Chapter 5

I let out a short laugh without meaning to. My heart had been pounding like crazy. Sure, an intern could be scared after getting scolded brutally by a professor who might as well be a god, but still. She’d looked exactly like a trembling herbivore facing down a predator.

Pale skin, bright red lips. Eyes shining with tears.

Suddenly, an intense thirst washed over me. Lucas poured more whiskey into his glass. The feeling was strange and uncomfortable in a way he couldn’t explain, and he cleared his throat.

He remembered a moment from a few months ago.

“Dr. Harrington, I really like you.”

“I’m sorry, Suji. You’re not my type. And I absolutely hate workplace romance.”

But Suji hadn’t stopped there. She’d even given him a bold ultimatum.

“I’m going to confess one more time. And if it really doesn’t work out then, please tell me honestly.”

That moment was still vivid and annoying. One more confession. Why were kids these days so reckless. Why didn’t they consider the other person at all.

The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it felt.

Lucas snorted under his breath and downed his whiskey.

* * *

After finishing Angela’s second round of morning checks, Lucas stopped by the VIP staff lounge. He planned to rest for a moment and update the EMR, but someone was curled up inside, fast asleep.

“Dr. Park.”

She was sleeping in such an uncomfortable position he almost felt bad for her. Even though he’d made noise, she didn’t stir at all. She must’ve been exhausted.

Well, being a surgical intern was no ordinary job. They were always short on sleep, their legs shaking like newborn calves, rushing everywhere, trying to learn procedures while staying wary of senior doctors. Whether their eyes were open or closed, nothing about being an intern was easy.

Bzzzt.

A pager vibrated. Lucas checked his own, but it wasn’t his.

“Dr. Park.”

He gently touched Suji’s shoulder. Her eyelashes trembled, then she slowly opened her eyes.

“Dr… Harrington?”

“Your pager’s going off. Check it.”

“Yes…”

Suji forced her body upright. Just when Lucas thought she was sitting properly, she started nodding off again. Her body tilted to one side. Lucas reached out and caught her cheek with his hand.

Her small, round face rested against his fingers. Her skin was milky, her eyes subtly downturned, and her lips naturally plump and red. He expected her to jerk away, apologize, and snap awake.

But instead of reacting, Suji stayed there, leaning on his palm like she hadn’t even realized he was touching her.

The pager kept buzzing, so Lucas leaned over to check it himself.

6W IV pump alert

If an IV pump alarm was going off, it usually meant the fluids had run out. A nurse could easily handle that.

But why wasn’t she waking up at all.

Lucas sighed at the warm softness against his palm and sat down beside her. Her head gradually sank toward his solid shoulder.

How could a person sleep this deeply in such an uncomfortable position.

“How long are you planning to sleep, Dr. Park.”

Even her breathing was soft and steady. It was ridiculous. He debated just waking her up. Maybe he should raise his voice. But instead, he froze in place and stayed like that for a long time. He had no idea why.

He didn’t know how long he’d been sitting there when Suji suddenly twitched and jolted upright in a panic.

“I’m s… sorry, doctor.”

Her drowsiness vanished instantly from her face.

“How… how did I… end up sleeping on you.”

“I don’t know. I was wondering that too.”

Suji wiped the corner of her mouth, then glanced nervously at Lucas’s shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, doctor. I’ll wash it for you.”

She reached out to take off his white coat.

“It’s fine. I don’t need it washed.”

“No, but I’m really sorry.”

“I said it’s fine.”

“Still… I’m really sorry.”

Her face was bright red as she stumbled around in embarrassment.

“I’ll go now.”

She bowed and practically ran out of the room.

What just happened. She’d definitely been dozing on the sofa earlier. So why had she been leaning on Lucas’s shoulder like that. He wasn’t someone who casually lent his shoulder to anyone.

What the hell had happened.

Still confused, Suji turned when she heard a loud bustle. Her fellow interns were gathering.

Her night shift had returned after two days. The shift ended at seven in the morning, but she still couldn’t leave. She had to brief the next team and finish rounds.

“Suji, what were you doing.”

“Writing the handover memo.”

“Professor Cavill said tomorrow everyone except Elliott can come in late. He said it’s a special gift for the four of us in the lounge.”

“Only us four. Seriously.”

“Yeah. They can’t let every intern rest.”

Fimm ripped open a granola bar and took a huge bite.

Fimm was Thai, Suji’s med school classmate, and her soul-best-friend. The two of them had survived the subtle anti-Asian bias of American society together. Fimm was fiery but loyal and fun, which made her a perfect match for Suji.

“Suji, what’re you doing tonight. Don’t tell me you’re staying home.”

Another classmate, Liam, winked at her.

Liam Tan. Half British and half Singaporean. He’d also graduated from the same med school as Suji and Fimm. He was one of the people Suji relied on mentally in the surgical department.

“I’m staying home. Home sweet home.”

“Sure, but… we’re thinking of grabbing a beer at a pub. You’re coming, right.”

“I… I really just want to rest at home…”

“Come on, Suji. I’m going too. It’s been forever since the three of us had a drink together.”

Fimm linked her arm with Suji’s and shook her gently.

“I honestly can’t even remember when.”

“Exactly. We can’t waste a golden chance like this.”

Then Liam hooked his arm through Suji’s other arm. Sandwiched between them, Suji couldn’t move at all and sighed under her breath.

At that moment, Mia Tanaka lifted her chin.

“If you want your conversation to be more interesting, I could join.”

Fimm’s brows pinched. She openly disliked Mia, saying she was arrogant and overly proud. But since they’d be colleagues for years, she reluctantly hung out with her anyway.

“I know a bar. Wanna go there.”

Fimm made a reluctant face but nodded.

* * *

The group of interns, including Suji, headed to a rooftop in Back Bay. It was about ten minutes by car from Solas Medical Center in the Longwood Medical Area. The skyline formed by tall buildings like the Prudential Tower and John Hancock Tower was beautiful. The Charles River shimmered as it reflected the city lights.

It was exactly the Boston Suji loved. After one cocktail, the exhaustion from the past few days of running around like a newborn calf melted away.

“If they’d kept you from going home again today, I swear I would’ve filed a complaint with the State Medical Board.”

Mia pushed out her red-painted lips in irritation.

“I know we’re interns, but this is literally inhumane. I didn’t sign up for Solas Medical Center for this. Remember yesterday when ambulances lined up at the trauma bay starting at five in the morning. Oh my god.”

As Mia continued to complain, Fimm closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. Suji burst into laughter at the sight.

“Suji, you’re always so unserious. Laughing during a serious conversation. So typical of you.”

“Sorry.”

She hadn’t expected Mia to take it so personally. She’d only laughed at Fimm’s joke.

“When I pulled an all-nighter, my hands were shaking. Imagine that. A surgeon’s hands shaking. How is that acceptable.”

At Mia’s comment about her hands trembling, Suji’s expression immediately darkened. She instinctively wrapped her left hand around her right and rubbed it gently.