Chapter 112: Hospital placement
She knew that voice.
Yuki’s fingers tightened around her student ID, and for a moment, she simply stood there, staring at the receptionist’s desk.
She did not want to turn around. She was almost afraid to.
No fucking way.
Of all the hospitals in the entire territory, she had somehow been assigned to this one. And now, of all the people who could possibly work here, she had just heard his voice.
Kieran.
Yuki stared straight ahead, hoping that if she stayed perfectly still, somehow the situation would resolve itself without her having to face him. It was ridiculous, but she suddenly felt like a child who had been caught doing something embarrassing and was hoping everyone would simply forget she existed.
The clean, herbal scent she knew too well drifted towards her, mixed with the warm spice that was uniquely Kieran’s.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
"Thank you, Doctor Ravencourt," the nurse said, completely unaware of Yuki’s internal crisis. She handed Yuki her identification card before looking between them. "This is Miyuki Donovan. She’s one of the students here for the special internship. She was supposed to be with the other students, but apparently, she lost track of them."
Yuki closed her eyes for half a second. Wonderful. Just wonderful. The nurse just had to add that.
"Miss Donovan?" Kieran’s voice came from behind her.
Yuki’s fingers tightened around her ID again. Miss Donovan? Seriously?
That was how he was going to address her?
They had eaten breakfast together that morning. They lived under the same roof. They were fated mates who had spent the past few days pretending the bond between them did not exist, and only that morning, he had discovered she was ready to reject him.
Yet here he was, calling her by her surname as though they were strangers. It was the first time she had ever heard him address her that way.
Something inside her chest twisted uncomfortably. Slowly, Yuki turned around.
Kieran stood a few steps away, dressed in a pristine white doctor’s coat with a stethoscope hanging around his neck. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his familiar eyes were fixed on her.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Kieran’s gaze moved over her face before his eyebrows rose slightly.
"Miss Miyuki Donovan?" he repeated, and there was something almost knowing in his voice.
The corner of his mouth twitched. Yuki narrowed her eyes. He knew exactly what he was doing.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. The nurse looked between them. "You two know each other?" she asked sceptically. Despite all the controversy surrounding Yuki, it was heavily guarded information among the noble class.
"No," Yuki answered immediately.
"Yes," Kieran said at the same time.
Yuki’s head snapped towards him. Kieran looked down at her, and the faint amusement in his eyes only made her more irritated.
"We know each other," he clarified.
Yuki shot him an annoyed look. The nurse’s lips twitched, but she wisely decided not to ask any more questions.
"Well, whatever the nature of your relationship is, you can discuss it later. Please take her to the orientation. The other students are already waiting."
Kieran nodded. "I will," he said, then glanced at Yuki. "Don’t slow me down."
The nurse handed Yuki her ID. Yuki slipped it into her bag, still eyeing Kieran suspiciously.
His gaze dropped briefly to the bag hanging from her shoulder before returning to her face. "You’re here for the internship?" he asked.
Yuki stared at him. "Obviously," she said in an annoyed tone.
His eyebrow lifted. She immediately regretted her answer. "Clinical medicine?" he asked.
"Obviously," she repeated, giving him a one-word reply.
Kieran’s lips twitched. "You fell asleep on the way here," he said.
Her face immediately heated. "How did you know?" she blurted, wondering if he had overheard her.
Kieran looked almost amused. "Your classmates arrived five minutes before you," he stated, then paused. "I sensed your presence outside since they arrived."
The simple answer caught her off guard. She recovered quickly. It wasn’t surprising that he had noticed. After all, they were still technically mates. "I guess they didn’t wake you," he added. The faint amusement in his eyes made her want to hit him.
Kieran turned away. "Come on. You are already late." He started walking. Yuki hurried after him, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.
Kieran walked ahead, forcing her to quicken her pace to catch up. Yuki kept a careful distance between them, refusing to walk too close.
This was fine. It was only an internship. She could survive two weeks at the hospital. She could survive seeing Kieran every day, and it was a large hospital. They might not even run into each other. At least, that was what she told herself.
They walked side by side through the hospital corridors, Kieran barely saying a word. He held a slim notepad in one hand, flipping through the pages as they walked and occasionally stopping to make a brief note.
Yuki glanced at him. He was reserved compared to Kaden, who was a bit more talkative. Kieran seemed perfectly content with silence. When people greeted him, he responded with a curt reply or a subtle nod before returning his attention to whatever he had been doing.
Yet, despite his reserved nature, several nurses and female doctors seemed particularly happy to see him.
"Good afternoon, Doctor Ravencourt," a nurse greeted warmly as they passed.
Kieran looked up. "Good afternoon." The nurse smiled at him a little too welcomingly.
Yuki’s eyes narrowed. Kieran continued walking regardless. Another female doctor passed them a few seconds later. "Doctor Ravencourt."
He gave her a small nod. "Doctor."
The woman smiled. Yuki looked back at her.
Why was she smiling like that?
Yuki turned her attention forward again. It wasn’t her business that he was suspiciously popular. Kieran had always been popular.
A few steps later, another nurse greeted Kieran with the same smile that was far too welcoming. Yuki’s fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
Seriously?
Kieran didn’t even seem to notice. He was too busy flipping through his stupid notepad. Yuki looked at him. His Patek gleamed on his left wrist as he turned another page.
She immediately looked away.
This was ridiculous. Why was she getting irritated over random women smiling at him? It wasn’t like she was his...
Yuki cut the thought off. She wasn’t going there.
Kieran suddenly stopped in front of an elevator. Yuki nearly walked into him. "This way," he said.
He stepped inside, and Yuki followed. The elevator doors slid shut behind them. The moment they were alone, the silence became deafening.
Yuki stared at the numbers above the elevator doors. She could hear the faint sound of the elevator moving. Kieran stood beside her, still holding his notepad.
She shifted her weight, and Kieran turned a page. Yuki glanced at him.
She could feel the tension between them pressing against the small space. Being trapped in an elevator with him after everything that had happened that morning felt completely different.