Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This was originally requested by Inisolation, with the prompt:

Workmates!Mitzu, with Mina having feelings for Tzuyu and not knowing how to confess so she asks her to join her to events, etc, etc.

This work is part of the When In Doubt, Call Tzuyu series, with a theme of unrelated one-shots of all of Tzuyu's unnies (and Chaeyoung) asking her help to save the day. And me wrapping it up with open-endings for the giggles (and with 6.14% chance of it getting a sequel).

This is the 6.14%.

This is for Riley017

For not giving up and for being patient. I hope it's worth the wait.

For your kind words, I remember reading it on a bad day, and it's why I can't forget.

Happy Holidays!

Chapter Text

"Okay look, we can do this. We did not shed blood and tears to give up now! All those years of studying… and giving up our social life—" Dahyun, always the light in their darkest hour tried her best to put up optimism in the small tight on-call room where her friends are lying lifeless at the top and bottom bunks.

"I can't even feel my legs anymore." Chaeyoung says, her voice muffled in the pillow.

Dahyun pressed her lips in a thin line putting her hand on her hip. If Chaeyoung, the one who usually would leap at sight of a challenge is giving up now, then she may have a problem in her hands. She turns at the bottom bunk and decided to risk it. "Tzuyu? Thoughts?"

"No thoughts. Head empty." Tzuyu says monotonal as she stared off the wall, munching on her biscuit... Her lunch.

Disappointed, Dahyun whines. "Oh come on, guys!! This is not the time to be weak--"

"Okay, that's easy for you to say. You're in Doctor Hirai's service for a month. That's rainbows and sunshines over there at Peds, not to mention she’s a God-sent. I was at Doctor Minatozaki's service and I'm convinced she hates me," Chaeyoung groans.

"Oh..." Both Dahyun and Tzuyu said in unison, understanding their friend’s pain. Being in the Cardio Rotation is every intern’s dream… only Minatozaki Sana is a very hard person to please.

Chaeyoung continues to rant, "She asked why I was late for 2 minutes on Rounds, and I was gonna say someone vomited on my scrubs and I had to change but then she asked me to intubate and I couldn't do it without shaking my hands. I'm dead.” Dahyun and Tzuyu are sure Chaeyoung is already crying at this point, until she says, “Anyone wants to exchange with me?"

Dahyun and Tzuyu immediately replies, "No thanks."

The trio… had been friends ever since Med School.  Dahyun and Chaeyoung were tight buds, being in the same Pre-Med Course, until Tzuyu comes in Med School winning them over that they did not hesitate to include her in their little group. From then on, they had been bestfriends and relied on each other through thick and thin. Dahyun has the right attitude, the optimism, Chaeyoung has the guts, and Tzuyu has the brains. Together, they survived Med School.

But no one told them internship is another level of hardship that’s gonna destroy their morale. Sure, they are in one of the best teaching hospitals in the country. Sure, being on practice is different than having the safety of the walls of the classrooms. But no one told them, there would be days they’d be walking on the halls of the crowd-packed hospital, aimlessly, questioning their purpose in life. (Yes, that’s how draining it had been for them)

Dahyun sighs and continues to pace. She had always carried the group’s morale and she’s not gonna stop now. "Tzuyu, who's service are you at?"

Tzuyu sighs and then says, "I don't know. I go where my feet takes me."

Dahyun looks at her dumbfounded, "What? Tzuyu, are you okay?" Tzuyu has always been stoic, but once she warmed up to them she would joke around too. But now, she’s staring off to nowhere, looking like she’s having war flashbacks.

"Cut her some slack. She was at the ER with Doctor Park and there were multiple trauma this morning."

Beep beep

And just like that, the switch was flipped. The three of them panicked, grabbing onto their devices to see if the unlucky one was them. That sound already scarred them, making them feel like it’s their version of Kill Bill Siren.

The first to pass through is Chaeyoung, sighing in relief, even pumping her fists on the air. "Thank God, it's not me. I swear Minatozaki-nim just calls to cut my head off and to tell me I'm not cut out for this--"

Dahyun grimaces, "She's not that bad."

"You're biased 'cause she flirted with you on the bar yesterday."

"She flirted with everyone--"

"Right. How can she be so cheerful and funny off-hours and be the Devil reincarnate at work?!"

"Wait, if it's not us then--"

The unlucky one, Tzuyu groans, "Yeah. It's me."

Chaeyoung bends her body and hangs her head on the side, upside-down to look at Tzuyu, who’s now sitting up. "ER?"

Tzuyu shakes her head, grabbing her coat folded nicely at the drawer adjacent to the bed. "Nope. I wish it is.” She sighs and looks at them with sad eyes, “It's Doctor Myoui.”

Dahyun and Chaeyoung smile, but Tzuyu rolls her eyes and frowns, “Probably needs me to get her lunch or something."

"Tzuyu--"

Also there it is. Myoui Mina is their resident, in charge of the new interns, their captain, so to speak. She's not really as scary as the other doctors in the hospital. She's actually pretty approachable: answers your questions dutifully, and teaches you hands-on on procedures. She would even give them hacks on how to survive any attending's rotation. So really, the trio couldn’t ask for a better resident. They could actually feel like they can actually learn something from their seniors, and that there’s meaning to all of this after all.

But times like this, Tzuyu wants to bang her head on a wall or something. She would understand Doctor Minatozaki’s torture. She’s one of the most cheerful person in the hospital but is very professional at work. She’s very strict with time and work ethics. So Chaeyoung’s torture is warranted. But Doctor Myoui…

5 months in and the petite doctor has suddenly started ordering Tzuyu around. Tzuyu can swear Mina has a sixth sense on Tzuyu just laying around and resting. And before Tzuyu knows it, she's sprinting towards where Mina is... Only to find Mina stoically waiting for her and giving her trivial tasks...

It went from updating her charts,

Giving verbal summary of all her cases,

Asking textbook questions,

To… Getting her a meal.

Getting her coffee, a shake, a frozen yogurt, oatmeal bars, even just opening up a bottle of water for her (Tzuyu was about to lose it)

Things that aren't necessarily supposed to be Tzuyu's job. But Tzuyu can only sigh. First day of internship, they told them they were interns, bottom of the Surgical Chain, foundation of the Authority Totem Pole.

Mina could ask Tzuyu to go to the moon, and Tzuyu would say, ‘Sure. Do you want me to get you a souvenir?’

Mina would click her fingers and Tzuyu would happily wag her tail and follow her around. At least she’s nice to look at, right?

"So you're crushing on the intern?"

"Okay, before you get mad--"

"Who said I'm mad?"

"Uhmm... The angry swirls in your paper could be one indication."

Sana looks down sheepishly. But stopped swirling. She leans in and puts her face on the palm of her hand, smiling fondly at Mina. She laughs and says, "I mean... She's pretty cute I guess."

Mina glares at Sana and Sana just giggles. Sana taps her nose and pinches it in return.

"You guess?” Momo scoffs, throwing her grape towards Sana. “She's the talk at my Department. The pretty intern with the legs to die for, and is actually pretty handy. As Jihyo said: she's like a robot. You ask for something, anything, and she delivers." Momo gushes and then pats Mina’s back almost saying, ‘Good choice.’ "Can't wait ‘till I have her on my service. When does her rotation in the ER ends?"

Mina smiles at Momo shyly and then puts her hair behind her ear. Sana would raise her eyebrow at the gesture. Mina turns to Momo and shrugs, "Jihyo requested her for another week. She's been fond of her."

Momo pouts and whines, "What happens to quality teaching and diverse experience? Come on... Let me have her!"

Sana laughs and says, "Jihyo can get whatever she wants. Ever since she’s been head of Trauma, they rarely lose patients in there. Surgeons should keep up.” At Momo’s whine and protest, Sana turns to her teasingly, “Ehh. Maybe I should have her instead. I need someone handy. You can have Son. That kid is gonna shit her pants even before she gets inside an OR."

The two attendings laugh, but Mina just shakes her head. “Don’t be too harsh. She’s alright.”

The three of them were interrupted by someone clearing her throat. Mina straightened her back, recognizing it.

A soft voice came flowing in, “Doctor Myoui, you paged?"

The trio had suddenly went quiet. Momo and Sana took a side-glance to Mina before turning their attention to the tall intern. Her brown hair is flowing at the side of her face and they took this time to admire her beauty. They know how stressful it could be, especially on their Post-Duty Shift… and Tzuyu for her part, looked like she just woke up from a beauty rest. Aside from her tired eyes, she looks like she’s just about ready to start a new cycle of shift.

Mina changed her expression. From having a soft and cheerful front, she now has a cold and reserved façade. She slowly looks up to Tzuyu and tried to calm her beating heart. She knew the girl has been busy on the ER and she wanted to congratulate her for a job well done. From a far, she can see Jihyo’s tired face, just now entering the Doctor’s Lounge, so she knew Tzuyu hasn’t eaten her lunch yet.

Calm down, Mina. You can do this.

She takes a sip from her drink, and Tzuyu would follow her movements with her eyes, hugging the pile of charts on her arms tightly. The stare of the two attendings is making her nervous.

Ask her to join you.

"Where are my charts?" Is what came out of Mina’s mouth.

Later she would reprimand herself, being the useless little bean that she is. And from the looks Momo and Sana are giving her, she knows they’ll be teasing her after this.

Tzuyu jumps a little on Mina’s snark. She hands the pile of charts to Mina slowly, careful not to drop anything. "Here...--"

Mina raises her eyebrow and looks at her, "Is this--"

Tzuyu nods, already knowing where this is going. "Yes. Organized from High-risk to Low-risk, just like you wanted. Are we doing rounds?"

Mina almost smiles, trying hard to mask being impressed, "We should. Have you reviewed them?"

"Yes... Do you want a verbal summary?"

"I'm eating my lunch... As you can see."

"Oh..." Tzuyu shifts her weight from one foot to another, not really sure why she's paged. Doctor Myoui looks like she doesn't really need her now. Actually, she felt like she just interrupted her private time, with the two attendings by her side, not hiding their smiles towards her. She looks at her resident's tray and realized she got a barely touched meal, a juice... And a banana. Uhm... Why else is she here? She shifts her weight from one food to another, and fidgets with her hands, "Do you need me to... Get you... Uhm... Dessert?"

Mina’s eyes widen, and Sana couldn’t stop herself from giggling. Tzuyu looks at them confused. Momo taps the table and says, "Tzuyu-ssi, have you eaten?"

Tzuyu would almost relax at Momo’s warm welcome. She always had the reputation of being the most approachable attending. Still, the presence of Sana in the table is making her nervous, having heard of Chaeyoung’s rant, so she stutters, "Y-yes, Doctor Hirai."

Momo side-eyes Mina’s dejected face and then turns to Tzuyu, looking at her amused, "Really? 'Cause I was gonna ask you to join us."

Tzuyu’s eyes widen. If she wasn’t busy panicking, she would’ve noticed Mina’s reaction as well and her kicking Momo under the table. "Oh uhm... That's very nice of you but I--"

Sana, amused with the situation decided to chime in. She was always Momo’s partner-in-crime and Mina had always been their baby. "Are you saying ‘No’ to your attending?"

Tzuyu gulps, "I mean... I can get some salad and a juice."

Sana raises her eyebrows at this.

Tzuyu just stood there and nods firmly, "Yes... I will! I'll be right back." She bows her head to her seniors and then started sprinting towards the cafeteria. Momo and Sana started laughing, with Mina glaring at them. And then Tzuyu stops, and then jogged back to them. As if on cue, the duo stopped laughing and Mina averted her eyes, suddenly finding her veggies interesting. Tzuyu bows again before speaking, "Do you want anything?"

Sana shrugs and takes a sip from her water. "Why don't you get us something? Go figure what we like. And I'll let you in on my surgery if you do get it right."

"W-what? Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking to you?"

Tzuyu’s eyes widen, recognizing Sana’s tone and then shakes her head profusely. "N-no!"

Sana smirks, enjoying Tzuyu’s reactions. She would admit she is adorable. She decides to mess with her more, "If you do get it wrong though...--" She narrows her eyes, looking darkly at Tzuyu and it made Tzuyu’s knees weak.

Thankfully, Momo intervenes, "Stop torturing the girl." No intern would survive without Momo. She turns to Tzuyu, "She's messing with you. Just get us what you're getting. And get Mina some--"

“Oatmeal bar with chocolate chips” Tzuyu answers, already memorized. Being Mina’s lap dog as Jeongyeon would tease her, she almost had Mina figured out.

The three at the table look at her amused and she would blush, looking away.

Before Tzuyu could turn away, Sana regards her, “Chou, don’t run.”

Tzuyu looks at her confused, but nods anyway. She bows her head and then started walking away… slowly, feeling conscious that she has three pairs of eyes on to her.

As Tzuyu walks away, the three couldn’t help but stare at her back with Momo nodding and saying, "Even with those scrubs, she has a nice ass."

Sana nods in agreement, training her eyes from the tall girl’s long neck down to her butt.

Mina rolls her eyes, and hits Momo's arm playfully. "You guys are mean."

"Oh, we're mean? You're the one paging her for no reason just so you can spend time with her."

"and stare at her ass."

"I'm not--"

In unison, Momo and Sana say, "Really?"

Mina whines and pouts, "Okay, fine. But what am I supposed to do? You told me to find a way for us to spend time together."

Sana glares at Momo. And Momo raises her hands in surrender. "I meant outside work. You know... Like ask her out. Not order her around."

Mina’s eyes widen, clearly panicking, "I can't ask her out! I... I'm her resident. Isn't that against--"

Momo snorts and says jokingly, "Sana had slept with tons of interns. I'm actually surprised she hasn't started in this year’s batch."

Sana gasps and points at Momo accusingly, "Hey! You're one to talk, aren't you--"

Momo cracks up and winks, "Actually, it's why I'm waiting till I have your cute little errand girl on my service. I'll make my move then."

At that Mina whines at the blonde on her right, "Hey!"

Momo snickers, hugging Mina, "Kidding."

"But really. Just ask her out."

Sana snorts, "Where's the fun in that?"

Sana is watching Mina on her phone with curiosity. Having known to be clingy when she’s off-duty, she didn’t hesitate to go behind Mina and hug her from behind.

Mina jumps at the gesture but relaxed immediately when she recognized who it was. “Sana.”

Sana hums and puts her head over Mina’s shoulder, snaking her hand in the girl’s front. “What got you smiling?”

Mina laughs lightly and leans in to Sana’s touch. “So… I followed Momo’s advice… and asked Tzuyu out.”

Sana gasps and her eyes widen at the information. Excited, she was ready to gush with Mina. Before she can speak though, Mina lowers her head and took it back, “Okay not really.”

That was quick.

Sana pouts and look at her curiously.

Mina shrugs, and slowly turns to Sana, not getting away from her hug. “I mean… I waited till her shift is over and offered to drive her home… and then said that we should get some drinks.”

At that, Sana had the same reaction but twice as comical.

Reading Sana’s mind, Mina took it back again. “It’s not what you’re thinking! We really just had two drinks because I noticed she really was tired and then I drove her home!” She can’t help but mumble, “I mean I guess that’s progress, right? Now I know where she lives…"

The gears are turning in Sana’s head and before Mina knows it she was being pulled aside, away from possible gossipers. Sana looks at her dead in the eyes and then inhaled deeply. Mina looks at her confused and Sana would think the two of them are really two sides of the same coin. “Listen, Minari. I know you can barely flirt normally. I mean sure, there were times that you’re cunty, but…  the first step here is… really just to ask her out on a date. And maybe lose the authorative tone, so she wouldn’t think you’d kick her out of your service if she says no.”

Mina tilts her head and chews on her lip. She seems to think about it but creases her eyebrows, “Okay, but didn’t you say to be creative? I was thinking, maybe now, I can drive her home and we can spend time together… talking. I mean we talked last night, and I learned little things about her. Did you know she likes to jog in the morning to clear her head?”

Sana smiled at how cute Mina is being but clicks her tongue. This might work with Momo and they love Mina to the moon and back but she really is on the other side of the spectrum when it comes to this. “Yes, but she’s on her Cardio rotation… which means you don’t really have the same schedule. Later, she’ll catch on and realize you’re just waiting for her… You catch my drift?”

Mina shakes her head.

Sana sighs in frustration, “Some would think, you’re being a stalker and coming on to her a bit hard.”

When Mina pouts, Sana was already ready to grab Tzuyu and make her date Mina. But she decided against it and cleared her mind. As Spiderman’s Uncle Ben once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Oh great. She’s quoting Marvel now. The DCU fan in her is seething.

“This is hopeless… I’m hopeless, right? Maybe it’s too soon for me.”

Sana’s eyes widen and shakes her head, now determined to console Mina. “Look, I’m 642% behind you on this, alright? If you think you’re ready for this, then you should go for it. Tzuyu is not her.”

Mina looks at her with sad eyes, not losing her pout. “Yes, but it’s wrong. She’s… She’s my intern. There has to be some rule? I’m already taking advantage of her… ordering her around and—”

Sana feels bad for Mina, now thinking them messing with her head has finally caught up to her. She squeezes Mina’s shoulder and then says, “If it’s consensual, then you’re not breaking any rule.” She hugs Mina and pats her head, making the resident lean into her. “I’m sure, if she gets to know you, she’d definitely fall for you. You’re amazing Mina, and you’re definitely anyone could ever ask for in a girlfriend. If Tzuyu can’t see it, then she’s not worth it.”

Mina looks up to Sana, saying softly, “That’s not what she said.”

Sana clenches her jaw, tightening her hold on Mina. She would blame the ex for ruining Mina’s self-confidence, for leaving them to put the pieces back together, for shattering Mina’s heart… for breaking Mina, their Mina… She can still remember on how devastated she is, on how she can barely function. So really no one can blame her if she’s ready to build a barricade around Mina and to stand on a post, ready to shoot fire on anyone trying to steal Mina’s heart. (Dramatic, she would agree, but Sana can be really protective of Mina)

It was a surprise for her when Mina told her she has a crush on someone… on an intern no less. Sana was delighted, ‘cause a year later and Mina has moved on! And the first thing Sana did was pull up Chou Tzuyu’s file and did a background check on her. If this is someone else, she would’ve been strict with the No Fraternizing Policy in the Hospital. But it has never caused an issue at the hospital. Most of the doctors had dated each other, really just going around to who’s available. So the next thing Sana did is pull strings to get Tzuyu on her service, and realized she really is what Park Jihyo claims her to be. Ace Tzuyu, is what they call her. The promising intern of this batch. It makes Sana more frustrated ‘cause she’s dead on set finding a hole to this girl’s façade.

The only hole she finds is Mina’s… way of flirting.

She’s not gonna blame the poor girl. In Mina’s past relationship, she was the one who was pursued, not the one pursuing. And with her and Momo as role models, she’s not really set off on a good start.

Chaeyoung puts her hand over Tzuyu’s shoulder as she peeks into Tzuyu’s post it. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Doctor Myoui likes you.”

Dahyun snorts and threw her stress ball to the air. “You mean, likes to order her around.”

Chaeyoung half-shrugs and then points to Tzuyu, “She’d always buy you a drink when we’re out and has been driving you home. And now you’re communicating through post its.”

Tzuyu puts the post it in her pocket and then turns to her friend. “The post it literally says the patient’s dosage.”

Chaeyoung shrugs and mumbles, “There’s a heart on it.”

Tzuyu rolls her eyes, “’cause he’s a Cardio patient.”

Chaeyoung narrows her eyes at Tzuyu, “Okay, but admit… that she doesn’t order you around anymore. She’s actually been nicer to you.”

Dahyun laughs and switches from one hand to another. “Doctor Myoui had always been nice.”

“But not to me.”

“Eh. We just have our own match. Doctor Myoui for you. Doctor Minatozaki for me. Doctor Park for Dahyun. At least their certain traits can be masked by how good they look.”

Dahyun winced, “Please don’t remind me. Tzuyu forgot to tell me ER is not for the faint of heart.”

Tzuyu laughs, “Who’s match is Doctor Hirai?”

Chaeyoung nudges her and says, “She’s our savior, alright? She’s the one who’s gonna help us survive internship and our residency when it comes down to it.”

Panic.

Chaos.

Mess.

Blood.

Everything was fine until it wasn’t.

For the first time in months since Tzuyu started her internship in Mina’s service, she had paged her. She’s never paged her. She’d always come running to her.

Code Blue.

She knows it can be life or death in the hospital but she never thought it'll be this bad. When Mina got onto the patient’s room, the patient was breathing heavily, there were blood on the floor, and Tzuyu is standing over the patient, with blood all over her scrubs and her coat… it really looked like something out of a gore film.

Tzuyu is keeping pressure at the side of the patient’s neck and Mina had never seen Tzuyu that stressed. Tzuyu’s eyes brighten at the sight of her, and maybe if this doesn’t look very bad, Mina’s heart would leap. “His artery blew, Doctor Myoui.”

“It’s okay, I’m right here.” Is the first thing Mina said. And at that time, she’d finally say, “You’re doing great.”

Tzuyu shakes her head, her eyes glistening, “My… my hands slipped a couple of times. And he’s losing a lot of blood. But it’s okay… I paged Doctor Minatozaki. She’ll fix this right?”

Mina bit her lip, handing Tzuyu gauze, “There’s no OR, they’re cramped in there.”

Tzuyu nods and blinked fast, “Okay, but she’s coming right? She’ll fix this… Doctor Myoui, his artery blew… this is High-Risk. Right?”

Mina nods and kept her poker face… for the sake of the patient and Tzuyu. She hands her a gauze and instructs her, “Keep the pressure.”

Tzuyu continued to do so but panics when Mina started leaving, “Please don’t leave.”

Mina looks at her softly then says, “You’re doing great. I’m gonna get Sana, alright?”

“Don’t leave… please, Doctor Myoui. I can’t—”

Mina looks at her pointedly and then says, “Yes, you can. You can do this. You will do this.”

“Chou, catch me up.”

Tzuyu sighs in relief, she never thought hearing Sana’s voice would give her this much hope. “I think the bleeding stopped.”

Sana walks up to her, wearing her gloves, “You think?”

Mina would glare at her. Sana leans into the patient as Tzuyu steps back. She takes a glance at Mina who’s looking at her expectantly and then smiles at the patient, “Yes, it did. Seems like Doctor Chou stopped the bleeding.” She steps back and turns to Tzuyu, “Good job.” She turns back to the patient and winks at him, “’told you you’re in good hands. Ace Tzuyu is here.”

The patient laughs barely, “Ace Tzuyu also said you can fix this. This looks very bad Doctor Minatozaki.”

Sana gave him a tight smile, “I’ll try my best.”

"It will most likely blew up again, we need to hurry." Mina says.

Sana nods and orders the room, “Doctor Myoui, prep him for transfer, Doctor Chou, dress this wound. I’ll clear OR 3.”

"Time of death 16:03"

Mina finds Tzuyu at the room of the patient… who didn’t even reach the OR because his artery blew again and died in the room.

Tzuyu is there, standing at the side of the room, unchanged, staring at where he used to be. The Service Masters were there cleaning the room and she was just there, with blood all over her clothes, and her neck… unmoving.

Mina clears her throat and asked for everyone to leave the room. The people gave her a nod. She walks up in front of Tzuyu who didn’t even notice she was there.

"Look, it's not your fault--"

Right then, Tzuyu started crying. “You told me to look out for him… And I should have… -- I think I missed something in his chart.” She paused and then nods, “Yes… I missed something. I missed something and he bled out—”

Mina shakes her head and held Tzuyu’s hands. “No, you didn’t. There was a slim chance that it’ll happen, and it did.”

But seems like Tzuyu is not hearing her. Just staring over her shoulder… towards where she used to stand. “No… You trusted me with this, and I’ve let you down. It’s why you always have me review his case. Read over it, recite it so I would know, right?” She moves her gaze to Mina… and Mina’s heart clenched as Tzuyu’s voice cracked, “You just want the best for me and I disappointed you. I'm so sorry, Doctor Myoui. I've let you down. I let him down. This my fault. I wasn’t--"

Mina grimaced. This is no one’s fault, not really. Some things are out of their control. But it is Mina’s fault, the Tzuyu had totally misunderstood Mina’s wild goose chase with Tzuyu. She sighs and held on to Tzuyu’s hands tighter. "I review his chart twice as much as you. And I also missed it, if there's anything to miss. Don't beat yourself over it. Alright? We can't be gods and goddesses over here. We do as much as we can."

They were silent for awhile and Mina just let Tzuyu cry. This… is the first time Tzuyu had lost a patient right in front of her eyes… right when she was putting pressure on his pulse, trying everything to keep him from bleeding out.

Tzuyu sniffs and looked at her with sad eyes, "It's just... wasn't enough?"

Mina looks at her, searching her face, then back up to her eyes. She nods, "This time it wasn't. But it'll be a lesson for you. To do better next time. So you can save more lives, alright? It's not your fault. Don’t put this on you. You tried everything. You did great. And you would continue to do so."

Tzuyu slowly nods, but Mina is sure her words aren’t going through her brain. And Mina would understand. She would let her grieve.

But when Tzuyu looks back at her, Mina doesn’t know why… but it felt like she was waiting for something. So she turned off the voices in her head… and lifts her hand to caress Tzuyu’s face.

Tzuyu didn’t look surprised. In fact, she even leaned on Mina’s touch, closing her eyes. And Mina’s sanity would say she’s grieving, and she should leave her alone. But Mina can’t. ‘Cause in Mina’s mind, all she can think of is how she wanted to take care of the girl right in front her. She runs her thumb over her cheek gently as she hums, taking in the girl’s features.

And then…

She kissed her.

And…

Tzuyu kissed her back.

"Sorry..." Mina dropped her hands on Tzuyu's shoulders, tangling her fingers through her hair, smiling hesitantly.

"It's okay…" Tzuyu muttered. She pulled her arms around Mina's waist and let her head sink onto her shoulders. She fit so perfectly into her arms. It felt nice to be the smaller one.

Mina bit her lip. "Close your eyes," Mina cut in, gently pushing Tzuyu's face from her shoulder, making her look into her eyes.

"Why?"

Tzuyu's gaze lingered at her for a moment, before she closed her eyes, trusting Mina.

Hovering over Tzuyu, Mina lowered her head a little and captured Tzuyu's lips with hers. Tzuyu felt her stomach twist in surprise, as she felt soft lips on hers kissing her gently. She pulled Tzuyu's bottom lip into her mouth, gently sucking it before she detached herself and watched her eyes.

Tzuyu swallowed.

"Hmmm… Your lips are so soft. Why is it so soft?" She stated; a lopsided grin appeared on Mina's face. Then Tzuyu dropped her eyes.

"I… I don’t know…"And Mina would laugh, because even that she would find adorable.

Then, Mina could see the conflict behind her eyes.

"Tzuyu…"

“Y-yes?” Tzuyu replied quietly.

“This is the third time we’ve done this.” This was all wrong. It was wrong from the beginning. She shouldn't have had this idea to help Tzuyu. And now, she had tasted her, and she didn't really want to let her go. “The first we can brush off as an accident… or a mistake…” When Tzuyu grimaces, Mina shakes her softly, leaning down to kiss her softly. “The second, we can say we wanted to be sure.” Another kiss.

Mina pulls back and stares at Tzuyu’s eyes, “This is the third time. We should know by now. Do you… want this?”

As Mina searches Tzuyu’s face, she nuzzles her face with her nose and whispers, “It’s okay if you don’t. I won’t make your life at the hospital miserable. I… if anything, you could even report me—”

“I won’t!”

Tzuyu licks her lips and then sighs, “You didn’t force me… I…” She looks back up to Mina and cups her face, “The first… I wasn’t thinking. You were there and I wanted to forget. The second… I was curious.” Tzuyu leans and kisses Mina’s lips gently, “Now… I want to try.”

And for Mina, that’s all she needed to hear.

This time Mina's lips pressed against Tzuyu's with more pressure than before. She pulled her into her, running her digits through her hair. It was the perfect kiss, and the perfect touch. Mina knew what her body needed and she made Tzuyu feel it.

A shiver went up Tzuyu's spine, when Mina's tongue flickered against her bottom lip, exploring her mouth when she opened her lips readily. The shirt Tzuyu had put on was quickly removed again. Mina pulled Tzuyu deeper into her, hands roaming down her sides, and wandering to her back until she found the clip of her bra that she easily unclasped. She tossed the piece down and dug her fingers into Tzuyu's breasts, making her moan in response. Tzuyu ran her fingers along Mina's back, scratching along her skin in a rough manner.

Mina was the opposite. She enjoyed every contact, touching and licking every spot she knew that would make the taller girl tremble. Tzuyu bit her neck, when Mina ran her fingernails down the insides of her thighs. She parted her legs automatically and Mina slammed herself into her, her knee pushing between Tzuyu's thighs, rubbing up and down impatiently. Tzuyu moaned, buckling her hips, as the tension in her throbbing center increased.

As Mina follows Tzuyu with her eyes while she gives her her morning briefing, she ponders on a thought, what are they?

They haven’t labeled their relationship as anything, haven’t even dropped the ‘L-word’.

And… they haven’t introduced each other to their friends.

Which… Mina could only imagine being a disaster.

As far as she knows, her team is terrified of Sana but worships the ground Momo walks on. And Sana and Momo love to mess around with the interns. She can’t exactly put a pin on where Tzuyu stands. She doesn’t know how to open the subject.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Momo puts her arm over her shoulder. She shakes her head and realized her team had dispersed and went on their respective rotations. Was she dozing off again?

“You're getting laid aren't you?"

"What?"

"You have that glow and you couldn’t stop smiling.”

Mina rolls her eyes but didn’t shrug Momo’s arm, “I’m not talking to you about this.” In attempt to change the subject, Mina opens her clipboard.

But Momo see through it and closed it for her, “That sounds like a ‘yes’ to me. Have you gotten over your little crush?”

Another eyeroll and a blush, “This is work-time. No time for gossip.”

Momo pulled her closer, “No way!” She gasps. “You and Chou?”

Mina’s eyes widen and puts her hand over Momo’s mouth, “Why don’t you just announce it?!” Mina looks around if anyone has heard them and sighed when no one seems to be paying them attention.

She lets go of Momo’s mouth and notices the older girl is laughing. “I can’t believe it worked!”

“No, it didn’t… It’s complicated.”

“Yeah? Let’s uncomplicate it!”

And then out of nowhere, Sana joins them, putting her hand around Mina’s waist. “Uncomplicate what?”

Mina sighs. “Nothing. Please, Sana. Tell Momo to get back to work.”

“Mina and Tzuyu are doing it.”

Sana gasps, “Since when?”

“I did not say anything.”

“Hmm… Ok, ok. I think it’s been quite a while. When did Mina stop having Tzuyu as her lap dog?”

Mina glares at Momo and hisses at her, “She’s not my lap dog.”

Momo giggles and singsongs, “Yes. She’s now your girlfriend~~”

Mina pouts, “Also not my girlfriend.”

“Eh?!”

Mina covered her ears at the two of them shouting. Being sandwiched by the two is not her ideal position this early in the morning when she hadn’t had her coffee yet. Ugh. Where was the one Chaeyoung gave her?

“Minari on a Colleagues with benefits arrangement. I’m torn between being proud and worried.” Sana says, leaning her face to Mina’s, as Momo doubles in laughter.

Mina frowns at the term. Is that what they are? Colleagues with benefits?

“Oh no. It’s worse. You don’t even know what you are!”

Mina turns to Momo, “Are you a psychic or what?”

Momo shrugs, chuckling, “I know you well.”

Sana clicks her tongue and then nudges Momo, “Should we invite her at lunch?”

Mina’s eyes widen, “No. Definitely not.”

Momo nods, “We should.”

Mina groans, “Are you two not even listening to me?!”

Sana giggles and then pinches Mina’s waist.

 Unknown Sender: I miss you.

Unknown Sender: Can we please talk? I know you’ve been thinking of me too.

Unknown Sender: I still love you.

Mina’s jaw clenched at the sight of the messages. No matter how much she changed numbers, she wouldn’t leave her alone. And no matter how much Mina tries, she can still get under her skin.

Chou Tzuyu: Chaeyoung says she puts milk first before her cereal. ☹ I think I should know /now/ about your preference and not wait till 4 years later and wonder who this person next to me really is.

And just like that… all of Mina’s anger dissipated. Almost as if she didn’t get any unwanted messages.

She doesn’t fight off the smile forming in her lips. She tries very hard not to overthink on the possibility that Tzuyu thinks they’d still be together 4 years later. Instead, she chose to stay light-hearted.

She can only imagine what the effect on her will be if Tzuyu starts sending her intimate messages.

:Is that why Chaeyoung has always been my favorite?

It didn’t take long ‘till she gets a reply.

Chou Tzuyu: ☹

Chou Tzuyu: I thought I’m your favorite??

Chou Tzuyu: ☹ ☹ ☹

Mina’s smile got bigger, feeling the all too familiar warmth…

Damn it. Mina is way in too deep with this girl. 

"Who pissed you off?"

"No one..."

“Doctor Myoui, here are the lab results—“

Mina snarls, “What took you so long? I needed that yesterday” She grabbed the chart from the poor intern, and Sana twisted her body to pay full attention.

“I’m sorry—”

Mina clicks her tongue, “’Sorry’ doesn’t make lab results.”

 “Sor—I mean… I--”

“Stop talking.”

A nod, and his lips were shut.

Mina breathes through her nose, looking over her chart and then to the shaking intern standing a few acceptable distance from her. “His lactic acid is normal, what does that tell us?”

…

A second of silence and Mina is ready to rip this poor guy to shreds.

“Doctor Bhuwakul! Are you there to just stand or be a doctor?”

BamBam for his part, just stares at her with sad puppy eyes, pursing his lips.

Mina narrows her eyes, “You can talk now.”

BamBam nods, then spits rapid fire, “That he’s probably not septic so he’s gonna be fine.”

Mina just stares into him, and BamBam would’ve felt she was staring into his soul. “His white cell count is elevated so I’d probably keep an eye on that.” BamBam creases his eyebrows when Mina continues to stare at him. “I mean, yes. I will keep an eye on that!”

Mina rolls her eyes and then snaps, “Why don’t you go to the pit and try not to kill anybody?”

As Sana follows the used to be bubbly intern rushing across the hall, then she smirks in Mina’s direction. “Seems like Medusa came out here to play.”

“What?”

Sana giggles looping her arms with Mina, taking her towards the opposite direction, “They call you Myoui Medusa… You know like the one in Greek mythology. Turns anybody into stone with her piercing stare.”

Mina rolls her eyes and huffs, “Maybe if half of my interns are not incompetent, I would’ve been—”

Sana laughs, “Okay, sweetie. That’s me. I’m the Devil Reincarnate scourging the halls of this hospital, cutting the interns' will to live until Momo comes, with her unicorn and fairy dust, protecting her kids.” An eyeroll. “You’re the knight, supposed to be fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves.”

Mina glares at Sana, not changing her sour mood. “Where did you even hear that? That’s stupid.”

Sana gives her her high-pitched giggle and slaps her arm, “We’re gonna try this again, and you’ll be direct this time. Who pissed you off?”

Mina didn’t answer for a while, but then heaves a sigh before turning to Sana with a pout adorning her face. “Do you think I'm dating?"

It made Sana halt, then slowly turn to Mina, “What?”

Mina suddenly become conscious, putting her hair behind her ear, looking everywhere but Sana. "Do you think I'm dating?"

Sana was taken a back. She would’ve laughed at how silly the question is, but she recognize Mina’s stance, and it’s the one that tells her that resident is insecure. Still, Sana would be direct, "Why are you asking me?"

Mina half-shrugs, but decides to just go for it. She had always trusted Sana. "'Cause I thought I was dating... I mean we went out a few times… like dates and stuff. We've been sleeping together quite few times also, and she seems satisfied with me." A nod. "Yes. Many times, she's very satisfied."

Sana blinks and was not prepared to Mina ranting. So she quietly quips, "Wow. And you say you don't want to talk about it."

But seems like Mina is not hearing her. The girl is now frustrated, waving her hands in wild gestures, "And I run with her in the morning so she can drop by that dog park near her place. And you know me Sana, I don't run. But I do that so we can spend the morning together. And then I drive her home, so she can have more rest! But only when our schedules align, just as you told me!"

"Getting sappy, I see. But go on."

"She has a toothbrush at my place! A toothbrush! That's... That's dating, right? And I've slept over at her place as well. Sure, I don't have a drawer there yet... But she makes me wear her shirts that smell like her... That's so much better right?"

"Yap... This is... Not my cup of tea, sis."

Mina paused and the turns to Sana, holding her by the shoulders, shaking her, "So? Do you think we're dating?!"

Sana looks at her, her mouth opening and then her closing, thinking her words. She smiles playfully and answers her, "Again, why are you asking me?"

Mina groans, "Have you not been listening?! I thought we were dating and then I found her this morning all cozied up with Yoo Jeongyeon and they look like they're dating! Hmph!" Sana laughs as Mina crosses her arms and stomps her foot. "Stop laughing! This is serious!"

"You look cute when you're jealous!"

Mina puts her fists on the side, now looking like a child throwing a tantrum, "I'm not cute! There's nothing cute about being jealous." Mina grimaces at the word and then pouts. "It's just messy and bad. It hurts in here.” She points to her chest. “Like there's a pinch in your heart and it makes me want to vomit." Mina even covered her mouth and pretended to gag.

Sana continues to laugh, then envelopes Mina's head into her arms. "Awww. Cute~~ Minari is so cute. C'mere."

Mina tried to push her away. "I said it's not cute." It totally is.

Sana chuckles, "This could all be over if you just ask... you know... The girl you're supposed to be dating."

Mina frowns and crosses her arms, "I can't ask her if we're dating. What if she gets confused and was like, "Are we even dating?" That's just embarrassing! What if we were just colleagues with benefits?!" Mina’s eyes widen at the term. She never liked it when they first referred to it, and she hates it even more now.

Sana just shrugs, "Then you'll know."

"Sana!!" Mina whines and Sana's heart melts.

"Do you want me to ask her if you two are dating?"

"No! I just want to know what you think?"

Sana laughs and smirks at her. "I think you’re close to being crazy.”

Mina pouts.

"Just ask her, alright? 'Cos if you don't I will--"

Mina was gonna protest but snaps her mouth shout when Sana narrows her eyes at her, losing her smile. "I'm serious Mina. I love that you've finally moved on. I love that you're smiling again." *chuckles* "I even enjoy you being this jealous. And I told you I'm 642% behind you on this as long as you don't bring it in the hospital.” When Mina looks at her confused, she rolls her eyes and crosses her arms, “You're making me look like a saint. Get it together. 'Cause if you’re this salty just thinking whether who's dating who... Then I dont know how you'll do a 4-hour surgery with Doctor Yoo"

"Wait what? She’s scrubbing in?”

"Yes. Her first solo surgery. So, you're gonna suck it up, and bottle all that jealousy inside and be a good senior to her, alright?"

Mina makes a face, "Ugh."

"Doctor Myoui?"

Even with whirlwind of emotions, it still manages to comfort Mina. She turns slowly towards the voice and smile timidly at Tzuyu. "I told you to just call me Mina when it's just us."

Tzuyu blushes and looks around, noticing the lounge is empty. "Sorry. I thought you weren't alone." She went towards Mina and then placed a paper box on to the table. "Here, I brought you some pasta. I know you're going in surgery soon." She then proceeds to massage Mina’s shoulder, then slowly towards her nape.

Mina hums, looking up. "Kiss me for good luck."

Tzuyu chuckles, "You don't need good luck, aren't you just supervising?"

Mina rolls her eyes but then smiles, "Then... Can I just ask for a kiss because I want to?"

Tzuyu contemplates as she looks around, wondering if someone would come in. Mina is still her resident, and she didn’t want to be the talk of the hospital. The last thing she wanted is for people to think she slept her way to the top, and not because of her talent. But looking down at Mina, she couldn’t resist her knowing she’s being this adorable. So she leans in and kissed her forehead. She laughs when Mina whines.

But before she can pull away, Mina pulled her by the back of her head, and meet her lips with hers.

“Are you going home?”

Tzuyu shakes her head and continues to massage Mina’s nape. “I’m gonna watch the surgery from the gallery. Cheer for Jeongyeon.”

At that, Mina bit her lips, a clear distaste seen her features. She opens the box immediately, trying to hide her face from Tzuyu. She mumbles, “Didn’t know you two are close.”

Tzuyu seems to miss the change in Mina’s mood, if she did, she brushes it off as Mina’s stress and tiredness. “She had always looked out for us. She’s a very good senior. Chaeyoung and Dahyun will be there as well. Intern Solidarity, as Dahyun would call it.”

“Okay.”

Tzuyu leans in and wraps her arms around Mina’s neck, kissing the side of her face. “Are you driving me home?”

Mina clenches her jaw and closes her eyes. She can be passive-aggressive with Tzuyu. But one thing she learned from her past relationship is that she shouldn’t go down without a fight. "Maybe you can come over and spend the night with me."

“Hmm… I’ll think of something to say to Dahyun and Chaeyoung.” The familiar sting is in Mina’s heart. So they don’t even know.

“I can drive them as well.” Wow. Mina just hit another level of pushover. 

“Really?”

Mina shrugs then snaps, “If you’re so worried about them finding out, then I’ll drive them home as well. Make some excuse about me being a good team captain or whatever.”

Tzuyu frowns, “It’s not like that. I just…--”

Beep Beep

“Gotta run. Lives to save--”

“Mina…--”

Tzuyu frowns as she watch Mina dash out of the lounge room, her food untouched. Did she say… something bad? BamBam told them Mina was in the bad mood today and Chaeyoung and Dahyun begged her to swoon Mina. Seems like she doesn’t have the effect she thought she has over the girl.

Mina really did try to be professional. Before Tzuyu came, Jeongyeon was the talk among the interns, one of the top-tiers, dubbing her as the Golden Girl. Mina would roll her eyes at this hospital's unrelenting nicknames. Jeongyeon, seems to be very flexible in all specialty, unlike other interns who focus on the specialty that they like.

And if Jeongyeon will be her colleague next year, then Mina would have to play nice.

But how can she when Jeongyeon is winning her friends over and the girl who’s supposed to be her girlfriend?

Her eyes twitched, and she would worry she might cut her lower lip, chewing on it for quite some time as she stares at the interns gathering around Jeongyeon, congratulating her. She did well on her Appendectomy. Didn’t miss any step, and even orchestrated the staff well-mannered and too organized. But she knows very well the appeal the short-haired girl have, even outside the OR. Pretty sure, if Momo isn’t taken, she would’ve fallen for her charms. So it’s really not farfetched for Tzuyu to be the same.

She taps her steering wheel impatiently as she watches Jeongyeon wraps her arm around Tzuyu. Something she didn’t do with the rest of the interns. Sure, she ruffled Chaeyoung’s hair. Sure, she high-fived Dahyun. But why does she have to wrap her arm around Tzuyu? And why didn’t Tzuyu shrug it off? In fact, she even looked like she’s blushing.

But Mina couldn’t be too sure. After all, she’s waiting (im)patiently in her car, just staring from a distance. And her judgment might be clouded by her jealousy.

She sees Jeongyeon whisper something in Tzuyu’s ear, and Tzuyu would shy away and respond something in her ear. By then Mina is ready to ram her car towards the lamp post, or them. She’s not so sure.

She is seething. Maybe she should have taken Sana’s offer of coming over and drinking.

She hits the horn harshly accidentally that made Tzuyu jump. And she would take pride in herself when she finally sees Tzuyu bowing her head and getting away from Jeongyeon’s touch. They seem to bid each other farewell, with Jeongyeon pouting in the trio’s direction. But Mina wouldn’t care. Because the trio is running towards her and she knew she had won this round.

“Doctor Myoui, sorry. We were held up.” Dahyun says as she opens the car.

Held up, my ass. Mina wanted to sneer. Instead she sends Dahyun a tight smile. “Sorry, I’m just tired.”

“Do you want to drink?”

“Chaeyoung—”

Chaeyoung laughs awkwardly and says, “What? It’s the least we can do—”

“Maybe not today Chaengie. I’m really tired.”

“Oh, sorry.” Chaeyoung blushes at the sudden nickname and both Dahyun and Tzuyu would look at the two confused.

When Dahyun and Chaeyoung were dropped off in their shared apartment, Mina started speeding up that made Tzuyu hold onto her seat a bit tighter. She clears her throat and says, “Do you want me to drive? If you’re tired, I could—” Chaeyoung and Dahyun’s apartment are way off the route from Mina’s place.

Mina doesn’t answer, just turns the radio’s volume up and then hits the accelerator even more.

Tzuyu inhaled deeply and pressed her lips in a thin line, but when they almost ran a red light, she turns the volume down and says, “BamBam said you’re in a bad mood. Maybe you should—”

“What do you think of Jeongyeon?”

Tzuyu looks at her confused, “I uhm… I think she did really well awhile ago?” Is that even a question?!

“Not as a doctor.”

“As what, then?”

Mina shrugs. If Tzuyu wants to talk, they’ll talk. “Saw you two all cozied up this morning at the Doctor’s Lounge. And then just awhile ago, in front of your friends.”

“Cozied up? What do you mean? And can you drive a little slo—”

Mina rolls her eyes, and decides to cut someone off on the other lane. Tzuyu’s eyes widen. Mina had never driven this fast before. In fact, Mina would always take her time driving Tzuyu home, that they could almost talk about different sorts of things. “Cozied up, as in you were sitting on her lap.”

Tzuyu gulps, “That’s… She was messing around. There wasn’t a space available—”

Mina tightens her grip on the steering wheel and raises her voice, “If there isn’t a space available, you could’ve stayed standing up! Not sit on her lap!”

Tzuyu wanted to explain the whole thing, but she recognize the tone in Mina’s voice and she knows this is a conversation Tzuyu will never win. So she concedes, “Okay, I’m sorry. It wouldn’t happen again.”

"And why would you let her wrap her arm around you like that? In front of your friends? When you’re so worried about them finding out about us?!”

Tzuyu sighs, and held onto the handle tighter. “We’re just friends. It’s not…-- Mina, can you pull over so we can talk? You’re making me nervous.”

“Oh, I’m making you nervous? What do you think I feel when I have to watch you two—”

A loud horn was heard.

And Mina suddenly hit the breaks hard. She almost hit a car she didn’t see on the side. If they weren’t wearing seatbelt, Tzuyu would’ve flown through the window.

She looks to Tzuyu immediately, checking if she's okay. The girl in question has her eyes wide open, holding on to the handle by the door tightly, but is okay. If you meant physically. Mina breathes heavily as she pulls over to the side of the road. When she hits a stop, she immediately unbuckled her seatbelt and went out of the car screaming.

Everything is happening fast for Tzuyu, and she didn’t know she was holding her breath until Mina opens the door.

When she hears Mina screaming obscenities on the outdoors, she followed her.

Walking slowly towards her,, heart pounding, she says, “Mina, what’s going on?”

“Are we dating, Tzuyu?”

…

“Mina—”

“You could've at least told me that you're seeing other people as well. That's just common courtesy, you know. And to think... " Mina wipes the tears in her eyes harshly and hisses, “You don't know how hard I've worked to be here... To trust again, to feel again, to heal. And I know it's wrong... Falling for you... I shouldn’t have…-- I thought I was just afraid to be alone. That I won’t find someone else. But… With you… it’s… I need to know…--"

Tzuyu envelopes Mina in a hug.

She wraps her arms around her trying to calm her down. At first Mina was fighting it. She is feeling a lot of things inside her and she wanted to let it all out, even though her words are incoherent. She didn’t want to confess. No. Not when she’s not sure what they are. This… is becoming all too familiar for her. If she closes her eyes, she might even see flashbacks. So she tries hard not to.

She’s not gonna put herself out there just to be left hanging. Not again.

When Mina got tired, she drops her hands from her side, and buried herself in Tzuyu, crying.

Tzuyu kissed the top of her head, and continues to run circles in her back, the other soothing Mina’s hair.

They stood there, in front of Mina’s car, just Tzuyu humming to Mina, apologizing endlessly. And every 'sorry' that comes out of Tzuyu's mouth is sending daggers in Mina's heart.

When Mina calmed down, she slowly looks up to Tzuyu with tear-stricken yes. “Are we dating?”

Tzuyu smiles at her, “Are we not?”

Mina’s eyes widen, and she licks her lips before answering, “Are you… Are you dating Jeongyeon?”

Tzuyu laughs, “Do you think I’d be someone who dates two people at the same time? At the same workplace?”

“I hope not. But we can never be too sure. Sometimes you wake up and you just find out the person next to you is not really who you think they are.” Mina answers her truthfully.

“Fair enough.” Tzuyu fixed Mina’s hair, and put it behind her ear to see her clearly. She cups her cheeks and kissed both of her cheeks. “No. I’m not dating anyone else. I’m sorry if you have to see that. She’s… She is always like that with me. It was just hard for me to change it. It was easier if I just let her—”

“I don’t like it.”

Tzuyu shuts her mouth and then nods. “Okay. It won’t happen again. I’m sorry.”

Tzuyu comes to the hospital the next day with a turtle neck.

And Dahyun and Chaeyoung had teased her endlessly.

While Mina is doubting where they stand, Tzuyu had just assumed they were dating. Or at least in her head, it worked that way. To her, Mina's not the type to date openly, so she just assumed they were exclusive.

So Mina and Tzuyu decided it is time.

During lunch, they all sit together at the same table. Tzuyu told Mina, Dahyun and Chaeyoung knew. They had always knew. Even right after they first kissed, they knew. In fact, Chaeyoung was ready to go to the HR and report Mina but Tzuyu held her back. If Mina wasn’t the best resident for the trio, Chaeyoung and Dahyun would’ve had reservations for her.

Still it didn’t change the fact that Sana and Momo are their bosses.

So as they sit across from them, they can’t help but feel nervous.

But just like her reputation precedes her, Sana is fun when she’s not working. She regards them with a bright smile on her face, that almost made the small trio’s jaws drop. She was very friendly. They were not used to her being a complete 180: clinging to Mina’s side, laughing with Momo, and even giggling. She’s actually the one usually carrying the conversation.

But really… the takeaway… is even though seated from across each other, Mina and Tzuyu would find ways to hold hands, even from a brief moment.

As Mina look around the table, she couldn’t help but feel satisfied. This right here, is what she worked hard for.

"How can you not have told me?!"

"I didn't know--"

Mina glares at Sana, and pulls away when Sana tried to touch her. Momo looks at them confused, but tried to stand between them because Mina looks like she’s one step away from slapping Sana. And even Momo would admit, she got scared when Mina hissed at Sana, "How could you not have known? Your last name is plastered across the walls of this hospital, Sana! How can you not have not known?!"

...

On the other side Chaeyoung nudges Tzuyu, “Your girlfriend looks like she’s gonna rip Doctor Minatozaki’s hair.”

“What?”

Tzuyu didn’t have time to look because the Chief of Surgery, along with the new lady in a coat are already in front of them. The three of them straightened their posture and plastered the best smile without overdoing it. They bow their heads in sync and greeted the new addition to the staff. "Doctor Im, we look forward to be in your service.”

They hear a chuckle and the woman returning the greeting. They wait as they walk pass them before whispering.

Tzuyu follows her with her eyes in awe, “She’s my role model.”

Dahyun nods and snickers, “Oh yeah… You did say you want to be in Neuro.”

“I need to be in Neuro. And I couldn’t ask for a better mentor. She got two Resident Recognition. And I know I said I don’t want to be anyone’s favorite but I would kiss her ass if I need to.”

“Wow Tzu. Don’t let Mina hear you, we all know how jealous she can get.”

...

"Mina."

"Doctor Im."

"Oh. So we're being formal now, aren't we?"

Mina keeps her cold demeanor, barely nodding to the girl standing right in front of her, ignoring the invitation to be friendly. She thought she was done. But seeing Nayeon this close… is sending her to a freefall, all those feelings she tried to hide, resurfaced like a dam breaking. She curls her hands into fists deep into her pockets, digging her nails into the palm of her hand. She clears her throat and jerks her chin towards Nayeon, "Welcome to Minatozaki General Hospital."

Nayeon reaches out to her, holding her arm, and it would raise eyebrows to those who can see. But Nayeon doesn’t seem to care. She dips her voice lower and whispers softly, "Mina, can we talk?"

Mina shakes her head, and keeps her hands in her pocket. She’s afraid if she brings it out, she’s gonna swing it hard to someone. “Sorry, I’m busy. Patients to see.”

Then, Nayeon leans into her, closing their distance and Mina’s breath would hitch at the proximity. She would suddenly forget everything else around her, only focusing on Nayeon - just like she always does. "I've missed you Mina. And I'm here to win you back."

"That's a little too late, Nayeon."

"Mina, please."

And before Nayeon can reel Mina back in… to the vortex of her love, to the familiarity of it all, Mina steps back, jerking her arm away from Nayeon’s grasp. “Don’t talk to me like that anymore. We’re done.”

And Mina left. Just like Nayeon once did.

Chapter Text

Mina was always collected and sure.

She remembers those 2 adjectives on her Elementary School report card, and it became true and truer as she gets older. Later on it evolves to graceful when working under pressure, or goal-oriented, but the core remains, the words are unchanged in Mina’s mind.

Collected and sure.

She had always wanted to be a surgeon, from the first time her dad gave her a stethoscope toy as a gift for learning how to read, up to the first time she had gotten a real stethoscope of her own.

No distractions during college, up to Med School, continued ‘till her internship, ‘till her Residency.

Collected and sure.

She’s pressed against the thin mattress of the on-call room, legs wrapped tightly around her girlfriend’s slim waist. Lips are dragging along her neck as she gasps and moans, throwing her head back to allow her more access. She almost feel like she’s going to explode with want when fingers tighten in her hair as she lets out an audible whimper.

Right now, she’s barely collected but definitely sure.

She doesn’t want to stop.

Even if she’s late to the Rounds she’s supposed to be 5 minutes ago, or she can feel her phone vibrating on her packet. She doesn’t want to stop.

She pulls her girlfriend one more time, and when her teeth sink into her skin, she wonders why she’s  reacting so violently to her touch, because she had never felt this consumed with lust before. Somewhere, deep down, it's like there's a quiet rage bubbling under her skin, too, buried way beneath the all-consuming desire, making its presence known subtly with the occasionally too hard grope or pleasurably painful bite.

Their relationship had never been this physical, always soft, always gentle. Always, always as if they’re exploring each other’s bodies for the first time. Is it the thrill? That they can be interrupted anytime? Is it the honeymoon phase?

Mina doesn’t know and Mina doesn’t care.

She wants Tzuyu.

She wants her bad. (Or at least that’s what she’s been telling herself for the past weeks)

She groans, when Tzuyu stop, and pulls away from her, grabbing her pager on the side table. She reads the message with a smile on her face.

She would almost roll her eyes, but a frown definitely appears on her face, “Don’t tell me you’re that excited for the pit. Should I worry?”

She hears a low chuckle from Tzuyu, her dimple appearing as she shakes her head. Mina tries to ignore the way her pulse picks up at the small gesture. A small gesture she can only associate with her.

“It’s Jeongyeon.”

This time the frown is deeper. This time, the urge to tighten her legs around her waist is stronger.

It makes sense. It's understandable how all those pent up feeling would burst forth in a situation such as this. She already has enough on her plate. With her balancing her newly relationship with her intern Tzuyu, her now junior, Jeongyeon who’s hella close with her girlfriend, and then there’s her ex who requested for her about every case.

“It’s not what you think.” It’s soft, and it’s supposed to placate Mina’s worry. Even after the confrontation (where Mina almost cause havoc on the street with her road rage), she noticed Jeongyeon had indeed dropped the teasing and the physical touches. But sometimes, when Mina wants to direct her anger at someone, the clueless blonde girl seems to be an easy target.

Tzuyu continues, “She's my resident now. Just my resident.” She kisses Mina on the forehead before half-sitting on top of her, sliding her hands onto her thighs, so Mina can unlock legs. She begrudgingly did so. “And I told her about us and she said she respects our relationship.” A firm nod, and a squeeze to both of her hands. “She just knows I'm really interested in Neuro. And she's been keeping eye on Doctor Im's surgeries. She said she'll page me when something good comes up.”

“Doctor Im?” She whispers, sounding hoarse.

“I told you, right? That I want to be in Neuro.”

“Right” She stubbornly states, lips pursed.

Tzuyu must have mistaken it with Mina’s distrust on her closeness with Jeongyeon. So she moves her fingers in between Mina’s, and tugs her towards her pulling her up. She looks at her lovingly as she fixes her hair, “There's nothing going on with me and her.” She pecks her pouty lips and then says, “I only love you.” The surprise is short lived, however, as all thought is forced out of her mind when those swollen pink lips close on her mouth, a talented tongue flicking and teasing her to the edge of insanity.

There's complete silence save for her shallow breath, until the sound of the pager echoes in their ears.

Before Mina can comprehend, before Mina can process, Tzuyu is shuffling to get out of the bed. “Okay, that's the second time. She'll give it to someone else if I don't sprint to her so… Bye. I'll see you later?"

Mina blinks her eyes fast, unmoving, “I… yeah.”

When she looks to Tzuyu, Tzuyu is already the door, with her lab coat hanging on her arm. She looks exactly the same a she’s always post-make out section, all glowed up, with a slight disgruntled hair. The way Tzuyu would always sink her teeth onto her lips, running her tongue over them, and Mina would always find herself following the movement with her eyes, like it completes her day. Almost lost in a trance, The unsuspecting girl breaks the spell bu turning towards her, even racing an eyebrow at the obvious staring. Mina doesn’t faze, shameless. Before Tzuyu turns the door knob, however she looks back at her, almost embarrassed. “I, uhmm… I didn’t mean to say it like that. I know it’s too early to say, but, that’s what I’m feeling so—”

Mina opens her mouth to respond, to say it’s okay, maybe, hopefully, to say it back—anything but silence.

But Tzuyu had already opened the door, the noise of the busy corridor had already entered the room drowning whatever Mina is about to say – supposed to say.

When the door closes, Mina is left with silence. Mina is left with her thoughts. Mina is left with her guilt.

She hears her own pager pings, but she doesn’t reach for it.

“I love you too." She whispers, tasting it in her mouth.

“I love you too.” She tries one more time, her voice shaking in anxiety and anticipation.

She bites her lower lip, for some reason feeling a pang of something in her heart when she realized it’s the first time the confession was made between them. Spoken out loud, shaking Mina to her core. She should savor it – she had wanted it for so long. It is hers to celebrate, it is hers to keep. Happiness and joy seems like a dream and when she recalls moments where she was filled with unbridled elation, it plays in her mind like a fantasy.

“I love you too.” She says in her mind, more determined to say it back. She tries to collect herself, reaching for her phone with the intent of texting Tzuyu. Maybe it’s not the ideal way to say it back, maybe a simple, ‘Have a great day? Let’s have a date night later,’ should suffice? When she unlocks it, hoping to see the picture of her and Tzuyu, however, her eyes harden at the text that welcomed her instead.

Unknown Sender:

I love you.

Unknown Sender:

I still love you.

Unknown Sender:

I’m booking your afternoon. Clipping an Aneurysm on a standstill operation. You’re welcome. 😉

Mina closes her eyes as she relents with a huff.

So much for being collected and sure.

All preppy, her heart pounding remembering how her confession went, Tzuyu jogs up to Chaeyoung and Dahyun, all ready to share the recent development on her love life. She shakes her head, trying to contain her excitement, when she saw Jeongyeon’s blonde hair, sticking out because of her height. When she reaches themshe  stops on her tracks when Jeongyeon turns to her, and glowers determinedly as she crosses her arms, “Chou, why don’t you cover up that love kiss on your neck before the whole world sees it?”

Tzuyu’s hand went straight up to her neck when she hears Jeongyeon’s voice. Dahyun and Chaeyoung snicker at her side, turning to her and shaking their heads. Dahyun pats her back, as if to say she’s all good.

Tzuyu frowns and mumbles, “That was one time…” Before she can protest, Jeongyeon had dropped the glare and joined her friends while giving them charts. Ever since she told her they can’t be flirty towards each other, no matter how harmless, Jeongyeon had kept her word, and in Tzuyu opinion, even supportive-something Tzuyu would always be thankful for.

When Tzuyu gets her clip and opens hers, her shoulders almost slumped, “Bowel obstruction?”

“What? Ace Tzuyu too good for bowel obstruction?”

She shakes her head almost immediately, looking around her colleagues, not wanting to make an impression. It’s just the three of them for now, so Tzuyu takes a step towards Jeongyeon and mumbles, “Doesn’t Doctor Im have a surgery later? I worked on the patient’s history and overnight labs yesterday.”

“As you should.” Jeongyeon retorts, not looking up from her chart.

Tzuyu stood still, taking a deep breath, ignoring Chaeyoung’s frustration being stuck with Sana again and Dahyun’s teasing on how she got the case.

When Jeongyeon is done, she waves the case and hands it to Dahyun – with Tzuyu following the movement with her eyes, like she’s eyeing a prized posession. Dahyun pats her back and says she’ll tell all about it to her later teasingly.

Jeongyeon, amused as she turns to a scowling Tzuyu, “You pulled an all-nighter,” she explains. She laughs when Tzuyu’s mood doesn’t change, “Besides, Doctor Park likes you too much that she’s sucking you in Trauma.” Tzuyu remembers being stuck at the ER yesterday, trying to revive a DOA patient, doing extra measures -literally pumping heart on an already dead heart- because Doctor Park is teaching her the lesson of: ‘You do everything that you can, so when the family comes, you can tell them that you did indeed tried everything that you can to save a patient’.

When Tzuyu turns to Jeongyeon asking if she’s punishing her, Jeongyeon only laugh at her and tells her, ‘they’re not dead until we call them, Chou. That’s a privelege, only we get to have. Deciding when it’s over. So you pump and pump, until you’re out of options.’

“I promised that when this cycle ends, I’d put you in Neuro.”

“Right.”

“For now, have fun with your Bowel Obstruction.”

Tzuyu can only make a face.

She never thought she was actually able to hurt this much, but as she paced in their bedroom floors; tears streaming down her face—she feels broken, shattered, completely irreparable. The pain is so agonizing, so concentrated on her destruction that she thinks she'll never be able to smile again.

Not be able to smile.

It’s almost disconcerting… the way Im Nayeon used to tease her for it. She rarely smiles before she met her. But after she did, she was mostly the reason for it.

“It was a mistake.”

It was a mistake, is what she said. Just like the first one was a mistake. And the second one after that.

Mina doesn’t even look at her, unlike other times that she was livid – for what it’s worth, she’s still livid now. But she stood still and tried to compose herself. She didn’t -- she couldn’t.

A mistake. Maybe this was too.

“I’m sorry. I ended it right away. It shouldn’t have happened.”

Yes, it shouldn’t have. But it did, and it’s all that matters now. Not the empty apologies Mina couldn’t take – shouldn’t take.

Mina told herself maybe it’ll hurt less this time. It’s the third. Third fucking time. She should have seen this coming. It should hurt less than last time.

“Sorry won’t cut it, Nayeon. Not this time”

Nayeon. No ‘Love’, no ‘Baby’. Just Nayeon.

Nayeon’s still loveable, likeable, at least tolerable.

But all Mina could think is it all means nothing to her now, except pain and betrayal. Because it doesn’t hurt less. It hurst every time, more so than the last. Because she’s been stupid enough to hope, against all logic, against all experiences that it won’t happen again.

But it did, and it’s all the matters now.

“Your girlfriend is pretty and talented. I can see a pattern.”

Mina keeps her lips pressed in a thin line, determined to ignore the woman hovering over her. She continues to glare at her notes, not reading any from it, gripping onto her pen like her life depends on it.

“If I have to pick one, I’d say it’s her eyes. Yeah, that sounds like something you’d focus on. All doe, almond-shaped eyes, that sparkles when she laughs – all that jazz.”

Mina encircles a random word at her notes, not even caring what it is. She closed her notebook, and then taps her fingers impatiently against the hard cover. “Can we make this more about the patient than my personal life? Doctor Im, I’d appreciate it if we could keep our relationship strictly professional.”

Before, Nayeon would tease for it – avoiding looking at her that is. Talking about being professional while looking at a wall instead of setting her eyes on her. But then again, Nayeon is the one instigating, initiating every move. And every reaction, no matter how cold, Nayeon would take.

“Or maybe it’s the insane body proportion?” Nayeon continues, all fired up from Mina breaking the silence.

She leans into her, and doesn’t hide her smirk when Mina takes a subtle breath intake at the proximity. “Ultimately, I’d think it’s ‘cause she’s very smart. Ace Tzuyu, is it?”

“Has a nice ring to it. Probably deserves it too. Young puppies these days, so eager to learn. Like you used to? Being too smart for your own good.”

Mina doesn’t take the bait. It sucks. But Nayeon isn’t deterred. All coffee cups ignored, all attempts on a conversation denied. Mina would either avoid her at all cost, or sneer at her when given a chance. It’s all harsh, but it’s what’s Nayeon’s expecting. Nayeon left her that night, and when she came back, all of Mina’s things are gone, only her apartment key left on the table.

Mina ran away, moved to another State, and blocked her on all platforms.

But Mina is stuck with her until the Pre-Op preparation is done, and Nayeon would eat it all up.

“I can see why you were distracted.”

Mina knows she’s merely doing it for the attention. It’s ironic, how familiar it feels, like they’re back to when they were just starting. But unlike before, there’s a vile in her throat, and she’s highly considering on spitting right at Nayeon’s face.

Collected and sure, she reminds herself. She’s not gonna spit on anyone’s face, even though they rightly deserves it. She realizes the pain is real, and the pain is still there, no matter how hard she convinces herself that she’s over it, that she’s done. “She's not just a distraction,” she sneers, not even caring othat she’s supposd to be calm and collected.

Hook,

“She's been following me around like a very loyal puppy.” Nayeon chooses to play the same route, not backing down. “I’m guessing she doesn’t know.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Mina gritted through her teeth.

Line,

“Then why are you a pent-up aggression?”

Nayeon gave her a small smirk and pulled her head back up. It’s a lot of work, she knows that herself. And she knows how bad she had hurt Mina. Everything she had said that night, she didn’t mean to say out loud.

But she did, and it’s why they are where they are right now.

For all the things said, and unsaid, she can admit – and will always admit, one truth remains.

“I love you. I still love you”

…and sinker?

The words are definite déjà vu from a time long since passed but Mina still remembers, oh how she remembers, exactly what it took to say them.

Nayeon had always been overly romantic in any of the varied stages of their relationship. May it be a daily texts of those words, and a kiss on the cheek before they part, or a cringey pick-up line that she drops smoothly in conversations that used to fire up Mina’s cheeks, or to driving around all night to take Mina’s mind off of a bad day at work as they get lost on Google Maps, talking all sorts of things until Mina feels better.

Mina doesn’t forget how it all feels. She remembers, always she would remember.

Especially the ones the cuts through the gut.

Like how she called Nayeon a self-righteous prick, a cold-hearted bitch who always needs something warm underneath her. That underneath the façade of that assertive, outstanding surgeon, is an insecure little girl who needs someone, anyone inflating their ego, basking in her glory—

It’s vile, and Mina should hate herself for it, but

This time – finally, Mina looks at her dead in the eyes, her fingers stop tapping, a pregnant pause between them, and Nayeon waits.

“I don’t,” Her voice is steady and sure, ending the conversation.

She doesn’t love Nayeon. Not anymore.

She remembers the first time she told her she loves her. They were drunk, stumbling on the beach until they can get to Nayeon’s car. The beach bar was packed, a Wednesday night where they somehow forget that they always do fireworks on that day of every week. She can faintly remember Nayeon singing over an Ariana song, something of her early releases, and talking about how it’s her go-to karaoke song, and then Nayeon leaning back to the driver’s seat, catching her breath as she laughs at the bystanders at the beach – one was actually screaming for a lost shoe.

It’s unceremonious how she said it. She doesn’t even know what the trigger was – what made her think it’s the perfect time to say it. She thought of waiting for the fireworks to light up the purple sky. Maybe ‘till Nayeon has calmed down. Or maybe when they get back to her place after doing something more.

She guessed there was never a perfect time to say things like that, but ideally, she thought Nayeon deserves something more romantic.

“I love you.” She says, watching Nayeon fumbles through her bag for a bottle of water, as she singsongs, ‘my throat is parched.’

Nayeon doesn’t stop her search, but she responds casually, “I know, baby.” And if she was looking at her, Mina could even imagine her throwing a wink at her.

Mina follows her with her eyes, not saying anything, probably still processing what she had just said, maybe regretting the timing of it all.

Nayeon gets her bottle, drinks her fill. She caps her bottle and then looks at Mina, “I love you too. I love you too.”

I love you too.

Mina almost forgot she was meant to say it back.

I love you too, she tries again in her head. She lets herself smile, to feel once again as she turns her key to Tzuyu’s door.

She needs to say it back. She doesn’t want Tzuyu to think she doesn’t feel the same. Because she does. She really does.

Unfortunately, by the time she got to Tzuyu’s place after her surgery, a pop song undeniably from Dahyun’s playlist is already blasting on the speakers, Dahyun and Chaeyoung are already in the living room with half a bottle of sauv blanc on the table, and they’re all spinning on their feet to the beat of the song.

It was Dahyun who beckons her over, and she greets them with a smile on her face.

It could wait, she thinks. For now, she celebrates with them.

Tzuyu never considers anyone’s misfortune her blessing. Especially any case, regardless of how rare it is. Because that’s just bad and borderline sadistic. But when a guy with 7 nails in his head comes through the doors of the ER, still conscious and talking, she had never felt torn between being thankful and guilty at the same time.

Doctor Im was there, checking his right side for numbness, “What’s our immediate concern?”

“Infection,” Tzuyu answers dutifully, ready to help at the side, jumping to her spot when she answered first than her colleague Lisa on the side, her mouth closing and opening, still in shock on seeing the patient wiggle from his crash cart.

“No CT, I want films, how do we do it?”

“Three-axis points and a C-arm in surgery,” she doesn’t buffer, and she doesn’t even remember knowing it like it’s the back of her hand. But it’s the first time she’s talking to her.

Impressed, Nayeon turns to her, “Excellent. Doctor Chou, is it?”

Somehow, that made Tzuyu speechless.

Nayeon would fight the urge to smirk, “Guess you’re my intern today. Do some research on whether this has happened before and keep him still at all costs. I don’t want him moving. Need that nails out of his head in half an hour.”

Before Tzuyu can respond or even nod, Nayeon had already left the room, not without tapping Jihyo’s shoulder and whispering, “I’m gonna borrow your ace, hold the fort down.” In which, Jihyo replies with a snicker.

Tzuyu was at the patient’s side, asking for his name, telling him his wife is on the way while checking his vital signs. She felt Lisa move on her own accord, finally breaking through her trance. She tells Tzuyu she got the basics and would take it from there. Tzuyu nods at her and grabs his chart to update it until she felt a presence on her back. “Stop smiling, that’s a guy with seven nails in his head, conscious.”

She mumbles, whispering under her breath, “I’m doing my job, Doctor Yoo. Neutral smile with patient reassurance for Step 1 Pain Management, just like you taught me.”

But Jeongyeon decides to squeeze on it more, patting Tzuyu’s shoulder, leaning onto her side, whispering on her ear, “Uh-huh. No butterflies on your stomach the first time she got to call you Doctor Chou?”

Jeongyeon chuckles when Tzuyu turns to her only to roll her eyes and smacking her shoulder lightly. She gives the chart to the Service Nurse and orders for the next procedures. “I’m expecting you to kiss my ass starting this moment. How about you get me some gelato?”

“Technically, you didn’t do anything. That patient came through the ER doors where I’m stationed at.”

“Mmkay. Chou Tzuyu, you are gifted and you are ungrateful.”

A smile makes it way on her face, and Tzuyu doesn’t fight it this time.

“You know that’s half the reason why Doctor Park wants you in the ER, right? ‘Cause of that smile? It calms the patients, gets rid of the panic and all that,” Jeongyeon comments knowingly. “And for that reason, maybe I should page Dahyun and assign this to her instead. Make you watch this at the gallery like I did on that standstill operation.” Tzuyu had given Dahyun the puppy-eyes from gallery as she watches her reap all of her hardwork, as the pale girl watches the surgery up-close, scrubbed in the OR, all because Tzuyu is stuck in the ER, following Jihyo like the good intern that she’s supposed to be.

“Right. Gelato? Doctor Yoo, I’ll be right back.”

“Hey sweetie, here’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna put this right one up your arm. And then this little cute butterfly,” Nayeon uses her baby voice, the one she reserves when she acts cute, “is flying up to you.” Mina follows her movement wordlessly as Nayeon carries the line for the Diazepam to cure her seizure, on a small zigzag as her free hand traces the veins on the child’s left arm. She hears the toddler giggle as she follows Nayeon hand. Almost flawlessly and in one go, Nayeon succeeds on inserting the needle. She chuckles, and puts a tape on it as she says, “Oh, oh? We don’t want the butterfly to be cold, let’s put a cute little blankie over it.”

Another giggle.

And then twitching on the child’s leg stops.

She smiles to the parents and turns to them, “Magical stuff isn’t it? All for our little princess here.”

She taps the leg one more time, and turns to the parents, “Let’s see what we can do when we get more films, okay?”

When they exit the room, Nayeon turns to Mina, “Get me an MRI and a CT scan. Doctor Hirai, page me when we have more room to see what’s actually wrong.”

Momo gave her a nod, and both of them walk aimlessly along the corridors. Soon they were joined by Sana with a slightly bump on the shoulder, “Well, you three looked chummy. I thought we hate her?”

“I hate that she’s actually so good even with kids that it’s making it hard for me to truly hate her,” Momo doesn’t hesitate to say, much to Mina’s displease. She knows how good Nayeon is in getting anyone’s good graces. She had heard the nurses talk about her: how she didn’t bulldoze her way into the authority totem pole, and how even with the credentials, she acts friendly and down-to-earth. The patients love her, the nurses wants her, and Board definitely likes the patients she’s bringing in the hospital.

“Don’t fall for it. She’s exemplary good at what she does, it’s part of her charm,” Mina offhandedly comments, as she puts the chart under her arm.

“So we’re admitting she’s charming now?” Sana pipes in. Mina doesn’t relent in giving in. “’Cause while we’re at the topic… She’s audacious and brave, I’ll give her that. First, a standstill operation, and the 7-nails guy with no nerve damage, like what can’t she do?”

“Be faithful,” Mina mumbles as she stomps her foot against the halls.

It earns a laugh from the two.

"Okay, can you two just chill for a second? I don’t need this negativity right now. I may have a surgery scheduled in 3 hours and I need all the good karma I can get," Momo pleads, and squeezes both of Sana and Mina’s arm. She leans into Mina’s side. “Have you actually had a talk with her?” Momo asks, clinging her arm onto Mina’s, pulling her in her direction.

“She cheated on her thrice, and blamed it on Mina being boring. If we’re taking a vote, I’d say there’s no coming back from that.” Sana says, sticking by her stand to not let Mina get fucked again by the same person. She was there at the aftermath and nothing can change her mind, even if it’s how exceptional of a surgeon Nayeon seems to be.

“Oof—she called you boring?” Momo winced. “Maybe she doesn’t mean it?”

“They always mean it,” Mina says, closing her eyes remembering all too well.

“We can work this out. I need you.”

“Not more than you need to suck a random chick’s throat on a bar!” Mina screams, her hands shaking.

She grabs a stick, and lights it. Whenever she gets antsy, she needs nicotine. It’s a bad habit she got in Med School, something she picked up from her friends. She knows it’s bad, like an alcohol, but she can’t help it. She needs something – anything, to fill her in as her breath felt like jammed on her throat.

Breathe in, breathe out, she reminds herself.

It shouldn’t hurt anymore. Not as bad as the last time, she kept repeating.

“It wasn’t serious! I was drunk! It was a one-time thing! I didn’t even talk to her after it had happened!”

“Then why is she on your phone, begging like a bitch in heat asking for a breeding?” Mina was never crass, at least not that crass even on dirty talking. But she doesn’t care anymore. She’s reeling, and she knows, she knows, she’s in the right to cause this retaliation.

She sneers, clenching and unclenching her fist, her hand shaking as she takes a hit from her lit cigarette. “What was it this time?”

Nayeon’s own tears start to fall.

She knew there had been a crack in their relationship. A crack that caused this rupture overtime. And like a doctor, like fixer, she needed to know the cause.

“The first time was a closure with an ex, the second…” She puff a smoke, her vision getting blurry, “Ah… the second was when we had fight. What’s your excuse now?”

“Baby—”

Mina scoffs, “Do you call her that too?” She can hear her fragility in her own voice and knows she’s desperately clinging to something that’s already gone.

“I was lonely. You have to admit, the two of us haven’t been the same since. You don’t talk to me. We don’t even fight anymore.”

They don’t fight anymore? So what? She does shit like this so they could? What kind of person does that?

Some things are too broken to be fixed.

“You’re despicable,” Mina hissed, flicking ashes from her cigarette. She looks at her and repeats, “So fucking despicable, you adulterous bitch. It’s a pity. Under that confident face and steady hands, all that lies is self-destructive—"

Mina couldn’t tell the exact moment it all sort of clicked in her head.

Because that’s the thing.

It did not click.

It made no sense whatsoever.

But there came a time where she doesn’t look at Nayeon and feels this immense urge to punch her in the face.

Like there she is, with Nayeon next to her, ordering for her when she agreed to eat late dinner with her. It was late, and there’s not much of an option for dinner, and on their way out, Mina realized she had let Tzuyu take home her car because it was raining earlier.

Nayeon orders for her a cheeseburger, with cheddar, extra pickle, light onion, no tomatoes, a curly fries, and Iced Latte with Vanilla, no sugar.

When Nayeon glances at her, Mina was too speechless to say a word, Nayeon looks at her sheepishly, “What? Did your order change?”

Mina doesn’t answer, and Nayeon doesn’t make a big deal out of it. It’s a little too quiet, aside from the crew repeating Nayeon’s order from the other side of the window. And Nayeon’s looking at Mina with that look – that look she’d been sporting ever since she came back into her life that makes Mina want to hate but only makes her heart feel light. It makes her want to forgive her, makes her want to cry.

Nayeon lightly steps on the accelerator, and waits on the next window. When they get their orders, Nayeon parks to a vacant lot without asking Mina. Mina doesn’t find herself aching to get home, to get away from her.

“They probably didn’t get my order right anyway—it’s McDonald’s on a night shift, I’d be lucky if I get and extra ketchup. I don’t know why you bothered.”

Nayeon searches the paper bag for her sundae, and doesn’t look up, “I like to be pretentious like that.” She hums approvingly when she tastes the first dip, like she always does – almost like a child high on sugar. Nayeon always dives on dessert first before the main course. She turns the volume up a little, not too much to deflect conversation, but enough to fill the space with music as they eat.

And just like that the walls had crashed, the spell is broken – because the familiarity is back, and it’s so stupid how that simple, irrelevant things like that can make Mina feel weightless.

She looks around, and pulls the window down, and let the cold breeze of the night brush through her face. She remembers all the late-night drives she used to have with her, and the countless of songs Nayeon sings along to.

“Operated on a tumor today,” Nayeon drops as she licks off an ice cream off her spoon. “With your girlfriend.”

Mina stops munching on her fries midway, to look at Nayeon with a scowl, “Can we please not—”

Nayeon clicks her tongue and shakes her head, her tongue clicking as she swirls her spoon on mid-air, laughing with mirth. “She’s so pretty and talented, I’ve never seen anyone so eager to just learn, you know? I’ve never seen anyone so attentive like that with me and my work, and still be caring to patient Pre and Post-Op, like she pays attention, really pays attention to the patient’s history. Begged me not to touch any of the temporal lobe even if with an invasive tumor. It’s part of who he is, she says. He’ll never be the same she says.”

Mina hasn’t heard about the story itself, but only bits of it from Tzuyu’s time with the patient. She knows how attached Tzuyu is with this one, she just likes Neuro that much. And Mina can’t take that away from her. She doesn’t know how Tzuyu will react if she knew.

“So freaking attractive and cute, I’d be distracted too.”

She meant to reiterate she’s not just a distraction, never was, instead she says, “If you even attempt to flirt with her, I swear I will destroy that nose.”

Nayeon scoffs in disbelief, but immediately she starts falling on fits of laughter, and Mina joins her after a second. It’s indescribable and inexplicable how they went from calling each other names to laughing at something together.

“You think I haven’t tried?” Nayeon scrunches her nose, looking at herself in the rear-view mirror. “Wanna spice things up in the bedroom? I’m all up for a threesome. I’ve been all dried up for a while now.”

“A while? How long is that for you? A week at most?” It’s a jab, another way of calling her a slut, like that isn’t the worst thing Mina had ever said to her. It’s rude and unkind. But Nayeon doesn’t let herself be defined by it.

But Nayeon doesn’t take offense. She takes it like Mina’s an old-friend, passing up an inside joke instead of hitting an assault. “9 months and 22 days, actually.” She clicks her tongue and hums on the last spoon of her ice cream, “Hmm. 23 now, it’s 12:29, look at that.”

She doesn’t notice the time, that they were on the parking lot for an hour now, and she hasn’t murdered Nayeon yet.

But she does notice Nayeon counting, like it meant something.

“I like her,” Nayeon concludes. “I like her for you.”

It doesn’t take a moment for Mina to drop her burger on her lap, and to look at Nayeon, and to see her looking back at her with that look – that look that reminds her that Nayeon was and is the same song that play in her head whether she likes it or not. Maybe a little ticked this time-- a remix of an old song, she’s forgotten and all too well at the same time.

Mina told herself she’s done with this. And maybe she is.

But the Nayeon with her this time, is the Nayeon she fell in love with. Different, changed, -- something she can’t put a pin on. Maybe the year apart was good for them both, Mina isn’t actually sure.

And she wishes, oh how she wishes being with her like that felt wrong. But it makes her heart hurt and flutter at the same time.

In some sense, she thinks that Nayeon is like a nicotine. Bad for her, but a habit she picked up on when she was young and naïve, and didn’t know any better – but an addiction nonetheless.

Later that night, when Nayeon stops at the front of Mina’s apartment, she’s trying to look anywhere but her, and she’s eerily quiet – and it both irritates Mina and makes her feel uncomfortable. Before Mina gets off of her car, Nayeon turns the volume down and says, “I didn’t mean it when I said you’re boring.”

“You meant it,” It doesn’t sound forcefully as she used to, but she say it just the same.

She cuts Mina off, smiling – it’s forced, like she’s unsure if she’s digging a deeper hole or finally getting herself out of it, “Really, I didn’t mean it. To say it loud at least,” It’s sincere, and she smiles back at Mina, less awkward this time, as she scratches the back of neck.

“Is that supposed to make me feel any better?”

Nayeon stifles a groan, and fights a scowl, “No. I know, I know-- It doesn’t make what I did right—”

“Cheating on me thrice?”

Nayeon ducks her head, “Yes, and—”

“And having the audacity to leave that night after all the things you’ve said?” It’s supposed to make Nayeon feel sick, and it definitely does. But Mina hasn’t bolted out the door yet, and this is actually the first time they are having a decent conversation.

“Yes.”

The silence that follows isn’t awkward, more like a transition on what to say next. A cue for Nayeon to say something, but to be honest, she hasn’t thought of these things far ahead, she’s half-convinced she’s already dreaming at this point.

Mina thought Nayeon would point that Mina had said something too, some horrible things no one had ever said to Nayeon. At least bring up that Mina isn’t a saint either. Instead, she hears an apology.

“I’m sorry.”

It should feel like a broken record. Something Nayeon says by reflex when she makes a mistake. But Mina doesn’t get mad or remotely annoyed, doesn’t even tend to break down and sob. It felt like it’s long overdue. And it’s not like she’s expecting a long essay on why or how things happened. They were long way passed the point, and Mina doesn’t even find herself to care to long for the answers.

Instead, she nods at her slowly, almost accepting. This time, she believes Nayeon truly means it.

She gets out of the car without a word, and closes the door behind her gently. Before she takes a step towards her door, she turns back to Nayeon and says, “Drive safe.”

It’s obvious it means something to both of them, but it doesn’t necessarily mean enough to mean anything at all. They don’t talk that night, even on the day after. But Mina stops holding Tzuyu’s hand in front of Nayeon either.

She’s been expecting this, because it’s kind of inevitable.

"Why didnt you tell me?"

It came out of nowhere – or maybe it’s always been there, lurking in the dark, waiting to be found. A what’s supposed to be a lazy Sunday afternoon, with them wrapped up in sheets and limbs tangled on each other’s, is now filled with questions waiting to be answered.

"There's nothing to tell," Mina responds weakly. Her fingers fiddle in front of her, aching to touch Tzuyu, aching to reach out to her girlfriend, and give her a hug.

But it’s too late now. Looking at her eyes, the eyes she loves to much, now brimming with tears, now burning with something that looks a lot like doubt and hesitation.

"Nothing to tell?! I've been following her around for two months trying to impress her. Some would think I kinda have to know!” When Mina doesn’t answer, Tzuyu’s blood boils even more, “What? When we were talking about exes, you just conveniently forget that we’re now working with one?!"

Mina doesn’t have an excuse other than she didn’t feel like Tzuyu has to know, at least not yet. She truly believes she could handle it herself, and Nayeon did stop her advances towards her. It’s a shitty one, and she knows if the roles were reversed, she’d throw the same fit, maybe even worse. But it’s one of those problems you thought you can fix without anyone knowing. Or moreover, it’s one of those crimes you thought you can get away with.

She knows it’s wrong, and she should’ve told her the moment Nayeon stepped in the hospital, maybe even after she got the first ‘I love you’ text from her that she deleted, definitely after she forgave her and they both settled on a civil relationship: a little less professional, but not enough to be personal. But she couldn’t find a timing and the right words, and the courage to open up the past.

It was all behind her now, Mina thinks. They were way passed it, her and Nayeon.

She’s not thinking of an excuse. She knows this battle is already lost the moment Tzuyu comes to the living room, with a forgotten box of pizza on the table, her wallet in one hand, and the matching keychain on her free hand.

It’s the one used to be attached on her key on her shared apartment with Nayeon. The one she couldn’t let go. She told herself it doesn’t mean anything. That it’s only a memento of a love that was real and had ended. She’s one of those people who doesn’t get rid of all the ex’s stuff. Like an LV bag Nayeon got her on their first anniversary, or the watch she got from her first girlfriend. Keeping those things doesn’t mean she still has feelings for them. It only means Nayeon has good taste on bags, or that it was the watch she got after passing her licensure exam as a physician.

For Tzuyu’s part, the keychain had been familiar to her, she had always seen it attached on Mina’s purse. But only a week later had she seen a matching one from Nayeon.

It wasn’t that hard to connect the dots. And thinking back now, it all made sense. How Mina used to hate Nayeon when she first came, and how Mina can’t mask her displease every time Tzuyu talks about her. Until a month ago, where they suddenly clicked. Like Mina just stopped loathing Nayeon’s existence. Tzuyu remembers asking Mina about Nayeon. She knows they must have at least known of each other, they came from the same hospital before MGH, but Mina brushes the question off, and said she was only a colleague to her.

They stood in silence until Tzuyu scoffs at Mina’s lack of defense on herself. She doesn’t know whether she hates it or should be thankful for a room of doubt. It doesn’t have to be anything, but her not saying who the ex was is very concerning to Tzuyu, "All these time you wanted me to be honest, when you were the one keeping something like this from me!"

“It’s all over now. Long been over! It was a very bad break up, something I don’t ever want to revisit. I’m with you now, and it’s all that matters. I should’ve told you--” The waterworks finally caught up to the situation, and begins to start up when she speaks, but Tzuyu doesn’t waver. Tzuyu takes a step back, and wrings her wrist away from Mina’s reach, throwing Mina’s wallet causing some of the coins and the cards from it to disperse on the floor. But neither of them are paying attention to that.

All of Mina’s words are being drowned by the ringing on Tzuyu’s ears; the aching on her heart outweighs every other sensation and is obviously dispelling any sign of rational thought. She doesn’t hear the rest of Mina’s explanations, even the words echo like a hollow plea in her ears. All she can do, is rethink the past months: look for signs, any signs she mistook, misread, failed to see.

Were they talking in secret? Maybe in plain sight? Maybe in front of Tzuyu, and Tzuyu didn’t catch it? Has Mina changed? Has anything changed? When did lie start? Where did it all go wrong?

There’s another one, she afraid to acknowledge – refuses to acknowledge, but it’s there, lurking.

Am I not enough?

She swallows a lump on her throat, she needs a distraction. Her attention swivels from the attempted self-pity and back to the girl still in front of her, trying to reach her, growing desperate by the minute. Lips parting, her eyelids are heavy, “So, I'm your rebound. Awesome,” Sarcasm dips into venom as she spits. Mina isn’t even surprised at the aggression. “Well, she's here.”

She remembers saying it over and over the first time Nayeon comes. And on how excited she was for having a mentor she had always dreamt, especially the first time she scrubbed in to assist her. Nayeon was there and she’s living up to her expectation. Nayeon was there and it’s exceeding Tzuyu’s anticipation.

 But now, now…-- Tzuyu wets her lips, shaking her head furiously, as her dreams crashed in front of her. She just needs something, anything to at least temporarily distract her from the pain she’s feeling.

“She's here and I'm guessing she's here to take you back.” She says as she paces the long living room. “So where does that leave us?” She asks, almost furiously – desperately trying to hold back emotional tears that are begging to be released. She looks at Mina and she can’t properly read on what she’s feeling. She’s always been good at closing herself off, as much as Tzuyu wish she can see through her façade, she can’t.

Mina doesn’t answer.

Not right away.

But at her silence, the dam breaks.

Time is of the essence, and in Tzuyu’s fragile state, any hesitation is as good as a confirmation.

When a broken sob, left Tzuyu’s lips, Mina gets a hold of herself, and embraces Tzuyu. “I love you," her voice shaking, tone soft and defeated now. She tries to even her breathing, wipe away Tzuyu’s tears, trying to penetrate a gaze.

Mina doesn’t break her hold, even when Tzuyu tries to get away.

Mina frowns into her neck, and repeats, “I love you. Please.”

At the proximity, Tzuyu can breathe in her scent, something stirring in her stomach at the soft scent of vanilla and cream that lingers on Mina freshly showered skin. It’s the lotion Tzuyu got for her just two days ago when she was complaining of her skin breaking out, and Tzuyu telling her she don’t notice it. She can still remember how Mina clasped the lotion like a child with a soda as they sip. And how she kissed right after and even teased her into applying the first one for Mina.

But it’s all done now, Tzuyu is sure.

She sniffs, and her lips tremble, “You’ve never told me that. All these time... You didn't say it back and--"

Mina can’t help it, but she hushes her with a kiss not wanting to hear more. Her lips are soft as Tzuyu had always felt, but the kiss isn’t. It’s messy and aggressive, wretched and sloppy – all at the same time. Even so, Tzuyu doesn’t responds, not unlike she used to.

"I'm saying it now," Mina can’t find it within herself to be embarrassed at how desperate and needy she sounds. “I love you.”

Mina has been thinking about it. Of an ideal timing. She wanted to make it right this time. But in retrospect, she thinks that if there’s an ideal time to say it back, then nothing fits more than this.

This time, Tzuyu finds the strength to break-free, suffocating at the words and the burden, "Thats the thing. If you had told me before this... Then it wouldn’t feel like youre just saying it to save this."

"But I want to save us! Tzuyu, I love you!"

But Tzuyu had turns and grabbed her phone and her sweater from Mina’s rack. Didn’t even bother to get the rest of her things in Mina’s bedroom.

Tzuyu shakes her head. And it’s like she wants to be furious, but she’s just sad.

“Tzuyu, I love you,” It becomes more desperate as she says it. Maybe more sincere too.

But Tzuyu’s already out the door.

 "What are you doing here?"

"I’m here to pick up my Ace. You've filed a leave until yesterday and Doctor Hirai told me she had no intern today because you didnt show up at Rounds!"

Tzuyu turns around, leaving the door open for Jeongyeon to come, and for her to hear more about her Rules that she had heard since the first day of the blonde’s Residency. Don’t upset the Attendings because it makes your Resident look bad. And you don’t want your Resident to look bad because you will be stuck with Discharge and Clinical duty for a month, forgetting what scalpel feels like.

"Do you want to get kicked out of the program? Do you want to throw away everything you’ve worked hard for over a break up?"

Over a break up. Tzuyu wants to be clear they haven’t really cut the ties officially. Mina is still on her inbox. And she even gave in and answered her call the two nights before and had even let Mina in yesterday. But even after an explanation, Tzuyu looked pissed and Mina looked guilty. So here she is, hiding in her den, afraid to face Mina and Nayeon.

“I can’t be around them, Jeongyeon! I feel so stupid just thinking about it.”

“Yea? Well, nobody said it was easy.” Jeongyeon removes her coat, and places on the arm of Tzuyu’s couch, sitting across her. She sighs, looking at Tzuyu’s face, her eyes tired, her nose red. I a soft tone, she continues, “It’s a big hospital and you should be in your Peds Rotation. Get all warm and fuzzy with the kids?”

“Yes, Peds. With Doctor Hirai, Mina's bestfriend.” Tzuyu wipes the side of her face with the sleeve of her sweater that looks like it has been worn for days, all crumpled and stained. “Last time I saw her, she was giving me plushies and candies 'to cheer me up' and I dont have the energy to deal with it, but she's my boss! Any way you can get me on Plastics instead?”

Jeongyeon looks at her aghast, “Plastics?”

Tzuyu shrugs, “Our Plastics is top notch. And the pay is really good, and doesn't require crazy hours—”

“If you think Doctor Minatozaki is bad... Doctor Kim eats Interns for breakfast. In Manoban’s rotation, she hadn’t been inside of an OR. And that’s Lisa, Tzuyu. She’s a crowd favorite, and she didn’t manage to break the ice.”

But Tzuyu is not hearing her, “Doctor Kim has an ongoing research about new skin graft? Doctor Kim is known all over the East, and oh, even celebrities in Hollywood come to her!” Jeongyeon’s jaw drops, unbelieving. But Tzuyu is now way deep down her hollow fantasy.

The following week, Tzuyu starts her Rotation on Plastics. A week and she can say she had fully distanced herself from Mina and her friends, and her ex. They talk casually on texts, and calls, but no meet-up yet, Tzuyu is not ready for that. Not until Mina can admit, say out loud and truly mean that she’s done with Nayeon, that it’s all behind her. She can’t have it both ways.

And until Mina can give her that, she’s staying around, following Jennie like a shadow. Except she doesn’t do what Jennie does. She updates her charts, accompanies her on Rounds, does Discharges for her. But that’s it. Just like Jeongyeon had promised, she will never be inside an OR under Jennie’s wing.

“How’s Plastics?” Dahyun dared to ask even when she knows the answer.

“We have one admitted at the Burnt Unit this morning. Light up his face, totally burns it.” Tzuyu says monotonously.

“Yeah?”

“Doctor Kim’s aiming to recover all of his face before the infection starts. Pretty confident she can do it all herself that she doesn’t want me in there, not even for debridement. She said, she doesn’t want an amateur damaging the goods.”

Tzuyu is sulking. Dahyun and Chaeyoung had never seen her sulk like this, it’s unbecoming of her. Tzuyu used to bring joy in the hospital corridors, now she has this dark aura with her anywhere she goes.

“Maybe she’d change her mind. I mean, that’s a first, right? He didn’t come here for a Face Lift. it’s a burn. She had got to need some hands in there.”

Tzuyu can only sigh, swiveling in her chair, as she deadpans “The only hands she needs is the one to carry her bag and her latte for her. This morning, I got promoted to holding her phone, and answering texts for her. I did a typing tests with Rose, Mark and Mingyu, and apparently, I’m the fastest typer. So yay.”

Chaeyoung clears her throats and interrupts, “We know you can’t be in Neuro, but you need to be back at the Surgical Floor, Tzuyu. We keep scores on the good cases, and you’ve been slacking, very unlike you. Do you want to pay our tab this month? Because Jeongyeon has been drinking. And she has been drinking a lot.”

“Jeongyeon’s still on our tab? She’s a Resident now," Tzuyu complains.

“I don’t even remember the last time you were in the gallery. Maybe camp out in Trauma? Maybe in General?” Chaeyoung suggests. If Tzuyu won't budge, she might at least try to coax her to worry about her career.

“Here’s a crazy idea,” Dahyun pipes in, “Why don’t you talk to Mina? Like, ease your way into it. She told you Doctor Im had stopped, right? That they’re… uhm…. Whatever they are now.”

“We talked, that’s all we ever do. And it’s not enough.”

“Well, uhmmm… Have you tried, being physical?” Chaeyoung’s suggestion was met by an eye roll.

Tzuyu heaves a sigh, closing her eyes, massaging her temple, “Doctor Im is the Neuro-goddess who is great with kids and can operate on a guy with nails on his head without damaging any nerve. She can resect a tumor with fuzzy edges, and not damage any nerve.” She’s torn between resenting and adoring. “She's beauty and brains and has a matching colorful personality... An epitome of a social butterfly. She's... Everything I wanted to be. How am I supposed to compete with that?"

“You can start by updating my charts, Chou.”

Tzuyu almost falls on her chair. She stood up, and regained her balance, grabbing the nearest chart. “Doctor Kim, do you need anything?”

The finds herself in another case of a Butt Enhancement, or in medical terms, a Gluteal Implant. For a girl who’s probably doing it for her boyfriend or girlfriend, Tzuyu doesn’t pry anymore. What’s the point? She was only there to take notes, to book an OR, and to discharge.

Except she said that out loud, and the next thing she knows, she’s being kicked out of the Admission Room.

She waits for the onslaught of insults, maybe her next punishment from Doctor Kim, but it doesn’t come. Jennie doesn’t even looked up. She looks bored, if the narrowing of her eyes goes by. Tzuyu had become good at this, at reading people, that is. And on her third week, she had managed to read Kim Jennie. Maybe because the Plastic Surgeon doesn’t let her do anything but observe… from a far.

“Wallowing in self-pity and despair, is it?” Jennie stops in her tracks and Tzuyu bumps into her. Jennie glares at her, and Tzuyu ducks her head in apology. The last time she stepped on Jennie’s shoe, Jennie sent her in Dermatology.

“I don’t see the glam in Neurosurgery. The Morbidity & Mortality on them last year was higher than Cardio. My Department earns twice as much than them even with Im’s imports.”

“It’s the rush, Doctor Kim.” Tzuyu mumbles under her breath.

“The what?”

“The rush. And the ambiguity of it. The brain is an organ that controls your body, makes up who you are, makes you feel, makes you breathe, keeps you alive.”

“A Heart surgeon would argue.”

“Are you still you when you’re bed-ridden and under coma, brain-dead?” Tzuyu retorts, not out of spite, but to initiate a conversation.

“Okay, Chou. I get it. You love Neuro. Then why are you here, in my Department? Sulking around, telling patients your opinions not facts?”

Tzuyu pouts, “Shouldn’t I have said that? Telling a patient she should be wary of doing a massive butt implant just because she wants to please someone else?”

Jennie gives her a look, “You're drop-dead gorgeous.”

“What?

“You're stunningly beautiful.” Jennie steps in to her personal space, putting her finger in her chin, “Your cheek bones are perfect, your jaw line is defined. You’re the face, people come to me to achieve.” Without waiting for a permission, not caring whether they’re in the middle of a hallway, Jennie grabs Tzuyu’s lab coat and spreads it, revealing her scrubs. She inspects her with scrutiny, “Your legs are to die for, your hips are proportionate and your ass—”

Tzuyu takes a step back, breathing heavily. She would not be objectified at her workplace, not like this, “Doctor Kim this is highly inapp--"

But Jennie doesn’t stop. Jennie squints her eyes and crosses her arms. She’s intimidating her, and other days, Tzuyu would falter, “You don’t notice this, but when you look at the mirror, you feel good about yourself, because you know, inherently, you know that you’re pretty. And other people believe it too.” Before Tzuyu can respond, even though she’s unsure on what to- maybe deny it, maybe ask for a point, Jennie delivers, “Not everyone is as blessed as you. When they come in through those doors and they become vulnerable to you, the last thing they need is for an always-been-good-looking girl to tell them how they should see themselves. Your job as a doctor, is to balance the patient’s wants without causing any complications. Explain the options. It may not be a tumor, a bleeding heart, a blot clot, or a puncture in their lungs. But there’s a sickness there somewhere and you need to fix it. Got it, Chou?

“If you think she's doing that to get her ex back then we give her wild goose chase. Reschedule 2 or three times. And when she comes back, finally doing it for herself, then you give her everything you've got, make her face be crafted by God! Or at least someone with a God-complex.”

“Y-yes, doctor Kim. I'm sorry.”

It’s the most the Jennie had talked to her, work-related that is. She might even think it’s the last lesson she’ll ever learn from her. But she takes it all in, word per word, and take it to her heart.

“You didnt have to be here. You could’ve been a model, an idol. You could’ve asked for anything and people would make it happen for you. And yet you're here. Yet you're in one of the hardest, most competitive career there is. You've earned my respect. Now work hard not to lose it.

 “I’m sorry, Doctor Kim. I’ll work harder from now on.”

“Don't be sorry. Be the best.”

Clock strikes 10, and once again, Tzuyu is alone in her room. She hears a knock on her door, and she drags herself to carry her feet against her carpet. When she opens the door, she almost slams it, “Doctor Im?”

Nayeon was there, all timid and shy, covered in her padded coat and her beanie. She had just removed her gloves and Tzuyu can see them hanging from her pockets, “Hi. Can I come in?

“Uhm. Not to be rude but it's very late and I'm really drunk, and I just want to rest.”

“Should we have the conversation here? At your doorway.?”

“Some would take a hint and say, 'alright. I'll see you tomorrow.'"

Nayeon chuckles, "Tomorrow, you'd still be hiding behind Kim's lab coat."

Tzuyu rolls her eyes, "And you think the appropriate time is to go at my place at what? 10:15pm? Ugh. It's 10:15 and I'm tired already."

"Yes. And you've only done Butt enhancement."

Tzuyu glares at her, "And I made someone's life better. That’s right. Me. It’s my first surgery with Doctor Kim--"

“A Butt Enhancement. I had a tumor at the Spinal Cord at the same time, and if you were in my service—”

Tzuyu rolls her eyes and attempts to slams the door, only Nayeon was stronger. She had put her hand against the door and pushed. Surprised by the resistance, Tzuyu was pushed aside.

Hearing a small thud, Nayeon quickly came in and helped Tzuyu up.

“Ouch, my butt.” Tzuyu complains, wincing a little.

Nayeon guided her to the couch, not without closing the  door to Tzuyu’s apartment. “See, if you stop being stubborn—”

Another glare, another hiss, “What do you want?"

"I've put in a request for you starting next week. And you'd stop finding an excuse to stay another month at Plastics."

"Let's see what Doctor Kim has to say. She's been fond of me. She’s letting me in on her Ear Reconstruction. We're the Plastics Posse.'

Nayeon snorts, “The what?”

"Doctor Im, what are you doing here? We are not friends. And you are not welcome. How do you even know where I live?"

"You’ve missed a good Neuro case, a Tumor Resection for a Butt Enhancement. I think it's time to stop being immature--."

"Immature? You call me immature in my own home?"

"’Cos thats what you are. Now let’s get this over with and come back to my service."

She stares at her with mouth wide open. Honestly, Tzuyu is looking about ready to burst into hysterical laughter or comical rage – both she had never felt before. But she’s so absorbed with her heartache that she clenches her fists onto tight ball against her palm, and steps towards Nayeon, “You have got to be kidding me. You're an insufferable, self-absorbed, selfish bitch--"

Nayeon takes a deep breath as she composes herself and then standing straight, hand-on-hips and eyebrow raised. "I’m saying dont let your personal vendetta take over your life! When I first came here, did you think I was excited to see you everyday? Knowing you're the girl who's with the person i love? Did I make your life miserable? Did I deprive you of the education you deserve? No. I never. And I know it still hurts, but don't throw away your career--"

"I’m a second year intern,” she rolls her eyes, huffing, “I think I still have my life ahead of me. And fine, Plastics is great and Doctor Kim is a nice mentor, once she warms up to you, but Neuro is still my first love. Another Neuro Attending will come--"

"But you dont need another Neuro Attending. You need me. So suck it up."

No.

"You’re a reminder that I lost. You're the reason I feel bad everyday. You're why I have to drag my feet across the hospitals halls when I used to look forward to any good Neuro case! You made me hate something I love! You took two things away from me! If you know how it feels then you would really give me some space. If the tables are turned and if she chose me, I bet you would be on the first flight to wherever you came from and I honestly wouldn’t have asked you to stay for my own gain. So NO. "

Nayeon shakes her head, "You and I work well together. So well, it's insane. I could teach you--"

But Tzuyu interrupts with another bitter laugh, "You knew. All this time you knew. And I bet, every single day you’ve tried to get her back. To get her to break up with me.  So don’t ever come back here and pretend you’re strictly being professional. Because it is personal."

The conversation stops when Doctor Kim abruptly join their table, unannounced, without any permission. But then again, an Attending like Kim Jennie doesn’t usually ask for one to be invited.

Chaeyoung and Dahyun stops eating and can only stare at her from their seats.

Jennie doesn’t even regard them. She slides a paper into Tzuyu’s direction and taps it. She then anchors her chin over her palm, “It’s the list of 3 of the most exciting surgeries I could schedule on Friday. Which one do you want?”

“Wait, you’re asking me?”

Jennie shrugs, looking at her nails, finding it interesting, masking her true intentions, “It’s your last week on my rotation. It’s my parting gift.” She rolls her eyes when Tzuyu starts smiling. She hasn’t seen her smile like that since the start of her service. Only two days ago, when her patient had hugged her and thanked her for a job well done. She had heard about it. It’s been the talk of the nurses on the surgical floor and she used to see it when the young girl and Mina was still dating, but she hasn’t had the opportunity to see it.

Until now.

She rolls her eyes, not wanting to break her image, “What? Maybe I wanna answer a call during a surgery.”

"Or… I could stay for another cycle... If you request for me."

At that, both of Chaeyoung’s and Dahyun’s jaw open widely, if that’s even more possible. They would almost whimper. Tzuyu? Another month at Plastics? No way. Jeongyeon had made a list for the next cycle and she was supposed to be in Neuro. Back at Neuro. The only reason she's hiding in Plastics is because the trio rarely share cases with Jennie.

"You can ask for anything!” She had seen Doctor Park pull the same trick before ever since she got promoted to Head of Trauma. What’s stopping Jennie to do the same? “Plastics is one of the top department in this hospital. Your revenue is the highest!"

"Kiss ass. Be careful, I might be into it.”

It’s inappropriate, but it goes over Tzuyu’s head. She looks over at Mina’s table and she saw her still looking with a scowl on her face. The confrontation with Nayeon doesn’t leave her mind. And maybe she’s being immature.

But time is of the essence and she’s taking Mina’s indecision a confirmation.

Jennie pulls her attention back in, “Well, I could request for you for another cycle. But why would I want that?"

Tzuyu doesn’t lose the eye-contact with Mina. And she waits for a signal, anything, to tell her Mina had chosen her. Maybe it’s the timing Mina wants. Maybe she would stand up, walk towards her across the cafeteria and claim what’s hers. But Mina is there, unmoving, with Momo and Sana waiting for her next move, Sana mouthing words to Mina.

Nothing.

Sometimes, nothing is already something.

Tzuyu’s shoulder deflates, and exhales through her nose, disappointed, she looks at Jennie, and lifts up the corner of her lips in an attempt to mask the sadness.

It’s pointless because Jennie had seen it, and she doesn’t mind, doesn’t care more like it. Tzuyu can have her self-pity and despair as long as she lives up to her name, Ace Tzuyu. With another sigh, and Tzuyu accepting the paper, she says, “I thought we're the Plastics Posse?”