Chapter Text
Han Ji Pyeong hates going to the dentist. There’s something unsettling about it.
Maybe because it’s just another reminder. A reminder of how growing up without a stable family structure, he didn’t have parents to teach him healthy habits. He had to figure this stuff all out on his own. Or maybe because it takes up so much time. It’s an hour that he’ll never get back. An hour that he could be spending doing other, more productive, things.
Alas, here he is— sitting under the glow of fluorescent light in a new-to-him dental facility, conveniently located half a mile away from his office, under the recommendation of his GP after his jaw pain turned into a full blown headache and forced him to miss a day of work. Han Ji Pyeong never misses work.
“Mr. Han,” the dentist begins, “Your teeth and gums are in excellent shape. I’m happy to report that you have no cavities and I can tell you floss every day, which is excellent…”
Ji Pyeong doesn’t have time for small talk. He interrupts her and cuts to the chase, “What about my jaw pain?”
She pauses. “You have TMJ. The pain comes from clenching your jaw too much— the muscles there have been experiencing inflammation— It looks as though you’ve been grinding your teeth as well...”
“Dr. Yoon, you must be mistaken. I never grind my teeth.” The dentist squints her eyes at him. She doesn’t like being told she’s wrong.
“You might think that but people with TMJ usually grind their teeth while they’re asleep.”
Ji Pyeong shrugs. He’d prefer not to admit that he has no way (err, no one) of confirming whether or not he grinds his teeth in his sleep. He’d prefer not to admit that he always sleeps alone.
Dr. Yoon continues, “TMJ is quite common, especially among people that work in high pressure industries. Have you been feeling more stressed out than usual?” Her voice is firm but kind.
Ji Pyeong looks at the ground, “Not really.” His mind flashes to Dalmi, Dosan, Halmeoni, Samsan Tech, Sandbox, the letters, everything, and nothing – all at once.
The dentist nods. He can tell that she doesn’t believe him. She explains, “Stress can cause the muscles in the jaw to tighten. In fact, stress is the most common source of muscle tension.”
She pauses for a second to take her face mask off, “Your mental health and physical health are linked, they’re two sides of the same coin. It’s important to take care of all of you.”
Ji Pyeong would have rolled his eyes at her unsolicited lecture if he weren’t suddenly so distracted.
Throughout their entire appointment, Dr. Yoon had kept her mask on. Because of that, he didn’t realize that she’s… well… attractive.
More than attractive, actually. She’s beautiful. Furthermore, he’s confused by his reaction because he doesn’t normally think anything of beautiful women. They’re everywhere in Seoul. A dime a dozen. This time though, he feels a bit stunned.
Then, he’s himself again. “I take care of myself just fine. I exercise and work out regularly. I eat a well rounded and balanced diet. My sleep…”
He trails off knowing that his sleep has been horrible lately. All she says in response is, “Hmm.”
“How would you describe your work-life balance?”
“It’s fine.”
“Your curt response means it’s probably not fine. Mr. Han, do you have a tendency to work even during non work hours?”
Again, he thinks of Dalmi. It feels so good to be needed by her. So what if it’s getting in the way of his personal time? So what if he doesn’t have a good work/life balance? Dalmi is worth it.
“Not always…”
“Mr. Han, you’re lying.”
Ji Pyeong laughs, impressed with her audacity. He’s not used to others being so blunt with him.
Then Dr. Yoon says, “Oh. I didn’t realize you have dimples until you laughed. You don’t seem like you smile often. You should. You have a nice smile.” She manages to compliment him without seeming creepy or unprofessional. She stated it simply as though it were a fact.
“Anyways… It's important to find a balance between work and your personal life. Think about yourself and your own needs. Go to bed early. I know you said you exercise regularly, but maybe you could try something that connects the body and mind. Maybe yoga and maybe some meditation.”
He scowls, “Lines like that… boundaries… are easier said than actually drawn. Also, yoga and meditation are boring.”
This time it's Dr. Yoon that laughs, flashing a dimple of her own, “They don’t have to be boring. You probably just haven’t found the right instructor.”
His eyes widen for a second and he blurts out, “I like your dimples more than mine.”
Then he blushes, “I’m sorry. That sounded strange. I didn’t mean to be inappropriate.”
Dr. Yoon is a bit red too. She’s coy, “You’re right. Mine are better.” Both parties feel tension in the air.
Then, someone knocks on the door, “Dr. Yoon, your next patient has arrived. They’re in Room 2C.”
She thanks the dental assistant before turning back to Ji Pyeong. She runs a light hand over the side of his face, grazing the underside of his jawline. Her touch is delicate and precise. He shivers.
“Mr. Han,” she murmurs, “that’s your temporomandibular joint. The pain that you feel is most likely a result of this joint becoming too inflamed. I’ll email you videos and a PDF guide with some helpful jaw exercises. They should help with the discomfort and make things more manageable. We can monitor and see how things go from there. Do you have any questions for me?”
What’s your phone number? No. Don’t be weird. You were weird enough.
“No questions. Thank you.”