firefly | zhong chenle

CH10

"warmth. like a firefly in the dark."

-

Waking up in an elevator with 30 missed calls was not the morning she was looking for. As Arin opened her eyes, she found her entire body aching, but strangely, she felt so much better than all the previous days combined. She turned to her side, expecting to see Chenle beside her but all she could see was the metal elevator wall. Climbing up from her position, she noticed a ladder and took a step up it. When Chenle was passing by, she emerged from the broken down elevator, Arin scolded "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Shut up and get some work done" Chenle shoved a couple clipboards into her grasp "They've been 3 new patients and 5 discharged. They're in room 203 and the others have dealt with the basic ones. You'll need to talk to the Mr. Kim and his kid. They're condition are worsening"

Arin nodded, mentally noting down everything. She was shocked to even find out that Chenle had made note of everything that happened this morning when she was asleep, essentially doing her work for her. Just as she was able to leave to see the patients, something was slid into her grip. Looking down, she chuckled lightly at the bottle of milk and packaged kimbap in her hands.

"It was buy one get one free" Chenle forced out through his throat, and left immediately after he said that. He was evidently flustered, but managed to hide it by running as fast as he can.

"Thanks!" Arin called down the hallway, teasing him.

;

"Please calm down" Arin tried to calm down the woman who was throwing a tantrum because they weren't getting a room. One of the instructors sent an extra person to their station when they were already over flowing with people and now, they're complaining that they don't get a room.

The woman began throwing things around the room, grabbing the nearest pills and syringes and smashing it to the floor.

"I didn't fucking come here for you to kick me out" The woman screamed "Is that what you doctors do nowadays? Especially young ones. You selectively choose which patients you want to treat?"

"It's not that, ma'am. We do it so it is first come first serve. You were mistakenly sent here so we couldn't-"

The woman grabbed the metal tray and catapulted it at her, merely missing Arin's face. She shrunk against the wall, shielding her face with her hands. As a doctor, she hated this feeling. Because she knew the patient was wrong but she couldn't anything about it. The moment Arin says even a word to protect herself, it is far too easy for her to be sued. She had been sued once years ago and that's why she's here, and she might just lose her job if she was sued again.

"And what. They sent me here by mistake and you're just going to let me die out here?!" The woman shrieked, hands balling into a fist

Arin had to compose herself before speaking again "Ma'am, we will get you a room as soon as one clears up. Your symptoms aren't as serious as-"

"Because my symptoms are less serious so you ignore me!? That I'm nothing!? What, maybe you're just lying to kick me out of here" The woman scoffed "Listen okay. I want a bed and I want it now"

"I'm very sorry we can't do that" Arin sighed, exasperated. Before she could even blink, she saw another thing fly toward her. She couldn't even process what happened until she felt a warm hand on her arm, jerking her backwards. All she heard was a clattering before she opened her eyes and a broad body was in front of her. The surge of safety. There it was again.

Warmth. Like a firefly in the dark.

"We do not condone any form of violence here and we will ask you to leave if any more harassment occurs. This is a fire station. We have the rights to arrest you" It was Chenles voice, although he sounded extremely sick. Despite him having a mask on, his voice could be heard from all corners of the room. The woman became quiet, lowering her fist.

"You're lucky I'm in a good mood today. Ill wait for that stupid bed" The woman scoffed and left the room. Shortly after, Arin was about to burst with fury.

"Yeah fuck you" Arin murmured, raising her fist at the woman who just left the room. If it weren't for the arm that held her back, she would've rushed out and punched the woman in the face.

"Can't believe illogical people exist in this world" Arin spun around "Isnt that right Chenle". To her shock, she found Chenle crouching on the floor, coughing with his hands against the wall to stabilise himself.

"Chenle" Arin leant forward, placing a hand on his shoulder out of concern. Her heart flooded with worry in a strange kind of way. It wasn't the kind of worry as if he was her patient, it was a panic kind of worry but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.  "Are you OK? You're so pale"

"I'm fine" He rose a hand, coldly shrugging her hand off him "Don't touch me"

"Chenle" Arin stepped toward to reach out to him again, but he stumbled up himself. Chenle ignored her, rushing out the room.

"Thank you. For protecting me back there" Arin called out to him, who halted in his spot, before scoffing out

"Don't flatter yourself. I would do that for anyone"

And he left. Just like that.

"Don't flatter yourself" Arin mimicked "What a jerk"