I stepped out of the hospital exactly at seven o’clock. Lucas was nowhere in sight, so I took the opportunity to leave.
It wasn’t my intention to avoid him. No—that was wrong. I didn’t want to avoid him because it hurt me too, but this was the only thing that felt right.
Everything was piling up on me. The pressure, the weight of what people thought about our relationship, the endless reviewing that made me feel like my brain was shutting down.
I was exhausted—physically, mentally. It felt like I could just sleep and pray that by the time I woke up, everything would be gone.
I stepped inside the apartment, feeling drained. Empty.
No one was home. The cool breeze from the slightly open sliding door swayed the thin curtains. The silence was pulling me in—as if, if I let it consume me, I could forget about everything. Even just for a moment. If only I could.
I took a shower, changed into comfortable clothes, and forced myself to study. This wasn’t an option. I had to catch up. There was only a month left before the internship ended.
One more month.
Reality was getting closer.
Our hospital only required a six-month internship, though it could be extended up to a year. Since Noah and I started at the same time, we decided to stick to six months so we could focus on preparing for the licensure exam.
I tapped my forehead lightly, trying to snap myself back to focus.
Outside, the sky had darkened. The wind carried the scent of impending rain. It would be another stormy night.
I kept reviewing, but at some point, exhaustion caught up with me. Without realizing it, I had fallen asleep.
I woke up to the faint sound of voices coming from the living room.
My eyes flickered open, and the first thing I noticed was the time.
I’m late.
No—I’m super late!
I shot up so fast that a wave of dizziness hit me, making me clutch my head. Great. Just great. It felt like I was about to get vertigo from standing up too fast.
Outside, the sky was already dark, and the heavy rain poured relentlessly. I can’t believe I slept this long.
I fixed the strap of my tank top before stepping out of my room.
"Wow, so you guys really decided to have a date here?" I raised a brow as I saw Cloud and Rain watching Netflix in the living room.
Cloud was dressed in a tucked-in polo shirt and black—whatever those slacks were called. Meanwhile, Rain was still in her work uniform from the architectural firm. They both looked like they had just gotten off work and decided to settle here.
Why did that sound bitter?
"Oh? And why are you here? Why didn’t you go to work?" Cloud asked, his gaze momentarily shifting from the screen to me.
I walked straight to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water, and took a sip. My throat was parched from sleeping too long. "Overslept."
I wasn’t even that upset about missing my shift. I’d just deal with the consequences tomorrow.
"Do we have any food?" I asked, expecting Rain to have brought something back. She always did whenever she got home from work.
"It's raining hard. Let’s just order something," Rain replied, eyes still glued to the screen.
Cloud had his arm draped lazily over her shoulder, the two of them occasionally chuckling at whatever they were watching.
Must be nice.
"You order, I’ll pay," I said nonchalantly.
Rain snapped her head toward me so fast I swore I heard her neck crack.
She was supposed to be treating us since she was the one earning a full salary, but at least we still got paid despite being interns.
While they browsed for food online, I returned to my room to grab my phone. As soon as I turned it on, several messages popped up.
Two from Judith.
Two from Lucas.
"You okay?"
"You’re not coming in?"
There were also three missed calls from him.
Something in me urged me to respond, but I decided against it. Not right now.
I stared at the window, watching as the rain traced delicate lines down the glass.
I sighed before dialing a number.
“Elise,” I greeted the moment she picked up.
"Oh? You’re calling?" she said, sounding surprised.
"I was wondering if I could switch to the morning shift… Do you think that’s possible?"
"Huh? Why?"
I twirled a flashcard between my fingers, searching for a good excuse. "Night shifts are too exhausting."
There was a pause on the other end. "Hmm… Alright. We can swap schedules."
A sense of relief washed over me, but at the same time, a small part of me ached at the thought of what his reaction would be.
This is for the best.
I thought everything would go smoothly. But the moment I stepped into the hospital the next morning, ready for my new morning schedule, I was met with sharp glares. And not just from anyone—but from him.
I was used to his intimidating stares back when I was still new and clueless, but this… this was different.
This wasn’t the usual sarcastic, perfectionist, terror doctor everyone feared.
This was demanding Lucas.
So… he hasn’t gone home yet?
"Good morning, Dr. Tuarez," I greeted in a professional tone, maintaining my composure.
He didn’t respond. He didn’t even move from where he was standing, as if deliberately blocking my way to the nurse’s station.
I looked up at him.
He was wearing a dark blue polo, his stethoscope draped over his shoulder, his ID clipped neatly to his pocket. His sleeves were folded up to his elbows, revealing strong forearms. And then… that scent—his scent. The familiar cologne that I always associated with him. The one that once drove me crazy.
"Why haven't you been answering my messages?" His deep, baritone voice broke through the silence, serious and demanding.
Of all things to ask, he was more concerned about my lack of replies than the fact that I didn’t show up yesterday.
"I was too caught up in reviewing. I lost track of time," I answered flatly, keeping my expression neutral.
I had to.
As much as possible, I wanted to avoid fueling the rumors. The judgmental looks, the whispers behind my back—as if loving a doctor was some kind of crime. Even though I knew Bernadette worked night shifts, I couldn’t shake the fear that she had already spread gossip about us.
"Are you avoiding me?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
I averted my gaze. Instead of answering, I walked past him and headed straight to my seat.
"You are…" he murmured, as if confirming it to himself. "You are avoiding me."
I ignored him. My hands busied themselves, taking out my pen, my handy book, my stamp—anything to pretend he wasn’t standing there, watching me.
"Can you at least look at me?" There was a hint of frustration in his voice now.
I finally lifted my gaze, feigning innocence. "Yes, Doctor?"
His jaw tightened. "Don't play games with me, Vivienne."
"Please," I whispered, barely holding it together. "We’re at work."
"Then let’s talk outside."
"I’m about to clock in, Dr. Tuarez." I said firmly, reminding him that we were at work.
Despite the turmoil in his eyes, he still held himself together—composed, restrained. But I knew him well enough to sense the frustration bubbling beneath. Who wouldn’t be frustrated? Everything was fine between us before, and now… this.
But this was better.
It was better if he got angry at me. If things went back to the way they were before.
"Where’s Nurse Elise?"
A calm, refined voice interrupted the tense moment.
I turned to see her—Dra. Clara. Beautiful, tall, elegant Dra. Clara.
Saved by the bell.
"Ah…" I hesitated before forcing a polite smile. "I’m covering for her. Didn’t she inform you about our schedule switch?"
From the corner of my eye, I saw Lucas tilt his head slightly, his lips curving into a smirk—almost like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Dra. Clara, sensing the tension, let out an awkward chuckle. "Ah, yes! Vivienne, right? I thought you were under Dr. Tuarez?" she asked uncertainly.
I lowered my head, suddenly unsure of what to say.
Was I under him? Yes.
But not anymore.
Because I was avoiding him.
"I think…" Dra. Clara glanced at Lucas before turning back to me with a knowing smile. "She’s mine now, Dr. Tuarez."
She let out a soft laugh before winking at me. "Come on, let’s start our rounds. We have a critical patient, and I need a brain."
Swallowing hard, I took the clipboard she handed me and followed her.
Without looking back.
Leaving Lucas standing there.
Damn.
This is so hard.
Our first round together went smoothly.
Every now and then, I’d catch her looking impressed—just like Dr. Tuarez used to do. And just like him, she was subtly testing me, though she did it so gracefully that it wasn’t obvious at all.
From my observation, she seemed to be the same age as Nathan. But believe it or not, you wouldn’t even notice.
"Did I just witness a lovers' quarrel?" Dr. Clara said with a knowing smile.
She was beautiful. Fair-skinned, with lively, wavy hair that moved with every step she took. Her figure was stunning, and the black silk polo tucked neatly into her high-waisted pencil skirt with a side slit suited her perfectly.
Not to mention—she was wearing heels.
Freaking high heels, walking back and forth between patient rooms like it was her personal runway.
"Wow, no wonder Lucas always brings you along on his rounds," Dra. Clara complimented, her tone light and teasing.
I smiled, not really sure how to react.
Dra. Clara had such a strong presence. Even with her delicate facial features, her aura practically screamed authority and power—so much so that every male personnel we passed seemed to admire her as if she were royalty.
"This is the first time I’ve seen Dr. Tuarez act like that," she remarked in a friendly tone.
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
She greeted a passing nurse with a polite smile before turning back to me. "He used to spend most of his time in his office. Now, he’s always at the nurse’s station."
There was a knowing look in her eyes, her smile hinting at something unspoken.
She knows.
Of course, she does. They’re colleagues, after all. But even without Lucas saying anything, people were bound to notice. He was always the one sticking close to me.
After checking on our third patient, Dra. Clara invited me to have lunch with her.
I was surprised by the offer.
But what shocked me even more was Lucas’s presence.
He was waiting outside the last patient’s room, right before we were supposed to head to lunch.
My chest tightened at the sight of him.
He looked like a mess.
Exhaustion and lack of sleep were evident in his eyes, but despite that, his sharp features remained strikingly handsome.
Why hasn’t he gone home yet?
"Can you please talk to me, Vivienne?" His voice broke the silence the moment I stepped out of the room.
The pleading in his tone felt like a dagger straight to my chest.
I turned to Dra. Clara, unsure of what to do.
She didn’t look shocked. Not even confused.
It was as if scenes like this were completely normal to her. She only shifted her gaze between Lucas and me, observing.
"Dr. Tuarez, go home. You still have duty later—"
"No."
He cut me off before I could finish.
"Not until we talk."
From my peripheral vision, I noticed Dra. Clara take a step forward.
I glanced at her just as she turned to Lucas.
"If a woman doesn’t want to talk, don’t force her," she said.
Her previously soft, gentle voice had turned serious.
Lucas shot her an irritated glare, but when he realized he was at a disadvantage, when the weight of defeat settled in his eyes, he took a step back.
As if he was giving me space.
Dra. Clara looped her arm through mine, smoothly guiding me away—leaving Lucas standing there.