During the journey, Koi initiated casual conversation about work, especially the surgeries in which she participated with Dr. Thir almost every time. Patient preparation was crucial—some cases were urgent, others could wait. Arranging the schedule properly was just as important as the surgery itself.
The mid-twenties nurse had admired her senior Dr. Thir for a long time, just like many others who were impressed by his exceptional skill combined with his humble and modest demeanor. However, the closeness with him had stirred feelings in her that went beyond mere colleagues.
The day she learned that Dr. Thir was married to that beautiful doctor working at another hospital, she felt just as resentful as Anuwat had when he heard the same news. It was as if something had been lost—even though it had never truly belonged to her... and sometimes she secretly wished she could reclaim it, despite knowing full well she had no right whatsoever.
When Koi saw Thiraphat's young wife, Dr. Phraownapha, for the first time, her irritation mixed with intense jealousy toward the other woman's beauty intensified. On top of that, Phraownapha had an extraordinary reputation and popularity, as Koi had heard from fellow nurses.
At least I get to be close to Dr. Thir every day, Koi thought to herself—even though the senior surgeon showed absolutely no romantic interest in her whatsoever.
The van cruised along Rama II Road before merging onto the expressway heading south. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was calm and quiet; the hum of the engine became a soothing backdrop that relaxed the mood. Yet in that silence, Koi kept stealing glances at Dr. Thir from time to time, as if trying to capture every single one of his gestures.
"Doctor, you work so hard like this—don't you ever get tired?" Koi asked in a gentle tone.
"I'm used to it already... since my student days," Thir replied. Medical school was notoriously grueling, as everyone knew.
"That's true, but sometimes you should take care of yourself too, Doctor. Not just take care of others all the time."
Koi's voice carried concern, but in truth, the words were deliberately chosen to create more intimacy than appropriate. Her slender shoulder shifted slightly closer, as if to make sure her words were heard clearly. Thiraphat noticed, but he maintained distance. Instead of meeting her eyes, he turned to gaze at the scenery passing by on both sides of the road.
Koi was far from unattractive—quite the opposite. She possessed a striking, sharp-edged beauty; a sassy young woman who concealed a fiery passion beneath her crisp white nurse's uniform. Her figure was impressive: full breasts straining noticeably against the hospital-logoed polo shirt, while her high-waisted pants accentuated her slim waist and flared hips like a venomous wasp.
By late morning, the van arrived at the luxurious hotel in Hua Hin and pulled to a stop in the parking area. Hotel staff in uniform approached to open the doors and assist with luggage. Key cards were already prepared.
After checking in, Thiraphat discovered that his room and Koi's were right next to each other. Koi merely gave a small smile, as if not at all surprised—though in reality, everything had been meticulously arranged from the very beginning.
"We're here," Thiraphat called his wife to let her know.
"Was the trip tiring, darling?" Phrao asked.
"Not at all—very comfortable," Dr. Thir replied. He chatted with her about general things for a bit until Phrao asked,
"This time you're going alone, right? Wouldn't it be better to have an assistant go along?"
Phraownapha asked without any deeper suspicion—simply thinking the hospital would probably send someone to help her husband take notes during the conference. Thiraphat paused for a brief moment.
"Yeah, you're right."
The young surgeon answered curtly before quickly shifting the topic to something else—the seminar agenda for today and tomorrow, which was quite intensive. There was no clear reason why he didn't tell his wife that a beautiful woman like 'Koi,' his assisting nurse, had come along. Perhaps he simply didn't want her to overthink it.
At lunchtime, the hotel had set up a bright dining area with the enticing aroma of fusion cuisine wafting through. Thiraphat chose a quiet corner table to prepare himself before heading into the seminar room. Koi followed and sat with him in her role as assistant, notepad and tablet ready.
"Anything in particular you'd like to eat, Doctor? Let me get it for you," she offered with a sweet, attentive smile.
"No need—I'll help myself," he replied politely before standing to select a modest portion.
When they returned to the table, Koi diligently noted down the schedule details, including seminar topics she had already researched. Occasionally she leaned in closer to verify information with Dr. Thir.
"The afternoon session is about new cardiac surgery techniques, right?" Koi asked, pointing at her notes.
"Yes, focusing on newly introduced instruments in the country," Thiraphat nodded. He picked up a pen and added some notes to her pad.
"And tomorrow it's about post-cardiac-surgery patient recovery techniques," Koi continued.
"Exactly. And besides the surgeon, the multidisciplinary team and nurses play a crucial role too."
Thiraphat's words made Koi feel even more significant in her senior doctor's world. She smiled, her eyes sparkling as she learned directly from the surgeon she admired. To her, this lunch wasn't just about refueling—it felt like a precious opportunity to be closer to the world she longed to be part of, far beyond being a mere assistant.
After lunch ended, Thiraphat gathered his notes and documents before entering the ballroom where the seminar was held. Many eyes turned toward the composed, dependable senior surgeon they all knew well.
The presentation began on stage. He spoke clearly and confidently, explaining new techniques in easy-to-understand language that had the audience nodding attentively. Applause erupted when he finished, a clear sign of respect and trust in Dr. Thir's expertise. The Q&A session followed, during which he not only shared academic knowledge but also cracked light jokes to ease the tension, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Koi sat in the front row, diligently recording every word with pride at being by the side of such an admired figure. She gazed up at him on stage with eyes that blended respect and personal feelings that went far beyond professional admiration.
Come evening, the seminar organizers hosted a lavish welcome dinner. The lighting was soft and dim, accompanied by gentle jazz music. Attendees mingled and chatted with enjoyment.
Thiraphat intended only to have a light meal and then return to his room to rest, preparing for his morning session the next day. Koi had changed into a sleeveless white top paired with high-waisted gray shorts, accentuating her striking figure even more boldly. She approached the senior doctor and invited him for a drink.
"Doctor, how about a glass of wine? Tonight you don't have to be as stressed as you are at the hospital," Koi offered a glass of red wine with a playful, generous smile.
"Hmm... I'd rather not drink," Thiraphat declined gently.
But Koi persisted. She held out a tall-stemmed glass of deep red wine, coaxing him with a soft, pleading tone. In the end, he accepted and held the glass.
"Just a little—to relax," she whispered close to his ear as she clinked her glass against his.
Thiraphat took only a small sip. The smooth, slightly tannic taste slid down his throat. He rarely drank alcohol—only occasionally and in very small amounts—because he feared that excessive drinking might cause his hands to tremble, which could be disastrous in surgeries requiring millimeter precision.
Moreover, whenever he did drink, he often became drowsy and fell into a deep sleep. For that reason, he had long avoided alcohol in all forms.
Yet once the first glass was finished, another was promptly offered by the ever-present assisting nurse. The fatigue from the long day combined with the alcohol's effects began to erode his usual steadfast composure bit by bit.
His gaze lingered longer than intended on Koi's smile and her smooth, fair skin. And when her clear, wineglass-like laughter rang in his ears amid the luxurious atmosphere, a fleeting moment of hesitation flickered in his heart—something that should never have arisen.
Thiraphat immediately caught himself, realizing he had let his mind waver with the mood. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his focus and center himself. Yet Koi's bright, lively laughter as she sat close by drew his eyes back to her again and again, despite his efforts to resist.
Koi leaned in slightly; a faint trace of her perfume brushed his nose. Her fair cheeks were flushed from the wine, just like her sparkling, slightly glassy eyes.
"Doctor, if it weren't for seminars like this, we probably wouldn't get many chances to unwind, right?" Her voice was soft and velvety, laced with a coquettish tone entirely different from the serious, professional exchanges in the operating room.