More Than Her Doctor

Chapter two….

When they pulled into the underground garage of his apartment building, Paloma’s jaw dropped.

“Okay… this is not what I was expecting.”

“Why? You thought I lived in a hospital?” he teased as he got out and opened the trunk.

She stepped out slowly, eyes widening at the luxury around her. The building was glass and steel, modern and tall. The lobby had polished marble floors, sleek elevators, and soft lighting. A concierge greeted Seojin by name.

Of course they did.

“You live here?” she asked as they rode up the elevator.

“I work hard.”

“No kidding.”

The elevator dinged, and when the doors opened to the penthouse floor, she nearly forgot how to breathe.

The apartment was stunning.

Tall ceilings. A living room with minimalist furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city skyline. The kitchen was black marble and stainless steel. A spiral staircase led to an upstairs loft.

Paloma stood frozen at the doorway. “You… live here alone?”

“Why?” he said casually. “You scared of ghosts?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m scared of… falling in love with this place.”

He chuckled and rolled her suitcase inside. “Come in. I’ll show you your room.”

As she followed him through the space, her mind was spinning.

This wasn’t just some responsible older guy her parents trusted.

This was Seojin. Calm, intelligent, dangerously attractive Seojin. Living in a place that looked like it belonged in a movie. And she was going to be sleeping under the same roof as him?

Yeah.

This was not going to be easy.

…

Seojin pushed open the door with a small smile. “Your room.”

Paloma stepped in and gasped.

The room was gorgeous. All-white walls with sheer curtains that let sunlight filter in like magic. A soft, low platform bed with fluffy white bedding, a walk-in closet with gold-accented handles, and a full-length mirror leaning elegantly against the wall. The floor was pale oak, and even the desk looked like something out of a Pinterest dream board.

“Oh my god,” she whispered, dropping her bag and spinning around slowly. “Is this heaven?”

Seojin chuckled behind her.

Without hesitation, she leapt onto the bed, face-down. “I’m not leaving. Ever.”

“I hope not,” he said, folding his arms, watching her with amused eyes. “Your parents will kill me if I mess this up.”

She turned over and grinned up at him. “You’re doing amazing so far.”

He shook his head, still smiling. “Unpack, shower, and come downstairs for lunch.”

She lifted a brow. “Wait—you cook?”

“Why do you sound surprised?”

“Um, because you live in this billionaire apartment and you don’t have, like… a private chef?”

He gave her a look that was half amusement, half mockery. “I’m a doctor, not a celebrity.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” she muttered, sitting up.

“I’ll call you when it’s ready,” he said, then added before walking out, “Don’t fall asleep on that bed. You’ll never wake up.”

He was right. The bed was a cloud. But hunger and curiosity drove her to unpack and take a long, steamy shower. By the time she came down, the smell of something spicy and fragrant filled the air.

She peeked into the kitchen. “Okay, points for smell.”

He turned, holding a wooden spoon. “Points for taste too. Sit.”

She did. He placed a plate of fried rice in front of her—golden, steaming, studded with vegetables and bits of scrambled egg.

She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. “If it tastes bad, I’m ordering pizza.”

“Go ahead,” he said confidently.

She took a bite—and froze.

It was delicious. Seasoned perfectly, rich and buttery with a kick of heat. Her eyes widened. “Okay, what the hell—this is amazing.”

Seojin leaned against the counter, smirking.

She shoveled in another bite. “Where’d you learn this?”

“My mom. When I was in college, she said if I wanted to survive, I’d better learn to feed myself.”

“God bless her,” Paloma mumbled through a mouthful. “She raised a king.”

He laughed lightly, then cleared his throat. “By the way… I’ll be your biology professor.”

Paloma looked up mid-bite. “Oh. Right. My parents mentioned it.”

He nodded. “I thought we could go to campus this afternoon. It’s quiet before opening day, and I can show you where your classes are.”

She nodded eagerly. “Sure! I’ve been dying to see it.”

—

The Tour

She emerged a little while later in a pair of baggy cargo shorts, a big cream-colored sweater that hung off one shoulder, and black ankle boots. Her hair was pulled into a loose bun, and she looked effortlessly cute in the kind of way that made Seojin glance twice.

He smirked. “You haven’t changed at all.”

“I have, actually,” she replied, puffing her chest and tugging the hem of her sweater. “I’ve developed. Physically.”

Seojin raised a brow, then let his eyes drop instinctively—not in a creepy way, just long enough to notice she was, in fact, curvier than he remembered. Fuller in the hips. Her legs were strong, her waist still narrow.

He chuckled, covering it quickly. “Right. That much is obvious.”

She blinked, a little surprised at his comment, then grinned. “So you have been looking.”

He pulled on his hoodie and grabbed the car keys. “Come on, before I regret saying that.”

She followed him out, smiling to herself.

This was going to be very interesting.

…

The moment they passed the gates of L.A. Crestview University, Paloma’s mouth dropped open.

“This place is huge,” she said, craning her neck to take it all in. Modern glass buildings stretched out across the campus, some shimmering in the late afternoon sun. Sculpted gardens lined the walkways. The place looked more like a tech billionaire’s startup paradise than a school.

“Is that a waterfall?” she asked, pointing to the side of the science building.

“Technically, a vertical water installation,” Seojin said with a smile. “But yeah. A fancy waterfall.”

She shook her head, practically bouncing in her boots as they walked. “I can’t believe I’ll be studying here. This is insane.”

“Better than the dorms, right?” he said, nudging her slightly.

She gave him a look. “Don’t push it.”

They walked along the biology department first, the air a little cooler under the overhanging trees. Several professors were talking near the steps, and when they saw Seojin, they lit up.

“Dr. Han!” one of them called out. A tall woman in sharp glasses waved him over.

Seojin gave Paloma a glance. “Give me a second?”

“Go be important,” she said teasingly, watching him walk ahead.

And wow.

Something about the way he carried himself—cool, calm, respected—made her chest tighten. He was polite, charming, confident. She watched the other professors laugh at something he said, even the strict-looking man in a full suit.

He belonged here.

This was his world.

She stared for a moment, arms folded, suddenly very aware that she was still just a freshman in boots too big and a crush that had grown roots too deep.

When Seojin came back, she didn’t say anything. Just kept walking beside him.

“Want to see the gym?” he asked.

“Sure.”

He looked at her for a second. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she said quickly, snapping out of her thoughts. “Just… impressed.”

He chuckled. “You’ll get used to it.”

She gave a little laugh, but inside, she wasn’t so sure. Everything here felt overwhelming and shiny. And Seojin? He shined brightest of all.

…

Later at night, Paloma tossed around in bed for what felt like the hundredth time.

The apartment was quiet—too quiet. No honking, no drunk laughter from dorm parties, no girl gossip or loud music. Just the soft hum of the central AC and the occasional tick of the wall clock.

She sighed, pulling the blanket over her head. Her mind refused to shut up. Not about the school, not about how insane everything looked… and definitely not about him.

She threw the blanket off and sat up. Her stomach grumbled lightly.

“Fine,” she muttered to herself and padded toward the kitchen.

The white marble kitchen looked like something out of a celebrity’s home tour. She tiptoed in, still in her oversized T-shirt and fuzzy pink socks, and opened the fridge. She was just reaching for a strawberry yogurt when she heard footsteps behind her.

She jumped, spinning around.

Seojin stood there, hair messy, in a dark gray hoodie and sweatpants, looking like he’d just woken up too.

“Oh—sorry!” she blurted out. “Did I wake you?”

He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “No. I couldn’t sleep either.”

She gave a nervous laugh and held up the yogurt. “Midnight snack?”

He leaned against the kitchen counter, his eyes half-lidded from sleep but still just as sharp. “Didn’t take you as the type to sneak around.”

“I’m full of surprises,” she smirked, opening the lid and grabbing a spoon.

He chuckled low in his throat. “Apparently.”

Paloma turned slightly, trying to act casual as she ate, but she was very aware of him being in the same room… in sweats… barefoot. His hoodie clung to his arms, and the sleepy way his voice dipped lower made her knees wobble.

“So,” she said, licking her spoon, “Do you always look this good after midnight or is this special for me?”

That made him pause. His eyes locked with hers, and for a moment, it was like the air stilled between them.

“You think I look good?” he asked, voice quiet—too quiet.

She blinked, the yogurt forgotten. “I—uh—don’t get cocky.”

He smirked, turning to get a glass of water from the cabinet. “Too late.”

She watched him from the corner of her eye as he took a sip. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he drank, and for a moment, she wondered what the hell she’d gotten herself into by moving in here.

Her heart was beating way too fast for someone just eating yogurt.

Seojin placed his glass down. “You should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.”

“Right. Tour. Campus. Biology professor mode,” she said, trying to sound breezy.

He smiled. “Exactly.”

She turned to leave but hesitated at the door. Then looked back. “Seojin?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks… for letting me stay here.”

His gaze softened. “You’re family, Paloma.”

She nodded, but deep down, it didn’t feel like family. Not the way her skin tingled when he said her name. Not the way he looked at her sometimes when he thought she wouldn’t notice.

She went back to her room, the yogurt finished, her heart absolutely not.

And living with ‘him’?

It was either going to break her…

Or make her his.