PROMPTS

Dae-Sik x Cha Mi-jo (2)

"Ouch."

The dermatologist stared at the NIS agent who was currently lying in her treatment room. Holding up the tool she used, she asked,  "That's painful?"

"Yes," Agent Dae-Sik. Opening his eyes, he turned to her so she could see the tears that had already formed.

"I'm sorry," Dr. Cha Mi-jo said. "I thought you NIS agents were tough guys."

"I thought so, too," Dae-Sik said. "Blackhead removal was not part of our endurance training."

Cha Mi-jo paused before bursting out in laughter. "I didn't think NIS Agents were funny." Looking at his skin again, "Do you think you could stand 5 more minutes? I just need to clean your skin a little more and then put some creams to help in the healing."

"Okay, I think I can," Dae-Sik sighed, held his hands together in prayer and closed his eyes so the doctor could continue with her task. 

Luckily, Cha Mi-jo made the five minute mark just in time because she wasn't sure the agent could have stayed still for much longer. "Done. When you're ready I'll meet you at my desk," Cha Mi-jo said, leaving him in the treatment room to head to the outer clinic where she does the consultation.

When Dae-Sik sat, Cha Mi-jo started with the reminders. "You need to keep applying your sunscreen. You're lucky that we can still save your skin from the current burn but you have to be careful because too much sun exposure can cause many more serious problems."

The agent nodded. 

"Other than that, your skin is good. You can opt for regular treatment and we have some packages that can be designed specifically for you, or I can provide you with a list of the essentials for your routine," she said.

"The essentials one... that means I can do it on my own? So no need for regular check ups with you?" Dae-Sik asked.

"That's right. I understand that you're a busy man and the packages we offer might be too tedious for your schedule," Cha Mi-jo said. "I would like to monitor your burns for awhile but other than that we can stick with the routine that I would give you."

Dae-Sik contemplated his options -- an expensive package that he would have to save up for or the basic routine. Regular check ups with the doctor and the hassle of setting up clinic appointments or a simple routine to keep him healthy and would fit his lifestyle.  "The, uh, package. The treatment package, definitely."

Cha Mi-jo noted how he was crushing his bucket hat and the blush that crept across his face. She found it too cute that she couldn't help herself from asking, "Do you mind me asking why you opted for that?"

Dae-Sik looked stumped. "I, uh, well.. Agent Hwang says I'm ugly and should pay more attention to my looks. Maybe he's right that's why women won't date me."

Cha Mi-jo bit her lip. "You're not married?"

Dae-Sik shook his head. "Is Agent Hwang, right? Could it be because I am ugly?"

The dermatologist laughed. "Women are not that shallow, Agent."

"Of course," Dae-Sik said, rubbing the back of his ear in embarrassment. "So I'm not ugly but I'm just boring. I was hoping it was my face because at least there was something I could do about that."

"I find it hard to think you as boring," Cha Mi-jo offered after she calmed down from her laughs. "But I just met you so I'm not sure."

Dae-Sik jumped at that opening. "Should we go out for coffee? You could confirm whether I'm a bore or not."

Cha Mi-jo looked up from the prescription pad. "I don't date my patients, Agent Dae-Sik."

The NIS agent's eyes widened. "Oh. I see... uh, okay... I changed my mind. I just want the routine then that's the last time I will be a patient here."

The dermatologist laughed at the agent's antics. "Is this so that I would go for coffee?"

"Yes," he admitted. Suddenly conscious of his appearance, Dae-Sik offered, "I can clean up and I promise to shower before our coffee date."

"I don't care about looks, Agent Dae-Sik," Cha Mi-jo reminded him. 

"I remember. But, surely you care about cleanliness," he pointed out, making her laugh once again. 

"That I do," she agreed. 

The dermatologist then turned back to the prescription she was working on, giving Dae-Sik the impression that he had just turned her off with his eagerness. Why can't you play it cool, man? And telling her no one wants to date you? Smooth. Really, he berated himself.

Tearing off the sheets, Cha Mi-jo handed him the pad as she talked through the instructions. "This would be your morning routine. We have some of the medicines you need here if you choose to purchase them from us, but you can also get them at the local pharmacy."

Flipping the paper, she continued, "This is the nighttime routine. Let's have a check up in two weeks to see if the burn is healing then we can take his topical medicine out of your schedule if things look good, okay?"

Dae-Sik nodded.

Flipping to the last page, Cha Mi-jo's eyes turned to him. "And this is my reply to your coffee invitation."

Dae-Sik headed to the receptionist to purchase the items he needed. How he was able to transact is something of a miracle. 

"Sir, are you alright?" the woman at the front desk asked.

Dae-Sik continued grinning. "Yes. Yes. I have a burn."

"Yes, Dr. Cha gave you the instructions?" 

Dae-Sik nodded, took his purchases and headed out. At the side walk, once he was sure that there were no people close to him, he started jumping and pumping his fists up in the air. 

"YESSSSSSSSS! YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

Pulling out the prescription pad, his eyes caressed her handwriting. It was a YES, with her mobile number right beneath it.

Kissing the prescription, he jumped again before finally leaving.

He didn't realize his outburst was seen from the inside and a particular dermatologist smiled happily at the sight.

"What was that about, Dr. Cha?" the receptionist asked. "If he were not a man, I would have thought you told him he was pregnant."

Cha Mi-jo laughed. "You forget that I am not an OB-GYN." Looking at the agent walking away with a big smile, she turned to her receptionist, "He's happy. Leave him be."

"Why are you blushing, Dr. Cha?"

Cha Mi-jo tried to look innocent. "New makeup."

"You retouched your makeup at the end of the day? Do you have a date?" 

Cha Mi-jo stared out the door. "Not tonight. But... soon."