Dahyun's POV
"In surgery, fatigue is the enemy. You don't get tired - you push through. You stay sharp, because one mistake, one moment of weakness, and someone's life could end. But there's something no one tells you: being a surgeon isn't just about saving lives. It's about surviving your own. And sometimes, you can't help but wonder... at what point do you stop saving yourself?"
---
*Day 15 of the Competition
The hospital corridors were buzzing with the same relentless energy as always. But something had changed. It was the 15th day of the competition, and the exhaustion was showing in all of them. The interns, once brimming with energy and enthusiasm, now moved with sluggish determination. The dark circles under their eyes were badges of honor, each one proving they hadn't given up yet.
Jihyo was still in the lead, of course. She always was. Her competitive spirit drove her to push through more cases than anyone else, as if it were a personal mission to prove that no one could outwork her. Dahyun trailed closely behind, driven by the same fierce determination, but she was beginning to falter.
She had been in surgery all morning, handling a trauma case that left her mentally and physically drained. As she scrubbed out, the sharp scent of antiseptic mixed with the dizziness that came from hours on her feet without a break. She glanced at the clock - 9 p.m. The shift was technically over, but no one ever really left the hospital on time.
Dahyun pulled off her surgical cap, running a hand through her messy hair. She was too tired to care about the competition at this point. Her body ached, her mind was numb, and the only thing she wanted was to crawl into her bed and sleep.
---
*Dahyun's house
The moment Dahyun got home, she didn't bother with the usual post-shift routine. There was no energy left for showering or changing into something more comfortable. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto her bed, pulling the blanket up to her chin. Her eyes fluttered shut almost instantly, welcoming the sweet escape of sleep.
But that escape was short-lived.
A loud crash from the living room jolted her awake. Groaning, Dahyun buried her face in her pillow, trying to ignore the noise. Another shout echoed through the walls, and she could make out voices. Jungkook. Sana. Again.
She threw the blanket off her, rubbing her tired eyes as she dragged herself out of bed. The door walls was too thin to hide from their fights, and they had been at each other's throats for weeks now. Most of the time, Dahyun could tune them out, but tonight, she was too exhausted to pretend she didn't hear them.
Stumbling into the hallway, she saw them standing in the living room. Jungkook's arms were crossed, a defiant look on his face, while Sana was pacing, her voice trembling with frustration.
"Seriously, what the hell are you two doing?" Dahyun snapped, her voice hoarse from fatigue.
Sana turned, her eyes flashing with anger and hurt. "You want to know what's going on? Ask him." She pointed an accusing finger at Jungkook.
Jungkook rolled his eyes, clearly over the argument. "This isn't your business, Dahyun."
Dahyun raised an eyebrow. "It's my business when you two are yelling in the middle of the night in my house, keeping me from the three hours of sleep I might actually get. So, what the hell is going on?"
Sana stopped pacing, turning to face Dahyun with tears threatening to spill. "He promised we'd try again. He said we could work on us. But then I find him making out with a nurse in the supply closet."
Dahyun blinked, too tired to be surprised. "Jungkook, seriously?"
Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not what it looks like-"
"Oh, come on!" Sana exploded, her voice cracking with emotion. "Not what it looks like? What is it with you? I don't care if we're in a competition or stressed from work, you don't get to treat me like this!"
"I'm not treating you like anything," Jungkook shot back, his tone cold. "It was a mistake, okay? I was frustrated. I didn't think-"
"You *never* think!" Sana's voice broke, her face crumpling as she fought back tears. "You never think about anyone but yourself."
The room went silent. Dahyun rubbed her temples, the throbbing pain from the lack of sleep mixing with the tension between her two friends.
"Both of you," she said quietly, "just... stop." She looked at Jungkook, then Sana. "I get it, okay? We're all exhausted. We're all losing it. But fighting each other isn't helping. Not now."
Sana sniffled, wiping at her eyes. "You're right, but it doesn't change what he did."
Jungkook opened his mouth to argue but caught Dahyun's warning glare and closed it again.
Dahyun sighed deeply, too tired for this. "You know what? You two figure this out. I can't deal with it right now." She grabbed her coat from the couch, throwing it over her shoulders. "I'm going back to the hospital."
Sana looked at her, confused. "Wait, you just got home. Where are you going?"
"To sleep," Dahyun muttered, heading for the door. "At least the hospital is quieter than this place."
Jungkook and Sana watched in silence as she slammed the door behind her.
---
*Interns' Lounge
The hospital at night was eerily quiet compared to the chaos of the day. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Dahyun made her way to the interns' lounge. Her feet dragged across the floor, each step heavier than the last.
She pushed open the door to the lounge and found it mercifully empty. The couches, though far from comfortable, looked like heaven compared to her own bed, which was currently occupied by drama she wanted no part of. Dropping her coat onto the floor, she collapsed onto the couch, pulling a spare blanket over herself.
As she lay there, her mind wandered back to the competition. Jihyo was still ahead, and Dahyun was just behind, but at this point, she didn't care anymore. The pressure to prove herself, to keep up, to stay in the game - it was all weighing her down, suffocating her. Maybe this was how it always went. You wanted to be the best, but somewhere along the way, you lost yourself in the process.
Her eyelids grew heavy, the weight of exhaustion finally pulling her into sleep.
---
"Being a surgeon is about endurance. You learn to live on the edge of exhaustion, to keep going when your body begs you to stop. But it's not just physical. The emotional toll, the mental strain - those are the things no one prepares you for. They tell you that surgery is a calling, a passion. What they don't tell you is that sometimes, it's a battle. Not just to save lives, but to keep from losing yourself."
