The hospital bustled with the usual morning chaos, but there was an undeniable shift in the atmosphere. Dr. Im Nayeon had just left for her early maternity leave, leaving the interns scrambling to adjust to their new mentors. For some, this change was a breath of fresh air, but for others, it was the beginning of a much harder road.
Dahyun stood outside the OR board, studying her new resident's name-Dr. Kim Taehyung. The man she had treated just days ago in the ER. She had thought that, after their brief encounter, they would at least have some common ground. But when Taehyung walked in and immediately took charge, he made it clear their previous conversation didn't matter here. He was her superior, and she was still an intern who had a lot to prove.
"Dr. Kim," Taehyung addressed her as they entered their first surgery together, his voice all business. "Don't think that just because we had a chat in the ER, you're getting any special treatment."
Dahyun swallowed her disappointment and nodded, her usual confidence faltering under his cold gaze. "Understood, Dr. Kim."
The surgery proceeded smoothly, but Taehyung's demeanor remained distant, even critical at times, as if he were testing her patience and skill. Every question he threw her way felt like a trick, and the weight of his expectations pressed down on her. By the end of the day, she was exhausted, unsure if she would ever be able to impress him.
Meanwhile, in another part of the hospital, Sana found herself paired with Dr. Kang Seulgi and with her warm smile and calm demeanor. The transition felt almost too easy for Sana, whose bubbly personality and eagerness to learn meshed well with Seulgi's steady guidance.
"Great work today, Sana," Seulgi said after their first surgery. "You're a natural in the OR."
Sana beamed, relieved to have found a resident who not only appreciated her skills but encouraged her to grow. Unlike Dahyun's struggles, Sana felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Yoongi, on the other hand, found himself partnered with Dr. Jeon Wonwoo, a soft-spoken but incredibly skilled trauma surgeon. Yoongi's nerves had been eating away at him since the start of their rounds, but Wonwoo's patient, almost laid-back teaching style helped ease the tension.
"You're doing fine," Wonwoo reassured him as Yoongi worked on a patient with a severe abdominal injury. "Just take your time, be thorough."
Yoongi nodded, grateful for the guidance. He still doubted his abilities from time to time, but under Wonwoo's mentorship, he felt like he might actually stand a chance of becoming a great surgeon.
Jihyo, on the other hand, wasn't having such an easy time. Paired with Dr. Kim Jennie, a sharp and meticulous general surgery resident, Jihyo's skepticism was on full display. Despite Jennie's experience, Jihyo couldn't resist questioning her every move.
"Are you sure that's the best course of action for this patient?" Jihyo asked during rounds, her tone sharp as she eyed Jennie.
Jennie shot her a withering look. "Are you questioning my ability to treat this patient, Dr. Park?"
Jihyo folded her arms, not backing down. "I'm just saying, there's another approach that might-"
"Enough," Jennie interrupted, her voice icy. "When you've had as much experience as I have, then you can question me. Until then, your job is to observe and learn."
Jihyo scowled but bit her tongue. By the end of the day, Jennie had not only proven her wrong but had handled a particularly complex case with such finesse that Jihyo couldn't help but feel humbled. As much as it pained her to admit it, she had a lot to learn from Jennie.
Then there was Jungkook.
Assigned to Dr. Lalisa Manobal, a no-nonsense orthopedic resident with a reputation for being tough on her interns, Jungkook's arrogance quickly earned him a target on his back. From the moment he stepped into the OR, Lisa was on him.
"Dr. Jeon," Lisa said, her tone laced with sarcasm as she watched Jungkook fumble through a procedure. "Are you trying to impress me with how badly you can screw this up? Because it's working."
Jungkook's face flushed with frustration. "I've got this," he muttered, but his overconfidence only seemed to make things worse.
"You don't 'got this,'" Lisa shot back, stepping in to correct his work. "If you don't check that ego of yours, you're not going to make it past your first year."
By the end of the day, Jungkook was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Lisa's relentless criticism had worn him down, but somewhere beneath the harsh words, he knew she was right. His arrogance had blinded him, and if he wanted to survive this residency, he needed to change.
---
As the week went on, the interns slowly adjusted to their new residents. Despite her rocky start with Taehyung, Dahyun found herself learning more than she had expected. He was tough but brilliant, and though his teaching style was harsh, it pushed her to improve in ways she hadn't anticipated.
Sana and Yoongi continued to thrive under their residents, both feeling more confident in their abilities with each passing day. Jihyo, meanwhile, begrudgingly began to respect Jennie's skill, even if their personalities clashed.
And Jungkook-well, Jungkook was still struggling under Lisa's strict mentorship, but there were moments when her harsh words started to make sense, and he realized that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as invincible as he thought.
By the end of the week, all the interns had learned something new-not just about surgery, but about themselves. They had a long road ahead, but they were starting to understand that, in the world of medicine, every lesson came with a cost, and only those willing to pay it would succeed.
