The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 2

373🩺 Surprise

When Mingi had said they would "chat later," Yunho hadn't realised just how soon, "later" would be.

In fact, after putting his phone down at almost eleven pm and resting his warm, jittery body for the night, he had slept relatively well, woken up a nervous mess for his shift, worked his shift, enjoyed every last moment of it, and emptied out his locker.

But with his messenger bag over his shoulders, walking off of the ward for the last time, when he looked up, he swore he could have cried right then and there...

'Min-ah...'

Standing off to the side of the hallway in the afternoon sun, was Mingi, smiling widely and warmly. Dressed painfully casually in slightly torn light wash jeans with a navy long sleeved shirt tucked into the front, he was holding his coat in one hand, while he pulled the other from his pocket to wave gently.

The rays of warm sunlight caught on the silver ring tucked over one of his fingers... He'd missed seeing that...

His silver chain around his neck fell over his shift down his chest a little, standing out against the deep navy material... It made his neck stand out where the silver chain touched his skin...

And that little crystal stud in his ear...

Was now accompanied by a single, plain, silver dot...

Yunho's lips fell apart in shock. Striding up to him, he didn't even think as he put one hand on his waist, and the other under his chin, turning his head to the side...

'Yun-ah,' Mingi laughed, reaching his fingertips to his forearms. 'You kind of missed hi...'

... He was more focused on other things.

Like the way his ear was slightly blushing a red colour, only a few shades lighter than his cherry lips...

Mingi laughed gently, stepping back a little in an attempt to look at him. 'You really noticed that quickly,' he said - a small smile ghosting across his lips that he bit into to hide.

'Min your ear-' he breathed, already feeling bad...

'-Has been pierced before, and if I didn't die then, I highly doubt I will die this time, either,' he said with an innocent, playful smile.

Yunho's lips opened and closed around thin air, staring at the new little silver stud. 'D-...does it hurt...?'

To his absolute relief, he shook his head.

And to his absolute surprise, Mingi suddenly reached out and pinched his earlobe.

'Ah-!' Yunho jolted at the sudden sting, but the moment he let go, the pain disappeared.

And Mingi laughed. 'That's about how much it hurts.'

Yunho stared at him, barely able to believe his eyes... 'Did you just pinch me?' he asked in shock, glancing down to Mingi's hand for a moment, before back up to his playful eyes.

And as he did, he saw the amusement wash across them - amusement he would have sacrificed having his ear pinched a million times over just to see again....

'Not much gets past you, I see,' he teased.

His playful, friendly voice... it made his heart flutter in his chest...

'Which is besides the point- Yun-ah, how can you forget everything so quickly just because I pierced my ear? I came to see you on your last emotional day on the ward to give you hugs and congratulate you on your last day... And you're too worried about me to even register.'