As JeongWon walked to the Seminar room, he was filled to the brim with thoughts about GyeoUl; something that's been happening too much these days.

Today would be 's first schedule since joining him as his mentee. This is a test, he had decided, if she did well today, he would let her tag-along often.

When he entered the room, he noticed SeokHyeong there, along with his walking headache and the Intern. JeongWon had formulated a plan to go through with this, he was going to question the two about Gastroschisis before the seminar began as a way to check if they really knew what they were talking about today and to maybe, teach the Intern new details about the case.

"Hi, SeokHyeong!"

JeongWon greeted him and turned to the other two who bowed, greeting him. He gave them a stern nod, even slightly startling SeokHyeong, who found JeongWon's cold greeting odd.

"Seong Yeong, is it?" JeongWon asked the boy, as he took his seat, across SeokHyeong. The boy nodded, "Yes,"

"What can you tell me about Gastroschisis, Seong Yeong-ssi?"

The question had startled the two men sitting in the room; Yeong because this was his second conference since joining and very first with the PEDS Surgeon and SeokHyeong was startled at the sudden Q&A session happening, when he clearly knew JeongWon wasn't the kind to ask questions without teaching answers first.

Was this how Dr. Ahn was? Or was this a special occasion?

But, he wasn't allowed to dwell much as the Intern answered JeongWon's question. He seemed confident in the beginning, but ended up getting confused as he continued.

GyeoUl, who was only supposed to watch and let the Intern answer, couldn't watch him struggle, turned to answer for him when he struggled to elaborate, like she was trying to shield him from the oncoming reprimand from JeongWon at the same time trying to teach him. Her answer was precise and confident like she had performed the surgery everyday of her life. She straight up lectured the boy, giving him minute details and even extreme case examples where things could've gone south and how they were prevented.

When she was done, she even went as far as promising the boy that she would lend him her notes for the case and help know it better because Gastroschisis cases were rare and he must learn it well when he gets rare cases. The lecture session would've lasted longer, if not for the OB-Gyn Resident and the med students interrupting them. Once they were present, the seminar began.

GyeoUl sat a seat apart from him. She could have sat next to him like SeokHyeong's Resident sat next to him, but no, GyeoUl sat next to the Intern across the Med students. He was already feeling slightly disappointed, but when SeokHyeong informed him of the mother's decision to deliver vaginally, He couldn't help but whine and pout childishly. GyeoUl wasn't looking at him anyway, who should he be embarrassed for? The said woman was devouring choco pies. The ones from the brand Mr. Ji had brought. Didn't Nurse SooBin say this was her favorite? How is it that a patient who must've seen her only a few times during his stay know about his resident's favorite treats but not him?

It looked like GyeoUl was in her own world because, once she finished a choco pies, she picked the other treats on the table and handed it to the others present in her corner, after noticing that they were hesitating. SeokHyeong too, picked one for himself. JeongWon felt bitter at being left out.

Did she not care for him? Why hadn't she given him one? Was the Intern, the Med students and a Resident more important than him? He sulked more at the thought that she wasn't even sparing him a glance as he continued to whine and throw a mild tantrum like she was used to seeing forty year old men act like four year olds? Was he that insignificant in her life? He needs to warm her up to him, he decided.

And then, when the seminar came to an end, he found himself picking up the only two pastries left in the tray and sliding them to her, being as discreet as possible. He thought he was being discreet, but three people in the room caught the action; YunBok, HongDo and his bear friend, SeokHyeong.

In fear that people would notice his actions, he had gone further, talking to distract the onlookers but accidentally spilled about the Congressman Shim he was supposed to keep quiet about. JeongWon had messed up badly that day. The only consolation had been the fact that GyeoUl looked at him with her wide doe eyes all the while looking like a cute chipmunk for the first time that past hour, and she had also accepted the pastries.

That night, Dinner was at a BBQ place near the hospital. SongHwa and JunWan were at the hospital for surgeries and the trio had decided to get meat. The talk was the usual about the hospital, family and friends until SeokHyeong brought up the residents. Usually very quiet, SeokHyeong decided he needed to praise the GS Resident.

"But, I must admit IkJun-ah, your Resident is capable," He told the guys unable to hold back the scrutinizing looks he was casting JeongWon. "...an extremely rare find. She knows more about OB-Gyn cases than my resident."

"Of course, our GyeoUl-ie is a rare find. You know, she alone keeps the wheels of GS turning.. I don't know what we'd do without her. " IkJun puffed his chest comically. "GyeoUl is the best. "

"She's my resident too, you know. " JeongWon hoped desperately he didn't sound jealous. SeokHyeong gave him a look, but didn't comment.

"She will take after me, " IkJun didn't give an acknowledgement. "She's the top of her class, highest marks in every exam she's given, diligent, sincere.. Like a younger, female version of me! "

"I think.. " SeokHyeong stopped IkJun, "She sounds more like JunWan."

"Yah, she's my resident. My darling daughter! Our UJu's sister! How can she be like that jerk? " IkJun scoffed at the comparison.

"Yah, she's-" JeongWon wanted to join in and claim that she was his resident too, but IkJun cut him off very rudely.

"She's not your cup of tea, JeongWon." IkJun told him in a mocking tone. " . .tea."

JeongWon sulked visibly at this point, making SeokHyeong's suspicions grow. He should probably talk to SongHwa about this.

"The X-ray shows no problem. He also has no fever. " GyeoUl sighed in guilt, "Maybe I called you for no reason. " She looked at Dr. Bae JunHui, who had been an absolute angel and had come running as soon as she called. "I called you last night too. " She added, feeling more guilty.

Last night, Shim JinYong's mother had brought the poor child to the hospital, requesting to see Professor Ahn. Even after GyeoUl's repeated assurance and her checking upon the boy many times, the woman had remained adamant that she wanted to meet either the Professor or the Fellow. She had called Dr. Bae, and even though she was off-duty, the woman had come running to the hospital, by which GyeoUl had medicated the boy and he had been fine.

Dr. Bae had talked to the mother and she had calmed down last night but today, she was worried again and wanted to see Professor Ahn this time, and only him. Dr. Bae gave up and called him.

"She's just worried since it hasn't been long since his surgery. " She told GyeoUl good-naturedly, having seen worried parents at the ER very often, "We'll just have to deal with it." She said.

GyeoUl still felt bad, she had been pestering Dr. Bae since last night. Dr. Bae looked tired but still managed to handle patients and their worrying guardians. GyeoUl wished she had the bedside skills the woman had, if she did, she'd have handled the situation all by herself last night, instead of disturbing an off-duty colleague.

"Why did JinYong return?" JeongWon asked as he came running to the ladies, "What's the matter?"

"He's fine now," GyeoUl told him, feeling worse when she saw him panting, "I'm sorry, Professor. JinYong kept throwing up last night. So, he was brought to the ER, but he's okay now." She assured him.

"Then… " He tried to catch his breath, "Is there any other problem?" He looked at the reports, "What about his fever and abdominal distension?"

"His fever broke once I gave him a fever reducer and he feels much better after vomiting once." GyeoUl said.

"He has no other problem and we explained everything." Dr. Bae continued for her, "But, his mother insisted on seeing you.. I'm sorry, Professor."

"No, " JeongWon smiled at the ER Fellow. "It's okay." He moved to check on the boy while GyeoUl followed him.

As JeongWon and GyeoUl moved to leave, they noticed a kid crying in pain and Dr. Bae and Nurse Huisu checking him.

The little boy had fallen off the table and had broken his arm. He also cried in pain when they tried to check his chest, so must've injured his ribs too? That was odd, GyeoUl thought, especially if the child fell from the table. But, again his father said, he fell off the table then that must be it. A parent wouldn't lie about their child.

While JeongWon instructed Dr. Bae, GyeoUl received a call from the OR. The preparation for the surgery had been done. She waited biting her lips, trying to convey the message she received but he seemed deep in thought. She wanted to call him, but chose to poke him with her finger instead.

"Professor, they say the Kasai Operation is ready. You should go. " He turned to her, then nodded.

"Okay."

Lunch would've been a normal affair if not for Dr. Ahn ChiHong grinning widely at her.

"You… want to join us? " GyeoUl still wasn't sure how, but somehow a lot of residents had come to know of the gathering of Residents and were vying to get in.

"Yes, " He smiled sweetly, "Please, Dr. Jang! I came bearing gifts! " He said in a conspiring tone, pointing to the large boxes of pizzas. GyeoUl laughed loudly, shocking ChiHong. "I'm not the only member, you know. " She added, "We have MinHa too, and Dr. Bong is the main. But, you chose to feed me over the other two? "

"GyeoUl-ah, I know you, but the other two are practically strangers to me! You, on the other hand are my dongsaeng, you can let me into the salon, I'll be forever grateful to you! I'll buy you more food! " He said, using the dongsaeng excuse over her.

"So, you figured I'm the corrupt one in the trio and decided to bribe me." She nodded back in her calm tone.

"No, Dr. Jang." ChiHong shook his head, "It's because-"

"Enough, Dr. Ahn. " She stopped him, "Can I eat now? "

ChinHong grinned in truimph, opening the pizza for her.

ChiHong and GyeoUl shared an odd friendship. They met each other on the first day of Residency, when ChiHong had bumped into someone whose coffee had toppled over GyeoUl. When the person began apologizing to GyeoUl, he hd stepped in admitting that it was his fault and offered to pay. GyeoUl had simply shook her head, she didn't need a shirt from him. She had tens of those white shirts. This particular one was looking a little old anyway.

The next morning, he had bought her coffee and cake, and their friendship had begun. Slowly they realized that ChiHong knew Haneul, her brother and they were close friends. She didn't know much about why he discharged early, but she thought it might've to do with PTSD, considering how difficult it got for people. She didn't press enough to know the reasons because she didn't want to cause him any discomfort. But today, she will.

"Who do you want to know about? " She asked, picking up another slice of pizza.

"Professor Chae SongHwa, "

"Ah, but doesn't everyone know about her?" GyeoUl asked, "She's YulJe's Ghost, every thing about her is basically news in here."

"I'd like to know her better, " ChiHong nodded to himself, "..out of the scrubs, as a man. " GyeoUl's eyes widened.

"You… like her, " ChiHong nodded, "... Okay. "

"What? " He laughed, "You are not going to ask me more?"

"No."

"You knew, didn't you?"

"No, Dr. Ahn," GyeoUl shook her head, "I didn't,"

"I told you that long ago, " Well, he did but that was three months into their residency on a night shift. She had barely spared the words a second thought. It had been three years now.

".. And I thought you moved on."

"I didn't, I barely tried during these years, I'm becoming a Chief resident next year," He gave her a engaging smile, with a sigh. "I thought this would be the best time."

"You think she reciprocates your feelings?" GyeoUl asked. She was going to become a Chief Resident next year too.

"You never know till you've asked."

That Bong salon had been late at night, all the residents had been on-call, which called for a late night session about the Lacking Five.

She introduced the male into the group, with MinHa being her bubbly self and Dr. Bong being Dr. Bong.

"For me, it's Ahn JeongWon," GyeoUl raised her arm, after ChiHong. She didn't care for the glance the men threw her. She wanted to know everything about Ahm JeongWon, that's it.

"You guys know that they are in a band together, right?" Dr. Bong told them. SeokHyeong was the pianist, IkJun was a vocal and a main guitarist, JunWan was the led guitarist, JeongWon a drummer and SongHwa, a bassist and the vocalist. He told them of how they supposedly were formed.

"That's an unexpected charm, " ChiHong said with a giddy smile, when Dr. Bong told about Dr. Chae's lie about being a vocalist. GyeoUl shot him a look. This man, she shook her head.

"He's a TA patient. He's been X-rayed because of a rigid abdomen and rebound tenderness. It seems like he has pan-peritonitis from bowel perforation. He needs surgery, so I called you."

GyeoUl recited as she walked hurriedly with JeongWon to the young boy.

"Okay," JeongWon asked, "Did you give him painkillers?"

"Yes, " GyeoUl nodded, as they reached the bed. JeongWon pulled the curtains open.

"Let's see, " He began in a soft tone, "Okay, my.. It hurts a lot, right?" He turned the boy, to take a look at his face. He froze for a second, recognizing the boy. He looked at GyeoUl in disbelief, demanding an explanation with his eyes.

"He looks just like him, right?" GyeoUl somehow understood what he asked without his words, "I was surprised too. So, I was thinking about how it's possible. Maybe, they're twins? " She asked, more to herself, because she had been shocked to see him too and hadn't questioned the guardian as she had been too caught up with administering painkillers.

"Yes, they're twins." The father said, appearing from behind the two. He had a bandaid on his forehead. He didn't have that before? Had he been hurt too?

"JaeHun got hurt yesterday, and today it's his brother… JaeYong-ah, " He called to his son who moved away from the man's touch. "Dad's here. It's okay." He turned to the Doctors, "He's going to be okay, right?"

"It was a car accident, right?"

"Yes, I dozed off while driving and hit a lamppost. He was in the back seat. I don't know what I was thinking... " He said, looking distraught.

You weren't thinking, that's what. GyeoUl thought but resisted saying anything. How a father could sleep while driving with his young son was beyond her. She looked at the man in disdain, but also with sympathy cause both his sons were hurt. He could have been more careful, but what can you do now?

"I need to check something, " JeongWon said to the man, oddly stern. He was never stern towards guardians. "So, could you leave us for a moment?"

"Why? Why should a guardian leave? " He sounded defensive, but GyeoUl chalked it up as a concerned parent thing.

"Before surgery, I need to prepare him." Was this the procedure for a PEDS Surgery?

GyeoUl still hadn't processed the change in the routine. JeongWon had turned to the boy to check his body and his wounds. The procedure JeongWon was following right now seemed a little off. But GyeoUl kept quiet knowing she was still very new to the PEDs department and barely knew how things worked with kids.

"What's wrong with the patient?" Dr. Bong had come to them, casting a suspicious look at someone he had passed by.

"He was in his dad's car and got a pan-peritonitis from TA."

Dr. Bong seemed astounded to say the least and not in a good way. "What kind of a father would let that happen?"

"It can happen when you drive, " GyeoUl added in a sympathetic tone.

You can never know how and when accidents could happen. Blaming a father for his son's accident didn't sound right. It was definitely odd. GyeoUl wasn't one to openly feel that sympathetic, but she had truly tried to be more and more aware of the guardian's well-being during their patient's recovery that GyeoUl didn't wait to think that a guardian would truly do anything bad for their child. She had really been doing so much better with her interactions with the guardians and her sympathy seemed to be on the wrong side today.

"But the father seemed totally fine." He had a bruise, a very small one, but still. GyeoUl thought when she heard JeongWon say, "He's covered in bruises."

GyeoUl looked at the boy squirming in pain. He was covered with bruises, most of which were vivid. There were bruises which were lighter. Was the child being bullied by someone? Did the dad know? How long has the child been bullied?

Her guts nagged that her thoughts were flowing in the wrong direction, but a large part, the one which had been recently trained to see the pain and grief of the Guardian refused to accept her gut feelings. Surely, a parent wouldn't inflict such pain on his own flesh and blood.

Her conflicting thoughts came to an abrupt stop when she heard JeongWon, the resident Buddha curse at the father.

"What kind of a sick son of a bitch does this?"

I saw a lot of people saying what GyeoUl did, that is chase the father was done out of her intention to impress JeongWon but I don't think that is the case. She didn't believe that the father had caused harm intentionally. She was also caught up in the way JeongWon was straying away from the procedure. Guardians are often asked to remain with kids because doctors are strangers and scare kids, no matter how nice they are. Guardians provide familiarity and comfort while the child is in pain. She was confused and then, she hears JeongWon truly angry in all the times she's known him. The change in him also must've shocked her. I'd be shocked too of I saw my usually sweet and nice crush swear at someone he should be sympathising with. Hence, her impulsive actions because she's already late.

I'll try to explain more in the next chapter.

Let me know what you think of this chapter and what you thought when you saw her chase down the father.

Thank you for reading? ﾟﾒﾕ