Chapter 6
“Alright, alright. Let’s stop complaining without solutions and just make a toast.”
Pim lifted her glass high, trying to lift the mood.
“To the human lives of surgery interns!”
At Liam’s toast, everyone nodded vigorously. The icy draft beer scratched down their throats. The sharp fizz made them gasp involuntarily at its intensity.
“Honestly, I think this is unfair. Even for interns, keeping us from going home for three days straight is a problem. What do you think?”
Mia asked, and Pim raised her hand with a mischievous grin.
“I can see it happening. We’re already short-staffed, so maybe they had to consider that? I mean, no one becomes a surgeon to be treated like a princess, right?”
Suzy nodded vigorously in agreement. Pim had successfully silenced Mia.
“Since you seem to hate serious conversations, how about some gossip instead?”
Pim nodded, completely indifferent.
“Gossip?”
Liam asked, confused, and Mia nodded, pouting her bright red lips. She glanced around before lowering her head.
“Do you know who I ran into at the hospital a few days ago?”
“How would we know that?”
Pim asked, clearly unimpressed. She probably expected yet another trivial story and didn’t feel curious. Pim sipped her cocktail expressionlessly.
“You’ve probably seen him on TV. Jonathan Harrington.”
“Jonathan Harrington?”
Pim immediately remembered the name.
“Yeah, Dr. Harrington’s father. I’ve seen him on TV a lot, but it was my first time running into him in a Solas Medical ward. I was a little surprised.”
Mia continued her eyewitness account.
“The news only said that Mr. Harrington’s law firm secretary had been shot. So, Mr. Harrington came to the hospital as a guardian.”
“But why does that matter?”
Pim asked nonchalantly.
“My instincts tell me that the patient is very closely related to Dr. Harrington.”
“You mean the patient is connected to Dr. Harrington, not Mr. Harrington?”
Pim glanced at Suzy. Pim, being a longtime friend, knew about Suzy’s old crush. So it was natural for her to be curious as a friend.
“Yes, exactly.”
“What do you mean by that? Stop beating around the bush and just say it.”
“I saw Dr. Harrington having a serious conversation with his father. And that patient… they were about our age.”
“……”
Although Mia wasn’t sharing anything shocking—Suzy already knew some of it—Mia’s confident expression made it seem like she was letting Suzy in on top-secret information. Pim shrugged, unimpressed.
“But even so, can we really be sure that the patient is related to Dr. Harrington?”
“Do you think I’d make a claim like that without solid proof?”
Pim chuckled.
“She’s his girlfriend. I heard him say it.”
“…Dr. Harrington?”
“Yes. I heard it myself. He spoke quietly to keep it secret, but too bad—I heard it anyway. Why would his girlfriend be secretly hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the abdomen? Isn’t that intriguing?”
Pim watched the smile fully bloom on Mia’s face and clicked her tongue in amusement.
“Interesting? She barely survived being shot! That’s typical of you, Mia Tanaka.”
“I just find it interesting—the story between Dr. Harrington and his girlfriend. Don’t make me sound weird.”
The two continued their playful banter. Suzy, who had been quietly listening, raised her eyelids in surprise.
“Are you saying the patient is Dr. Harrington’s girlfriend?”
Suzy’s voice rose without her realizing it.
“Why are you shouting all of a sudden?”
Mia was startled, clutching her chest.
“No, I mean… the patient who got shot in the abdomen is Dr. Harrington’s girlfriend?”
“Yes. Didn’t you hear what I said? Anyway, it’s a secret, so don’t tell anyone.”
Suzy sank into her thoughts, occasionally taking a sip of her cocktail. The shocking truth made it hard for her to think clearly.
Lucas actually had a girlfriend. The man who seemed to have no interest in women had somehow found one.
“It’s a bit strange to think of Dr. Harrington having a girlfriend.”
Liam smiled and took a hearty sip of his beer.
“Exactly! I never thought I’d witness something like this before my residency ended. And that girl seemed fully Asian. Is that Dr. Harrington’s type? Well, then I might actually have a chance—half my blood is Asian.”
Mia, oddly excited, continued chatting away. Suzy silently raised her hand to reorder her beer. Perhaps the thought that she might finally have to give up her long-time crush on Lucas made her heart ache.
She didn’t want to be the fool confessing to a man who already had a girlfriend.
“Laaaaet’s gooooo! Let’s go!”
Suzy staggered, linking arms with Pim and Liam. Liam looked relatively relaxed, but Pim’s exhaustion showed under her eyes.
“Liam, do you know why Suzy is drinking so much tonight?”
Suzy wasn’t the type to drink to relieve stress. Pim couldn’t understand her sudden binge.
“No idea. I’ve never seen Suzy drink this much. Could she have some personal stress?”
“What could it be? She hasn’t told me, so it must be serious.”
Pim and Suzy usually shared everything. They knew each other inside out, yet now Suzy’s mood was completely baffling.
“Ah! Wait!”
Liam suddenly stopped as if he remembered something.
“What? Did you remember something?”
“Earlier, Suzy clearly muttered something to herself.”
“What did she say?”
“She said it’s over. Completely over.”
“Over?”
“Yes. No subject, but clearly ‘over.’”
Pim lowered her eyes and focused. She thought she might know why Suzy was struggling so much. Maybe she was disappointed to hear Lucas had a girlfriend—but then she realized that wasn’t it. She had already been rejected for the second time recently. A new girlfriend shouldn’t shake her heart now.
“Liam! I think I know why.”
“Why?”
“Suzy wants to quit being an intern. She’s realized what surgery really is and wants out.”
“Wasn’t she aiming for surgery from the start? She’s giving up this fast?”
Liam looked puzzled. During their one-year internship, six months were in general surgery and the rest rotating through other departments. Only three months in, and she’s already worn out?
“Sounds right. That’s why she said ‘over.’ Let’s treat Suzy well from tomorrow.”
“Yes, we should.”
The two exchanged glances and nodded. They also didn’t forget to look at Suzy, still staggering and closing her eyes while walking, with sympathetic eyes.
“Good morning, Dr. Harrington!”
“Good morning, Dr. Harrington.”
As soon as he entered the ward, greetings flew toward Lucas from all directions. He nodded indifferently. Overly bright smiles, constant attempts to speak, and overly eager approaches were always a little too much.
That’s why Suzy’s constant displays of affection were overwhelming at times.
Lucas headed to the lounge, wearing his coat and opening his laptop. He checked EMRs to see if any new patients had been admitted or if there were any emergency requests overnight—a routine he always followed before having his morning coffee.
Having fully grasped what had happened in his absence, Lucas finally got up. As he brewed coffee, he heard the door open and naturally turned his head.
Suzy entered, and upon seeing Lucas, she held the doorknob and turned her back. Then she adjusted her stance, finally facing him.
“Oh, good morning, Dr. Harrington.”
Lucas looked at her face.
“Good morning.”
A simple, formal morning greeting. But for some reason today, something about Suzy seemed… different.
