I jerked to a stop and looked up from where I was searching for Mochi.

And into the face of a very handsome Park Jimin.

"Mo-"

It must have sounded like I said 'mwo' because he immediately hurried to clarify.

"Ani, you were calling for Mochi? Haha, erm, I get called that nickname sometimes so I thought."

He looked flustered. I got Park Jimin flustered. His face had started to turn pink and his eyes began to crinkle into little half moons from the shy smile that broke out.

My god, he looked beautiful.

"Oh, haha, well that's very sweet of you to say. Thank you."

Crap. CRAP. I said that out loud?!!!

I stood up quickly, straightening out my clothes as I did, looking right at the doctor and no one or no where else.

"Uisanim, I'm sorry for the rude intrusion but my cat escaped his carrier and walked in here with,"

Why the heck was I getting flustered for?! This was my hospital, goddamn it. I worked here! And I couldn't address Park Jimin in a professional way!

"Oh, choeseonghamnida! I'm Park Jimin." He bowed to me, after introducing himself.

My fangirl side wanted to pop out with balloons and streamers and a banner that said 'I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU!!!!'

But, I was a professional. So I smiled and bowed back.

"Ah Grace uisanim! You brought Mochi? I thought Ms. Puhn sent him along with Jimin here. I was just about to question him on his relationship with her when you barged in with the explanation."

Dr. Kim guffawed while nudging Jimin in the ribs.

"Ah, hyung!"

Jimin rubbed the back of his head while turning away from me, red in the face. I guess that made two of us.

"Grace uisanim?"

He was addressing me directly now. I nodded at him, still choked up.

"Here's your Mochi." He bent down next to the the examination table and picked up the orange monster.

"Mochi, oh you naughty cat!" Relief washed my nerves away and I went to take Mochi right out of Jimin's arms.

"I already finished his regular examination and he's in very good health. Keep him happy and well fed, just like always."

Dr. Kim pulled off his gloves and placed his clipboard on the counter next to him.

"Now if you both will excuse me, I'll be right back."

I thanked the doctor before he left. Mochi made a faint sound and I lifted him up to my face.

"What's wrong, Mochi?"

Then he surprised me by licking the tip of my nose. Almost like a begrudging ThankYou. He really was Steph's cat.

"I think he got scared when he couldn't find you around. He was mewling softly, almost like he was crying, that's how we found him."

I'd almost forgotten that I was in a room with PARK JIMIN.

I gaped for a short while and then woke myself up.

"Park Jimin-ssi, khamsahamnida for helping Mochi! And I'm so sorry, I was, I didn't mean, I was just really, shocked! To see you here! I mean, I know who you are! I mean, everyone does!"

I needed to stop. Mochi lightly nibbled my finger as if thinking the same thing.

"I just, Sorry! And thank you, Park Jimin-ssi!"

I bowed again, making sure not to jostle Mochi much.

"Aniyo! Aniyeyo! It's completely alright, Grace uisanim! I'm glad it was me who found Mochi!"

He walked towards us and stroked Mochi lightly in between his ears. I felt Mochi's Purr Machine turn on the ignition.

"He's a beautiful cat. Very nice name too." He winked and then laughed at his own insinuation.

How was this man real?! And how was I even talking to him?!

"I'll make sure to convey the compliments to my friend! Mochi's, well, more responsible owner."

Jimin was still laughing at my joke when Dr. Kim walked in. I took that as my cue to leave. I had promised Minho I'd help. As much as I'd have loved to freeze this moment, and take it over to Steph and hide it away at our apartment, I had my own duty to see to.

So I bid both Dr. Kim and Jimin goodbye and walked out of the room, Mochi in hand. Jimin waved like we were old friends parting after catching up.

"I'm going to have to find an excuse to prevent Steph from trimming you or giving you a bath. Ever." I cooed to Mochi as I let him into his carrier again, this time making sure to secure the latch.

Dr. Kang Minho was fast asleep on his desk, when I walked into the office, despite the ruckus from the casualty next door. The Out Patients' was right next to the casualty so that emergency cases could be shifted, and in order to make it easier for doctors to move to and fro between their cabins and the casualty. Junior doctors handled the casualty and requested the OP doctors only if necessary.

He didn't stir from the sound of my opening the door, nor when I sat down across the table from him, purposely making as much noise as I could. He was lying all over the desk, mouth slightly open and limbs splayed as much as they could be.

"Yah, Minho. Wake up."

I placed Mochi on the seat next to mine, and reached forward to poke his shoulder.

No response.

"YAH! KANG MINHO UISANIM!"

"Nurse! Get a stretcher!" Minho startled awake, getting to his feet and waving his hand to an invisible person.

"Yah," and he finally noticed me.

"How can you be sleeping on the job?! What if someone else had walked in?"

He flopped back in his seat with a groan, messing up his hair as he buried his head between his arms again.

"I haven't been sleeping well. And I didnt have breakfast today."

I immediately felt bad. He had covered for me while I took care of my personal stuff, it was only fair that I do the same for him.

"Minho, get up. Go get some coffee and a pastry or something. Go on, you cant work while you're dead on your feet." I tugged at his arms until he got up.

I borrowed his stethoscope and his coat, wearing them over my scrubs

"Grace, you're a gem." He sent me a two fingered flying kiss on the way out.

I set out to tidying the desk a bit and then moving Mochi to one of the cabins, well, just in case.

Allergies were a common visit. Cat allergies, even more so.

Once that was done, I decided to check on the casualty. I was just reaching out to push the doors open when it opened from the other side.

A frantic looking junior doctor stood on the other side of it, hair disheveled, and eyes wide.

"Grace uisanim, palli osaeyo!!

I followed her to one of the beds near the entrance of the ambulance service doors. A girl was lying there, she looked around 10 years old, maybe younger.

Eyes rolled back, rapidly breathing and thrashing about on the bed. Panic attack.

"NURSE! Paper bag!"

"Uisanim, we already gave her one. It's of no help, she isn't listening to any of our instructions."

Of course she wasnt. She had no idea what was happening to her.

"Vitals, please." As I checked the vitals, I spoke to the lady next to the girl's bed, who was crying as she tried to hold on to one small fist that was clenching the bed covers tightly.

"When did this attack start, ma'am? Any previous history?"

It appeared she didn't have a history but the attack came out of nowhere, while she was playing in the garden.

"Aegiya, listen to me," I smoothed back her hair from her face, and tried to put some pressure on her shoulders to make her lie still.

"You have to listen to the doctor, now. Try breathing through your nose. You need to close your mouth, can you do that? Please?" I had to raise my voice to get her attention, but I had it now.

Tears were streaming down her face, as she tried to follow my instructions. Her fists relaxed, and after a little struggle she was starting to breathe through her nose. I was just about to call for a nurse, when suddenly she jerked up in the bed, chest heaving as if being tugged on.

Her hands were fisted again. I went to flatten them out, when I felt something press into my palm. It felt like a piece of rope.

"Ma'am, what's this? What's in her hand?"

Her mother walked to my side of the bed and exclaimed at the sight of the brown tag I had pulled out of her clenched fist.

"That's her cat's collar, uisanim. Aigoo, uri aegi, she has been so upset since the cat was killed in an accident a few days ago."

Right, I'd found my cause. It was traumatic.

"Nurse, keep oxygen ready."

I asked the mother for the child's name.

"Ni Na-ya, you need to listen to my voice, listen to what I say, okay?"

She would look at me and once again lose focus.

"Focus on your breaths, make them slow, Ni Na-ya. Count them slowly, you can do this."

I took her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me so she could breathe with me.

There was no full response, but she was starting to focus on me entirely, when her eyes darted to look at something behind me, towards the foot end of the bed.

Her breathing shot up to a gasp and she held it there for a few seconds, before letting it out in a whisper. Saying something I couldnt make out.

I followed her gaze and there seated was a big, fluffy, orange cat.

"Mochi?! What-"

Minho burst in through the OP side doors just then, whipping his head around the room until they landed on me, and then Mochi.

"MOCHI!" He ran towards us, as he got closer he realized the situation and slowed down, looking at me with questioning eyes.

I returned my attention to Ni Na, she was still looking at Mochi and Mochi returned her gaze, calm and cool while swishing his bushy tail, back and forth.

Ni Na kept moving her lips to say something but she couldn't, since her breathing wasnt stable yet. Despite it all, her eyes wouldnt stray from Mochi.

I suddenly had an idea, but I had to try it to see if it would work.

"Mochi. Come here, Mochi." I patted the bed, on the side of the little girl lightly. He simply glanced at me, looked at the girl and slowly trotted over.

I made sure to have a hand out, just in case she went to grab him. But she didn't. And Mochi was a picture of obedience. He sat there looking as if he'd wait as long as it took for her to calm down.

I watched as her chest heaving decline to a close to normal intake of air, until finally, she was breathing through her nose again.

"Chongee-yah," she muttered coarsely, reaching out two fingers to Mochi. I thought he wouldn't move, or might even walk away. But instead, he licked her hand and even meowed in the softest way I'd ever heard him sound.

Ni Na's mother burst into quiet sobs, while sitting down on the other side of the bed. Watching the little girl look so happy and so relieved, I couldn't help but brush away a few tears from my eyes as well.

She fell asleep soon after, due to the exhaustion and Mochi walked out of the room with Minho a few minutes after she passed out.

I wrote down a prescription and added the address to the nearest animal shelter, suggesting that they get another pet to fill the void in the little girl's life. The mother was so relieved and couldn't stop thanking me. I made a mental note to get Mochi extra treats tonight.

When I walked back into the office, Minho was sitting on top of the desk next to a half dozing Mochi, observing him like he expected the cat to break out into a song or something.

"Grace, your cat isn't normal."

"I know, Minho. He's not normal, he's Mochi."

"So, basically, you're telling me, Mochi led you to Park Jimin and then saved a little girl's life. All in the single day he's been with you?"

"Well, basically. She wasn't in danger or anything, but yes, Mochi saved her."

I was seated on the floor in the middle of the living room, next to Mochi, while Steph took the sofa. She was looking at Mochi like she didnt know him.

"He's still my Mochi right? You didn't mistake some other cat for him and bring him home, right?"

As if in response, Mochi made an annoyed yowl, loud and long. He twitched his ears in Steph's direction, causing the little flower petals I'd placed inbetween them to fall off.

"Mochiiiii, stay still." And for once, he listened.

"I cannot believe you met Park Jimin. Again. And this time in person! But what I find even more hard to believe is this!"

"Hmm?" I looked up at her, the ends of the ribbon in two bunny ears, above Mochi's head.

"You and Mochi being best buds. I'm super glad, but also super in shock." Steph was smiling though. She placed her head on the arm of the sofa, looking at us both with much adoration.

"Just say you love us."

"I love that Park Jimin touched my cat."

I laughed and continued decorating Mochi with more pink petals to match the red ribbon, that now sat in a perfect bow on top of his head. And Steph continued to enjoy the view.

"Oh I almost forgot."

I nodded to let her know I was listening.

"Jungkook wanted me to convey a message to you."

I gave her a flat look.

"Well I'm not giving him your number so this is the only way."

"I did not see that coming." My laugh came out sounding like a snort and a chuckle in one.

"Okay, so. He wants to know if you can be at the bookstore this coming Saturday, at around 6-ish."

"What? Why, me? What does he need me for? I'm a doctor, not a librarian for BTS."

I was more nervous than offended. But, how did he know about the bookstore?

"Wait, Steph. How does he know about the bookstore? I only saw Taehyung that day, but,"

"He might have asked. I must told." She got up from her seat and walked over to the balcony, not meeting my eyes.

"Asked what? And told what exactly?"

"Some bits and pieces."

I let out a shaky laugh, sarcasm intended. But more nervousness involved.

"Is this about Taehyung? Oh my God, what if he tells me not to ever come in contact with him or something like that?"

I looked at Steph for help, but she just shrugged her shoulder, a blank expression on.

I hated blank expressions.

"Sorry, Grace. He's my boss. No questions asked."

"Ha. That's the first time you ever called him that, and you still don't sound like you mean it."

Steph had a very strong poker face. Her game face. And she had it on now. I wasn't getting anything from her, anytime soon. But one thing was sure, it wasn't any sort of serious problem.

Because for one, Steph would never put me in such a position.

And yet, the not knowing left me antsy.

I guess I had to wait 2 more days for an answer.

48 frigging hours to go.

Huh? HUH?! WHADDAYA THINK!?

Oh and the picture is a well deserving look at my newest and probably the fixed cover for IBAAB!! Credits to none other than the BBFF. The Steph to my Grace. DreamerDia She broke the expectations scale, once again!

Last edited on 22.08.19 01:54 AM

Again at 02:12 AM

Ooo and again on 14.07.2020 23:02 PM