❝ OPERATION THREE ❞

"Doctor Y/N."

You immediately jolted up from your position, realizing you fall asleep on your desk. It was just Gabi.

"Yes?"

Papers and unfinished reports are everywhere. Multiple pens scattered on the floor. Just how long were you sleeping? You lost track of the time. Right after you finished your second surgery, you headed to your office to fill in some datasheets of your patients, but you mindlessly dozed off. Since you failed to get a cup of coffee after you encountered Armin, you already expected something like this to happen.

"Someone's looking for you downstairs," Gabi said. "And uhm. . ."

She watched you pack your things. "You're going already, Doc?"

You nodded. "I will be back in the evening. Don't worry."

"Oh okay, but I want to give you this too."

Averting your gaze from your bag to look at the brown-haired teenager, you raised an eyebrow. She's handing out something.

A cup of coffee.

"From you?"

"No, from Doctor Ar—I mean, me! Yes, it's from me!"

You shrugged your shoulders before taking it even though it looks suspicious. After you bid goodbye to Gabi, you immediately headed downstairs only to see someone waiting for you. Looking at the clock, it's already five in the afternoon. You clicked your tongue, you're so timeless. How could you forget that today is such important for both of you?

The glass doors of the hospital automatically opened when you faced the scanner. You smiled, just looking at how beautiful he is with his tied-up hair and a pair of jeans. His hands are both hidden in his pants' pockets while his back. . .leaning on the car. He's even wearing the sweater you gave him.

"Where's your jacket?" He asked. "It's cold. Wear this."

That's when you noticed the snow falling.

You smiled, hugging the sweater. "Thank you, Eren."

The way he smiled at you before opening the car's door made your heart skip a beat. Today is your first anniversary with him and of course, you're both going to celebrate it.

"I'm sorry I'm still wearing my working clothes—"

"Don't worry." Eren caught your hand with his right while his left is holding the stirring wheel. He even kissed the back of your hand. Damn, his lips are so soft! With him not averting his gaze from the road, you can clearly study his facial features. With his long eyelashes, with his perfect-shaped nose, down to his jawline, his neck, to his—

"You're still beautiful, Y/N."

You chuckled, pinching his cheeks. "Cheesy!"

"I am not!"

"You are!"

The both of you kept teasing each other until you reached the restaurant. Unknown to you and your boyfriend, Eren, someone was watching as your car drove further from him. He intentionally clutched the empty cup of coffee with his hands before shaking his head. 5:30 and he has a scheduled surgery.

"I have no right to be mad."

Yes, he definitely has no right anymore, but it damn hurts to see you happy with his best friend, with Eren. Well, the four of you, including Mikasa, were all high school best friends too.

If only. . .

He has no right to be mad anymore because he was the one who broke up with you.

If only. . .

He has no right to be mad anymore because he was the one who hurt you.

If only. . .

If only. . .I fight for you.

"Doctor Armin, you have a scheduled sur—"

"Yes, I'm coming!" He smiled softly but deep, deep down, he badly wanted to cry. Oh to be Eren. He has no right anymore. Armin has no right anymore,. . .

. . .right?

"Eren. . ."

"Are you tired?" Your boyfriend asked as you climbed down the stairs from the restaurant. "Want to go somewhere else?"

As you jumped towards the shotgun seat of the car, you fiddled your fingers together. It's not because it's cold, it's because you're nervous and that little beating organ inside your chest is making you sweat like crazy. You don't know what to say, and if you should really tell this to him. It doesn't concern him. Even you, it doesn't concern you anymore, but something whispers that you should tell this matter to him.

You think you're about to ruin your anniversary.

"Y/N. . ."

"Eren. . ."

He chuckled. "Okay, you go first."

"No, no, you can—"

"It's fine." He looked at your eyes. Sweet. Lovingly. "Is something bothering my baby?"

You sighed. You can't prolong this one anymore.

"Armin's back."

You quickly looked away, not wanting to see how he reacts. Will he get mad? Will you sour his mood? Will you ruin the day? Will he be okay? What if—

"What do you mean, 'Armin's back.'? Is he. . ."

"He's now a surgeon on my place. I-I know it doesn't really concern us!" You tried to chuckle. Sheepishly. "But I feel like I should tell something like this to you. Given that he's your best friend too, right? Given that—"

"He was your boyfriend too."

You bit your lip. "Ex."

"I used 'was'."

You grunted. "Eren. . ."

"Come here, come here." Your boyfriend for a year immediately enveloped you with a warm embrace. Tight. No matter how cold your surroundings are, you always feel so safe inside his arms. You always feel so calm whenever he's with you. You couldn't imagine your future without him.

"Y/N, you're so stiff."

"B-But. . ."

"It's fine. C'mon, it's just Armin. I know what happened between the both of you but it's all in the past. You love me, right? You promise me—"

"Of course!" You reassured him with tears forming on the corners of your eyes. "I love you, Eren! More than anyone in the world!"

He patted your head. "That's all I want to hear, baby. And oh, I can drop by to see him too. Maybe tomorrow?"

"You're free again tomorrow?"

Eren started the engine as soon as you let go of the hug. He stayed silent, probably rethinking his schedule. He's a busy person that's why he can't just take leaves because he wants to, but since he has already finished the workload he has for tomorrow, he's free. Eren and you barely had time for each other, given that you're a busy person yourself, and you're even going to pull an all-nighter to finish your reports. You will have to operate on a patient tomorrow at 11:30 in the morning too, but Gabi will be there to help you.

Your boyfriend tucked the lost strands of your hair behind your ear using his free hand, admiring how cute you are.

"Yes, I am free—"

"EREN!!"

Your boyfriend watched you look at the ray of light that's coming your way. Everything turned slow motion, and you can only hug him as a ten-wheeler truck crushed your vehicle.

God, why. . .

Then everything turned black.