"Hey, don’t you have surgery? Why are you drinking there?"
I just glanced at Nathan as he walked straight into the condo. He doesn’t live here anymore, so I have no idea why he’s here now.
I took a long swig from my beer can before setting the empty can beside me. I just want to drown this damn heart of mine in alcohol—because, shit, it hurts.
Damn it, this hurts. I knew the day I feared would come—the day Vivienne would leave me. But a part of me still hoped she wouldn’t… because she loves me.
At first, I couldn’t figure out what was going on with Vivienne—her actions, the way she kept avoiding me. It felt like I was trying to solve a puzzle, forcing myself to make sense of her behavior even though I was already confused as hell. But instead of pushing for answers, I chose to just observe her.
I thought maybe it had something to do with the time I mentioned marriage. Damn, I didn’t mean to bring that up, but there’s nothing wrong with testing the waters, right? I just wanted to know her thoughts, but in hindsight, I was basically making an indirect proposal that night on the balcony.
Then came that last night we spent in the same room. That’s when it hit me. That’s when I finally understood—she wasn’t ready to talk about something like that. And I get it. She’s serious about the path she wants to take. She wants to be a neurologist. And honestly, that’s one of the reasons I fell for her in the first place.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw her—back at Alessa’s school. I wasn’t even supposed to be there. I just got dragged into Nathan’s ridiculous plan to crash the cafeteria for lunch, just so he could see my annoying sister.
"You seriously had to bring me here?"
"Just go with it, Lucas. I don’t ask for much."
We were already near the school cafeteria when I noticed her. She was sitting alone in the gazebo, her head buried in a thick book, completely unaware of the world around her. She was in her nursing uniform, her skin was pale like porcelain, and her slightly wavy hair moved with the breeze.
"Hey, Lucas. Who are you staring at?" Nathan’s voice snapped me back, and I quickly looked away before he could dig any further.
That wasn’t the last time I saw her. Every time I ended up at that school, my eyes would instinctively search for her. But the second time I saw her, she was with Noah—Alessa’s ex.
The thought crossed my mind—maybe they were together, or at least something was going on between them. So, I convinced myself to forget about her.
Or at least, I tried to. But then, the third time we crossed paths, she was already an intern at the hospital where I worked.
Seeing her up close? Damn. She was even more beautiful. And when I realized she and Noah weren’t actually together, I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
I’ll admit—I was tough on her. Probably stricter than necessary. But it wasn’t to put her down. I just wanted to push her, to help her improve. The day she got assigned to me for monitoring, I checked her credentials, and damn, she had the brains to back it up.
Vivienne is smart. She just let her nerves get the best of her at first. But after a while? Well, she started talking back.
Unbelievable woman.
Sometimes, I’d send her coffee—my subtle way of getting her attention. Other times, I’d let her take an extended break, even after it was over, as long as there weren’t too many patients. It was unusual for me. I’ve always been strict about these things—I hate tardiness, laziness, and incompetence. But with her, it was different.
I had my own reasons for moving her to the night shift—even though I knew she was probably cursing me in her head for ruining her perfect morning schedule.
She knows exactly what she wants in life. Her plans are set, fixed. That’s why I don’t even know if I should try. I never thought I’d fall for an intern, let alone her.
Especially not after that day—the day I received my award.
She was the first person to catch my attention, all because of that damn dress she wore. Even with half of her face covered by a mask, I knew it was her. She was the most beautiful woman at that event. And I fell for her even harder the moment she kissed me back.
I expected her to slap me, push me away. But she didn’t.
Damn, Vivienne, are you falling for me too?
That night, I made up my mind—I wasn’t going to let her go.
It’s hard to hold back when we’re at work. We both agreed to keep things professional, to separate whatever this is from our responsibilities. But sometimes, I catch myself wanting to pull her into a corner just to hold her, just to let the exhaustion fade for a moment. But I never do. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.
"Did you come here just to gossip about your colleague?" I gave Bernadeth a sharp look when I caught her talking about Vivienne.
She looked like she had seen a ghost when she turned to face me. "Sorry, Doc."I raised an eyebrow, my gaze challenging. I don't know why, but the anger I feel right now feels personal.
Bernadeth quickly looked away, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. The other nurses who had been chatting with her suddenly found their paperwork interesting, pretending they hadn't been part of the conversation.
I exhaled sharply, trying to keep my irritation in check. ""Make sure you can keep up with the person you're gossiping about. Get back to it." My voice was calm, but firm.
Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked away, jaw clenched. I knew Vivienne could handle herself—she wasn't the type to let petty talk affect her. But that didn’t mean I had to let it slide. If people thought they could freely talk about her behind her back, they’d have to think again.
As I reached the nurse station, I found Vivienne scribbling something in her notebook, seemingly unaware of what had just happened. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips pursed in deep concentration.
She didn't notice me watching her.
And for some reason, the anger I felt earlier was quickly replaced by something else—something warm, something possessive.
She’s mine.
"Vivienne," I called, making her look up.
Her eyes met mine, and just like that, whatever tension I carried melted away.
Every single day, I find myself admiring her more. She proves, again and again, that she belongs in this world—that she was born to be a doctor. So who was I to stand in the way of her dreams? I let her pursue what she wanted. But if she thought breaking up with me was necessary to achieve them? No. That was something I couldn’t accept.
Even though her words hurt, I pushed the pain aside. Even though I wanted to beg that night—for her not to leave me—I held it in. I was willing to give her the space she needed to focus on her dreams, as long as it didn’t end in a breakup.
I didn’t say anything, didn’t show any reaction—because I knew she only said those things out of frustration. She was overwhelmed. And even when I distanced myself at work, I still caught her stealing glances at me… and at Dra. Ivy.
I knew she was jealous. And strangely, that made me happy. Because it meant she still loved me.
"Clara," I called out one day when I dropped by her office.
"Hmm?" She looked up at me with a knowing smile.
"Vivienne’s under your supervision now, right?"
She shot me a teasing look. "Yes, why?"
"Can you help her review? Just ask her random questions—she’ll be able to answer them." I should be the one doing that. I should be the one helping her review.
"Are you asking me to keep an eye on her?"
"Something like that. Her exams are coming up soon."
"Got it. You can count on me."
On the last day of her internship, I wasn’t sure if I should say goodbye.
Even if I wanted to, I chose not to.
I didn’t want to interfere with the decisions she had already made. I let her chase her dreams, fulfill her goals—no matter how much I wanted to see her, no matter how hard it was to stay away.
A small smile tugged at my lips when I received a message from Noah. He was updating me on Vivienne—how she was excelling, proving to everyone that she belonged in the medical field. That she was born for this.
"You’re really not letting me go home?"
I looked up just as Ivy dropped a clipboard onto my desk. She looked annoyed, but it didn’t last long. Instead, she was watching me, as if daring me to challenge her.
"Just hold on a little longer. Vivienne will be back in a few months."
"Right. Your Vivienne," she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We agreed I’d only stay here for two years. My God, my boyfriend’s been looking for me."
I smirked, shaking my head. At some point, she and Vivienne had started complaining to me the same way. But I hadn’t convinced Ivy to stay just because she reminded me of Vivienne—I needed her here. The major cases kept piling up, and I needed someone I could trust. She was brilliant, and I worked well with her. And in just a few months, Vivienne would finally be back—this time, as a resident.
So, on the day of her graduation, I flew to Boston.
I stood at a distance, watching as she marched across the stage, her face appearing on the large screen above. Even from afar, she was breathtaking.
She had no idea I was there.
And I had no intention of telling her.
She was stunning.
I nearly ran a hand through my hair in frustration as I watched her walk through the wedding venue. Every part of me wanted to pull her aside, hold her close, and never let go. But God knew how many saints I’d prayed to just to stop myself from doing exactly that.
Truth be told, I had been looking forward to this day—not because Alessa was getting married, but because I would finally see Vivienne again.
"Vivienne looks beautiful, doesn’t she?"
Nathan’s voice pulled me back to reality. He must have noticed me staring. I didn’t bother answering.
As I walked down the aisle, my mind was already set. I would bring her back. I knew it—felt it in my bones—she still loved me. She was mine. She would always come back to me.
"Can I go home now?"
That was Ivy’s greeting the moment I answered her call. It was in the middle of Alessa and Nathan’s wedding reception, and I had stepped outside for some fresh air.
"Ivy," I warned, stopping whatever complaint she was about to throw at me.
Without thinking, I glanced up—and froze.
She was there.
For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t just watching from afar. She was right in front of me, close enough that I could see every detail, every expression. She looked like a princess in that dress, standing exactly where she was meant to be.
"Don’t Ivy me," she huffed. "I’m heading back to the Philippines, but before that, I need to report to you tomorrow. Anyway, congrats to your sister. We’ll talk then."
"Sure, I'll see you tomorrow."
But I barely registered her words. My gaze stayed fixed on Vivienne, watching as she turned and disappeared inside.
Still running away, huh?
My fingers brushed against the small box in my pocket.
I had this with me the day she walked away. But this time, when she left, she’d be wearing it.
During my break, I sent Vivienne a message, telling her to come to my office.
I had caught the shift in her tone earlier, the slight sharpness in her voice when I spoke to Ivy. And honestly? It made me smile. Because it meant I was right.
She still wanted me.
"Why me? Why not Dr. Ivy? She was the one you were talking to earlier, wasn’t she?"
"She’s going back to the Philippines, baby. That’s why I called you." I leaned forward, holding her gaze. "You’ll be taking over her work. You’ll help me—not as a nurse, but as a doctor.”
I saw the way her expression shifted—the way her shoulders relaxed, the unspoken relief in her eyes.
She had nothing to worry about.
No one could ever make me feel the way she did. No one even came close.
The first time I saw her standing in that gazebo, my future flashed before my eyes—one with her in it. I never believed in fate.
But she changed that.
"I love you, Vivienne," I murmured, wrapping my arms around her, afraid to lose her again.
"I... I love you too, Lucas."
Her voice trembled, but those were the words I had been waiting so long to hear.
I held her tightly, afraid that if I loosened my grip, she might slip away again.
For years, my world revolved around medicine. The weight of responsibility, the endless hours in the hospital, the expectations that came with the white coat—I embraced them all without question. I thought that was enough, that I had everything I needed.
But then Vivienne came into my life, and suddenly, the world I had carefully built didn’t feel so complete anymore.
She was never just another part of my routine. From the moment I met her, she stood out—not just because of her intelligence or beauty, but because of the way she carried herself, as if she was born to belong in this world. Every day, she proved that she wasn’t just meant to wear a white coat; she was meant to thrive in it.
And I admired her for that.
Even when she left to chase her dreams, I never stopped believing she would come back—not because I forced her to, but because I knew we belonged in the same world. Not just as doctors, but as two people who understood each other beyond the exhaustion, the long shifts, and the sacrifices.
Now that she was here, in my arms again, I knew one thing for sure—this time, I wasn’t just holding on to her.
I was holding on to the life we were meant to have beyond the white coats.