Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 38

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Sarang was standing in the corner of the hospital corridor, her back against the cold, sterile wall. Her eyes were focused on the floor, her mind preoccupied. It had been a long day, one filled with more emotion than she had expected. 

Sunghoon's surgery had gone well, much to her relief. His injury wasn't as severe as they initially feared, but the damage was still significant. He would need rest, careful rehabilitation, and most importantly—time.

She ran a hand through her hair, trying to clear her thoughts. But everything about today had unsettled her. The look in Sunghoon's eyes when he had woken up, the strained silence between them... It all echoed in her mind like a hollow drum. 

She had remained professional, as she had to, but somewhere deep down, she couldn't ignore the worry gnawing at her chest. He had been through so much, both physically and emotionally, and it wasn't just the injury that haunted him—it was everything else. The ghosts of their past, the unfinished conversations, the unspoken words.

Dr. Han had noticed her frustration. He had been concerned, but Sarang couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her chest. She was used to being in control, to managing her emotions and her work, but today had tested her resolve. 

Sunghoon's presence—the ghost of the past, the memory of everything they had been—was like a constant reminder she couldn't escape.

After a long day of checking on patients and attending to surgeries, Sarang had stayed behind for the night shift. It wasn't unusual; sometimes, the hospital required her to stay overnight for emergencies, but this night felt different. Every time she glanced at the clock, the hours seemed to drag on, weighed down by her thoughts.

Eventually, the time came to check on Sunghoon again.

She entered his room quietly, careful not to disturb him, though she was certain he was already awake. He looked up at her with those familiar eyes, eyes that had always been so full of life, yet now carried a weight she couldn't ignore. She could see the way his gaze shifted when their eyes met, the way his expression hardened.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice steady, but beneath it was a note of concern she couldn't hide. She was his doctor, but she was also someone who had once been close to him—closer than anyone else.

He nodded slowly. "Better," he murmured, though there was a hint of weariness in his voice. 

He was still trying to process everything, still trying to hold it all together. She could see that much.

Sarang checked his vitals, her hands moving mechanically as she worked. Her thoughts wandered as she observed him, her gaze lingering on his face, the way his expression shifted with every small movement. 

He was healing, physically at least. 

But emotionally? That was another story altogether.

She finished her check-up and gave him a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Everything looks good. The injury isn't as bad as we initially thought, so you should be able to continue your work after a few weeks of recovery. Just make sure you follow the prescribed rehab plan, and take it easy on your knee."

Sunghoon looked up at her with a flicker of relief. 

"Thank you, Sarang-- I mean Dr." he said quietly, his voice a little shaky. 

She didn't respond immediately, but her eyes softened for a split second before she turned to leave the room.

Before she could fully exit, however, the door swung open once again. Jisung entered, a warm smile on his face. He greeted Sarang casually, but she could sense the tension in his voice as he spoke.

"Hey, Sarang, I just wanted to let you know that the pediatric surgery we did earlier today went smoothly. The little one's recovery seems promising."

Sarang nodded, her professional demeanor slipping back into place. 

"Good to hear. You're doing great, Jisung. You're always so composed in those kinds of surgeries."

As they talked, Sunghoon lay quietly in his bed, his eyes darting between Sarang and Jisung. He couldn't help but feel a strange sense of jealousy gnawing at him. 

He watched the way they spoke—so easily, so naturally—as though nothing had ever changed. They were colleagues, yes, but the way Jisung smiled at Sarang, the way they shared inside jokes... it was clear to him that there was something more there.

A part of him—one he didn't want to admit—ached at the thought of Sarang moving on. He had always known that time had passed, that life had moved forward. But now, seeing them interact so casually, he couldn't ignore the pang of jealousy that hit him.

Jisung, oblivious to the tension in the room, continued talking about the surgery. 

"I think we'll be able to send them home tomorrow, assuming everything continues to go as planned."

Sarang nodded, offering Jisung a quick smile. "That's good news. We could use a bit of luck today."

Jisung glanced at Sunghoon, then back at Sarang. "I'll let you get back to your patient. He's in good hands."

Sarang smiled politely as Jisung left the room, but her smile faded as the door clicked shut behind him. 

She turned back to Sunghoon, noticing the quiet tension in the air.

"You okay?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his face for any sign of discomfort.

Sunghoon didn't answer immediately, but his gaze remained focused on the door where Jisung had just exited. 

"Yeah," he muttered, his voice tight. "I'm fine."

Sarang seemed to notice his discomfort, but she said nothing, simply going about her work, checking his vitals one last time before preparing to leave.

"Your mom was here earlier," she said, her voice more casual now, as though trying to ease the tension. 

"She asked about your recovery."

Sunghoon's eyes flickered toward her. 

"Yeah?" His voice was low, but there was an edge to it now. "Did she say anything... else?"

Sarang paused for a moment, considering her words carefully. "No. Nothing more."

Sunghoon looked at her, his brow furrowing. "Oh," he said, more to himself than to Sarang.

Sarang didn't comment, but a small flicker of confusion crossed her face. The exchange felt oddly disconnected, as though something had shifted between them.

Sarang finished her examination and turned to leave, but as she reached the door, it swung open once more. This time, it was Mrs. Park, Sunghoon's mother.

She stopped Sarang in her tracks, her expression warm yet serious. 

"Sarang," she began, her voice laced with gratitude. "I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of my son. I'm so proud of how everything went, and I'm just... so grateful."

Sarang smiled politely, but there was something about Mrs. Park's words that made her uneasy. She wasn't sure why, but the woman's sincerity felt almost too much to bear.

"I'm just doing my job, Mrs. Park," Sarang replied, her voice quiet.

Mrs. Park nodded, but then her gaze shifted. "I also wanted to mention something... I met your mother a few days ago. We had tea together and spent some time talking. It was a lovely conversation."

Sarang blinked, surprised. 

She hadn't heard about this. "Really? I didn't know you'd met," she said, her voice faltering slightly.

Mrs. Park gave a small, almost apologetic smile. "Yes. We talked for a while. She's such a wonderful woman."

Sarang didn't respond right away, her mind already turning over what Mrs. Park had said. She decided to brush it off for now, telling herself she'd ask her mom about it later.

Mrs. Park thanked her again, then left the room, leaving Sarang to process everything that had just happened.

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