It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Jung Heeyeon proposes marriage the first time in The Pojangmacha Across From Doldam Hospital. She doesn't even look her would-be fiancé in the eye, alcohol-addled gaze instead finding a keen interest in the metal cap of a long-finished soju bottle. The realisation she doesn't have a ring comes only after the words are out of her mouth, and she idly wonders if he'd accept the metal ring of the cap instead.
It sounded like a good idea in the moment.
Not so much the morning after, because she doesn't even drink enough to black out and forget. She remembers with startling clarity how she'd interrupted him in the middle of his sentence, blurting a "Should we get married?" in the same tone one would use to ask if they should get another bottle. Starts blabbering on and on about the benefits of cohabitation; economic, taxes, and how they'd be getting their parents off their back if they just told them that they got married.
He turns her down politely, because Im Taein is nothing but a perfect gentleman. Reminds her that she's drunk and not to talk nonsense. Puts her in a cab after, and texts her privately to make sure she's home safe.
The next morning, coffee's sitting on her desk, her name scrawled in his handwriting on the top and an invitation to lunch if she finds time today. Flushed, she shoves the rabbit-shaped sticky note into the pocket of her scrubs before anyone sees, but it doesn't stop Joohwan from giving her a look she can't quite decipher.
It just so happens her lunch hour frees up somewhat, thanks to an elective surgery getting pushed due to the patient spiking a fever. Taein responds to her Kakao message in their group chat almost immediately in the affirmative--- Woohyun says he'll grab a bite when the ER's less busy, and Eunjae doesn't even read the message, which probably means she's in a surgery.
She offers to pick the food up when she sees it's 5 minutes away, but Taein tells her that no worries, he's got it--- it's nice out, would she like to eat in the office or find a spot outside?
She finds a nice bench, under the shade of a plum blossom tree. The sunlight's warm enough it fends off the slight bite of the early spring breeze, and Heeyeon sends him a picture of where she is. Leaning back, she rests her head, thoughts drifting to last night's conversation. Heat rises in her cheeks at the memory of it, and she can't help but cringe at her actions, hands coming up to cover her face. There's nothing to do except hope to God that he somehow doesn't remember and bring it up again.
with ♡, for @ftlove








