The third day of their surgical residency began much like the previous ones, but for Dr. Kim Dahyun, there was a palpable difference in the air. As she made her way down the familiar hallways of Seoul Memorial Hospital, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the reputation she was beginning to build. Assisting Dr. Im Nayeon on two major surgeries had garnered her some attention, both from her fellow interns and from the hospital's senior staff. It was exhilarating, but also daunting.
As she entered the locker room, the usual suspects were already there-Sana, Jihyo, Jungkook, and Yoongi-all in various stages of changing into their scrubs. The air was filled with the tension of another busy day, but also something else: anticipation.
"Big day for you, isn't it?" Sana asked, glancing at Dahyun with a knowing look as she tied her scrub cap over her blonde hair.
Dahyun frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You haven't heard?" Jihyo chimed in, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Dr. Yoo Minseok, the head of cardio, requested you for a surgery today."
Dahyun blinked, stunned. "What? I've never even met him. Why would he request me?"
Sana shrugged, adjusting her scrubs. "Word travels fast around here. You impressed Nayeon, and now everyone wants to see if the 'liver queen' can keep up in other specialties."
Dahyun groaned, suddenly feeling the pressure crash down on her shoulders. "Great. No pressure at all."
"You'll be fine," Jungkook said, though his face was serious. "But cardio's no joke. Minseok's reputation is legendary. He doesn't tolerate mistakes."
"Yeah," Yoongi added dryly. "Try not to faint in the OR."
Dahyun shot him a look. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Jihyo laughed as they all made their way toward the surgical floor, where their assignments for the day would be confirmed. As they stepped off the elevator, Dahyun's nerves were already working overtime. She wasn't even sure what kind of surgery she'd be assisting on, but the fact that Dr. Yoo Minseok-one of the hospital's most revered surgeons-had personally requested her felt like a test she wasn't sure she was ready for.
As they gathered for rounds, Dr. Im Nayeon strode into the hallway with her usual air of authority. She glanced at her clipboard and began assigning the day's tasks.
"Jungkook, you're with Dr. Choi on a complex spinal reconstruction. Yoongi, post-op again with Dr. Han. Sana, you'll be assisting Dr. Lee on a bowel resection."
Sana groaned softly but smiled. "At least it's not a hernia."
Nayeon's gaze landed on Dahyun, her eyes gleaming with a mix of challenge and amusement. "Dahyun, you're with Dr. Yoo Minseok on a mitral valve repair. Hope you're ready to make a name for yourself."
Dahyun's mouth went dry. Mitral valve repair. Cardiac surgery. No pressure.
"Yes, Dr. Im," she managed to say, trying to hide her nerves.
Nayeon gave her a small nod of approval before moving on to the rest of the interns. "Everyone, be on your A-game today. We've got a full slate, and no one gets left behind."
---
By the time Dahyun scrubbed in for the surgery, she was trying to keep her racing heart in check. The OR was prepped, and as she stepped inside, she was met with the sight of Dr. Yoo Minseok standing at the operating table, his eyes already focused on the patient's chest.
"Dr. Kim," he said without looking up. "I've heard good things. Let's see if you live up to the hype."
Dahyun swallowed hard, taking her place opposite him. "I'll do my best, Dr. Yoo."
Minseok glanced at her then, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "In my OR, you do more than your best. You excel."
The surgical team around them was already in motion, handing instruments, checking vitals, and prepping the patient. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the room as Minseok began the procedure, narrating each step for Dahyun's benefit.
"Mitral valve prolapse," he said as he made the first incision. "If we don't repair this properly, the patient's heart could continue to leak blood, leading to heart failure. Understand the stakes?"
"Yes, Dr. Yoo," Dahyun replied, her hands steady as she assisted with the retractors, keeping the surgical field open.
As the surgery progressed, Minseok worked with the kind of calm precision that only a master could maintain. His hands moved swiftly, yet every action seemed deliberate. Dahyun watched in awe as he carefully repaired the damaged valve, occasionally asking her to assist in suturing or holding instruments.
"You've got steady hands, Kim," Minseok commented as they neared the end of the procedure. "Good for cardio. But do you have the stamina for this specialty?"
Dahyun knew the question was rhetorical, but she answered anyway. "I'll find out, won't I?"
Minseok chuckled softly under his mask. "That you will."
The surgery wrapped up smoothly, and as the patient was wheeled out of the OR, Dahyun felt the exhaustion hit her like a tidal wave. But it was a good kind of exhaustion-the kind that came from knowing she had just been part of something incredible.
As she pulled off her gloves and stepped out of the OR, Minseok approached her, his expression unreadable.
"You did well," he said simply, his praise rare but genuine. "Keep this up, and you might find yourself in cardio more often."
Dahyun smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Thank you, Dr. Yoo."
He nodded, then turned on his heel, leaving her standing in the empty hallway, her heart still pounding with the adrenaline of the day.
---
Later that evening, Dahyun found herself back in the cafeteria with the others, recounting the day's events over dinner. Sana listened with wide eyes as Dahyun described the mitral valve repair in detail.
"Cardio already? Damn, you really are making a name for yourself," Sana said, sounding both impressed and a little envious.
Jungkook shook his head. "Meanwhile, I spent most of the day suctioning blood out of a spine. Not nearly as glamorous."
Yoongi, ever the realist, raised an eyebrow. "Better than post-op notes. I had to deal with a patient who thought their pillow was trying to kill them."
Jihyo snorted into her drink. "That's just everyday psych for you."
Dahyun laughed, but her mind was still on the surgery. The rush, the pressure, the feeling of having someone's life in your hands-it was overwhelming, but it was also exhilarating. She was starting to understand why people became surgeons. It wasn't just about the prestige. It was about the moments in the OR, where skill and instinct came together to save lives.
"Here's to surviving another day," Jihyo said, raising her cup of coffee.
"Survival," Sana echoed with a grin, lifting her own.
They clinked their cups together, and as they laughed and talked late into the night, Dahyun felt a deep sense of camaraderie with these people-her fellow interns, her friends. They were all in this together, for better or worse.
And for Dahyun, the realization settled in that she wasn't just surviving. She was thriving.
