Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 26

_

The fluorescent lights of the hospital cast a cool glow over the quiet hallways as Sarang pulled her white coat tighter around her frame.

Night shifts were an entirely different world from the bustling, chaotic atmosphere of the daytime. The silence felt eerie at times, but it allowed her to focus, to settle into her role as a surgeon without the overwhelming noise of the day.

It had been a week since she returned to Korea, and after days of adjusting, today was her first official night shift. She wasn't nervous—at least, that's what she told herself—but there was an undeniable weight pressing against her chest.

Perhaps it was exhaustion. Perhaps it was the fact that no matter how much she tried to push the thought away, Sunghoon's face, his voice, his presence at the airport still lingered in her mind.

She let out a deep sigh and shook her head as she walked toward the nurse's station, reminding herself that she had no time to dwell on the past.

"Dr. Kim, ready for your first night shift?"

A familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Sarang turned to see Dr. Han standing beside her, holding a coffee cup in one hand and a warm smile on his face.

"Dr. Han," she greeted with a small nod. "Yeah, I think so. Just hoping I survive the night."

He chuckled and extended the coffee cup toward her. "Here. You'll need this."

Sarang blinked, hesitating for a second before accepting the warm cup.

"Oh... thank you. That's really kind of you."

"No problem. I've been through enough night shifts to know that coffee is the only thing keeping us from collapsing."

He leaned against the counter, watching her with an amused expression.

"So, how's the adjustment going? Feeling at home yet?"

She nodded as she took a sip of the coffee. It was good—rich, slightly sweet, just how she liked it.

"Yeah, my family's been really welcoming. I've been settling in."

"A luxury apartment and a new car, right?" he teased, causing her to glance at him with slight surprise.

"How do you know that?"

He chuckled. "Word travels fast around here, Dr. Kim. You're the brilliant new surgeon, and your father is well-respected. People talk."

Sarang sighed, shaking her head with a small smile.

"Great. I'm already a topic of gossip."

"Don't worry, it's mostly admiration." He winked.

"And besides, I think it's nice that you have a strong support system. It makes a difference in this line of work."

Something about the sincerity in his voice made her pause. She had been so focused on pushing through her responsibilities that she hadn't considered how much it meant to have her family behind her.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Dr. Han glanced at his watch before straightening up.

"Alright, time to get to work. I'll be around if you need anything, okay?"

She nodded. "Thanks, Dr. Han."

He grinned. "Please, call me Jisung."

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright, Jisung."

With that, he walked off, leaving Sarang to focus on the long night ahead.

_

Hours passed in a blur of patient checkups, emergency calls, and endless paperwork. The exhaustion was setting in, but Sarang was used to the demand of hospital life.