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when the association switched your primary care provider to zayne li, you felt your stomach drop and your heart do a flip at the same time. seeing your currently single childhood crush on a regular basis sounds great on the surface! but... you had a little habit of lying to doctors, and you're used to being taken at your word. if your doctor had a more personal connection to you, how would he take being lied to? would he let you get away with it, or would he push the issue? your health is very low on your list of priorities, and changing up your already established habits and routines to be healthier would feel like being uprooted and put down somewhere else. needless to say, you were dreading your first appointment.
meeting zayne again after so many years was pleasant, if not a little bit awkward, but the two of you soon found a rhythm similar to the one you used to have. you thought you might be able to get off scot-free for once, but it seems like you jinxed yourself.
the first hurdle came towards the beginning of the appointment, unfortunately for you. it started with a typical height and weight check, something that should have been routine. but when you saw the subtle furrow in zayne's brow when the display read your current weight, you knew it wouldn't be this time.
he guided you into a private room, gesturing for you to take a seat as he got behind his desk. you fiddled with your fingers, which you belatedly realized were ripped to shreds from your habitual fidgeting. you tucked them in your sleeves to try to keep them from sight.
"how would you say your health has been in the past six months?" his voice is clinically smooth and professional. if you didn't know him so well, you would have had no idea he was concerned. but all these years later, his tells are still the same.
"it's been fine," you responded, looking at the squirrels outside the window of his office instead of at his face. in your peripheral vision, you noticed his head tilt slightly. he was testing you, and you just gave the wrong answer.
"i-i mean, nothing extremely good or bad. just mediocre." you tried to fumble something to save yourself, but this didn't work. zayne typed something out into your file.
"mm. and your sleep quality?" he prompted, looking back up at you. his eyes were cold. you looked back out the window.
"also okay," you spoke tentatively, waiting a few seconds before sneaking a glance at him to gauge his reaction. he caught you in the act and didn't look impressed in the slightest.
he looked you dead in the eyes, his stare not offering you any mercy. "you do realize that lying to your doctor on the first visit sets a bad precedent for how things will continue in the future." his tone was frigid. still, you could make out a hint of concern hidden beneath the surface. you wiped your sweaty hands on your pants and fought to keep yourself from looking away from him entirely.
"first off, your eyes are completely bloodshot. even someone without a medical degree could tell that you're sleep deprived." was he mad at you? you looked back up at him, but this time you couldn't see through the blank mask he wore. "tell me about your sleep quality. and be honest this time."
"it's- well, i pulled a few all-nighters, but it really wasn't a big deal..."
zayne nodded, before slowly turning to type into your file again. "alright." he took a breath, looking at you firmly. "and your eating habits?"
you picked at a hangnail, staring at the floor. "i skip a meal every now and then, but it's not a big deal," you insist, pushing your luck.
"[y/n], you're twenty pounds underweight. that's a lot for someone of your height." he could see you tense, and he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. his tone softened when he next spoke. "i know i can't make you do anything, and it is your choice whether or not to confide in me. i just..."
he started writing in an akso hospital branded notepad, then tore off the sheet and slid it across the desk to you, along with a mint from his pocket. "this is my personal phone number. if you need anything, let me know. i'm here."
you took the paper and mint, checking his expression again. it was just one of worry.
"okay," you responded, your heart squeezing in your chest. zayne was about to speak again, but you interrupted him by rushing out a sentence of your own. "a-and i'm sorry for lying," zayne stilled, taken aback. you took his silence as a cue to continue. "it's just a habit. it just feels impolite to say things are going bad, or maybe i just don't know how to."
"it's alright," zayne responded soothingly, gently touching your hand still left on the desk with his own. "i understand. i wasn't angry, just worried." he pulled back to put on his stethoscope, beckoning you over with a tilt of his head.
while he measured your heartbeat, he spoke. "don't worry, i won't force a nutrition plan on you. but your appointment is my last of the evening, so how about i take you to dinner? i can make sure you eat well for one night, at least."
if he noticed your heart starting to beat faster at his words, he didn't say anything.
a few days later, zayne received a text from a number he didn't recognize. it was you, telling him it wasn't a medical emergency, you just wanted to thank him for dinner. another message came in as he read the first.
[your number]: also i found these jasmine flowers in a spot in the park thats kinda hidden! i thought youd want to see! :)
[your number]: [PHOTO]
needless to say, a couple of lucky interns got to tell the rest that they saw the cold dr. zayne's rare smile.