When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 29

The moment I stepped into the lobby, the cool air of the hospital greeted me, along with the familiar scent of antiseptic and coffee. Nurses and doctors moved around, some engaged in quiet conversations, others hurriedly flipping through patient files.

As I walked toward the elevators, my fingers subconsciously brushed against my lips, still tingling from Han Wool's kiss. A small, satisfied smile played at my lips as I stepped inside the elevator, pressing the button for my floor.

The elevator doors slid shut, and I leaned against the cool metal wall, letting out a deep breath. My shift wasn't over yet-I had a surgery scheduled at six. Shaking off the lingering warmth of Han Wool's presence, I mentally switched gears, preparing myself for the work ahead.

The bright lights of the operating room beamed down, illuminating the sterile, controlled environment. The smell of antiseptic was stronger here, mixing with the faint scent of latex gloves and the metallic tang of surgical instruments. I stood at the sink, scrubbing my hands and forearms meticulously while a nurse tied the strings of my surgical gown at the back.

The hospital corridors smelled of antiseptic, a scent I had long grown accustomed to. I stepped into the pre-op area, checking the schedule.

"Patient?" I asked as I spotted Ha-Ya, who was going through the case file.

"Forty-five-year-old male, motorcycle accident," she reported. "He had a ruptured spleen and fractured ribs. They controlled the bleeding earlier, but the surgeons need to go back in to remove the spleen entirely."

I nodded, slipping on my gloves as I walked toward the OR. Inside, the team was already prepping. The lead surgeon, Dr. Kwon, gave me a nod as I approached the anesthesia station.

"You're handling induction?" he asked.

"Yes, Dr. Kwon," I replied, scanning the vitals on the monitor. The patient was stable, but we had to keep it that way.

Ha-Ya handed me the intubation supplies as Seok Kyung adjusted the IV lines.

"Starting induction," I announced, pushing the propofol into the IV. The patient's breathing slowed, his eyelids fluttering shut. I positioned the laryngoscope, carefully inserting the endotracheal tube into his airway.

"Tube secured," I said, listening for breath sounds before nodding at the ventilator.

I focused entirely on my work, monitoring vitals, adjusting medications, and ensuring the patient remained stable throughout the operation. The OR was a space of controlled chaos-quiet, precise, and intense.

It was only after the case was done, after I had extubated the patient and handed him off to the recovery team, that I finally felt my exhaustion catch up to me.
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I stepped out of the OR, peeling off my gloves and mask when I suddenly heard my name.

"Yah, Ye Na!"

I turned to see Seok Kyung and Ha-Ya walking toward me, both still in their scrubs. Seok Kyung had his arms crossed, and Ha-Ya looked way too excited for someone who had just assisted in surgery.

"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You seriously never check the group chat, do you?" Ha-Ya huffed dramatically.

I frowned. "What group chat?"

Seok Kyung groaned. "Our university batch group chat! There's a reunion tonight."

I blinked. "Tonight?"

"Yes!" Ha-Ya threw her hands up. "And you had no idea because you ignore the chat like it's cursed."

"I don't ignore it. I just... selectively check it."

"Same thing," Seok Kyung muttered. "Come with us."

I hesitated. "I'm not prepared for that."

"What do you mean? Just go home, change, and we'll meet you there," Ha-Ya insisted.

"I don't know..."

Ha-Ya grabbed my arm dramatically. "You're going. No excuses."

I sighed. "Fine, fine. I'll go."

Both of them grinned triumphantly.

"Good! Now hurry up and get changed. We're meeting at eight," Seok Kyung said.

"I will go home and dress up"

"Make sure to be pretty"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling as I walked away, shaking my head.
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The walk home was brisk, the evening air cool against my skin. I rubbed my arms as I entered the house, kicking off my shoes with a sigh. The excitement of the reunion was starting to settle in, but so was the dilemma-I had no idea what to wear.

I made my way to my wardrobe, pulling open the doors to reveal a sea of black. Black blouses, black skirts, black dresses. Some casual, some formal, but all dark. A deep sigh escaped my lips as I ran my fingers through the hanging fabric.

"Well, what do I do?" I murmured, pulling out a plain black dress and holding it up to myself in the mirror.

Too casual.

I grabbed another, this one with lace sleeves.

Too funeral-like.

One after another, I went through them all, dismissing each one.

"You're going to a university batch reunion, not an undercover mission, Ye Na," I muttered, shaking my head.

"Looking for something?"

I nearly jumped, my head snapping toward the door. Harin was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, a faint smirk playing on her lips. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulder, and she looked perfectly at ease, as if she had every right to be here.

I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged, stepping inside as if she owned the place. "Come on, I'm try to make conversations."

I turned back to my wardrobe, flipping through my dresses again. "Why does it matter to you?"

Harin let out a light laugh. "It doesn't." She leaned against the shelf, watching me with mild amusement. "But if you need help, you can ask me."

I hesitated, fingers still on a hanger. Then, slowly, I turned to her, studying her face.

"What are you doing here, really?" I asked, tilting my head. "Did I miss something?"

She shook her head, an unreadable expression passing over her face before she smirked. "You can try one of my dresses if you want."

That caught me off guard. I narrowed my eyes. "Why are you being so nice?"

"Am I not allowed to be?" she asked, arching a brow.

I crossed my arms, watching her carefully. There was something off. Harin wasn't the type to offer things out of pure kindness, especially not to me. It had to be something else.

Something to do with Han Wool?

Oh.

Oh, is that it?

I exhaled sharply through my nose, amused. "No thanks," I said, turning back to my wardrobe. "I'll pick something on my own."

Without waiting for a response, I shut the door in her face.

A moment of silence followed, then a light chuckle from the other side. "Suit yourself," Harin said before her footsteps faded away.

I let out a breath, shaking my head.

After another few minutes of sorting, I finally settled on a dress we had once picked out for me at the sopping mall.

As I held it up against myself, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling Harin's sudden appearance left behind.

Something was definitely up.

And I had a feeling I was about to find out what.