BETTERSWEET

Ch.10

You are late to the dance, as you have fully expected after being required to answer to a call for an emergency surgery that needed your assistance. It takes a lot longer due to some internal bleeding complications, but the main surgeon you assisted is composed, very skilled and works quite well with you, so you gave it your best, and soon enough you managed to walk out of the operation room with a big pat on your back for the successful surgery.

However, the ball is already on full swing when you arrive with your hair slightly tousled and both of your lungs working hard to provide you with enough air. Miraculously your ankle did not give out in your full effort, hectic running on your high heels to the ballroom from the hospital a couple blocks away.

A hand offers you a glass of water, and you could not be more relieved to see it. You down it quickly, a little sloppy too, perhaps, but who could care at this moment?

You are wrong, of course, as a familiar face grinning down at you gives you much more relief than the glass of water did, and you are immediately washed over by immense gratitude for this person.

"Breathe, love," she says with a smile, a hand placed on your back and caressing it gently. "You look like you just ran a marathon... in high heels."

"Juyeon-ah," you gasp, still trying to regain your breath. "I'm sorry I'm late."

She holds up your hands after removing the empty glass and depositing it on a passing waiter's tray. "Not at all. The party isn't quite over yet."

"Oh, but I missed out on giving my speech during the opening ceremony..."

"Yes, I noticed you were missing amongst the dozens of speakers. But the emcee updated the audience that you were occupied in surgery, so..."

You sigh, feeling her tender hands stroking your hair, tidying them back to place and generally doing the magical work in calming your erratic heart and mind. "But that's how I could get more funds for my cause... I fought hard to get that slot for a speech."

She pulls you closer by your waist, a soft smile still graced on her features. "Now, do forgive me for being so occupied with my own work, but I don't think we talked about this great cause of yours."

"W-well, it's not that great a cause, but..." you pause, suddenly remembering something. "Hold on, aren't you on the clock right now? Shouldn't you go back to guarding your boss's daughter?"

"Don't worry, I have eyes everywhere in this party. My boss's daughter is just being merry and enjoying all of the wine. In fact, I think she was trying to kick nurse Kim down a peg in a wine drinking competition before I noticed your long, long awaited arrival."

"Is she going to be okay? I can assure you from what I've seen in our department's parties, Hyunjung can really drink."

"Nothing like a friendly competition to prove that wrong." she grins, hugging your waist and leading you to another direction in the massive ballroom.

The sight that greets you at your destination is... difficult to describe. You have never even seen someone capable of outdrinking Hyunjung, but this young woman, small and seemingly innocent, has done just that. Hyunjung is swaying side to side, all the while giggling quite like a mad woman and leaning heavily on Luda, who looks unwilling to support her drunken lover, but not being left with any other choice. And the charming young woman, well, she does not look affected by the alcohol much.

"Does this mean I won the bet?" Luda chirps, suddenly looking alive rather than will-less.

"Oh yeah!" the young woman, her cute but lovely bob hair swings as she turns to address the shorter of the two nurses. "Look forward to some wonderful package on your desk in a few days, nurse Lee!"