After her evening rounds, Crystal went to the vending machines in the lobby for her break to grab her usual espresso. Hot cup of coffee in hand, she trudged back toward the elevators.
“Evening, doc.”
A smile spread across her face as she heard the familiar voice. She turned around and greeted, “Dr. Yejin.”
Pyo Yejin was Crystal’s fellow general surgeon and a long-standing colleague.
“How was your day?”
Crystal chuckled. “Today was like yesterday. Tomorrow will be like today. How was yours?”
Dr. Yejin rubbed her eyes tiredly while yawning. “Not so great. I’m absolutely beat and I still have a surgery scheduled for seven tonight. You—”
“Good evening, ladies!” A voice interrupted.
As the man normally inserted himself into conversations, Crystal didn’t even turn around as she heard him approach.
“Evening, Dr. Alex,” greeted Dr. Yejin.
Seeing Alex waiting impatiently for the elevator, Crystal raised her eyebrows as she gave him a sarcastic smirk.
“Late, huh?”
He nodded as he repeatedly pressed the elevator button. “Very, but I’ll talk to you about it later. I’ll have to fill you in on Anne’s sports anyway. Man, she was amazing!”
“Sounds good and thank you again.”
As soon as the elevator doors opened, he nodded with a proud smile on his face and hastily made his way inside.
Yejin looked curiously at Crystal. “Why don't you marry him? He is so perfect and you both work well together.”
“Of course we do. He is my best friend, but that’s it.” She paused and narrowed her gaze at her colleague. “Didn't you say you had a surgery? You know that it’s near seven, right?”
Yejin glanced at her watch and her eyes instantly widened. “Holy shit! It is seven?!” she shouted, slapping her forehead. “Sweets, I have to make a run for it, but will talk later, yeah?”
Crystal shook her head and heaved a deep sigh as she watched Yejin head toward the nurses’ station. When her elevator finally opened, she pressed the button for the second floor. As the doors closed, she heard a huge commotion coming from the entrance of the hospital and she watched as a group of bodyguards and reporters rush towards the ER.
Wow, a high class patient must be here.
Arriving at her office, she immediately started checking her patient reports. Ten minutes had passed when she heard a knock on her door.
“Come in,” she called without looking up.
“Dr. Crystal, the CEO has requested your attention for an immediate operation. Are you free?” asked Mickhel in a breathless voice.
The patient must be in critical condition if Mickhel ran all the way to her office from the ER. Without hesitation, Crystal stood up and grabbed her medical gown. As they walked to the operating room, Mickhel filled her in on the details of the patient.
“He suffered from an internal hemorrhage caused by a gunshot wound. The bullet was a 9 mm hollow point so the hole in his gut expanded. The paramedics did all they could to stop the bleeding, but he started going into shock.”
“Have you started any fluids? What about imaging? Also, get his blood type and after the surgery immediately start him on a blood transfusion.”
“All of that has been done per prior instruction. He is currently stabilized and is prepped for surgery.”
“Who will assist me?”
Stopping in his tracks, Mickhel turned and gave me a serious look. “Anyone who was available was called in and they are waiting for you.”
Crystal looked at her assistant with wide eyes. “Well, this is a first,” she mumbled. She couldn’t remember a time when the hospital showed this much proficiency toward one patient.
Mickhel chuckled at her puzzled expression. “He’s the son of our CEO. I think that's why.”
“I didn’t even know our CEO had a son. Honestly, I wasn’t even aware that she was married.”
Washing her hands she stepped into the operating room where the nurses helped her put on gloves. George, her assistant, was already there and came towards her with a solemn face.
“His blood pressure is very low, but there hasn’t been any major damage.”
She nodded. “First, we need to make an incision to remove the bullet and patch up any nerve damage. Have you checked to x-rays to see if there were any breaks upon impact?”
“No breaks. Not even a fracture.”
Glancing at the monitor, she observed the patient’s oxygen levels and heart rate.
“Instruct to have a few bags of blood ready for a transfusion after the surgery is complete.”
George nodded to one of the nurses on standby. She hastily left to gather the needed supplies.
“Alright, gang. Let's start,” she said as she approached the table. But seeing the patient, she instantly froze.
Rayan! It was really him!
She clenched her hands into fists as her heart rolled with emotions. How the fuck was this even possible? She stood there staring down at him and her body began to shake as tears pricked her eyes.
She glanced down at the gaping wound in his stomach and felt nauseous. Her heart was thundering in her chest and she found it difficult to breathe. She never thought that she would ever see him again, let alone like this. Gripping her hands, she tried to control the involuntary shaking. This had never happened before. She was always in control and never let her emotions interfere with treating a patient.
“Um, are you okay?” George asked as he eyed her warily.
Upon hearing his voice, Crystal snapped back to the present moment and nodded.
“Of course. I have to be.” Her voice sounded shaky. Inhaling a deep breath, she gave one last glance at his face before she focused solely on the wound. “Scalpel,” she instructed. You can do this. You're a doctor, Crystal. Be the strongest stone. Come on. Be professional.
She set to work. This was nothing new. Crystal was used to patching up patients since as a general surgeon, she was very good at her work. Of all surgeons, people want her to treat them. When patients come to her, she would always tell herself that she needs to heal them and she can do this.
Patients get anxious when they see doctors in the operation room. They get anxious about death, about life.
"I will not kill you. You'll be able to murder me if the operation goes wrong." With that she had been always assuring the several types of patients she met daily. But today, the person she wanted to forget every day was one of her patients now. Once she loved this man, more than anything. More than everything. She was healing his wound now whereas she was the one who had a deep wound created by this man a long time ago.Calming herself, she started the first incision. There is no way in hell she was going to let him die. He had made her suffer so much. There was no way in hell that she was going to let this stupid bastard die off so easily. He was going to live, even if she had to resurrect him herself.
[Crystal’s POV] Stepping out of the operating room, I felt utterly exhausted. George was trailing behind me awaiting further instructions. Removing my bloodied gown and gloves, I said, “After you transfer him to ICU, start the blood transfusion. Make sure to monitor his blood pressure and oxygen levels every half hour. Call me if—” I froze as I saw a man striding towards me. I know him. He was Rayan's father, Richard Parker. “Doctor! H-how is he? How is my son?” he demanded. Internally sighing and wishing for this day to be over, I looked at him and informed, “The operation was a success. I suspect he will make a full recovery with proper rest.” Nodding towards George, I continued, “If you have any further questions, you can ask my assistant. You will have to excuse me now as I still have other patients to see.” Almost jogging to my office, I felt my chest tighten as my heart began to throb in my chest. Plopping down into m
[Crystal’s POV] “Why did you do that? Why did you lie?” Alex asked me as we stepped out of the ICU. I could tell he was extremely mad. He broke free of my hold and stood his ground, waiting for my explanation. Rolling my eyes, I awkwardly cleared my throat. “Um, well, you know—” “That you are still not over him? Yes, I know that. But, did you have to do that? Just to prove a point!” I glanced up and saw him give me a disappointed look. Crap. He was beyond pissed. “That’s not—” I didn’t even have time to defend myself before the elevator doors opened. He stepped in and turning to face me, he shook his head. “God, you’re hopeless.” He sighed as he pressed a button and the doors closed. “Ugh, you little brat,” I cursed at him as I realized that I needed to get in that elevator as well. Pushing the call button, I stood there thinking, Am I really hopeless? I didn’t do anything stupid. I knew exactly who Raya
Rayan was shifted to the VIP cabin of the hospital. He was half-lying on his bed, his head resting on the headboard, scrolling his phone."Even now, in this situation, you aren't noticing me."As the sudden voice filled the room, Rayan's eyes flipped open and he looked up at the person who was standing beside his bed, holding a bag. "Somin!" Here comes my fiancee who has finally found the time to visit me after a day of the accident.Somin gave him an unusual smile as she sat on the couch beside the bed after putting the fruits bag down on the table. "Are you alright now?" She queried, in her voice, there was no sense of anxiety.Rayan just nodded his head in response."When are you going back home?" She asked hastily as if she wants him to go back as soon as possible."Tomorrow." Rayan replied.For a moment both of them remained silent before Somin broke it again.
"How are you feeling now?" Crystal asked Rayan when he entered the hospital VIP room the next day.Rayan swallowed hard as his breath becomes heavier and warm tears started pooling his eyes. He didn't understand why this woman makes him weak all the time. "Like you care." He mumbled as he looked away from her.Crystal sighed deeply. She was trying hard to control her temper. "Mr Rayan. I am your doctor. Of course, I care.""Come out of your profession and then answer this question." He asked even though he knows nothing was the same. Nobody was the same.He noticed the sadness that crossed Crystal's eyes just now. She cares. She still cares though she pretended she doesn't. "I don't." She lied.Rayan let out a faint laugh but didn't say anything. Everyone just lies to him. What is he?Crystal raised her brows. "Why do you laugh?"He just shook his head. After a whil
"Can you really walk?" Mr Joon asked worriedly. Rayan kept saying that he can walk by himself.Rayan stood up from the hospital bed and looked at Mr Joon. "My stomach hurts a little, not my legs. Don't worry. My legs are fine. I can walk." He assured.Mr Joon let out a soft sigh and followed him to the elevator.In the elevator, Rayan was supposed to press on the first-floor button. But something crossed his mind and, he pressed on the third floor.Mr Joon clenched his jaw. "Why? Why are we going up instead of going down?"Rayan exhaled a sharp breath as the bruised in his heart ached hundreds of times worse than before. "I want you to see someone."Mr Joon raised his brows and gazed at Rayan. He wasn't sure if he was in pain or not. But he was sure he was going to surprise him.When the elevator's door swung open, Mr Joon looked around. It's the office floor of doctors. Rayan slowly started walking, checking every single office, reading the nameplate which was hanging on the doors.Mr
Another morning with the colors of sadness, covering the sky. The sun has come up and Crystal was sitting by a window, looking at the foggy outside. Her body shivered with a cold that will never go away, a cold that has been inside her for eight years. She has no complaints about the path she has chosen to follow, it's always the right path. She wouldn’t have had it any other way. Through her blurry eyes, she checked the clock. She realized it is time to let her feelings buried inside again. She stood and shuffled across the room; stopping in front of the bed where her daughter was snoring peacefully. She on the bed, and leaned to plant a soft kiss on her hair. "Get up. It's 7." She whispered softly. She knew her daughter was awake, she was just pretending to be sleep. She always does this. She knew after finishing the morning prayer, mom always loves to sit alone beside the window. She prete
"His BP is dropping." The nurse looked at Crystal worriedly.Crystal didn't look at the nurse. "Get some blood. Quick." She ordered. She put her hand up in front of the other nurse. "Give me the scalpel." She set the scalpel on the patient's hand and then she looked up at Dr. Rose. "Here?"Dr. Rose was looking in the monitor, he checked it again before nodding. "Did you find it?" She asked.Crystal cut the wound bigger before nodding and, extending her hand to the nurse. "Retractor."The nurse gave her the retractor and after using it to separate the edges of the wound, Crystal glanced at Dr. Rose.Dr. Rose sat on her seat as she stood up, she needed to pull the veins to tie it with others. "Tell me if you can feel." She glanced at the patient.After finishing the surgery successfully they came out of the operation room. Crystal came to her office. It's time for her to check the new
"Somin. Where are you? I'm here waiting in front of AK school." Rayan shouted on the phone. He came out of his car and looked around but there was no sign of Somin. They have something to discuss about business. She told him to wait in front of Ak International School."I'm coming."Rayan sighed. He hung up the call and put his phone back inside his pocket. The school is finished today. The students were coming out of the gate.Rayan took his sunglasses off from his eyes as a soft smile curved his lips. The memories of his school life started to play in his mind. His school life was really great because of a woman. The first meeting with her, talking with her, falling for her, everything was so magical. She came into his life and changed everything almost instantly."Uncle.."Rayan got his senses back when a little girl pulled his jacket. He lowered his head and looked at the girl. "Do I look like a