"Take a look at the CCTV Footage being played." The defense attorney pointed at the projected screen showing the scenes unfold before the audience. The courtroom cut to dead silence as everyone focused on the screen. In the video, the room was dim as if there had been a power outage in the building. A man was resting peacefully, drowning in a mirage of his dreams. A lamp sitting on his bedside table radiated just enough to illuminate his face, confirming his identity as Mr. Ahn.

Just then, someone else had strolled inside. The woman wore a dull lab coat, and her hair was tied in a bun. Entering the room, she promptly concealed her face from the hidden camera as if she instantly knew its lens pointing in her direction. After staring at Mr. Ahn for quite some time, she took out a bottle of pills from her pocket and popped a couple in her hand. Everyone watched in sheer horror, icy chills capturing the whole court as they witnessed the doctor force the man's jaw open and drop the pills that would carry him to death's door.

Just as she finished, she quickly spun around, the lab coat flowing behind her as she disappeared out of frame. As the footage ended, the court was encapsulated in gossip and whispers swarming like pests. The defense attorney slowly paced across the room, presenting the newfound evidence. "This footage was at 11 pm, and as you can see, another person is feeding Mr. Ahn with a set of pills."

"Objection." Prosecutor Yang's sharp voice broke out as the public defender finished. "How can you even tell that is another person? It's a doctor and a woman. All attributes Dr. Min harbors."

"Prosecutor Yang, Dr. Min logged out of the hospital at 8 pm. It's in the official system. The criminal investigation was even able to secure CCTV Footage evidence of her exiting the hospital. After reviewing the footage at the different entrances, she wasn't found to arrive back at the hospital."

"Overruled." The judge nodded in favor of the defending side, gesturing for the attorney to continue.

"Virtually all cities have recognized, either by legislation or by common law, the right to receive information about one's medical condition, treatment choices, risks associated with the treatments, and prognosis. As seen by the footage, Mr. Ahn was asleep while ingesting the pills. It is clear the unknown suspect forced the patient to take the said drug for malicious reasons."

"Lastly," the attorney paused in his steps circling the stage. He looked up from the paper in his hand, and his eyes held a critical gaze. "The timing of this incident displayed on the CCTV Footage perfectly coincides with Mr. Ahn's estimated time of death."

The few strings of hope Seo Hyun had been holding on to now seemed to flourish with the key evidence. It was the perfect fit for the picture. Not only did it deem her innocent, but it opened up new hidden revelations that flawlessly made sense. It tied everything together, like a ribbon binding a bouquet of flowers.

"A decision has been made by the court." The judge spoke with an edge of professionalism as he loomed over everyone on the towering podium. "After new pieces of evidence have come to light, the court has concluded that Dr. Min Seo Hyun is found not guilty as charged by the incident; hence she is free to leave."

Seo Hyun felt tears filling her eyes like water brimming the edges of a glass. She passed a hand over her eyesight, determined to stop her emotions from spilling. Seo Hyun knew she humiliated herself with her pleading outbursts at the last trial, but she savored every inch of dignity left within her. She didn't have to worry about her career, about living her remaining days behind bars and being exiled from society. She no longer carried the burden of proving her innocence, about having to convince everyone of her integrity. Seo Hyun could dwell within this moment for a lifetime, the relief satisfying her rigid senses.

"Dr. Min." The judge turned to face her. "The charges against you connecting to Mr. Ahn's death have been dropped. You are now granted out of being detained and can resume your normal life." Seo Hyun's face was beaming as the judge uttered his statement. Happiness flowed through her, warming her skin like the rays of an early summer sun. Her customary cautious grin exploded into a radiant smile that she had never worn before. Everything was going to be alright now.

As the trial came to an end, Seo Hyun swiveled to see a familiar face in the distance. "Seo Hyun!" her older brother called out as he jogged up to her. He wrapped her in his arms, within a protective embrace that melted all her worries away like rain on summer earth. She felt her body sink into his warmth; finally, she was home.

Seo Jin eventually pulled away, regret etched on his face. "I'm so sorry I didn't attend your last trial, I know how much you needed the support."

A smile bloomed on Seo Hyun's lips like flowers in spring. "Oppa, don't be sorry. I know you were doing everything you can to investigate this case. Thank you so much, without you I would've been in prison by now." Seo Jin offered a sheepish smile before a deep sigh conveyed his regrets.

"I wish it had been me who retrieved the evidence." Seo Hyun angled her head to the side, clearly confused.

"What do you mean? If not you, then who?"

"It was the crime investigator in charge of the case. We were so lucky to have them thoroughly review the evidence," Seo Jin simply replied, revealing the core of how the new evidence had been uncovered to the world.

Seo Hyun stopped to think, the gears in her head churning as it finally dawned on her. So, it was you all along?

At the other end of the court, Prosecutor Yang hung his head low, entirely defeated, his hands both pressed on the table. He raised his red laced eyeballs from the papers sprawled all over his area to glance at the young doctor in the plaintive jumpsuit. She may look pathetic, but you're the one who fucking lost. His fingers curled tightly around his pencil, and strands of hair were frayed all over his face, shadowing his dark features. "They promised I would win this case, what kind of deceit is this?" Yang seethed under his heavy breaths, the pencil snapping into two with a crisp sound.

*  *  *

Life was an unforgiving sword plunging into the souls of many. It didn't wait for you to breathe in and take in everything for a second. It strangled you to the point of exhaustion, and you could feel the ropes burning the skin of your throat like thick fire. There was no point in attempting to escape. The only choice left was to adapt to the wight of the pressure.

For Seo Hyun, she couldn't take a break; she was thrust back into the hectic life confined in the walls of a hospital. She couldn't argue. She couldn't relieve herself of the ordeal she went through. All she could do was pick up the shards of her remaining wits, and pull herself together to squeeze into how things were before.

However, she wasn't sure if everything would be the same after that.

The operating room was quiet, except for the rhythmic beep of the heart rate monitor. A patient laid perfectly still on the operating table, swooning in profound sleep under the influence of anesthesia. A large incision cut through the lower right abdomen, blood leaking a luminescent scarlet red under the brilliance of the surgical lights. Seo Hyun had performed the appendectomy a multitude of times in her whole career. She could bet on the fact she could snip the appendix right off with her eyes closed.

Despite being a common procedure to perform, the risks pose deadly when met with the complications. If the appendix hanging from the large intestine exploded, the bacteria spreading to the rest of the organs could be life-threatening. It was essential to cut off the bulging pouch before it ruptured, time always being the enemy. "Ji Su, please hold down the large intestine, I need to cut off the appendix, we don't have much time left." Seo Hyun's authoritative voice enveloped the room, with only the beeping of the heart rate monitor answering her order.

"Ji Su, what are you doing?" Seo Hyun clenched her teeth behind her mask as Ji Su clumsily held down the organs, the long tunnels of pink flesh spilling from her grip. What the hell is she doing, why is she acting like a complete amateur? "Come on, we did this way too many times, stop playing around." Seo Hyun knew better than to panic, but the anxiety was already lingering on her shoulders as the time ticked by, giving little allowance left until they were scheduled to finish the surgery.

"Just give me a second." Ji Su moved her hand around the patient's digestive tract, blood staining her blue latex gloves a deep violet. It seemed like no matter what she did, the tails of the intestine just kept bulging and mingling with each other, the appendix swinging in motion.

"Dr. Ahn this isn't a game. Are you asking me to cut this man's intestines open? Hold it down properly."

"I just can't--"

"I wasn't asking you." Seo Hyun's patience was running down a thin line, racing between the hands of the clock spinning in a circle. If she waited any longer, the appendix could just burst at any given moment. Ji Su is just asking for it, what the hell is going on here. She couldn't tell whether Ji Su was just fiddling about, a calm demeanor was the only front she put on as she struggled to follow through.

"Dr. Min, his blood rate is steadily dropping, we need to hurry." Ae Ra's worried eyes glanced between the patient and the monitor displaying his vitals. "He might go into Hypovolemic shock soon."

Seo Hyun was fighting an internal conflict to make a decision. If I make a blind cut with Ji Su being so careless, I could cut open the intestine, if I wait any longer the appendix will just go berserk and he'll be drained of any blood left. Her eyes kept bouncing between the surgical scissors in her hand and the hole in the man's abdomen, weighing the options she could risk. Fuck it.

The scissors dove right into the gaping opening and went straight to the appendix dangling from the large intestine. Gently scooping the small pouch on her other hand, it brushed against Ji Su's gloves and Seo Hyun went it for the trim, the sharp tips of the scissors barely millimeters away from the sensitive fleshy coils of intestines.

Seo Hyun finally exhaled, her heart pumping in her chest as she merely realized she was holding her breath the whole time. "Let's close up the incision, we don't have much time left," she uttered, eyes boring into Ji Su who avoided meeting her stern gaze. With such a simple procedure, is it wrong to assume Ji Su was trying to undermine it? But why?

*  *  *

Seo Hyun sat alone on the bench, admiring the pale petals of cherry blossom falling from the branches. She watched in awe as the petals gracefully danced in the air as if they were performing a ballet. The night came whispering sweet nothings with the icy wind, luring heat from tired muscles until they were restless. It caressed the bare skin of her face until it left a pink blush that powdered her cheeks. A full moon was hiding behind the abundance of trees, with their boughs steadily swaying in the air, and lamposts lining the pathway illuminated a soft glow in the dark night.

Swirling the liquid in a virid bottle, Seo Hyun brought it to her weather-cracked lips, taking a long swig of the alcohol. The burning taste lingered in her throat and left a metallic flavor on her tongue to settle down.

Her ears perked at the sound of shoes crunching on the ground, but she continued to stare at the cherry blossom petals cascading down the air like a waterfall. "Got one for me?" Seo Hyun picked another bottle of Soju from the plastic sitting beside her; the brand was a definite staple for everyone.

"Here, consider it a gift." Seo Hyun handed the bottle to Ji Woo, who took a seat beside her, he grabbed it without another thought, his fingers brushing past hers for a moment. "I don't usually drink, but I thought it would be fair to indulge myself a little." She turned to Ji Woo, who popped open the cap with ease. "Cheers?"

"Cheers," he simply replied, clinking his bottle with hers before they both chugged down the alcohol. "Ah, that feels good. Especially with a doctor who won't lecture you for hours about a crippling alcohol addiction." Seo Hyun raised an eyebrow as she stared at Ji Woo, a bittersweet smile grazing her lips.

"Seriously? I would've never known." Ji Woo shrugged in response, taking another swing at the Soju in his hand.

"My dad disappeared when I was young. I guess you could say I found solace in alcohol numbing my pain. My mom tried to intervene, but I was a tough nut to crack." Ji Woo's lips slightly curled into a smile as the nostalgia mixed with the alcohol washed over his nerves. Seo Hyun propped an elbow on her knee and cupped one side of her cheek in her hand, leaning to his direction as she grew interested in his narrative. "She passed away due to cancer." Seo Hyun widened her eyes, completely caught off guard by his sudden remark.

"I'm so sorry, I--"

"Don't be, I've already found peace," he interjected. Ji Woo bent his head to the side as he peeped down at the lips of the Soju bottle; it caught a sheer glint of the street light shadowing behind them. "Fortunately, not with alcohol, but through fulfilling her wish."

They drank in the silence through every pore, soothed by its tranquility that embraced them. It lingered in the air, thick and heavy, like a blanket. Only the crisp rustling of the cherry blossom leaves surrounding them.

"My parents died in a car accident when I was twelve." Seo Hyun leaned at the edge of her seat, staring down at the alcohol slowly diminishing in her bottle. "It sucked honestly, kids would harass me all the time in school," she chuckled, masking the pain of reliving her infernal days. "No one wanted to be friends with the weird kid who had no parents around on family day. I was just an outcast, a complete and utter misfit."

"It was just my brother looking after me. Every day I felt guilty, watching him work through the late hours of the night and catch up with school at the same time." Ji Woo gave her a reassuring smile, one that offered sympathy rather than blunt pity.

"That's why you became a doctor; you wanted to prove to everyone you weren't just a lost cause who'd be a burden to society. You locked your eyes on the ideal career that pushed you to a level of perfection no one ever expected, just so you could make up for your flaws and fit in."

Seo Hyun chuckled, not surprised at all by the accuracy of Ji Woo's words; it stung her like acid being poured over a fresh open wound. What should I expect? After all, he is a crime investigator.

There was a sense of comfort that trickled from the tipsy revelations. There was no pity in understanding the tragedy they went through, time had expired for them both to grieve. They were now adults who moved on from pain and regrets, living in the present with responsibilities falling in their arms.

Perhaps it was discovering they had more in common than what they thought. After keeping the guard up for so long, they didn't mind shedding the mask covering up the weaknesses burrowed deep within their feelings. It was an overdue closure that sparked bliss at the moment, the more focused the more intense, like a beam of light to the soul.

"Thanks for the gift, my first Soju in years." Ji Woo's lips coiled to a playful smirk, his eyes holding a mischievous glint as he observed the label wrapped around the olive green transparent bottle.

"Well, if you fall into a relapse, you can count on me to drown you in lectures about why being an alcohol addict sucks." Ji Woo shook his head, a light chuckle escaping his lips that uncovered his perfect smile. A smile that charmed women who spared a glance at him, but to Seo Hyun, it was a smile that warmed her, kindling a light that ignited within to shield her from the cold night. "Thanks," she finally said, setting down the now empty bottle beside her.

"For?"

"For believing me." Seo Hyun paused, connecting her eyes to his direction. He tilted his head, lifting an eyebrow at her remark. His rosy lips still held on to his signature smirk, and his midnight eyes were like the twilight sky that held stars dancing with curiosity. "With everyone denouncing me as a criminal, you were the only one who trusted my words..." she trailed off, thinking for a moment.

"You were my savior. I owe you."

Ji Woo watched as the young doctor stood from the bench, and politely excused herself to leave early for her next shift at work. His stare lingered a moment too long at her retreating back, the cherry blossom petals falling all around the path she walked. He finally got up from his seat and walked away in the opposite direction, parting away in a growing distance.

As Seo Hyun followed her route back to the hospital, her phone pinged inside the pocket of her coat. She slowly stopped in her tracks and slipped it out to check. She furrowed her eyebrows as she switched her phone on, the blue light casting a glow to her face. Perhaps Dr. Jong wants me back earlier than I expected? But my next shift doesn't start until a couple of hours later. She opened the new message, realizing it came from an anonymous sender.

Don't even think of relaxing for another moment Dr. Min, this is just the beginning of our game. But this time, you'll play by our rules.

Hello dear readers! I am so sorry for the delay in this chapter's update! This was one of the most difficult chapters to map out and write! Especially since I had a writer's block at this point. But I'm definitely hoping to get these updates smooth and sailing! So I hope you forgive me! Let this be a lesson to not procrastinate, oof. So, what do you think so far? Any ideas? Theories perhaps? As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments below! I especially love to interact with you guys and know your reactions and thoughts! And critique is welcome! Please press the tiny star for it to light up! The support definitely means a lot! Have a great day, cheers~