Chapter Text
Yoona was exhausted.
The patients today were not a lot but they were enough to make her social battery drain. Not that they were being difficult, but ever since Yoona ended up in a healthcare setting that required meeting people, her social battery somehow drained faster than she’d liked to admit.
But since today the new interns were coming, so to have a welcoming celebration would be fair right? So they ended up having a casual dinner along with other employees and hospital staff at the restaurant downtown.
There was no problem with that. Yoona was fine. But it was getting late. She had lost track of time how long one of her colleagues had started to talk nonstop and everyone else, unlike her who could no longer register what he was talking about, somehow remained attuned.
They even shared a laugh. And Yoona’s smile started to be forced. Not that she hated to be here, she’s just extremely, exceptionally fatigued.
So it was natural for her to gravitate towards her comfort, right?
Except now, her source of comfort was jumping in her seat, clearly excited at whatever the conversation was going. She tilted her head rather slowly, staring at Jinsol with her unfocused vision. The restaurant lights were too much for her retinas that Jinsol practically glowed like a sun kissed fairy.
“I told you he has a crush on that nurse at paeds ward!” Bae Jinsol was practically screaming but no one minded it, not when a few other colleagues screamed some things Yoona didn’t bother to register.
Yoona’s mind was elsewhere, the chopsticks in her hand felt like a phantom hold and the exhaustion were forcing her eyelids to close. When Jinsol went back to her seat, Yoona instantly dropped her head against the taller shoulder. She tried not to close her eyes, feeling like it could come off as disinterested and others might misunderstand.
Jinsol was still animatedly conversing, though she remained in her seat without moving much. Occasionally, she would take the fries or the bite-sized grilled meat and feed it to Yoona, who mindlessly accepted it.
Yoona had to hold on for another hour before everyone else decided to call it a night. Yoona had almost become a zombie by then. She let herself be dragged by a certain short-haired woman outside. Her scarf was being fixed by Jinsol before they got into an uber.
“I really can’t believe Jaewook refuses to admit that he likes that nurse. If he told me sooner I would’ve helped him.”
Yoona didn’t reply, simply letting Jinsol say whatever was on her mind. Her head was leaning against the backseat, her arms slacked on her sides. Jinsol had taken her left arm, sizing their hands together, then brushing her thumb against her palm before intertwining their fingers together—all while talking about the patients she handled today and the way the guard at the hospital entrance was trying to set her up with his son.
Yoona could feel herself slipping out of consciousness.
The ride was smooth, the radio was playing some kind of ballad song and Jinsol’s voice lulled her further. She didn’t realise she had fallen asleep until she woke up against Jinsol. It took her a moment to realise she was on top of Jinsol who was struggling to piggyback her.
“Are you sure you can carry her?” The driver spoke in a heavy Busan accent but his concern was clear. Probably because despite her height, Jinsol appeared quite feeble-looking.
Yoona didn’t open her eyes yet, feeling way too tired to do so. Jinsol smelled faintly of medicine and warm tea. She loved this kind of scent on Jinsol.
“Of course, I’ve done this before!”
“Okay then, hurry and go home. It’s getting late.”
“Thank you, ahjussi!”
She slipped into dreamland.
“...na-yah. Yoona-yah.”
It felt like a dream. The light touches, the faint voice calling her name. She forced herself to stay awake but her mind refused. All’s left was a soft sound from her parted lips that sounded nothing like a coherent sentence.
Something warm pressed against her cheekbone. Her eyes fluttered open. Bleary. Unfocused. Jinsol’s thumb moved from her cheekbone down to the corner of her lip, then she lightly pinched it.
“You have to brush your teeth at least.”
Amidst the extreme drowsiness, she tried to raise her hands. Jinsol grabbed them instantly, gently pulling her up. Once she managed to sit, her head somehow ended up against Jinsol’s stomach. Jinsol pushed her lightly, before crouching down. Jinsol was already looking up at her, one hand holding her shoulder while the other placed against her jaw.
Their eyes met. Yoona found her heart skipped a beat at the sheer intimacy. Jinsol’s eyes were sharp, enough to make her appear seductive if she ever meant it but this time, they were so round and soft—so full of tenderness Yoona didn’t expect would even exist during this time of the night.
It was late. And Jinsol, who had three surgeries done consecutively would surely be exhausted, even if technically she wasn’t the one who performed it. But still, being an anesthesiologist wasn’t that easy. Being in a healthcare setting itself wasn’t easy.
And yet, Jinsol had that look in her eyes.
“Wake up.” Jinsol’s gaze was steady, thumb lightly brushing her skin.
Yoona didn’t reply at first. Then she parted her lips, her voice sounded slightly groggy.
“You’re gentler tonight.”
Jinsol’s lips pulled into a lopsided smile. Mirth dancing in her gaze. “I’m always gentle.”
Yoona shook her head. Jinsol shook her head too, mirroring Yoona, though her smile grew a bit wider.
“You’re loud. You literally threatened to choke me in front of the patient earlier this morning.”
“That’s because you’re still a fully functioning human then.” Jinsol tilted her head. “Now you’re just so soft and pliant like a baby.”
Yoona didn’t reply. She brought her lower lip between her teeth, gnawing it. Though the redness of her ears easily reflected how affected she was by Jinsol’s words. Jinsol’s thumb pressed against her lower lip, pulling it out from her teeth.
“Don’t do that.” Jinsol’s voice came out almost a whisper, her gaze settled on Yoona’s lips. “You’ll bleed.”
Yoona’s heart felt like it was about to burst.
Such a flirt.
Yoona crashed to the bed soon after she was done brushing her teeth. She barely got into the covers, legs hanging off the edge and arms splaying out like a starfish. The bed smelled like Jinsol and even though she didn’t want to admit it, it was easier for her to fall asleep.
“Yoona-yah.”
No response.
A sigh.
“I really should have applied for a gym membership…”
Yoona stirred from her sleep when she felt her body being moved, followed by the warmth of the cover on top of her. Her gaze landed on the ceiling above as Jinsol tried to properly get into the bed. She turned to the side, sleepy eyes traced each of Jinsol’s movements as she lay beside Yoona. Jinsol was mock shivering and making little noises as she did so.
Yoona couldn’t help but smile.
Jinsol turned off the lamp.
Darkness greeted them like an old friend.
Silence.
“You’re not sleeping, Yoona?”
“You moved me.”
“Well, that’s because you’re taking the whole bed for yourself.”
Yoona didn’t reply right away. She couldn’t find any excuses. But one thing she was curious about was why Jinsol decided to bring Yoona to her apartment instead. She could have told the driver to drop Yoona off and then bring her home.
“Why didn’t you bring me to my home?”
“I want to have you all by myself.”
Yoona’s heart skipped a beat for the nth time since she’d been awake. She shifted further away from Jinsol, not really knowing why she did that. All she knew was that she had to distance herself from Jinsol before her heart started to betray her.
Then Jinsol giggled, except this certain giggle was laced with tiredness, making her voice sound deeper than her usual one. There was a shift and a dip of the mattress. Lanky arms reached for her body, pulling her into the warmth of Jinsol.
She gave a weak push but ended up fruitless. A whine left her lips.
“No…”
“Ah, why…you didn’t even greet me in the hallway earlier. Also I ate my sandwich alone today.”
Too tired to even do anything, she let herself be pulled into a bear hug. It was as if Yoona had accidentally pressed her yapping button because much to her dismay, Jinsol didn’t feel like stopping any sooner.
“I tried to visit your office but they say you’re at the surgical ward. I tried to go there too but the nurse said you’ve already left. At that time I really felt like an abandoned child. It was that bad, you know? I’m sure you didn’t realise that—”
Jinsol had said more but Yoona’s brain could only register up to that point. The rest of the words jumbled like a handwriting against the pool of water. Yoona had to stifle a yawn.
She really needed to sleep or else she’ll go crazy.
Probably it was her sleep-induced brain or maybe she’d had enough. Her hand moved before she could think, weakly slapping Jinsol right against the mouth. A muffled surprised sound left Jinsol’s lips. She slightly tilted Jinsol’s face and without forming a single thought, she let her lips press against the taller’s jaw for a chaste kiss.
It worked.
Not only Jinsol stopped talking, but her whole body froze too. Yoona, who was way too exhausted and happy with the silence, decided to drift to dreamland in that position, unbeknownst to the latter who tried not to combust.
Finally.
Sleep.
Yoona finally got the sleep she deserved.
(But it was Jinsol who ended up not having a wink of sleep that night.)