𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝'𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐧 | ᵗʰᵉ ⁱᵐᵖᵒˢˢⁱᵇˡᵉ ʰᵉⁱʳ

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕

While Taeri spends the evening doing homework at Taeoh's new apartment, Seri holds an emergency meeting in her kitchen. Yebin struggles to stay awake while Zara and Woosung start theorising the reason for convening before Seri has a chance to open her mouth.

"Does this have something to do with why you fainted?" Zara asks, hands clutched over the table. The other two react outwardly at this, raising their brows, and asking for an explanation.

Seri walks up and down the space between the table and the kitchenette. "Yes, it does," she says in a rushed state, trying not to panic outwardly, "But this is more like a long-term crisis management meeting that I'd really like to know your opinion on because it concerns Taeri and my career."

All the drowsiness vanishes from Yebin's face when she asks, "Are you quitting?"

"Or are you sick?" Woosung adds, concerned.

"Close," Seri presses her palms together and points her fingertips at him. "I'm pregnant."

"Oh, no," Zara breathes.

"I'm well into my fourth month."

"Oh, no."

"It's Taeoh's."

"Oh, no!"

Seri's mouth stretches into a sarcastic smile. She clasps her hands over her heart. "Thank you," she beams, "That did wonders for my emotional state."

A grim silence falls over the group. Then, Woosung shakes his head in confusion. "Wait, you guys are still sleeping together?" He makes a face, "I thought he was pissed at you, and you were avoiding each other or something."

"It was one time and one time only," Seri exhales loudly, still pacing. "We haven't talked properly since then because it got weird. Anyway, that's not the point. I'm short on time and I have to figure out how to handle the next several months without this hurting my residency."

Her friends baulk. "You don't want to talk about this?" Zara points at her stomach which, to be honest, looks the usual with its post-instant-ramyeon bloat.

"Not until I have a plan."

Yebin stops Zara from arguing further. "I think you can apply for an academic break," she suggests helpfully, "And residents get maternity leave, if required. I'm sure Doctor Im and the admin will approve your request."

"That'll set my career back," Seri counters.

"Finish third year, apply for leave, give birth, hire a nanny, come back for fourth year and take the second specialty board exam," Woosung offers.

This time, Zara shoots down the idea. "And raise a neglected, resentful child who'll grow up to be a psychopath because they'll think she favoured Taeri?" she asks rhetorically.

"Working while nursing and raising a pre-teen will kill you," Woosung says thoughtfully, "God knows how you managed during med school."

Yebin pipes up, "Wasn't your family here? Taking care of Taeri when you were at uni?" Seri can't ask them to do that again. She can't expect them to put their lives on halt and fly halfway across the world to babysit.

"But maybe you don't have to," Zara glances around at all of them, "Remember the announcement for the fellowship? It has a list of foreign university hospitals you can apply for. Lee from Cardio is going to Zurich. The deadline for application is in three days."

The Kangoh residents are obviously confused but Seri feels a glimmer of hope in her chest. The pieces of the plan begin to fall into place when Zara reads out the hospitals listed in the program. "You have several choices in Dublin so that's good."