Hospital Break room— Next morning
The fluorescent lights hummed overhead throwing a sterile glow across the small room. It smelled like burnt coffee , antiseptic and exhaustion. Hyu sat alone at the end of the room, curled around a paper cup of lukewarm tea, her mind drifting like a stream.
She hadn't seen Taehyung since at the morgue last night. She wondered if he returned back to his cabin. He was supposed to end his shift last night —so what made him stay? She pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the delivered text.
; Dr. Kim, did he take part in a autopsy yesterday? (Sent)
It was his habit, he said. Working over time. It wasn't surprising to see Taehyung about the hospital whenever you visited, the man loved his job very much. Workaholic, some said. Everyone admired him, his passion, his wisdom and what not. But the man was unusually quiet, which is normal according to him. He was work orientated, nothing fascinated him but the human body. He'd disappear after the operation, quiet as usual, like a shadow, slinking off before dawn.
That was his rhythm—silent brilliance and abrupt absence.
And for three years, Hyu had been caught in the quiet gravity of him. She used to see him a lot during her freshman year at the Seoul National University. But then he was in his final year. She even remembered the noisy friend group he had fit in. It was a wonder, a man like him among the chaos , considering his personality.
Maybe childhood friends? Or maybe he isn't cold towards them. That explains a lot.
Park Minwoo was Taehyung's best friend, since high school. They're on par with each other in terms of intellect. So sharing a room back then during college wasn't difficult. Anyone else would be sicken of Taehyung. Minwoo was the one Hyu knew the best among the rest. Minwoo is currently working as a cardiologist in the Lakeside hospital, and would often visit Taehyung on weekends. She couldn't imagine the level of that loyalty.
Hyu could still remember the first encounter with Taehyung. It was the week before the summer vacation in 2018. The seniors were supposed to help out the freshmen with anatomy. She remembered the embarrassing moment when she tried to answer something related to bone anatomy. Everyone laughed except Taehyung, he stared at her for a while before scribbling down his notes. It was certain, he had been in her shoes at some point. But that was unbelievable, so she pushed down those feelings and sat back. Later, Taehyung raised a question about cardiology and the professor couldn't answer. Cold , blunt and sharp witted. That was the first time she heard his voice. Deep, husky and rich. Like what they write in books. That tone— that was enough to send anyone insane, especially book girls. Hyu wasn't a one herself, but this was a life changing decision.
Her eyes flicked back into him, who was sitting in the last few benches but always managed to top. Minwoo sat beside him, looking at the spread out skeleton like he wanted to end his life. But her concern was on Taehyung, who was still scribbling his notes. His features were breath taking. Large expressive eyes, a strong yet soft jawline with distinctive dimple-forming lines, a well-defined nose, and famously full, pink lips, all complemented by flawless, even-toned skin. His soft black hair falling over his eyes. Everything was of her taste. She blushed, before looking away. She wasn't ready to get her heart crushed— again.
She had loved him since that moment. She never said it aloud —not even to herself most of the days. He had a girlfriend. Never seen, always spoken of in fragments. Hyu never had met her, none of the staff did. She existed in blurry photos and Taehyung's occasional dismissive mentions. Maybe he was that type of guy—possessive , jealous and insecure. Or— way worse. Thinking about that gave her chills down down her spine— she had never been loved like that— or that's what she thought.
What kind of woman does someone like him love?
She took a sip of her tea, just as the door swung open. She looked up hoping to see Taehyung calling he in for a emergency operation. But to her surprise she turned to see Yoon Haejin.
"Yo Hyu" he called out.
Haejin wasn't alone, Minwoo and Mirae followed him inside. She gasped, as if her thoughts came true. But what brought them here? On a random Thursday? They were all part of Taehyung's circle. Their laughter was loud and carefree, a sharp contrast to the dull weight in Hyu's chest. She regretted not making friends back then in college.
Taehyung probably denied whatever his friends were up to , yesterday. And they were here to convince him — she knew it.
"Did you hear?" Haejin flopped into a chair across from Hyu. "Taehyung is finally caved. He's letting us use his villa this weekend"
"Villa?" Hyu blinked . That explains his late hour shifts and his love for work. He bought a villa! She thought.
"Yeah that creepy old property his family owns. Somewhere outside Namwon, near the mountains." Minwoo slid into the seat beside her, smiling at her sweetly. A smile she always loved. But wait— he did have a house all this time? Maybe he couldn't travel between considering the distance.
"Namwon, that's quite far, isn't it?" Hyu raised an eyebrow.
"About 3 hours drive" Mirae beamed , taking the next seat beside her. "I've been there few times, with my girlfriend — Ex I mean. It's the city of love~" he giggled.
"When did this all happen, woah, slow down" Hyu was confused.
"Forget my Ex. It's 3 hour drive from Seoul" he said.
"I see" Hyu added, he thoughts wandering.
Minwoo continued, " we have been begging him for years. The guy is loaded but you think he was guarding a vault full of secrets or something "
"He is" Mirae teased, taking a sip from Hyu's tea like it's no big deal. "Our precious Taehyung is mysterious by design" his gaze lingered on Hyu a moment than necessary.
"He hates visitors" Haejin added. "But I think his girlfriend talked him into it".
That stung.
"Y'all met her?" Hyu asked before she over thought anything.
"Nope, we are awaiting her royal presence. They have been dating since the final year of University, I'm surprised that he's ready to introduce her to us, finally" Mirae gulped down the rest of Hyu's tea.
So just like that? Now she was more than convinced, Taehyung's indifference was only towards her. If her heart could shatter further, it'd have.
She managed a smile, the practiced kind she wore in the OR—to not to scare off the patients. "That's great, he deserves a break" .
Minwoo grinned. "So do you. Come with us"
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
"Seriously, you work with him, you've earned a spot—"
A spot—a spot not in his heart.
""— We need another doctor around in case one of us drinks too much and falls into a ravine or something " Minwoo's hand rested on her shoulder, looking at her with soft reassuring eyes.
Haejin leaned in , "Besides it's fun. You might actually see Taehyung when he's not covered in blood.". The comment landed poorly— too close to the truth. The truth that she wanted to unravel more than anything else. But there was more to consider. Mirae elbowed Haejin.
"You are not helping"
Hyu hesitated, her first instinct was no. After all she didn't want to intrude. Taehyung didn't like her—at least personally . He respected her as a surgeon, that much was clear. But beyond that? She was background noise.
Then there was seven guys and only her—if his girlfriend was to join, that'd make the situation no better. Still something deep inside her whispered "Go".
"I'll think about it" she said quietly as Mirae squeezed her shoulder.
Taehyung stood in the dark corner near the morgue. Staring at his reflection in a smudged metal panel. He hadn't slept . His scrubs were clean but wrinkled. His eyes black as ink and twice as empty —betrayed nothing.
The past two night, the dreams had returned. Dreams of her. She was silent still and incomplete.
He pulled out his phone. Opening a chat.
; I messed up a lot. (Sent)
His eyes flicked back into the closed stainless steel drawers inside the morgue. The drawer number 12. Kim Sana.
Kim Sana