chapter 20

Amidst of all these ,the hospital bustled as usual with its endless rounds, calls, and frantic energy. Nurses and doctors alike scurried through the hallways, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Amidst the chaos, Rei Nakamura stood out, not because of his medical knowledge, but because of his undeniable presence. His sunny disposition was impossible to ignore. He moved through the halls with a perpetual smile, bringing an almost childlike energy that made even the most stressful days a little bit brighter.

But there was one person who remained mostly unaffected by Rei’s energy: Dr. Adam Carter. He was strict, focused, and kept to himself, especially when it came to his work. Though Adam could see the potential in Rei, he kept a professional distance, unwilling to let the young intern’s innocent charm sway him.

It was late one afternoon when Rei and Adam found themselves alone in the break room. Adam was sitting at the table, going over patient charts, while Rei bounced on his feet, trying to hide his excitement.

“Dr. Carter, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said earlier,” Rei said, sitting down across from him. “You mentioned I needed to focus more on my documentation. I’ve been working on it. Do you think I’m improving?”

Adam glanced up from his charts, his eyes briefly softening as he studied Rei. The intern's eager expression was so genuine, it was almost impossible not to notice.

“You’ve improved, but you’re still making some basic mistakes,” Adam replied bluntly. "Focus more on accuracy, not just speed. You can’t afford to make mistakes when lives are on the line."

Rei nodded quickly, trying to suppress the hint of disappointment in his eyes. “I’ll keep at it. I know I can do better.”

Adam set down the chart and regarded Rei with a rare, almost unguarded look. “Good. You just need to stop rushing everything. You’re not in a race, Nakamura.”

Rei smiled, not backing down. “I’ll try to be better, I promise. But hey, it wouldn’t hurt if you smiled once in a while, you know? I think you’d look better.”

Adam raised an eyebrow, momentarily distracted by the cheeky grin that spread across Rei’s face. “That’s not why I’m here. I’m here to make sure you don’t make any more mistakes.”

Rei leaned in slightly, his eyes shining with mischief. “Yeah, but I bet I could make you smile, if I tried hard enough.”

Adam shook his head, unable to suppress the faintest tug of amusement. “I’m not interested in games, Nakamura.”

Rei’s smile only deepened. “Who said anything about games? I’m just being serious. You should try it sometime.”

There was a long pause between them, and for a moment, the usual tension in the air felt lighter. Adam’s gaze softened for a split second before he returned to his charts.

“You’re impossible,” Adam muttered, though his voice held no true annoyance.

Rei’s eyes softened, his gaze lingering on Adam. “I know. But I’m trying, Dr. Carter. I’m trying to be someone you’ll be proud of.”

Adam’s heart skipped a beat, though he quickly masked it. “Well, you’ve got a long way to go.”

Rei looked down at his hands, the excitement dimming a little. “I’ll get there. With your help, I will.”

Adam’s expression flickered, and for a moment, he was uncertain of his next words. “Just... don’t get ahead of yourself. Focus on the basics first, and we’ll see.”

But Rei wasn’t discouraged. He stood up, his energy instantly returning. “You won’t regret it. I’ll be the best.”

Adam couldn’t help but feel a pull toward him, an almost magnetic force that he couldn’t explain. He cleared his throat, trying to shake off the feeling.

“Go on,” Adam said, trying to mask the vulnerability that he felt. “I’ve got work to do.”

Rei, sensing the slight shift, grinned playfully. “Alright, I’ll let you work. But when you’re done, don’t forget to smile, okay?”

Adam chuckled quietly, though it was mostly to himself. “I’m not making any promises.”

Rei lingered in the doorway for a moment, his eyes lingering on Adam. “Well, I’m not going anywhere, Dr. Carter. And neither is that smile of yours.”

Adam couldn’t help the small, self-deprecating smile that tugged at his lips as Rei exited the room. It was a rare thing for Adam to let his guard down, but there was something about Rei’s persistence that made it impossible to completely ignore him.

Later that night, after a long shift, Rei and Adam shared a quiet moment in the staff lounge. Adam had finished reviewing some patient notes and was stretching out in the chair, looking tired but content.

Rei, sitting across from him, tilted his head with a curious look. “So... when are you going to smile at me again?”

Adam let out a heep sigh, leaning back in the chair. “You really don’t give up, do you?”

Rei’s grin widened, and he stood up, moving closer to Adam. “Nope. I’ll wear you down eventually. And when I do, you’ll be thanking me.”

Adam looked up at him, and for a moment, their gazes locked. Rei’s playful smile faded slightly, replaced with something more sincere. “I know I’m not as good as you yet... but I’m trying. And... I don’t want to disappoint you.”

Adam’s heart beat faster, and he realized just how much he cared about Rei’s growth—how much he cared about him, even if he wasn’t ready to admit it yet.

“You won’t disappoint me,” Adam said, his voice quieter than before. “You’re doing fine.”

Rei’s smile returned, this time softer, more genuine. “Thanks, Dr. Carter. That means a lot.”

As the words hung in the air, Adam found himself inexplicably drawn to Rei. There was something in the way Rei looked at him—trusting, hopeful—that made Adam feel things he hadn’t felt in a long time. He had built walls around his emotions, but Rei was slowly chipping away at them, and for the first time, Adam wasn’t sure he wanted to stop.

Rei’s voice broke the silence again, soft but full of conviction. “Maybe one day, you’ll smile for me... not just because I ask, but because you want to.”

Adam’s heart skipped a beat, and he let out a soft breath. “Maybe.”

Rei beamed, oblivious to the deep undercurrent of emotion shifting between them. “I’ll be waiting.”

And as Rei left the lounge, Adam sat back in his chair, thoughts swirling. He had always prided himself on being in control, but with Rei, he was beginning to realize that control was slipping through his fingers—faster than he was willing to .

---

Later that week, Adam found himself growing increasingly frustrated by his own feelings toward Rei. He had spent the last few days trying to focus on his work, but every time he caught sight of Rei interacting with other doctors, his stomach twisted in an unexpected way. The young intern had a way of making friends quickly, and Adam couldn’t help but notice Rei turning to other doctors for advice, especially when they weren’t him.

One afternoon, Adam walked through the ER, only to spot Rei talking animatedly with Dr. Elaine Harper, a senior resident. Rei had just asked her a question about a patient’s condition, and Dr. Harper was explaining something in her usual calm and collected manner. Adam watched them, and an uncomfortable feeling tightened in his chest.

Rei was looking up at Dr. Harper with those bright eyes, hanging on every word, nodding attentively. Adam couldn’t quite put his finger on why it bothered him so much. He’d always told himself that he wasn’t the type to get jealous—especially over something as trivial as who Rei asked for help. But as he stood there, watching Rei laugh at something Dr. Harper had said, Adam’s frustration grew.

He couldn’t stand it anymore. Stepping forward, he approached the two of them, his usual confident stride betraying the unease he felt.

"Rei," Adam said, his tone sharp but controlled.

Rei turned at the sound of Adam’s voice,astonished hearing him calling his name for  the first time .   "Oh, hey, Dr. Carter! I was just asking Dr. Harper about the latest diagnostic test for our patient in Room 4."

Adam nodded, his jaw tightening slightly. "I noticed. But in the future, if you have any doubts or questions, you come to me first."

Rei blinked, momentarily surprised by the directness in Adam’s voice. "I—I didn’t mean anything by it. Dr. Harper just had a quick answer for me, and I thought it might help."

"I don’t care if it’s a quick answer," Adam said, his voice dropping a little in seriousness. "When it comes to your learning, you ask me. I’m your supervisor, Rei. You should trust me more than anyone else in here." His words were firm, and there was a slight edge to his tone that Rei hadn’t heard before.

Rei’s smile faltered for just a second. He hadn’t expected Adam to respond this way. There was a tension in the air that hadn’t been there before, a possessiveness in Adam’s voice that felt almost… protective. "I didn’t mean to upset you, Dr. Carter," he said quietly, unsure of what to make of Adam’s sudden shift. "I just thought—"

"No, you didn’t upset me," Adam interjected, his gaze unwavering. "But I don’t want you running around asking everyone else instead of me. I’m here to help you. Don’t forget that."

Rei swallowed, feeling a strange mix of confusion and something else—something warm and fluttering in his chest. Adam was always confident, but this was different. His protectiveness felt personal. "I’ll keep that in mind, Dr. Carter," he said, trying to calm his racing heart. "I just didn’t want to bother you with something small."

Adam took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It’s not a small thing, Rei. When it comes to your development, every detail matters."

Rei nodded, feeling the weight of Adam’s words. For a moment, he just stood there, looking at Adam as if seeing him in a new light. There was something almost possessive in the way Adam spoke, and Rei realized with a jolt that perhaps, just maybe, he had created a space for himself in Adam’s heart.

The thought was startling. Had he really become important to Adam? Was that what this was about? The protective tone, the sharpness in his voice—it all suddenly made sense. Adam wasn’t just looking out for him as a colleague. There was something deeper there. And Rei couldn’t help but wonder if it was more than just professional concern.

Rei blinked away his thoughts, his focus returning to the present as Adam stood before him, eyes still locked on his. He felt a strange warmth spread through his chest, something he couldn’t quite place. Adam’s words, though stern, weren’t unkind. And the more he thought about it, the more Rei realized that he liked the attention. He liked knowing that he mattered to Adam.

Dr. Harper, sensing the tension between them, cleared her throat politely and stepped back. "I’ll leave you two to it. Adam, Rei, good luck with the patient."

As Dr. Harper walked off, Adam turned back to Rei, his gaze softening just a little, but there was still an undeniable edge to his words. "Don’t make a habit of this. You can always come to me if you have doubts."

Rei gave him a tentative nod, feeling the weight of Adam’s presence pressing down on him. "Okay. I will. I promise."

Adam’s chest tightened as he watched Rei’s reaction. There was something in the way Rei looked at him—an understanding that hadn’t been there before, a subtle acknowledgment of the possessiveness that Adam couldn’t quite suppress. It made him uneasy, but at the same time, it stirred something deep within him that he didn’t want to acknowledge.

Rei hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his voice softer now. "I just don’t want to be a burden, you know?"

Adam’s expression softened, his tone gentler. "You’re not a burden, Rei. You never will be." His eyes met Rei’s for a brief, intense moment, and there was an unspoken understanding between them.

Rei smiled faintly, the tension slowly dissipating. "Thanks, Dr. Carter."

As Rei walked away, Adam stood there, watching him go. His heart was still racing, and he wasn’t sure if it was from the confrontation or from something deeper. One thing was certain—he wasn’t used to feeling this protective over anyone, and he didn’t like it. It made him question just how much Rei had already come to mean to him.

Rei, meanwhile, walked down the hallway with a smile on his lips, his thoughts swirling. There was something new in the way Adam had looked at him, something that made his heart flutter. It wasn’t just professional concern. Adam had a possessiveness in his gaze that spoke of deeper feelings, feelings that Rei had just begun to realize he might have stirred.

Rei chuckled softly to himself, the realization dawning slowly. So, Adam Carter cares about me… more than I thought. He had created a space in Adam’s heart, and somehow, it felt both comforting and terrifying at the same time. What did this mean for them? For him? For everything that was still to come?

But for now, Rei just couldn’t shake the feeling that this only the beginning