The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 2

214 🩺 Unrest

'You're kidding? He let you stay on placement?'

Yunho shrugged, swirling his non-alcoholic drink in his glass. 'I assume it's not exactly his choice, but either way, that's not my problem.' Glancing across at San beside him, he watched for a moment as San sipped on his devil's brew.

'If I were you, I'd finish the goddamn placement just to spite the old bastard.'

Yunho laughed, leaning back and tapping his fingernail against the glass. 'Yeah I thought the same thing.'

A comfortable silence fell over the two as they sat with their own thoughts. And for Yunho, that meant a swirling whirlwind of emotions that had become a consistent regular upset that made him feel sick. But the strange thing about it was that for the first time, his degree didn't seem to be at the forefront of that. He somehow felt, not at peace, but somehow just okay with leaving it as a problem to deal with later.

And so, Yunho felt as though he'd been left with no clue to why he was still feeling uneasy.

Ding.

Both of them glanced down by reflex at San's phone on the table which lit up with a text.

New Message - Min Min
I know I said I'd be home tonight but I've just been asked to swap shifts with another student, so I can't ;(
I might just crash with Hwa in the oncall tomorrow bcause I'm working tomorrow afternoon too 🥵
xxx

San groaned, rolling his eyes.

'What?'

'He's working too hard. I'm worried he's going to burn out.'

Yunho felt a wave of concern wash over him, and he couldn't help the image of Mingi in the gynaecology ward from the previous day. He had looked tired... 'Is he doing okay...?' he asked as he tried really hard to act what he thought would appear 'normal.'

But San just rocked his glass on the countertop. 'Yeah he's doing okay...' He thought for a long moment before he suddenly groaned. 'Ugh, I don't know. He seems fine, and he says he's fine. But-... Ugh I don't know.' Picking up his drink, he took a long swig before looking at him with scrutiny. 'Are you two still not talking?'

Yunho felt a jolt tear through him. 'U-uh, kind of? I saw him yesterday... I guess we talked a little, but he got called to surgery so... It's fine.'

San looked at him, a concerned, skeptical look on his face. He took a long moment of silence before he spoke. 'Is it though...?'

Yunho felt his breath vacate his lungs. 'W-what is that supposed to mean?'

San bit his lip for a moment, choosing his words carefully. 'Yun-ah... You know Mingi is the same person from before you found out about his feelings, right?'

Yunho swallowed, unable to keep eye contact. He swivelled back to the front to stare at the countertop as his heart started beating like mad. 'You've mentioned...' Picking up his drink, he took a sip, suddenly wishing it was full to the brim with scotch.

'Yun, I know it's none of my business, but... you ask me all the time how he's doing... Why don't you just ask him yourself?'

Yunho closed his eyes. 'San, it's not that simple.'

'Why can't it be? Yunho I know you like being around him.'

Taking a deep breath, Yunho felt his stomach rise into his chest. He did like being around him. He had come to accept that as a fact. He liked the way being around him made him feel safe and understood, and some other unnamed emotion that popped up every time he realised Mingi was the only person he felt he could really be himself with.