Chapter Text
Of Dinner, First Dates, and All That
(Sometime in March)
Sabi's POV
"Hey, are you going home?" Jae-il rose from his seat, grabbing his things just as Sabi stepped into the lounge. His gaze lingered on her for a bit too long, a quiet relief softening his expression. "Come on, let’s go. I was just waiting for you. Yiyoung had already left and Namkyung’s on call tonight."
Sabi’s shoulders sagged slightly as she pouted. “Not yet. I’m absolutely starving. I think I’ll grab dinner before heading home.”
"Then let’s have dinner together. I know a place you’ll definitely like," he offered with his usual boyish grin.
"No, you go ahead. I’ll be reading papers while I eat." She sighed, her tone laced with tired resistance.
"Really? Me, too. Come on!" he beamed. His voice held a playful challenge.
"Actually, I’ll review some surgery recordings as well." She answered, left eyebrow raised.
He let out a low chuckle. "I was planning on doing that too. Let’s watch them together?"
"Ah, why can't you just go already," she muttered, her frown not quite reaching her eyes. "Why are you so annoying?"
But Jae-il wasn’t fazed. Instead, he reached out and gently pinched her cheek, grinning. "You’re really adorable when you’re grumpy."
Sabi blinked, startled. Her hand went instinctively to her cheek. Her brothers and cousins used to do that - but with Jae-il, it felt… completely different. Foreign in the most unsettling pleasant way. Her heart skipped and fluttered, confused by the sensation. She couldn’t name it, but she couldn’t ignore it either.
"Let’s have dinner," he said again, softer this time. “What do you want to eat? Pig's trotter or tteokbokki and glass noodles with extra cheese and sausage?”
She was stunned. She understood every word, yet her thoughts were incoherent. Her chest felt tight with an emotion she couldn’t name. Something halfway between nervousness and anticipation. What was she supposed to say?
She cleared her throat but couldn’t speak. She was just gaping at him.
"Is dinner too much for you?" he asked gently with seemingly sad eyes. "Are you still not comfortable around me?"
She gave a small nod, uncertain. Was it really that… or the slow unraveling of something she’d tried to keep in check?
He looked at his watch and gave her a small, understanding smile. “It's okay. I get it. Next time, then. See you tomorrow.”
He turned to leave.
"W-wait…" The word escaped her lips before she could think. She didn’t even know what she wanted to say. Everything was spinning. "It’s not just dinner, right? It's something else? L-like a date?"
He smiled and shook his head, amused. His eyes warm as he stepped closer and reached for her hand. “Hey, no pressure. Nothing’s going to change between us. Yet. You don’t have to decide anything right now. We’re not in a race or anything. Just… breathe. Let it be what it is.”
His hand was warm, grounding. His voice steady and kind.
She slightly snapped out of it. "Yah, Um Jae-il - " she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course it's a date," he said again, grinning. “But you can call it whatever you want.” Then he nodded toward her locker. “I'll get your bag. Go get changed.”
She hesitated… and then - she nods.
With a quiet sigh, she went inside the changing room. No more second-guessing. No more overthinking. Her work was almost done anyway, and the remaining paperwork and scheduling that needed approval could wait. She could have dinner with him. There was nothing wrong with that. She had been eating dinner alone for days now since her parents had been coming home late as well. For once, she allowed herself to choose something she wanted, not needed. And tonight, she wanted to go with him.
She changed quickly, her heart still caught between nerves and anticipation. When she stepped out, he was there - just waiting. He took her hand without a word, and she let him.
More than that, she couldn’t deny it - she wanted to be with Jae-il.
"Let’s go," he whispered.
"W-wait. I need to shut down the computer and clean this mess." She gestured at her cluttered desk.
He smiled sweetly - soft, unhurried. "Okay." But he didn’t let go of her hand so she worked one-handed, fumbling through her desk. She bit her lower lip, trying to suppress the smile forming on her lips from the giddy feeling she couldn’t quite contain inside. Yes, she was giddy. Her heart was still unsure, but her soul felt lighter.
For now, she wouldn’t bother to figure out why she felt that way. All she focused on at that moment was the wonderful feeling he gave her. It made her forget the exhaustion, the frustration, and the resentment she felt toward a particular Professor.
Tonight, she would simply be present. Choosing what feels right, as what Yiyoung and Namkyung always tell her. Because maybe - just maybe - this is the beginning of something beautiful. And she didn’t want to miss it.