"Gently, now, Grace. Yes, keep your hand steady."

My hands were already pretty steady, given the amount of blood that had soaked my scrubs. RTA's were the worst, and ever since I got posted at the casualty, accident after accident was rolled in through the doors.

Head-on collisions, a reckless wheelie attempt, but this one was the worst yet. The victims were both innocent, as well as guilty. They were brothers. Both innocent because they were at the receiving end of a hit and run, and the elder of the two, deemed himself guilty because he was the one who had invited his younger brother to join him on his bike.

He kept bemoaning it until the anaesthesia kicked in. The younger had been taken to Neuro, but Dr. Jung Wuk had taken one look at his condition and given an imperceptible shake of his head. Irrespective of whatever predicted outcomes, they had shifted him to the ICU. Just the thought of something going wrong with him, and having to explain to his brother about the news, got me shaking.

"Grace. Head in the game." I looked up briefly and was met with hooded, judgemental eyes.
Dr. Jacobs, or Magic Hands, as we'd entitled him, was not one to entertain the sight of doctors pitying patients' emotions over their terminal conditions. Which got me questioning every day, as to why he kept requesting me to assist his casualty surgeries. I'd opted paediatric for a reason, and it wasn't just because I was good with kids.

"Sorry, sir." I proceeded to loop the needle back in, and back around, forming a knot. He manoeuvred his hands, deftly from under mine and clamped the knot in place for me. I could feel his eyes on me, and chided myself not to blush, but I could already feel my ears burning up in warning.

"Apart from your unending sympathy for the injured, your skills would make you a very good surgeon, Grace. Perhaps, one day, as good as me, even." I chose to simply force a smile his way, before concentrating back on the boy's shoulder. It had been splinched badly, and 17 stitches didn't seem to be doing enough.

My fingers were getting cramped up, and I was thinking up excuses to ask him to take over, when a voice called for me from Above.

"Dr. Noel, your presence is requested in Dr. Oh's office immediately."

My eyes popped a bit at the sound of his voice, and sure enough, Minho was standing at the microphone, looking down into the OR. When he saw me glance up, he waved at me to come out.

"Dr. Kang, since you're not wearing your glasses, I would like to inform you that Dr. Noel and I are in the middle of surgery."

"And I've been sent by Dr. Oh. Your call, Jacobs."

He did not.

Although we all belonged to the same age group, mere months dividing us apart, Magic Hands had a rule that we'd all only ever address each other as doctor. In public, or while in the presence of a third person. He was allowed to break his own rules, ofcourse. But nobody else was. And Minho just did.

Before any more dialogues could be tossed forth, I grabbed Jacobs' attention.

"It's alright, sir. I think you should have the finishing touch. 7 more stitches should do the trick, and my fingers were growing stiff anyway. I'll go see Oh uisanim. It must be important."

I didn't wait for him to agree or object, but made my way out of the OR, shedding my gloves, mask and gown along the way. When I emerged out to the waiting area, Minho was waiting for me.

"You're welcome, Dr. Noel."

"You made it up? Oh uisanim isn't really looking for me?"

He pushed off the wall, and walked ahead.

"No, no, the information was very much true. I was just reminding you of my perfect time of entry. Any later, and he would have gone Magic Hands on you."

Minho made a face, and despite the truth behind his words, I only laughed.

"I wouldn't have let him, but yes, Thankyou."

"I don't understand why you even put up with him, Grace. He's a snob and a creep."

"He's also super smart, and knows how to share his knowledge. Well, with some."

"Only with idiots like you, who would go for his "hands on" education, thinking they aren't smart enough."

"I'm not smart enough and I hope that isn't what Dr. Oh wants to talk to me about."

"If it's any help, he wasn't frowning. He had, like, more like, a blank expression on."

I could only give Minho a blank expression of my own. We parted ways and my mind began to think for me, several scenes where I get severely reprimanded by that expression less face.

************************************************************

I knocked thrice and turned the handle, after I heard an audible of acknowledgement.

"You asked to see me, sir?"

He had glasses on, and looked up from a newspaper as I entered the office. And there it was: the blank expression. I wetted my lips, and subtly, gave myself a once over in the mirror that was leaning against one of his walls. Sans, a few drops of blood on my pants and shoes, I was presentable.

"Have a seat, Dr. Noel."

He rearranged the newspaper into folds, keeping it aside, and dropped the spectacles from his face, allowing them to dangle around his neck.

But all this seemed to happen excruciatingly slow through my eyes. I curled my toes in and forced myself not to fidget in the seat, atleast until he starts talking about why he had summoned me.

"Would you care for something to drink? Herbal tea, or coffee?"

"No, no. I'm all set, sir. Thankyou."

He nodded and placed his elbows on the table, leaning slightly forward in the process.

"I think I pulled you out of the OR when I sent Dr. Kang to get you. Was it one of the brothers involved in the motorcycle accident?"

I didn't mean it as appraisal, but my eyebrows shot up on instinct, at his precise information of the case.

"Nae, uisanim. The elder was driving, lost control of the vehicle when the jeep hit them. Upon trying to put the brakes, the younger was thrown off the motorcycle."

He didn't even flinch as I gave him all the gore of the details, including each of their situations when they were brought in.

Was this the way, a doctor is supposed to react? Is this the face of a real doctor?

I was simply retelling the scene, but even then, during some parts, I could feel my eyebrows scrunching together, and tears pricking at my eyes at the thought of the younger sibling.

"I really hope the both of them survive." I ended it there and looked up at Dr. Oh. He was still observing me, and I dropped my gaze and began to fidget in my seat.

"Dr. Noel, Grace." My head shot up.

Oh God, he addressed me informally. What if he was about to deliver some bad news? Maybe he had some complaints regarding my performance as the RMO. What if he was going to suspend me from my duty!?

"How long have you been with us now, Grace?"

"Three, no, two months and a week sir."

He nodded his head slowly, arranging stuff around his table.

"In these two months and a week, I've heard many things about you, Grace. Many things, from quite a lot of people."

I bit in my lower lip to prevent it from trembling. My confidence was flailing, and fast.

What had I done, for people to actually talk about?

"Uisanim...."

"All they had to say was, how much, being an RMO wasn't for you. Even Dr. Jacobs kept insisting on it."

He kept his eyes trained on me, as if waiting for my dam to break but I held fast. If they wanted to see my disappointment, they were going to be disappointed.

I knew I'd made a few blunders during the initial weeks of being an RMO. It had taken me a while to get adjusted to the rush hours and shifts, and Seoul on the whole. But there wasn't anything I'd done, that could have earned me any sort of reputation.

"And well, when the entire staff unite on an opinion, I have no choice but to agree with it. Both by default, and also taking into consideration, my own observations."

The papers he had been collecting from across his table were set together now. He tapped them on the table, to even them out,

"Uisanim, what are you trying to say?" My voice sounded like I was 10 years old again, and asking my dad forgiveness for not scoring enough on the test.

"What I'm trying to say, Dr. Noel, is that you are no longer an RMO in this hospital,"

"Wha-" He lifted a finger, stopping me for going on.

"You are, starting today, or no, lets start with a new day. Starting from tomorrow, you will be a Junior Doctor in the Paediatrics department."

He placed the bundle of papers aside, and gave me his full attention, and I could have sworn I saw a smile on his face at one moment.

"Everyone suggested you were efficient enough to skip the SMO post. Your competence stands for their argument, so I gave in. I hope you won't disappoint me, Dr. Noel."

I nodded and shook my head, all at once, hoping to convey my gratitude, and eagerness to make him and his hospital proud. I would have said something, but all I could do was an impression of a mime.

"But, there is one thing I wanted to advice you on."

I stilled in my seat.

"I need you to perform with your brain more, and less with your heart. Because, I'm afraid, if you involve your heart in too many lives, it is you, who'll become broken in the end."

I pursed my lip and nodded.

"Well then, my tiffin has arrived." As if on cue, the door to his office opened and a trolley was rolled in by his assistant.

"You may have the day off, Dr. Noel. It's a big promotion, and it calls for celebration. Go on and treat your colleagues to a hearty meal, or simply treat yourself. Do whatever it is, you young fellows do these days."

"Uisanim, khamsahamnida." I bowed a couple of times, until I felt slightly satisfied, and backed out of his office.

Once the door was shut after me, I jumped up in the air, holding in the squeal that very nearly flew past my lips.

Junior Doctor!!!

Did everyone already know, or was it going to be just as great a surprise to them, when I tell them? It was definitely going to be a surprise for Steph, when she hears it.

I rushed over to the doctors' room and changed out of my scrubs. Hastily stuffing my charger and stethescope into my handbag, I gave the room one last sweep. Starting tomorrow, I would be stationed in the main doctors' room with the rest of the Paediatric staff.

I allowed myself a tiny whoop of joy and proceeded down to the exit. I opened up our chat to text Steph, when a message popped up from Minho.

*Kang Min ^^ : The kid brother survived. He's in the ICU now.*

I couldn't help myself as tears sprung to my eyes. My prayers were heard. He survived. Today, really was a wonderful day. I chided myself for not even attempting to keep my emotions in check.

*Grace : Oh, Thank God! Today couldn't turn out any better! I'm off for the day, see you tmrw!*

Steph hadn't replied to my previous message, which meant she was obviously still busy. Hopefully, the presentation went well.

*Grace : Done with work! Got an early off. I have loads to tell you about today! Text me when you're done, I'm going to my spot.*

I was just about to put my phone away, when it pinged with a notification. Thinking it could be Steph, I opened it.

*Kang Min ^^ : YAHH!! Who's going to mind the casualty then?! Are you done meeting with Dr. Oh?!*

*Grace : Dr. Kang, that is no way to talk to the new Junior Paediatrician.*

*Kang Min ^^ : o_O MWO?!!!

Giggling, I dropped the phone in my bag, and walked out of the hospital. I knew just to place to go, to spend the rest of this amazing day, in the most perfect way.

It was maybe at the end of August and the beginning of September. Sometime close to Steph's birthday, when I was out gift hunting for her, that I came across it.

The Bookstore.

The Bookstore.

It was around a kilometre and a half away from the hospital and I quite literally stumbled upon it. I had been searching for gifts for over an hour, when I stepped on my loosened shoelace and dropped my purse while trying to gain my balance. My pen-torch fell out of it and rolled down a cobbled alley, down which I had to chase after it.

That's where and how, I found it. Safely hidden away, from civilisation it appeared. There were few small houses around it, and nobody inside it. It appeared to be an old fashioned house, remodelled to serve as bookstore. The shelves built in, with cobwebs connecting them to each other. A grandfather clock here, a cuckoo clock there. Save for the clocks running promptly, time appeared to take a nap whilst in here.

After rummaging about, I found the owner. A cheery old man, who owned a golden furred Akita, whom I became fast friends with. Ofcourse, I befriended the man as well.

The owner, Mr. Han, was overjoyed upon witnessing my wonder filled face, when I first entered the bookstore. He showed me all around the place, stopping at his favourite books and pointing out authors he was partial and slightly possessive about.

Although Steph believed in spending money sensibly, I went ahead and bought her a hardbound edition of NeverWhere that very day, as her gift. I debated that I did spend money sensibly, according to me that is.

Ever since the day I discovered the gem of a niche, I became a regular visitor to the little bookstore. I either dropped in on my way home, on days that I opt to catch a late bus. Or spent my break between my shift change, curled up next to a shelf or in one of the armchairs.

It wasn't that it had all the books of the world in it. It did have quite a range of books, mostly used and abandoned, but it had something I'd never come across in any bookstore before. It had life. And ofcourse, magic. It was full of promises, it seemed to me.

And I found myself at it's doorsteps, once again. A little boy, who I'd never seen before at the store, was seated in one of the armchairs, that looked out of the shop. He was flipping through a children's book, apparently only seeing the pictures and skipping the words.

"Annyeonghaseyo, halahbeoji!" The boy looked up at the sound of my greeting, evidently shocked. I gave him a wide smile. He remained looking at me with wide eyes, before jumping off the chair and running down the aisle, into the store, yelling for his grandpa.

Maybe I smiled a little too wide.

I went towards the used books section, as if tugged by a magic thread. Steph would pull a fit, once she reads the message I had sent her. I've never brought her over here, despite her having recieved 'the best birthday gift ever' from the shelves of this very store. Our schedules were just that busy.

"Look who it is! Now, Ms. Pied Piper, what spell did you cast on my grandson to make him run for me like that?"

"Halahbeoji Han!" I bowed slightly to greet him, and saw the little boy hiding behind his legs, peeking at me.

"Ah, cheosuhamnida halahbeoji. I think I might have used a little too much magic on him. I'm way too happy today."

I patted at my face, and looked down at the little boy, apologetically.

Grandpa Han laughed before turning to the boy and ushering him forward. But he was too stubborn and ran away before his grandfather could force him to make conversation.

"I guess this Pied Piper's magic only works with some kids." I pouted after the kid.

"Aniyo, aniyo. Jae Tak is a shy boy, but he'll warm up to you soon. Now, go on. Go explore whatever shelves you haven't left your handprints on yet."

The smile was back on my face and I gave him a salute and skipped to the shelves at the end of the corridor.

I had just found some copies of Lang Leav when I heard the door open and shut, the wind chimes hung at the top of it jingling in the process. That's nice. Even though I would have preferred the entire store to myself, it was heartening to see people discover this little treasure of a store.

I tucked the copy of Lang Leav under my arm, and proceeded down the line of books on that shelf. I could hear Han-ssi making conversation with the customer.

I swept my finger over spine after spine. Science fiction, autobiography, research records, chicken soup, and finally! Fiction.

It was a withered copy of Heartless. I already owned a different cover bound version of it. But this book felt especially loved, so I tucked it in as well.

The moment I took the book out of its spot, it loosened the books beside it, causing dust to rise up. Need I say more?

I began to sneeze a marathon, each sneeze sounding like an elephant that had caught a cold. I scampered a little away from the shelf, in an attempt to make it stop. After two more sneezes, it did.

Grumbling, I went to pick up the books I had dropped during the sneeze attack. I heard the sound of feet padding up behind me and turned mid crouch.

Jae Tak stood there, one hand behind his back, and the other twisting the front of his shirt.

"Annyeong, Jae Tak-ah. What's that you have there?" I sniffed. He looked up from the floor and mumbled something I didn't catch.

When I asked him further, he held out a wad of tissue papers to me, head still facing his shoes.

"Aww. Gumawo Jae Tak-ah." I wanted to rumple his hair, for how sweet he was being, but was afraid I'd scare him off again.

Wiping my nose, I put the tissues into my pocket, when I heard more footsteps.

"Jae Tak-ah, eodiga? Hyung is here, come say hello."

What I expected was an older boy, who would resemble Jae Tak or Han-ssi by some facial feature. Who I did not expect was the person who walked over instead.

"Jae Tak-ah, jaljinesseyo?"

Not to be arrogant or anything, but that was one voice I'd recognise anywhere, anyhow. But it was one voice, I'd never even dared to think that I'd hear in person.

The boy was overjoyed to see the man and ran right up to him, hugging him around his knees. The man had to bow down at his waist to pat the boy on his back. He was even taller in person. His shoulders easily taking up space within the narrow aisle. He had a beanie on, and I couldn't even move my hand to place over my heart as I took the sight of him in. Blood was pounding in my ear, and I was sure my face was the colour of a stop signal, and my mind still couldn't seem to keep up with what my heart was feeling.

Nonchalance flew out the door, as I stared at him unabashedly. Taking in the little smile he had on, while looking down at the kid. I thought I even noticed a little stubble along his jaw, from how intensely I was observing him. Until he spotted me, and pulled his face mask further down, and bowed in greeting.

"Annyeonghaseyo."

I bowed as well, but my eyes wouldn't stray from him.

God, Grace! This was such a wrong time to pick to! This is-

"Ah! Ms. Pied Piper," He turned to Han-ssi, hearing the way he addressed me.

"I want you to meet my second most regular customer. This is Kim Taehyung-ssi."

And all I could think was.

Let this not be a dream.

***************************************************

Following 20.01.2019, this is no longer a draft. Enjoy and leave comments and votes on how you liked it.

P.S : I legit had a sneeze attack when I wrote that part. Bye people!