When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 21

But at the same time—

I still want him.

I still feel that pull, that unshakable connection that’s been there since the very beginning.

Even after seven years.

Even after everything.

My chest tightens painfully.

It’s unfair.

How can he not remember?

How can he look at me like a stranger when he was once everything to me?

I sniffle, burying my face deeper into the pillow, trying to block out the thoughts, the memories, the ache that refuses to go away.

I just need to sleep.

Maybe when I wake up, this will all feel like a dream.

Maybe when I wake up, my heart won’t feel so heavy.

Maybe when I wake up—

I won’t miss him anymore.

With that last thought, I let exhaustion take over, my body sinking deeper into the mattress as sleep finally pulls me under.
______________

The fluorescent lights of the hospital seem harsher today, or maybe it’s just my lack of sleep. Either way, I suppress a yawn as I make my way toward one of my patients, forcing a professional smile onto my face.

“Good morning, Mr. Han,” I greet, stepping into the room. The elderly man, who’s scheduled for surgery later today, looks up from his newspaper and gives me a tired nod.

“Morning, doc,” he says, adjusting his reading glasses. “Are you here to poke me with more needles?”

I chuckle. “Not this time. I’m just here to check in and explain a few things about your anesthesia for the procedure.”

He folds his newspaper and sets it aside. “Alright, go ahead.”

I pull up a chair beside his bed and glance at his chart before speaking. “So, for your surgery, we’ll be using general anesthesia, which means you’ll be completely unconscious during the procedure. It’s a smooth process—we administer the anesthetic through an IV, and within seconds, you’ll be asleep.”

He hums, tapping his fingers on the blanket. “And you’re sure I’ll wake up, right? I heard stories of people going under and never coming back.”

I smile reassuringly. “That’s an understandable fear, but I promise you, we’ll be monitoring you the entire time. Your vitals, your breathing, everything. We use very precise doses based on your weight, medical history, and the type of surgery. Plus, we have medications that reverse the anesthesia when the surgery is over.”

Mr. Han nods slowly, absorbing the information. “Alright. And what about the side effects?”

“There might be some grogginess when you wake up, maybe a little nausea, but we have medication to help with that. You might also have a sore throat because of the breathing tube we use, but that usually goes away in a day or two.”

“Hmph.” He scratches his chin. “Well, as long as I wake up, I guess it’s fine.”

I laugh. “That’s the goal.”

Just as I finish reassuring him, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and see Seok Kyung’s name flashing on the screen.

Seok Kyung: Help. There’s a demon child refusing an injection.

I sigh, standing up. “Alright, Mr. Han, I’ll be back later to check on you before the procedure.”

He waves me off. “Go save whoever’s crying for help.”