Never | Lee Haechan

These never evers

"If this is how you'll keep up, you'll end up with a murder charge before you even begin your residency, Kim Jiae!" Her professor went off on her for a minor mistake during a training session. But then again, the seniors always made sure the juniors knew they were signing up to be below their belt for the first four years of medical school. Everyone knew it was just another rite of passage, part of the gruesome process of becoming an accomplished doctor.

But knowing that didn't help the ear-drum abuse.

Regardless, today, all those swears and unnecessary call-outs seemed like distant noise, fading into the background, as her mind stayed fixated on what had happened earlier that day.

34 Minutes Ago

"We need to break up,"

"Oh, I know we do—but... seriously? Over a call, Yangyang?"

"I can't be bothered to waste time on this anymore,"
Jiae scoffed, "Sounds real easy for you to throw away two whole years."

"Look, I'm sorry, but there's nothing between us anymore."

"You cheated. Don't be sorry now. Do you think word doesn't reach me—?" she retorted sharply. Silence answered her. "Exactly. At least we don't have to fight anymore."

"You know the way you act and talk makes you so hard to love?"

Those words landed like a slap. They jabbed at her insecurities, freezing her in place. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment, but she quickly regained enough composure to shoot back, "No, my confidence just hurts your fragile masculinity."

She ended the call before he could say anything else, not wanting to hear more of his bullshit. A part of her was relieved it was finally over. The past three months had been nothing but arguments over the smallest things, with him blatantly showing how little he cared. It was a total switch-up, to the point where she almost believed that ridiculous rumor about him seeking revenge. But then, she reminded herself, the whole revenge thing seemed absurd. He couldn't possibly have faked their entire relationship. What frustrated her more than the breakup itself was the fact that she couldn't understand what had caused the switch in him.

"Did he just... not even in person?" A girl with short brown hair tied neatly into a low ponytail gave her a baffled look as Jiae threw her scrub suit over her head to change.

Jiae chuckled, sarcasm dripping from her tone, "Yeah, Ryujin. A fucking jackass." She mentally crossed him off.

We had it coming - she said as a mantra, trying to keep herself calm.

"Jiae..." Ryujin attempted to comfort her, but Jiae just shook her head.

"I'm fine. Don't worry. It was due for a while now, especially after he was seen with Meiji,"

Jiae hurriedly concluded, almost as if in denial as she left the room to busy herself with anything.

Ryujin's eyes trailed behind her retrieving figure a little longer, knowing she was more hurt than she was letting in on. It wasn't for love, that was long gone between them. It was the betrayal of it all. He could've broken up with her first. He could've done a billion different things instead of cheating but that jackass didn't bother to care.

Present

"Sorry," Jiae said in a voice that was concise but sincere, bowing several times to her professor. Her body was exhausted, and her mind was on the edge; all she wanted was to hit the bed. The professor hissed at her before exiting the locker room with a dismissive wave.

God, I hate her.

Just as she left, another figure walked in: a guy with a side-strap bag and particularly noticeable long blonde hair. He stifled a laugh as he walked toward his locker, picking up a few things.