Chapter Seven: Taking a Leap of Faith

[Author’s Note: Please, note that this book is rated Mature and is not meant for a young audience (under 17). There will be strong language used and some explicit scenes that will be throughout the book; reader discretion is advised. At no point in time will I allow my work to be republished or translated on the same or different platform and/or site, under any circumstances. This book is licensed by Webnovel and its affiliated company, AnD Entertainment. Copyright All Rights Reserved Lynnifer Ice. If anyone finds my work(s) republished on another site or platform, please, let me know immediately. Thank you!]

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[ Webnovel ©Lynnifer Ice ]

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I just stared at him, my eyes wide as saucers. My jaw was hanging, leaving my mouth just slightly ajar. I wanted to say something, anything, but I was too shocked. So with my unwavering silence, I watched as he bit his bottom lip nervously and his brow furrowed.

“W-Well, say something,” he stuttered as he gripped the arms of the chair tighter, “Don’t just look at me like that.”

How the hell am I supposed to look at you after that?!

Yunjun looked like he was getting more nervous by the second. I was still trying to process that he had just confessed his love to me. I knew it was on the list of possibilities for his recent behavior, but I never thought it could be the actual cause.

Does he not understand that a relationship between a doctor and a patient is forbidden? It is practically committing a rather large taboo. The last time I checked, I harbored no romantic feelings toward this man. Staying silent is not an option, though; it’s just as bad as rejection. Things are getting too real, too fast!

“Yunjun-ssi,” I started slowly, trying to be careful with my words, “I think you need to understand that the past should stay in the past and...”

“The past should stay in the past???” He cut me off. “Do I need to spell it out for you, Doc?”

“No, I think-,” I tried again before he was quick to cut me off yet again.

“I should have told you before, instead of waiting until we got to this point. I was too chicken back then to tell you.”

“Tell me what, Yunjun-ssi...?”

“That I am in love with you, Melody-nim. Since I left, not a day has gone by where you did not cross my mind.”

Suspicions confirmed. Dammit, all!

I felt my heart sink into my stomach as I listened to him.

Please, tell me this is just a dream, a nightmare that I’ll wake up from any minute!

I thought to myself, wanting to deny the reality laid out in front of me. The look of resolve in Yunjun’s eyes was only making the situation worse. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.

“Yunjun-ssi, listen to me,” I started once more, hoping he would not cut me off again. “Back then, I was just helping a kid down on his luck. Regardless of how many years have gone by, you are still and always will be younger than me.”

“Look at me, Melody-nim; I am not that same kid anymore,” he sternly stated. “I am a full-grown man now.”

“I know you have grown up, and that is great, but I cannot ever return your feelings of affection for me. Look at it from where I stand... I am the Doctor, and you are my patient. You and I both know that a romantic relationship between Doctor and patient is forbidden. You may not be risking much for that, but I would be risking my license and job.”

“Am I not good enough?” He asked incredulously, “Do you not see me as a man; am I still a child in your eyes?”

This is getting out of hand.

“No, no, no. Any person would be lucky enough to have you as a partner, but I am not that person, Yunjun-ssi. I need you to understand that you-...”

“So, that is it then... You don’t see me as a man. What can I do to make you believe that I am a man, a man that wants your love?” He expressed solemnly as his face drew closer to mine; he looked almost as if he was getting desperate.

I know I shouldn’t say this, let alone think it, but... Have you gone mad??? Were you not listening to a word I said?!

“Yunjun-ssi, you are too close for comfort. How about you sit back down on the couch? I know you are a man; that much is true. We can be civil about this, can’t we?”

He swallowed a lump in his throat before he lowered his voice to just above a whisper. “They say actions speak louder than words... So, if I cannot convey my feelings through my words, then I shall show you, and then maybe you will understand.”

My heart was pounding so loudly, I was sure the entire building could hear it. I felt trapped; I had nowhere to go. I tried leaning back in the chair as much as possible, but Yunjun just kept coming closer! In a last attempt to get him to stop before he went further, I tried opening my mouth to speak. However, it seemed futile because no sooner had I tried to speak up, I was silenced.

“Yu-,” was all I got in before I felt his lips press against mine.

Panic. All I felt was pure panic. With as much strength as I could muster, I pushed back against his chest, not bothering to consider how much trouble I could get in for just touching a patient. With enough luck, I was able to separate him from myself. Momentarily forgetting how to be professional, I snapped at him as I pushed harder until he fell back on his ass.

“How dare you!!! What the hell do you think are you doing?! Why would you think that you could just kiss me?!” I shrieked, feeling my blood boil.

He looked up at me from the floor as if in a trance. He looked stunned, to say the least, and caught off guard. I stood up in rage from my chair, my anger practically fuming from my ears.

“Melody-nim...” He softly called my name without taking his eyes off me. “Why did you push me away...? I thought-...”

“Well, you thought wrong! I told you that I do not feel the same, yet you still think that I do somehow somewhere! You didn’t even ask for my permission before you forced a kiss upon my lips! How many times do I need to tell you? I do not love you, Yunjun-ssi!” I barked back, my hands curling into fists at my sides.

The confusion across his face soon faded into an almost soulless state. He stumbled as he got to his feet.

“I... I’m sorry, Doctor Marchesa. I-”

“Get out.” I seethed as I pointed toward the door. “Today’s session is over. Get the fuck out of my office.”

“You’re kicking me out?” He meekly asked me.

“I am. NOW GET OUT!”

I watched as he retreated to the door, his face becoming blank. Then without another word, he opened the door and left. I walked over to the door and closed it since he did not bother to. As soon as the door was shut tight, I screamed in frustration, grabbing a pillow off the couch, hurling it to the other side of the room.

“Now, what am I going to do?” I thought out loud as I sunk against the wall to the floor. I sighed as I rested my head back against the wall. “I still have to go back to the dorms at some point tonight, and I will have to face him again at some point. I acted so recklessly; I should not have yelled at him... Damnit, Mel... How could I have lost my temper and acted so brash? I better pray that my boss doesn’t find out about this, or I’ll be out of the job.”

I closed my eyes, trying to regain my composure. It was not long, though, before I heard a knock at the door. I looked down at my watch; it read 1:58 p.m.

My next appointment is here.

I thought to myself as I stood up, brushing off my navy-blue office skirt, which came down to just above my knees. I straightened out my white blouse and walked back to my desk, sitting down in my chair. I took in a deep breath before I called out to my next patient. “Come on in!”

The door opened a bit as a head timidly popped through the small space. A shorter man with blond locks peeked through the opening. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Minhyun looked around the room bashfully before spotting me, offering a tiny smile, his eyes crinkling with his pale pink lips. He carefully slipped the rest of the way into the room and quietly closed the door. He bowed his head as he greeted me.

“Good afternoon, Melody-nim.”

“Good afternoon, Minhyun-ssi. Please, have a seat and make yourself comfortable.” I gestured with a hand toward the available seats as I greeted him back.

“Thank you,” he replied as he sat in the middle of the couch. His eyes landed on the pillow across the room. Then, curiously, he looked back at me. “How did the couch pillow end up over there?”

-End of Chapter Seven-

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[ Webnovel ©Lynnifer Ice ]

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