“Why? You still have 9 of my wishes left. Did you forget?”

“Ah… the wishes.”

The boy, who had surprised her even during surgery, was simply radiant, as if nothing had happened.

“Didn’t you tell Professor to apologize on my behalf? Didn’t you hear?”

“I did.”

“Really sorry. I wanted to say sorry to you, Teacher.”

“Why would you apologize…”

Being sick wasn’t a choice.

Sori felt embarrassed. She should have been the one to apologize for not being composed enough.

Thinking that the wishes were a cute excuse to ease the awkwardness between them, Sori smiled and suggested:

“Min Guk, shall we go get ice cream? You like chocolate flavor, right?”
“Sure. I have a lot of allowance. Let me buy it for you, Teacher.”

“No need. I’ll buy it. Let’s go.”

Sori took Min Guk to the ice cream shop in the hospital cafeteria.

Excited for a treat, Min Guk clung to the showcase, carefully choosing his ice cream.

“Pick whatever you want.”

After making a careful selection and about to pay with her card, a long arm stretched out from beside Sori.

Turning, she saw Hyun Woo.

“Please charge this,” he said to the cashier.

“I was going to pay.”

“It’s to make sure he listens,” Hyun Woo said, looking at Min Guk, who bowed politely at their table.

As soon as the cashier took Hyun Woo’s card, he added, “Keep the card and buy more if you need.”

Then, he left the ice cream shop.

Sori looked after him with starry eyes, like meeting a favorite celebrity on the street.

Even living in the same house, she hardly saw him outside the hospital these days.

Suddenly, Hyun Woo seemed more handsome and charming, making her heart flutter.

Sori tenderly traced the name ‘Seo Hyun Woo’ engraved in English on the dark blue card with her finger.

“Teacher. Teacher!”

“What? Oh, Min Guk.”

It was Min Guk, busily enjoying his ice cream, who interrupted her daydream.

“Can I tell you my next wish?”

“Sure, tell me. I’ll listen, but that doesn’t mean I’ll grant it.”

“Chi.”

“What is it?”

“Teacher, do you know Seo Ji Woo?”

“Seo Ji Woo?”

Min Guk showed her a photo on his phone, a vibrant and refreshing photoshoot of Ji Woo.

“This lady.”

“Ah…”

How could she not know? That’s her closest friend.

“I’m a fan of Ji Woo. I want to see Montestera’s concert.”

“Ah… but they probably won’t have a concert.”

“Really? How do you know?”

“Seo Ji Woo is too busy with solo activities to continue group activities.”

“Really…?”

“Albums won’t be released anymore.”

Sori spoke calmly, and Min Guk blinked in disappointment.

“I thought I could go if the surgery went well…”

“Instead… I’ll grant you an even more amazing wish someday.”

“Amazing? What is it?”

“You might have to use all 9 of your remaining wishes for it.”

“You can’t just decide that. Let me hear what it is.”

As Sori teased Min Guk with a smile, her phone vibrated.

It was a call from Hwang Jun Su, whom she couldn’t call back yesterday due to being too busy.

She excused herself to Min Guk and answered the call.

“Hello?”

[Dash] It’s Hwang Jun Su. Doctor Yoo Sori.

Finally, the awaited call had come.

“Hello.”

[Dash] Were you busy yesterday? You didn’t answer.

“I’m so sorry. I’ve been so busy at the hospital. I meant to call you back, but it slipped my mind.”

[Dash] I’ve been discharged. You didn’t know, did you?

As a neurosurgery specialist swamped with work, how could she keep track of an orthopedics patient’s discharge?
“You’re discharged? Congratulations!”

Should I ask if he’s grown his hair out? Should I offer him non-sticky hair wax as a discharge gift?

Various thoughts crossed her mind.

[Dash] Then, you should buy me a meal.

“Of course, I should.”

[Dash] How about dinner tonight? Strike while the iron’s hot.

Dinner tonight? Maybe I should just get it over with quickly.

Sori set a dinner appointment with Jun Su at 7 PM.

The arrangement was somewhat impulsive, and Sori agreed on a whim. She felt uneasy about the mistake she made and wanted to get rid of the debt of gratitude.

However, meeting someone outside the hospital was rare for Sori.

“Ki Tae.”

“Hmm?”

“What should we eat to feel properly treated?”

“Treating someone? Who?”

“The guy I mistook for an NS emergency patient.”

“Ah, the handsome guy who looks like a Hong Kong actor?”

Ki Tae, sorting patient cases, finally recalled and looked up.

“Handsome? He was good-looking even with a shaved head.”

“Anyway, I need to buy him a meal. What should I get?”

Ki Tae narrowed his eyes and then stretched his mouth into a long smile.

“Sori, anything will do. It’s not about the treat.”

“Why?”

“It seems like he’s interested in you personally. He’s using the hair as an excuse to have a meal with you. Even ramen would make him happy.”

“Hey, what? His business card looked like he worked in a securities firm. I hope he’s not doing any sales.”

Sori was nonchalant beside Ki Tae, who was smirking.

“What sales at a securities firm?”

“Getting clients. Maybe asking to join a fund.”

Sori’s decisive tone made Ki Tae tilt his head.

“Then join one and call it even.”

“See, that’s the plan. Or I want to, really.”

Sori continued to ponder over the menu.

“Someone who’s been out should know… like…”

Seo Ji Woo?

Sori immediately texted Ji Woo.

[Sori: Ji Woo, are you busy?] [Sori: I need a restaurant recommendation. Something with a good atmosphere, a bit pricey but not too burdensome, where you’d feel well treated, not too crowded.] [Seo Ji Woo: What’s this? ????]

A prompt response came from Ji Woo, kindly providing the name of a restaurant.

“Trustworthy as always.”

But it seemed like it wouldn’t be a quick dinner.

Should she inconvenience the professor unintentionally tonight?

Get a couple of flicks on the forehead in exchange for time?

She had been delaying the assignment he gave her due to busy ward work.

However, no proper excuse came to mind.

For the first time, the model student Sori thought of being rebellious and taking a physical hit.

She flopped onto the conference table in the medical office.

Maybe being honest is the best approach after all.
Lately, I’ve been so busy, practically living at the hospital, tumbling around. Maybe he’ll pity me and let it slide.

No, Professor Seo wouldn’t be like that.

Ah, I don’t know.

Because I want to quickly shake off the guilt about Hwang Jun Su tonight.

All I can think about is making up some excuse to Professor Seo.