Work Text:
You learned to run from what you feel. To deny is to invite madness.
The sun had just begun to rise, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, as Kim Sabu hurried through the bustling emergency room of Doldam Hospital. He had an inclination that he had a long day of surgeries ahead, but his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of a certain someone. Today, he had decided to finally work up the courage to ask Oh Myung Sim to have dinner with him.
The last couple of weeks, hell, even months and years, the nurse had constantly shown him that she was the best confidante and friend he could ever ask. He wasn’t blind and certainly not numb about the feelings he was sure Myung Sim had for him. And truly, the feelings he had for the nurse were probably ten fold of Myung Sim’s. However, he deliberately chose not to make a move, at least until everything had settled down and the Trauma Center was fully operational.
That was his plan, originally. However, with the new issues they had to face with Assemblywoman Ko and her deep hatred of their team, and remembering the last conversation he had with the elderly patient last week, he felt that he needed some respite from all these things that were weighing down on his spirit.
He was lonely indeed, just like the old woman remarked.
There were days when he questioned his choices and decisions, whether he did the right thing, or could have done it differently, or could have analyzed his moves better. Most nights, he was plagued with guilt and the unbearable weight of responsibility, he couldn’t help but wish he had someone he could easily confide in–he wished he had Oh Myung Sim by his side. He knew he could have faced them all had he had the nurse by his side. However, he didn’t want to burden her with his problems and the demons living inside his head. Even when she treated him as a dear friend. He felt like everything between them right now had a clear boundary and she should not feel like he was taking advantage of her kindness.
And so he wanted to finally tell her his true feelings.
The old lady told him to take his time. Maybe he could take his time with Myung Sim by his side?
So he spoke with Nam Do Il and asked if he could borrow the ramen house for a couple of hours. He didn’t want any distractions so he asked his anesthesiologist friend if it’s okay for him to close up his shop for those two hours. He explained to Do Il everything that he wanted to happen, and fortunately, the anesthesiologist was very supportive and happy that his friends, hopefully, would finally be together.
Today, he had resolved to reveal his feelings to the woman who unexpectedly won his heart, to finally bridge the gap between them.
As he entered the ER, the air was filled with a sense of urgency. Doctors Yoon and Jang and the nurses scurried about, attending to patients in need. Kim Sabu approached the nurses' station, searching for Nurse Oh's familiar face, but she was nowhere to be found. He knew she could just be in the Trauma Center, probably ensuring by now that everything was working well. Still, unease washed over him, and a sinking feeling settled in his chest.
Fighting off the unwanted dread that settled in him, he decided to open up the computer in front of him to check the post-op status of some of his patients.
Minutes had passed but the sinking feeling in his chest remained. What is this?
Just as he was about to inquire about Nurse Oh's whereabouts, thinking that should alleviate the dread in his chest, a phone rang out, piercing through the chaos. Nurse Eom answered the call, her voice hushed and laden with concern. Kim Sabu's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the urgency in her tone.
He approached the nurse, his voice trembling a bit with a mix of anxiety and fear. "What happened? Are we getting an influx of patients?"
The nurse's eyes met his and nodded, her own filled with sorrow. "It's the EMT, Sabu-nim. There was an accident involving several cars and a bus,”
Kim Sabu nodded solemnly. “Okay, we should get ready and move the patients that can be released–” he remarked as his eyes scanned the room, checking for patients they could already discharge.
“Sabu-nim,” Nurse Eom called his attention. “Sussaem–she’s one of the injured patients. They're bringing her in now." Nurse Eom bit her lower lip, as if trying to remove the trace of the news she just delivered. She was trying to control her emotions but failed when tears sprung in her eyes, worried about the condition of their head nurse.
Time seemed to stand still as Kim Sabu absorbed Nurse Eom's words, his mind racing with a jumble of emotions. Shock, worry, and regret consumed him. Without a moment's hesitation, he stepped away from the station and readied himself. He walked closer to the entrance of the ER, his footsteps heavy with apprehension, as they finally heard the sirens.
As the EMTs and patients arrived, the scene unfolded before him—a flurry of medical professionals working with urgency and precision. Amongst the chaos, he finally caught a glimpse of Oh Myung Sim, lying unconscious on the stretcher. Her usually vibrant face was pale, and a web of cuts, blood, and bruises adorned her delicate features.
Kim Sabu's hands trembled as he watched, frozen in his spot, as the medical team rushed to stabilize her, their actions a combination of well orchestrated lifesaving maneuvers. Fear gripped his heart as he realized the gravity of the situation. Guilt gnawed at him, tearing through his soul like a hurricane. He knew that time was slipping away, that he might never have the chance to tell her how he truly felt.
“KIM SABU!” Dr. Yoon shouted, jolting him from his haze. Panic and fear evident in Dr. Yoon’s eyes.
Kim Sabu's heart clenched with a mix of despair and determination. This was his moment to save her, to prove his love through his healing touch. He joined the medical team, his expertise guiding him through the intricate process of resuscitation.
With every step, every intervention, Kim Sabu fought desperately to bring Oh Myung Sim back from the edge. He refused to let her slip away without ever knowing the depths of his affection. His hands moved with a mixture of skill and devotion, as he poured his heart into saving her life.
But despite his best efforts, the minutes stretched into an agonizing eternity. The monitor's incessant beeping filled the room, a haunting reminder of the battle being waged for Oh Myung Sim's life. Tears welled up in Kim Sabu's eyes as he realized the futility of his efforts. Myung Sim’s heart, weakened by the impact of the accident, could no longer bear the strain.
With a heavy sigh, the team ceased their resuscitation attempts, their collective gaze shifting to Kim Sabu. He stood frozen, his heart shattered into a thousand pieces, as the truth settled in.
Oh Myung Sim had slipped away, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of loss and regret.
A soul-crushing wail escaped Kim Sabu's lips, reverberating through the sterile walls of the ER. The weight of grief and unspoken love bore down on him, forcing him to his knees. In front of his colleagues and the bustling ER, he wept unabashedly, his anguish mingling with the palpable sorrow in the room.
The world around him blurred as Kim Sabu mourned the love that had slipped through his fingers. In that moment, he realized that time had been his greatest adversary, stealing away the chance to express the depth of his emotions to Oh Myung Sim. He vowed to carry the weight of his regret for the rest of his days, forever haunted by the love that could never be shared.
But just as his heart shattered into a thousand pieces, a gentle touch roused him from the depths of his torment. Blinking away, he found himself face to face with Myung Sim, her eyes filled with concern.
"Kim Sabu, are you alright?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Relief washed over him like a healing balm as he realized it had all been a dream—a cruel figment of his imagination. Oh Myung Sim was here, alive and unharmed. The weight of the nightmare lifted, replaced by a newfound determination.
Kim Sabu's emotions surged within him, fueled by the intensity of the nightmare he had just experienced. Without hesitation, he pulled Nurse Oh into a tight embrace, holding her as if he would never let go. The boundaries of their professional relationship blurred in that moment, as the overwhelming flood of emotion propelled him forward.
With a trembling heart, Kim Sabu closed the gap between them, his lips meeting hers in a gentle, passionate kiss. The world around them ceased to exist, as the truth of their long-suppressed feelings flowed between them—a river of longing finally finding its release.
Kim Sabu took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts and summoning the courage he had denied himself for far too long. "Sussaem–Oh Myung Sim," he began, his voice filled with sincerity, "...there's something I need to tell you. These feelings I've kept hidden–”
“Kim Sabu,” Nurse Oh had a feeling what he was about to tell her would change the course of their lives, but she had more pressing issues she needed him to know. “Can we talk about this later–we really need you in the ER–I’m sorry.”
Kim Sabu couldn’t help but stare at Nurse Oh and the reality of the life they live. Sighing, he smiled at her and nodded.
“If it means anything, I think I already know what you’re going to say–” Myung Sim comforted, seeing the instant regret that filled his eyes when she cut him off.
Kim Sabu chuckled and nodded, “Of course you do but the depth of–”
He didn’t get to finish his words as Nurse Oh planted her soft lips on his, reassuring him in the best way she knew how. “Yes, I do. I always do. But can we go now? The ER?” the nurse asked, her eyes twinkling with pure affection and joy.
Kim Sabu pressed his thumb on his lips, beaming at the woman who owned his heart and who knew him so well. He nodded in agreement and stood up as he offered his hand to the nurse.
“Of course. Let’s go.”
FIN.