The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 1

94 🩺 Get Some Rest

The drive was a quiet one, and as Yunho pulled into the empty car space outside their dorm, he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out.

'Are you okay?' Yunho asked, locking his car as Mingi joined him.

Mingi nodded. 'I'm just a little tired, I think,' Mingi murmured, digging through his bag for his dorm keys.

However not being able to find them, Yunho reached over and took his bag from him. Pulling his keys out, his eyes caught for a moment on a small photo hanging off of the key ring with San, Mingi and Seonghwa on it. That's nice, he thought as he walked into the small complex and up to their front door.

Mingi waited patiently for Yunho to unlock the door, and as he did, he couldn't help noticing how comforting it felt to have Yunho here with him... He was exhausted and just a little bit of help went a really long way...

'Feel free to... do whatever, I suppose?' Mingi said as they went inside. He wasn't quite sure what to say, so he kicked his shoes off and walked briskly into their apartment. Gathering some things for San, he put them in a bag before coming out to find Yunho sitting on the couch on his phone.

Putting the bag down near the door, he walked over and sat down beside him, collapsing down with exhaustion.

'Are you okay?' Yunho asked.

Sitting in the dark, Mingi opened his eyes and glanced across at him. 'Yes? I think? Why? Do I look sick?' He laughed softly, despite Yunho just giving him a concerned glance.

'You look exhausted...'

Mingi let his eyes drift close for a moment. 'Yeah... I've been awake since five...'

'Go and sleep for a while. Don't worry about me,' Yunho insisted.

But Mingi shook his head. 'I'll just close my eyes for a second...' Reclining back a bit, he rested his head back against the couch and took a deep, steady breath. 'Hey, Yun...?'

'Mmm?'

Mingi turned his head and opened his eyes. 'How are you feeling about placement starting soon?'

He watched as Yunho sighed, turning off his phone screen and putting it down beside him. 'Honestly?'

'Mm.'

'I haven't really thought about it... Maybe a bit nervous - since we don't know what we're going up against... What about you?'

Closing his eyes again, Mingi thought about it. 'Nervous... Really nervous...'

Even though his eyes were shut, Mingi heard Yunho turn his head, and somehow he just knew that he was looking at him. 'What are you most nervous about?'

Mingi shrugged. 'Everything? But probably mostly scrubbing into real surgeries... I mean, we've watched before, and we've watched the videos for class... but...'

'But watching and participating in person is completely different?'

Mingi nodded.

'We scrub in with two other students at a time, so when you go in, you won't be alone. They will likely be feeling the same way you are.'

Nodding again, Mingi yawned, feeling sleep coming upon him. 'I just really want to learn a lot... I don't want to waste my time being scared... You know?'

And when he slowly blinked his eyes open, he saw Yunho resting with his head facing him, but his eyes closed.

'I know. You will do fine. I have no doubt you will learn a lot.'

Mingi smiled. There was such conviction in his voice that it made him somehow believe him. But as he thought, he chuckled. 'I shouldn't think about it too much. I have to pass labs before I can go on placement. And that requires me to actually remain, in, the lab.'

He heard Yunho chuckle as he closed his eyes again. 'You will be fine. When things calm down with Wooyoung and you don't have so much going on in your head, I'll help you more.'

Mingi smiled, even though sleep was coming... 'Thank you...' he whispered.

And as silence fell over them, Mingi felt himself totally relax.

Just minutes later, he fell asleep.

-

Yunho jumped a little, startling awake - it wasn't that he'd been asleep, exactly - but just that he'd almost been asleep.

Glancing down, he realised that Mingi's head had fallen against his shoulder - his hair splaying out across him and brushing at his neck.

His heart rate spiked for a moment as he realised that never had anyone ever fall asleep against him before...

He was just about to reach up and tilt him back upright, when Mingi suddenly nuzzled against him a little, becoming more comfortable. He hummed a little contentedly in his sleep as he relaxed, and instantly, Yunho changed his mind.

He deserves to rest.

And so he left him like that.

But for some reason, he himself, was not able to fall asleep again...

~~~