Strings & Stitches

Chapter 28

It hasn't happened in ages yet... it had to happen today. Of course.

On one hand, she was happy because that meant her evaluation wouldn't be a disaster. Probably because it wouldn't even go through. On the other hand, she knew that it would still happen one of the next days. "Thank god... I had a review today with her and a teacher from uni," Yoohyeon told the group, wanting to blend in a little. "I have been living on stress ever since I woke up"

"Oh, well, that's fair" Said the girl and took a quick look at her friend, "Although... I think Chief practically has the authority to do it instead of her, if she doesn't have any surgeries today that is" She shrugged as the guy next to her nodded his head, both looking at Yoohyeon with oblivious innocence, not knowing what was happening in her brain right now.

Hearing Minji's name linked to her evaluation basically made a fuse blow in her head. Her two main sources of stress had just melted together. What had she ever done for fate to be such a bitch to her?

Only feeling herself get more anxious, she rubbed her legs, trying to keep calm. "Can I?" She pointed at the guy's pack of cigarettes. There had to be something to it that actually worked. Why else would they smoke to calm down?

He handed her one and lit it up for her, as Yoohyeon hesitatingly took it to her mouth, taking one puff out of it. This wasn't her first time tasting a cigarette; she did it in high school a few times, although it never was her thing. Even right now when the smoke went down her throat and gave her burning sensations all over, wanting to just cough and nothing more, she wasn't sure it actually worked well with stress.

Obviously, to not make a fool of herself, she did her absolute best not to cough. That attempt turned into an awkward smile and a weird-sounding 'thank you' to the guy.

Usually, she wasn't one to have the confidence to talk to strangers like this. But lately a lot of unusual things have been happening. As if her life had descended into chaos since Christmas.

A few minutes passed, and the two interns continued talking, trying to include Yoohyeon in the conversation as well, which she appreciated a lot. It was getting a little cold, though, the January air hitting her skin with a tiny wind. Right when she was about to bid goodbyes to the interns and throw away the cigarette that had just reached its halfway point, Yoohyeon somehow felt the familiar presence right next to them.

The dreadful feeling made her look to the right, seeing the one person who could make her anxiety act up even more. She froze with the cigarette in hand, praying that the ground would open up and swallow her.

Minji's face looked stricter than usual, her eyes dropping from Yoohyeon's pale face to the burning cigarette in her frozen hand. She stopped walking, coming to a halt in her steps as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Chief, hello" said the guy, as the other intern cleared her throat. It seemed that both of them finished smoking by then, quickly bidding goodbyes with Yoohyeon and walking right back into the building.

Now being left alone with Minji, how was Yoohyeon going to survive this? Technically, she was not doing anything wrong since she was on break... but this was Minji. And they'd have that evaluation later. "I-" words were not leaving her lips, unable to defend herself.

"Yoohyeon," Minji finally spoke, "I was searching for you. You have to be present for the feedback. Just-" She glanced at the cigarette again before making a turn towards the hospital. "Come up to the office once you're done with smoking." She said with utter judgment in her voice.

Kim Minji sounding judgmental or disappointed... that had to be the heaviest message to receive in her time here. "Minji," Yoohyeon called, not knowing why she even did that. "I-... I don't smoke" Her scrambled brain really wasn't helping to defend her case.