Taehyung's pov:
"Sometimes, the hardest thing is knowing when to step back. You think you're doing the right thing, protecting someone you care about, but in the process, you push them away. You watch them drift, helpless to do anything, because admitting how you really feel... well, that's a risk all its own. Maybe that's the hardest part-knowing that no matter what you do, you're always one step too late."
---
Dahyun had sent the text-after weeks of overthinking, she'd finally hit send. And now, here they were, seated across from each other at a cozy restaurant, away from the chaos of the hospital. Dr. Kang smiled at her, his eyes warm as he sipped his drink.
"I'm glad you texted," he said softly, setting his glass down. "I wasn't sure you would."
Dahyun smiled, though a little nervously. "Well, I guess I couldn't keep using 'hospital policy' as an excuse forever, right?"
Dr. Kang chuckled. "True. But I wouldn't have pushed if you weren't ready. I respect your decision."
As they talked, the conversation flowed easily. They spoke about everything from medicine to their favorite foods, even sharing embarrassing stories about their time as interns. What was supposed to be one simple dinner became a routine-dinner dates turned into coffee runs and stolen moments in between shifts. Dr. Kang would surprise Dahyun and her friends with coffee or snacks, earning playful jabs from her fellow interns about how she had the best-attending boyfriend.
---
*The Interns' Lounge
One afternoon, Dahyun sat in the intern's lounge with Sana, Jihyo, and Yoongi, laughing about how Dr. Kang had delivered their favorite pastries earlier.
"You're so spoiled," Jihyo teased, nudging Dahyun. "Seriously, dating an attending has its perks, huh?"
"Yeah, and those perks are delicious," Sana added with a grin, taking another bite of her croissant.
Yoongi, ever the quiet observer, smirked. "You've got a sweet deal, Dahyun. And Dr. Kang seems serious about you. That's rare, especially in this line of work."
Dahyun blushed slightly, a little embarrassed by the attention. "It's not like that. I mean, yes, we're dating, but I don't want it to affect my work."
Jihyo raised an eyebrow. "It's not affecting your work. If anything, you're working harder."
The conversation continued, light and playful, but as the day wore on, Dahyun couldn't help but feel a nagging sense that something was off. It wasn't until she finished her rounds that she spotted Taehyung from a distance. He'd been avoiding her for weeks, and it was starting to bother her.
---
Determined to get to the bottom of it, Dahyun approached Taehyung. He was standing near the elevators, flipping through a patient file when she called out to him. "Taehyung."
He looked up, his face unreadable as he closed the file. "Hey."
"Hey? That's all you have to say? You've been avoiding me for weeks," Dahyun said, crossing her arms. "What's going on?"
Taehyung sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just... I'm worried about you, Dahyun."
"Worried? Why?" Dahyun asked, confused. "Because I'm dating Dr. Kang?"
Taehyung's expression darkened. "Yes, exactly because of that. You're smart, Dahyun. Talented. You've got a bright future ahead of you, and I don't want to see you ruin your reputation by getting involved with an attending."
Dahyun blinked, taken aback by the harshness in his tone. "Ruin my reputation? I'm not doing anything wrong, Taehyung. It's not against the rules if we're careful."
"That's not the point," Taehyung snapped, his frustration boiling over. "You're risking everything for what? A guy who could get bored and move on? You're an intern, Dahyun. You're in no position to be taking risks like this."
Dahyun took a step back, hurt by his words. "You think I'm risking everything for nothing? That's not fair, Taehyung. Of all people, you should be supporting me. You said you'd be my friend."
"I *am* your friend, which is why you should've listened to me in the first place," Taehyung shot back, his voice rising.
Dahyun's eyes stung with tears, but she refused to let them fall. "Listen to you? You have no right to talk to me like I've committed a crime just because I'm dating someone. I thought you'd understand."
Their argument grew louder, their voices echoing through the hallway, until finally, Dr. Im Nayeon appeared, her expression stern.
"What is going on here?" she demanded, crossing her arms.
Both Taehyung and Dahyun froze, guilt washing over them. Dr. Im's presence was like a cold shower, instantly cooling the heat of their argument.
Dr. Im narrowed her eyes at them. "ehemm...doctors? As much as I want to mind my own business, but what you're doing right now is incredibly unprofessional. You're disturbing the patients."
She turned to Dahyun, her tone firm but not unkind. "Dr. Kim Dahyun, I expected more from you. You're under my supervision, and I'm holding you accountable for this disturbance. You'll be doing the scut work for the next few days to reflect on your actions."
Dahyun nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, Dr. Im."
As for Taehyung, Dr. Im simply gave him a pointed look. "Dr. Kim Taehyung, you're one of those I consider my equals in this hospital but you need to keep your emotions in check. This is not the place for personal conflicts."
With that, Dr. Im turned on her heel and walked away, leaving both of them standing in the aftermath of their argument.
---
Later, after Dahyun had finished her shift, she sat alone in the break room, feeling exhausted and emotionally drained. She hadn't meant for things to blow up like that with Taehyung, and now she felt guilty for letting her emotions get the better of her.
Just then, Dr. Kang appeared at the door, his expression softening when he saw her. "Hey."
Dahyun looked up, her eyes tired. "Hey."
He walked over and sat beside her, his hand gently resting on hers. "I heard about what happened. You okay?"
Dahyun sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Not really. Taehyung and I... we had a fight. He said some things that really hurt, and I don't know how to fix it."
Dr. Kang nodded, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in a comforting gesture. "I talked to him. He's worried about you, but I reassured him that I'll take care of you. He doesn't need to worry."
Dahyun's eyes widened slightly. "You talked to him?"
Dr. Kang smiled. "Yeah. I know he cares about you, but I care about you too, Dahyun. And I told him that was the reason I asked you out so quickly... because I didn't want to lose the chance to be with you."
Dahyun's heart skipped a beat, the sincerity in his voice calming the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
---
Later that evening, as Dahyun and Dr. Kang walked out of the hospital together, hand in hand, Taehyung stood by the window, watching them from afar. His chest tightened as he saw the way they looked at each other, the way Dahyun smiled at Dr. Kang.
He wanted to be happy for her. He wanted to let her go and support her like a true friend would. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had missed his chance-that no matter what he did, he would always be a step too late.
---
"It's hard to watch someone you care about choose someone else. You tell yourself it's for the best, that you're being the bigger person by letting them go. But the truth is, you're left standing in the shadow of your own regrets, wondering what might have been if you'd just been brave enough to speak your truth... before it was too late."
