Eun Soo stopped right outside the door. Leaning on the wall, she steadied her breathing.
"Do I like this man?" A belated realization dawned on her.
Eun Soo got a hold of herself, reminding, "I can not have relationships with patients. It is unethical. Maybe after he is discharged, if by chance we ran into each other…"
Her rationalizations did very little to stop her from thinking about the stranger. One thing was for certain, he only spoke to her, and nobody else knew that he was already awake.
How did he trick the nurses? Why? Is he a criminal? Is he in danger? Why did he disclose to me? A myriad of questions made her dizzy. She went into the "dark room" and got a plastic bag with the patient's belongings from her locker. She picked up a blanket and hid the bag underneath. Till she knew more, she did not want anybody to discover that he was awake.
Eun Soo was walking back, when the professor called her name. "Doctor Yoo."
"Yes." She pressed the bag closer to her and turned with a smile.
"How is our patient? He should have regained consciousness by now."
"I decided to keep him sedated a little longer to make sure that his recovery is monitored better. I will let you know about his condition as soon as there are news."
"I was planning to stop by his room today during the rounds."
"Can we wait till he is aware, you know, legally it might get murky, if you are discussing his condition without his consent. He never regained consciousness before surgery and it would be better to first upraise him of his own situation."
"Doctor Yoo, are you sure you are not studying to be a lawyer?" the professor granted her a smile. "Carry on. I'll leave it in your capable hands."
"Thank you sir, I won't let you down."
What was that? She was lying to her professor and covering for the stranger.
She had to clarify things and let go of this obsession.
I cannot be so gullible as to fall for a handsome face. My life plan requires focus and I cannot be led astray by his beautiful almond eyes. She tried to shake off this image.
Before entering, she knocked. Of course, no answer, he is pretending to be asleep.
She came in slowly. "It's me," she announced her presence. Stepping forward, she pulled the bag out, "Here are your things, you must be anxious to get them back."
The stranger did not answer, she came closer and realized that he was actually asleep. One of his arms thrown over his eyes, his black hair spread on the pillow, breathing is relaxed, pulse is steady.
She smiled. He is recovering well.
Eun Soo left the bag on his bedside table and slowly turning around tiptoed toward the door.
"Imja," she heard his sleepy voice.
She felt her heart rate increase rapidly and her mouth get dry. "Are you calling me? I would prefer you addressed me as doctor."
"Sure, Imja. I will call you doctor from now on." He was now looking at her, "Did you say you had my things?"
"So you again pretended to sleep?" she was slightly offended. Here she went through the trouble to keep his secret, even without him asking, and he was playing with her, like she was any other person.
"No, I was sleeping. I just have this habit of paying attention when I'm asleep. It is a talent, they say."
Eun Soo stared at him in a suspicious pause.
"Your footsteps are light," he added. The stranger tried to sit up and grimacing from pain, he let out a muffed groan.
"No, don't. Your stitches might open. You should not be sitting yet," she warned.
He did not like the idea of asking for help, especially from a woman. He turned his head, which hurt like hell, and saw the sword sticking out from the bag, putting his mind at ease.
"Can you please give me my sword. I do not like to part with it."
So it WAS a sword. She came closer, "You are not allowed to carry weapons in the hospital, it's our security policy."
"I know much about security. That's why I need my sword."
"Who are you? And why do you carry a sword? By the way, is it real?"
"Is there any other kind?" it was his turn to be surprised. "You have to trust me, I will not use my sword unless it is absolutely necessary."
"That's a relief," she responded sarcastically.
The stranger did not seem to get the point and looked at her earnestly, "I'm glad you agree."
"Wow. You are quite a character!" she scoffed. "Look, sir, the administration tells me they do not know your name, you did not have an ID with you. I need to contact your guardian. Do you have any family? The fees for the surgery and treatment are going to be quite large. We need to inform your insurance to start the paperwork."
He propped himself up on an elbow, as if trying to get closer to her, looking Eun Soo in the eye, the man asked, "If I tell you my name, will you help me?"
Eun Soo could not control her feet, they moved on their own volition toward him. His eyes had this captivating quality and she was drawn by it.
"I do not know who that Administration is, I never met him, but I met you. I'm not sure why, but I feel that I can trust you."
This enigmatic stranger had honest eyes. There seemed to be no pretense with him and he truly meant what he was saying. Eun Soo was sure of it, just like she was sure that she could trust him, too.
She slowly pulled the sword out of the bag, surprised at the weight and feel of it in her arms, she stopped and held it up. Then she handed it to the rightful owner placing it on the side of the bed.
He found the hilt by touch and grabbed on it. "Wooo…." he deeply exhaled, finally at ease. "Once again, I'm indebted to you."
"You do not owe me anything. As a doctor I was just doing my job, and this… I simply went with my gut and chose to believe you. This sword seems to mean a lot to you."
"It does," he responded soulfully. "It was my teacher's. He gave it to me." The stranger looked at the kind doctor's face. "Thank you for trusting me. Do you still need me to tell you my name, doctor?"
"I will have to report that you woke up soon. I get a sense that you want to remain anonymous. Are you in danger?"
"I am not sure," he answered, as if thinking out loud. "There was someone who posed a danger to the person I'm guarding. I was chasing that man and ended here. I have not seen him since, so I assume, he lost my trail."
Everything he said made sense, although it sounded like complete nonsense.