The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 2

239 🩺 I Fucking Cry

'Are you sure you're happy to come to mine?' Sejun asked as they both walked out of the hospital arm to arm.

Mingi gave him a small smile. 'Yes, of course.'

Sejun's expression lifted. 'I bussed in today. But it's really quick! I promise~.'

Mingi let out a soft amused exhale. 'It's fine.' Putting his hands in his coat pockets, he sighed gently.

Today had been one hell of a day. After one of the most irritatingly useless shifts, and an emotional skydive to top it off, Mingi felt particularly raw inside. Despite holding his chin up and smiling out at the world, on the inside, he really just felt rattled, and exhausted.

But if he had anyone to blame for his emotional state, it was himself. He'd known that he wasn't over Yunho. And yet he'd somehow let his resolve slip enough to somehow lull himself into the false sense of security that they could go back to how they were before.

It was too soon.

Mingi would move on. He had no doubt that he could. But it was just something that he had to accept, that it would probably take a lot longer than he'd originally thought. And with the way he was feeling now, he certainly was not ready to hear about that man's dates with other people.

And despite Mingi telling himself over and over again that it shouldn't matter who he was seeing, it somehow stung just that little bit more knowing that she was a girl...

But would it feel any better if she were a guy?

No.

And so Mingi told himself that he was just not ready to hear any of it, and perhaps after all, they should have more space and time apart. For himself, if not for anything else.

The longer he was around Yunho, the more he was digging his own grave, and if he were to keep hanging around him, then Mingi may as well have just jumped into his own gravesite and pulled the dirt down over him himself.

Standing at the bus terminal, the grounds were bustling with hospital staff with badges everywhere getting off shift. With the sun slowly going down, perhaps just an hour or so of golden light left to spill over their side of the earth, this was a time that Mingi actually liked. It was as though there was something inherently peaceful about this hour. The energy of hundreds of nurses and doctors and cleaners and administrators and whoever else, all filled with a brisk and excited enthusiasm to get home.

He wasn't much of a people watcher, but as Mingi glanced around, looking over the people all scattering from the hospital and disappearing into shops and busses and cars and taxis, he felt a certain calmness wash over him...

Until his eyes fell upon the window of the café next door to the hospital...

Right in the window, he was shocked that he had even noticed, but at the same time, he was also unsurprised.

Sitting at a table, was Yunho, and across from him, was one of the prettiest girls Mingi had ever laid his eyes on. Long dark wavy hair pulled half up with a butterfly clip, leaving the rest to cascade down her shoulders... He could see her face too; dainty and rosy and beautiful.

And he could see Yunho staring at her, filled with so much emotion that Mingi suddenly felt like he'd been punched in the chest.

The way they looked at each other... So heartfelt...

Mingi felt sour at himself for realising that he was harbouring a sudden hope that when Yunho had said earlier that he wanted to explain, that Mingi had somehow misunderstood...

And on top of that, Mingi felt sickeningly guilty for the envy that filled him...

Yunho should be able to see whoever he wanted. And Mingi strongly believed that with his entire soul. And that girl was stunning. She was everything any man could dream of. Mingi bet her voice was soft and tinkering, and her laugh sweet...

But the sour feeling inside Mingi suddenly flooded him, and his lungs deflated as he saw the girl reach out and put her hands over his. Mingi's heart shattered right there and then, but he couldn't move. Watching them sit, such clear emotion between them, Mingi felt sick.

And then Yunho put a hand over hers...

And Mingi couldn't watch anymore.

Suddenly jerking around to face the bus terminal, he stared straight ahead at the road, unwilling to see any more.

'Min... Are you okay?' Sejun put a gentle hand on his arm, glancing at his face.

Take a deep breath. Move on.

'Yes, sorry. I'm fine.'

His broken heart doing its best to pump in his chest, Mingi felt like he could crawl up into a ball on the spot, hide, and never come out. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the image of their hands together...

Crying and hiding wouldn't help him move on. No amount of pining and moping would help.

And so he forced himself to keep his chin high.

'This is our bus,' Sejun said, still glancing at him unsurely. 'Are you sure you still want to come?'

Mingi plastered a smile onto his lips and did his best to mean it. 'Sure do. Let's go~.'

~~~

A/N: It's got to get worse, before it can get better. Phat Soz