The hospital came alive as soon as the morning shift began.
The once-quiet hallways were soon filled with the steady rhythm of hurried footsteps, the soft beeping of medical equipment, and the distant voices of doctors discussing their patients. Nurses pushed carts loaded with medication from one ward to another, while family members waited anxiously outside consultation rooms, hoping for good news.
Inside one of the consultation rooms, Dr. Julian finished reviewing the medical records of his last patient. After writing a few final notes, he closed the patient's file and leaned back slightly in his chair. A trace of exhaustion lingered beneath his calm expression.
He had been working since early morning without taking a proper break. Still, despite the fatigue, a gentle smile remained on his face as he stood up and walked out of the examination room.
"Dr. Julian."
A familiar female voice called from behind him. Julian turned around. Walking toward him was Dr. Molly from the Hematology Department, holding two cups of freshly brewed coffee. She wore a bright smile as she approached, the aroma of coffee reaching him even before she did.
"I saw you've been busy since this morning,"
She said warmly.
"So... I brought you some coffee."
Julian smiled politely.
"Thank you, Dr. Molly."
His tone was as courteous as ever.
"But I'll be heading into surgery shortly."
He offered an apologetic smile before adding,
"I really do have work waiting."
Molly pretended not to hear the refusal. Instead, she simply placed one of the coffee cups into his hand.
"Then drink it while you're walking."
Julian let out a quiet, almost helpless sigh.
"...Thank you."
Although he accepted the coffee, his expression remained the same kind, polite, yet maintaining a respectful distance. Not far away, two nurses sitting behind the reception counter had been secretly watching the entire exchange.
"There she goes again,"
One of them whispered with an amused grin.
"Dr. Molly is really persistent."
The other nurse chuckled.
"She's been openly pursuing him for almost a month now."
She glanced toward Julian before lowering her voice even further.
"Our hospital's famous Ice Prince doesn't seem to notice at all."
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Or... maybe he notices and is just pretending not to."
Another nurse walked over after overhearing the conversation.
"I don't know,"
She said as she joined them.
"But I heard Dr. Julian already has someone he's dating."
"What?"
The first two nurses immediately leaned closer, their curiosity completely awakened.
"Really?"
"Who?"
"Is she from our hospital?"
The third nurse simply shrugged.
"I've only heard rumors. But whoever she is..."
She looked toward Julian once more.
"...she must be someone very special."
The three of them immediately began whispering among themselves, their curiosity growing by the second. Meanwhile, Molly continued walking beside Julian through the corridor. She held her coffee while wearing the same sweet smile she always showed whenever she was around him.
"Dr. Julian..."
She looked at him expectantly.
"You're not on duty tonight, are you?"
Without lifting his eyes from the patient files in his hands, Julian gave a small nod.
"No."
A smile immediately appeared on Molly's face.
"Then..."
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight? There's a new restaurant near the hospital. I've been wanting to try it."
Julian closed the folder in his hands before looking at her with the same gentle, professional smile.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Molly. I already have plans for tonight."
She blinked once.
"What about tomorrow?"
"I have plans tomorrow as well."
She wasn't discouraged.
"The day after tomorrow?"
Julian let out a faint laugh, almost amused by her persistence.
"I'm afraid my schedule is rather full these days."
Molly narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.
"Is your schedule really full..."
She tilted her head playfully.
"...or are you making time for someone else?"
Julian fell silent for a brief moment. Then, instead of answering directly, he looked at her calmly.
"Dr. Molly..."
A hint of gentle teasing finally appeared in his usually composed voice.
"Is the Hematology Department unusually quiet today?"
"Or... Are you simply too free?"
Molly couldn't help laughing.
"So, you do know how to joke. I was beginning to think you only knew how to work."
She refused to surrender.
"Then... How about lunch? My treat. I know a really good restaurant."
Julian glanced at the watch on his wrist before shaking his head apologetically.
"I'm afraid I can't today. I still have several patient files to finish before surgery. Work is always going to be there."
Molly smiled as she said it, but the hope in her eyes remained unmistakable. Julian met her gaze for a brief moment before offering another apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry."
Only two simple words. Yet both of them already knew what those words truly meant. After Molly left, Julian quietly returned to his work.
He set the untouched cup of coffee aside and picked up another patient file from the neatly stacked pile on his desk. The smile that had briefly appeared during their conversation faded, replaced once again by the calm professionalism that everyone in the hospital had grown accustomed to.
His attention quickly returned to the medical reports before him. Several minutes later, the phone on his desk rang. Julian picked up the receiver.
"Dr. Julian speaking."
A receptionist's cheerful voice answered from the other end.
"Doctor, you have a visitor waiting for you at the reception lobby."
Julian paused.
"A visitor?"
"Yes, Doctor."
"May I know who it is?"
There was a brief silence before the receptionist replied,
"She introduced herself as... Miss Rosalie Violet."
For the first time that morning, Julian froze. The pen between his fingers stopped moving. A subtle warmth spread across his usually composed face, and before he even realized it, a genuine smile had formed on his lips.
It was a smile entirely different from the polite ones he offered his colleagues. This one reached his eyes.
"I'll be right there."
He hung up the phone almost immediately, gathered the files on his desk, and handed them to a nearby nurse.
"Please leave these in my office."
"Yes, Doctor."
Without another word, Julian quickened his pace toward the hospital lobby.
...
Meanwhile, Rosalie sat quietly on one of the sofas near the reception desk. A magazine rested open in her hands, though she had only absentmindedly turned a few pages. Every now and then, she would glance toward the hallway, patiently waiting.
Just as she lowered her eyes to the magazine again, she heard familiar footsteps approaching. She looked up. Julian was walking toward her with noticeably quicker steps than usual. The moment their eyes met, the corners of his lips lifted naturally.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Rosalie smiled and gently shook her head.
"Not at all. I just arrived, Julian."
"It's quite hot outside. Did you drive here by yourself?"
"Mhm."
Rosalie nodded obediently.
"I did."
Julian frowned ever so slightly.
"You should have told me first. I could've picked you up after work."
Rosalie laughed softly.
"You're already busy enough. I didn't want to disturb you."
Julian sighed helplessly.
"You never disturb me."
His voice was gentle. Almost instinctively, he reached out and lightly brushed a loose strand of hair away from her cheek. The simple gesture was so natural that neither of them seemed to notice it. Nearby, several nurses at the reception desk exchanged knowing glances.
"So, the rumor was true..."
One of them whispered.
"That's the girl."
"She's beautiful..."
another murmured.
"No wonder Dr. Julian never pays attention to anyone else."
Oblivious to the curious stares surrounding them, Julian continued speaking with Rosalie.
"Have you eaten lunch yet?"
Rosalie smiled.
"Not yet."
She tilted her head slightly.
"What about you? If you haven't eaten yet... I came to ask if you'd like to have lunch together."
Julian chuckled softly.
"As it happens...I'm free now. Let's go."
Rosalie's eyes brightened immediately.
"Really?"
"Mhm."
"Then let's go back to the barbecue restaurant we visited last time. I really liked their grilled beef."
Julian couldn't help smiling.
"I had a feeling you'd say that."
Rosalie blinked innocently.
"Because it was delicious."
Julian laughed quietly.
"Alright. We'll go there."
Rosalie looked down at their joined hands for a brief second before smiling to herself. Together, they walked side by side toward the hospital entrance. The busy hospital corridor continued moving around them, yet neither seemed bothered by the curious eyes following them.
...
From a second-floor window overlooking the hospital courtyard, Molly stood silently. She had come to deliver some documents to another department. Instead, what caught her attention was the sight below.
Julian, walking beside a young woman and his hand gently holding hers. Molly stared quietly. Only minutes ago, he had smiled politely at her. But the smile he was wearing now was completely different. There was warmth in it, comfort, affection. A quiet happiness that couldn't be hidden.
"So... Now I understand."
She rested one hand lightly against the window.
"He isn't someone who doesn't know how to smile. He simply saves that smile...for the person who means the most to him."
Molly lowered her gaze with a bittersweet smile.
"So that's why... No matter how hard I tried... I could never get any closer."
She let out a quiet sigh. Then, after a brief silence, the playful determination she was known for slowly returned. A small smile curved her lips.
"Honestly... You really are unfairly charming, Julian."
She shook her head with a soft laugh.
"But... I'm not ready to give up just yet."
And Molly remained by the window for a few moments longer before finally turning around and quietly walking back down the corridor, carrying both admiration... and a small, stubborn hope in her heart.