Inspired by the short film above.

~~~~~~

The atmosphere changes from time to time. One moment it's peaceful, tranquil, and sometimes so quiet that everyone in the room can hear a pin drop. Yet, there are times where chaos ensues in all corners that requires patience, kindness, and empathy. I frequently watch patients from afar screaming, begging for their freedom. They're too insane to accept help and all I can do is stand there and watch as they are being grabbed at all sides and then sedated immediately without a second thought. And as the unconscious patient leaves the room, everything is once again calm... As if nothing even happened.

As an intern working in a psych ward, I have been training myself to deal with situations as this one. They say the human mind is a beautiful and fascinating thing, but it's also a curse and can torture you. There is no control and that's what made me so attracted to a job like this one. However, my current job doesn't require me to deal with such madness. For now, I've been arranging charts and delivering medicine to those who need psychological help.

I didn't realize I was lost in my own thoughts while tapping my pen on the desk until an attending dropped a binder full of charts in front of me. I slightly jumped at the sudden noise and stared at the face of my annoyed attending. Sighing, she said with irritation laced in her voice, "Arrange these charts by date and deliver pills to the patient in room 218. Don't screw up."

My eyes slightly widened at the mention of the patient in room 218 and before my attending could leave, I replied, "Did you say 218? Isn't that the Munchausen Syndrome patient?"

She leaned against the door frame while crossing her arms and nodding, "Yes, his name is Jung Hoseok. Forget the rumors you've heard about him, he's harmless. All he does is stare off into space all day." I nodded in understanding and she furrowed her eyebrows and narrowed her eyes at me while adjusting her posture in a strict style, "Enough questions. Just take his medicine to him and try to act nice instead of being mousey and curious. It's annoying."

She immediately left and I sighed, blowing a strand of hair out of my face in the process while opening the binder and flipping through charts.

...

My steps were steady, but slow at the same time. I didn't know whether to focus on the sound of my beating heart that seemed to sound through my ears at an unbelievable rate, or to concentrate on the sound of my footsteps. There are worse patients in this psychiatric hospital that strike fear in every employee because of their demented and ultimately insane aura, but I've never seen a patient with a case of Munchausen Syndrome. I always found it fascinating how patients with this illness will do anything to seek treatment for their nonexistent injuries, but from what I've heard about Jung Hoseok, he is nothing but silent. Although I don't prefer to listen to gossip, I couldn't help but overhear how other nurses are intimidated by his uncommunicative demeanor, which gave me chills at the fact that I'm about to face this man.

I gulped as I stopped in front of his room and it felt as if my throat was drained from all of its moisture. Hesitantly, I rose my hand to knock on the door lightly and unlock it with a swipe of a card. When the door clicked, I opened it and first peaked in, only to see a man sitting on the edge of his white bed, hands folded on his lap and his emotionless eyes staring at the white wall in front of him.

Attempting to make my tone pleasant, I cleared my throat and said, "Hello, Mr. Jung. I'm here to deliver your medicine." There was no response from him which didn't surprise me in the least. With hasty steps, I walked to his bed-side table and placed a cup of pills and water down, keeping my eyes on him and watching closely for any facial movement. Absolutely nothing.

Seeing that I wasn't going to earn a single response from the brown-haired man, I decided to take my leave without another word. If only I knew that his eyes were on me as I left the room, causing the door to make a ruckus as I closed it behind me.

...

While on my break, I sat in one of the on call rooms, enjoying the chocolate bar I got from the vending machine. The sweet taste brought a small smile of satisfaction to my lips for my sweet tooth has been unquenchable lately. Just when I was about to take another bite of the delicious treat, my pager went off and I quickly checked it, seeing that it was my attending asking to see me at the front desk. I groaned in frustration and abandoned my indulgent snack.

...

"You paged me?" I asked as I spotted my attending signing off on some papers at the front desk. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and she placed another overfilled binder in my arms, causing me to wince. With a pleased smile plastered on her expression, she said, "Same routine as yesterday. Organize these charts and deliver medication to Jung Hoseok. I also added a few more patients to the list, you can check their file for more information."

I just nodded obediently and she gave me a satisfied smirk as she took her leave.

...

Same as yesterday, I lightly knocked on his door and let myself in, however, his eyes landed on me this time. I was so caught off guard by his emotionless stare that I almost dropped the cup of pills in my hands. Trying to maintain my calm composure, I cleared my throat, "H-Hello again, Mr. Jung," I internally scolded myself for stuttering before continuing, "I brought you your medicine for the day."

I could feel his eyes following me as I placed his pills and water by his bedside table. He still sat on the edge of the bed as he stared intently at me, almost causing me to break out in a cold sweat from the unexpected nervousness that clouded my every emotion.

About to make my way to the door, I halted when I heard him speak from behind me, "What's your name?" I couldn't bear to look him in the eyes. He's just a patient and it's not like he is planning to murder me, but his mysterious aura still caused slight fear.

Not wanting to upset him, I slowly turned around to see him standing on his feet with a slightly hunched posture and his arms laying at his sides as he waited for my answer. Fiddling with my fingers, I reluctantly replied, "(Y/N)." My eyes stayed glued to the floor even when I could sense slight movement coming from him.

In my field of vision, I could see his shoes stop close to my figure, causing me to look up at him. His head was tilted to the side and his eyes were narrowed at my lips. Different scenarios were running through my mind at what he could possibly be thinking about in this moment as I watched him gaze at my lips that were slightly parted due to the shock. He then moved his head closer and I could feel my palms becoming clammy and my heart racing until he said without any emotion present in his tone, "You have chocolate on the corner of your lips."

Letting out a slight gasp, I turned my head away from him and stuttered, "I-I need to go." Turning back towards the door, I placed my hand on the handle and exited the room, shutting the door behind me and leaning my back against it. My chest heaved up and down as if I was on the brink of hyperventilating. After containing myself, I saw my reflection in the clear cover of a picture that had a soothing image of the ocean. I walked closer to it to examine my face further and surely enough, there indeed was chocolate on the corner of my lips.

...

"You're beautiful."

It was as if my heart stopped. I had just finished placing his medication and water on the bedside table when I heard his words. I couldn't even move as I froze on spot, wondering if I heard him correctly. Slowly, I looked at the man, whom was staring at me, his facial expression not as stiff as usual.

"I-" The words wouldn't come out. I just gaped at him in complete and utter bafflement. I could faintly see a small smile reaching his lips but I could have been imagining things. He then asked, "Will you be here to deliver my medication more often?" I could sense the hope lingering in his tone as he asked that question.

Shaking off what he had said to me before, I regained my professional composure and put my hands behind my back, standing tall and responding, "I'm not sure." He frowned and before I allowed him to speak again, I exited the room.

...

This time, two binders stacked on top of one another entered my field of vision. The attending then announced tiredly, "You know the drill." Before she could leave, I quickly asked, "Am I supposed to deliver medication to Jung Hoseok?" Deep down, I hoped she would say yes because although he came on strong and I still find him slightly intimidating, I didn't want to disappoint him by me not being there.

"No, just do the charts," she left without speaking another word and I sunk down in my swivel chair, hoping he won't be too upset that I will not be seeing him today.

...

My eyes were becoming droopy and I can feel tiredness weighing down on me. My chin was placed on my palm while there was still a stack of charts in front of me. I disregarded them and my eyes fully closed. To my dismay, it wasn't long until I heard the door burst open, causing me to jump in my seat, now awake as ever before. I narrowed my eyes at the concerned look on my attending's face and she quickly exclaimed, "Jung Hoseok is having a mental breakdown."

I rose to my feet immediately, preparing to ask about him, but I was interrupted when the older woman said, "He keeps repeating your name. Come with me quickly or you're fired." Hurriedly, I followed her out the door and we sped walked through the halls. As we were quickly walking to our destination, she explained how she had another intern bring him his medication and he suddenly became angry and threw the cup of pills at the wall, scaring the intern away. It felt as if my heart cracked and I raced ahead of the attending to get to the door.

Not wasting any time, I unlocked the door and barged in. His back was turned to me and my eyes narrowed at his hands pulling his hair. I was shocked to see him in such a state that I couldn't help but feel sadness and pity for him. I shut the door, which alarmed him and he spun around to look at me, his hands dropping from his hair.

"Hoseok..." I softly let out as I gazed at his tear-stained face. He bit on his bottom lip and took long strides towards me and before I could even react, I was engulfed in his arms and I could feel him place his hand on the back of my head, hugging me closer to his chest.

His body was shaking as he sobbed. Halfway between his cries, he spoke in a tone full of pain, "I-It hurts." I was taken aback by his words, but nonetheless asked, "What hurts, Hoseok?" His arms constricted me more and I immediately understood that what he needed in this moment was comfort.

"M-My chest hurts. The medication isn't w-working." I closed my eyes as I knew what was happening. This was a side effect to Munchausen Syndrome. He wants more treatment for chest pain that doesn't exist. Nonetheless, I wrapped my arms around his torso, wanting to make him feel safe. I didn't respond for a few minutes as we stayed in that position and he obviously had no intentions of letting go anytime soon.

"It's okay, Hoseok. I'm here to help you."

...

It has been quite a while since I last wrote, so I apologize for the slight lack of quality and wording. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed! Criticism is very much appreciated :-)