First Encounters

The autumn morning was crisp when Park Arum first walked into Seoul National University's medical school. She was carrying three coffee cups, her backpack hanging loosely on one shoulder, and her short hair was messy from the wind. Unlike most girls in her class who wore pretty dresses and makeup, Arum wore loose jeans and a simple hoodie. She didn't care what people thought.

"Move! Coming through!" she called out cheerfully as she rushed down the hallway. She bumped into someone and one of the coffee cups flew out of her hand.

A hand caught it smoothly before it hit the ground.

Arum looked up and saw a tall young man with sharp eyes and black hair. He wore a plain white shirt and black pants. His face showed no expression at all. He looked at the coffee cup, then at her, and handed it back without saying a word.

"Oh! Thank you so much!" Arum said with a big smile. "That was amazing! You saved my coffee!"

The young man nodded slightly and started to walk away.

"Wait! I'm Park Arum, first-year student. What's your name?" she called after him.

He stopped for a moment, turned his head slightly, and said in a quiet voice, "Ryun Hyun Woo." Then he continued walking.

Arum watched him go, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Interesting guy," she muttered to herself.

Over the next few weeks, Arum kept running into Ryun. She noticed he always sat alone in the library, reading thick medical books. He never talked to anyone. During lectures, he never raised his hand, but when professors called on him, he always gave perfect answers. Students whispered about him - some said he was rude, others said he was just shy.

Arum didn't care what others thought. She was curious about this cold, mysterious student.

One rainy afternoon, Arum found Ryun in the library again. She walked over and sat across from him without asking.

"Hi, Ryun!" she said cheerfully.

He looked up from his book, his expression unchanged. "Hello."

"What are you reading?"

"Neurology textbook."

"Wow, we haven't even started that yet! You're really smart, aren't you?"

Ryun didn't answer. He just looked at her as if trying to understand why she was talking to him.

Arum pulled out her own books. "Mind if I study here? The other tables are full."

He shrugged slightly and went back to reading.

From that day on, Arum made it her mission to sit near Ryun whenever she saw him. At first, he barely acknowledged her presence. But slowly, very slowly, she noticed small changes. When she asked him questions about difficult topics, he would explain them in simple words. When she brought him coffee, he would nod in thanks. When she made jokes, she sometimes saw the tiniest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

One day, about two months after they met, Arum asked him, "Ryun, why don't you have any friends?"

He was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, "I don't need friends."

"Everyone needs friends," Arum said softly. "Friends make life better."

"Do they?" His voice was cold, but Arum heard something else underneath - maybe loneliness.

"Yes, they do," she said firmly. "And I'm going to be your friend whether you like it or not."

Ryun looked at her for a long time. Finally, he said, "You're very persistent."

"Thank you!" Arum grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."

For the first time, Ryun's lips curved into a very small, almost invisible smile.

Around the same time, Chae Yi Jin entered their lives like a bright light. She was beautiful, intelligent, and confident. Her father was Chairman Chae, the owner of CYJ Hospital Group, one of the biggest hospital chains in Korea. Despite her wealthy background, Yi Jin was serious about becoming a doctor. She wanted to prove she could succeed on her own merit, not because of her father's name.

Yi Jin first noticed Ryun during a practical anatomy class. The professor had asked a very difficult question, and the whole class was silent. Then Ryun raised his hand - which was unusual for him - and gave a detailed, perfect answer. The professor praised him highly.

After class, Yi Jin approached him. "That was impressive," she said with a smile. "You really know your material."

Ryun looked at her briefly and said, "Thank you," before walking away.

Yi Jin was surprised. Most boys tried to talk to her, to impress her. But this one just left. She found herself thinking about him for the rest of the day.

The next time she saw him, he was in the library with Arum. Yi Jin watched them from a distance. The tomboyish girl was talking excitedly while the cold young man listened quietly. There was something peaceful about the scene.

Yi Jin walked over. "Mind if I join you?"

Arum looked up and smiled widely. "Of course! The more the merrier! I'm Park Arum, by the way."

"Chae Yi Jin," she said, sitting down.

"Oh! You're Chairman Chae's daughter!" Arum said. "Everyone knows you."

Yi Jin's smile faded a little. "Yes, that's me. But I hope you'll get to know me as just Yi Jin, not as the chairman's daughter."

"Deal!" Arum said happily. "And this quiet guy here is Ryun Hyun Woo. He's brilliant but doesn't talk much."

Ryun nodded at Yi Jin politely, then went back to his book.

Yi Jin found herself intrigued. She had grown up surrounded by people who wanted something from her - her father's influence, her family's money, her connections. But Ryun didn't seem to care about any of that. He treated her the same way he treated everyone else - with polite distance.

Over the following weeks, Yi Jin started joining Arum and Ryun in the library. At first, Ryun seemed uncomfortable with the attention, but he gradually got used to their presence. Arum did most of the talking, Yi Jin asked thoughtful questions, and Ryun listened and occasionally contributed to their discussions.

Yi Jin realized she was falling for Ryun. It wasn't just his intelligence or his mysterious nature. It was the way he noticed small things - when she was tired, he would push a cup of water toward her without saying anything. When she struggled with a difficult concept, he would explain it patiently. He was cold on the outside, but she sensed kindness underneath.

But Ryun showed no romantic interest in her at all. He treated her the same way he treated Arum - as a study companion, nothing more.

*****

He came back not to heal —

but to remind them what they broke.

And this time, even God won't stop his scalpel.

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