The operating room always felt different.
Colder.
Quieter.
More serious.
Ziana stood near the scrub sink outside the theatre at Haven Hospital, carefully washing her hands the way she had practiced a hundred times before.
Fingers.
Palms.
Wrists.
Breathe.
This was her first surgery assisting Dr. Maleek Chol.
Her stomach twisted with nerves.
Not because she didn't know what to do.
But because of him.
The door to the operating room opened behind her.
Maleek stepped out, already wearing surgical scrubs and a cap. His expression was calm, like this was just another normal day.
For him, maybe it was.
For Ziana, it felt like the biggest moment of her internship.
He stood beside her at the sink and began scrubbing his hands.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
The only sound was the running water.
Then Maleek glanced sideways at her.
"Nervous?"
Ziana kept her eyes on her hands.
"No."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Lying doesn't help in surgery."
She sighed softly.
"Maybe a little."
Maleek nodded slightly.
"That's normal."
His voice was calm, steady.
"The moment you stop feeling nervous in the operating room… that's when you should worry."
Ziana looked at him for a moment.
His face was serious now.
Focused.
This was the version of him she hadn't seen at the lounge.
This was Dr. Maleek Chol.
The surgeon.
They finished scrubbing and stepped inside the operating room.
Bright surgical lights filled the space. Machines beeped softly while nurses prepared the instruments.
The patient was already under anesthesia.
Another doctor stood near the table.
Dr. Deng, one of the senior residents.
He glanced at Ziana with curiosity.
"So this is the intern assisting today?"
Maleek nodded once.
"Yes."
Dr. Deng studied her briefly.
"First surgery with Dr. Chol?"
Ziana nodded.
"Yes."
He chuckled lightly.
"Well… try not to faint."
Ziana forced a small smile.
"I'll try my best."
The nurse helped her put on sterile gloves and a gown.
Maleek stepped toward the operating table.
His entire posture changed.
More focused.
More intense.
"Scalpel," he said calmly.
The nurse placed the instrument in his hand.
Ziana watched closely as he made the first incision.
His movements were precise.
Confident.
Like he had done this a thousand times.
"Retractor," he said.
Ziana quickly handed it to him.
For the next few minutes, the room fell into a rhythm.
Maleek worked carefully while explaining the steps.
"Appendix located here," he said. "Inflamed but not ruptured."
Ziana leaned slightly closer to see.
"Hold the retractor steady," he told her.
"Yes, doctor."
Her hands trembled slightly at first.
Maleek noticed immediately.
"Relax your shoulders," he said quietly.
She took a slow breath and adjusted her grip.
"That's better."
His voice softened slightly.
"Good."
Ziana felt a small wave of pride.
The surgery continued smoothly.
Dr. Deng watched them from the other side of the table.
At one point he glanced between them with a curious look.
Something about the way Maleek spoke to her was different.
Quieter.
More patient.
But he said nothing.
After nearly forty minutes, Maleek tied the final suture.
"Good work," he said.
The tension in the room eased immediately.
The nurses began cleaning up while the patient was prepared for recovery.
Ziana stepped back, her heart still racing.
Her first surgery assisting Maleek had gone well.
Better than she expected.
As she removed her gloves, Maleek walked toward the door.
"Ziana," he said.
She followed him into the hallway.
The door closed behind them, leaving them alone for a moment.
Maleek leaned lightly against the wall.
"You did well in there."
Ziana smiled slightly.
"Thank you."
He studied her face for a moment.
Then his voice dropped slightly.
"You're still nervous."
"A little."
Maleek stepped a little closer.
"Why?"
Ziana folded her arms.
"You know why."
His expression softened with quiet amusement.
"Because of last night?"
She sighed.
"Yes."
Maleek was silent for a moment.
Then he said something that made her heart skip again.
"Last night was a mistake."
Ziana blinked.
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
"Oh."
Maleek watched her reaction carefully.
But then he added quietly,
"A mistake I'm having trouble forgetting."
Ziana looked up at him quickly.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The hallway around them was quiet.
Then footsteps echoed nearby.
Dr. Deng stepped out of the operating room.
He stopped when he saw them standing close together.
His eyes moved between them slowly.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Well," he said.
"This looks interesting."
Ziana's heart dropped.
Because suddenly she realized something.
Someone might already be starting to notice.
And if people at Haven Hospital began asking questions…
Their dangerous little secret might not stay secret for long.