Chapter 5: Once Ice Melts

At noon, John stands in front of Zayne's office with Zack's report in hand.

After knocking a few times and getting no response, he carefully pushes the haft-closed door.

Inside, Zayne is leaning back against his chair. His eyes are closed, appearing to be asleep.

John tiptoes into the office and places the report on the table.

Zayne doesn't move, nor does he open his eyes. "Has this afternoon's surgery started?"

"Not yet! It's an hour away. You still have time to rest," John says quickly.

Zayne lets out a soft hmm and sits up.

"Remember to check on Bed 32," he says, as he wipes his brow.

"Okay." John has already memorized every patient in the hospital. Bed 32 is Jeanne, and they checked on her yesterday.

But Zayne continues, "Call her family and tell them they must come with her to her examination tomorrow morning."

"Understood!" John knows Jeanne's examination tomorrow includes an enhanced CT scan that requires a contrast agent.

"If they can't make it, you go with her."

"...Right." John says after a pause.

Zayne notices John's brief hesitation.

"Is there a problem?" he asks, glancing at him.

John, no longer as scared of Zayne as before, speaks, albeit still a little wearily.

"Jeanne doesn't seem to trust me that much... Wouldn't it be a bit..."

Zayne thinks for a bit. "When I first started, I did a lot to earn the trust of my patients. They know who actually cares about them."

After a few beats of silence, John says, "I understand!"

Every intern is prone to be influenced by powerful teachers. That's why, at this moment, John feels Zayne's teachings have been ingrained into him.

Chapter 6: The Best Doctor

The next morning, as John is taking Jeanne back to the ward, his phone starts ringing.

The caller ID shows it's a nurse from the Division of Cardiac Surgery.

The nurse speaks concisely through the phone. Zayne's second assistant is unwell.

John is to replace him immediately.

The info takes John by surprise. He struggles to process it and it a little stunned. It isn't until he's changed into his lab coat does he truly realizes he has the opportunity to be Zayne's assistant.

After confirming that he has properly put on his mask, cap, and shoes in the mirror.

John sanitizes his hands and watches as the door to the operating room slowly opens before him.

Under the light, Zayne stands by the operating table. Beside him, there is an empty spot where the second assistant should be. John can hardly believe it. He is actually allowed to stand there.

It's a heart transplant surgery with a difficulty akin to walking on a tightrope on a cliff. Any small mistake could result in severe bleeding for the patient. John carefully observers and performs his assigned tasks, and when it comes to the crucial moment, he doesn't even dare to blink.

He watches as Zayne's hands skillfully manipulate the surgical tools, implanting the artificial heart, and completing the positioning of the other devices.

Everything is ready, and the pump has been turned off. Now, all that's left is to wait for the heartbeat...

One... Two...

Three...

John holds his breath and focuses, silently counting the seconds in his mind. It feels like a century.

Then, the data appears. The patient's heart beats once more.

The artificial heart is working. A man deemed to be "dying" in the medical field is alive again.

Although John had a thorough understanding of this technique back in med school, he now realizes that theory is no match for practice. This experience is surreal, leaving him in awe.

He can't help but look at Zayne, trying to find a similar excitement in the surgeon's eyes, but Zayne simply announces the success of the surgery calmly. Then, he turns and walks away from the operating table.

...That's right. Dr. Zayne should be used to this type of surgery by now.

**********

After leaving the operating room, John still can't help but want to talk to Zayne. Before Zayne can leave, John asks hesitantly. "Dr. Zayne, why did you call for me today?"

Zayne continues washing his hands without even looking up. "You needed to write a paper about this subject."

John is taken aback, his gratitude preventing him from fully expressing himself. He settles for a simple "Thank you, Dr. Zayne!"

**********

As his time at the Division of Cardiac Surgery approaches its end, John is reluctant to leave. His fear of Zayne has, little by little, begun to melt in the warm sun since that day in the garden, completely disappearing in the operating room.

The day before he's scheduled to leave, a student who is about to be rotated in approaches him and ask, "How was it to work with Dr. Zayne? I heard he's scary, but he's a really good surgeon. I'm conflicted..."

Now, hearing others describe Zayne as "scary" makes John want to defend him.

"Don't listen to them! Dr. Zayne isn't scary at all..."

John is at a loss for words, and despite rattling his brain for half a day, all he can say is this: "He's the best doctor I've ever had the pleasure to meet."