Accidents

Here he went, as he bent down to kneel on one of his knees while he opened the box and offered his hand to the woman in front of him.

"Will you marry me? Haneul."

His voice was her death. It was her name that he spoke and shook her spine every time. Mesmerized deeply, Haneul didn't even realize it when she let her hand fall into his.

His hand gently caressed her hand before he pulled the beautiful ring out of his other hand. He let her fingers relax and loosen up within the boundaries of his hand. This was his expression of giving her a last chance to back off, or change her mind. But the woman's mind had already turned to fog when the man had presented himself like this.

Their fingertips met so casually, so subtly. This was when he confirmed; there was no force. Yeom Tae slightly tightened his grip around her fingers as he brought the ring closer, gently putting it on her ring finger, sliding it all the way back on her finger.

Yeom Tae slowly stood up from the ground, his eyes fully in contact with Haneul's eyes and his hand still holding her hand gently. He slowly lifted her hand up to his lips and left a small kiss on her hand before slowly letting it go. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes widened. But there was no time to think as just then, Yeom Tae pulled out another box, opening it to reveal another ring.

He pulled it out and held it in the air. Haneul instinctively straightened her palm to receive the ring and he immediately dropped it flat on her palm. She slowly pulled her hand back and stared at the minimalist ring. Somehow, her brain had stopped working and all it could process was the ring in her hand. It was to be worn by the man in front of her, the man who had just proposed to her.

What was this feeling? She couldn't interpret it but her body was moving on its own. Her hand slowly reached the man's loosened hand and held it gently. She felt his own force bringing his hand upwards so she could access it.

She instantly put the ring on his finger and quickly withdrew her hands. Her entire body was shaking and she could feel a distinct warmth in her stomach.

"Yeom Tae?" Her senses drove back in.

"Yes, Haneul?" Yeom Tae asked softly.

"D-Does this like… mean we're engaged?"

…

A loud bang on the floor made the new med student shrug his shoulders in fear. Why were Pediatrics suddenly so loud? He wondered if he had come to the wrong department but all the signs read otherwise. The door he stood outside in terror spoke of a not so well-known name.

"Dr. Kim Haneul." The med student read slowly, gulping.

Just then another loud bang startled the med student to death. What was the doctor doing inside? Eager yet scared to find out, the med student slowly opened the door and peeked inside.

"I can't believe this!" Haneul cried in the most desperate voice.

"I can't believe you either." Haru shrugged, her eyes quickly shifted to the med student. "You!" Haru called him with a slight sternness.

"Ma'am!" The med student let the door open and straightened his back.

"Who are you?" Haru narrowed her eyes.

"I'm the n-new med student." The med student stuttered.

Haneul's sharp and agonized eyes looked up at him for a moment. He was a young man with dark eye circles. His curly brown hair was messy and his shoulders were droopy. He probably returned from a cardiology rotation.

"Are you rotating?" Haru asked as she smirked. "I'll be waiting in neurosurgery then."

"T-That might take a while ma'am." The med student broke reality to her.

Haneul composed herself as she slowly stood up from her chair. Her hair too, was a mess. Well after accidentally accepting Yeom Tae's proposal, there was no way she would be normal.

"Haneul?" Haru called her. "You'll be okay right? I have surgery to attend to."

"Hopefully." Haneul's voice sounded dreadful to the med student's ears.

He almost wanted to keep Haru even though she was a neurosurgeon, supposedly more evil. Why was a Pediatrician so scary? This wasn't what his seniors had told him about rotations. Pediatrics was supposed to be cheerful and colorful, like a kindergarten.

Haru slowly walked past him out of the room leaving the two alone.

"What's your name, kid?" Haneul asked sternly.

"Gwang Youngjae." He gulped.

"Kim Haneul, hope you learn something out of it." Haneul said slowly.

Before she could continue, her phone started to ring.

"I have to take this." Haneul said before turning around to pick up the phone call. Youngjae stood by the door like a diligent med student.

"Yes, Eomma?" Haneul asked through the phone.

Youngjae slightly nodded, a call from her mother. Haneul kept a straight face for the longest time.

"Can we talk about this when I get home?" Haneul asked. "I've already wasted too much time on the vacation and I have a med student on rotation." She started explaining herself.

Youngjae awkwardly stood and tried not to think too deeply about her personal life. It was wrong to be listening to her on call anyway but it wasn't like he had a choice.

"Eomma!" Haneul's voice was desperate. "Just set up a wedding date yourself. I'm too busy to bother."

Suddenly, Youngjae was intrigued. Why was tea always so intriguing? A doctor getting married, by the tone of it, probably arranged? Wow! The young man's curiosity was on peak.

Haneul sternly hung up and looked at the med student.

"We're going to do rounds on in-patients then see out-patients afterwards, okay?" Haneul asked.

"Y-Yes ma'am."

"The whole thing is an 8 hour shift. Prepare yourself."

Uh oh. 8 hours with a Pediatrician who was on her worst nerves? May God help Youngjae.