"You're Late."

Chapter 1: Invisible Chains

Chapter 1: The way things go

The hospital break room, a sanctuary for the weary, was a blend of sterile functionality and faded attempts at creating a comforting environment. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a pale glow on the room. The walls, once adorned with motivational posters, had succumbed to the test of time, their vibrant messages now worn and barely legible.

Sitting in my trusty wheelie chair, I watched my colleagues tirelessly carry out their duties. The room was filled with the low hum of conversations, the steady clacking of computer keyboards, and the occasional beeping of medical equipment. It was a place where the relentless pace of the hospital slowed down, if only temporarily.

Yet, amidst this seemingly ordinary setting, my mind was anything but calm. It had been a tumultuous period, all because of one unforgettable night that continued to replay in my thoughts like a persistent echo.

I couldn't shake the memory of that night, and for some crazy reason, I didn't want to.

Yesterday:
Her words had left me stunned, a heavy silence enveloping the room. My nerves were on edge, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. She approached me, her presence commanding my attention. I couldn't help but look up at her, captivated by the furrow of her brows and the slight tilt of her head. She was a captivating sight, even more so from my vantage point on my knees.

In the back of my mind, a rather mundane thought intruded, 'I can't get my uniform dirty,' a trivial concern given the bizarre circumstances. But it was as if my brain was grasping at anything normal, anything to anchor me in reality.

She must have sensed my distraction because, in her calm, seductive tone, she uttered, "Watch me." Her eyes glinted with an irresistible allure, and I couldn't help but gulp audibly. 'What the heck is happening?' I wondered, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. I found myself yearning for Jiyeon's presence, a lifeline to the familiar.

"Where is Jiyeon?" I finally mustered the courage to ask. She squinted, a hint of distaste creeping into her expression as if the very mention of Jiyeon's name didn't sit well with her. Curiosity piqued, I pressed on, "Is she sick? Taking a day off?"

She abruptly moved away from me, perching herself on the wardrobe and opening a drawer with a scraping sound that filled the room. Her back was turned to me, leaving me in a state of hesitation. Would she approve of my current condition? And why did I want to please her so desperately?

When she turned around, I stayed silent, unsure of what was coming next. She reached for my neck, and I flinched instinctively. In the brief moment my eyes could gather information, I noticed a small piece of metal between her fingers. Something was placed on my neck, yet it felt as if it wasn't even there.

Furrowing my brows, I looked up at her and couldn't contain my confusion any longer. "What did you do to me?" I asked, my voice tinged with a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

Her laughter filled the room, and in that moment, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment, though I couldn't quite pinpoint why. "I thought you were a doctor, Kim Minji," she remarked, her voice oozing with a sly confidence that sent a shiver down my spine. It was the way she said my name, almost in every sentence, that got under my skin, elevating my blood pressure. And that was definitely not a good sign.

As she continued to explain, my cringe deepened, both at her words and the realization of the situation I found myself in. "I put a chip on your neck," she divulged, and my brain kicked into overdrive as I tried to process the implications. I instinctively felt around for the chip, my gaze drifting to the floor in search of answers. But my hand remained on the back of my neck, and the chip remained elusive.

I looked up at her again, a mixture of frustration and resignation in my expression. She smirked, her words dripping with a sense of power and control. "Only I can remove it," she declared, leaving me to sigh inwardly. 'Well, gee thanks for letting me know,' I thought, a hint of annoyance surfacing. She could have mentioned that detail sooner and spared me the embarrassment of feeling like a fool. But then again, maybe I would always be the fool in her eyes.

Her eyes, once playful, shifted to a striking seriousness, their intensity akin to that of a cat ready to pounce. "Each time you think about Jiyeon, it'll shock you," she revealed with a cryptic sincerity that left me utterly stunned. It was true that we had recently made advances in technology like this, but to this extent? I would have expected such things to be handled by the IT department. How had she managed to pull this off?

My gaze remained fixed on her, a mix of shock, curiosity, and a growing sense of unease etched into my features. 'This is no good,' I thought, a sense of vulnerability washing over me.

💉❤️🩺

Yeah, so that happened. My fingers couldn't resist the urge to explore my neck once again. I'd never felt so uneasy in my life, not even during those nerve-wracking entrance exams that determined my future. People must think I look incredibly self-absorbed, constantly checking my reflection in every shiny surface I pass. I want to cry out, to scream, "I'm not self-centered; I'm just trying to spot a chip on my neck!" But of course, that's not an option, is it?

The workplace atmosphere was already tenuous after this morning's incident. I had been too preoccupied itching the back of my neck, scraping at it until the skin was raw, all because of that infernal chip. In my distraction, I'd collided with the top surgeon, a figure of utmost respect in the hospital. And, unfortunately, he ended up doused in a hot americano, courtesy of my clumsiness.

Now, the word had spread like wildfire that I was clumsy, and I couldn't shake the feeling that the reputation was quickly cementing itself. I prayed that I wasn't becoming "too clumsy" – the kind of shaky that shouldn't be a doctor, shaky. The thought sent shivers down my spine, and I tried desperately to push it out of my mind, though it lingered like an unwelcome guest in the back of my thoughts.

-

It's been a few days since that unsettling encounter, but the constant unease remains like a shadow I can't escape. My fingers involuntarily drift to my neck whenever I'm alone, searching for that elusive chip that's become an unwelcome part of my life.

I've grown more self-conscious than ever, my own reflection in the mirror often catching my attention. People must think I'm incredibly vain, but they don't know the truth – I'm not checking for blemishes or adjusting my hair; I'm desperately trying to spot a foreign object nestled in my skin.

And then there's the workplace, where rumors continue to circulate. That morning's incident with the top surgeon was a moment of humiliation that I can't seem to shake off. The word "clumsy" now lingers around me like a dark cloud. I fear that I'm not only perceived as awkward but that this label might jeopardize my career.

The fear of being "too shaky to be a doctor" gnaws at the edges of my thoughts, and I shiver involuntarily, trying to banish the idea. The truth is, I've become a prisoner of my own secrets, trapped in a life I can't control. The chip on my neck is a constant reminder of the bizarre encounter and the mysterious woman who seemed to hold all the power. I wonder how much longer I can keep this hidden from the world.

And don't get me started on my husband.

Note 💌: loving the enthusiasm the prologue got 😃 it pushed me to write the next chapter, which I was gonna do much later on. Anyways, vote for the next chapter which will indeed delve into much more 😉