Strings & Stitches

Chapter 36

Her love life was getting somewhere, finally, making it official with Yoohyeon a few days ago just boosted her energy and happiness to another level. However the amount of work this week came in with at the hospital made her doubt if even that much energy she was feeling was going to cope with it.

Not just too many surgeries, but the paperwork has gotten out of hand, too. Minji barely had time to breathe.

"Chief, there is a new patient under your name, should I add it on the board?" One of the nurses asked Minji while she was rushing through the hallway.

At that moment Minji really wanted to sigh, but she had to stay professional. "What does the patient need?" If it was nothing too big, maybe they could assign them to someone who didn't have to juggle paperwork, surgeries and taking job interviews for new surgeons.

"It's a head trauma, the family thought it was only a concussion at first but then the patient started to have seizures, and now he needs an epilepsy surgery" The nurse showed her the file she was holding.

That was nothing she could take on at this moment. "I'd be able to do that tomorrow at the earliest. See if anyone else is available" Otherwise the patient would have to stay here for a night in observation.

The nurse gave her a small nod and continued on her way, and Minji sent one small glance at the board, seeing it full with no space under her name, and sighed before going up to her office to grab more documents.

In doing so, she passed Yoohyeon, giving her a little smile. To protect themselves, they really couldn't do anything else than that in the hallways.

Minji disappeared into her office, needing to read some files to prepare herself for an applicant for one of the jobs that were open. But it looked like someone had seen the 'stress' on her face when she passed in the hallway and wanted to check on her.

After Yoohyeon heard Minji's small 'come in', she opened the door of the office and peeked inside. "Hey"

The chief was not feeling any social contact... but the person that voice belonged to was an exception to that feeling. "Hey. I hope your day is calmer than mine?" That seemed to be the case since Yoohyeon was just hanging out in the hallway with a nurse a few seconds ago.

"Not really, well... I don't know exactly how your day was but if it was more chaotic than mine, then- I salute to you" Yoohyeon tried to make a small joke, knowing right away she failed. They were both pretty tired.

"Did you need anything?" Minji asked after chuckling at the stupid joke. "I have a lot of files to read through" Her job had priority on some moments, but that didn't need to mean that her new girlfriend accepted that.

"Just wanted to make sure you're okay" Yoohyeon shrugged, just standing by the door and not walking in further. "What time do you get off work?"

Minji sighed, pointing her head to the task list for the day that she always wrote on a whiteboard next to the door. "I'll definitely be working overtime" It would be a late night work to not fall behind.

Yoohyeon sighed but nodded her head, "Let me know if you'll need any help okay?" She turned slightly towards the door.

This was something that Minji had noticed in the first days. Yoohyeon didn't really dare to take any initiative, as if she was the lesser between them. Whilst that was true at work, they were also in a relationship. "That's really sweet" she smiled, stopping her from leaving. "You're going already?"

Yoohyeon looked back, baffled a little. "Thought you needed time to read through the files?"

"And my girlfriend just sighs, offers help and leaves?" Surely Yoohyeon had something else in mind when walking through the door? Even now, Minji got a warm feeling in her chest when she called Yoohyeon her girlfriend. That association was nice in her head.