That Spring When Hydrangeas Bloom

02

"Mom, you put too much stuff in my closet." I yawned as I propped myself on the breakfast nook the next morning. I was so well-rested I thought I could pull off another 24-hour shift...or not. 24-hour shifts were the worst but I was just thankful it was just every Fridays until Saturdays so we got the Sundays off.

Upon dressing up this morning, I saw boxes and paper bags of different brands but I didn't open them yet. They must be clothes, bags or shoes of some sort that my mom got from her trip with Erin. I didn't need that much stuff because most of the time I was just in my scrubs and Crocs in the hospital. I didn't know when I will be able to wear those.

My mom rolled her eyes before answering. "You always complain when I get you things. Aren't you supposed to say thank you?"

I sighed before smiling sarcastically. "Thanks mom you're the best I love you so much." And frowned after.

She smiled back with the same sarcastic smile I plastered. "I can't believe my sweet yet cold daughter has no sense in fashion maybe that's why you're still single but you're welcome."

I was forced to wear the things my mom bought–from top to bottom, including my handbag because she won't stop nagging at me to change my clothes after breakfast. I told her I was going to be late for my 7AM duty but she won't budge so I had no choice but to adhere to the old lady's orders.

Sometimes it got me wondering if she was really my mom or not. There were instances wherein she didn't act like her age but knowing that I had her sarcastic attitude made me realize that indeed, she was my mom.

I decided to drive myself to the hospital for the first time after acquiring a designated parking lot. I arrived 30 minutes before 7, just in time for me to prepare for the surgery at 8AM.

While I was gathering up my things after parking, a figure of a man whose car was about three cars across from mine caught my eye. He was in a casual pastel blue suit and white shoes with his brown handbag on his right, and his car keys on his left that he was swirling on his fingers. Thank goodness for my tinted windows I had the chance to look at him closely and realize it was that doctor from the coffee shop. Great.

I absentmindedly bumped my head on the steering wheel and was surprised when my car honked for about 2 seconds. It must've caught him by surprise as well because I saw him looking back when he walked past by me.

I didn't have much time to waste so what I did was I waited for just about 5 minutes so I didn't have to catch up on him walking. I also wore a black surgical mask just in case we met at the elevator, which already made me cringe because that'd be too awkward. He shouldn't see me no matter what the odds were.

Speaking of the odds, they weren't on my favor. I caught up on him waiting for the lift in the underground parking. There were two other doctors with us and they seemed to know each other because they were talking. I just bowed at the three of them because they looked like they were my seniors.

We all got inside when the elevator doors opened. I stood at the back after clicking my floor. I looked at the lighted numbers and saw GS[1] and OB[2] floors that suddenly got me curious – what department was he perhaps in? I was planning on avoiding it.

I lost my train of thoughts when I suddenly got a call from Seojun. What a good timing. He called at one of the most silent moments that could happen in a person's life – an elevator ride. I dropped the call and put my phone on silent but the vibrations were so annoying I decided to just answer it. He could've just texted me because I knew he was only going to say he put a can of coffee on my table but since it was Park Seojun, of course he wasn't going to do that.