When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 1

I walked through the dimly lit hallway, past the bustling nurses’ station, until I reached the anesthesiology office. It was a small, shared space where we, the residency trainees, spent most of our time between cases. The air smelled of strong coffee and antiseptic, a familiar combination at this point.

With a sigh, I sank into the chair at my desk, rubbing my temples. My hands were still slightly stiff from the long surgery, but I ignored the ache. I reached for the patient charts that had piled up, flipping through them. Anesthesia plans for tomorrow’s surgeries, pre-op assessments—just another night in residency training.

Across from me, one of the senior residents, Dr. Park Min-seok, leaned back in his chair, yawning. "Hell of a case, huh?"

I glanced up, nodding. "Yeah. Massive trauma. It was intense."

Another resident, Yoo Jin Mu, chuckled. "It's specifically a trauma season. It’s like people forget how to be careful the moment summer starts."

"I swear, every weekend gets worse," Dr. Kim Hye-jin added, stretching her arms. "At this rate, I should just move into the OR permanently."

I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "Honestly, I feel like we already do."

Jin Mu smirked. "Well, at least we get the satisfaction of saving lives. And drinking a lot of coffee." He raised his half-empty cup in a mock toast.

Before I could respond, the door to the office burst open.

"Ye Na!"

I turned to see my two closest friends—Kim Ha-ya and Seok Kyung—grinning at me. Behind them, a tall, broad-shouldered guy followed.

"Ye Na, do you have any plans tonight?" Ha-ya asked, already bouncing on her feet.

I blinked, glancing at the clock. "It’s past midnight, Ha-ya. My plan is to sleep."

Seok Kyung scoffed. "No, it’s technically past midnight, which means it’s a new day. And tonight we’re going to a beach party."

"A what?" I frowned, setting my pen down.

"The ER nurses planned a night out," Ha-ya explained. "A bunch of them are heading to the beach, and since you’re literally every nurse’s favorite resident, they want you to come."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I don’t know, guys. I have rounds early tomorrow."

"You say that every time," Ha-ya groaned.

Seok Kyung leaned over my desk, eyeing my schedule. "Hmm… You have pre-op assessments in the morning, but your first case isn’t until noon. That means you could come out, have fun, and still get a decent amount of sleep."

I gave her an unimpressed look. "You sound like you're trying to convince a patient to agree to surgery."

"Whatever works," she replied with a grin.

The guy behind them chuckled. "I knew she’d resist. Told you, she’s the responsible one."

Ha-ya turned to him. "Oh! Ye Na, this is Woo Joon. He’s new in the ICU but already making friends with all the nurses."

"Nice to meet you," he said, giving me a nod. "I’ve heard a lot about you."

I raised an eyebrow. "All good things, I hope."

"Mostly about how scary you are in the OR," he admitted, smirking.

Ha-ya laughed. "She’s scary because she’s perfect. You should’ve seen her during tonight’s surgery. It was like watching a drama—except with more blood and less bad acting."