[– INT. Kim Seo and Ma Ha-rin's Office Floor – Afternoon]
(The corporate floor is a hive of frantic activity as everyone rushes to complete their pending tasks before tomorrow's big trip. Kim Seo sits stiffly at her desk, hiding her immense physical pain while desperately typing out files. Suddenly, a sharp, agonizing spasm shoots through her lower spine from sitting in one place for too long. She winces, clutching her back tightly and letting out a choked groan.)
(Ma Ha-rin immediately notices her pain, sliding her chair over with a deeply concerned look.)
MA HA-RIN: (Whispering anxiously) "Kim! Look at you, your back is completely giving out. You need to drop everything and go straight to Dehan University Hospital right now!"
KIM SEO: (Shaking her head, trying to push through) "No, it's fine. Nothing will happen. I can finish this."
MA HA-RIN: "Jun-woo explicitly told me that if your back pain increases, I must take you to the hospital immediately. If you don't go right now, he is literally going to scream at me!"
(Min, another co-worker on the floor, notices the commotion, slides over, and steps in to support Ha-rin.)
MIN: "Kim, Ha-rin is absolutely right. You need to go. We will handle all the remaining files and reports here. There isn't much left anyway, everyone is just finalizing their parts. Just go!"
kIM SEO: (Sighing heavily, finally defeated by the mounting pain) "Alright, fine... I give up. I'll head out now."(Kim Seo packs her bag slowly. She turns to Ma Ha-rin, intending to go completely alone.)
KIM SEO: "I'll go by myself. Ha-rin, you stay here and manage the office work. Just make sure to tell Mr. Sun-woo that I had to step out for some urgent personal work, and that I'll operate and finish the remaining reports on my laptop from home. But whatever you do, do not tell him that I left because of my back pain!"
MA HA-RIN & MIN: (Nodding in unison) "Don't worry, we won't. Now go!"(As Kim Seo walks slowly toward the exit, trying her best to maintain a straight posture so her back doesn't spasm, her heart suddenly begins to race with a nervous yet excited energy. A soft, involuntary smile breaks across her face.)
KIM SEO: (Thinking to herself, blushing) 'I'm actually going to Dehan University Hospital... I'm finally going to see Dr. Hyun.'
(Lost in her sweet thoughts, she feels a sudden impulse to skip with joy, but the instant she tries, a violent twinge shoots through her spine, forcing her to immediately walk perfectly straight and hold her breath in pain. Behind her on the floor, the rest of the team dives straight back into their heavy paperwork.)
[ INT. Sun-woo's Executive Cabin – Continuous]
(Inside his glass cabin, Sun-woo is reviewing the final travel itineraries for the Gangwon-do trip. Suddenly, he pauses, an idea clicking in his mind. He pulls out his smartphone, thinking to himself, 'This business trip is the perfect excuse to call Dr. Hyun and let him know about our journey. Maybe I can find an opportunity to connect with him and see if I can create a chance to bring Kim Seo and Hyun together.')
(He dials Dr. Hyun's number. In the hospital corridor, Dr. Hyun's phone rings. He picks it up, his voice sounding completely exhausted and rushed.)
SUN-WOO: (On phone, smiling) "Hello, Dr. Hyun! I'm calling to let you know that our company is heading out tomorrow on a business trip to a beautiful village. Why don't you make an excuse and join us? If someone questions it, you can just say you're there for field research or medical support, and this will be the perfect chance for you to see Kim Seo!"
DR. HYUN : (On phone, letting out a heavy, frustrated sigh, completely cursing his own bad timing) "Mr. Sun-woo... I want to, but I absolutely can't. Our hospital has a massive medical camp scheduled for tomorrow, and the entire department has to travel outside."
(Hyun clenches his fist in frustration, completely devastated that a perfect opportunity to see Kim Seo is slipping away due to his duty.)
DR. HYUN : (Upset) "My luck is just terrible. I won't even be able to see her. On top of that, I am swamped with late-night shift work until the very end before we clear out tomorrow. I'm completely locked down.
"SUN-WOO: (Disappointed) "Oh, that's terrible. I guess our matchmaker plan is a bust. But out of curiosity, where exactly are you guys heading?"
(Before Dr. Hyun can answer, a doctor's voice echoes loudly in the background: "Dr. Hyun! The Chief Senior Doctor is calling for you immediately!")
DR. HYUN : (Hastily) "Mr. Sun-woo, I have to go!"(The line goes dead with a sharp click. Sun-woo stares at his phone, letting out a sigh.)
SUN-WOO: "Well, I guess that means there's no chance to catch up right now."
(Shrugging it off, Sun-woo gets straight back to his work. He stretches his neck and looks out through his glass partition to check on the team. His eyes scan the floor and lock onto Ma Ha-rin, who is typing furiously at her desk. He notices that Kim Seo's desk right next to her is completely empty. He frowns slightly, thinking, 'Where did Manager Kim go? Maybe she went to the archive room to fetch more files.' He dismisses the thought and continues working.)
[ INT. Dehan University Hospital – Reception Lobby – Shortly After]
(Kim Seo walks into the brightly lit, sterile lobby of Dehan University Hospital, holding her aching lower back. She slowly approaches the front reception desk, where the receptionist is swamped with files.)
KIM SEO: (Politely, trying to hide her pain) "Excuse me, is Dr. Hyun Kim available for a spinal consultation right now?"
RECEPTIONIST: (Without looking up, sounding incredibly busy) "I'm sorry, ma'am, but Dr. Hyun is currently in an emergency review and is completely fully booked for the day."
(Just as Kim Seo's face falls in deep disappointment, Dr. Sung walks up to the reception desk to hand over a patient chart. He glances over, freezes in pleasant surprise, and looks at Kim Seo.)
DR. SUNG: "Huh? Kim Seo? You're actually here? What are you doing standing here like that? Are you alright? Is everything okay?"KIM SEO: (Blushing furiously out of sudden embarrassment, stuttering) "Oh... huh? Hi, Dr. Sung!"
RECEPTIONIST: (Looking up, intervening) "Oh, Dr. Sung, this lady was just asking for a priority consultation for her severe back pain."
DR. SUNG: (Smiling warmly and reassuringly, waving his hand) "Hey, it's totally okay! Don't be embarrassed at all. Since Dr. Hyun is completely tied up, I can easily examine you and take care of your treatment right now. Come with me."
KIM SEO: (Nervously nodding, feeling a bit shy as she follows him) "Okay... thank you so much
(In her mind, she sighs with deep disappointment: 'Ugh, I really wanted to meet Dr. Hyun today...' As they walk away to the treatment room, the scene cuts back to the reception desk a few minutes later. Dr. Hyun walks up, looking thoroughly drained, to collect his pending case files.)
RECEPTIONIST: "Oh, Dr. Hyun! Just a moment ago, a lady was here asking specifically for you. She was looking for you."
DR. HYUN : (His eyes widening instantly) "A lady? Did she leave a name? Where is she?"
RECEPTIONIST: "Well, since you were completely busy, I told her you weren't free. So she went with another doctor to get operated on and treated."
(Dr. Hyun assumes it was just a regular patient. He signs the file, nods heavily, and goes back to his ward. Meanwhile, inside the examination room, Dr. Sung is carefully treating Kim Seo's back. She sits nervously as he applies the medical therapy. After a few minutes, Dr. Sung steps back and smiles.)
DR. SUNG: "Alright, Kim. Your back should feel much better now. The alignment is corrected."
KIM SEO: (Stretching carefully, smiling with immense relief) "Wow, thank you so much, Dr. Sung. It really does feel much better. I am feeling much better now."
(She grabs her purse and gets up to leave, but just as she reaches the door, Dr. Sung hesitates for a second and then calls out to her, stopping her in her tracks.)
DR. SUNG: "Kim, wait. Um... I was wondering, would you like to go out and have coffee with me next weekend?"
KIM SEO: (Taken aback, surprised but polite) "Oh! Coffee? Um, sure, why not."
DR. SUNG: (Smiling brightly) "Great! I'll text you the address and the exact time later. Our entire department is actually leaving tomorrow for an outdoor medical camp, so I'll be out of town until then."
(Hearing this, Kim Seo's mind instantly starts racing with thoughts of Dr. Hyun: 'Wait... if the whole department is leaving for a medical camp tomorrow, does that mean Dr. Hyun is going too? Oh no, I won't even be in Seoul, and neither will he. This hospital visit was my very last chance to see him before our own trip!')
DR. SUNG: "Anyway, wish us a happy journey! We'll meet next weekend.
"KIM SEO: (Forcing a polite smile despite her inner disappointment) "Oh, yes! Happy journey, Dr. Sung. Thank you again. See you next weekend.
"(She bows politely and exits the ward, beginning her walk down the long hospital corridor. As she heads toward the exit, she lets out a small, crestfallen sigh, casting a long, sad glance back over her shoulder at the passing doctors. She feels completely heartbroken that she couldn't meet Dr. Hyun after waiting for three days. She looks back one last time, but the hallway is completely devoid of the one face she wants to see. She turns around sadly and leaves the building.)(Just as the glass doors close behind her, a residential nurse walking down the hallway stops dead in her tracks, watching Kim Seo's retreating figure.)
NURSE: (Muttering to herself, confused) "Wait... isn't that Ms. Kim? The older sister of Dr. Hyun's priority patient, Junu? Was she here to meet Dr. Hyun just now? Huh..."(Shrugging, the nurse walks back to her station and runs right into Dr. Hyun, who is pacing around restlessly near the central lounge.)
NURSE: "Oh, Dr. Hyun! How is your shift going?
"DR. HYUN : (Sighing deeply, rubbing his neck) "It's fine, just incredibly busy. My whole body is aching from standing all day.
"NURSE: "Really? Then why didn't you attend to Ms. Kim when she came? You know, Junu's older sister, Ms. Kim Seo? She was right here in the lobby looking for you.
"DR. HYUN : (His entire body freezing, his eyes widening in pure shock as his heart skips a beat) "What?! Did you just say Kim Seo was actually here to see me?!
"NURSE: "Yes! She specifically came to find you at the front desk first. Didn't the receptionist tell you?"
(Hyun doesn't even wait to reply. He throws his file onto a nearby chair, turns on his heel, and sprints at full speed down the hospital corridor, his white coat flying wildly behind him. He bursts through the sliding glass doors of Dehan University Hospital and runs out onto the pavement under the pale glow of the night lights, his eyes frantically searching the dark streets.)
(But it is already too late. Under the dim streetlights, the road is completely empty. Kim Seo's taxi has already driven away into the dark night. Dr. Hyun stands completely alone under the cold night sky, his shoulders dropping in deep, profound disappointment.)
DR. HYUN : (Whispering to himself, his voice cracked with raw sadness) "You were right here... you came all this way to find me, and I missed you. Why does time keep playing these cruel games with us? We were so close, yet so far..."
(He takes a heavy, defeated breath, turns around slowly, and walks back into the quiet hospital building as the scene cuts away.)
[ INT. Kim Seo and Ma Ha-rin's Office Floor – Late Night]
(The corporate floor is now completely dead, dark, and silent. One by one, all the exhausted co-workers have finished their logs, packed their briefcases, and left for the night. Ma Ha-rin is left completely alone at her desk, the single light of her cubicle shining brightly in the dark room. She leans back in her chair, staring at her laptop screen, completely exhausted. She mutters to herself in a miserable whisper.)
MA HA-RIN: "Ugh... when on earth am I finally going to finish this section and go home? My eyes are literally burning. Everyone else is already gone."
(Suddenly, the door to the executive cabin swings open. Mr. Sun-woo steps out, wearing his sleek overcoat. He stops dead in his tracks when he notices a single, solitary light shining in the far corner of the dark floor. He walks over quietly, standing right beside her desk.)
SUN-WOO: (Softly, catching her attention) "Ma Ha-rin? Is your work still not finished yet?"
MA HA-RIN: (Jumping slightly in her seat, looking up at him wide-eyed) "Oh! Mr. Sun-woo! Um... yes, I just have a few more formatting files to sync. Wait... you're still here too?"(She instinctively glances down at his left wrist, checking the unique antique wristwatch she had gifted him. She thinks to herself, 'Huh, what a peculiar watch. When is he ever going to take this thing off?')
MA HA-RIN: "Well, sir, since you are leaving, bye!"
SUN-WOO: "Bye? But you shouldn't be sitting here all alone in the dark. It's way too late. Save your data and complete the rest of it from your room."
MA HA-RIN: (Surprised) "Really, sir?"
SUN-WOO: (Nodding firmly) "Yes, absolutely."(Sun-woo's eyes then drift over to Kim Seo's completely empty desk next to them. His expression turns slightly serious as he looks back at Ha-rin.)
SUN-WOO: "By the way... where is Manager Kim? She isn't usually the type to leave office this early. Did she head home already?"
MA HA-RIN: (Remembering Kim Seo's strict instructions, she quickly covers up the situation) "Ah... yes, sir! Kim told me that she had some very urgent personal work to attend to outside. She mentioned that she will operate from home and finish the remaining reports on her laptop tonight."
SUN-WOO: (Satisfied, nodding) "I see. Well, since Manager Kim isn't here to look after you tonight, I can't leave you alone. Come on, pack your bags. I will personally drop you home tonight."
(Ma Ha-rin quickly packs her things, her heart pounding with a sweet, unexpected excitement as she walks side-by-side with her handsome boss toward the elevators, starting their ride home together. Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Kim Seo is sitting with her laptop open, and Junu is rolling around restlessly in his wheelchair, both of them staring anxiously out the window at the front gate, waiting for Ha-rin to arrive.)