Chapter Text
It had been six months since that fateful Christmas night – the night when Gyeo-ul summoned all the courage she had to confess her love to Jeong-won and convince him to stay on at Yulje instead of leaving to become a priest. Little did she know, he had already decided to abandon his childhood dream to continue saving lives at the hospital.
Even though they had been dating for half a year, Gyeo-ul would still find the urge to pinch herself to make sure she was not dreaming from time to time. Who would have thought that the handsome and charming pediatrics professor who was only ever cold to her would reciprocate her feelings – ones that she had harbored since their first meeting a year ago?
Well, definitely not her. But here she was, on her way to meet her boyfriend for dinner at his office before their night shift. For once in what felt like forever, their schedules aligned, granting them the rare opportunity to spend time with each other.
While waiting for the lift, Gyeo-ul smiled to herself at the thought of spending time with Jeong-won. Thanks to their busy schedules, the couple barely had time to themselves, especially since she was not attached to the pediatrics department the past couple of months.
Stealing glances at one another when passing each other in the hallway, coffee breaks at the cafeteria and short cuddles when they were alone in the GS office were what they could manage most of the time.
Too engrossed in her happy thoughts to notice that the lift had arrived, the smile on her face was there for everyone in the lift to see, including her best friend Min-ha.
“Aigoo, look at you. Anyone can tell you’re dating,” Min-ha quipped as Gyeo-ul entered the lift. “Off to see Professor Ahn?”
Gyeo-ul gave a bashful smile and nodded, coming to a stop next to Min-ha in the lift. “Did you just finish your shift?” she asked the OB-GYN resident who was out of her scrubs and in her own clothes.
“Yeah –,” a yawn interrupted Min-ha’s speech. “Ugh I'm so tired. Lucky you, I wish I were dating in the workplace too. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so miserable,” Min-ha remarked lethargically, exhaustion threatening to overwhelm her body at any time.
Gyeo-ul could only give her friend a comforting pat on her back.
As the lift’s doors opened on the floor where Jeong-won’s office is located, Gyeo-ul bid Min-ha a quick ‘good night’ before getting off.
As she rounded the corner to the corridor leading to Jeong-won’s office, Gyeo-ul quickened her steps, eager to see him (and of course, to eat). She made sure to knock on the door before entering as a sign of respect since he shared the office with Professor Kim Junwan.
“Come in,” she heard Jeong-won’s voice from inside the room – a voice that still gave her butterflies in her stomach.
Turning the handle, Gyeo-ul found Jeong-won setting up the dishes he had ordered beforehand on the table. Giving the room a quick scan, she noted that Professor Kim was nowhere to be found.
Nice! Gyeo-ul thought to herself. They could have the whole place to themselves.
Jeong-won turned to her and flashed her a smile, opening his arms wide to welcome her into a hug. Without hesitating, Gyeo-ul walked into his embrace, feeling right at home immediately. She closed her eyes, feeling his hands caress her hair and back. She started to inhale his scent before that smell assaulted her senses.
Is that…smoke? Gyeo-ul frowned. She looked up at Jeong-won, eyeing her boyfriend.
“Professor, did you smoke again?”
Jeong-won’s hands stopped their movements. She saw him close his eyes, grimacing as he mumbled something under his breath, as if to berate himself for letting himself get caught…again.
“Gyeo-ul-ah,” Jeong-won began. “I’m sorry. I was stressed out because of a particularly difficult case today. I – I just couldn’t help myself alright?” he confessed immediately. He had promised himself that he would never lie to her ever again, especially after how he hurt her with his Yangpyeong lie.
Holding up three fingers, he declared, “I promise, this won’t happen again. I swear on it!”
Gyeo-ul sighed and stepped out of his embrace. “Professor, this was what you said last time too. Smoking isn’t good for your health. Please think of your young patients. The chemicals that linger on your clothes after a smoke isn’t good for them either,” she reminded him in her typical blunt manner.
Jeong-won sighed. “I know, I know,” he hung his head low and nodded.
Gyeo-ul crossed her arms and frowned at him. This won’t do, she thought to herself.
She usually was not one to interfere with other people’s lives, but she was worried for Jeong-won and his health. She was aware of the long hours he would put in for his patients, had seen his dedication in making sure the little patients at the PICU were doing well before he would even think of his own wellbeing. All the years of stress and lack of rest must have taken a toll on his body one way or another and smoking definitely did not help. They had only just started their relationship and she really did not want anything bad to happen to him.
So, she decided to use the only thing that she could think of at the moment to get him to quit – a leverage of sorts.
“From now on, if I catch a whiff of smoke on you, I won’t allow you to kiss me,” Gyeo-ul announced. “And don’t you even think about covering up the odor with mouthwash or cologne,” she added.
Internally, she felt a pang of regret for coming up with this, knowing that she would suffer as well if Jeong-won does not adhere to her request. But certainly not as much as the man standing in front of her.
“What! But Gyeo-ul-ah–,” Jeong-won started to protest loudly but she held up her hand to stop him.
“No ‘buts’. I wouldn’t have to resort to this if you would’ve behaved and controlled your urges,” she said with finality, shaking her head at him.
Jeong-won hung his head and sulked. Why must she be so mean? We barely get to spend time with each other and now she’s threatening to stop kissing me?! He could not help the pout on his face, which was going to become a permanent fixture on his face if he did not do what she said.
Jeong-won wanted to whine but then thought better of it. He knew she would not back down. Even he had to admit he was at fault for giving in to his urges too easily. The only way to remedy the situation – and to ensure he got to continue kissing her – was to put in the work to break his habit of two decades. If only his mother had not taught him how to smoke in the first place.
“Alright, I promise. There won’t be a next time after this,” Jeong-won sighed, before reaching inside his coat pocket for his lighter and box of cigarettes. He dropped the two items into his girlfriend’s palm.
Gyeo-ul looked up at him and gave him a satisfied smile. But then her eyes turned serious. “Professor, I may not be of much help since I’m still a resident, but if you ever find yourself stressed because of a patient, you know you can always talk to me. Okay?”
Jeong-won smiled and nodded, giving her hand a squeeze.
“Now let’s eat!” she said, turning away from him to take a seat at the table, the thought of food overshadowing their conversation in an instant.
Jeong-won laughed. He smiled fondly as he watched Gyeo-ul hurriedly lift the lids off the food containers, going googly eyed at the sight of the food like a child at a candy store.
“Professor, come and sit down. I’m hungry,” her voice broke through his reverie.
Chuckling, Jeong-won strode over to the table to join his girlfriend who was already tucking into the food. His best friend was right after all – he was indeed someone who was happiest when he sees other people enjoying food.