24 visits || SOOSHU

Visit Twenty-one

Reason: Check up, blood work

Symptoms: leg fracture, fatigue

Time in: 1:00 pm March 7th, 2016

Shuhua was just going to tell her. She had too. She'd been getting about three hours of sleep a night, she hadn't eaten a full meal in a week, bags were under her eyes. And she wasn't getting any younger, if she kept this up she could get crows feet, and while Shuhua knew that one day she'd retire, she had a few more years before she had to seriously consider it given her worldwide status.

In the last appointment Shuhua had tried to hint that maybe they should go on a date. Tried and failed, but really - how many times did she have to make that lame joke for Soojin to get it? Shuhua was practically screaming: DATE ME.

So, now Shuhua was just going to do it. At least today Soojin wouldn't be touching her butt, that made it a little less terrifying; but not by much.

Shuhua swallowed in as Soojin approached her with the needle to take her blood work.

"Hopefully with the B12 these results come back better than last time. You have been taking care of yourself, right?"

Shuhua gave a hesitant laugh. "About that..."

"Shuhua."

"We need to talk about something," Shuhua said, chewing on her lip. Her hands pressed into the examination table, the sweat leaving marks on the leathery material.

Soojin paused amidst getting ready to wrap Shuhua's arm. She looked at Shuhua, her expression blank for just a moment. Soojin's top lip was wet, and Shuhua wondered why they were both so hot when the room they were in couldn't be any colder.

"After?" she croaked, covering it up with a small smile.

Shuhua nodded, extending her left arm. Soojin wrapped it up tighter than usual, her hands a little shaky. She looked down at Shuhua's arm, pressed on the vein.

"It's nothing bad," Shuhua said, seeing how uneasy Soojin suddenly got. It wasn't bad, well for Soojin. For Soojin, if she didn't like Shuhua she could just say: sorry. For Shuhua it would probably feel worse than the leg injury she was sporting, and take way longer to heal.

Soojin glanced up from Shuhua's arm, smiled again while letting out a tiny breath. Shuhua then looked away as Soojin set the needle close to her skin.

"So, how was the year away," Soojin asked in a way of distraction, though Shuhua still felt the tiniest pinch when the needle entered her arm. Her skin was hypersensitive, even Soojin's body heat was sending tingles down her spine.

"Good! Met lots of fans, though some in Florida were, hmm... very florida." She took in a breath. "Shuhua missed Soojin; though the onset medics were nicer!" she teased, though it wasn't really true. Most of them were silent, making quick work out of everything. They lacked personality.

"Clearly not as proficient, though," she muttered.

"Well, Soojin is the best doctor in the world."

"No matter what you say you're not getting out of the B12 shots."

Shuhua rolled her eyes, but it did feel good to engage in banter; not be so damn nervous. "Can't Shuhua just compliment the fabulous Doctor Seo."

"You can't even eat and sleep properly," Soojin deadpanned because apparently she was just, like, never going to let that go. "By the way, are you going to tell me why you're still failing to do both of those things even with me telling you to do it every week."