𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐘, iotnbo

two

𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇
chapter two

the lights lining the ceiling of ok psychiatric hospital flickered as rain pittered against the large window panes that were cascaded with curtains, the noise reverberating throughout the walls of the hospital and creating a looming sense of despair.

yet, na-bi continued to walk down the corridor with a spring in her step. whether it was because she genuinely enjoyed her job or because she knew that her lunch break was looming around the corner, she did not know, but the oh girl merrily roamed the halls nonetheless.

popping out of one of the many rooms she was tasked with checking and monitoring for this specific shift, na-bi smiled at the newly appeared and oncoming figure of moon gang-tae.

the man was a few years her senior, with a number of years in advance of her in terms of work experience, but that did not, by any means, make him strict.

it was clear that moon gang-tae took his job seriously and valued his work but it was simultaneously obvious that he was kind-hearted and, for reasons unknown to the younger of the two of them, he was especially warm to na-bi.

"how're you doing? you look fed up here already." na-bi greeted gang-tae jokingly: the comment successfully transforming his creased brows and slight frown into a soft grin.

it had only been a few days since the male's arrival and, whilst he was welcome, there were many rumours among the staff that he would soon leave — for either a reason or just because he was unable to settle down properly. it wasn't hard for na-bi to fall into believing them once she had seen his previous employment record.

"i'm okay, na-bi." a meaningless exhale escaped the confines of gang-tae's mouth as the pair of them began to walk down the corridor and to the reception area. "how're you? have you just finished your rounds?"

absentmindedly observing the small details of the corridor, the oh female hummed in confirmation. "mhm, everyone's all okay. it's just been as it usually is, but the storm has seemed to make everyone gloomy..."

their small conversation came to a halt as they arrived at the front desk — na-bi making her way round to the back of it and gang-tae using the handset in an attempt to fix the lighting issue.

"yes, the ones in the rooms are fine. but the lights in the lobby and in the reception area are out." the moon male spoke into the landline, leaning against the desk where his younger co-worker was filling out her reports of her rounds. "...yes, okay. thank you."

redirecting her line of sight to the man opposite her, na-bi flattened her lips out sympathetically: an action which was short-lived due to the clicking of high heels that gradually neared the pair of caregivers.

the unnerving sound of something dragging along the floor, soon revealed to be a metal-tipped umbrella, accompanied ko mun-yeong's appearance. she was one of the last people who na-bi expected to willingly enter such a place as a psychiatric hospital and yet, she was standing before her and gang-tae with her lips upturned.

but, when ko mun-yeong gazed into the oh girl's eyes a little bit more closely, an indistinguishable look flashed across her expression: one that went just as quickly as it had come.

it was much later in the day when oh na-bi ran into ko mun-yeong once again, this time quite literally bumping into her. however, before the younger woman could open her mouth to apologise, the older spoke. "you've changed quite a lot."