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Pyo Nam Kyung stared at her handiwork. White and gold balloons hung from the ceiling, ribbons twirling from their narrow ends. Along one wall, she'd clipped photos onto strands of string lights, giving the room a soft glow.
All that was missing was the banner she'd asked Tak Gi On, the newly-minted R2 (who she was definitely not dating), to print out.
Just as she was about to give him a call, Gi On strolled into the pub with Um Jae Il, each carrying a box.
"The banner and some extra balloon decorations, Dr. Pyo," Gi On said with a smile, setting a box down on the table.
"And these are the props for the games," Jae Il added. "Some of these are a bit racy though...so I'm not sure we can use them."
"Please spare me the sight of our Professors partaking in racy games, Um Jae Il," Nam Kyung shuddered.
As the three doctors put up the last few decorations, a few more guests trickled in -- nurses Hong Min Joo and Lee Chae Ryeong, along with Cha Da Hye, the new Chief Resident.
"Make yourselves comfortable," Nam Kyung said over her shoulder.
"Kamsahamnida," Min Joo replied. "The others are still on their way."
"Are Dr. Gu and Dr. Oh still in surgery?" Jae Il asked.
"Ne, just like we planned," Da Hye said. "They should finish in about an hour and a half. Prof. Seo's in charge of making sure they get here."
By 9 o'clock, the OB-GYN Department -- save for those on shift and the special guests -- was complete. Kim Sa Bi and Ki Eun Mi, now a fellow, arrived from a GYN conference at Yulje Main with Professors Ryu Jae Hwi and Jo Joon Mo. Prof. Chu Min Ha came bearing gifts, while Prof. Kong Gi Sun had the new R1s in tow.
Oh Yi Young leaned against her fiance's arm as they walked the distance from the hospital to the pub where the OB-GYN get together was going to be held. Her feet were sore from standing all day, doing three deliveries and one surgery back-to-back (to-back-to-back) and all she wanted to do was curl up under the covers.
"I'm exhausted," she said sleepily, closing her eyes for a moment and allowing Gu Do Won to guide her steps.
"Mhmm. Nado. But OB and GYN don't have these joint get togethers often," he commented.
"That's true," she murmured. "At least we have tomorrow off."
"We can do whatever you want tomorrow," Do Won replied with a smile. "Sleep in, eat out, maybe get a massage? You like those, right?"
"Hmmm...I have something else in mind," she told him playfully, watching his cheeks turn pink.
"Omo, why are you blushing, Dr. Gu?" Yi Young continued with feigned surprise. "I meant errands, you know. Lots to do before the wedding."
Looking at each other, they both burst into giggles, aware of exactly where Yi Young's mind had been headed.
To be honest, Do Won's wasn't that far behind.
At the pub, they were led to the second floor where a private room was located. Opening the door, the couple was surprised to see it fully decorated -- from balloons to photos on the wall and a banner that said 영♡원 영원히.
"SURPRISE!!!"
"Heol. What is this?" Do Won asked, a bewildered look on his face.
"Is this...not a team gathering?" Yi Young said, looking around at the faces of their co-workers
"Technically, it is..." Sa Bi answered. "We're gathering...to celebrate your upcoming nuptials."
While Do Won and Yi Young settled into their seats in the middle of the group, the pub staff arrived with soju, beer and food. Apart from the usual bar fare -- tteokbokki, rabokki, fried chicken, dried pollock, calamari and fries, they served tangsuyuk, jaeyuk and jjangmyeon in steaming platters. Everyone started to dig in, the post-shift hunger taking over.
After most of the food was cleared away, Jae Il stood up to make an announcement. "Now that everyone's pretty much refuelled, we're going to have some games!"
"Ya, Jae Il, keep it PG, okay?" Nam Kyung reminded him.
"Sure, PG...for now," Jae Il said with a wink. "We'll start with the OhGu trivia game. There'll be two teams, OB versus GYN. We'll split the residents. Dr. Oh and Dr. Gu will choose the winner. Loser has to take shots."
"Gaja!" the group said in unison.
"For Obstetrics, we nominate Pyo Nam Kyung!"
"Gynecology chooses Ki Eun Mi!"
"Alright! We'll start easy," Jae Il said. "Who confessed first?"
"Dr. Gu!" Eun Mi shouted. "He was always so attentive to Dr. Oh. He must have fallen first!"
"Ani!" Nam Kyung interjected, "Even if he did, Yi Young is much more straightforward. I vote Dr. Oh!"
The couple looked at each other, laughing as Yi Young raised her hand. "It was me. Nam Kyung's right. Dr. Gu moves too slow."
"Okay, OB wins this time. Next!" Jae Il told the crowd.
For the next round, the GYN team chose Kim Sa Bi, while OB chose Cha Da Hye.
"When did Dr. Gu and Dr. Oh start dating?"
"Easy! It was November 2023, when we were R1s," Sa Bi said matter-of-factly. "The CCTV from that viral video where they saved a restaurant patron had a date."
"Hmm...my guess is September of that year," Cha Da Hye answered. "That's when Dr. Gu started changing his morning routine."
"Both of you are wrong," Do Won corrected. "It was October."
"Shots for everyone!" Jae Il yelled.
The questions got progressively more difficult as the game went on, the group's favorite being, "Where is the couple's favorite dating spot at Yulje?"
"Outapatient care? Isn't that the classic hospital dating spot?" Prof. Ryu guessed.
Then, with a straight face, Prof. Seo countered, "Dr. Gu's car. I once saw them kissing in the parking lot..I think it was New Year's Day last year."
The bride-and-groom-to-be both turned extremely red, embarrassed that their mentor had witnessed their public display of affection.
And if that wasn't enough, nurse Lee Chae Ryeong raised her hand to add, "I would have answered the parking garage! I've seen them hugging there."
When the guests had been plied with enough alcohol, Jae Il and Sa Bi brought out the materials for charades. Seeing Prof. Jo attempting to act out "Honeymoon" was definitely a highlight, while Prof. Kong doing "Wedding Toast" by chugging her glass of beer got everyone hooting and hollering.
As the night started winding down, Prof. Chu suggested that they go around giving messages to the couple.
"I'll go first," she said. "Dr. Gu, Dr. Oh, being married to another OB doctor -- yes, we're claiming Dr. Oh too -- has its challenges. Babies are born at all hours. You'll have to cancel dates. Special occasions and celebrations may look different than others'. But the good thing is...you'll be going through it with someone who understands. A partner who knows the joy of bringing new life into the world, who's also seen the devastation and heartbreak of loss. It isn't a perfect life, but it will be beautiful just the same."
Everyone clapped their hands and a visibly tipsy Nam Kyung stood up to give the next message.
"Ya, Oh Yi Young...I've known you since we were teenagers in high school. We may bicker a lot...and you'll never admit it...but you're one of my best friends. I'm so happy you're happy." Turning to Do Won, she added, "She doesn't let just anybody in...You're a lucky bastard. Don't you forget it."
"Did she just call a fellow a bastard?" Lee Ha Eun, an R1, whispered to Gi On.
"It's alright," he whispered back, laughing. "He's kinda like their brother-in-law now."
Sa Bi decided to go next, clearing her throat before speaking.
"I'm the child of two doctors...so I just want to say that if you're planning on having kids -- don't be afraid. Some days, you will be too busy. You might miss some events. But as he or she grows, your child will understand. And your child will be proud of the work you do."
A few of the nurses took their turn, as well, followed by some of the professors.
For his message, Jae Il kept it simple. "I love you guys so much," he said dramatically. "If you break up, I'll feel like a child of divorce. So please stay happy forever."
After another round of applause, Prof. Seo finally stood up, the last person to give a message to Do Won and Yi Young.
"You probably don't know this, but I think I predicted this union a lot earlier than the rest of you," she started. "During the annual department shoot in 2023, I noticed this one photo where Dr. Gu and Dr. Oh were looking at each other quite intensely." A pause. A smirk. "Dr. Gu was our Chief Resident at that time, and I remember asking him if there was anything going on. Do you know what Dr. Gu said?"
At this point, everyone turned to Do Won, including Yi Young, and he started to turn red all over again.
"Dr. Gu didn't deny it. He just apologized. At that moment, I thought to myself, 'Ah, it's only a matter of time.'"
Prof. Seo looked at the couple again, raising her glass to a toast. "Oh Yi Young, Gu Do Won, on your own, you've always been compassionate and capable doctors. But I think the rest of the team will agree that being with each other has only made you better. May you continue to grow together in love and mutual support. Cheers!"
"CHEERS!!!"
The group dispersed a little after 1 o'clock. Jae Il sent Sa Bi home in a taxi before getting one for himself, while Gi On did the same for Nam Kyung.
Watching their friends, Yi Young elbowed Do Won and giggled, "Do you think those guys will admit it soon?"
"They're worse than we were," Do Won laughed. "And I thought we were pretty bad."
The couple walked back to their apartment hand-in-hand, stomachs full and hearts warm. It had been a long day at the hospital, but the weariness and fatigue had been washed away by the laughter and sweet words of their Yulje family.
"Oppa.."
"Mhmm?"
"It's getting late...but we have time for one more errand, right?" Yi Young said, a mischevious glint in her eyes.
Laughing, Do Won pulled her close, whispering in her ear, "Then we better hurry on home, Dr. Oh Yi Young."