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Everyone was standing straight, legs attached close and eyes, unblinking, set at an authority figure--he was clad in the long white coat and stood tall in front of them. Everyone was jittery, hands clammy, and a bundle of nerves mixed with excitement. It was the first day after all. Low chatters and murmurs filled his ear and Putter took a deep breath in as he stood amongst the interns in the hall of the cardiothoracic department. When he saw the name of their welcoming attending, he felt his heart having tachycardia.
“I heard from our seniors that being put under Dr Pakorn supervision would be hell.” Putter heard the girls as they whispered with each other.
“Why?”
“They said that he’s strict...and scary”
“But,” the girl’s eyes scanned the doctor, taking note of his features, “he’s easy on the eyes. I wouldn't mind getting scolded by him tho?”
“True...Do you think he’s married?”
Putter muted them and stared at the handsome doctor in front of him. He was definitely easy on the eyes. The doctor was busy staring down at his clipboard, noting every detail as he jotted down some notes on it and sparing none of his attention to the group of people in front of him.
He is Dr Pakorn Thanasrivanitchai, from the cardiothoracic surgery department. One of the best in this hospital. His achievement was something Putter could ever dream of. He idolised the doctor a lot, especially when someone like Dr Pakorn existed, it was hard not to be enamoured by him. Though he admired him, Putter had to admit after seeing him face to face, Dr Pakorn emitted an intimidating presence to bear with.
“Breathe, dude. You’ll die before we even start,” a boy whispered. Putter turned to see the boy, maybe older from him by a few years. He took in the boy's appearance, strong set of jaw and determined round eyes. He smiled at him as he took a deep breath before thanking his fellow resident.
“I’m Putter.”
“Bhu. Let's do our best together.” Bhu smiled and Putter welcomed his greeting with a huge smile.
“Had your fill of chit-chats yet?” Dr Pakorn's voice broke through their chatter and like a spell, pulled everyone back to their feet and sewed their mouth shut. The background noise of the ward began to fill their ears, sharpening their spatial awareness of where they were currently standing. The place where people get their heart fixed. Putter gulped as he stood back up straight, counting his breaths as his eyes focused on the attending standing in front of him.
Dr Pakorn placed the chart on the counter, not before telling the nurse his instructions as he dismissed them. Putter heard one of the nurses teasingly told the doctor to play nice which the doctor laughed at as he sent the nurse off to do her job. He eyed the fresh batch of interns, taking his time studying everyone, and saying nothing. He smiled sweetly as he noted the young faces and Putter’s heart skipped at the sight. The rumour was right though, he thought because Dr Pakorn possessed the sweet saccharine smile that could make anyone drop to their knees. Or, at least, his knees were feeling wobbly.
“Okay, we’re starting with four people this year. Now, I’m Dr Pakorn, and welcome to the cardiothoracic department," Dr Pakorn grinned, standing straight with confidence, and his tone sharp and clear.
Putter gulped, feeling the jolt of electricity shooting through his nerves as somehow Dr Pakorn appeared even more intimidating than he already had. He gulped and his throat felt like he just swallowed acid. Putter counted his breath again, telling himself to breathe and relax, but not too lax or he had a feeling he would die if he did that.
"I’m gonna make this simple. Do your best and you’ll pass this residency,” Dr Pakorn said, crossing his hands in front of his chest. “And, I don’t tolerate tardiness. As of this moment, your time is never yours to own. Your time belongs to the hospital, to your patients, so I expect everyone here to respond to each of my calls, no matter what. Observe and learn, and most importantly make use of everything here to develop yourself.”
Putter could feel his heart drop, feeling listless at the commands, and overwhelmed by the sheer pressure dropped onto his shoulder. He shared a look with Bhu, who was giving him the same pitying smile as they listened to Dr Pakorn’s welcoming speech.
“Your shift will start at 7.30 AM and ends at 6 AM the next day. Take note of your schedule, I won’t hear any excuse. But, that being said, don’t expect your shift will end exactly on time. Make good use of the resident area,” he said, smirking a tad wider when he caught the interns trying to hold back their groan at the thought.
Putter was saying goodbye to any semblance of a normal sleep schedule.
“And, a friendly reminder, don’t let me catch any of you slacking off--”
“--or there'll be hell to pay,” someone interrupted the handsome doctor and everyone's attention was then shifted to the newcomer walking down from the entrance. A wide smile etched on his face as he made his way down the hall.
“Max,” Dr Pakorn sighed, his tone sounded displeased at the presence of the newcomer. The tall man walked around to stand with the interns.
“Tully, are you done with the welcoming ritual?” he asked, grinning brightly. “Let’s get breakfast.”
Dr Pakorn sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before ignoring the other doctor and focusing back on his intern. “Everyone, Dr Nattapol, from Neurology. He'll be responsible for you when you have your rotation there.”
All of them turned their heads to the tall man--Dr Nattapol--and wai* as a greeting. Dr Nattapol was a striking man with the brightest smile he had ever seen. He gave out a different aura than Dr Pakorn. Friendlier.
“Hi, everyone. Just call me Max. I hope you’ll have a fun time here with us,” he smiled, waving his right hand at the fresh faces before turning back his attention on Dr Pakorn. “So, breakfast?”
And again, the handsome doctor ignored him and continued on with his briefing. He observed each and every one standing in front of him, with the exception of Dr Nattapol, before he dropped his next bomb. “I’ll be asking questions at any given moment and I expect you’ll be ready. Three outs and you’ll be packing your bags.”
And Putter felt like dying. How will he survive for five years?
“Aww, Tully...that’s harsh," Dr Nattapol laughed, placing his arm around the person standing next to him--which, unfortunately, was Bhu. Putter sent him his apologetic smile. "He is scary, right? But, don’t worry, he’s a real softie."
Putter could see the sweat forming on Bhu's forehead, clearly anxious to even move. Dr Pakorn sighed, as he shook his head before catching one of the nurse’s attention.
“Sister Fai before you leave, could you bring Dr Nattapol with you? He’s disturbing everyone here.”
And, Putter heard the nurse laugh. She caught the tall doctor and dragged him away with her. Dr Nattapol was then begging at her and said something along the lines that he worked hard to escape from his morning briefing and begged not to send him back there. It was a weird situation to be in, and he couldn’t put his mind on what to expect for the five years coming. It was eventful, that’s for sure. Putter thought about the contrasting characters displayed by the two doctors he had met and how could they work together.
“Okay, since the nuisance is gone. Let’s continue.” All heads turned back to Dr Pakorn as he smiled, and Putter didn't feel anything good from it. “Okay...now, impress me. Tell me what I don’t know about the heart.”
+++
“Dr Max, you’re here again?”
Putter was on his rounds when he saw the tall doctor again. The tall doctor was grinning sheepishly as Sister Fai slapped his back with the chart she was holding in her hand. He noticed that the doctor was seen in the cardiothoracic department more frequently than in his own department. Putter often spotted Dr Nattapol, standing beside Dr Pakorn, trailing him around the hospital. The handsome doctor often complained about the other’s presence and was visibly annoyed by him, but he never did do anything to prevent Dr Nattapol from going with his ways.
It was intriguing seeing the two interact with each other and Putter couldn’t help but to think that something was going on between them. They looked awfully comfortable to be sworn enemies. Although Dr Pakorn did, sometimes, end up scolding the neurosurgeon and chased him away. Only a few times, as told by the gossiping nurses. But, Dr Nattapol laughed and clung to the handsome doctor instead.
One time, Putter thought he was seeing things, but he once caught a smile drawn on Dr Pakorn’s face for a millisecond, after Dr Nattapol did something stupid, before he schooled them back to his usual expression.
He watched as Dr Nattapol rubbed his hands together in an apologetic manner when Sister Fai started to nag at him. He wondered how someone like Dr Nattapol could work in Neurology. Putter had this picture of people specialising in Neuro held a high value for discipline and hard work, studious and serious--someone like Dr Pakorn.
But, Dr Nattapol was the opposite of that. He was a ball of joy, everyone’s sunshine, and the embodiment of everything bright. He always had a smile on his face and his presence bright up every nook and cranny of a room. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought Dr Nattapol was a doctor from the Pediatric Department. He was friendly and a trickster was what his seniors often used those adjectives to describe the doctor. One could always count on Dr Nattapol for help. He was popular and everybody liked him. The tall doctor knew about that and he used it with confidence.
“What’re you thinking about?”
And, he felt a hard smack on his head. Putter rubbed the sore spot as he glared at the offender. Bhu stood beside him, holding his own notes close to his chest as he looked at the direction he’d been staring at earlier.
“P’Max is here again?”
Putter raised an eyebrow at the familiarity Bhu used. “Phi?”
“He told me to call him that...and he treated me to dinner last week.”
“An attending treated you to dinner? How did that happen?” He blinked, shocked by the sequence of events that happened. Bhu laughed as he placed his arm around Putter’s shoulder.
“I know right? During my shift at the ED last week, P’Max came to annoy Dr Sapol.” Putter raised his eyebrow. “Long story short, he invited me to eat with him and Dr Sapol. I freaked out at first, but they were cool. We talked a lot. P’Max said that being serious all the time isn’t his thing...and to call him P’Max because he’s not that old.”
Putter snorted--
“What’re you two doing? Are you done with your rounds?”
--and he jumped when he heard the voice behind him. They both turned to look at Dr Pakorn, observing them up and down. Shit. “I thought I’d told you--”
“We’d just finished everything up, doc,” Bhu immediately said, cutting the doctor off before he could reprimand them.
Dr Pakorn raised an eyebrow and Putter could feel his heart dropping onto the floor. “Give me the patient with pneumothorax stats.”
“The SpO2 is at 94%. His vitals are good. He showed no trouble breathing, less coughing. Nothing alarming detected.”
“His PaO2?”
“Satisfactory, we have to wait until he starts his physio session to be sure,” Bhu added.
"Good." Dr Pakorn nodded. He was about to walk away but stopped when he saw the two interns were still standing at the same spot. “Why are you still standing here?”
“We’re waiting for Sister Fai.”
“Huh?” He looked confused. Bhu pointed in the direction where Sister Fai and Dr Nattapol were at. Dr Pakorn sighed as he walked towards the duo. Bhu and Putter watched as Dr Nattapol's face brightened after seeing the handsome doctor and his arms immediately went after his waist. Dr Pakorn smacked him in the head and pushed him away before leaving Dr Nattapol behind. He wai* at Sister Fai, and with his bright voice, calling out for Dr Pakorn to wait for him as he ran after him.
“Those two…” Bhu tilted his head, as he tried to put things together.
“...are awfully chummy with each other.” Putter finished for him. They shared a look at each other before they shook their head, throwing away the speculation in their head about the two doctors.
“Is Dr Nattapol married?” Putter asked.
“He is.”
“He is?” Putter widened his eyes, shocked at Bhu's nonchalant answer.
“He’d shown it to me when I joined him and Dr Sapol for dinner...proudly said that he’s married to the love of his life for ten years. I also heard the nurses said that P’Max is always in his honeymoon phase with no respect for the singles,” Bhu nodded and he titled his head to look at Putter. “Is Dr Pakorn married?”
“Nothing that I’ve heard of.”
“Any wedding ring?”
Bhu and Putter looked at each other before they told each other to get back to work and went separate ways. Putter tried to remember any anecdotes from his seniors or the nurses if they’d mention Dr Pakorn’s status.
He remembered none.
+++
Putter was about to take a bite when he heard a loud laugh echoing in the cafeteria. He froze with his spoon halfway to his mouth. He looked up to see Dr Nattapol, making huge actions as he told something to Dr Pakorn. Putter couldn’t help but stare at two and he was surprised to find Dr Pakorn standing beside him. Dr Nattapol’s complaints drifted over them.
“--I just wanted to get that new machine, you know. A new MRI would be awesome but when the chief told me that it was too expensive and the old one is still functional, I held my finger up at him, with dramatic pauses and that, before I said my arguments,” he reenacted the scene in front of the other doctor. Dr Nattapol sighed as he said, “it’s not my fault he started screaming at me because he knew my points are valid.”
“You don’t need a new MRI, Max,” Dr Pakorn shook his head.
“That’s what he said,” Dr Nattapol grinned before he groaned when Dr Pakorn hit his chest with the tray. Dr Nattapol said his thanks as he grabbed the tray and he rubbed the sore spot.
“Good?” Dr Pakorn asked, smirking as he smugly eyed the doctor. The other just nodded and lined up behind the buffet.
“They do look go together,” Wantanee said, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Putter rubbed his chest, taking deep breaths to calm down his heart. She placed her tray on the table as she sat in front of the duo. Wantanee was also a first-year resident. She was one of the girls gossiping about Dr Pakorn during their first meeting.
“They?” Putter asked.
Bhu greeted Wantanee, as he made some space for the fellow resident.
“Dr Nattapol and Dr Pakorn.”
Bhu nodded, agreeing with Wantanee. The three looked at the doctors in question as Dr Nattapol laughed at something as he put a lot of sausage in his tray. Dr Pakorn was annoyed that he smacked the other’s hand to stop him from hogging all the food.
“Why’re you late?” Putter asked.
“Dr MD asked me to run errands for him.”
They turned their heads when there was a commotion happening between the pair at the line. And, to no one surprise, it was the bickering pair again. Everyone in the cafeteria paid no heed to them as if the whole thing was normalcy in the first place.
“Max, put that back!” Dr Pakorn yelled.
“Tully, you know I can’t say no to ice cream.” Dr Nattapol brought his tray away from Dr Pakorn’s reach, taking a step back.
“Max, no.”
“Max, yes,” he said, laughing as he walked away from the other.
“Although, they fight all the time--” Bhu said, looking at Putter and Wantanee, after seeing the two doctors, and Wantanee agreed, knowing what Bhu was about to say, and nodded like a bobblehead, “--you can feel the chemistry.”
“I know right,” Wantanee laughed, shoving her sandwich, eating like she just won an argument.
“Dr Nattapol is married though,” Putter threw that out and Wantanee gave him a look.
“To him, obviously,” Wantanee snorted and pointed at Dr Pakorn, as the two sat at the table near the windows, away from the crowd but close enough for them to listen in to the two doctors.
“I don’t see any rings on Dr Pakorn, and mind you, I have been watching him closely,” Bhu retorted.
“Bhu, he’s a surgeon. That’s normal,” Wantanee countered. They leaned in closer to each other, crowding the table. They looked at the glint on Dr Nattapol’s finger, shining blindingly, and serving as a reminder to anyone who tried to come onto him. Bhu raised his eyebrow, but Wantanee held up her carrot stick, pausing the man for saying anything further, “except for Dr Nattapol...he’s one of a kind.”
“Why’re we whispering?” Putter looked at the two of his friends. Then, they backed away slowly, sitting back up straight again.
“Max, stop eating this stuff.” They heard Dr Pakorn’s complaining and they turned to see the doctor shoving his salad to the man sitting in front of him. “Meiko told me about your check-up last time.”
“Urgh, it’s really nothing...and what’s the relation between my neck and me eating ice cream?” Dr Nattapol whined, pushing the bowl of greens away from him.
The trio shared a look and continued to eat their food, while quietly listening to the two doctors.
“My neck is an occupational hazard, Tully.”
“Just, eat the salads,” Dr Pakorn said.
Then, they heard Dr Nattapol complain about Dr Pakorn working while they’re having their lunch. Again, they started to naturally fight about it.
“Oh...they’re married, for sure,” Wantanee concluded.
“But, I can only see them fighting?” Putter questioned.
“Shhhh, you don’t know how marriage works, young padawan,” Wantanee said.
“Nee, you aren’t even married,” he said, but Wantanee wiggled her finger at him, ignoring Putter as she watched the two doctors. Putter shook his head before he glanced at Bhu, who was like Wantanee, was engrossed in watching their attendings bickered back and forth. He sighed, he didn’t know why his two friends were so into this drama between the two doctors.
“Look guys, how about if we asked them if they’re married?” Putter shrugged.
Wantanee held him in place, eyes wide. “Are you crazy?" She let out a scandalous gasp and said, "do you want to be killed by You-Slack-And-I’ll-Kill-You-Pakorn?”
Then, Dr Nattapol groaned when his pager buzzed. They heard Dr Pakorn worriedly telling him to slow down because he was eating as much as the short time permitted. Then, he saw Dr Nattapol run past them, leaving the cafeteria in a haste. They turned their head when suddenly Dr Pakorn yelled for the other doctor, but Dr Nattapol was no longer seen in the cafeteria. He sighed as he quickly ate what’s left of his food and held something that looked like a plastic box in his hand.
Dr Sapol stopped Dr Pakorn in his way.
“What’s the haste?”
“Max forgot his pager, again. Gotta catch him before he goes into OT.”
Dr Sapol laughed as he let Dr Pakorn go. The group laughed when Dr Sapol told about the chaos before and Putter swore he caught something Dr Sapol said.
“Only Tul can stand that manchild.”
Putter came to Wantanee smiling knowingly at him. She hit the table, drawing attention to her. “3000 baht, I say they’re married," she looked at the empty table that the two attending occupied earlier, "to each other."
“3000 baht. They're married.” Bhu winked and he fist-bumped Wantanee. Then, the two looked at Putter, waiting for him to say something.
“No-uh...no way. I’m not playing into this,” he snorted, standing up and he left the two behind.
Putter ended up betting half the amount, since that was the amount of money he could afford, and said that their two attendings are married as well.
+++
Wantanee collapsed beside them, sighing as if she'd landed on the fluffiest piece in the world as she felt the sofa pressed against her back. The resident’s sofa was the most uncomfortable piece of furniture in the hospital, but every time, after the dreadfully long hours, most residents opt to collapse on that piece of wood first. She groaned, loud, telling everyone in the room how tired she was. Putter looked at Bhu, asking him with his eyes. Which, the latter shrugged his shoulder and laughed.
“Why the long face, Miss Wantanee?” Putter asked, drawing out the last syllable as he laughed at her.
“Why doesn’t Dr Nattapol play something other than anime songs?” she groaned, sitting up straight, and sighed when the sound of joints cracking resonated in their ears. Bhu was telling her to get hydrated as he threw a bottle of water to her. Wantanee caught it with ease, thanking him before downing it quickly. “Anyway, what’re you doing here in neuro, Putter?”
“Aww, I can’t?” the boy pouted, earning a kick from Wantanee.
“He played Bodyslam too,” Bhu said suddenly, and the two looked at him confusedly before it clicked. Putter laughed as Wantanee groaned loud.
“Like that’s any better,” she said.
“Dr Pakorn is the same,” Putter added, earning a confused look from his two friends. He forgot that the two haven’t joined any operation with the handsome doctor. “P’Fai, the cardiothoracic senior resident, told me that he only played Ed Sheeran during his operation.”
Wantanee laughed, clutching to her stomach after the information was processed in her mind. “They’re truly match made in heaven. I’m 100 percent sure they’re married.”
Bhu shook his head, throwing some snacks to her in attempts to get her sane again. “How was your first observation?” he asked.
She paused, eyes wandering around and she made a loud humming sound. “I’m not picking Neuro as my specialty,” she said after a moment of thinking.
Putter and Bhu laughed. “It must be not that bad.”
“It's that bad. I’m picking Ed over anime, anytime,” she shrugged a finality, leaning back onto the sofa. She complained about the hard texture when her body recalled back the stiffness of the old sofa.
“Are you sure you want to hear some love song while watching someone's heart being cut open?” Putter gave her a teasing idea and he wiggled his eyebrows.
Wantanee expression grimed, holding a finger up. “Uhh, on second thought, you know what, I’ll just go for GS. Dr Foei is nice.”
“It’s only been a month, you have plenty of time to get used to Dr Nattapol’s anime music,” Bhu suggested.
“Heavens, no.”
The trio's attention was stolen by the sound of the door being pushed open, and they immediately stood up straight, a knee-jerk reaction cultivated after being a resident for a month. The fear developed after having Dr Pakorn caught them fooling around during the first week of residency. The sigh of relief simultaneously came out when they saw MD came into the room.
“Hey, guys,” he grinned after looking at the neurology’s resident for the week, and found another familiar face, “hey, Putter.” MD showed the bags in his hand, and the delicious smell wafted through the room. “Food?”
They cheered, welcoming the senior resident with very, very open arms. They cleared out the table, making space for the godsent food. The smell was making them crazy and on cue, their stomach started to make noise. MD laughed, understanding the first-years misery and telling the interns to sit down. They gouged the spread on the table, silence quickly taking over the room.
“What do you guys have after this?” MD asked, after seeing the trio slowed down. One by one, they were leaning back onto their chair, sipping the nice cold beverage from the stock in the fridge.
“Rounds,” Wantanee and Bhu said before sighing heavily.
“I’m observing Dr Pakorn for a heart surgery after this,” Putter said, eyes sparkling in anticipation.
“Uhh, nice. What’s it about?” MD asked.
“Transplant. On a nine-year-old boy, he has been on the list for five years so I’d heard.”
“Who’s staying here next week?”
Wantanee and Bhu looked at each other, shaking their heads. “None. ED for us.”
“Putter?”
“I’m joining paediatrics,” he answered, jumping at the thought of finally having his rotation there.
“How come the two of you’re still together?” MD pointed his finger at both Wantanee and Bhu, questioning the trio scheduled.
“We aren’t the one who came up with the rotation, Phi,” Wantanee rolled her eyes, snorting at the senior questions.
MD laughed. “True....but, too bad none of you'll be joining Dr Nattapol.”
“Why?” Putter asked.
“Well, it's the acom aneurysm surgery. I'm so excited to see that,” MD said, voice getting higher and he kept leaning forward from his chair. “And P’Max is doing it, definitely worth seeing. And not to mention, I’m assisting him in that surgery.”
“Man, I want to see it,” Bhu said.
“Count me out,” Wantanee groaned, remembering the experience she’d been through.
“Don’t mind her, she just got out from the OR after listening to anime songs for seven hours,” Bhu said.
“The same anime song, again and again, fyi,” Wantanee complained. “I can still hear it inside my head.”
“Ahhh, his focusing song.” MD laughed. “What surgery what’s it?”
“EC-IC bypass.”
“He let you in that? Lucky.” MD frowned, eyes wide with surprise. “I remember during my first year, it was, hmm, he played you know the anime, Berserk. I think he told me it was the opening song of the anime,” MD remembering back to his first observation as an intern, “and it was a tumour removal surgery. Nothing too complex, the location was away from the motors and any major nerves so it’s not that exciting. Be thankful you got to watch his handwork in EC-IC bypass...I'm so jealous.”
Bhu laughed while Wantanee groaned, exasperated that no one seemed to be sympathising with her.
“How can you stay with Dr Nattapol?” She whined.
“‘Neuro is my passion,’ my first-year self said,” MD laughed, offering Wantanee a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “But, you’ll get used to his focusing song. I’d learn to mute them out and you'll too, sooner or later. And P’Max is a good mentor, surprisingly.”
“Surprisingly?” She arched an eyebrow.
“I said what I’d said. That man's a genius, despite his appearance. And, that’s the point of the first year, it’s to find what you're passionate about, and also finding a good mentor.” The senior grinned, shrugging his shoulders. “By the way, I heard from Dr Meiko, there’s a baby with CHD and Dr Pakorn is operating on her next week,” MD said.
Putter nodded.
“Isn’t a transplant better?” Wantanee asked.
“She’s a baby. It’s hard to find a suitable heart that can fit in her. Mostly we can do it to try and maintain the heart so she could survive until then,” Putter explained.
“Man, those two are seriously booked. I wonder if their lovers are okay with it. Last week, I heard Dr Pakorn had a week straight full with operations,” Bhu said.
“Oh, you three don’t know who is P’Tul’s husband?” MD suddenly said, and like kittens intently watching the laser move, the three turned their heads at the senior.
“You mean he’s married?” Bhu asked, almost dropping his empty can of juice.
“Told you he’s married.” Wantanee grinned, clapping her hands as she celebrated the fact that she got it right
MD shrugged as he said, “well, it’s not exactly a secret. He didn’t really hide it.” He chuckled and was about to say something more when his pager buzzed. He took out the device and read the text, groaning after comprehending the message. “Gotta go, Dr Sapol paged me for the ED.”
He stood up and hurriedly walked to the door before pausing. He turned to face the interns again and said, “finish the food okay. And if P’Max comes, don’t give him any, understood?”
They watched as the door slid shut with a loud thud, followed with heavy steps, consecutive rapid steps, a telltale that the senior was running in the hallways. The emergency department was quite a generous distance from the neurology department, and when it was a summon from emergency, one needed to be fast.
“I told you they’re married,” Wantanee said again, smugly declaring her win.
“Wantanee, they could be married to someone else for all we know,” Putter countered back, not letting her have her way.
“I’m still winning my bet.”
+++
“I’m finally going back home to my bed,” Bhu groaned as he closed his locker door and he spotted Putter sitting on the bench. “Hey.”
Putter chuckled, changing his shoes as he was already in his scrubs. “Rough night?”
“Boring,” Bhu stretched his arms up, loosening the tight muscles. He massaged the back of his neck as his eyes looked at the younger, “You’re early.”
He shrugged, locking his locker door. Hands in pocket, as he stood in front of Bhu. “Let me send you out.”
“I parked my car in the basement.”
They walked together, with Putter reminding Bhu to eat and not to go straight to sleep when he reached home. It was a short journey and soon they saw the black car in the parking lot. They were standing at the entrance door when a slick grey BMW stopped in front. And then, the familiar silhouette of Dr Pakorn was spotted, coming out from the said car. Putter and Bhu squint their eyes, taking a closer look at the driver. As the windows rolled down, Putter cheered silently. But it died as soon as it came when Dr Nattapol appeared, sitting at the driver seat.
“Tully, remember your mum is coming for dinner, so I’ll pick you up at five. Don’t be late.” Dr Nattapol handed a thermos to Dr Pakorn, telling him not to forget to have his breakfast.
“I know, you’d said plenty last night.”
“I’ll pick her up at the airport, so you don’t have to worry.”
Dr Pakorn nodded, frowning. “Tell mum, sorry I can’t get away.”
“She’ll understand and her favourite son-in-law is picking her up, she’ll forgive you.”
Putter and Bhu's eyes went wide, as they listened further to the two as they talked. What was happening?
“Oh, hey... Bhu, Putter,” Dr Nattapol, spotting the two interns and he greeted them. “Nightshift?”
Bhu nodded. “Just me. I’m about to head back.”
Dr Pakorn turned to greet them. “Putter? What’re you doing here so early?”
Putter bowed to the doctors, moving to stand by Dr Pakorn’s side and greeted Dr Nattapol as well. He looked at the two doctors, gulping down his surprise as he said, “I plan to...get some studying done before my shift.”
Dr Pakorn nodded, jutting his lips in approval, before turning back his attention to the man inside the car. “I’ll go now, give my hugs to mum,” he said, and in a tone that Putter only heard when he conversed with kids. So full of love and care, tender, sweetly saccharine.
Dr Nattapol, daringly, leaned closer and he brought out his cheek. He pointed at them as he wanted Dr Pakorn to do something about it.
A kiss? A kiss? Putter was losing his mind. A freaking kiss in front of the hospital car park entrance?
“Maxi, we’re at work.”
“Aww, you haven’t clock in yet.”
He couldn’t believe he was seeing this blatant display of affection in front of his eyes. In front of the hospital’s entrance. He should have listened to his gut feeling.
“You’ll have to settle with this, okay?” Dr Pakorn cupped Dr Nattapol’s right cheek, rubbing his thumb on the skin. Putter could see his gaze on the other, soft and full of admiration.
“You’re no fun,” Dr Nattapol pouted and held the hand on his cheek before he turned his head to plant a soft kiss on the palm. “But, I still love you. Good luck with the surgery,” he grinned before turning his attention to his residents. “Bye, guys.”
Dr Pakorn shook his head, smiling as he watched the car drove away from the hospital. “What am I ever going to do with you, Maxi.”
And he walked inside, leaving Bhu and Putter alone to their own demise.
“They’re married to each other,” Putter said out loud, letting the fact settle in.
“Wantanee was right,” Bhu agreed, exhaled the breath he was holding in.
“Yeah,” Putter nodded. They looked at each other, looking at the brightening sky.
“P’MD was right too. They don't even try to hide it.”
“How could Wantanee not know?”
Bhu shrugged and they stayed silent for a while. The shock hasn’t faded out, yet.
“Should we tell her?” Putter asked.
Bhu frowned, before he snorted, finding the whole situation amusing. “Nah, let her figure it out on her own.”