smultronställe

VIII.

"He apologized." You tell Donghyuck as you finish up stitching the woman's palm closed. It had been less of a trauma than expected, but you suspect that Hyuck had heard you were in surgery with Jaemin and had paged you for that reason moreso than for the patient's sake. Out of the corner of your eye, you see her perk up slightly at your statement to your friend, and you suspect that she's listening into your conversation out of boredom. You can't blame her - your own life is your daily dose of drama now, too. Forget Grey's.

"And?" Is all the trauma surgeon says, not seeming convinced. He's the only one who you've told everything apart from Renjun, mainly because you have the feeling he would've figured everything out anyways. It's harder to keep things from Donghyuck Lee than it was to complete your residency.

"And he... made sense. Like he genuinely made sense, and I think that he's... that he's being honest." You choose your words carefully, knowing well that, even though Donghyuck is always level-headed, his loyalty to his friends runs deeper than his logic does... and his logic runs deep. It's evident that you're right in being cautious when his eyes flit up to meet yours amidst checking the woman's chart one more time, brows furrow and eyelids hooded.

"I don't doubt that he's a good guy," Hyuck responds, careful himself. "But is he a good guy for you?"

"I... I think so? And I adore his daughter, and a big part of me still adores him, even if he hurt me. I told him I needed time to think, but, and if I'm going to be completely honest, my mind's been made up since the moment he apologized. "

"How badly did he fuck up?"

Hyuck isn't the one who speaks. Both of you turn to look at the patient perched on the bed beside you, and she stares back at you, eyes inquisitive, before she repeats her question.

"How badly did the guy you're talking about fuck up, and how honest was his apology? And has he done anything like it before? These things matter, you know." She's earnest, and you can't help but believe her. It sounds like she - unfortunately - knows what she's talking about.

"He... made me do a walk of shame, gave me a genuine apology that truly does sound like he means it, and no, he's never been like this before. I think he might've gotten scared." You explain, glancing over at Donghyuck to gauge his reaction at your words. His mouth is set in a thinner line than you've ever seen before, but his eyes are open in more ways than one. He's willing to hear you through.

You exhale audibly.

"You also mentioned a daughter... is he a single father?" The patient - her chart says her name is Meredith, had accidentally sliced her palm open while making herself and her kids dinner while being a not-so-savvy cook in her own words - asks, and you don't know whether you should feel relieved that she's organizing your thoughts for you or worried that you couldn't do so yourself. Still, you nod, waiting for whatever she'll say next.

"If he hasn't had someone by his and his daughter's side for a while, then he truly might be afraid to take you away from her in the case your relationship with him goes south," She explains, practically reiterating what Jaemin had said. "Of course, I don't know him, but if he's always been good to you and is aware of how badly he's acted recently, then it might not be time to give up on him yet."

"It's just something to think about, I guess," You sigh in response, smiling gratefully at Meredith. Before you can say anything else, though, a warm hand on your shoulder interrupts you. You look up from where you're seated to see Jeno, face hard and eyes vacant.

"We need to go," He says quietly, not even looking at Donghyuck or Meredith. "Now..."

"It's Jaeeun."