The Stay
956 Words
The hospital was as busy as ever.
Doctors hurried from one emergency to another while nurses attended to their assigned patients. Every corridor was filled with footsteps, voices, and the constant rhythm of hospital life.
Inside the Human Resources office, Ayan sat behind her desk, carefully sorting through a pile of files.
As she flipped through another document, her eyes suddenly stopped on a familiar name.
Miah.
Ayan whispered the name under her breath, her expression softening as her thoughts immediately drifted to Kyunmin.
Will he leave the hospital again?
How will he handle this?
Unable to ignore the worry in her heart, she stood up and made her way toward the doctors' department.
As usual, she knocked gently on Kyunmin's office door.
Through the small glass window, she saw him busy attending to a patient.
Not wanting to interrupt, she quietly turned around and headed back to her office.
Inside the consultation room, Kyunmin noticed her through the transparent glass.
He recognized that calm side of Ayan—the side only he knew.
Normally she would have barged in without hesitation.
Something was bothering her.
Still, he continued attending to his patient as though he hadn't noticed.
A few minutes later, the consultation ended.
His patient left, and after checking his schedule, he realized he had no appointments for a while.
He walked toward the HR department.
The staff greeted him respectfully.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Kyunmin."
"Good afternoon."
"Is Ayan inside?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you."
He knocked once before opening her office door.
Inside, Ayan was completely absorbed in her work.
Gone was the dramatic, playful woman everyone knew.
Instead, she looked like the capable HR manager everyone respected.
Kyunmin stood quietly by the door, watching her for a moment.
She's actually serious when she's working...
Ayan continued arranging the files, assuming it was one of her staff members who had entered.
Everyone in the department moved freely in and out of one another's offices, so she didn't think much of it.
But after several seconds, she realized whoever had entered hadn't spoken or left.
Who could it be?
Kyunmin is busy...
She dismissed the thought before finally looking up.
The moment she saw him, she smiled.
"I knew it."
She walked over, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him toward the chair.
"What did you know?" Kyunmin asked, folding his arms.
"That the person standing there was you."
Kyunmin chuckled.
"You can tell just by my breathing?"
Ayan nodded confidently.
"That's a lie," he laughed.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"So... what's going on? I saw you standing outside my office earlier. Don't tell me you're still curious about that patient."
"Bro..." Ayan sighed dramatically.
"You caught me too quickly."
"I know you too well," Kyunmin replied.
"And I know you too."
She leaned closer.
"So tell me."
"Who is that patient?"
"You two seemed really close."
"I thought I was the only one you were close to."
"I feel betrayed."
Kyunmin smirked.
"Betrayed?"
"Should we really start talking about betrayal?"
He pointed at her knowingly.
Ayan immediately looked away.
"That was different."
"I didn't betray you."
"I just... needed some space."
"Just some space?" Kyunmin laughed.
"Listen to yourself."
"You abandoned your brother because of a guy."
"So..."
"Where is that guy now?"
Ayan groaned.
"Bro..."
"Let's not go there."
"He's in the past."
The two burst into laughter.
Then Ayan quickly changed the subject.
"Don't distract me."
"Tell me about the angel."
"Angel?" Kyunmin raised an eyebrow.
"Do I know one?"
"Stop pretending."
"You know exactly who I'm talking about."
"The patient."
"I don't even know how to describe how handsome he is."
As Ayan spoke, her hands moved excitedly in every direction.
Kyunmin couldn't help smiling at her animated expressions.
"Don't fall for him," he said.
"I'm not falling."
"I'm just attracted to his face."
"He literally looks like an angel."
"I've never seen anyone that handsome before."
"Yeah..." Kyunmin admitted.
"Chang Wook is unbelievably handsome."
"He really can't be compared."
Ayan's eyes widened.
"So..."
"Chang Wook?"
"That's his name?"
Kyunmin nodded.
"Wow..."
"Even his name is handsome."
She smiled to herself.
Kyunmin looked at her seriously.
"Don't fall for him."
"I won't."
Ayan smiled confidently.
A brief silence settled between them.
Then Ayan spoke again.
"Brother..."
Kyunmin immediately noticed the smile had disappeared from her face.
"What is it?"
"Your expression changed."
Ayan forced a small smile.
"Did it?"
"Something is bothering you," he said quietly.
She looked down.
"I'm just worried about you."
"Worried?"
"Why?"
Ayan took a deep breath.
"This morning I received the transfer files."
"The list of doctors leaving..."
"...and the ones coming here."
Before she could continue, Kyunmin finished the sentence for her.
"Miah is one of the doctors transferring here."
Ayan blinked in surprise.
"How did you know?"
"Mom called me yesterday."
He smiled reassuringly.
"You don't have to worry."
"I'll be fine."
Ayan looked at him carefully.
Kyunmin immediately understood the look in her eyes.
"I'm not leaving the hospital."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"As long as you're here..."
"I'm staying."
Ayan jumped to her feet in excitement.
She hugged him tightly before planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
Kyunmin laughed.
"Would you please stop harassing me?"
"I own you, brother."
They both laughed together.
Just then—
Beep! Beep!
Kyunmin's phone sounded.
An emergency alert.
His smile faded immediately.
He stood up.
"I have to go."
Ayan nodded.
"But you promised."
"You're not leaving this hospital."
As Kyunmin walked toward the door, he looked back with a smile.
"Yes."
"I'm staying."
"I love you, brother!" Ayan shouted after him.
Kyunmin smiled one last time before hurrying toward the emergency ward, disappearing into the busy hallway once again.
- Writer
