EXTERN

Chapter 22

 

Once again, I felt as though I’d somehow ended up in completely the wrong place.

Because right now, here I was, handsome and fair-skinned, sitting in the middle of a sea of almost a hundred engineering students wearing their blue workshop jackets.

 

The fourth-year Engineering students had gathered around the tables beneath the faculty building, in what everyone called the Gear Yard, to put their heads together and work on their final projects, which they’d have to present in just a few days.

 

Hahahaha!

 

Good luck, juniors!

 

I’M ALREADY ON HOLIDAYYYYY!

 

Doctor Kan is officially off service!

 

“What are you looking at? You’ve got such a smug little smile on your face.”

 

My moustached patient, who still had a dressing stuck over his stomach, leaned over to ask.

 

I was scrolling through my iPad on one of those famous streaming apps.

 

I’d actually gone so far as to pay for a subscription so I could watch unlimited films and series. I’d spent the entire day practically watching one series and was already nearly at the end of the season.

 

I glanced at the time. Almost ten at night. And suddenly, I was hungry.

 

“I’m enjoying my holiday.”

 

“Ooooooh, show-off!”

 

The poisonous snake pouted resentfully before turning back to stare at his MacBook screen. Moo, Muek and Kung, his friends, were doing the same. There were also a few first- to third-years scattered around studying, since exam season was approaching for the students on the main university campus.

 

“Hahaha. I’m going to 7-Eleven. Anyone want anything?”

 

I got to my feet, politely remembering to ask everyone.

 

Well…I said politely. I was the one who was hungry. I’d been so busy binge-watching my series that I’d barely slept or eaten properly.

 

“Want me to come with you?”

 

The handsome bastard didn’t just ask. He immediately started to get up, one hand supporting his injured stomach as he tried to straighten up.

 

The Engineering Faculty was towards the back of the university, and there were loads of places to eat just outside the rear gate. It was also really close to where we were sitting.

 

Besides, I wasn’t some delicate little girl who could easily be dragged away by a stranger. I could walk that far by myself.

 

“Stop right there, Per! Get your bloody work done! I still need to finish the animation for our project presentation.”

 

“Exactly! P’Kan’s only walking over there. What, are you scared some girl’s going to carry him off?”

 

“Don’t you trust your boyfriend?”

 

“Oi! He’s not a flirt like you, mate!”

 

“You’re lucky enough that P’Kan lowered himself to date you in the first place, and you still don’t trust him?”

 

“You’re such a—”

 

“ENOUGH!”

 

Poor Moustache finally shouted over them before collapsing back into his seat with a resigned sigh after being relentlessly ganged up on by Moo, Muek and Kung.

 

Bloody hell, you lot are going to give Per a complex. Looking at his sulky little face made me feel strangely affectionate. I wanted to stroke his head and kiss both cheeks right here.

 

“Hahaha. I can walk there perfectly well. If anyone wants anything, send your order to me in the chat…Hia’s paying!”

 

“Oooooooh! P’Kan isn’t just handsome, he’s generous too!”

 

“Per is so fucking lucky!”

 

“Oi! All of you, look carefully! If you’re going to get yourself a boyfriend, you need one like P’Kan! Forget all those pretty, sexy girls you lot chase after. That’s weak shit!”

 

“OOOOOOOOOH!”

 

“Give me a second. I’m calling my wife to break up with her.”

 

“Where the hell do I kidnap myself a doctor 

like this?”

 

“I want one toooooo!”

 

I slowly shook my head at the bloody cheerleading squad shouting across the Gear Yard. The younger students sitting nearby joined in, laughing and yelling along with them. I grabbed my wallet and headed towards the university’s rear gate.

 

Come to think of it, during my six years at this university, I’d only really experienced life on the main campus during my first year. From second year onwards, almost all my classes had been within my own faculty, which was actually on the other side, outside the main university grounds. That made it bloody difficult to make friends from other faculties.

 

Unless you were someone who went out drinking and partying at night, you barely met anyone outside your own faculty. Even in the first year, when Medicine students came onto the main campus to take foundation subjects with everyone else, do you know what happened?

 

If students from other faculties found out which section the medical students had registered for, they’d avoid it.

 

Apparently, everyone thought medical students were bloody mean. It got to the point where they had to open special sections just for the Faculty of Medicine. And how the hell was that any different from studying inside our own faculty?!

 

That’s why doctors end up dating each other. Eventually, you spend so much time surrounded by the same people that one day you look across the room and think…

 

Huh. My friend’s actually pretty fit.

 

“Oi! Kan! What are you doing here? I thought you’d gone home already.”

 

A familiar voice made me look up from my phone.

 

I’d been checking Messenger, where the starving children had sent me an increasingly ridiculous list of food they wanted.

 

Seriously.

You lot are ordering like I’ve got a bloody shopping trolley with me.

 

How the hell am I supposed to carry all this?

 

“Oh! Guide. I’m buying food for the juniors. What about you?”

 

“I stopped by to buy some rubbers.”

 

I narrowed my eyes at my womanising friend, who gave me a knowing grin. He was definitely hooking up with some student living in one of the nearby dorms. Guide was from this province, so during the holidays he usually hung around here, flirting with girls, going to the gym and doing whatever else he did.

 

My family home, meanwhile, was in another province. Soon, I’d be going back there to complete my service at the provincial hospital near home. But right now I didn’t want to go back yet. I wanted to stay with my injured snake a little longer.

 

“Heh. Hope your girlfriend catches you.”

 

“I’m a professional.”

 

I rolled my eyes and started filling my basket with burgers and sausages for the staff to microwave. I also grabbed my favourite croissant sandwich with sausage and cheese and asked them to toast it.

 

“Does Per know yet that you’re moving to the hospital near your family home? You two are going to have a harder time seeing each other, aren’t you? I told my girlfriend I was assigned to a southern province for my compulsory service. Fuck, she’s so pissed at me!”

 

I froze for a moment. Then I looked at my friend, who had somehow dragged me over to help him choose condoms near the counter.

 

Mate. You really don’t need to examine them this seriously. I’m embarrassed!

 

“Not yet.”

 

“WHAT?! You’re leaving in a few weeks!”

 

“Mm.”

 

I lowered my head and started throwing packets of snacks into my basket, not particularly wanting to continue this conversation. I couldn’t be bothered answering his questions. Mostly because I didn’t know how to answer them.

 

I hadn’t even properly thought about it myself. I hadn’t imagined it would become some huge problem. We’d just be…Far apart.

 

“Per will probably understand. Bloody hell… this is what happens when you study medicine. You graduate, and then you actually have to become a doctor. Working life is real, mate. That ideal university life where you can do whatever you want and date whoever you want is coming to an end.

 

“In the end, the person who understands you is the person you should let stay in your life.”

 

I hesitated. Then looked up at Guide.

 

“What if he doesn’t understand?

 

“What if the distance makes what we have slowly fade away?

 

“What the hell am I supposed to do then?”

Guide looked back at me.

 

There wasn’t even a trace of teasing in his eyes now. He really was worried about me.

 

“Don’t underestimate Per. That kid loves you to bloody death. There are only a few provinces between you, and you’re acting as if you’ll be on opposite continents!

 

“We have these incredible modern inventions nowadays called Skype, FaceTime and even cars, mate. You don’t have to sail across the ocean or hitch up an ox cart anymore.”

 

“Hahaha!”

 

I burst out laughing at my best friend’s exasperated expression and foul mouth as we headed towards the counter to pay.

 

“And another thing, Kan. If something hasn’t even happened yet, stop worrying about it.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“What’s with you suddenly acting like some paranoid little maiden? Enough! Per must’ve been giving you too many injections. You’re suspicious of bloody everything!”

 

I bared my teeth at the foul-mouthed bastard. Someone needed to slap him across the mouth! I was just thinking ahead! I wasn’t paranoid!

 

“I’m dropping you here. I’m not helping you carry all that inside.”

 

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks.”

 

I nodded gratefully and gathered the 7-Eleven bags into my arms. Luckily, Guide had been kind enough to drive me all the way back to the Engineering Faculty. Otherwise, I’d probably have scattered half these snacks across the road before I even made it across.

 

“Don’t forget to tell Per. Give the kid a chance to prepare himself or make plans.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bloody hell, you’re bossy.”

 

“I’m worried about his feelings! He finally managed to get you, and before you’ve even had time to enjoy being all lovey-dovey together, you’re already leaving.”

 

I gave Per’s self-appointed representative an exhausted look. You’d think I’d committed some terrible crime.

 

“YES!”

 

I quickly climbed out and slammed the door before he could continue lecturing me.

 

Thank fuck he was only my friend and not my wife. Otherwise, my life would be one enormous headache.

 

CRASH! RUSTLE! TEAR!

 

The second I dropped the mountain of snacks onto the table, the starving beasts descended.

Packets were grabbed and ripped open so quickly that I immediately backed away.

 

Are you lot Gear Stallions or Gear Hyenas?!

Bloody terrifying!

 

“Per… come and eat.”

 

I beckoned towards the tall man who was nervously craning his neck towards the food frenzy.

 

Even you’re scared, Per?

 

Luckily, I’d separated our meals and the snacks I’d secretly bought from the shops near the university’s rear gate.

 

“I’m huuuuungry, darling!”

 

The little boy—who was absolutely not little in any possible sense—bounded over like an excited puppy, practically wagging an imaginary tail.

 

He wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed onto the same marble bench with me, acting ridiculously affectionate.

 

Whose boyfriend is this?!

So bloody handsome!

So bloody cute!

So bloody annoying!

 

“Eat. You’re not sleeping tonight.”

 

I threatened him. That was the life of someone with responsibilities. Meanwhile, as someone who had already escaped mine, I happily continued eating snacks and watching my series.

 

“With Kan here, I can stay awake all nighttttt!”

 

He happily shoved paprika-coated crisps into his mouth.

 

One arm remained wrapped around my waist while his enormous head rubbed affectionately against my arm, completely unconcerned about who was watching.

 

“Mm… Aren’t you bored of me being here with you every day?”

 

I looked down at the starving man devouring the food in front of him. Should I tell him now? But he was so happy. I didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere.

 

“Neverrrrr. I could stay with you every single day for the rest of my life.”

 

He looked up and gave me such a bright, innocent, cheerful smile that I couldn’t help wanting to smile back.

 

I didn’t want to be separated from this warmth and brightness either.

 

Having him beside me every day made me indescribably happy.

 

“You know that’s impossible.”

 

The words slipped out without me meaning to say them aloud.

 

I hadn’t thought he’d hear.

 

But the way he suddenly froze, and the questions filling his eyes, told me he’d heard every bloody word.

 

“Why? Are you breaking up with me? No! Absolutely not! We’re not breaking up!”

 

“That’s not what I meant…”

 

I immediately turned towards him properly, trying to explain before he could launch into an even bigger dramatic performance.

 

“Then what do you mean?”

 

“I have to go back and do my compulsory service…

 

“Near my family home.”

 

I paused and looked into those big, clear eyes staring attentively at me.

 

Sometimes he was just too bloody cute. Cute and handsome enough to turn me completely soft and make me give in to everything he wanted.

 

How the hell was anyone supposed to deliberately hurt someone like him?

 

“…And my family lives in another province. So we might have to spend some time apart.”

 

He merely blinked at me and waited for me to finish.

 

No shouting.

No dramatic reaction.

 

Seeing him like this actually made me feel relieved.

 

At least he wasn’t becoming paranoid over something that hadn’t even happened yet…

Unlike me.

 

“But I’ll try to come and see you. And I’ll do my best to keep in touch.”

 

I gave him an awkward little smile.

 

The truth was, life as an intern was incredibly busy.

 

It was like being a baby turtle released into the ocean and suddenly expected to swim entirely on its own.

 

There would be nobody constantly holding my hand anymore.

 

Nobody else took responsibility when I made a mistake.

 

“Crunch…”

 

Per fell silent.

 

He picked up another crisp, put it into his mouth and slowly chewed, looking deep in thought.

 

“Kan…”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Where did you say your family home was again?”

 

I blinked.

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Can I come and visit your home?”