"You're Late."

Chapter 10: It's Never 'Too Late'

Chapter 10.3: I love you

I watch Hyein wave goodbye as she leaves the hospital with her mom, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over me. "See you!" she calls out, and I offer a smile and a nod in return. "Perhaps we'll meet at McDonald's next time," I joke, eliciting an eye roll from her before she disappears with her mother. "That was sweet," Danielle remarks, and I nod in agreement. "So, another successful patient discharge. How are you planning to celebrate?" she asks, prompting me to shrug.

"No idea yet. Maybe a nice dinner and some well-deserved sleep," I suggest. Danielle shakes her head, suggesting something more scandalous. "A club," she suggests, but I dismiss the idea, citing my age and desire to avoid further conflicts in both my professional and personal life. She relents, teasing me about going home to my "famous husband" and enjoying my wealth.

As I walk away, I'm suddenly pulled into a storage room, a finger pressed against my lips. In the darkness, I detect the scent of lavender. "You can't keep showing up here," I protest softly, but she silences me with a kiss on the cheek. "Yet, here I am," she murmurs. I can't help but smile as our lips linger together. "I have a surprise for you," she whispers, her voice filled with anticipation.

Haerin and I have grown even closer over time. We've shared intimate details about our families, her favorite ice cream flavor, and exchanged "I love you's" more often than not, usually in states of undress. "What's the surprise?" I ask eagerly as I hear the jingle of keys. "Don't be late. I'll text you the details," she replies, handing me the keys which I promptly tuck into my pocket. "And what if I am?" I challenge, though I can sense her smiling in response. "Then you'll have to find out," she teases before giving me one final kiss and opening the door. As the light spills in, I watch her walk away before following suit, taking a deep breath of anticipation. Moments later, my phone buzzes. I check it to find the address and a simple message: "I love you."

She made me feel like a teenager, experiencing those intense emotions for the first time. It was like my life had turned into a movie, and I could sense it nearing its end. My phone buzzed again, a message asking, "You aren't going to say it back?" I grinned, teasingly replying, "What if I don't?" She responded, "Always testing my patience." Suppressing a chuckle, I was interrupted by a voice that made me jump.

"Who're you texting?" he asked. "Sorry," I chuckled, pocketing my phone. "You know, I'm pretty sure I've seen you on your phone during work more than once," he teased. Knowing he wouldn't report me, just enjoying the banter, I replied, "If you've got somewhere to be, just go." "Really?" I questioned. "Yeah, I'll cover for you," he offered. Grateful, I kissed his cheek and hurried off. It was unusual for me to call him by his first name, but in that moment, it felt like the right thing to do to show my appreciation.

I arrived home to find Jung-woo in the kitchen, preparing dinner. The aroma of spices filled the air, comforting and familiar. He looked up as I entered, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Hey, you're home early," he remarked, setting down the knife he was using to chop vegetables. I nodded, offering a tired smile in return. "Yeah, Zayn covered for me," I explained, walking over to give him a quick hug. "How was your day?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to burden him with the complexities of my day. But then I remembered his kindness and support, and decided to share a brief overview of the events.

In the spur of the moment, I blurted out, "I'm in love with her." Jung-woo raised a brow, bemused. "Congratulations, but why tell me?" he asked. Flustered, I stammered, "I-I don't know, sorry." He chuckled, "Don't sweat it. Does she know?" I nodded. "I just feel like something's missing," I admitted. "Maybe tell the world," he suggested. Was he serious?

I pause, mulling over his suggestion. "Tell the world?" I repeat, incredulous. Jung-woo nods, his expression serious. "Why not?" he continues. "If you're in love with her, why hide it?" His words sink in, and I feel a sense of uncertainty cloud my thoughts. "It's complicated," I reply, feeling the weight of my emotions. Jung-woo offers a sympathetic smile. "Just think about it," he says gently. "You deserve to be happy." I nod slowly, still unsure of what to do next.