A/N

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⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆
𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨

Hyun tried to avoid the warning glares and growing attention that his table attracted as the sound of clinking glasses resonated through the large hall. His friends, Yutaka and Benji, sat across him, Lindsay at his side, laughing at whatever Benji was spewing from his lips.

Yutaka's attention was solely on him though, and he wasn't so sure if that was good or not. "I'm so proud of you dude," The young man howled for the umpteenth time that afternoon, "I can't believe we're sitting in here right now."

Benji hummed his approval, looking around as he gulped down his third beer so far. "We should have a proper celebratory dinner, all expenses covered by you, that is."

Hyun rolled his eyes as the boys nodded in approval, mischievous smiles plastered across their lips. He'd spent most of his day assimilating to the climate of St. Renata, which consisted of trying to introduce himself to the other psychologists in the department - all older than he was, with none bothering to hide their disdain.

But Lindsay had popped in, having just helped him the day prior to settle in, surprising him with the appearance of the two most obnoxious men in his life - his best friends.

Now, settled in the renowned, and tightly secured cafeteria, they were hell bent on dragging his name through the mud of the patrons and staff with their bickering.

Lindsay chimed in, "No need, the department's throwing a farewell party, which is more or less a welcoming event for our beloved Hyun," She nudged his side and turned to them, "And you're both going to be there."

"Would there be free booze?" Benji asked, eyes gleaming as Yutaka rolled his, though he may have wanted to ask the same question.

"Of course, I'll keep the kegs stacked up, just for you." She said.

Yutaka sighed, "I can't believe that you've been friends with this god sent angel and you've been keeping her away from us."

More like keeping you away from her, Hyun wanted to add but instead said, "I always talked about her, you never mentioned wanting to meet."

"Cause you didn't tell us that she was a beauty," Benji drawled, putting up his award-winning smile that had women and men swooning. Hyun had once been unable to break free of the charm, giving in to it like a spell had been cast.

But Lindsay made a show of waving him off, bowing her head to focus on her half-eaten lettuce wrap as her cheeks burned. "Stop it."

"Is that a demand or a double meaning?" Benji pressed.

"Dude," Hyun laughed, shaking his head as the others joined.

Benji wasn't deterred from his quest in any way. In fact, his green eyes shone with determination.

As a well known sous chef, working in Carlson's, Benji McCarty wasn't one to shy away from challenges, whether it happened in the kitchen or in bed. There was no way except his way.

Which was why Hyun had made sure to steer Lindsay away from his clutches, but she'd obviously wanted to surprise him and ended up contacting them.

She would have to resist temptation all on her own.

"When are you leaving?" Hyun asked, the chatter dying out with his question. His sober inquiry drew their attention to his state. She'd been the only friend he had in the field, saying goodbye had never been in his plans.

"Friday," Her voice was small, as if it could lessen the impact. "First thing in the morning."

Three days was all they had together, until either of them could charter a flight to meet the other. It was one thing to be at different sides of a city, and another to be continents apart.

"You're going to miss me aren't you?"

"No," He muttered while the two knuckle heads across, laughed. He never really knew how to hide his emotions and fighting the urge to cry became harder with each passing second.

"Aw, is little Hyun going to cry?" Benji teased, "What would your subordinates think about that hm?"

Hyun feared for his eyes, praying that they won't get stuck at the back from the way he rolled them with each sentence uttered from the fools he called friends.

"Fuck off."

Lindsay bit back her smile and leaned closer to him, "I'm going to miss you too, little Hyun," He glared at her but she continued anyway, "I just hope you can make more friends, it'll be easier if you just let loose."

Benji snorted, shaking his head at him, "I'm still shocked that he has another friend besides us, Hyun would rather befriend a rock than open up to anyone."

"I'm not that unapproachable." He argued.

"Says the same guy that snubbed the chairman when he was being introduced." She countered.

Hyun knew she was never going to let it go. He'd spent a week at most here and with each day, Lindsay had made sure to bark his ear off.

"You did not!" Yutaka was shaking visibly with laughter. "Tell me she's joking,"

"I wish I was," She didn't even crack a smile. In this case, she was serious all through, "I had to explain to him that a well trained therapist who was coming to lead the department, hated opening up to people."

"Oh shit," Benji covered his mouth to muffle his laughter, thankfully noticing the amount of people whose focus now zeroed in on their table. "How do you still have a job?"

Lindsay jabbed a finger in Hyun's direction. "Because he's a pretty boy, that's why. I swear, the man was smitten on sight."

"Is he hot?" Yutaka was already on his phone, searching for the man's face.

But he didn't have to look further when a barrage of footsteps echoed in the hall, followed by an outpour of voices, much louder than theirs.

They all  turned to meet the root of the commotion, to find a dazzling surgeon in his scrubs and lab coat, a signature smirk on his lips as an entourage of doctors from various departments, strolled in.

Hyun tried to remain neutral as they walked towards them, hoping that they'd pass by and let the conversation roll out once more.

Instead, Dario freaking Gianpiero, in spite of the litter of people following him, stopped at their table.

His eyes zeroed in on Hyun briefly, like a fleeting and inconsequential gesture, before finding Lindsay.

"Nice to still see you around, Lindy."

She smiled curtly, "It won't be for long." His smile faltered, so she added, "But I'll treasure every last minute of it."

He responded with a slight tug of his lips, not paying mind to the fact that his entourage, filled with doctors more experienced and older, waited impatiently for the interaction to be over.

As if realizing for the first time, his eyes found the two other men on the table. He quirked a brow at Benji in particular, his smile far from genuine. "Friends of yours?"

"Kind of," She nudged Hyun, whose eyes were fixed on his empty plate, "They're more of his friends than mine."

"Ouch," Benji muttered. "I thought we were more than that."

Yutaka snickered, but Dario wasn't listening to them. His gaze fell on Hyun, charging the air with enough tension that his talkative friends found it hard to cut through it. The table fell silent at what transpired, until Hyun caved in and met his eyes.

He could have sworn that he saw something flash through them, a glint of excitement, thrill or intrigue. He couldn't quite tell.

"Ah, the shy therapist," Dario said finally with a playful smirk. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were avoiding me."

Murmurs erupted from behind him and around as people focused on them now.

"I have no reason to, sir." He enunciated the last word to irk him. And it was working cause Dario visibly cringed at the title, a tick in his jaw the only give away.

Silence fell over them again and Hyun looked away. He hated the attention they were drawing to each other.

"Right." Dario said after a beat, his fake smile taking form. "I guess I'll be looking forward to working closely with you, Mr. Wu."

Hyun didn't get a chance to let out a polite retort as Dario sent a nod to Lindsay and offered a parting smile to the boys. He walked past with the aura of a highly revered man, slightly brushing past his shoulder and sending tingles of what he could decipher as pleasure, through his body.

The followers, as he'd like to call them, shot deadly glares at him before walking by.

All eyes on the table turned to look at him, more with intrigue than anything but Benji was the first to speak, after confirming that they were all out of ear shot.

"What. The. Fuck."

•••

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