EXTERN

Chapter 4

It's uncomfortable.

 

I can't breathe.

 

It feels like someone's cutting off my air.

 

"More!"

 

My eyes flew open just as I was beginning to think I might actually suffocate.

 

Thump!

 

"Ow!"

 

I drove my fist straight into the back of the moustachioed idiot lying on top of me.

 

"Get off."

 

I fixed the handsome junior pinning me to the sofa with a cold stare. He looked right back at me, completely unfazed.

 

"No."

 

Not only did he refuse, but he flashed me a shameless grin before casually reaching over to unfasten the buttons of my short white coat.

 

"My dear Per."

 

"Yes, Doctor?"

 

Still smiling, his fingers wandered lower, making quick work of another button on my shirt.

 

"Are you getting off... or not?"

 

"Nope."

 

He actually had the nerve to shake his head with an innocent smile.

 

Good.

 

Aaaaah!

 

Without a second's hesitation, I grabbed a fistful of his dark hair and yanked as hard as I could.

 

"Ow!"

 

Per stumbled backwards off the sofa, clutching his head with both hands while pouting pitifully. I wasted no time sitting upright before he could pounce again.

 

"I asked nicely," I said, brushing down my clothes. "You're getting far too bold. I only dozed off for a few minutes."

 

"Dr Kanchana is so cruel."

 

He puffed out his cheeks dramatically before shamelessly scooting right back over until he was pressed against my side again. Resting his head on my shoulder, he rubbed against me like an oversized puppy desperate for attention.

 

Honestly...

 

The man never learned.

 

"What time is it?"

 

"It's eight o'clock. Are you hungry yet?"

 

After finally nudging him away with my foot, he reluctantly gave up and stood to retrieve the cushion we'd knocked onto the floor during our little wrestling match. Between the two of us, we tidied the sofa and put everything back where it belonged.

 

I stretched lazily and glanced around the condo. It was bigger than mine, and probably a fair bit more expensive too. The décor was simple enough, though the place was slightly untidy—the sort of organised chaos that seemed typical of a man living on his own.

 

"Then let's catch the bus to the shopping centre. We can pick up your car while we're there."

 

"Mm."

 

My absent-minded reply faded as something on the coffee table caught my eye.

 

"What do you feel like eating, Doctor? I'm in the mood for barbecue."

 

"...What's this?"

 

Using the chopsticks resting on top of an ancient bowl of instant noodles, I carefully fished a leopard-print G-string out from the gap beside the sofa.

 

The colour immediately drained from Per's face.

 

I didn't even want to imagine what this expensive leather sofa had been through.

 

"Um... well..."

 

"Leopard print too, huh? That would've looked fantastic."

 

With a casual flick of my wrist, I sent the G-string sailing neatly into the bin.

 

"W-Well... maybe I was thinking of trying something like that one day—whoa!"

 

Thump!

 

Before he could finish making excuses, I shoved the bulky athlete backwards onto the sofa and swung a leg over his waist, pinning him beneath me. Grabbing his collar, I pulled him close until our faces were only inches apart, my eyes locked firmly on those dark, coffee-coloured ones.

 

"Don't lie to me."

 

He stayed silent.

 

"The truth isn't scary. So don't even think about lying to someone like me."

 

Satisfied, I released his collar and started climbing off him.

 

Grab!

 

Apparently, his octopus instincts had already recovered. His arms wrapped around my waist again, pulling me straight back into his embrace until our faces were almost touching.

 

"I won't lie anymore..." he murmured with a crooked smile. "Let's make up."

 

His eyes drifted down to my lab coat, lingering on the buttons he'd only just undone.

 

"That's your problem! Leave me alone!"

 

I shoved his face away before he could try anything else. I should've known better. My mum always used to say that if you played with a dog, it'd end up licking your face. Apparently, playing with an engineer was even worse. He didn't just steal a kiss—he stole my mouth.

 

Why the hell was my face getting so hot?

 

Thump!

 

Before I knew it, he'd rolled us over again, pinning me to the sofa. His strong hands trapped my wrists above my head while he looked down at me with a smile that was far too pleased with itself.

 

"At first... I wasn't planning on taking things seriously with you, Doctor."

 

I stayed silent.

 

"I just wanted to flirt a little. Get to know you... spend more time with you."

 

His voice had lost most of its usual teasing edge.

 

"But now..." He smiled softly. "I think I'd be an idiot to let you walk away that easily."

 

For a moment, I couldn't think of a single thing to say. I wanted to argue. To tell him he was being ridiculous.

 

Instead...

 

My lips were claimed by the infuriating engineering student I'd never expected to let into my life.

 

Maybe...

 

Just this once...

 

I'd let him get away with it.

 

...You smug, moustachioed idiot.

 

"Mmph..."

 

My muffled protest disappeared as the gentle kiss slowly deepened. His lips became more insistent, stealing every opportunity I had to complain while his hands wandered lower, settling comfortably around my waist.

 

Bang!

 

"Ow!"

 

Per shot upright, rubbing his forehead after my palm landed squarely against it.

 

"I let you off once, and you're already getting cocky," I muttered, climbing to my feet. "Come on. I'm hungry."

 

"Yes, Doctor."

 

He glared at me with exaggerated resentment before obediently following.

 

...Not yet.

 

My heart was still recovering from being broken. Don't rush me, Per. You'll only end up hurting yourself.

 

"So..." he asked as we headed outside. "Does the doctor take the bus very often?"

The tall man bent down slightly and asked, "There aren't many people around right now, so we should still be able to find seats. It's only about two stops from my condo to the shopping centre."

 

"No. From first year to fifth year, I lived in the dormitory near the faculty, so I mostly walked everywhere. It wasn't until sixth year that my dad let me move into a condo, and even that's still close to the faculty."

 

As more passengers boarded, we both stood up. Per used his height to his advantage, gripping the overhead rail with one hand while the other casually wrapped around my waist to steady me. The moment I noticed it, I turned and fixed him with a warning look.

 

"Not even a little. You're always looking for an excuse to take advantage of me."

 

He only grumbled to himself but made no attempt to remove his upgraded octopus grip. Some people were simply beyond saving. Arguing with them was a complete waste of energy.

 

"The doctor might fall," he said with an annoyingly smug smile. "Hold on to me."

 

"Do whatever you like."

 

Too lazy to argue any further, I grabbed the front of his shirt instead. If the bus lurched and I fell, I was making sure he came down with me.

 

"Per."

 

"Yes?"

 

He lowered his head when I tugged on his shirt.

 

"I saw you staring at that group of schoolgirls. What are you, some kind of pervert?"

 

Instead of answering, he frowned slightly.

 

"Why won't you ever call me 'P'Per'?"

 

I looked up at him, completely baffled. I'd never thought of him as an older brother. Most of the time I called him by name or simply "Doctor" in return, while he constantly switched between my name, "Doctor", and speaking to me far too informally.

 

"I don't want you as an older brother."

 

He stared straight into my eyes, his expression unusually serious.

 

"Then what do you want me to be?"

 

A faint smile tugged at my lips as I challenged him.

 

"I'll be your husband!"

 

His voice boomed through the entire bus.

 

Oh, for heaven's sake...

 

Why are you shouting?

 

Every passenger turned to stare.

 

A group of girls from a nearby all-girls school squealed excitedly while openly watching us with sparkling eyes.

 

Wait...

 

Don't tell me they're fujoshi.

 

Please don't.

 

"Why are you yelling?" I hissed through gritted teeth, desperately resisting the urge to grab his head and shove it out of the bus window.

 

"I was worried the doctor wouldn't hear me... when I said I'm his husband."

 

One day...

 

This idiot from Engineering was going to get himself beaten up in public.

 

By me.

 

"So you're really not going to stay over?" he complained yet again as I drove him back to his condo after dinner. "You wouldn't even watch a film with me."

 

"Will you just let me rest? If I'd had more free time, maybe my girlfriend wouldn't have dumped me."

 

I answered jokingly as I unlocked the car doors, silently willing the venomous snake beside me to slither out already. He'd been sitting there dragging his feet for almost ten minutes.

 

"Kan."

 

"..."

 

"Hm?"

 

His sudden seriousness caught me completely off guard.

 

"What?"

 

"Hurry up and forget about her."

 

I fell silent.

 

I was trying.

 

Breaking up with Namfah today had already drained every ounce of my energy. We'd been together for almost five years. There was no way I could simply erase someone from my heart overnight.

 

It wasn't that simple.

 

The feelings had faded beneath the betrayal, the lies and everything she'd done to me...

 

But they were still there.

 

Along with the scars she'd left behind.

 

It hurt like hell.

 

I really had been an idiot.

 

"...She wasn't worth it."

 

I let out a quiet laugh.

 

"Heh... You make it sound as though someone like me deserves a princess."

 

"I'm not talking about a princess."

 

I raised an eyebrow.

 

"Then could you please get to the point? I don't have all night."

 

A grin spread slowly across his face.

 

"I'm talking about me."

 

Before I had the chance to process what he'd just said—

 

Peck!

 

Peck!

 

He grabbed my face, kissed my forehead, then my lips in one swift movement before I could even react.

 

"Damn it!"

 

"Good night, Doctor!"

 

Bang!

 

The infuriating engineer leapt out of my BMW and slammed the door shut before I had any chance of catching him.

 

"You venomous snake..."

 

The absolute nerve of him.