When I Loved You

>“I cauterized it.
It’s fine now.”

“What’s the point? You’ll only bleed again once you get back to work.”

“I decided not to work like that again.” Yiyoung took a bite of her food.
“It was draining all my energy.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t mind others’ business too much.”

“Okay, sister.
Please have your meal.
The shift isn’t over yet.”

“That’s right.
Okay.”

The fear of being summoned to the ER at a moment’s notice hung over their heads, so they scarfed down the food as quickly as they could.
They had to eat whatever they could in the short amount of time they got.
After lunch was over, they walked to the cafe near the cafeteria. 

The two of them were sipping their coffee when Jaehee asked, “Is it true?” 

“What?”

“About Dr.
Kang,” Jaehee clarified, “I heard he’s participating in the dissertation?”

“That’s true.” 

“But it’s unbelievable.
How could he publicly favor Dr.
Kang like that?”

Jaehee was huffing over Professor Jung’s behavior.
This morning, he had summoned Yiyoung to his office.

“I relied on the suggestions of people around me, and decided to work with Dr.
Kang for the dissertation.
You’ll eventually get a chance, too, so don’t be too disappointed.
Just keep up your work, the ER is heavily reliant on you, Dr.
Yoon.”  He had made it seem like he was going to make her work like a mule. 

Yiyoung loved being a doctor, but she also expected to receive recognition after working so hard, harder than anyone else.
What she desired was the honor that came with the job.
So after Professor Jung was done speaking, she took one look at him and walked out without giving him a response. 

“Let’s not talk about it,” Yiyoung spat out coldly, “It’s ruining my coffee’s taste.”

Jaehee looked at Yiyoung with sympathy.
In terms of performance, Yiyoung was more outstanding than anyone.
But… that was all she had going on for herself.

If Yiyoung could have received some support, she would have been in a much different position by now.
But she hated it when Dr.
Kang brought up the differences in their families, she had heard such things from far too many people.

 “I’ve been hearing such things since I was fourteen, so stop.
If I hear it once more, I’ll end up hating people.” Yiyoung sucked at the straw.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a good lunch like this.
Let me digest it peacefully so I can return to work.”

“Okay, I’ll stop,” said Jaehee.

And just then, Dr.
Kang passed by them, and also recognized Jaehee.
“Oh, Dr.
Park! Aren’t you off-duty today? What are you doing here?”

“What do you think I’d be doing at a cafe? I’m drinking coffee.” Jaehee spared him a brief glance.

Dr.
Kang laughed out loud, but disappeared quickly due to her hostility.
Jaehee was well-aware of how he leeched off of Yiyoung’s hard work by always sticking to her. 

Jaehee opened her mouth, ready to say something, but Yiyoung quickly interrupted her, “I want to have a good lunch.”

Jaehee quietly swallowed the profanities she was about to spit, gulping down her coffee instead.