A Melody of You: Book Five

Leanne

It's been an exhausting few weeks after my father had his emergency surgery. I made sure everything for his care was perfect. I even made some of my students give me reports about him when I was too busy with patient consultations.

But at the end of each tiring day, my heart no longer cries or feels heavy. No. Even after having a health scare with my father on his last day at the hospital. I was peacefully waiting for the end of the day to come. I wanted to have my alone time and hear the sound of my phone ring.

Yujun calls me every night if I am not doing the night shift. He can still see everyone's schedules on the application we have for this hospital. So he calls at the end of each shift. At first, I was a little surprised by his sudden calls. The time difference is great and I chuckled every time I imagined him with messy hair from waking up early in the morning or with sleepy eyes for calling late at night.

"Yujun, you don't have to call me every day," I said one day. "I know you must be busy and tired."

"I'm okay," he softly said. "Are you tired? I can call tomorrow or later."

"No," I said as I put my mug of tea away. "I just finished my tea. But I'm just worried about you. Make sure to sleep and eat well."

"I do. I promise. I think I'm eating too well. I may have gained some pounds."

I laughed at his playful words. "And it's only been a few days!"

"I need you here. We could share foods."

"If it's Bibimbap, I don't share."

He laughed and the sound of it made me fall on the couch in my house like a teenager with a fluttering heart and grin. "You know, I ate Bibimbap the other day."

"Really?"

"Yes. It didn't feel the same."

"I think it's impossible to mess up that plate."

"The food was delicious but it didn't feel the same without you."

That time, my heart did actually flutter and I quickly pushed it away as if someone were watching me. I cleared my throat but I couldn't stop smiling. "Why don't you finish fixing that problem and then the first thing we'll do when you get back is eat Bibimbap together."

"Deal!"

"But only if you bring me more of the treats you brought last time."

"I've already packed them. Is there anything else you want me to get you? Or maybe Cristina would like something, too."

My heart melted at his sweet gesture and I gently said, "That's okay. Don't stay too long, punk. The hospital needs you and your patients will get furious without their favorite doctor."

"The hospital needs me?"

I hesitated and I knew exactly what he was trying to take out of me. But I ignored his tease and said, "Yes. If you don't come back soon, I'll take your students and brainwash them to choose cardiology instead."

"No! Never!"

I playfully laughed and we continued to speak for two more hours. It's always like that with him. He can make my hardest days feel as if I had the best day. I fall back to sleep with a little smile thanks to him. I really hope he has a good night sleep, too. It's the least I can do for him after everything he has done for me. I owe him so much ever since we met and he became my mentor. What can this shattered heart ever give to someone so special like him?

I would tell him to stop calling me. The more he chats with me and sends me text messages, the more I wish he was here. I don't want to miss him this much but I can't seem to stop. I can't seem to forget him anymore like I did the night we separated. It makes sense. He has taken a piece of my heart with him and I let go of that piece with nerves. Once a piece leaves my grasp, a part of me changes. It's what happened the last time. Joseph took that piece and I was never the same again. I promised myself I would never let any man take a piece of me like that unless they proved me wrong.