face with your hands. "I need to transfer hospitals now."
DK laughs loudly. "Relax! Your secret's safe with us."
Hoshi nods dramatically. "Yeah... as long as Wonwoo buys us dinner tonight."
Wonwoo glares. "Get out, please."
The two gasps dramatically as Hoshi says, "Wow. So aggressive. Is this how you talk to your girlfriend too?"
You choke. Wonwoo looks like he's reconsidering his medical license.
"Well, our break's almost over so we better get going." DK says as they both get up and make their way out.
Hoshi calls back over his shoulder: "Bye lovebirds!"
The door closes. Silence. You slowly look at Wonwoo.
"...Well."
He sighs deeply.
"We're never hearing the end of this. Especially now that those two know."
You laugh. And despite everything, Wonwoo smiles too.
-
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