tteokboki couple

"Amy?" A sweet, familiar voice woke Amy from her slumber. "I need to go. I have an early call tomorrow." Jim kissed Amy's forehead.

"Sorry, I fell asleep; what time is it?" Amy replied, her voice dry.

"It's almost midnight." Jim kissed Amy's lips.

"Did you drive? Let me walk you out; I need to check on my patient, and it is on the way."

"Okay," Jim smiled. "You look so lovely in your sleep. I had to use all my courage to wake you up" Jim caressed Amy's face with his long, soft hands and kissed her again. Amy didn't resist.

It's been a month, maybe more, since the last time they saw each other.. Amy longed for his touch. Amy hugged Jim in response. Can this lovely man be really her lover? Amy still couldn't believe her luck. She prayed that her fate won't run dry.

The week passed, and Amy, Dr. Yoo, and Dr. Felix attended 'patient N' in the best way possible. The shunt had worked, and the swelling decreased. Her vitals were getting better and better. The trio will soon start phase 2 of the treatment, requiring vigorous monitoring and a much more complicated surgery: reconstruction of her skull. They best be prepared.

"Dr. Amy?" Jen said as she walked into Amy's office. Amy had been reviewing and watching recorded operations performed by other neurosurgeons. She needs to be precise and meticulous.

"Dr. Amy?" Jen called Amy again.

"Yes, Jen? Sorry, I didn't hear you the first time."

"I was just asking if you need something before I leave?" Jen asked.

Amy checked the clock and realized it was past Jen's work hours.

"Oh no, I'm good. I just gotta finish this and will be heading out myself" Amy smiled at Jen, whose work ethic she admires so much.

"Ummm, Dr. Amy, can I ask you a question? It's something personal" Jen hesitated.

"Go ahead."

a

Amy was curious. She and Jen had worked for years, and never did Jen ask Amy something personal. Jen, like her, doesn't really let their personal affairs come between their work. Of course, they had talked about their hardships and past relationships, but it was at a bar, half drunk, cursing at their arrogant research supervisors.

"So." Jen inhaled deeply, "there's this picture circling around social networks these days. I didn't know about it till So Min, who is always atop of everything social media, showed it to me this morning. And um," she paused nervously. Amy furrowed her brows, and her forehead crinkled.

"It's all about this couple eating tteokboki. People have been umm, what's the name people call it nowadays" Jen looked up, trying to remember the word, "umm, Ah! 'shipping' this couple, making assumptions of who they were". Jen used an air quote at the word 'shipping.'

Amy had no idea what Jen was talking about, 'what's wrong with people eating tteokboki, she thought. As if reading her expression, Jen continued, "Seeing your reaction, am I positive to assume you have no idea of this tteokboki couple and who they are?"

"Sadly, I don't. I am far behind my generation. I haven't heard of and about them." Amy raised her elbows up her desk and looked at Jen suspiciously.

"Is it you? The girl in the infamous Tteokboki couple?" Amy smiled. She never pictured Jen being caught up in such a scandal.

"No, it's not me… but I believed … i-it's y-you" Jen let out a sigh.

Amy retreated, stunned for a minute, then hysterically laughed.

"You must be kidding, right? There's no way that could be me. I haven't had tteokboki since I came back, and that's been what two? three months?".

Jen pulled her phone and past it along to Amy. "After So Min showed it to me, I took the time to look into it since I thought the couple was familiar. Here are the pictures taken of the couple. See for yourself".

Amy scanned through the photographs; 3 of them were blurry and taken at such a bad angle. The couple was wearing matchy hats and masks, clearly trying to hide their face. The guy was way taller than the girl. He was wearing a plain white shirt and black sweatpants. The girl was wearing an elbow-length oversized shirt; she seemed to be wearing a dress or a mini short inside, but she couldn't clearly see.

Amy was starting to get irritated; she had no time for such useless suspicions. She has surgery to prepare.

But when Amy slid Jen's phone to look at the following picture, Amy trembled.

"Fuck" she cursed under her breath.

It was a zoomed-in photo of the girl happily eating a piece of tteokboki. The man beside her, whose left arm was resting on her shoulder, was laughing underneath his mask. They looked absolutely adorable, like a cute scene out of a romantic tv series.

There was nothing absolutely wrong with the photo aside from the fact that it was her and Jim. Someone must have secretly taken a picture of them while shopping for some fruits and vegetables. Memories from that day resurfaced clearly; the old lady asked them if they wanted a free taste of tteokboki. This photo was precisely taken after Jim handed her a piece.

"Fuck.. Fuckk. Fuckk" Amy couldn't believe her eyes. She sat there frozen. Who took this photo? Was it the paparazzi? Were they being followed? What should she do?

"So it is you!" Jen spoke.

"Did So Min know?" Amy asked, her voice cracking.

"Fortunately not. I was reading the comments, and your name wasn't mentioned. Some people are saying that the masked man was a celebrity. Because of that, people have been speculating about the man's identity." Jen said matter-of-factory. "Jim's name was mentioned 5-6x. Not as much as other celebrities. The majority are saying that the man in the photo was Kang Daniel, his management will probably release a statement soon, mention of his name totally blew this picture." Jen explained.

"People these days have some weird internet voodoo that they might be able - and I think the probability is very low- figure out this is you. The fact that you don't have social media is probably what is keeping your identity hidden. I think it is most likely that your name will be mentioned," Jen sighed again and looked at Amy, "but we couldn't be so sure."

"Should I tell Jim?" Amy asked, her soul defeated. The last thing she wanted was her name being blasted all over social media and tabloids. She swore she would do whatever she could to avoid being in that predicament again.

"Knowing Jim's management, I think they are already making efforts to block or subdue this image, but I don't know. Telling Jim about this is up to you. Your social media absence is a blessing in disguise. If you're thinking of starting one, I suggest you have second thoughts". Jen laughed, trying to ease the tension. "I will monitor this issue and will call you the moment I see a mention of your name." Jen looked at Amy with utmost care. "This is nothing really," Jen tried to calm Amy. "you should just focus on the upcoming operation, okay?"

Amy had always thought of Jen with high regard but today solidified the fact that Jen is her guardian angel.

Amy sat on her chair, debating whether to tell Jim about the photo or not. 'What should she do?'.

She really does not want to be involved in any showbiz scandal. Amy's trauma from the backlash she received from Noah's infidelity is starting to creep up. She needs to stop this. Suddenly, she thought of someone that might be able to help her.