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“Good night, Bunnie” Cha Eun Jae would always whisper to her stuffed toy before going to bed. It was a habit that she had ever since she was a kid. Bunnie had given her comfort back when she was seven and had no one to play with because her oppa and unnie were always busy studying. Bunnie was the only one who was proud of her when she topped in her grade six class and she posted her report card at the refrigerator, but her parents were too busy praising her oppa for getting accepted in a prestigious college and her unnie for graduating high school valedictorian. Bunnie was the only one who hugged her when she cried herself to sleep on her last violin recital. Bunnie was the only one who knew her secrets in med school -- her feeling of emptiness after every periodical exam, her secret crush in bone club, and her infuriating classmate who’d always place second to her. And Bunnie was the one who dried her tears as she cried herself to sleep, when the anxiety of not being good enough became too much.
Bunnie’s ear was now hanging by a loose thread, and Cha Eun Jae carefully stitched her up. “Thank you for being there for me, Bunnie. It’s time for you to rest now.” she whispered. Bunnie no longer stayed in her bed but was now placed as decoration by her shelf on top of her desk. Bunnie no longer needed to accompany Cha Eun Jae during her difficult nights.
The door of her flat opened. Seo Woo Jin immediately greeted her wrapping his arms around her.
“Hey love, I’m home.” he kissed the back of her head.
Cha Eun Jae turned around to face her boyfriend.
“You’re early.” she pecked his lips and let it linger there.
“Mhm. I missed you. I stitched up my last patient as fast as I can.” he smiled through her lips.
Cha Eun Jae’s nights were more peaceful now. There would still be times she’d wake up at the middle of night, out of habit but no longer of anxiety. Just like tonight. She glanced at the boy beside her and snuggled closer to his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heart beating making it easier for her to fall back to sleep.
Seo Woo Jin now took the place of Bunnie. Seo Woo Jin was the one there for her and cheered for her when she received an award for her thesis paper and her parents were away on an overseas trip. Seo Woo Jin was the one who hugged her and consoled her when she cried herself to sleep because she couldn’t save her patient. Seo Woo Jin was the one who’d randomly give her piggy back rides on their dates, just because she felt like it. Seo Woo Jin was the one she talked to about anything and everything, laughing and arguing with her. And Seo Woo Jin was the one who always made her feel loved and beautiful.
And just before she fell back to sleep, she heard Seo Woo Jin mumble sleepily “I love you, Eun Jae-ah. I love you so much” and felt a kiss on her head. She now slept with a happy smile on her face.
[end]