"In my defense," Ik-jun whispers as he leans towards Jeong-won's ear. He avoids the burning eyes of the other general surgeons. "I have completely forgotten that it was Professor Park who recommended that Italian restaurant. I didn't know that he and his wife were a regular there."
In a matter of hours, Jeong-won's relationship with Gyeo-ul blew out of proportions that a witch hunt was immediately and formally initiated by her superiors the moment they heard the news. Jeong-won thought that the day would be great – the happiness from their date last night was still fresh in his mind – but all it took was for Professor Park to see them at the restaurant for everything to crash.
He didn't find anything malicious at first – it was just two colleagues eating out, plain and simple – but he wasn't stupid. He noticed Gyeo-ul's smiling face and that set off his first suspicion. Seeing them holding hands was not a big help; if anything, it only confirmed it.
Jeong-won arrived to the GS room with everybody sitting around the table with somber expressions. Ik-jun was there, as well, but he appeared as if he was forced to participate.
"Guys," Ik-jun starts the meeting with a smile on his face. "Let's be civil about this – "
"Shut up, Ik-jun!" Professor Kwon yells. He points his finger at Ik-jun angrily. "You are to be blamed here as much as he is!"
But Ik-jun still tries to mediate the situation. "What can we do?" he demands everyone. He nudges Jeong-won who is becoming angrier and angrier by the second. In all the years that Jeong-won served as a doctor, he has never really snapped in front of his peers and patients. And Ik-jun thinks that the moment is not the time to start. "They are in love. Can't we just be happy for them?"
Professor Lee nods. Ik-jun grins at him with appreciation. "Jeong-won isn't that bad, right, Ik-jun? He's a saint! If you tell me that there's a fallen angel in the hospital, I'd say it's Jeong-won."
"Angels fall, because they anger God!" Professor Yang objects viciously. "I've never seen a more talented and reliable doctor than Jang Gyeo-ul. I've seen this before – two people fall in love and in their work place, too; man cheats, the two break up – if that happens here, who do you think will go? Jeong-won won't, that's for sure. Gyeo-ul will!"
Ik-jun rejects that scenario. "Let's not entertain that conclusion. I'm pretty sure that won't happen, right, Jeong-won?"
But all of Jeong-won's attempt to defend himself and the stability of his relationship with Gyeo-ul is silenced once again. Professor Hong raises his hands. "You must think that we are merely arguing to ensure that Gyeo-ul won't leave the hospital in case the worst happens – we do – but most accurately, you have to see that Gyeo-ul started working here before you do."
"She has worked very hard, Jeong-won," Professor Hwang adds with a small smile. "You have it all wrong – it's not solely about letting her pick the cases she wants to assist in – we have cultivated a modern way of teaching her by letting her choose the most complex ones. That way, she will have a wonderful skillset that ranges to different surgeries. As she worked with you, she displays signs of interest in pediatrics. You can't screw up all her efforts when this blows up in flames."
When he first got here, he thought that it was odd that everybody just pretty much fell into her feet; she was chased by the other professors, would bribe her with snacks – she had everyone wrapped around her finger, but despite that, she never took the easiest cases; she always had to be with the worst patients. She never slacked even if the other professors often told her to take a rest; she never abused their fondness of her, instead, she just worked harder. He witnessed this personally. And like all of them, he was caught in her web.
Their protectiveness of her was very endearing. They mostly cared about her interest and the growth that she had made under their tutelage. They all helped her transcend over the years just like how a father would hold his only daughter's hand as she took her first steps.
He understands now what she means to everyone that if she does collapse, all of them will. Gyeo-ul is treasured because she has proven herself time and time again that she is the most valuable asset the hospital will produce. He has seen this when she performed her first surgery; she has no hesitation, she is decisive and needs little to no help at all. Only she can survive such an innovative but cutthroat learning environment.
"I promise you," Jeong-won finally replies with a stern expression. It's a face that they have never seen before. "I won't ever hurt Dr. Jang and, if I did, I'll be the first to leave. I care about her as you do; no, I care more about her than all of you combined."
Ik-jun glances at his friend, shocked at his statement. "You heard it, guys. We have patients, so let's stop this now. Let's not make a Romeo-and-Juliet scenario out of this."