Chapter 6

“Alright, alright. Enough complaints. Let’s just have a drink.”

Fimm lifted her glass high, trying to brighten the mood.

“To the humane lives of surgical interns.”

Everyone nodded hard at Liam’s toast. The icy beer scraped down their throats. The sting of the carbonation was so strong Suji almost teared up.

“I still think this is insane. Intern or not, not going home for three days straight is a problem. What do you all think.”

At Mia’s question, Fimm raised her hand with a theatrical expression.

“I think it’s understandable. They’re short on staff already. We can’t expect princess treatment. We didn’t choose general surgery to be pampered.”

Suji nodded intensely in agreement. In the end, Fimm managed to shut Mia up.

“You all don’t seem to like serious conversations, so should we switch to gossip instead.”

Fimm shrugged with no enthusiasm at all.

“Gossip.”

When Liam echoed the word, Mia stretched her red lips into a dramatic pout and nodded. Then she glanced around and leaned in.

“Guess who I ran into at the hospital a few days ago.”

“How would we know.”

Fimm shot back, unimpressed. It was obvious the story would be pointless, so she had no interest at all. She took another sip of her cocktail without changing expression.

“You probably only saw him on TV. Jonathan Harrington.”

“Jonathan Harrington.”

Fimm recognized the name instantly.

“Yep. Dr. Harrington’s dad. I see him on TV all the time, but I’d never seen him in the ward at Solas. It surprised me a little.”

Mia continued confidently.

“The news said his law firm’s secretary got shot. So he came to the hospital as her guardian.”

“And?”

Fimm asked flatly.

“My instincts are screaming at me. That patient is very closely connected to Dr. Harrington.”

“Connected to our Dr. Harrington. Not Jonathan Harrington.”

Fimm glanced at Suji while asking. As Suji’s longtime friend, she knew all about Suji’s hopeless crush. Naturally, she was curious.

“Yes. Exactly.”

“What does that even mean. Just say it instead of dragging it out.”

“I saw Dr. Harrington having a serious conversation with his dad. And that patient. She looked our age.”

“…”

Suji was already aware of that part, so she wasn’t shocked. But Mia wore the smug expression of someone delivering classified intel. Fimm only shrugged like her soda had gone flat.

“Even so, that doesn’t prove they’re connected.”

“Do you think I’d say they’re connected without proof.”

Fimm snorted.

“I heard him call her his girlfriend.”

“…Dr. Harrington?”

“Yep. I heard it with my own ears. He said it quietly, like he didn’t want anyone to know. But too bad for him. I already heard it. Don’t you find it interesting. Why was his girlfriend shot in the abdomen and hospitalised in secret.”

Fimm clicked her tongue at Mia’s grin.

“Someone nearly died from a gunshot wound. And you think it’s interesting. That’s so you, Mia Tanaka.”

“I meant it’s interesting because of their story. Don’t twist my words.”

The two bickered back and forth. Suji stared blankly at them, then her eyes snapped wide open.

“She’s really Dr. Harrington’s girlfriend.”

She raised her voice without meaning to.

“Why are you shouting all of a sudden.”

Mia jumped in surprise and held her chest.

“No, I mean… Dr. Harrington’s girlfriend is that patient who got shot.”

“That’s what I said. Were you not listening. Anyway, keep this quiet. Don’t go telling people.”

Suji drifted back into her thoughts, taking occasional sips of her drink. The truth felt unreal. Her mind was spinning.

Lucas actually had a girlfriend. The man who seemed completely uninterested in women somehow had one. Before she even noticed.

“A girlfriend for Dr. Harrington does feel a bit strange.”

Liam grinned and drank his beer.

“Right. I never thought I’d see him involved with someone before the end of my residency. And she looked completely Asian. Is that his type. If so, I guess I’ve got a chance too. Half-Asian blood counts for something.”

Mia rambled on excitedly. Suji silently raised her hand to order another beer. Her heart ached at the thought that maybe it was time to finally let her long unrequited crush go.

She didn’t want to make a fool of herself by confessing to a man who already had a girlfriend.

* * *

“Let’s goooo! Let’s gooo!”

Suji stumbled as she walked, hanging an arm over Fimm’s and Liam’s shoulders. Liam looked fine, but Fimm had dark circles under her eyes.

“Liam, do you know why Suji drank so much today.”

Suji was never the type to drown stress in alcohol. That was why Fimm couldn’t understand tonight’s outburst.

“No idea. I’ve never seen her drink like this. Maybe she’s got personal stress.”

“What kind. She hasn’t even told me anything. Is it serious.”

Fimm and Suji usually shared everything. Fimm thought she knew all of Suji’s secrets. It was frustrating not knowing what was eating her tonight.

“Oh. Right.”

Liam suddenly stopped walking, as if something hit him.

“What. You remembered something.”

“Suji said something earlier.”

“What did she say.”

“She said it’s over. Completely over.”

“Over.”

“Yeah. She didn’t say what, but she definitely said over.”

Fimm lowered her gaze, thinking hard. She wondered if she finally understood why Suji was struggling. Maybe Suji was upset about Lucas having a girlfriend. But that didn’t seem right. She’d already been rejected twice. She wouldn’t fall apart now just because he had a girlfriend.

“Liam. I think I figured it out.”

“What.”

“Suji wants to quit the internship. She saw the reality of general surgery and wants out.”

“I thought she always wanted general surgery. She’s giving up already.”

Liam tilted his head. They were only three months into their internship. There were six months of general surgery, then rotations in other departments. It was too early to burn out.

“I’m pretty sure. That’s why she said it’s over. Starting tomorrow, let’s treat her extra nicely.”

“We should.”

The two exchanged serious nods. They kept watching Suji sway forward with sleepy eyes, filled with concern.

* * *

“Good morning, Dr. Harrington.”

“Hello, doctor.”

As soon as Lucas walked into the ward, greetings flew at him from every direction. He gave a short, neutral nod. The overly bright smiles and the obvious attempts to get his attention always felt exhausting.

It was the same reason Suji’s constant affection had weighed on him.

Lucas entered the lounge, put on his white coat, and opened his laptop. He checked the EMR for any new admissions or overnight emergencies. It was the first part of his morning routine before coffee.

Once he finished reviewing everything that happened while he was gone, he stood and went to make coffee. The door opened behind him. He turned instinctively.

Suji stepped in, saw Lucas’s face, froze, grabbed the door handle again, and turned halfway back. Then, deciding that looked ridiculous, she turned around properly.

“Oh. Good morning, Dr. Harrington.”

Lucas looked at her face.

“Morning.”

It was a simple, formal greeting. Nothing unusual.

But Suji looked different today.