When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 3

Silence.

Ha-ya and Seok Kyung's expressions shifted in an instant—shock, horror, disbelief.

The door burst open, and Woo Joon rushed in, his face pale. "Dr. Jang is in the emergency room. Everyone is talking about it."

At that moment, a group of senior doctors stormed into the lounge. Their expressions were unreadable, but I could see it in their eyes—the doubt, the judgment.
One of them, Dr. Choi, crossed his arms. "Dr. Ye Na, do you have any idea what you've done?"

I looked up at him, my throat burning. "What I've done?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Are you seriously saying that right now?"

Dr. Choi's expression hardened. "You assaulted a senior doctor in his own office. This is a serious matter."

A scoff left my lips. "Oh, but him trying to assault me isn’t a serious matter?"

Another doctor, Dr. Kwon, sighed. "Ye Na… this is a big accusation. Do you have any proof?"

My hands clenched into fists. "I was alone in his office. There were no cameras. No witnesses. Just me and him."

Dr. Choi exhaled sharply. "Then there is no evidence to support your claim."

I felt my breath hitch. "Are you saying I’m lying?"

"All we’re saying is that without proof, it’s difficult to make any judgments," Dr. Kwon replied carefully.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Right. Because he's a senior doctor. And I’m just a resident."

The room was suffocating, filled with silent accusations.

"He has never had a complaint against him before," Dr. Choi added. "You need to understand how this looks."

A sharp, burning rage bubbled in my chest. "How this looks?" I repeated. "You mean it looks bad for you if one of your senior doctors is exposed for being a predator?"

Dr. Choi's expression darkened. "Watch your tone, Dr. Ye Na."

I let out a breathless laugh. "Wow. You know, I spent years dedicating my life to this hospital. I worked harder than anyone. And now, when I need you to believe me, you all just—" My voice cracked. "You just dismiss me."

Dr. Kwon sighed. "Ye Na, we understand you're upset, but—"

"No, you don’t understand!" My voice rose, sharp and raw. "Because you’ve never had to live in fear that someone with more power than you could take advantage of you—and get away with it."

The door opened again, and a nurse rushed in. "Dr. Jang is conscious now."

The room filled with murmurs.

Dr. Choi exhaled. "We’ll speak to him. In the meantime, Ye Na, you should leave the hospital for now."

I froze. "What?"

"You need to calm down," Dr. Kwon said. "This situation is already complicated. Your presence here—"

"I'm being suspended?" I cut in.

"It's not suspension," Dr. Choi said. "We just need time to assess the situation."

A cold, empty feeling settled in my chest.

I looked around the room, at the people I had worked with for years.

Ha-ya stepped forward, her voice sharp as a scalpel. "Assess the situation?" she repeated, disbelief dripping from every word. "What is there to assess? Ye Na told you exactly what happened."