Chapter 10
“You must have been surprised by the heavy bleeding during the incision, but you handled it well. Honestly, I was a bit surprised.”
“It’s nothing. Honestly, the incision isn’t that difficult a procedure.”
Suzy felt awkward accepting the praise.
Earlier, Suzy had handled the abdominal incision during a laparoscopic appendectomy. This was a rare opportunity for an intern.
Professor Kavil had given this chance to Suzy, who was only three months into her internship.
Perhaps it was because she had fallen out of favor with Professor Crowell after the VIP patient incident. Either way, Suzy felt especially grateful to Professor Kavil.
“You’re too modest, Suzy. Look around. There are people here who aren’t as skilled as you, yet they brag endlessly about themselves.”
Suzy understood exactly what Liam meant. Even though she was an American by nationality, her Korean heritage made humility a core value.
But Americans often misunderstood humility as a lack of confidence. They could inflate their achievements from a 10 to 40 or 50 with ease. Suzy, who had always quietly studied in the background, never flaunted even a perfect score. Despite feeling foolish, she couldn’t shake her instinctive modesty.
“You’re a pride among our surgical interns, Suzy. I’m grateful to have you here as an intern.”
“Thank you for saying that, Liam. You’re a really good friend.”
“Friend… for now, yes.”
When Suzy expressed her gratitude, Liam’s face briefly showed a hint of disappointment.
She wondered if she had misspoken, but Liam soon smiled brightly and continued.
“After the incision, your hands were trembling from tension. You don’t need to be so nervous, Suzy. You’re doing perfectly well, and you’re the ace among our interns. I mean it. Be confident.”
Hearing that he had noticed her trembling made a shadow fall across Suzy’s face.
“Seriously, I never make things up, you know that, right?”
Still smiling, Liam added, “Anyway, you’re our pride and ace in surgery. Work a little harder, and if it gets tough, tell me. Pim and I can do anything for you.”
“Thanks, I will, Liam.”
Even simple words of encouragement made Suzy’s heart swell.
“Don’t just say it, talk to us when it’s hard, Suzy. Got it? The surgical department at Solace Medical Center can’t run without you!”
“Well, I don’t think that’s true. I’m just one of the interns after all.”
Lately, she felt Liam and Pim were unusually attentive, though she didn’t know why. Maybe it was just her imagination.
“Finish your sandwich, Suzy.”
“I only got one bite because you kept talking.”
“Sorry, Suzy.”
Liam softened his eyes and pursed his lips.
“Just kidding, eat up.”
They paused their conversation to focus on eating. Eating a sandwich in the warm sunlight seemed to melt away the gloomy feelings of the past few days.
“But Suzy, hasn’t Mr. Harrington been staring this way for a while?”
“Huh?”
Suzy naturally looked toward where Liam was looking. Sure enough, Lucas was observing them with his arms crossed.
“Maybe he’s looking somewhere else?”
Suzy looked around, but apart from her and Liam, no one else was nearby.
“Right? He’s looking at us?”
Suzy nodded slowly at Liam’s question.
“Oh, maybe we were too relaxed. He might dislike seeing interns eating sandwiches leisurely.”
Taking a big bite, Suzy stood up.
“No, Suzy. It’s our right. Even as interns, we shouldn’t have to watch every move while eating.”
Liam smiled awkwardly toward Lucas, who seemed to be watching them.
“No, Liam. Looking for fairness as an intern is even more unreasonable. Let’s get moving.”
Suzy grabbed Liam’s arm, pulling him along. He mumbled but followed.
Lucas was having a short coffee break with Alexander in the Healing Garden. Distracted by the chatter, he looked up and noticed Suzy and Liam sitting close together, eating sandwiches. They looked unusually affectionate, perhaps because they had been medical school classmates for a long time.
Suzy had been acting strangely lately—avoiding eye contact, not smiling, speaking briefly. There had to be a reason, but he had no way of knowing.
“Mr. Harrington? Why are you staring?”
“Nothing. Just… nothing.”
Lucas slowly averted his gaze.
“That’s Dr. Bunak and Dr. Tan, right? The atmosphere between them seems unusual.”
Lucas’s smooth eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Dr. Bunak is always around them too.”
“Yes, but there’s something subtle about them. They must have a special bond since medical school.”
“Dr. Bunak graduated from the same medical school.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Alexander stopped his idle gossip and sipped his coffee.
Lucas hadn’t realized he had been staring at Suzy for so long. Only when she and Liam left did he notice.
Looking at them so closely, was it really necessary to worry? Were they more than just friends?
Lucas chuckled, while Alexander looked puzzled.
Outside Fields Corner Community Center in Dorchester, the Solace Medical Center’s medical bus was parked. A temporary tent was set up at the entrance with a banner advertising free health screenings.
Suzy arrived thirty minutes early for volunteer work. Pim was the first to spot her.
“Su!”
Pim embraced her warmly.
“Pim, you’re early. Did you have lunch?”
“Of course. A Thai would never skip a meal.”
They held hands and entered the medical bus. It was surprisingly spacious, with medical tools neatly organized. Familiar faces were there: intern classmate Elliot Howard and fifth-year chief resident Alexander Fairfax.
“Hi, Elliot. And Dr. Fairfax too.”
“Suzy, welcome.”
Alexander had grown up in a low-income American family and used his intelligence and diligence to achieve his dream of becoming a surgeon. With his good looks alongside Lucas, he was often talked about among female medical professionals.
