Chapter 10

“That must’ve scared you since the bleeding got heavy during the incision, but you handled it well. Honestly, I was a little impressed.”

“It wasn’t a big deal. Incisions aren’t exactly the most difficult skill anyway.”

Suji could have simply said thank you, but compliments always made her uncomfortable.

She had been in charge of the abdominal incision during a laparoscopic appendectomy just earlier.

Getting to perform the incision in a lap appendectomy was a privilege interns almost never got.

Professor Cavill had basically granted Suji a favor despite her being only three months into internship.

Maybe it was because she’d been completely blacklisted by Professor Crowell after the VIP patient incident. Whatever the reason, Suji felt especially grateful toward Professor Cavill.

“Suji, you’re way too humble. Look around you. People way less competent than you brag like they’re worth diamonds.”

Suji knew exactly what Liam meant. She was American by nationality, but she had the temperament of a Korean raised on humility as a virtue.

Americans were different. They interpreted the humility Suji valued as a lack of confidence. If they had ten points of skill, they knew how to inflate it to forty or fifty.

Meanwhile, Suji, who always studied quietly in the back, couldn’t even promote half of what she had even when she had a full hundred. She didn’t want to be like that. She often thought she was being foolish. But the ghost of humility clung to her no matter how much she tried to shake it off.

“You’re a pride to our surgical intern group, Suji. I’m seriously grateful I get to do internship with you.”

“Thank you for saying that, Liam. You’re a really good friend.”

“Friend… yeah. For now.”

The moment Suji expressed her gratitude, something like disappointment flickered across Liam’s face.

She wondered if she’d said something wrong, but Liam quickly smiled again like nothing happened.

“You looked so nervous after the incision that your hands were shaking. You don’t need to shake like that. You did really well. You’re the ace among all of us. I mean it. Have some confidence.”

“…”

Hearing that Liam had seen her hands tremble cast a shadow over Suji’s expression.

“I’m serious. I never say things I don’t mean. You know that, right.”

He kept smiling as he spoke.

“Anyway, you’re the pride and ace of the general surgery interns so hang in there a little longer. If it gets too hard, tell me anytime. Fimm and I will do anything for you.”

“Yeah, I will. Thanks, Liam.”

Even if it was just a gesture, she felt touched.

“Don’t just say it. If you’re struggling, you better tell us right away. Solas Medical Center’s general surgery can’t run without you.”

“I don’t think that’s true. I’m literally just one of the interns.”

Lately, she felt like Liam and Fimm were overly attentive to her mood. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was just her imagination.

“Let’s finish eating, Suji.”

“You kept talking so much I only got one bite in.”

“Sorry, Suji.”

He softened his big round eyes and pouted slightly.

“I’m kidding. Let’s eat.”

The two paused their conversation and focused on their sandwiches.

With the warm sunlight behind her, Suji felt her gloom from the past few days dissolve little by little.

“But Suji, why does Dr. Harrington look like he’s glaring this way.”

“What?”

Suji naturally turned in the direction Liam was looking. And sure enough, Lucas was standing there with his arms crossed, staring straight at them.

“Maybe he’s looking somewhere else.”

She spoke while scanning left and right. But no one else was sitting nearby except her and Liam.

“He is looking at us, right.”

At Liam’s question, Suji slowly nodded.

“Maybe we’re being too relaxed. To him, we probably look like irresponsible interns eating sandwiches during a busy shift.”

Suji stuffed a big bite of sandwich in her mouth and stood up.

“No, Suji. This is our right. Even interns need time to eat. Having to feel guilty for that is what’s unreasonable.”

Even while saying that, Liam awkwardly smiled back at Lucas. He was definitely nervous.

“No, Liam. Looking for fairness while being a surgery intern feels more unreasonable. Let’s get up.”

Suji tugged his arm and Liam reluctantly followed.

* * *

Lucas was having a short coffee break at the healing garden with Alexander. He wasn’t paying attention to Alexander’s nonstop talking and happened to turn his head.

Suji and Liam came into view immediately.

They sat so close together while eating that they looked strangely affectionate. Maybe because they’d been med school classmates, they always seemed comfortable with each other.

Suji had been acting strangely distant lately. She barely looked him in the eye, didn’t smile, and kept her replies short. There had to be a reason for the change. But he couldn’t figure it out.

“Dr. Harrington. What are you looking at.”

“Nothing.”

Lucas slowly turned his eyes away.

“That’s Dr. Park and Dr. Tan. Something about those two seems a little suspicious.”

“…”

Lucas’s sleek brows twitched.

“Dr. Bunnak is always with them too.”

“True, but they have a slightly different vibe. Those two feel like there’s something else. They’ve been together since med school so that’s probably why.”

“Bunnak graduated from the same med school.”

“Yeah, that’s true but…”

Alexander trailed off and sipped his coffee.

Lucas didn’t even realize he’d been staring at Suji for that long until she and Liam noticed and quickly got up to leave.

Was it really necessary to run away just because he looked over for a bit.

It wasn’t like he was going to eat them alive.

Still, for two people who were supposedly just classmates and friends… they were sitting awfully close. There was absolutely no need to sit that close unless they were trying to send the wrong idea.

Not that it mattered. Whether Suji and Liam were glued together or not, why should he care.

Lucas let out a faint, confused laugh. Alexander blinked, not knowing what to make of it.

* * *

In front of the Fields Corner Community Center in Dorchester, Solas Medical Center’s medical bus stood parked. A temporary tent was set up at the entrance with a banner announcing free health screenings.

Suji arrived thirty minutes early. The first person who spotted her was Fimm.

“Su!”

Fimm hugged her tightly.

“Fimm, you’re early. Did you eat lunch.”

“Of course. A Thai woman never skips a meal.”

Hand in hand, they entered the medical bus. It was larger than expected and neatly stocked with proper medical equipment and examination tools. Several familiar faces were already inside. Fellow intern Elliott Howard and fifth-year chief resident Alexander Fairfax.

“Hi, Elliott. Dr. Fairfax, you’re here too.”

“Suji, you’re here. Welcome.”

Alexander had grown up in a low-income American household. With brains and relentless effort, he achieved his dream of becoming a surgeon. Alongside Lucas, he was one of the hospital’s most talked-about men for his good looks among the female staff.