The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 2

278 🩺 Fight For It

Yunho sat down in his usual spot, smiling at the bartender. 'Evening,' he greeted, shrugging his coat off and putting his phone, keys and wallet down on the bench. 'Water?'

The tender nodded. 'Water it is.'

'Yun-ah, meet Hyunjin.'

Yunho glanced at San, confused. 'Hmm? Who?'

He watched as San gestured over the counter to the bartender Yunho had known for so long, but hadn't ever been given a name to greet. His eyes widened. 'Hyunjin?'

He smiled, nodding. 'Nice to finally be acquainted, I guess.'

Yunho exhaled in shock for a moment before standing and extending his hand to shake his. 'I always thought I had been told your name, but forgot. I never asked because I thought I'd be caught being rude by forgetting...'

Hyunjin laughed, brushing it off and passing him his water. 'Most people think that. Don't worry.'

Momentarily confused for a moment why most people would think that, Yunho sensed something in his voice, and as he glanced at San, he got the feeling he shouldn't ask.

Sitting back down, he sipped on his water, tucking his feet up onto the footrest under his stool.

'Excuse me!'

Yunho glanced up, as did San and Hyunjin as someone over the other side of the bar called to be served.

'Enjoy guys,' Hyunjin said kindly, before hurrying over, tucking his rag into his apron and setting to work.

And Yunho turned his attention to San. Looking at him, he couldn't help but notice the dark spots under his eyes and tense posture. 'You don't look too good. Are you okay?' Looking closer, he noticed his eyes were slightly dilated and his lips pale... 'Are you hungover?'

His friend bit into his lip, taking a deep breath before sighing immensely. 'I might be...'

Yunho felt shocked. 'From when?! I don't know what's worse... You drinking that much last night that you're still hungover, or that you drank this morning.'

San laughed sourly, taking a baby sip of his drink - something that was new for him. 'Good thing it was slightly between those two times then?'

Concern washing over him, Yunho started to worry. 'San-ah, are you okay? What happened? Is it Wooyoung?'

He saw San bite his lip, tapping his nail against the side of his glass anxiously. 'No, no I'm fine. So is Woo... I didn't exactly decide to drink...'

Yunho frowned, relieved, yet confused. 'Then...?'

He heard San hold his breath... 'M... Min... might have...'

Dots started to align along his timeline, and suddenly Yunho felt a certain pit forming in his stomach... 'Oh, okay... Is he alright...?' he asked softly, images of them on the oval the previous night popping into his mind, as clear as if it were happening in front of him.

San gritted his teeth, before closing his eyes. 'No... Not really...'

Yunho suddenly felt his heart fall. A horrific feeling filled him, making him forget everything other than one question...

'What happened to Mingi?'

Incredibly impatiently, Yunho sat on the edge of his stool, just about ready to leap at San and get him to stop stalling. He needed to know now... He couldn't wait...