Chapter 5
I let out a small laugh without even realizing it. I had been so surprised that my heart was pounding like crazy. Maybe the intern got scared because she was scolded harshly by a professor who’s basically like a god to them. But honestly… she really looked like a small herbivore trembling in front of a predator.
Fair skin, bright red lips. Clear eyes damp with tears.
For some reason, a strong thirst washed over me. Lucas poured more whiskey into his glass. He couldn’t put it into words, but the uncomfortable and awkward feeling made him clear his throat.
Lucas recalled a memory from a few months ago.
“Dr. Harrington, I… I really like you.”
“Sorry, Suzy. You’re not my type. And to be honest, I hate dating inside the hospital.”
But Suzy didn’t stop there. She boldly gave him a final warning.
“I’ll confess one more time. If, at that time too, you really don’t like me… please tell me clearly.”
That moment was still vivid. One more confession? Why are kids these days so reckless without considering the other person?
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it felt.
Lucas let out another dry laugh and took a sip of whiskey.
After finishing Angela’s second morning rounds, Lucas went to the VIP medical staff lounge. He wanted to rest a bit and update Angela’s EMR, but someone was curled up, fast asleep in what he thought was an empty room.
“Dr. Park?”
She was sleeping in such an uncomfortable position that it made him feel sorry for her. Even with noise around her, she didn’t wake up at all—she must’ve been completely exhausted.
Well, being a surgery intern is no joke. They’re always sleep-deprived, running around on shaky legs like newborn calves, trying to learn skills while constantly being watched by seniors. Whether their eyes were open or closed, both were times of pain and endurance.
Bzzzz.
Lucas checked his pager—no, it wasn’t his. It was Suzy’s.
“Dr. Park.”
He gently touched her shoulder. Her eyelashes trembled slightly before she slowly opened her eyes.
“Dr… Harrington?”
“Your pager is buzzing. Check it.”
“O-okay…”
Suzy struggled to sit up. She finally managed to sit properly, but then she started dozing off again, her body leaning to the side. Lucas reached out and supported her cheek with his hand.
He stared at her small, round face resting on his fingers. Her milky-white skin, slightly droopy eyes, and small plump lips tinged with red. He expected her to jump up in surprise and apologize immediately.
But surprisingly, she didn’t wake up. Instead, she fell asleep again, leaning into his hand.
Annoyed by the pager, Lucas finally checked it himself.
6W IV pump alert
An alarm like that usually meant the IV bag was empty. Something the nurse in charge could easily handle.
But still—why wasn’t she waking up?
Feeling the soft warmth of her cheek in his palm, Lucas sat down beside her. Her head gently leaned toward his solid shoulder.
How could someone sleep so deeply in such an awkward situation?
“How long are you going to sleep, Dr. Park?”
Her soft snoring made him speechless. Should he just wake her up? Should he shout? As he was thinking, he found himself sitting still for a long time—frozen. He had no idea why he was even doing this.
After what felt like a long time, Suzy finally stirred. She woke up and panicked instantly.
“S-sorry, doctor!”
Her sleepiness disappeared instantly like it never existed.
“H-how did I end up… leaning on you like that?”
“No idea. I’d like to know that too.”
Suzy wiped the drool at the corner of her mouth and checked Lucas’s shoulder.
“I—I’m so sorry. Let me get your coat cleaned.”
She reached to take off his white coat.
“It’s fine. Laundry? Seriously.”
“No, but I really—”
“I said it’s fine.”
“Anyway… I’m sorry.”
Her face flushed bright red, and she panicked like she’d committed a terrible crime.
“I’ll leave now.”
She bowed and practically ran out of the room.
What even happened? She clearly remembered dozing off on the sofa. So why did she wake up leaning on Lucas’s shoulder? He wasn’t the type to lend his shoulder to just anyone…
Just what happened?
Suzy was deep in thought when she heard noise from behind. Her fellow interns began to gather.
It was their second night shift in two days. Their shift ended at 7 a.m., but they couldn’t leave yet. They still had to brief the next team and do morning rounds.
“Suzy, what were you doing?”
“Writing down the handoff notes.”
“Dr. Cavill said tomorrow only Elliot comes in the afternoon. He said it’s a special gift for the four interns here in the lounge.”
“The four of us? Really?”
“Yeah. He can’t give the whole intern class a day off.”
Pim opened a granola bar and took a big bite.
Pim was Thai, Suzy’s medical school classmate and her soulmate-like best friend. They supported each other as Asians in America, where subtle discrimination was everywhere. Pim was a bit hot-tempered but loyal and funny, so she matched well with Suzy.
“Suzy, what are you doing tonight? Don’t you dare say you’re staying home.”
Their other friend, Liam, winked at Suzy.
Liam Tan—British father, Singaporean mother. A mixed-race classmate and another friend Suzy relied on a lot.
“Well, yeah. Home sweet home.”
“Sure, but… wanna go grab a beer at a pub? You’re coming, right?”
“No… I kind of want to just go hom—”
“Let’s go, Suzy! I’m going too. It’s been ages since we all drank together.”
Pim linked her arm with Suzy’s and shook her gently.
“Honestly, I don’t even remember when.”
“Exactly! We can’t waste a chance like this!”
Then Liam linked Suzy’s other arm. Completely trapped, Suzy let out a sigh.
At that moment, Mia Tanaka lifted her chin and spoke.
“If you want your conversation to be more interesting, I can join you.”
Pim frowned slightly. Pim openly disliked Mia for being arrogant and stuck-up, but since they had to work together for years, they tolerated each other.
“I know a bar really well. Want to go there?”
Pim reluctantly nodded.
The group headed to a rooftop bar in Back Bay. It was about a 10-minute drive from Solas Medical Center. The skyline created by the Prudential Tower and John Hancock Tower was stunning. The Charles River shimmered beneath the city lights.
This was the Boston Suzy loved. With one sip of a cocktail, the exhaustion of the past few days seemed to melt away.
“If they keep us from going home again, I swear I’ll report them to the State Medical Board,” Mia said, pouting with her bright red lipstick.
“I mean, we’re interns, but this is inhuman. This isn’t what I signed up for at Solas Medical. And don’t you remember how ambulances were lined up at Trauma Bay at 5 a.m. yesterday? Oh my god.”
As Mia kept ranting, Pim pretended to doze off, which made Suzy laugh.
“Suzy, you’re so unserious. Laughing during such a heavy conversation? That’s so you.”
“Sorry…”
She was just laughing at Pim’s acting—she didn’t think Mia would get offended.
“Anyway, when I stayed up all night, my hands were shaking. A surgeon’s hands shaking! Is that normal?!”
At that, Suzy’s expression visibly darkened. She wrapped her left hand around her right hand and gently rubbed it.
