Work Text:
Gaeul: Noona, I’m sorry but I can’t pick you up tonight. The snow piled up high and I can’t seem to pass Yulje. I’m sorry to keep you waiting.
Gyeoul sighed as she read her brother’s message. “Oh well”, she muttered to herself. Gyeoul was about to walk straight to the bus stop when a familiar, cold voice called her.
“Jang Gyeoul seonsaeng?” Gyeoul whipped her head to where the voice came from and saw Professor Ahn Jeongwon in his car. “Are you going home?”
“Ne, I was about to walk towards the bus stop.”
“The snow blocked most of the main roads. Come in, I’ll give you a ride.” Gyeoul was shocked to hear his professor-crush invite her for a ride home. He sounded so casual. Gyeoul thought. Jeongwong must’ve realized his casual invitation and cleared his throat.
“The GS lone resident should stay safe, healthy, and warm. I don’t want to be nagged by the other professors, especially Ikjun for not taking care of you.”
Ah, it was his duty . Gyeoul sulked for a while. Of course, it was Prof. Ahn Jeongwon’s duty to take care of his resident and grow into a good doctor. Nothing more, nothing less. She was about to bow her thanks and goodbyes to Jeongwon when a series of realizations and “truths” hit her:
- Ahn Jeongwon is leaving for Italy at the end of the year to become a priest.
- It’s Christmas eve, a few hours until Christmas.
- Christmas is a day full of miracles.
And a miracle she chose to do. Gyeoul bravely surrendered to her superior and entered the vehicle. Gyeoul thought that since this was her last night to spend with Prof. Ahn Jeongwon, she’d take another risk to spend her personal time with him. This will be her last chance to confess her feelings. Her last chance to ask him to stay. Her last rejection from Ahn Jeongwon.
The car was warm and adjusted to her liking. Jeongwon took her bag and placed it at the back, then reached out to her seatbelt and buckled her in place. He might not have noticed Gyeoul hitched at their close proximity. She wasn’t used to going out with him in their casual clothes. They were always in scrubs. The colors blue and white became their identity. Blue suits her anyway, especially denim.
Denim also suits the 40-year-old beside her. He wore a denim jacket over his plain black t-shirt, sporting his classic slacks and sneakers. Anyone who passes by him would never think of him as an old bachelor. Probably that’s why nurses swoon for him, even Jang Gyeoul.
Gyeoul also wore her signature denim. She’ll never go wrong with it but somehow this Christmas eve, she looked extra with her hair down and a dark coat to keep her warm on winter.
Throughout the ride, Jeongwon and Gyeoul were silent. No one tried to ask about their day, their plans for Christmas, or even their patients but as each second passed by, Jeongwon’s curiosity cup was close to overflowing. He’s curious about a lot of things about his resident.
Is she really engaged? Is it considered cheating if I gave her a ride home? Am I disobeying the 10 Commandments for liking an engaged woman? What are her plans for Christmas? Is she hungry?
Jeongwon was about to open his mouth, about to ask Jang Gyeoul one of the many questions he has thought when Gyeoul’s stomach rumbled loudly.
“Mianhaeyo, gyusonim.” Gyeoul tucked her head down low. This is the second time her stomach rumbled in front of Jeongwon. The first was during surgery with him. She wasn’t able to eat a proper meal throughout the day because of the back-to-back surgeries she had to assist. Jeongwon promised her a meal if their patient is well post-surgery but she doesn’t know when the offer will stand. Gyeoul kept on looking down, hugging herself and feeling embarrassed from her stomach’s rumbling.
“Gwenchanayo. Are you hungry? Would you like to stop and eat dinner?” Jeongwon was about to drive faster and stop by the closest restaurant when Gyeoul quickly grabbed his arm. “Aniyo gyusonim, it’s alright. I can eat at home.” The abrupt action from Gyeoul made Jeongwon step on his brakes. Fortunately, they are at the side of the road. His eyes widened at Gyeoul touching and squeezing his arm. He looked at Gyeoul and saw her worried eyes. He gave her a soft smile and held her hand. “Don’t worry. Let me treat you anything you want. I promised you a meal, didn’t I?” Jeongwon squeezed her hand, assuring her that it’s alright.
Gyeoul was breaking down.
Not because of the embarrassment of being hungry at an ungodly hour inside her professor’s car but because of Ahn Jeongwon holding her hand and lovingly looking at her with a smile painted on his face.
Gyeoul was shocked, speechless, and red. She gave him a bashful smile and looked at the hand that shared Jeongwon’s warmth. Her intentions of grabbing Jeongwon’s arm were pure. Since Lee Ikjun gyusonim always complained about Jeongwon being a miser, she didn’t want him to spend a lot for a mere dinner. She could just fix herself a bowl of instant ramen at home and call it a night. Hell, she might even skip eating tonight because she was too tired from all the patients she had to attend that day.
“If you insist, gyusonim. I’d like……”
The smell of spicy tteokbokki surrounded them throughout the whole ride. Gyeoul opted to have her food packed and eat them at home. Jeongwon complied with her request and paid for all of her food and snacks good for two. The least I can do is make her happ y. Jeongwon thought and took a peek at Gyeoul munching on her kimbap. She looked like a bunny munching on her fresh carrot. The sight of Gyeoul in her casual clothes, munching on kimbap rather than ramen was a sight he truly enjoyed. His right hand was about to reach for her head when he noticed something missing in her finger.
“Where’s your ring Jang Gyeoul seonsaeng?”
Gyeoul stopped midway from eating half of her kimbap roll. Fortunately, the question didn’t cause her to choke, or else she’ll make a mess inside the car. She placed her kimbap roll down and looked at Jeongwon. He was looking straight at the road, nearing the apartment Gyeoul lives (according to the GPS).
“Gyusonim.”
“Mhmm.”
“I, I’m actually not engaged.”
“We’re here- huh?”
They were already in front of the apartment. Gyeoul’s answer shocked him to the core. He thought he was done for, that he had no chance; that he had committed a crime for liking and coveting someone who already had her heart. But Gyeoul’s heart stays and remains with and for him.
“I’m not engaged. The person who’s been bringing me to work and taking me home has been my brother. The flowers were fake. Gyusonim, I know this is so sudden but actually I like you.”
“It’s always you.” Gyeoul ended her confession at the strike of midnight. Jeongwon was about to reply when they heard a loud blast of music. Outside her apartment, the other residents of the building rushed outside, jumping up and down, singing Christmas songs, and sharing warm greetings with each other.
“Merry Christmas!” They hear the screams, squeals, and laughter of the children outside the car. The two doctors peeked at the driver’s window, with joyous smiles on their faces. Jeongwon looked back at Gyeoul, still smiling at the view in front of her.
“G-Gyeoulah.” The sudden banmal from her professor made her come back to her senses. She can’t believe that she just confessed at the strike of 25th. Gyeoul looked down but Jeongwon placed his hand on her face, lifting her head to look at him. He took his time to look at Jang Gyeoul, the woman who has captured his attention and heart the past few months. For the whole year, he denied his feelings, pretended to be uninterested, and acted cold towards her but it always lead to more yearning.
“Gyeoulah.” He said her name again. Gyeoul ‘s heart is beating fast like those taiko drum games at the arcade. She just confessed and had no idea what is happening or going on in Ahn Jeongwon’s brain. She can’t think straight with Jeongwon cupping her cheeks inside his warm car on Christmas day. She needed an answer, a clear one.
“G-Gyusonim?” Jeongwon was still rendered speechless. With his hands cupping her face, he gave him a soft kiss, closing the gap between them. Gyeoul was surprised at first, but immediately answered and responded to his kiss. I guess miracles do happen in December, especially on Christmas . Gyeoul thought as they both pulled back from the kiss.
“Gyeoulah.” He called her again. Gyeoul looked at her and bit her lip, still shy and red from the kiss they just shared. “I don’t know but in case you were curious, I’m staying.”
“Staying?”
“I’m not going to Italy.” Jeongwon grabbed Gyeoul’s hand and intertwined it with his. He brought their hands to his lips and kissed her hand. For the first time, Jeongwon yearned and prayed to have her. For the first time, Gyeoul yearned and prayed for him to stay.
For the first and never the last, the two Yulje doctors were thankful for this Christmas miracle in their lives.
“Merry Christmas, Gyeoulah.”
“Merry Christmas, Gyusonim.”