EXTERN

Introduction.

 

Extern! We have a new case!

 

Extern! The patient's complaining of abdominal pain!

 

Extern! Cardiac arrest!

 

"Extern!"

 

"Extern!"

 

"Yes!"

 

My exhausted body lurched into motion as I raced from the eighth floor to the sixth to deal with yet another emergency. A quick glance at my watch told me it was almost five o'clock.

 

One long day was finally coming to an end...

 

Only to be followed by an even longer one.

 

That was life as a sixth-year medical student.

 

I was on call until six in the morning, then straight back onto the ward for rounds—checking patients, adjusting treatment plans, updating their notes, and repeating the whole cycle as if I'd enjoyed a full night's sleep.

 

That was the reality of being a final-year medical student.

 

A slave.

 

Ordered about like Cinderella before the fairy godmother ever arrived.

 

Ah... the glamorous life of Dr Kan.

 

"Dr Kan, if you've finished with this patient, head back to the dormitory, have a shower, and get some rest. You can come back for rounds at seven," one of the nurses said.

 

I gave her a weary nod after finishing intubating my final patient.

 

Dragging my exhausted body across the hospital car park, I headed towards my father's BMW. I'd borrowed it to drive to the hospital, and it was parked near the convenience store, where the cafés and rice porridge stalls were already filling with people trying to recover from a night of drinking.

 

Thud... Thud... Thud...

 

I frowned as the engine refused to start. My consciousness was already beginning to drift.

 

Should I just sleep in the car?

 

I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. Forget the shower...

 

As long as I got some sleep.

 

Knock. Knock.

 

Slowly, I lifted my head from the steering wheel and blinked at the figure standing outside my window.

 

How on earth did he end up here?

 

Click.

 

I unlocked the door and climbed out.

 

Standing before me was a tall man with tanned skin, broad shoulders, and an athletic build. The first thing anyone noticed about him, though, was his thick moustache. It looked scruffy. Untidy.

 

Combined with the faint scent of alcohol clinging to him, it wasn't hard to guess what he'd been up to.

 

"What is it?"

 

His name started with "Per"...

 

But what kind of Per?

 

Hyper?

 

Viper?

 

Percussion?

 

Peripheral?

 

I honestly had no idea.

 

All I knew was that he was a fourth-year engineering student responsible for the engineering side of our university project. We worked together often enough, but his face was so irritating it practically begged to be punched.

 

"The car won't start, Doctor?"

 

"Mmm."

 

I folded my arms and gave a small nod. The morning air was colder than I'd expected.

 

"I'll take a look for you. Why don't you get some sleep in my car while you wait?"

 

The tall man pointed towards a sleek black Lamborghini parked a short distance away.

 

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

 

What's his angle?

 

"You can fix it? Why? Are you trying to play the hero? Sorry, but I'm not some helpless heroine."

 

Even half-asleep, my mouth still worked perfectly.

 

"I'm not the hero either," he replied with a grin. "So if you're not the heroine... does that make us a couple?"

 

I stared at the engineering student from the other faculty, wondering what this moustached idiot was trying to pull.

 

"Hmph... you're unbelievable."

 

I sighed.

 

I was far too exhausted to waste what little energy I had arguing with him.

 

"I've already called a mechanic," he said. "Even if I know what's wrong, I don't have the tools to fix it myself. Go and get some sleep in my car. I'll wait here."

 

"Fine."

 

When someone offered me a better option, why would I refuse?

 

I staggered over to the Lamborghini, opened the passenger door, and climbed inside. The moment I reclined the seat, every ounce of tension melted from my body.

 

The last thing I saw before drifting off was the tall engineering student lifting the bonnet of my BMW. He inspected the engine with an unusually serious expression, checking one thing after another.

 

...Maybe he looked a little cool like that.

 

Just a little.

 

Little by little, my consciousness slipped away...

 

A gentle touch brushed through my hair.

 

Warm fingers stroked my head before gliding lightly across my forehead. They lingered against my lips for the briefest moment before disappearing altogether.

 

The bitter chill that had surrounded me only moments ago was gone, replaced by a comforting warmth.

 

My eyes slowly fluttered open.

 

Instinctively, I reached for my phone.

 

Maybe the ward was calling.

 

"Hello?"

 

"Brother..."

 

Go on...

 

Just a little longer...

 

"Brother Kan, the resident and the intern are running late because of a conference call. You don't need to rush back for rounds. Get some rest."

 

"Mmm... thanks."

 

After thanking the fourth-year medical student, I ended the call.

 

Only then did I notice the blue lab coat draped over me.

 

"Huh..."

 

I blinked in confusion.

 

Someone had covered me with both a lab coat and a work jacket. I was only wearing shorts, yet I was wrapped up warmly enough that I hadn't even realised how cold it was outside.

 

It was strangely comforting.

 

On impulse, I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo of the lab coat and jacket draped over me, making sure only half my face was visible and that the embroidered name couldn't be seen.

 

Then I uploaded it to Instagram.

 

I wasn't trying to imply anything.

 

I just found it amusing that two completely different worlds had somehow ended up together. It wasn't exactly something you saw every day.

 

...Although saying that now almost sounded like an excuse.

 

Knock. Knock.

 

I turned towards the sound and saw someone tapping lightly on the window.

 

Opening the door, I climbed out to find the owner of the Lamborghini waiting beside the car, a faint smile playing on his lips.

 

"Yes?"

 

After getting some sleep, my head finally felt clear again. At the very least, I no longer had the urge to bite the head off someone who'd just done me a favour.

 

"Your car's fixed."

 

The moustached idiot flashed a proud grin.

 

I really hated that smile.

 

What on earth was he so pleased about?

 

"Uh..."

 

"...Thanks."

 

After muttering a reluctant word of thanks, I turned and headed straight for my own car, eager to get away from that infuriating face as quickly as possible.

 

"Dr Kanchan!"

 

"What?"

 

I spun around automatically, my reply coming out much sharper than I'd intended.

 

The engineering student looked momentarily taken aback.

 

For some reason, whenever he looked at me with that mischievous expression, I found myself getting inexplicably flustered.

 

"Er... I know you seem to like it, Doctor, but..."

 

"What?"

 

"...I still need my lab coat for the lab."

 

My eyes widened.

 

Looking down, I finally realised I was still wrapped in his lab coat beneath the work jacket.

 

Whoosh!

 

Without another word, I whipped it off, screwed it into a ball, and hurled it straight back at him.

 

"Haha! I'll bring you another one to keep you warm next time!"

 

He actually shouted after me.

 

How embarrassing.

 

"Yeah, yeah! I'm going."

 

I hurried back to my BMW, but just as I was about to climb in, something suddenly occurred to me.

 

Turning around, I looked back at the moustached engineering student.

 

"Yes?"

 

"The repair bill..."

 

Tilting my head, I reached into my trouser pocket for my wallet.

 

"Consider it my engagement gift."

 

I froze.

 

"...Engagement gift?"

 

The words caught me completely off guard.

 

"What engagement?"

 

At my question, the engineering student scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin, answering as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

 

"I thought I'd better reserve my place early... just in case I end up becoming the doctor's husband."

 

I stared at him for a long moment before narrowing my eyes.

 

Whatever helps you sleep at night.

 

"If you honestly think that's possible..."

 

I slipped my wallet back into my pocket and pulled open the driver's door.

 

"...then feel free to try."

 

With that, I climbed into the BMW, started the engine, and drove away without another glance.

 

In the rear-view mirror, I could still see the tall engineering student standing exactly where I'd left him, watching until my car disappeared from sight.

 

"I never thought it would actually happen..."

 

A broad smile slowly spread across his face.

 

"But now I'm certain it will."

 

"My future husband..."

 

"...is going to be a doctor."