Seo Hyun stood in the busy halls of the hospital as she checked her schedule resting on her left arm. The strong smell of antiseptic floating in the air was enough to kindle a headache, but she had grown accustomed to the scent that engulfed her senses. A gentle tap on the shoulder startled the young doctor, and despite the tiresome days, her alert senses never failed her. Seo Hyun quickly spun around, but her tense shoulders and facial features soften as she found Dr. Jong standing behind her, a captivating smile kissing his velvet lips.

"Congratulations Seo Hyun, I heard you found the bullet and submitted it right away." Dr. Jong extended his hand for a handshake, and Seo Hyun reluctantly placed her hand in his, her lips curving slightly into a nervous smile as she thanked him. "You were willing to do anything to cancel the emergency meeting and an overkill of a report huh? Or you just didn't want anything to damage your pristine career so far?" Dr. Jong chuckled as he gave her hand a firm handshake before shoving it back into his pocket.

"You flatter me too much Dr. Jong," she replied and bit her lip to conceal the butterflies fluttering as her boss complimented her good work.

Dr. Jong was a highly revered surgeon in the department, if good looks and charisma were not enough, he just had to be gifted with an exceptional skill in the medical field, which was no doubt his forte. So for Seo Hyun to be taken under his wing as his trainee, she couldn't believe the blessing and curse that bewitched her; for having such a talented boss, and for having to match up to the high bar set for her.

"Ah, such a competent doctor like you..." he trailed off, patting her head in endearment. "Would be so dangerous for someone like me," he finally added with a light chuckle. Seo Hyun caught the gleam in his eye as he sent her a wink before walking off into the chaotic halls of the east wing.

As she watched him walk away and disappear into the sea of people, she slowly turned her head back and widened her eyes. "Heyyy, I saw that you know." Dr. Kim wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, before taking a sip of the cheap coffee in his hands.

"What! Saw what!? Nothing happened!" Seo Hyun squeaked in defense as if she had been caught red-handed in committing a crime. In an attempt to escape him, Seo Hyun wandered away but Dr. Kim followed suit beside her.

"Oh c'mon! Even a moron with an IQ below double digits can clearly see the hearts in your eyes whenever Jong Dae Hyun passes by your sight," Dr. Kim teased. Kim Tae Wook, if you weren't my senior I'd kick you right between the legs, and let's see how your girlfriend would react to no more fun times in the bedroom.

"Dr. Kim can you shut up! Besides, that's so inappropriate of you!" Seo Hyun stopped in her tracks. Her gaze fell on Dr. Kim like an act of violence, a glare that made him put his hands up as if Seo Hyun had a gun to his head.

"Okay, okay, I'll leave!" He surrendered, swiveling around in the opposite direction. Seo Hyun released an exasperated sigh, threading her fingers through her hair that fell all around her shoulders. Shaking her head, she lifted her head again and her eyes connected with Dr. An.

There was a moment of thick silence between the two as if they could read the secrets hiding in the deepest corners of their minds. Dr. An broke into a cheery smile and tilted her head to the side as she extended a hand to Seo Hyun. "Hey! Thanks for taking care of that case! I know it was totally my fault for not taking charge of--"

"N-no! It's alright! No problem Ji Su," Seo Hyun cut her off, hurriedly shaking her hand with a little too much vigor. Surprised, Ji Su could only simply smile at her colleague.

"Oh, well do you want to grab lunch later? I'll make it up to you after trying to put you through a hell of paperwork with that," Ji Su laughed, and Seo Hyun couldn't help but feel uncomfortable around her presence. Was this really the same doctor that I've been friends with for all these years?

"No, I've got to review something later." Seo Hyun politely declined with an awkward smile. Ji Su's face fell in utter disappointment, but she quickly masked it with a bright smile and a lighthearted giggle.

"Oh Seo Hyun, always the overachiever huh?" Ji Su shook her head sideways before walking off. Seo Hyun heaved her chest in relief, realizing she had been holding her breath the whole time. She stole another glance at Ji Su's retreating back, before looking away. Ji Su... is there something you're hiding? The mere fact you're acting as if nothing ever happened scares me...

Seo Hyun took in deep breathes to calm her nerves, and her delicate fingers pressed on her temples in an attempt to relax herself. It's fine, pull yourself together Seo Hyun. She wrapped her fingers on a door handle and entered the patient's room. In an instant, Seo Hyun's worried face was wiped with a gentle smile as the patient acknowledged her presence. "Hello Mr. Ahn, how are you feeling now? I hope you didn't move your hand too much." Seo Hyun's eyes flickered to the man's wrist that was wrapped in a fresh cast.

"I-I guess it's much better now," he replied, anxiety spilling in his words. Seo Hyun furrowed her eyebrows, unconvinced. With a sharp eye, she noted that his injured hand was jittering like a vibrating phone. Looks like his symptoms of multiple sclerosis are getting out of hand. She checked the list of medications the man was taking and attempted some small talk to calm him down.

"So, Mr. Ahn, how did you get your hand injured like that?" His eyes widened as if they were going to bulge out of their sockets. Seo Hyun popped a couple of pills from a bottle and approached the man to offer it to him. But in a swift motion, he grabbed her arm and his eyes darted around the room nervously. "H-Hey, please!"

"It was them, they said if I didn't shut up they'd kill me too." His raspy voice sent chills down her spine, and she tried to let go, but surprisingly, his shaking hand had a lot of strength.

"Mr. Ahn please, I really don't appreciate this."

"I know who they are."

"Who?"

"The serial killer." Seo Hyun flinched at the darkness hidden in his words, and looked away, unable to contain the man's piercing stare that left her uncomfortable. Has he gone mad? His symptoms are acting up too much! Could it be the anesthesia during the operation? No... it should've worn off by now. Her silent searching for answers did nothing to hush Seo Hyun's curiosity, mustering the courage within her, she looked at the man with eyes squinted, holding a challenging stare.

"Where are they?"

Eyes nervously bouncing off the room like a basketball, the man stammered, "They're watching us right now." Seo Hyun could feel a flash of goosebumps pricking her skin at the revelation, and she couldn't decide whether she regretted that question or not. "Please! Please, believe me!" He pleaded, eyes spilling with worry. Seo Hyun hastily jerked her arm back, and quietly took the glass of water from the bedside table.

"Okay Mr. Ahn, I will if you take your medicine." He snatched the pills from Seo Hyun like a thief and quickly swallowed them down followed by chugging the water as if it were a bottle of alcohol. She stood there to observe his next reaction, and as if he had reflected on his actions, his eyes widened at the blank wall in front of him.

"I-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He fumbled around with his words and laid back down in bed, his eyes still alert like an owl's stare at midnight.

"I'll leave you to rest then Mr. Ahn, don't worry I'll have Dr. Kim check your medication list later for your MS." He simply turned his back to her in cold response, and Seo Hyun sighed before turning around to leave the room. She couldn't spend another second in there before feeling like she had just caught the same insanity he was suffering.

Carefully closing the door behind her, Seo Hyun heaved a heavy sigh that relieved the weight off her shoulders for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day. It's still the beginning of the day but I already feel like I've been on call for a week. She headed back to her office, already thinking about reading through her textbooks just as she promised Ji Su earlier. But she halted in her tracks, her memory giving a bitter reminder. Stupid Seo Hyun, you lost your book when you bumped into that stupid crime investigator. How are you gonna pass the General Surgery Qualifying Examination you fucking idiot?

"Well shit."

***

As the young doctor walked down the busy streets of Seoul, she massaged the side of her neck that felt stiff like a rock. She stopped by the edge of the road, waiting as the cars rolled through the streets.

"You again?"

Seo Hyun lifted her head to where the sound came from, and her gaze connected with Ji Woo's mischievous eyes. The corner of his lips tugged upwards into a sinister smirk, and he tilted his head to the side. It was so subtle, yet it was enough to get on her nerves. "What? Are you going to ramble about how I'm stalking the shit out of you?"

"I'm a logical person Dr. Min, we're neighbors after all. How am I to accuse you of stalking me?" Ji Woo chuckled, rather amused. Well, perhaps that's just a ruse for you to stalk me, well I'm flattered I've captivated you that much to get close to me. Seo Hyun rolled her eyes before walking off the second the traffic light flickered green. Ji Woo followed her suit.

"Where are you running off to ma'am? You don't need to feel so demure around me," he teased enjoying the way she got irritated with him. "You can have the honor of calling me by my first name, we're the same age anyway. For a doctor like you, it is pretty ironic how I've saved your life more than once" he added, cockiness saturating every word he spoke.

Seo Hyun shot him a disgusted look, already dreading the long walk home. "And for a mere crime investigator like you, it's pretty ironic how rude and full of yourself you are. We aren't in high school anymore, I don't do petty crushes."

"Getting casual now, are we?" he replied, completely ignoring her poor attempt at vexing him. "I think I do have the right to be full of myself, as a crime investigator I'm nowhere near gullible to how people react when they see me." He sent her a wink, to which she sighed. Do I have to deal with this idiot after a long day at work? Why are the odds never in my favor?

Once they arrived at their gate, Seo Hyun hurriedly went in, antsy to get away from Ji Woo. "Wait," he called out behind her, his silky voice echoing through the cool evening. Seo Hyun gritted her teeth, thinking of ways to strangle him. She hated how her skin would prick at the baritone of his rich voice, but most importantly, she was fed up with him. She wanted so bad to hate him, but hate was a strong word that she could never bring herself to do so.

"What?" She turned around, the anger radiating off her like a glowing light bulb. Ji Woo stood there, his back leaning against the wall, with the soft glow of the light above the gate illuminating his face. The same smirk played on his lips, and in his hands was the coveted book Seo Hyun had been desperately searching for.

The anger that boiled within her died faster than wisps of smoke dissipated after a candle flame has been snuffed out. She didn't care where he found the book, she just knew she didn't have to stress about paying a pretty price tag on her precious textbook that was missing from her massive collection.

She rushed back to him, and he willingly handed her back the thick book. She smoothed out the cover gently and appreciated the papery smell she never noticed before. Ji Woo folded his arms over his chest and simply observed her bliss of reuniting with her book. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she examined the book, still in the same condition as when it flew from her hands. Ji Woo's lips curved into a small smile hidden with satisfaction. He watched as her hair fell around her shoulders like ocean waves, and the moonlight casting a hazy radiance on her face.

Seo Hyun craned her head up to Ji Woo, her eyes mirroring the stars dancing in the night sky. Her cheeks were powdered a rosy color in the brisk, cold night, and a shy yet, gracious smile was etched on her lips.

"Thanks, Ji Woo."

***

The patient's room was dim, with only a lone bedside lamp to give off light. The young doctor neared the man laying on the hospital bed. He was peacefully resting, not a single worry evident on his facial features as he was wrapped in profound sleep.

"Such a shame..." she trailed off, a moment of pity washing her face just as it leaves again suddenly. She twisted open a bottle of pills and popped two in the palm of her hand. Her cold fingers firmly pressed on the man's jaw to slowly force it open, and she dropped the pills in the black abyss he was soon to meet eternally.

"Goodnight," she whispered, her raspy voice void of any emotion. "Forever."

Hello my dear readers, I hope you enjoy this new chapter! I apologize for being tardy, I'll definitely make sure it won't occur so you can enjoy the weekly updates in peace. So what did you guys think? How do you feel about that ending though? Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments and as always, please support this book by making the little star bright! Cheers everyone~