Changed Attitude
From the private room, Choi Yunjin hurriedly slipped out, and the moment she closed the front door of her house, she collapsed right there with a thud. The pounding of her heart felt like it was echoing in her ears. What on earth had happened in that enclosed space for two hours? Her mind went blank, repeating dizzy spells.
“Haah… I’m crazy, Choi Yunjin. Really, I’m insane.”
She barely managed to stand up and headed toward the bathroom. Under the hot water, she tried to wash away yesterday’s memories, but it was futile. Every droplet that touched her skin vividly revived the sensation of Baek Donghyuk’s scorching hands and the feel of his lips. Especially… her breasts!
After the shower, even lying in bed, sleep wouldn’t come.
To a man… and that man is my oppa, a colleague at the hospital… even the breasts… no, more than that, I allowed it.
Her only romantic experience was a brief encounter and breakup during college. Even that, her memory of properly holding hands was hazy. But yesterday… yesterday was truly a series of events she never could have imagined.
Are we dating? Normally… this kind of relationship is between lovers, right? Or is it different now?
She recalled dating blogs and friends’ dating stories from the internet, but it bore no resemblance to the current situation. Baek Donghyuk hadn’t said a word yet. He had said it was for practice. But this… no matter how you looked at it, it went beyond the level of treatment.
Should I ask him first? That also seems too strange…
She shook her head vigorously.
Then… wait for oppa to confess? Until when? Maybe he just… just wants to sleep with me, what then?
The thoughts tangled more and more intricately.
Recently, she had heard that men actually like aggressive women. If that were the case, perhaps she should contact him first and ask what he was doing tonight. Or maybe give a gift with clear intent. Honestly, too embarrassing, she didn’t even have the courage to face him.
Suddenly realizing what she was thinking, her face flushed hot. Baek Donghyuk’s hot breath, the persistent lips sucking her nipples, and the electrifying pleasure that pierced her entire body. Choi Yunjin unconsciously touched her body with her fingers, startled and gulped air.
“Really, what do I do…”
Yunjin screamed and pulled the blanket over her head to the very end.
***
On Monday morning, the physical therapy room was as bustling as ever. Baek Donghyuk changed into his uniform and immediately began checking the charts. The doctor’s instructions read: ‘Patient with chronic lower back pain. The intervertebral disc between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae appears to be herniated. For now, try manual therapy and exercise therapy before considering surgery and monitor the condition.’
“Therapist Baek, this is patient Kim Minjeong.”
With the nurse’s guidance, a middle-aged woman entered the treatment room, clutching her waist tightly. Her face was a mixture of pain and resignation. Baek Donghyuk carefully helped her onto the bed and recalled the doctor’s prescription.
“Have you seen a doctor for lower back pain? In what situations does the symptom worsen?”
“Especially when waking up in the morning, after sitting for a long time and standing up, and it stings and hurts. Sometimes it even radiates down the legs.”
Baek Donghyuk listened to the patient’s explanation and referenced the other test results in the chart. Then he began to palpate the area around her waist with his hands to assess the condition.
The erector spinae and the muscles that support the spine are severely tensed. Around the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae, there are red spots with a cloudy appearance and blocked flow.
He took a deep breath and placed his hand on the patient’s waist. Previously, he would have been at a loss where to start. But now it was different. Through handling Choi Yunjin’s body, his qi manipulation had become even more refined. Baek Donghyuk focused his awareness on the fingertips and sent qi flowing. The stiff muscles twitched wherever his touch reached.
“Oh! It feels so refreshing, therapist. In other hospitals, even a slight touch would make it hurt terribly…”
A sigh mixed with surprise escaped the patient’s lips. Baek Donghyuk continued the treatment without answering. His hands moved like living creatures, precisely locating the source of the pain and unblocking the stagnant qi and blood.
As the treatment was nearing its end, the patient sat up from the bed and carefully moved her waist.
“It feels much softer than before. It’s not completely better, but… it feels a bit different.”
The patient looked at Baek Donghyuk with a mix of doubt and a glimmer of hope. Perhaps because she had visited many hospitals over the years without much improvement. She seemed particularly sensitive to small changes.
“If you continue receiving treatment, you’ll get better. Please do the exercises prescribed today at home as well.”
“Yes, I understand. Can I receive treatment from the therapist again next time?”
“Due to the hospital’s treatment therapist designation system for patients, it’s difficult to give a definite answer. However, when you make the next appointment at the desk, please mention my name, and I’ll do my best to reflect it as much as possible within the feasible range.”
The patient left the treatment room with a bright expression, reassured by the words. It wasn’t explosive praise, but a positive response and request that she couldn’t have imagined before. Similar situations continued afterward. A young company employee recovering from a torn shoulder tendon said her arms were lifting higher than before, and an elderly man with knee pain from age said the pain seemed slightly reduced.
The colleagues’ gazes were also subtly different. Patients greeting them so politely, curious glances. Even the team leader was no exception.
The morning consultations passed in the blink of an eye. Baek Donghyuk sat by the window, catching his breath for a moment and gazing out. Previously, the bustling cityscape had felt stuffy and suffocating. Now there was a destination. Higher and more glamorous.
***
Baek Donghyuk headed to the cafeteria for lunch. As always, he sat alone in a corner. A familiar back view caught his eye. Choi Yunjin. Around her, other staff were chattering noisily.
…I’ll pretend I didn’t see.
Since the last time he had touched her breasts, there was a record of avoiding her for a while. This time, having spent much deeper and more intimate time with her, he wondered if she might be treating him as invisible, beyond awkward.
“Oppa, can I sit here?”
Choi Yunjin was doing something unexpected. Without making eye contact, she naturally approached and stood on the opposite side.
“Eh, Yunjin came? Of course you can sit. But what about the other people who usually eat together?”
“…We’re not close privately. We just followed the habit of eating together, so eating separately is fine.”
Her voice was strangely trembling, but her actions were even more cautious than before. Choi Yunjin picked up the most appetizing-looking Jeyukbokkeum from her tray and placed it on Baek Donghyuk’s tray.
“Oppa, eat this more. I don’t like meat much.”
Baek Donghyuk looked at her with curious eyes, but Choi Yunjin started eating as if nothing was wrong. The way she kept glancing at him was oddly cute. But what was the purpose of trying to get close? If it was for that pleasure, it could only mean she was allowing even the breasts.
After eating, when Baek Donghyuk stood up first, Choi Yunjin followed as if waiting. Even to the lounge where colleagues were talking.
“Oppa, want to drink coffee? I’ll buy it!”
In front of other therapists, casually using the ‘oppa’ title and speaking to him, all eyes in the lounge turned to them. Murmuring voices came from all sides.
“Oh, what are those? Yunjin calling the therapist ‘oppa’?”
“Yeah. Were they close originally?”
“Was something happen. The atmosphere is completely different? Unlike when the team leader scolded her last time.”
“Could it be… are they dating? Wow.”
With the voice raised as if deliberately overheard, Choi Yunjin’s ears turned red as if about to burst. She fidgeted and lowered her head. As an introverted person, this attention would be burdensome.
“Yunjin, it’s a bit weird to drink coffee here. Come with me for a moment.”
The two moved to the empty treatment room for reservation. The door clicked shut, perfectly blocking the noise and uncomfortable gazes. A silent space. If it were the old Choi Yunjin, she would have hated this awkward atmosphere… But now the situation had changed quite a bit.
A subtle tension hung in the air, along with a lewd atmosphere. Choi Yunjin was blushing all the way to her neck, unable to meet eyes properly. Startled, she put the empty coffee can in the trash and barely lifted her head.
“Before the afternoon treatment starts, is there anything to do?”
“…Ah, no. Nothing in particular?”
“Then I’ll loosen up the stiff spots lightly.”
The proposal was sudden, her pupils dilated.
“I know too, since yesterday, more patients wanting treatment from oppa. The conversational method doesn’t seem helpful anymore… I’m sorry for nothing.”
“Instead, you’re getting help in practice. Thanks to that, you’ve touched Yunjin’s breasts, and the treatment fee is more than enough.”
“Oh, oppa…”
“While I take off the uniform and bra, I’ll lay the bed.”
Baek Donghyuk deliberately took his time and slowly prepared. And when he turned around, what he saw was Choi Yunjin standing with her fair breasts covered by her hands.