⁝ clinic

@❀ yang minkyung willfully hardworking and stubborn, jeong hamin has always been resolute in defiance against anything about his well-being. typically, the man is as healthy as a horse and tenacious as a mule. he brazenly ventures towards things that would cause overexertion and exhaustion. and yet, he's always relentless and would tread perilously close to anything that can cause physical decline.

his tendency for fervent commitment to things he endeavors to get done takes a toll on his body heavily. however, this does not stop hamin from offering a hand to help to just about anyone.

hamin, ever the epitome of altruistic spirit and boundless kindness, has only found himself in a pile ton of work this particular day. he was asked by a kind friend to help move things in the bustling marketplace as they were relocating their business. hamin kindly offered his services in exchange for a meal. this happened after an all-nighter that he spent at the yoon residences; something he does once a week to ensure the safety of lady hyein. right after helping out a friend, he was stopped by a lot of common elderly in the marketplace to aid in trivial things. hamin has exerted a ton of effort to help others. it was just in his nature to offer his empathy and selflessness towards others, and it surely has left an indelible imprint on the hearts of those he has selflessly helped.

as he finished and bid everyone goodbye, he finally conceded to the necessity of rest and decided to head home for the day. a foreboding sense of unease due to the discomfort finally cracking jeong hamin down to set for the journey home. as he trudged wearily homebound, the world around him suddenly seemed to blur and distort. he blinked and realized that it was his vision affecting his steps. despite the sun still out and casting rays downwards, there was a chill permeating the air, sending shivers coursing through hamin's frame.

despite the shiver that ran through him, he could feel the heat coming from within him, slowly working up to an intensity. hamin blinked through the blurriness and sighed, "it must be a fever." he acknowledged that his body had indeed reached a physical limit. and so, he took one step forward, determined to head home and rest. however, it seemed like his body couldn't even muster the energy to wait for them to be home as his eyes slowly fluttered close and succumbed to unconsciousness.

hamin gradually surfaced from the depths of his fatigue. a faint yet familiar voice slowly pierced through the hazy clouds over his senses, accompanied by a shake to awaken him from his slumber. "huh?" he murmured as his eyelids were being weighed down by exhaustion. jeong hamin struggled to pry them open and he murmured, his voice merely a whisper. "where am i? what happened?" he inquired as he slowly reclaimed his sight and consciousness. looking around, he found the location unfamiliar, and slowly, his eyes centered on the figure hovering over him.

surprised, his bleary gaze slowly got accustomed to the figure's face and his brows furrowed in confusion. "yang minkyung?" he had not anticipated meeting her this way, especially with how long it had been since they last exchanged words. despite the fog of confusion in his mind, hamin further inquired as he slowly sat up. "what are you doing here?"

@❁ jeong hamin as yang minkyung departed from her daily duties, reclining comfortably within her palanquin, she noticed a familiar figure stumbling along the streets – none other than jeong hamin. though years had passed since their last encounter, she still remembered his steady stride. something seemed awry.

drawing nearer, she signaled her carriers to approach him. calling out his name, she expected recognition, yet he barely acknowledged her and shrugged off her inquiry regarding his well-being. unused to such disregard, minkyungwas on the verge of delivering a sharp rebuke when he suddenly collapsed, groaning in discomfort.

normally indifferent to the plight of others, minkyung felt a pang of concern for hamin, who had shown her kindness in the past despite her flaws. with a dramatic sigh, she got off the palanquin and instructed her carriers to lift the nearly unconscious man aboard, ignoring his feeble protests. "hush now," she chided condescendingly, rolling her eyes. "i cannot allow you to perish on the streets. your family would loathe me even more than they already do."

she was about to resume her place in the palanquin when one of the bearers sheepishly informed her that they couldn't accommodate two passengers simultaneously. "very well," she hissed through gritted teeth, "but there shall be no additional compensation for the inconvenience of you forcing me to walk." with an irritated stride, she led the way to the nearby clinic, her temper simmering beneath the oppressive summer heat.

"do move with a modicum of haste, you dolts!" she barked at the poor carriers, her gaze flashing a warning as she glanced back. after what seemed an eternity, they arrived at the clinic, where she instructed them to remain nearby while she attended to "matters."

opening the palanquin’s door, she sighed upon seeing him slumbering. forgoing the niceties – he had seen past her refined facade before – she aggressively shook him awake. “yah, you better wake up, jeong hamin! i did not undertake this arduous journey to the clinic simply for you to indulge in a nap. you must seek treatment for whatever ailment afflicts you.”

@❁ im seohyang [ back dated: july 1868, summer. ]

The shock written all over Seohyang’s face was no surprise to Haewon. Despite learning of the news a few days back, her pregnancy was something still pretty much shocking to the lady and definitely wasn’t something she was prepared for, or will ever be.

Running a hand down to her abdomen, she gave it a gentle caress. “It’s a little… weird.” she says slowly, still finding this whole situation of a little one growing within her little bizarre yet leaving a trace of warmth in her chest. She wonders if all first time mothers felt the same way as her.

Truthfully, as she held seohyang in her embrace, haewon wasn’t sure what to make of this whole situation, there was a part of her that was certain this child belong to seojun, but then, there was also sangwook that was in a picture and she didn’t quite know how to tell her cousin that she didn’t exactly know who the father was, or that there were two men in her life and either of them could be the father without making it sound weird or the fact that she was certain because they both went to the physicians with her.

Pulling away from the embrace, haewon held her cousin’s hand within her, giving it a little squish. “i went to the physician because i wasn’t feeling well.” It wasn’t entirely a lie, only that she left out the part where both men followed her there. “.. but i just wanted to be sure and i can’t trust anyone else but you.”

@✿ go hyunjoo seohyang mirrored the older woman's smile when she waved off her title. she knows how formalities had ceased to exist between them moreso within the walls of the clinic. yet there are times where the younger thought she needed to remind herself of hyunjoo's societal status to prevent a slip of her tongue outside the clinic. although, this time she was simply teasing the lady to reel her back from the realm of knowledge.

with a warm gaze, she watched as hyunjoo rid of the knots in her body after sitting for so long. when she offered her humble room in the clinic, she had not expected hyunjoo to be a lady of noble. her story of struggling to convince her father to allow her to study to be a uinyeo struck a cord in seohyang's heart and she once more realised a yangban's life is not entirely a walk in the park.

"of course! it really is a beautiful day out," seohyang sighed as she turned to the view of the clinic. the afternoon tranquility that settled like a blanket was temporary and moments like these are when she could sneak away minutes of calm breaths. she assumed hyunjoo needed a few too. plus, she'd hate not making time to exchange a few words with a friend after having not seen each other as the hectic social season was cast upon them. seohyang reached out for a slice of watermelon, absentmindedly nibbling on the fruit before she spoke in a soft voice, "hyunjoo-eonnie."

"about the chilseok blind date..." she took another nimble on the watermelon, letting it melt in as she pondered whether to continue the topic or waved it away. "who are you partnered with? have you heard of him?" silently she added, will you be going?

@❀ hong yoonhee The air was brisk as Saemi made her way through the bustling streets of Hanseong, her footsteps echoing with a soft rhythm on the cobblestone paths. The vibrant city, a far cry from the familiar landscapes of Ulsan, was a scene of old-world charm and burgeoning commerce. The city's energy, while captivating, also held undertones of mystery, promising the unknown at every turn.

Her purpose was clear—the Go estate was running low on vital medical supplies, and while a servant could have been dispatched for the task, she saw it as an opportunity to familiarize herself with the city and its offerings. Besides, with her lady off on her secret soiree, Saemi felt a bit unburdened, almost light.

As she approached the clinic, its modest wooden sign swayed gently with the breeze. The structure was traditional, with tiled roofs and wooden beams. The entrance was framed by ornate lattice doors, through which one could glimpse the tranquil inner garden. The scents of medicinal herbs and incense wafted through, subtly inviting her in.

Pushing open the door, Saemi stepped into the cool shade of the clinic's interior. The floor was of polished stone, reflecting the dim light filtering through the rice paper windows. The walls were lined with dark wooden shelves, neatly stacked with a myriad of glass bottles and jars, each filled with dried herbs, powders, and liquids of varying colors. Scrolls with meticulous writings on acupuncture and traditional remedies adorned the space. In one corner, a wooden counter stood, behind which a pharmacist would typically be present.

"Excuse me, I would like to purchase bandages and gauzes," Saemi called out, her voice echoing slightly in the serene ambiance of the clinic.

@✿ hwang yul night had set upon hanseong faster than hyunjoo had expected, her nose buried in her notes as she worked on creating different salves she had learned the previous week. the busy work always put her mind at ease and it was quickening becoming muscle memory. still, she was surprised she had let herself get so lost in it that she hadn't noticed the time. she was sure her maids had vouched for her retiring early to bed, likely with an excuse that she hadn't been feeling well all day. it wasn't too far from the truth considering she had faced yet another lecture for why the suitors her father picked always seemed to quickly have a new lady upon their arm.

it was always fault with her, though. he never considered the men to be the problem, but that may have been her fault for being too outspoken during her teen years regarding the aspect of arranged marriages. what young girl didn't want to marry for love, though? now, she was just a cynical adult who possibly fancied the tavern boy if she ever allowed herself to admit it.

sighing softly to herself, she gathered her things and placed them back where the lovely nurses of the clinic allowed her to hide them. she would forever be grateful for what the women here did for her. although if she ever voiced that gratitude, she would always be met with how they were grateful to have her extra hands.

she cleaned her hands once everything was put back in its proper place and her salves were in their containers within her pouch so she could take them back with her and treat any of the superficial wounds her family's staff may have contracted in her absence. there always seemed to be at least one person in need of assistance when she returned from her outings.

as hyunjoo wandered out of the clinic, though, she nearly dropped everything she was carrying, startled by the human-like shape practically collapsed on the ground outside. worry gnawed at her gut, her lower lip caught between her teeth, before she decided to approach the figure, praying this wasn't some ploy by a creep to get passerby's to stop. "excuse me, sir. are you alright?"

@❁ im seohyang lost in thought surrounded by her own notes and the multitude of books that seemed to keep growing the more the yangban woman would visit her friend's quarters, hyunjoo hadn't noticed the door sliding open, quietly announcing the presence of company. there was a wrinkle of concentration between her brows as she mouthed her writings to herself, a technique she often did subconsciously whenever she attempted to put something to memory.

she did startle a bit, however, when seohyang spoke, gaze abruptly lifting from her parchment and slowly blinking as she processed the words that had been said to her. cheeks warming a bit with the embarrassment of being caught up in her work, the older woman's lips spread into a warm smile and she lifted her hand to wave off the title as she spoke, "please, it is just hyunjoo here. no need for formalities when you know how little I care for them."

it was true. whenever she was within the walls of the clinic, hyunjoo felt as if she could breathe normally for once. there wasn't the heaviness of expectations and demands beyond the ones she had set for herself when it came to studying and learning all she could to help others. just the thought of her father and what he would think of her decisions had her fingers twitching where they rested on top of a textbook, her heartbeat picking up in pace before she brought it back under control.

"a break sounds wonderful, though," she caved easily enough, rising from her position and barely muffling the groan that indicated she hadn't moved from that position for quite some time. taking a moment to stretch out her limbs so she was comfortable once more, the woman settled on the terrace next to her friend, letting her eyes fall shut and lifting her nose to enjoy the sun kissing her skin for a moment. "it's a beautiful day out today. thank you for not allowing me to waste all of it cooped up indoors."

@❁ yoon haewon a sense of tranquility settled over the clinic after welcoming a surge of patients during the day. the flurry of new and returning patients left records to pile and tools to be sanitized. while the physician relieved themselves from the examination area for a little breath, seohyang's form remain rooted behind the physician's table, cheeks slightly puffed as she focused on organizing patients' records.

the sound of the wooden door opening and the familiar voice of her cousin broke her concentration, her cheeks losing its puff and a welcoming smile appeared on her visage. "haewon-a!" she let out a soft chuckle as the older placed the bag of rice puffs on the table. "thank you very much, dear cousin," the younger said, putting aside the parchments of records to focus on haewon's sudden visit--when she should be the shop, unless. . .

seohyang's smile thinned as her brows knit when she took in haewon's expression. "what trouble, haewon-a?" she prompted, reaching out to take the older's other hand into hers.

"i think i might be pregnant."

there was a lull in her thoughts before questions ranging from who the father was until the when and hows popped in her head. but she held everything back at the present, moving to sit beside haewon before enveloping her into a hug. there was uncertainty in her hold, whether to be happy or worried or enraged, though she hoped it will signal that they'll work things out. "did you check for certain?" she inquired softly. "is your body feeling okay? does. . ." seohyang trailed off for a moment. what should she say? the father? her lover? partner? "does anyone else know?"

@❁ im seohyang Backdated: somewhere end of july.

It had seemed like only yesterday when haewon found out the huge news, since then, the only child of the byun household had been hiding at the back of their norigae shop, refusing to meet people or talk to anyone except for mama and papa yoon, “she’s back to her rebellious phase!” Papa Yoon’s loud and deep voice travelling all the way back to the shop where the young lady had been hiding for a couple of days, nonethless, Haewon was pretty unbothered by it, not when she had a bigger problem on had. Yoon Haewon was pregnant.

It was a sunny mid-day afternoon, when haewon decided she had been done moping over this issue; not when moping couldn’t solve the problem she was face. “i’ll see you later. I’m just… gonna go look for hyangie.” The young lady shouted in the direction of her parents before slipping out of the shop.

Haewon took hurried steps, towards her cousin’s clinic just a couple of buildings down the road,“Hyangie!” She called out the moment she opened those familiar wooden door, spotting her cousin, haewon had never been more relieved to see the young lady. “I brought you rice puffs, dearest cousin.” Placing the bag of rice puffs on the table top, she looked over at her cousin as she took sit, resting her chin on the back of her hand. “I….. think i’m in trouble, hyang.” Written all over her face was the mix of fear, confusion and worry. “i think i might be pregnant.”

@✿ go hyunjoo 　　　
⸺
a couple of days before the chilseok nakhwa nori and after the reveal of the blind dates partner.
⸺

sweet scent of watermelon mingled in the summer air as a certain physician's assistant cut the fruit to smaller pieces; a treat from an ever grateful yangban family to the physician and the clinic. seohyang set aside for the assistant and set a few pieces for two on another wooden plate. after delivering the batch for the other employees of the clinic, she took the wooden plate filled with watermelon to the backyard of the clinic, up a small hill where the assistant's stand-alone chamber is located.

she exhaled as she hoisted her dainty frame up to sit on the small terrace before quietly pulling the door to her sleeping chamber. through the door left ajar, seohyang peeked at the figure sitting in the middle of her humble room. lady go hyunjoo deep in the realm of the book she is currently studying, the air of elegance of a yangban seeping through the commoner outfit she donned in. a fond smile adorned seohyang's visage as she admired the older's will to study medicine despite her father's objections and forced to study in hiding.

seohyang wondered whether to leave the sliced, pieces of watermelon outside the door or disturb the older woman's concentration to prompt her on a little break. she would hate it if she had disrupted the other when she's on an important thought. though, she decided on the latter, given the lady had been holed up in the room since she arrived.

she reached out the door's metal handle and pulled open the door wider. with a clear of , she said, "time for a study break, my lady." the younger smiled, her voice turning into a whisper at the end of her sentence. "come sit outside and snack on the watermelon!"