"Is it your first time to do a pancreatectomy?" She knows the voice. It was the jerk doctor. She didn't respond from the question, instead, she totally ignored him and focus on washing her hands.
"I heard you're a senior fellow doctor in your former hospital. Why bother going here when you already have the position back there?" Dr. Lee's other interrogatory question.
"The operation will be total pancreatectomy. We're doing PPPD right?" Michaelle's indirect respond to Dr. Lee's first inquiry.
"Yes...Are you nervous?"
"Not really, I've done it many times before. Actually, I could do it with minimal supervision, or rather, without your help." She bluntly said to the other fellow doctor.
Dr. Lee was shocked by her respond but since he is good at hiding his emotions, Dr. Yoon didn't notice it. "Well, if you're that good enough, I'll let Dr. Sue assist you. The deal is, if you failed, you must quit and leave the hospital right away." He plainly said and leave Dr. Yoon without giving her a chance to accept the challenge.
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"Did you heard the news." Dr. Kang Soo said to the other doctors and nurses in the General Surgery Nurse Station.
"Yeah. Actually, the chief is already in the changing room, preparing for assisting Dr. Yoon's major surgery. I heard it would be Total Pancreatectomy using Pylorus Preserving Pancreatoduodenectomy method, and she will do it alone. Without Dr. Lee's supervision." Nina, one of their department's nurses said.
"What happened? I thought patient 1506 is Dr. Lee's patient. He never let anyone handled any of his patient especially with this kind of operation." Dr. Migs inquiry.
"Well, you know what it is." Dr. Kang soo said, then release a small laugh.
"Lover's quarrel again!" they said in chorus.
On the other hand, Dr. Jeffrey Chen heard the whole conversation. He was checking one of his patient's charts and got interested in the topic. 'Dr. Yoon doing a PPPD huh? Let's see what she got.' He said through his mind while heading towards the observatory surgery lounge.
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Dr. Lee was standing in front of the glass wall, intently watching Dr. Yoon doing the operation with Dr. Sue as her assistant. Everything is doing just fine until such time that the BP of the patient was going down. Panic was reflected in everybody's eyes except for Dr. Yoon's. She was calm and relax as if she was sleeping in a hammock right next to a beach.
Up above them, Dr. Lee was about to grab the microphone to order Dr. Yoon on what she should do, when he felt someone hold his shoulder as if stopping him to do so.
It was Dr. Jeffrey Chen, turning his head right and left. "Don't. Look at her. She knows what she is doing. You will just make the situation hard for her." Dr. Chen's respond in a cool tone.
"Do not panic. You were just doing a commotion. It didn't help me. Relax guys. I can handle the situation with my both hands."
With that assurance, everybody smiles and put their trust and faith with the new fellow doctor. They work hand in hand and everything goes smoothly.
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Michaelle was now doing her final notes in patient 1506's chart when Dr. Migs approached her. He was there to congratulate her because the operation is successful and also, to remind her of his mother's birthday party tonight.
"Hi, Dr. Yoon! Congrats on your first major operation in FEGHMC! I heard you were really good back in there!" Dr. Mig's excitedly greets her.
"Thanks, Dr. Migs. Without their help, I couldn't possibly do it well. So might as well congratulate the team." Dr. Yoon smilingly respond.
"Yes, Dr. Yoon. I would do that. Anyway, about the party of my mom, that is tonight. You know, I could fetch you at your house if you want?" Dr. Migs insisted.
"I'll go ok. But you don't have to fetch me. I'll promise to attend the party for the nth time. No need for the reùassurance of it." Michaelle replied. A tone of annoyance was noticeable from how she talked to Dr. Migs.
"Alright. I don't want to piss you off. But promise me. You'll be there?"
"Dr. Migs..." Michaelle warned the young resident doctor.
"I got it. See you later!" Dr. Migs replied in his most bubbly tone.
After the young resident doctor left, Michaelle sighed deeply as if she had lost a battle.
"Please give lactulose TID to patient Chan Huan. The full prescription is written on his chart. About 1506, I already endorsed it to his chart, just remind Dr. Lee to read my notes. I have to leave the hospital early. Just give me a call if there's a problem. Thanks." She then immediately walk away.
"Alright Doctor." the nurse responded with a great smile in her lips.
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It was already 6:30 in the evening when she reached their house. Jin was watching TV, her feet are on top of the small coffee table while eating spicy ramyun. When the door opens, Jin's gaze turned to her direction.
"Oh good! Cindy is here! I am really waiting for you." Jin seriously said to her best friend.
Michaelle immediately looks back to see who the hell Jin's pertaining to. But there's no one. "Cindy? What?! Who is this Cindy? You are scaring me out"
"You! Of course! Cinderelli. Cause you will be a princess tonight!" Jin excitedly said to her. She put the ramyun on top of the coffee table and headed straight to the file of dresses on the other couch next to her.
"A princess. You're funny Jinny." then she makes a fake laugh out of humor to her best friend.
"Anyways, I got you some evening gowns that are so suitable for cruise ship party. Please take a look," she said while her arms are wide open as if presenting something precious.
Without giving any response to her best friend, Michaelle hesitantly picks a pink spaghetti strap dress lying on the couch. The pink dress is knee-length and has a small slit at the left corner. The cinderella-to-be do really like the style and design of the dress, however, the color is too loud for her personality. She decided to put it back and get another evening gown. This time, she chooses a black sleeveless, mid-length tight party dress. She doesn't think she has the courage to wear this kind of dress since it will show the shape and curves of her body.
"No one wins your heart?" Jin uttered without looking at Michaelle. "Try the white one. I bet you will like it."
"Everything seems too revealing or if not, too loud," Michaelle replied and then took the only white dress that Jin had suggested.
Michaelle interestingly gazed at the dress. It is an ivory high low dress, though sleeveless, still not too revealing. The top part is too perfect for her. It covered much of her chest skin. There is a cut-out on both sides of its waist which made the dress looks artistically created. The cut-outs are extended at the back of the dress, which gives a perfect stylish design on its back.
"Do we have a winner?" Jin finally walks near Michaelle who is still stunned by the elegance of the dress she is looking at.
"I guess so.." then she smiled at her best friend and thank her.
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The place was glamorous. According to one of the staff, the cruise ship was patterned to the Luxurious Titanic Cruise Ship. She can't tell if this ship really looks like Titanic since she only saw the famous ship through movies which are also, of course, a replica. But from what the staff had just told her, the cruise ship has a lot of rooms, recreational facilities, and even bars and restaurants.
"The Party of Ms. Victoria Lee will be held at this part. BONITO POOL and Sun Decks." the staff told her while pointing the location on the map that she got from the invitation.
"Thank you." She said in response.
"A pleasure to help a lovely lady like you." Then the staff gave her a smile and bow.
'What a gentleman.' she said to herself. She also gave him a slight bow and then walk away, go up the extravagant stairs that will lead her to the venue of the party.
After taking several walks, at last, she arrived at a place that seems very pleasing to her eyes. People dressed in evening gowns and formal suits and ties which most of them were busy talking to each other while holding a glass of wine.
The center of the place is a square-shaped pool with golden yellow flowers and candles beautifully floating on it. Creatively made swimming pool furniture was also placed on both sides of the pool area where candles were placed on top of each side table beside it. Some were made of rattan, circle in shapes and placed with pillows. It looks like a sofa bed. But most of these are reclining chairs made of wood. Michaelle lifts up her head to see what is going up there. A live orchestra is playing on the middle area of the deck, right in front of the pool area. Some guests were enjoying the view as well as the music. Michaelle was tempted to go up there however she needs to find Dr. Migs first and her mother, the celebrant.
"Where is he now?" she uttered to herself.
"Searching for whom?"
Michaelle heard someone talking to her. The voice came from behind her back. 'Is he really talking to me?' She asked herself. She didn't want to look back. Besides the voice is quite familiar.
"Yes. I'm talking to you Dr.Yoon."
The guy answered as if he read what is going on in her mind. Then she heard footsteps going to her direction. "It's been a while since I am this close to you." the guy continues. This time, the guy is standing right beside her. She immediately moves away to face him.
"What do you want?" Michaelle replied. Her tone is firm and mad.
"How are you? Do you have someone with you?"
"Who do you think you are to ask me that? Will you please just move away from me?" Her voice is full of anger but still, she composed herself to be as calm as possible.
"Chaelle. I didn't mean to make you angry. I'm just concern about you. The thing is-"
"I don't know! Concern about me? Really? Is that how you show concern to people? Is that so?"
"Chaelle, it has been so long, and yet you still didn't forgive about what happened? Could you please forget about that?"
"Forget? How easy for you to--to say that." this time, tears were about to fall from the side of her eyes. The guy tried to hold her arms to comfort her since it is very obvious that she is turning emotional. "Don't you dare touch me." then she immediately walks away from the guy.
Michaelle was almost running. She didn't mind people surrounding her. She just wanted to get away from him. Without looking back, she runs to the end of the deck, the place where there is the least possibility that people might go.
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Rein was looking down at the water, taking a deep breath as if he was tired of doing something. Actually, just staying in this kind of party makes him really exhausted. He is not fond of going in this kind of party, especially socializing with people who he really doesn't want to deal with.
After greeting his mother, he decided to stay here to breathe some fresh air. The end of the cruise's deck is slightly dark and no people will be going out here. It would be the best place to think about things that are bothering him since he met that woman.
"That woman." He released a deep sigh. "She really started to get into my nerves." He frustratedly uttered to himself. He leaned against the bar and stared blankly on the floor. The wind is cold. It's like whispering something into his ear. Then suddenly, he heard footsteps. Loud footsteps as if someone is running from something.
"Something like a monster." he laughed at his own joke. He closed his eyes to carefully listen to the footsteps to see if he's right or just imagining things.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the last thing he wanted to see. No. It is actually not a thing. It was a woman. A woman in a white dress, running..and cry-. "Is she crying. Really? But why?" He asked himself.
Rein was not convinced of what he just saw. Dr. Yoon? A tough woman who keeps on pestering him every day was on this deck crying for Pete's sake. He walked towards her to check what's going on.
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Michaelle stops and observes her surroundings. She's right, people will not choose to step their feet here, except for a man who is now looking at her direction. She recognized him. She knows him. Michaelle wipes her tears and decided to walk towards where he is standing.
"Chaelle!" it was him, he already found her.
Michaelle was now on a panicking state when she decided to run to the other man standing a meter away from her. The wind was strong as if it was pushing her body back to where she was standing a while ago. Then she saw him walking towards her. His face is not the usual poker face that usually didn't show any emotion. This time, he is curious about what had happened and at the same time worried about something.
"Hey." He said to Michaelle when he reached her location.
Michaelle didn't say any word. Instead, she leaned on his chest as if she lost her strength. "What's the matter?" the guy asked her.
"Remember our bet? I want my prize now," she said in a low voice. She is like whispering.
"Ok, what is it?" He worriedly asked the female doctor.
"Kiss me," she said without hesitation.
"Whhat?!" He can't believe what he just heard. "Pardon?"
"I said kiss me. NOW.." She hurriedly uttered.
"I don't know what's going on. But since I lost the deal. I guess I don't have a choice." Dr. Rein Lee holds Michaelle's face with his right hand while his left arm is supporting her waist. He slowly lowered his face down to the female doctor and angle towards her lips. When his lips touched Michaelle's lips, he closed his eyes to savor the moment. He didn't know what kind of force had pushed him to do that romantic act towards his co-fellow., but he felt nothing wrong about it. Actually, he kinda likes it. It felts like home. He felt comfortable doing it. He felt right kissing her.
When he felt that their lips parted, he decided to open his eyes. Another set of the shocking brown orb was met by him, the female doctor was intently staring at him. He can't endure her stares so he immediately turned his gaze away. Then that's the time when he realized that they were not alone. Dr. Jeffrey Chen was standing a few meters away from them, and he is pretty sure that he saw what they did.
'God! What the hell is going on?' He is really confused now. He was still holding Dr. Yoon and Dr. Chen is looking directly at him, obviously shocked by what had happened. And now- "Oh crap."
At that moment, he noticed something odd. Two people, looking at their direction, right at the top of the upper deck. "What the-, of all people. Why them?" he frustratedly whispered.
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Rein Lee's (POV)
He and Michaelle were now inside his car, staring blankly in the direction of the cruise ship.' What now? Why of all people? Why Migs? Why my Mom? I don't know how will I explain this. For sure she will not be going to believe that stupid bet.' he uttered on his mind.
After what had happened, after they kissed, Rein grabbed Michaelle's arm and pulled her away from the deck. He decided to go outside the cruise ship since he is not yet ready to face her mother. That's how they end up inside his car. He turned his gaze to her direction who is now looking outside, but not at the cruise ship. She is like lost somewhere as if she is in the middle of her dream.
"Dr. Yoon." he called her attention.
"I'm hungry. But I don't want to go back in there," she replied without looking back at him. Well, he is hungry too and he doesn't want to go back in there either, so what left them is leave the place and found some food. Rein turned on the engine. "Please use seatbelts," he said, then he turned the engine on.
"Seatbelts huh. The thing that makes me the winner." she laughed at the memory of their first meeting, the case analysis, the emergency meeting, just to prove that she is right.
"Ok. Right." Then he turns down the roof of his car, exposing them to the cold wind of the night.
"Cool!" She yelled. "Is it part of my prize?!" She giggled before releasing another yell. "Whoa!"
"Fine. You got your prize. So we're quits." then he remembered the kiss. He secretly glanced at the female doctor who is now enjoying the moment. Her hands were upon the air while big smiles are evident on her lips. He slightly closed his eyes to dismiss the picture of them kissing on the deck. "What do you want to eat?" He asked her to sway and dismiss of what is going inside his mind.
"Well since the weather is cold or maybe because I am wearing this, I'll go for some spicy ramyun and a can of beer. What do you think?" She replied without noticing that he is a bit uncomfortable a while ago.
"That sounds good." He replied. Luckily they saw a convenient store just on the side of their way. The two left the car and went inside the store. His fellow doctor immediately walks towards the ramyun rack while he decided to get some canned beers from the refrigerator Drink Display.
They met at the counter and lined up to pay for their stuff.
"I got 4. If you don't want, I'll eat the other three" Michaelle casually told him.
"That's what you called gluttony lady," he said without looking back at her.
"Well, not. That's pretty normal to me." the female doctor replied to him.
Rein was a bit shocked by what she just said to him. He looks at her from top to bottom. That's the only time he noticed that the female doctor is wearing an ivory high low dress that looks really good on her. Her body figure doesn't agree with her big appetite. When he realized that she is also looking back at him, he pulls his gaze away from her.
"Where did you put all the calories that you have been eating? You know, your body looks so weak," he asked her instead.
"It appears weak but tries me. I am stronger than what I look like. You wanna bet?" She dares him.
"Not in the mood." He gave a 500 bill to the cashier before he looked back to Chaelle. "I'm lucky tonight you know."
Michaelle secretly blushed. She doesn't know how to respond to. Then when she felt that the moment is being awkward, she decided to ask him anyway. "And w-why is that?" she stuttered.
"Because they don't have a shopping cart here. We couldn't tell. What? You may hit me again." then he released a small laugh.
"Yeah right. Laugh at your own joke. Because it's really not funny." Michaelle was flabbergasted. Dr. Lee was joking around her! What? Is she dreaming? The cold-hearted guy was laughing and making a joke with her?
Where do you want to eat?" he asked her while they were exiting the convenient store and jumping back to his car.
"Anywhere you like!"
"Ok, you are easy-going. I didn't think you are just like that."
Michaelle smiled at him. It was the first time that he saw her smile. "I'm just like this. Not really complicated."
Rein did not reply back. He stares at the road and thinks where they might eat and spend the night together. 'The night together' he said to himself. He didn't imagine that this moment could happen. Actually, he hated Michaelle the moment he met her at his office. She is so full of herself even though she's new at the hospital. He even hated her more when he lost the bet. But now, something changes. There is something in Dr. Yoon that he thinks he started to like.
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"A football field?" Michaelle asked him in a surprised tone.
"I bet it would be ok." He gave her a smirk.
"I bet too."
"The first to reach the middle will get a reward!" Rein excitedly said. Then he runs towards the middle.
"Hey! I'm wearing high-heeled sandals. That's unfair!" Michaelle shouted while taking her sandals off.
As expected, Rein reached the middle first.
"I won!" he put their foods on the ground and then slammed his body down, lying like a kid.
"Not fair!" the female doctor response when she reached his location. She is holding each sandal in both hands.
"Still I won." he laughed while still lying on the ground.
"So what's your reward?" his co- fellow doctor asked him.
"Not now. I'll think about it," he replied. He closed his eyes for a moment. He was thinking nothing.
"Are you going to sleep? So if that's the case, I'll just eat all of these."
When he heard what she said, he immediately stands up and looks at the female doctor who is now starting eating a bowl of ramyun.
"I can't believe you."
"What?"
"Nothing. Just finish your food and don't talk when your big mouth is full."
"Uugghhh?"
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Its been an hour since they arrived at the football field. There were some things that they already had discussed but most of this is work-related or those things related to their profession. He didn't get a chance to ask the reason why she wanted or asked him to kiss her and why was she crying when they were at the cruise ship. But he thinks that is too personal so even he got a chance, he probably will not be going to ask her anyway.
It was about 15 minutes since the last word which is 'sleep' was heard from the other doctor. And then, there she is, sleeping like a baby on top of the football field. Rein decided to take his coat off to cover her body. He's thinking where is he going to bring her. He didn't know her house and he doesn't have his own place either. Is he going to wake her up and ask? But he can't do that. She is sleeping comfortably and he doesn't want to disturb her since for them doctors, sleep is the most precious thing on earth. His thought was cut by a phone call. It was Dr. Yoon's phone.
Since he left no choice, he decided to answer the call.
"Her roommate? Yes, she is with me. No. No. no! You got it wrong, I didn't do anything to her. What?! Are you crazy!? Of course not. We're... We're just colleagues. Anyways, I'll bring her home. Ok. Bye."
After ending the call, Rein heaved the female doctor and walk towards his car.
"This woman." then he smiled to himself. "She's different."