❝ PROLOGUE ❞

"Finally."

You stretched your arms, back leaning on the swivel chair's support as you finished the report you've been working on for days. It was about the branch hospital's patients with recorded COVID19 cases, and the higher-ups kept bugging you about this. The deadline is around the corner so it's a miracle that you managed to pass it before time. Checking your schedule, you still have an upcoming patient to operate on at exactly four in the morning, and another one at seven.

Time check. 2:30.

Luckily, you had your two-hour sleep earlier, and you're confident that you won't pass out in the middle of operations because of fatigue.

"I need coffee," Yes, your best friend. Coffee.

You stood up, putting your hands at the side pockets of your lab coat, before heading out your office to look for the nearest vending machine. You're currently on the sixth floor of the hospital and the nearest vending machine is at the nurse's station on the first floor. Goodness, gracious. The structure of this building isn't fatigue-friendly. Sighing, you proceeded inside the elevator, clicking then the button with number one engraved on it.

"I heard there's a new doctor assigned here!"

A nurse behind you squealed. You can't help but eavesdrop on their conversation though. A new doctor? Nice. You silently prayed that he's also a surgical doctor so your schedule won't get too overloaded again.

"And I heard he's hot."

You cringed, but at least they left the elevator when it reached the third floor. Though you heard one word that spilled out of the nurse's lips that made your ears perk, and your heart skips a beat. What the hell was that again?!

"His name is Armin, right?"

But you didn't hear it clearly. It was already a faint noise when it reached your ears. You shook your head, eyes landing on the floor. It's just stress. Proper sleep was never included in your schedule that's why you're just probably hearing things. And out of all job occupations, he will never be a doctor.

How could the person who broke your heart be able to fix others? Ridiculous.

The elevator dinged, signaling that you finally reached your destination. The whole floor is noisy unlike the usual which made you raise an eyebrow. Nurses and other staff are crowding the station, the place where the nearest vending machine is. Involuntarily rolling your eyes, you grunted. You hate noise, you hate screaming crowds, especially when it's too early in the morning. What if they disturb the other sleeping patients? How ignorant!

"Hey—"

"Welcome to the hospital, doc!"

You tried to catch the attention of the people, aiming to shut them up, but your voice was swallowed by such deafening noise. Holy mother.

"Could you please tone down your—"

You accidentally stepped backward when you bumped into someone's chest. Even the stethoscope around his neck hit your forehead, making you wince in pain. What a dumb move of you not to look where you're walking. Of course, as a human, the first thing that you will do is to say sorry but your mind went blank when you realized who you bumped into.

He was wearing the casual blue uniform of hospital staff and a sly smirk on his face, though it faded away when he saw you. The noise on your surroundings was automatically muted, ladies squealing probably attracted by his physical appearance, as his familiar scent lingered on your nose, bringing back a lot of memories. Your tears slowly became evident.

Your eyes met but he immediately looked away, acting like he didn't know you.

Like he didn't love you. Or did he really?

"Excuse me, Doc," He calmly—no, coldly said.

Like he didn't leave me. 

"You're in the way." I hate him.

You bit your lower lip. Like he didn't hurt me.

"Can you move aside?" I hate him so much.

Like he didn't make fun of me.

At all.