More Than Her Doctor

Chapter one…

Paloma woke up with a huge smile on her face, she checked her calendar, today was the day she would enroll in a university. She was excited, she couldn’t stop thinking of partying, boring lectures, dramas, gossips, dorm roommates and boys!! She was going to actually go on a date! She was free too! She got her things ready to leave. She wore a crop shirt crop top which hugged her slender waist but was covered by a baggy sweater, she wore a not so short skirt then it was accompanied with white trainers. Then she hurried downstairs.

“Buenos dias mama, papa.“ Paloma said as she walked to the dining were her mother prepared breakfast.

“Ah, I see you are excited for your first day at the university.” Her mother said as she dished the remaining pasta into a plate.

“Yes mama! I am super excited!! Especially the dorms! I wonder how they would look like and also wonder who would be my roommate!” She squealed.

Her parents looked at each other for some seconds before looking back at her.

“What?...” She asked.

“You’re not staying in the dorms.” Her father said.

“What?” she blinked. “What do you mean? I filled out all the forms!”

Her dad gave her a gentle smile. “Plans have changed.”

Her mom chimed in, “You’ll be staying with Seojin.”

Paloma froze.

Their family doctor. Their perfect, responsible, gorgeous family doctor.

“The same Seojin who literally gave me flu shots and checked my throat for strep every winter?” she asked, wide-eyed. “The same Seojin who carried me when I was a baby—”

“Exactly,” her mom said brightly. “He’s practically family.”

Paloma’s heart skipped a beat. Of course she knew he was a doctor. She’d grown up with him coming to the house with his medical bag, kneeling beside her when she twisted her ankle in fifth grade, or checking her blood pressure when she had migraines. But that didn’t mean she wanted to live with him now.

“But what about the dorms?” she asked, trying not to sound too desperate. “I don’t even know my roommate yet—what if she was amazing?”

“Or what if she was a terrible influence?” her father countered. “You’re better off living somewhere quiet, away from all the parties, the playboys, and the nonsense. Seojin’s apartment is off-campus and safe. And he already agreed to it.”

Paloma groaned. “Did I get to agree to it?”

“He’s known you since you were born,” her mom said softly, reaching over to smooth Paloma’s curls. “He’ll take care of you.”

That was the problem.

Because the last time she saw him—two years ago—he wasn’t the boy who carried her on his back or called her kiddo. He was a man. And her heart hadn’t stopped trying to catch up ever since.

She didn’t think her parents noticed how her voice went a little breathy around him. Or how she never made eye contact too long because his were just too intense.

And now they expected her to live with him?

“Fine,” Paloma said under her breath, standing from the table. “But I’m still pissed.”

Her dad chuckled. “You’ll get over it.”

But as she stomped up the stairs to pack, one thing became clear.

She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to see Seojin the same way again—

And she definitely wasn’t sure what would happen now that he was the one watching her grow up all over again.

…

The sound of tires on gravel pulled Paloma to the window.

She peeked through the blinds just in time to see a sleek black BMW roll up to the front of the house. The sunlight glinted off the polished surface, and the low purr of the engine sent a weird flutter through her chest.

He was here.

She pressed her lips together and turned from the window, grabbing her bag. Her heart was thudding, half with nerves and half with something else—something she didn’t want to name just yet.

When she stepped out onto the porch, he was already walking toward the house.

Seojin.

He wasn’t dressed like a professor, or a doctor. Not in that moment. He wore a black fitted turtleneck and tailored slacks, sunglasses perched on his face, and his dark hair styled like he hadn’t even tried—though she knew he probably did. Everything about him was effortless, refined… frustratingly attractive.

Paloma’s breath hitched.

He pulled off his sunglasses as he reached the porch, eyes locking with hers for the first time in two years. Warm. Sharp. Unreadable.

“Paloma,” he said, his voice low and rich like she remembered.

She swallowed. “Hi.”

He gave her a soft smile, but something flickered in his gaze—an awareness, a recognition. Like he was surprised, too.

“You’ve grown,” he said. “Last time I saw you, you had braces and pink headphones.”

“Wow,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes to cover the flush in her cheeks. “Thanks for the trip down memory lane.”

He chuckled and reached for her suitcase. “Let me help with that.”

She hesitated for a second before letting him take it, watching the way his strong hands easily lifted her luggage like it weighed nothing. He smelled like cologne and mint and something sharp and expensive.

Her mom stepped out, arms folded and smiling warmly. “Thank you again, Seojin. We trust her with you.”

“I’ll take good care of her,” he said. His tone was casual. Professional. But Paloma noticed the slight glance he gave her, the way his eyes lingered for just a second longer than they should’ve.

“I don’t need taking care of,” Paloma muttered, crossing her arms.

Her dad pulled her in for a tight hug. “Be good. Don’t party too hard.”

She groaned. “It’s university, Papi. What do you expect?”

Her mom laughed. “Don’t test him too much, alright? He has work, too.”

Paloma waved them off and followed Seojin down the steps toward the car. He opened the passenger door for her, and she paused before sliding in.

This was happening.

She was leaving behind the dorm life she’d dreamed of—and stepping into a life with the one man she probably shouldn’t be thinking about the way she was.

But as the door shut and he climbed into the driver’s seat, something electric settled in her chest.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

This wasn’t going to be normal.

And maybe… that was exactly what excited her.

…

The ride started quiet.

Paloma leaned against the passenger window, arms folded, determined not to speak first. Seojin adjusted the air conditioning and tapped on the digital dash of the BMW, his profile calm and unreadable.

She sneaked a glance at him. His jawline was sharp, the sleeves of his sweater pushed up just enough to reveal lean forearms and a watch that probably cost more than her phone. How could someone be so calm? So collected? Did he not realize how awkward this was for her?

He finally broke the silence.

“You’re quiet. That’s new.”

She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t know what to say. You kind of kidn*pped me out of my dorm dreams.”

“I’m not the villain here,” he said, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Your parents made the decision. I just agreed.”

“Easy for you to say. You get a roommate who doesn’t make noise and cleans up after herself.” She paused. “And I get a doctor watching my every move.”

“I’m not going to babysit you, Paloma.”

“Really?” she raised an eyebrow. “What happens if I sneak out late at night?”

“I’ll call your mom,” he said smoothly.

She groaned. “God, you’re evil.”

He laughed, and she hated how warm it made her feel. Even more, she hated that he had the nerve to look this good while teasing her. He hadn’t changed. But he had.

Mature. Composed. Still that same boy who used to pat her head, but now… he had an edge.

“Are you nervous?” he asked suddenly.

She blinked. “About what?”

“University.”

“Oh,” she said quickly, breaking eye contact. “Not really. Just—trying not to screw it up.”

“You won’t,” he said with quiet certainty. “You’ve always been smart. Reckless, yes, but smart.”

She almost smiled.

The rest of the ride passed in a strange silence—comfortable, but not. Her heart was beating far too fast for it to be called calm.