In the sterile embrace of the hospital, Haneul's declaration cut through the air, unflinching and clear. "You've been shot," she said, her voice a steady beacon amidst the sudden whirlwind of chaos.

He responded with a wry twist of his lips, a humor that seemed to grapple with the shadows in his eyes. "I know... I was there when it happened," he quipped, a feeble attempt to lighten the gravity of his predicament.

Haneul's gaze sharpened, her mind racing with medical precision. "There's no exit wound. You need to be checked in-vitals, blood loss, the works," she insisted, her tone brooking no argument.

He was quick to dismiss, his voice firm, leaving no room for debate. "No check-ins," he stated, as if used to issuing commands that were promptly followed.

"But your life's on the line," she countered, her professional concern at odds with the direness of his condition.

His gaze met hers, intense and probing. "And you're not going to let that happen, right?" His words were a challenge, a plea wrapped in the guise of defiance.

A shiver, not of cold but of responsibility, ran through Haneul. "Listen, I'm the doctor here, and I say-"

He cut her off, his voice a notch higher, edged with a quiet desperation. "Just get the bullet out, patch me up, and let me walk out of here. No paperwork. Got it?"

She took a deep breath, the scent of his cologne-a spicy, earthy blend-clashing with the antiseptic hospital air. As she stood, her gaze inadvertently landed on his lips, soft and full, a stark contrast to the tension etched across his face.

"If he's asking for no records, he's tangled in something deep," Haneul thought, her instincts as a healer warring with the moral crossroads she faced.

He must have caught the flicker of hesitation in her eyes because he reached out, his touch unexpectedly gentle, as he coaxed her chin upward. "Do you need me to beg, doctor?" he murmured, his voice a low thrum that seemed to vibrate through the silence.

"I want to help you, but my license is on the line," she protested, the weight of her words heavy in the air.

He smiled then, a crooked, disarming grin. "I won't tell a soul, doc. You have my word," he whispered, his breath a warm caress against her ear.

That promise sent a flutter through her, unexpected and unsettling. She nodded, her agreement a whisper. "Okay... I'll help you."

Suddenly, a scream-a raw, desperate sound-echoed down the corridor. Haneul's first instinct was to run towards it, but he was quicker, his grip firm, a gun now in plain sight.

"Sorry, but we need to speed this up," he urged, his voice laced with an urgency that brooked no argument.

"Why? What's happening?" she asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

"It's better if you don't know," he replied, his eyes a shade darker, a storm brewing within.

Haneul looked down at the blood staining her scrubs. "I need to change," she said, already thinking ahead.

"I can't let you leave. It's too risky," he countered, the gun tapping against his temple in a rhythmic beat of frustration.

"If I don't change, they'll start asking questions," she shot back, her mind racing.

He paused, the gun now a pendulum of indecision against his skin. Then Haneul had a flash of inspiration. "Wait, I have an idea."

He raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and impatience in his voice. "Which is...?"

"We can go to my office. I've got a change of clothes there, and-" she began.

"I just told you I-" he started to protest, but she cut him off.

"It's right above us. No one will see us. Plus, I've got medical supplies," she said, her voice steady and convincing.

He mulled over her words, then nodded. "Lead the way," he conceded.

In her office, Haneul gestured to the desk. "Sit. Keep pressure on that wound while I change," she instructed.

"Whatever you say, Doc," he replied, a hint of amusement in his tone.

She turned away, quickly swapping her bloodied scrubs for a plain t-shirt and jeans.

When she faced him again, she caught the briefest flicker of disappointment in his eyes. "What? I'm a doctor, not a fashion icon," she defended herself, her voice tinged with self-consciousness.

"If I make it out of this, remind me to take you shopping," he said, the corners of his mouth lifting in a genuine smile.

"Yeah... sure, Captain," she retorted with a hint of sarcasm, her glare cutting through the thick air between them.

He chuckled, then watched her as she began to gather her supplies. "Captain? That's a new one, sweetheart."

Haneul ignored the nickname, her focus narrowing on the task at hand. She placed her stethoscope against his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heart. "Hmm, 120. Rapid but strong," she observed.

"Good sign?" he asked, his smirk returning.

She shot him a look, not in the mood for jokes. Taking a deep breath, she started to unbutton his shirt, revealing the dark suit that spoke of a life shrouded in mystery.

"What do you think, Doc?" he teased, his voice casual yet laced with an undercurrent of something more.

Haneul bit her lip, her eyes reluctantly leaving the expanse of his well-defined muscles. "The wound's manageable," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

"Well, I was surely not talking about the wound," he said, his gaze intense, holding hers in a silent conversation.

As she prepared to address the wound, she realized she was missing something crucial. "Shoot! I need anesthetic. Wait here, I've just got to-"

He grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "Where to?"

"To get something to numb the pain," she explained, urgency creeping into her voice.

"I don't need it. I can handle the pain," he said, his grip firm and unyielding.

"You're not afraid of a little pain, huh?" she said, a mix of admiration and concern in her voice.

He gave a half-smile, all bravado. "Trust me... I've had worse," he said, his voice low and steady.

She sighed, then pressed the scalpel to his skin, her hands steadied by his warm palm. "Right here, Doc," he guided her, his tone gruff but reassuring.

"Are you sure? This is going to hurt," she warned, her eyes locked on his.

He was silent for a beat, then his gaze sharpened, focused solely on her. "Maybe a distraction would help," he suggested, his voice carrying a note of uncertainty.

"Music, or-" she started, but he cut her off.

"How about a kiss?" he proposed, the words hanging between them, unexpected and bold.

"A kiss?!" Haneul's response was a mix of surprise and disbelief, her eyes wide.

He leaned in, his voice a whisper. "Unless you're scared," he teased, a challenge in his eyes.

Haneul's heart skipped a beat, his proximity sending a jolt of energy through her. "Scared? Not a chance," she replied, her voice stronger than she felt.

She took a deep breath, ready to face whatever came next. "I hate to break it to you, but you're not as intimidating as you think," she countered, though her heart raced with uncertainty.

With a deliberate motion, Jungkook removed her stethoscope, then drew her closer with a firm yet gentle embrace.

"Alright, prove it then. Kiss me," he dared, his eyes gleaming with playful defiance.

"What makes you think it'll even help?" Haneul's voice wavered slightly, her mind awash with conflicting emotions.

"There's only one way to find out... Kiss me," he insisted, his touch igniting a tempest of desire within her.

Caught in the tempestuous whirlwind of the moment, Haneul found herself ensnared by his magnetic allure. With a mixture of nervousness and longing, she leaned forward, bridging the divide between them.

Throwing caution to the wind, she closed the distance, her lips meeting his in a passionate embrace. Time seemed to stand still as they surrendered to the intoxicating rhythm of their shared desire.

But amidst the heady rush of passion, doubt gnawed at Haneul's conscience. What am I doing?

With a sudden surge of clarity, she broke away from his embrace, her cheeks flushed with a tumultuous mix of embarrassment and desire.

"I think that did work. I'm ready now, sweetheart," he declared, his gaze unwavering.

Haneul took a deep, steadying breath before making the initial incision. Hisknuckles turned white as he gripped the base of the chair, his body rigid but his face betraying no sign of pain.

"That's good, really good. You're holding up well," Haneul murmured as she worked, her hands steady and practiced. "Now, I'm just going to remove the bullet."

His attempt at humor was dry. "You make it sound so easy, sweetheart."

With deft movements born of countless hours in surgery, Haneul extracted the bullet and let it fall into a metal container with a definitive clink.

"Got it! Almost done now. Just need to stitch you up. Hold still for me," she instructed, her voice calm and reassuring.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he pressed his lips together, maintaining a stoic silence that impressed Haneul. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of life led a man to endure such pain without a word.

"Alright, that should do it," she said as she finished the last suture and covered the wound with adhesive gauze.

Jungkook broke the silence, his voice soft. "I just realized... I don't even know your name."

Haneul felt a jolt of surprise as he reached out, gently stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. "You saved my life," he said.

"It's Dr. Haneul Kim," she replied, her voice steady despite the rapid thoughts in her head.

"Haneul, I'm Jungkook. Jungkook Jeon," he introduced himself, and the name sent a wave of recognition through her.

Jungkook Jeon, the rumored mafia heir. The realization made her heart race, and she nodded, trying to quell the panic rising within her.

Haneul knew the kind of danger a man like him represented. What was he doing here? She could imagine her friend Ella's reaction. She had just kissed a mafia leader, had her hands inside his wound... What if something had gone wrong?

"You look a little pale, Haneul. Are you okay?" Jungkook's concern was evident.

"Me? Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... you're kind of famous," she managed to say.

"So, you've heard of me then," he noted, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Just a little," Haneul admitted.

"Don't believe everything you hear," Jungkook advised, a serious undertone to his words.

His family was notorious, one of the most powerful mafias in the city. Haneul was incredulous. "Oh, and what should I believe then?"

"That there are always two sides to every story," Jungkook said as he stood, towering over her, and began to button up his shirt.

Haneul folded her arms, watching him. "What happened? You have nothing to say? Your lips seemed pretty capable a moment ago when you kissed me," Jungkook said.

"No, I've never met someone... You know what? Never mind. It's none of my business," she said, turning away.

Jungkook grinned, the danger in his eyes momentarily replaced by something else before he reholstered his gun beneath his jacket.

"Do you have a phone I could borrow? I need to make a call," he asked.

"Sure," Haneul said, handing him her phone.

He walked to the window, his back to her, and dialed a number. His voice was cold and sharp as he spoke to the person on the other end. "Don't lie to me, Taison. Tonight was a bloodbath. Someone talked, and I want to know who."

The voice on the other end sounded frantic, but Jungkook kept cutting them off, his threats chilling. "I swear to God, when I find out, I will cut them up so good even their grandma will not recognize them. Now, send someone to get me, or the next set of balls I will slice will be yours, understood?!"

Haneul watched, her mind racing. What had she gotten herself into?

A nagging sense of curiosity tugged at her mind. Who is this man, and what secrets lay hidden behind his captivating facade?

But before she could unravel the enigma, the distant echoes of approaching footsteps shattered the fragile tranquility of the moment.

"Shoot... They found us!" Jungkook's voice rang out, urgency tainting his words.

"Who found us?!" Haneul's heart quickened with apprehension, her pulse racing in tandem with the mounting tension.

With a steely resolve, Jungkook positioned himself protectively in front of her, his gaze ablaze with determination.

"Get behind me, Haneul. This is going to be ugly."

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/n

Hiiiiyaaaaa

Thanks a million for sticking with me and reading the second chapter of my story! I really appreciate your support, and I'm so excited to keep sharing Haneul and Jungkook's journey with you.

By the way, can I just rant for a second about the weather? It's been an insane 40°C right now and it's almost 6 in the evening 😭😭!

Seriously, it's like stepping into an oven every time I go outside. And it's supposed to stay this hot for the next few days. Ugh, talk about unbearable! Anyway, stay cool out there!
Catch you in the next chapter!

I LOVE YOU A LOTT

Word count: 2025
©Novelist_Susanna
17/05/2024