Eun Woo had been observing her wound for a while, then raised his head.

“Have you ever been vaccinated for tetanus?”
“No. I might have gotten it when I was young.”
“You should get a tetanus shot every ten years. Hurry up and get the vaccine before the hospital closes. The wound might be big enough to require stitches.”
There was no sharpness in his voice. Seol Hee, who thought she would be scolded for being careless, felt even more anxious at his unexpected words.

Why is he so kind? Is it because I’m going to get in more trouble if I leave as it is? It was the first time she had not been scolded for a mistake at the hospital.

“I haven’t finished my shift yet. I’ll go after it’s over.”
Eun Woo frowned at Seol Hee, who was mumbling cautiously.

“Almost everything is done, so go. I’ll let the deputy director know.”
Even then, the man didn’t let go of her hand. He gently touched her small hand, avoiding the area around the wound, as if he was worried about it for a long time.

Time fell into silence. The noise of people outside was heard.

Only then did Seol Hee realize that anyone could come into this room at any time and shrank back.

“Te, teacher. It, it’s a hospital here.”
“…And so?”
“People will see if…”
It wasn’t the first time they held hands. But that was outside, for getting used to. Here is the hospital, and. And… There was no need to hold hands like this.

“Seol Hee, do you think it matters if people see you when you’re hurt like this?”
“……”
“It could get infected.”
Seol Hee kept her mouth shut at his firm words.

“Taking good care of your health is important, but not getting hurt is more important. After getting hurt, treatment is important.”
“……”
“I’m saying, you, Seol Hee, are more important than work.”
Seol Hee widened her eyes at Eun Woo’s tender words.

“Seol Hee is the most important.”
It was an unexpectedly tender word. At Eun Woo’s words, Seol Hee’s cheeks felt like they were about to burst. There was no mirror, but she was sure that her face was turning red.

“People are the most important. I’m sorry if I seemed too rigid at the hospital. But, don’t hide if you get hurt in the future.”
“……”
“I was also bitten by a dog in the past.”
“Dr. Ok? You don’t seem to make such mistakes.”
It was unexpected. Eun Woo had always been perfect, as if he was born to be a vet from the moment he was born.

Wasn’t he the one who always successfully found the vein of a rather tricky, small breed of dog when others were struggling? He always took charge of the more challenging surgeries when the workload increased.

Eun Woo narrowed his eyes at Seol Hee’s question.

“Of course. Do you think I’ve been a vet since I was born?”
“… Actually, it seems a bit like that.”
At Seol Hee’s words, he chuckled. Then he rolled up his sleeve to show her. There was a scar about 10cm long on his firm, muscular arm.

“I was bitten by a Labrador Retriever.”
“By a Labrador?”
Labradors are known to be a gentle breed.

“That’s right. I thought I wouldn’t get bitten, but I got bitten because it was a strange place and it hurt.”
“……I see.”
“So don’t hide if you get hurt.”
“……”
She thought she would be severely scolded, but his voice was consistently gentle.

“I’m worried. So hurry up and go.”
“I’ll be back.”
She nodded and turned around. Her mouth was unbearably sweet.

((()))((()))((()))

“Doesn’t that guy like you?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
At In Kyung’s words, Seol Hee almost threw up the beer she was drinking.

She met her friend In Kyung for the first time in a long time and had chicken. Although she was a bit busy these days, there were things she had to tell In Kyung before the group of friends got together, and a lot of events happened recently, so an emergency meeting was needed.

The problem was, the finger she had been bitten by the puppy hadn’t healed. She knew she would be scolded again by Eun Woo if she drank alcohol before it healed, but she couldn’t leave out beer.

How can she not drink beer with chicken? Beer is a musthave with chicken.

But at In Kyung’s surprising words, Seol Hee opened her eyes wide.

“What are you talking about?”
“Right. That guy is so kind, isn’t he too kind? If he doesn’t like you, it’s really strange.”
Seol Hee hadn’t been able to see In Kyung for a while because she was busy. So she vented all the things that happened recently.

First, In Kyeong had to apologize to me for telling Chan Jeong the address of the vet clinic.

Sure enough. As soon as we met, In Kyeong nearly kneeled and yelled, “I’m sorry!” She said she inadvertently mentioned the name of the clinic because Chan Jeong was persistently asking. It was a mistake, she said.

After forgiving her, we went back to being normal friends.

Stories of breaking up with Chan Jeong, and the story of being so angry while talking to Chan Jeong that she unknowingly began dating a man named Ok Eun Woo who worked at the animal hospital, with marriage in mind. She also said that he didn’t get mad at her even though she got hurt while they were dating, which she found fascinating, and they even had small talk.