THE DEUCE TO PAY | PJM ✔️

ONE.

The smell of a hospital.

Sterile, generic and sometimes overwhelming.

It still feels overwhelming even after years—Well, three years, to be precise—of your career as a psychiatrist. It has always been your dream and goal to cure—or at least help people with mental illnesses and psychological disorders.

You are not mentally ill or have any mental health issues, at least you think you don't. It's your surroundings that make you pursue this path.

Mom had severe depression when she was alive. She got better after getting married to Dad but it didn't last long. After a few months into the marriage, she started being the way she was before marriage.

Aunt told me Mom was abused by their dad, my grandfather. She escaped his grasp when Dad proposed to her and finally got married to her, taking her away from her own dad.

Your heart aches for your mother.

All the pain she went through. The dark thoughts that always cloud her mind, influence her negatively.

Mom always told me that I'm the only reason why she's still holding on.

But maybe after holding on for so long, she decided to finally let go.

Let you go.

She's free from any pain, at least.

Your heels click along the dreary hallway, you are doing your usual task; giving prescriptions to the patients in this hospital and doing some rounds around the building. Yes, just the usual.

You have a quite good reputation in this hospital.

Asclepius Hospital, Psychology and Psychiatry Specialist. A private hospital.

You get along with your patients rather quickly and easily. One of your patients once said,

"You have a very attractive aura around you. You are approachable and I just feel like I can tell you almost anything. Something in you just attracts me, makes me trust you and actually have faith in you.."

What she said almost sounds unreal but then again you never know. If that's what they felt about you then you are more than glad to continue providing those.

It was from your first ever patient. A young female adult, 20 years old. She had suffered from eating disorder, insomnia, severe depression and substance abuse problems. She was hospitalised here for about 6 months. It has been to hell and back but she survived with enough willpower and support.

You stop in front of a metal door with a slanted knob.

Patient 7959, the board reads.

NAME : Park Jimin

DESCRIPTION : Depression and Insomnia

HEAVY WARNING : This patient possesses the ability of a Siren.

DOCTOR IN CHARGE : (Y/N)

NOTE : Anything regarding this patient, please contact Dr. (Y/N) first.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

You take in an amount of oxygen as you feel the air turns suffocating making it hard to breathe. It's always like that— You would be lying if you think you're not afraid to confront your patients.

You always are.

The thoughts of what the patients might do if they lose control all of a sudden— Her facade would break down if that ever happens. But for now, you shake the nervousness off, this is part of your job and the risk in the profession itself.