Vet's Heartbeat | Minsung |

7

Ten minutes of driving, and he arrived. The clinic was already open. Josh was inside. But how? Jisung checked his pocket to see the keys securely tucked away. Confused, he walked inside, a knot forming in his stomach.

"Good morning, Jisung! Slept well?" His assistant greeted him while sipping on his tea, casually reading some form. He looked well-rested, a stark contrast to Jisung’s own state.

"How'd you get in?" Jisung asked, pulling the keys from his pocket and shaking them in the air. The soft jingle echoed through the room.

"It's unlocked."

"Unlocked?!" Panic surged through him. Had he really forgotten to lock up? He rushed to his office, his mind racing. What if his laptop was stolen? The thought of losing everything made his heart race.

As he hurried to the examination room, he mentally retraced his steps from the night before. Did I lock the door? I thought I did! What if someone broke in? What if someone was hurt because he had left the door open?

He pushed through the door to the examination room, scanning for anything out of place. "Hey, stop worrying. Everything seems normal," Josh called from the front desk, glancing up from his paperwork. "If that's what you're worried about."

"Oh my goodness! I didn't even notice that I forgot. I was probably too distracted to think—" Right. He had been distracted. Because of that supposedly "cat patient."

"What's with the cat patient?" Jisung asked, narrowing his eyes. He needed an explanation about that weird situation. "I was not expecting a full—"

He was cut off by Josh’s reply. "Ah, yes. The cat's schedule is for 8 AM later. I already prepped the needed supplies."

Huh?

"What do you mean? He's already coming back?"

"Who's coming? Who's he?" Josh asked, now looking genuinely confused. The conversation was getting stranger by the second.

"Minnie! The cat!"

"It's Mimi... And it’s a girl," Josh stated matter-of-factly, his gaze piercing. "Mimi's just about to come later. What's with you?"

Lost for words, Jisung let out an emotionless chuckle. How could he get something so obvious wrong? It was definitely a person, not a cat. He must be going crazy. Nothing could justify how his mind was working.

Was he really losing it?

"Just relax! Everything is fine," Josh assured him again, but Jisung wasn't convinced. He opened a drawer to check on the medical supplies, feeling the need to ensure everything was in order. What if the unlocked door was just the beginning of something worse?

As he sifted through the supplies, he recalled the strange man from last night, his enigmatic smile and the pile of cash. Jisung closed his eyes for a moment, trying to clear his thoughts.

"Jisung, if you’re that worried, I can check the security footage later," Josh suggested, rolling his eyes.

Jisung rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile. Maybe he just needed to get through the day and figure out what was real and what was a figment of his overactive imagination.

Jisung shot him a grateful look. "That might not be a bad idea." Defeated, he turned and headed back to his office.

"Should I get a therapist?" he muttered under his breath, collapsing into his chair.

"Just sleep," Josh called from the other room, a teasing lilt in his voice. "That seems to be your only problem." Which he ignored

As he powered on his laptop, he took a deep breath, ready to face whatever the morning might bring—be it a cat, a patient, or the lingering mystery of the man who had shaken up his world.

____

After their last patient, Jisung took a moment to steady himself as the hum of his laptop filled the silence. The bright screen illuminated the small office, casting shadows that seemed to mock his anxiety. He pulled up the security system interface, heart pounding as he clicked through the files. But the footage from last night was gone—just a blank space where the recording should have been.

“Of course,” he muttered bitterly. “Just what I needed.” The knot in his stomach tightened. Has someone intentionally deleted it? Was it the same person who had visited him?

Josh poked his head into the office, a frown creasing his brow. “Everything okay?”

“No,” Jisung said, rubbing his temples. “The CCTV footage from last night is missing. Like, completely gone.”

“Seriously?” Josh stepped into the room, his demeanor shifting to concern. “What the hell? That’s not normal.”

“Tell me about it.” Jisung couldn’t shake the feeling of unease, the kind that sat heavy on his chest and whispered that something was off. “I’m going to check the main server. Maybe it’s a glitch.”

“Let me help,” Josh offered, stepping closer.

As they worked together, Jisung’s mind wandered back to the man—the way he’d looked, the cool confidence in his smile. There was something magnetic about him, something that made Jisung’s pulse quicken despite the unease swirling in his gut. The memories flickered in and out like a broken film reel, and Jisung shook his head to clear them.

“So?” Jisung leaned closer, hoping for some clarity.

“The system seems to have crashed right after it was supposed to save. Looks like we missed a critical moment.” Josh paused, looking at him knowingly. “You’re really bothered by this, aren’t you?”

Jisung exhaled sharply, feeling exposed. “Yeah. It feels… personal.”

“Hey, let’s not jump to conclusions. Just focus on today. Let’s get through it,” Josh said, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly.

“Right,” Jisung replied, though his mind was already racing ahead to the unknown. "You can go home now, Josh. Thanks for your help."

"Just make sure to lock the door."

"I know, I know." Jisung sheepishly smiled. "Take care!"
____

The hours dragged on, each tick of the clock amplifying his anxiety. Patients long gone, he thought about how just a few minutes until 10:30 would arrive.

Finally, the shift came to an end, and just as Jisung was about to convince himself he was imagining things, the door opened.

“Nice to meet you again, Jisung.” The smooth voice sent a thrill through him. He said my name so perfectly.

The man from last night stepped inside, wearing a casual yet stylish outfit that accentuated his lean frame. But there was blood. Yeah, splattered blood. So normal.

"Ah, right! Sorry for the mess, pretty."