Dahyun's Pov:
"There's a certain high that comes with winning, especially when you've given everything to get there. You feel unstoppable, like you can conquer anything. But it's a delicate balance. Because the same fire that drives you can also burn you out. And in those moments of victory, it's easy to forget that one misstep-one wrong turn-can bring everything crashing down around you."
---
*The Bar - The Night After Dahyun Won the Competition
Dahyun leaned against the bar, a triumphant smile on her face. She had just won the competition, secured the sparkly pager, and she was finally letting herself relax for the first time in weeks. It felt good to be out of the hospital, surrounded by people celebrating with her. Jihyo and Sana were there, both congratulating her on her win, and the drinks were flowing freely.
She took a sip of her cocktail, feeling the buzz of alcohol starting to kick in. "I can't believe I actually did it," Dahyun said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Jihyo laughed, nudging her playfully. "Of course, you did. You're Dahyun. You're a force of nature."
"Seriously," Sana added, smiling. "You deserve this. You've been killing it in the OR."
Dahyun grinned, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol and the praise. She was about to respond when a guy at the other end of the bar caught her attention. He was tall, with sharp features and an air of confidence that made him stand out in the crowded bar. He raised his glass toward her, a playful smile on his face.
"Congrats on the win," he said, his voice smooth as he approached the trio.
Dahyun raised an eyebrow, unsure how he knew. "Thanks."
The guy leaned casually against the bar, glancing at her drink. "So, what's the occasion? Just saving more lives, or did you pull off something big?"
"I won the intern competition," Dahyun replied, her pride showing.
"Impressive," the guy said, his tone light. "But you know, accidents happen all the time. I'm sure you've seen your fair share."
The moment the word *accidents* left his mouth, something in Dahyun snapped. The drinks she had been enjoying moments ago suddenly soured in her stomach. She straightened up, her eyes narrowing at him. "What did you just say?"
The guy blinked, confused. "I said accidents happen."
Dahyun's heart pounded in her chest. She had spent the last few weeks working herself to the bone, pulling people back from the brink of death, dealing with trauma after trauma-and here he was, casually making jokes about it.
"You think that's funny?" Dahyun's voice rose, her hands shaking with anger. "You think it's okay to joke about accidents? About people losing their lives? Do you know how hard doctors like me work to save people every day? Do you have any idea what we go through?"
The guy's expression shifted from confusion to amusement, his eyebrows raising as he watched her, clearly not taking her outburst seriously. He didn't interrupt her; instead, he leaned back and let her rage, a small, almost amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Dahyun," Jihyo hissed, grabbing her arm. "Calm down."
But Dahyun couldn't calm down. "No, I won't calm down! This guy is making jokes about accidents like they're nothing!"
"Dahyun!" Sana pulled her back, her voice urgent. "Let's go. Now."
Reluctantly, Dahyun allowed them to drag her out of the bar, her chest heaving with anger. The guy just smiled as they left, watching her with that infuriating look of amusement.
