It was another chaotic morning in the hospital, with the interns racing around trying to keep up with their various assignments. The usual banter and competition filled the air, but this morning felt slightly different, like something was about to shift.
Dahyun, Yoongi, Sana, Jihyo, and Jungkook were huddled near the nurses' station, exchanging the usual banter while waiting for their next rounds.
"I swear if I get another appendectomy today, I might actually scream," Jungkook grumbled, flipping through a chart.
Dahyun smirked. "At least you're not on scut duty today. You could be mopping floors."
"Hey, don't knock it," Yoongi chimed in, giving a deadpan look. "Sometimes, scut work is a blessed escape from all the other nonsense around here."
Jihyo rolled her eyes. "You're just saying that because you can do it without breaking a sweat."
As they bickered, a familiar figure strode past them-Im Nayeon, their ace resident, and someone who all the interns deeply respected (and, frankly, feared). She was as sharp and quick-witted as ever, but there was something different today. Maybe it was the slight puffiness in her face or the extra cautious way she moved.
Sana, always observant, furrowed her brow. "Am I imagining things, or does Dr. Im look... different today?"
"Different how?" Jungkook asked, barely looking up from the chart.
"I don't know. Just... different. Like, something's off," Sana replied.
Jihyo glanced over at Nayeon, who was now speaking with Dr. Boo Yong-joo, their attending. "I don't see it. She's the same as always-intimidating and about two seconds from making one of us cry."
Dahyun narrowed her eyes. "No, Sana's right. She looks... tired. More tired than usual."
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a flurry of movement. Dr. Boo Yong-joo had been called to another emergency, but not before glancing back at Nayeon with an unreadable expression. The interns exchanged puzzled looks.
Yoongi, always the quiet observer, broke the silence. "You think something's up with Dr. Im?"
"She does seem off her game lately," Jungkook noted. "Like she's been avoiding the OR more than usual."
Before they could speculate further, Nayeon caught them staring and raised an eyebrow. "Do you all not have work to do?" she called out in her usual commanding tone, making them scatter immediately.
---
Later, during a rare quiet moment in the hospital, Boo Yong-joo pulled Nayeon aside in an empty hallway, his expression more serious than usual.
"Nayeon," he began, his voice low but firm. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Nayeon stiffened, instantly understanding what he was referring to. She crossed her arms, as if trying to shield herself. "Tell you what, Dr. Boo?"
"Don't play coy with me. You're pregnant," he said, his gaze softening with concern. "How long were you planning to keep this a secret? The entire hospital is your responsibility, and now you're-"
"-Still capable of doing my job," Nayeon cut him off sharply, her eyes flashing with defiance. "I'm not sick. I'm pregnant."
Boo Yong-joo sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "I know you're not sick. But I also know you're one of the best surgeons we have, and I can't have you jeopardizing your health or the health of the baby because you're too stubborn to slow down."
Nayeon took a deep breath, her usual cool demeanor faltering for just a moment. "I didn't want this to affect how you-or anyone else-sees me. I've worked too hard to get to where I am, and I can't afford to be seen as weak or incapable."
Boo Yong-joo shook his head. "Nayeon, no one in this hospital would ever think you're weak. But you have to take care of yourself. If you won't do it for you, then do it for your baby."
Nayeon looked away, her jaw tight, clearly struggling with the weight of the situation. "I'll be fine. I can handle this."
"I know you can handle it. But you don't have to do it alone," Boo Yong-joo said, his tone softening. "Let people in. Let us help you."
Nayeon nodded reluctantly, but her mind was still racing. She had kept her pregnancy a secret for so long because she didn't want to be seen as anything other than the best. The idea of being vulnerable, even for a moment, was terrifying to her.
---
Meanwhile, back in the lounge, the interns were still buzzing about what they'd just overheard.
"Dr. Im is *pregnant*?" Sana whispered, her eyes wide in disbelief. "How did none of us know?"
"I mean, we've barely seen her outside of work. She's always on call or in the OR. Who would've guessed she had a life outside of the hospital?" Dahyun added, shaking her head.
"That's the thing," Jihyo pointed out. "She's always so put together, so in control. It's hard to imagine her as anything other than... well, *Dr. Im*."
Jungkook, who had been quiet for a while, leaned back in his chair. "Makes sense why she's been a little off lately. She's probably been trying to balance everything-being a resident, a surgeon, and now... a mom."
Yoongi frowned. "I can't believe we didn't notice. We spend every day around her, and none of us picked up on it."
"She's just that good at hiding it," Sana muttered. "Honestly, I don't know how she's doing it. I can barely get through a double shift, let alone manage everything she's dealing with."
The group fell into a contemplative silence. They had all admired Nayeon for her skill and dedication, but knowing that she had been silently carrying this burden made them see her in a whole new light.
"I guess this just proves she's not superhuman after all," Dahyun said softly.
Jungkook smirked. "Maybe. But she's still pretty damn close."
As they sat in the lounge, reflecting on what they'd just learned, they couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for their resident. Im Nayeon wasn't just an incredible surgeon-she was human, and somehow, that made her even more impressive.
