Night had settled thickly over the city, casting long shadows across the empty streets. The cold air bit sharply, visible in the puffs of fog that escaped Eugene's mouth as he exhaled deeply. His hands tucked into the pockets of his long coat, scarf snugly wrapped around his neck, he trudged down the dimly lit road.

Stopping in front of the hospital building, Eugene tilted his head back to look at its illuminated windows. A soft glow spilled out onto the street, a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding him. He sighed, shoulders heavy with exhaustion, before pushing the glass doors open and stepping inside.

The warmth of the hospital lobby greeted him, a stark difference from the biting chill outside. Behind the reception desk sat Yoon-Ah, her bright smile welcoming him as he approached.

“Mister Eugene,” she said cheerfully, setting down the clipboard she had been reviewing. “Looking for Yon, right?”

Eugene nodded, his steps slow as he reached the desk. He rested his head sideways on its cool surface, closing his eyes for a moment. The exhaustion from the day seeped into his bones, his mind replaying the endless hours of practice he had endured.

“I’m sorry to tell you, but Yon left a while ago,” a voice chimed in. Eugene turned his head slightly to see Lee Jae-Hwan, dressed in the same green nurse’s uniform as Yoon-Ah, standing beside her.

A deep sigh escaped Eugene’s lips. Somewhere deep down, he had expected this. It wasn’t the first time he had come looking for Yon only to find he had already gone. It was becoming a pattern—a painful, deliberate pattern.

“He’s avoiding you,” another voice cut in. Kim Ha-Ram appeared from one of the nearby hallways, her expression a mix of concern and frustration. “It’s obvious. He’s been under a lot of stress, too. He doesn’t focus as much when he’s working anymore.”

“That’s true,” added Choi Seung-Min, stepping forward in a pristine doctor’s coat. “During a surgery earlier, he froze right in the middle of a dissection. I had to take over immediately.”

“It’s not the first time that’s happened,” Kim Byung-Hun chimed in, adjusting his own coat. “He’s been zoning out more and more lately. It’s starting to affect his work.”

Eugene remained silent, his head still resting on the desk. Their words felt like weighty bricks stacking on his chest, each one heavier than the last.

Finally, Han Hyun-Seok emerged from a nearby room, his footsteps echoing lightly as he approached. His white coat was immaculate, his expression calm but tinged with sympathy. He placed a comforting hand on Eugene’s back, giving it a light pat.

“I tried talking to him about you today,” Hyun-Seok said gently.

Eugene immediately lifted his head, his tired eyes locking onto Hyun-Seok’s face with a flicker of hope.

Hyun-Seok continued, his tone somber. “He changed the subject almost immediately. After that, I didn’t see him again. Ha-Neul told me he helped with a surgery later, but Joon-Woo had to step in because Yon just... zoned out halfway through. Seung-Min already mentioned the rest.”

Eugene straightened up, his heart sinking further with every word. He glanced around at the familiar faces surrounding him, their shared concern clear in their expressions. Despite their own exhaustion, they had stayed behind, knowing Eugene would come.

“Thank you, everyone,” Eugene said softly, his voice laced with gratitude. “Thank you for waiting for me.”

They all smiled at him warmly, nodding in unison. Eugene bowed deeply, and they returned the gesture. With that, he turned and walked out of the hospital, the cold night air wrapping around him like a shroud.

Outside, Eugene paused under a streetlamp, its light casting a faint glow on his face. He pulled out his phone, the screen lighting up to reveal an endless stream of unanswered calls and unsent messages to Yon. The sheer volume of texts on KakaoTalk had slowed his phone to a crawl, often causing it to crash.

“Why are you ignoring me, Yon?” Eugene muttered under his breath, frustration and hurt swirling in his chest.

He clenched his jaw, exhaling sharply before shoving the phone back into his coat pocket. His footsteps echoed faintly as he made his way down the quiet streets. The soft hum of streetlights and the muted glow of convenience stores were his only companions.

The question lingered in his mind, unanswered and relentless: Why?