The Buddy Program

01 | vending machine twix bars

He paused, biting at his lip realizing there was actually a chance he could be senile. "Well, at least for now but still."

"It's not a daycare, kid," Sae groaned, "It's a support group for patients around your age."

"Just say you hate me staying in your office and go. I'm a big boy, Sae."

"I know you are but I think you could use your time for something more productive then wasting away in my office," Sae reasoned. Jeongguk rolled his eyes, watching her wave at other doctors and workers that passed by as they approached the front of the hospital.

"I'm wasting away just talking to you," Jeongguk said. She scoffed. "Plus you agreed I shouldn't do college. It's a waste of money and my time." He said, purposefully making his voice all nasally to mimic her voice and piss her off— which he did.

"I didn't say that. I said it'd be an unfulfilled investment because you'd die before you get the degree," Sae shot back, her hand reaching down to tug at the sleeve of Jeongguk's jean jacket as the security held the door open for them. 

"Ha! See you admitted I'm gonna die!" He punched the side of her arm, only to earn a nasty glare from his aunt as the two walked into the foyer.

"Jeongguk," She whispered, tugging his sleeve again. "I can't deal with your attitude right now."

"Waaa, waaa. You can bear me for another six months," He rolled his eyes yet again, following her to the elevators leading up to her floor.

"Well even if I can, I'm still putting you in this group program. I can't entertain you when I have surgeries to do and patients to evaluate," She shrugged after pushing the doors closed with a manicured hand.

Right. Outside of being his aunt and the last of his family that remained, Jeon Sae was the chief of surgery at South Korea Grace. Jeongguk admitted she was pretty good at what she does, but he didn't really understand her work since his education was limited to highschool biology (which he almost failed), not all that crazy mumbo jumbo that came with general surgery.

She was cool, Jeongguk supposed, though often very busy. But Sae always made up for it, even if her schedule required her to do crazy hours. She was all he had left, so Jeongguk couldn't complain when she put effort into being there for him after he entered her life out of nowhere.

It was the most he could do, bother her and be there, because in a few months. . . Yeah.

"You don't even have to talk," Sae said, leaning against the wall adjacent from him as Jeongguk watched the levels slowly go up. "Just sit there and listen. It's meant to make you less lonely."

"I'm not lonely," Jeongguk tried to argue though he falls a bit short. She lowkey had him there. He had zero friends, no romantic life, or like, any life plans.

Sae knew it, judging by the lopsided smirk on her lips. "Sure. Anyway, it's a new thing we're starting. You know Dr. Kim Namjoon, right?"

"Isn't that the young dude with dimples from psych that all the nurses simp for?" He raised an eyebrow at her. Sae nodded, her smirk switching to a gentle smile.

"Yeah, that psychiatrist. He was willing to put some time aside in his day to host a little group for an hour every Tuesdays and Thursdays. He's a good guy. I think you'd love him."

"You think?" Jeongguk sighed, following Sae out of the elevator when the doors slide open. Sae merely hummed.

"He's creative, too. The guy wanted to create this program." He kept trailing by her side, wondering where this was going because when he looked around, Jeongguk was quick to realize they weren't heading to her office.