Lydia POV
Lydia was idly walking around the hospital completing the tasks Dr. Richard had assigned to her. She was in the initial stages of her clinical rotations and had the opportunity of work in LA General Centre under Dr. Ian Richards who is a highly respected doctor in not only LA but also all of US.
Lydia was a young girl of 23 with a heart shaped face, smooth blonde hair and a curvaceous figure that made her the campus queen in her medical college. Ever since she was young, her father and even friends had suggested and encouraged her to go into fashion and modeling as she had all the qualities to be a top model but she always shrugged them off as she had no interest in any of them.
Her only goal since she was young was to be a doctor and she put all her efforts in it. She could still remember sitting on the hospital chair, holding her mother's hand as she cried and begged her mother to stay with her.
Lydia's mother, Martha suffered from a congenital heart condition and after Lydia's birth, her condition deteriorated further. The last few years of her life were painful but she never regretted having Daphne and seeing her in pain, broke Martha's heart.
She eventually passed away and Lydia vowed to save as many lives as possible. That was her motivation to become a doctor.
She studied hard and even skipped a few grades and eventually became the youngest person in her class to be admitted to a medical college.
That minor age difference coupled with her captivating looks alienated her from majority of the girls in the college and as men lusted after her, she kept her distnce from them as well.
If it wasn't for her roommates, Lydia didn't know how the first few years of medical school would have gone.
But now at the age of 23, she was finally given the opportunity to get to real hospitals for her medical rotations and fortunately for her, she was given the opportunity to work with Dr. Richards.
As she was lost in her thought, she turned a corridor and bumped into what she first thought was a wall. But as she fell back, she felt a pair of arms encircle her to cushion her fall. Daphne closed her eyes instinctively bracing for impact and the first thing she saw as she opened her eyes, was a pair of breathtaking purple eyes. She felt her breath hitch.
Somehow the man, presumably the one who bumped into her, had somehow wrapped her in his arms, turned her around so she wouldn't hurt herself falling down and instead taken the impact himself.
His face, inches away from her and his eyes as widened as her gazed at her with a frightening amount of intensity. Time seemed to slow down as she gazed at those mesmerizing twin pool of amethyst. But before she could even think further, a cough interrupted her thoughts and she squeaked and jumped out of his arms as though he was made out of fire.
Kai POV
As he turned the corner, a sudden impact sent a small body colliding into him. Instinct took over—Kai's arms moved on their own, wrapping around the person as he pivoted to absorb the fall himself.
THUD
A sharp jolt ran up his spine as his back hit the cold floor. A quiet gasp escaped the person in his arms, their weight pressing against him.
The first thing he registered was a cascade of golden strands spilling over him, shimmering under the fluorescent lights like threads of spun sunlight. For a fleeting moment, the world seemed to slow as he took in the ethereal sight before him.
As the girl lifted her head, Kai caught his first clear glimpse of her face—a heart-shaped visage framed by soft waves of blonde, her expression scrunched in distress. But what truly caught his attention were her eyes. Honey-colored, wide with surprise, they locked onto his own, and in that instant, something within him stirred. A faint, unshakable sense of familiarity.
He felt that he had seen her before. Somewhere.
Before he could grasp the memory teasing the edges of his mind, a sudden cough shattered the moment. The girl jolted as if burned, scrambling out of his arms with a flustered squeak.
General POV
Seeing the girl stare at her shoes, seemingly embarrassed, Kai decided to clear the air. "I'm really sorry I bumped into you. I should have been more careful."
She lifted her gaze slightly, golden lashes fluttering as she met his eyes. "It's okay. Half the fault is mine. I wasn't looking either." Her voice was soft yet clear, carrying a natural sweetness that struck him in an oddly pleasant way. It had a warmth to it—like honey melting into warm tea.
Kai knew the logical thing to do was to apologize and move on. But instead, something entirely different came out of his mouth. "Ow. Could you please help me to the nearest doctor? My back is hurting a little."
'What?? I'm not hurt. Why the f**k did I say that?' A mental alarm blared in his head, but his mouth had already run off on its own. He wasn't sure why he said it—maybe it was instinct, maybe it was impulse. Or maybe, just maybe, something about her made him want to stretch the moment a little longer.
Lydia's eyes widened in concern, and guilt flashed across her face. "Oh no, I—Are you okay? I—Yes, of course! Let's go!" She immediately scrambled to his side, slipping her arm around his to support him.
Kai felt the warmth of her hand against his forearm, her touch light yet firm, as if she were afraid of hurting him further. She smelled faintly of vanilla and something crisp, like fresh linen.
As they walked, he caught her stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she bit her lower lip, as though fighting to suppress something—nervousness, embarrassment, or maybe just the sheer absurdity of the situation.
She was beautiful, that much was undeniable. Her long golden hair shimmered under the hospital's fluorescent lights, her heart-shaped face framed by soft strands. But Kai found himself more intrigued by the way she carried herself—poised yet flustered, composed yet unable to meet his gaze for more than a second at a time.
'Well, if I wasn't injured before, this guilt might just crush me,' Kai thought with an inward smile. But as she led him toward Dr. Richard's (unknown to him) office, he decided—just for today—he would let himself enjoy this small, stolen moment.
As Kai was lost in thought, Lydia found herself equally distracted. She stole quick glances at the man she was supporting, her fingers brushing against the firm muscles of his arm. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks before she could stop it.
His straight black hair, slightly unkempt, gave him a rugged, untamed quality that only added to his striking features. Deep amethyst eyes—unusual yet mesmerizing—held a quiet intensity, and the sharp angles of his jawline and cheekbones made him look like he had stepped out of a high-fashion magazine.
It felt strange to think that. After all, people often told her the same thing about herself.
Lydia swallowed, trying to focus on her steps instead of the warm weight against her side. His presence was oddly distracting, and the casual ease with which he leaned into her support sent an unfamiliar flutter through her chest.
Neither of them spoke as they reached Dr. Richard's office. Gesturing toward a chair, she gently helped him settle down, then turned toward the nearby counter, scanning through a row of medication.
"Does your back still hurt?" she asked, her voice steady despite the quiet anticipation simmering beneath the surface.
She didn't realize she was sneaking another glance at him—until she caught herself doing it again.
Kai shifted in his seat, rolling his shoulders as if to shake off the discomfort. "There's a faint pain, but it's already numbing out. I think I'll be fine in a few minutes," he said, stretching slightly for effect.
"For minor injuries like these, that's usually the best course of action," Lydia nodded, though the slight crease in her brow showed she was still feeling guilty. "Still… I'm really sorry. I should've been paying more attention."
Kai let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Please don't apologize so much, doc. It's really not a big deal. And you should sit down too. No point in both of us standing around like this." He gestured toward the empty chair beside him, offering a reassuring smile.
Lydia hesitated for a brief second before finally taking a seat. She smoothed her coat absently, trying to ignore the way her skin still felt warm from where his arm had brushed against hers. Up close, she got a better look at him—his tousled black hair, just long enough to give him a slightly untamed, effortless charm; the striking amethyst eyes that flickered with something between amusement and curiosity; the sharp, well-defined angles of his face, too refined to be rugged but too masculine to be delicate.
He's… well, unfairly good-looking. The thought came unbidden, and she quickly pushed it aside, feeling ridiculous for even thinking about it. She had met plenty of attractive people before, but something about this man felt different—there was a casual confidence about him, the kind that wasn't forced or rehearsed.
Kai, meanwhile, felt a mild pang of guilt for playing up his supposed injury, but at the same time, he couldn't really regret it. Something about the way Lydia had immediately jumped to help him, the way she'd been fussing over him with genuine concern, made him… not want to correct her. It's just a little white lie, he reasoned. And technically, she did bump into me first.
"Oh, I'm not a doctor yet," Lydia suddenly clarified, breaking him from his thoughts. "I'm still a med student—just getting some practice before I can start saving lives for real." She gave a small, self-deprecating laugh before straightening up and offering her hand. "Lydia Foster. Medical student. Future doctor."
Kai smiled at the mix of confidence and humility in her voice, taking her hand in his own. "Kai Jones. Future… well, still figuring that out."
Lydia's lips quirked at that, her honey-colored eyes briefly scanning his face as if she were trying to read something deeper in his words. Kai wasn't sure why, but the way she looked at him in that moment made him feel like she could see through him—past the easy-going façade he often wore and into something more raw, more real.
And for some reason, he didn't mind.
Lydia leaned back slightly, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "So why are you here, Kai? Other than the back?" she asked with an amused glint in her eyes.
Kai caught the playful edge in her tone and could tell she was trying to steer the conversation away from any lingering guilt. He appreciated the effort. With a chuckle, he played along.
"Haha, nothing serious. Just a bi-annual health check-up," he replied easily. "My family and I all came in today. I was actually on my way to meet them before I, well… literally ran into you." He smirked.
Lydia let out a soft laugh at his words, shaking her head. "Yeah… that was definitely memorable."
One minute turned into ten, then twenty, as the two of them got lost in conversation, completely forgetting about Kai's so-called injury. They spoke with the ease of two people who had known each other far longer than a mere half-hour.
Lydia learned that Kai was deeply artistic, with a passion for music that he hoped to turn into a career. Though she had never been particularly drawn to the arts, something about the way he spoke—animated, passionate, completely immersed in his dreams—drew her in. She found herself listening with genuine fascination, hanging onto his words as he described his love for composing, singing, and even dabbling in other creative pursuits.
"So, you want to turn music into a career? That's bold," she mused, propping her chin on her hand. "Most people I know wouldn't have the courage to chase something that uncertain."
Kai shrugged with a confident smirk. "Well, life's too short to play it safe. If I don't at least try, I'll regret it more than failing. Besides, the world could use more art, don't you think?"
Lydia nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "That's… actually a nice way to look at it."
Similarly, Kai found Lydia just as intriguing. Her ambition to become the best cardiologist in the country was an immense goal, but there was no hesitation in her voice, no trace of empty arrogance—just unwavering determination. The more she spoke, the more it became clear that this wasn't just a dream for her; it was a promise. A purpose.
Yet, beneath the conversation, something gnawed at Kai—a faint but persistent feeling of familiarity. He couldn't shake the sense that he had seen her before, known her in some way that went beyond just this meeting. He subtly searched his memory, trying to place her, but nothing concrete surfaced.
And yet, as he watched her talk—her honey-colored eyes alight with passion, the corners of her lips curling in amusement—he hoped that this wouldn't be the last time their paths would cross.
As they continued talking, the door to the office swung open, and Dr. Richard stepped inside. His brows lifted slightly as he took in the sight before him—one of his colleague's wards sitting comfortably in his chair and a familiar medical student standing beside him.
He opened his mouth to voice his confusion, but Lydia beat him to it.
"Apologies, doctor," Lydia said quickly. "Mr. Jones here had a minor accident—he bruised his back a little, and since your office was the closest, I brought him here right away." Her words were rushed, laced with guilt, as though she had committed some great mistake.
Dr. Richard, however, simply waved a dismissive hand. "Not a big deal, Ms. Foster. You did the right thing." He turned his attention to Kai, his expression shifting from neutral to concerned. "Kai, m'boy, are you alright? Nothing serious, I hope? I can call Steven and the others if you need anything."
Kai felt Lydia's curious gaze flick toward him at the familiarity in the doctor's voice. He ignored it, forcing himself to meet Dr. Richard's eyes instead. Guilt pricked at him again. He hadn't meant for the small deception to snowball into this.
"I'm perfectly fine, doctor," he assured with a small smile. "It was just a minor bump. No lingering pain, nothing to worry about."
Dr. Richard studied him for a moment longer, as if assessing whether to believe him. Then, with a nod, he relented.
"Good. But if you feel anything later, don't ignore it," he advised. "You and your family came here for checkups, not for unnecessary injuries."
Kai chuckled, giving another reassuring nod. "Got it."
As he stood to leave, he noticed Lydia hesitating before stepping forward and following him.
As Kai stepped out of the office, he shot Lydia a puzzled look. She caught it and chuckled. "I actually have work to do, you know. I was on my way to the general ward to check on some patients earlier," she teased, her honeyed voice carrying a warmth that made him smile.
"It was really great meeting you, Kai," she added, her tone light, yet something in her gaze lingered—an emotion he couldn't quite place.
"Yeah, same here, Lydia," Kai replied, offering a casual nod.
For a fleeting second, something shifted in her expression—just the briefest flicker of disappointment. It was so subtle that Kai almost dismissed it, but the moment stayed with him as she turned and walked away.
Then, an odd sensation settled in his chest. A quiet tug.
A feeling of loss.
It was irrational—he barely knew her—but something about this moment felt significant, like a door closing before he even had a chance to see what was on the other side.
His instincts screamed at him.
"Wait, Lydia!" The words left his mouth before he even realized he was speaking.
She turned back, her honey-colored eyes meeting his with curiosity, waiting.
Kai wasn't sure what he was about to say—he just knew that letting her walk away without doing something would be a mistake.
Kai felt his throat go dry, his mind scrambling for words. He had never been good at socializing, especially with women, and right now, his brain was failing him completely. Before he could second-guess himself, he blurted out,
"Would you mind exchanging numbers? I mean… you never know when a guy might need some medical advice… or just a good conversation?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself. What kind of lame excuse was that? But just as he was about to backtrack, he saw it—the way Lydia's lips curled into a breathtaking smile, her honey-colored eyes lighting up with something he couldn't quite place.
"Sure!" she said, her voice carrying an unmistakable warmth as she stepped closer.
Kai fumbled for his phone, his fingers slightly unsteady as he handed it over. As Lydia typed in her number, their fingers brushed ever so slightly when she returned the device. It was the briefest touch, but Kai felt his heart stutter in his chest.
"Got it," she said, her eyes flickering to his for a second longer than necessary before she took a step back.
Kai barely managed to respond, too busy trying to will away the warmth creeping up his neck. As they exchanged goodbyes, he turned and made his way toward Steven's office, but his thoughts were nowhere near his destination.
His mind was completely occupied by a certain medical student.
And unknown to him, just a few steps away, Lydia lingered for a moment, staring at her phone screen with a soft smile before shaking her head at herself and walking away.