Work Text:
For Medical Reasons
Dr. Yoo Joonghyuk was having a perfectly horrible day, exactly how he liked it. His patients were adequately intimidated, his assistant Lee Jihye had only made three annoying comments about his perpetual scowl, and he'd successfully scared away two nurses who tried to set him up on blind dates.
Dr. Yoo Joonghyuk is the most talented ophthalmologist in Seoul. He was also the most handsome and the grumpiest doctor in existence.
He had never, ever shown genuine interest in any patient... until today
"Doctor, your 2 o'clock is here," His assistant announced, poking her head into his office. "And he's cu—"
"If you finish that sentence, you're fired," Yoo Joonghyuk growled, not looking up from his computer.
"But Boss, he's exactly your—"
"FIRED."
Lee Jihye grinned. After three years of employment, she'd developed immunity to his threats.
"Fine, I'll send him in. Try not to scare this one away with your charming personality!"
Yoo Joonghyuk grumbled something about the insufferable assistant while continuing to click on his keyboard.
"Name?" The doctor said after hearing the footsteps without taking his eyes off his computer.
"Kim Dokja. I have sensitive eyes... to everything really. The sun, screens, my neighbor's horrifically purple curtains..." The sweet voice trailed off.
Yoo Joonghyuk looked up, ready to deliver his usual scathing remarks about self-diagnosis. But the words died in his throat.
Instead, he found himself staring.
Even squinting and watery-eyed, Kim Dokja was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"Is the light always this bright in here?" the new patient squinted, shielding those impossibly beautiful eyes.
For the first time in his career, Dr. Yoo found himself reaching for the dimmer switch.
Behind him, Lee Jihye's jaw dropped—this was the same doctor who once told a patient to "evolve better retinas or get out."
"Sit down before you bump into something," he muttered gruffly.
As Lee Jihye watched her boss gently—gently!—guide the new patient to the examination chair, she quickly updated the clinic's "Days Since Dr. Yoo Showed Human Emotions" board from "Never" to "0."
---
The examination was... different.
"Your eyes are unusually sensitive," Yoo Joonghyuk declared, trying to sound professional while fighting the urge to write poetry about Kim Dokja's eye color.
"You'll need to come in... daily."
"Daily?" Kim Dokja tilted his head adorably.
"Is it that serious?"
"Are you questioning my medical opinion?"
Yoo Joonghyuk snapped, though his hands were impossibly gentle as he administered the eye drops.
"No, no! I trust you, Doctor. You seem very knowledgeable and... kind."
"Kind?" Yoo Joonghyuk scoffed, ignoring how his heart was doing a backflip in his chest. He might have to check if he had Cardiac Arrhythmia.
"I'm your doctor, not your friend." The doctor declared with an authoritative tone.
Yet somehow, he found himself writing down his personal number on the prescription "for emergencies."
Later that day:
"He's... different," Yoo Joonghyuk found himself saying later that day, reviewing Kim Dokja's file for the fifteenth time.
"You mean cute?" Lee Jihye grinned. "Adorable? Marriage material?"
"You're fired."
"You say that five times a day, Boss. Oh look, I've already scheduled his follow-up appointment! Tomorrow. And the next day. And—"
"That's medically necessary," The doctor protested weakly.
"Sure, just like the way you dimmed the lights was 'medically necessary'?"
"The brightness could have aggravated his condition!"
"You told last week's patient to wear sunglasses or stop complaining."
"That was... different."
"Because they weren't cute?"
"YOU ARE FIRED!"
---
At the café across from the clinic:
"He dimmed the lights for you?" Han Sooyoung, Kim Dokja's best friend, looked skeptical.
"The same doctor who my cousin said makes patients do eye exercises under fluorescent lights as punishment?"
"Dr. Yoo is very considerate," Kim Dokja defended, unconsciously touching the fancy eye drops the hansome doctor had personally selected for him.
"He even wrote his personal number on the prescription... for emergencies."
"Emergencies. Right." His best friend rolled her eyes.
"Did he also explain why the prescription paper had hearts in the corner?"
"Those are anatomical diagrams!"
"They're pink!"
"It's a very professional shade of pink."
---
At the daily "monitoring sessions," Yoo Joonghyuk found himself inventing increasingly elaborate medical excuses.
"Your eye moisture levels need hourly checking."
"We should monitor your pupil dilation over lunch."
"This new treatment requires hand-holding... for pulse monitoring purposes."
Two weeks into their "treatment," Yoo Joonghyuk decided to take a bold step.
"You need to come to my house for dinner," he announced during their appointment. "It's... for medical observation."
"Medical observation over dinner?" Kim Dokja tilted his head adorably.
"Yes," Yoo Joonghyuk said through gritted teeth.
"To monitor your eating habits. In relation to eye health."
Behind him, Lee Jihye was silently screaming into her clipboard.
---
That evening at the Yoo residence:
" You did what?!" Yoo Mia exclaimed when Yoo Joonghyuk insisted that Kim Dokja come over for a 'medically supervised meal'
"It's for medical observation," Yoo Joonghyuk muttered, though he'd spent three hours picking out his outfit and personally prepared the meal himself... for professional purposes, obviously.
"Of course," the girl winked.
"Just like the heart-shaped cookies you baked are 'anatomically correct.'"
"They're educational props!"
"They say 'Love You' on them."
"...Medical terminology."
"And the heart-shaped lunches that you cooked for him?"
" Anatomical studies "
"Yeah, yeah! Whatever helps you sleep at night." Yoo Mia rolled her eyes so hard they almost got stuck in the back of her skull.
"Oppa never brings anyone home" Yoo Mia exclaimed, setting down a feast.
"He must really like—"
"Care about your eye condition," Yoo Joonghyuk interrupted loudly.
"Oh yes, your brother is an excellent doctor," Kim Dokja beamed.
"He even holds my hand during eye exercises!"
The girl dropped her spoon. "He does WHAT?"
"For proper technique," Yoo Joonghyuk muttered, face red.
"And he texts me good morning every day to remind me about my eye drops!"
"Oppa, you don't even text ME good morning!" Yoo Mia gasped.
"The notifications help establish a routine," The doctor insisted.
"And look at this cute lunch box he gave me! With hearts!"
"THOSE ARE MEDICAL SYMBOLS!" Yoo Joonghyuk shouted.
---
On Monday at the clinic
"I heard a weird sound today. Dr. Yoo was... humming. HUMMING! While looking at Kim Dokja's file."
"That's clearly just vocal cord exercises," Yoo Joonghyuk defended when caught.
"You were humming 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You.'"
"It's... an eye examination mnemonic device."
"You replaced all the pens in the clinic with blue ones because Ahjussi once mentioned he likes blue!"
"Color coordination is important for... medical accuracy."
---
One day during Kim Dokja's appointment, Yoo Joonghyuk cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Your eyes need... dynamic light exposure therapy."
"Oh?" Kim Dokja looked interested.
"Is that a new treatment?"
Behind them, Lee Jihye choked on her coffee.
"Yes. Very new. Very medical," Yoo Joonghyuk continued stiffly.
"We need to... test your eyes' response to rapidly changing light conditions. In a controlled environment."
"Like a laboratory?"
"Like a movie theater."
Lee Jihye actually had to leave the room to scream.
"A movie theater?" Kim Dokja blinked his impossibly pretty eyes. His longer than normal lashes fluttered.
Yoo Joonghyuk nearly fainted from the cuteness.
"Yes. This Saturday. 7 PM. The new romance movie would be... medically appropriate. For light variation purposes." The doctor cleared his throat and replied in the most professional tone he could muster.
"Oh! That makes sense!"
Kim Dokja nodded earnestly.
"The contrast between bright and dark scenes would be good practice for my eyes!"
"Exactly," Yoo Joonghyuk replied immediately, his tone far too enthusiastic to be professional.
But who cares anyway? His adorable Dokja had just agreed to go see a movie with him!
" Okay! I'll text you then. Bye, Doctor! " Kim Dokja waved enthusiastically at him before leaving the doctor's office.
He missed the rare smile and love-sick eyes that bloomed across the stoic doctor’s face.
But Lee Jihye didn't...
From outside the door came the distinct sound of Jihye sliding down the wall in shock.
---
At the café later:
"HE ASKED YOU TO A ROMANCE MOVIE!" Han Sooyoung screamed.
"For light exposure therapy," Kim Dokja explained patiently.
"IN THE EVENING!"
"Less ambient light interference."
"HE'S PAYING FOR YOUR TICKET!"
"Insurance coverage."
"AND POPCORN!"
"Proper snacking reduces eye strain?"
Han Sooyoung grabbed her friend's shoulders.
"He literally said, and I quote from your text, 'Wear something nice... for professional purposes.'"
"Well, yes. Professional medical environments have dress codes."
"IT'S A MOVIE THEATER!"
"A medical movie theater experience," Dokja corrected seriously.
---
Meanwhile at the clinic:
"Boss, why are you trying on your fifteenth shirt?" Lee Jihye asked, watching Yoo Joonghyuk frown at his reflection.
"I need to look... professionally authoritative for the light exposure therapy."
"In a dark movie theater?"
"Shut up or you're fired."
"You're wearing cologne."
"It's... medical grade fragrance."
"You bought movie snacks in advance to get his favorites."
"Proper nutrition is essential for—"
"You got couple seats."
"FOR PROPER MONITORING DISTANCE!"
---
During the movie:
"D-doctor Yoo?" Kim Dokja whispered as their hands brushed in the popcorn.
"Your hands are very warm."
"Body temperature regulation. For science," Yoo Joonghyuk muttered, but didn't move his hand away.
"And why are we sharing a blanket?"
"Controlled environment temperature maintenance."
"The armrest is up..."
"Better posture observation angle."
"You're sitting very close..."
"To monitor your pupil dilation in low light conditions."
On screen, the leads were having their first kiss.
"Doctor... your face is getting closer..."
"I need to check your corneal reflection..."
"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, JUST KISS HIM!" shouted someone who sounded suspiciously like Lee Jihye and Han Sooyoung in disguise.
---
The next day at the clinic:
"So," Jihye grinned, "how was the 'light exposure therapy'?"
"None of your business," Yoo Joonghyuk growled, straightening a framed photo on his desk of him and Kim Dokja at the movies... for medical documentation purposes, of course.
"You know he texted his friend that it was 'the most thorough eye examination' he's ever had?"
"...He what."
"He said, and I quote, 'Doctor Yoo is so dedicated, he even checked my eye responses during the romantic scenes!'"
Yoo Joonghyuk buried his face in his hands. "How can someone so cute be so..."
"Dense?"
"...fired. You're fired."
"Sure, Boss. By the way, Ahjussi's here early. Says he might need more 'light exposure therapy' this weekend."
The doctor straightened his tie.
"Well... as his doctor, I cannot neglect his treatment plan."
"There's another romance movie showing."
"...Tell him regular sessions are medically advisable."
"Weekly?"
"...Twice weekly."
"With dinner after? For nutritional observation?"
"Obviously."
"And hand-holding for medical monitoring?"
"GET OUT!"
But he was already checking movie times on his phone.
At the café:
"So let me get this straight," Han Sooyoung said with deadly calm.
"He held your hand through the whole movie..."
"To check my pulse! Very medical."
"Put his arm around you..."
"Posture correction!"
"Almost kissed you during the romantic scene..."
"Corneal examination in varying light conditions!"
"And asked you to dinner after..."
"Dietary monitoring!"
"TWICE A WEEK?"
"Consistent medical observation is key to recovery!"
Han Sooyoung looked at the ceiling.
"I'm going to write a book called 'My Best Friend is an Idiot: A Medical Romance.'"
"Oh, can Doctor Yoo write the foreword? His medical insights are so thorough!"
"...I need a drink."
Meanwhile, Yoo Joonghyuk was carefully writing in his "patient notes":
- Subject responds well to movie theater light conditions
- Hand-holding therapy shows promising results
- Dinner observations to be continued indefinitely
- Additional research required on optimal kiss— MEDICAL EXAMINATION techniques
- Note: Buy more cologne. For hospital sanitization purposes.
Lee Jihye, reading over his shoulder: "Boss, just ask him out properly!"
"...You're fired."
"You've fired me six times today."
"Because you're insufferable."
"Because I'm right~"
The "Days Since Dr. Yoo Last Smiled" board now had a new category: "Times Dr. Yoo Used Medical Excuses to Date Kim Dokja."
The number was getting impressively high.
---
During a staff meeting:
Lee Jihye: "And finally, we need to discuss the new patient scheduling system—"
*Kim Dokja walks past the office window*
Yoo Joonghyuk, standing up immediately: "Meeting adjourned."
Staff: "But we just started—"
Yoo Joonghyuk: "Medical emergency."
Lee Jihye: "He's just getting water from the cooler."
Yoo Joonghyuk: "He could... choke. Need to supervise. For medical reasons."
Lee Jihye: "You're going to help him with the water cooler?"
Yoo Joonghyuk: "Those buttons are... complex. Medically speaking."
Later:
Han Sooyoung: "You helped him with the water cooler for 45 minutes?"
Yoo Joonghyuk: "Proper hydration is crucial."
Lee Jihye: "You were holding his hand the entire time!"
"Checking his pulse."
Han Sooyoung: "While gazing into his eyes?"
"Corneal examination in fluorescent lighting conditions."
Lee Jihye: "You kissed his forehead!"
"Temperature check."
Both: "WITH YOUR LIPS?"
"...Most accurate method."
---
It all came to an end during what should have been a routine examination.
"Your sensitivity is completely cured," Yoo Joonghyuk announced, trying to hide his panic.
Without medical excuses, how would he keep seeing his Dokja?
"Oh." Kim Dokja's face fell.
"So... I don't need to come anymore?"
"No! I mean—"
Yoo Joonghyuk ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Your eyes are fine but I'm not!"
"Doctor! Are you sick? Should you see a specialist?"
Behind the door, the distinct sound of multiple foreheads hitting the wall echoed.
"YES! No! I mean—" Yoo Joonghyuk grabbed Kim Dokja's hands.
"There's a rare condition," he began, his medical ethics screaming in protest, "called... Chronic Cardiac Ophthalmologic Syndrome."
Lee Jihye choked on her water.
She and Han Sooyoung had long given up pretending they weren't following them to every "treatment session."
"Is it serious?" Kim Dokja asked, concerned.
"Very. Symptoms include..." Yoo Joonghyuk glanced around desperately
"increased heart rate when making eye contact. Difficulty maintaining regular breathing patterns during proximity exposure. Persistent thoughts about p—patients."
"Doctor!" Kim Dokja gasped.
"Those are exactly my symptoms! How did you know?"
"...What?"
"Every time I see you, my heart races," Kim Dokja explained earnestly.
"And I can barely breathe when you're close during examinations. And I think about you all the time! Do I have this syndrome too?"
Somewhere in the background, Han Sooyoung had fallen off her chair.
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at his patient—his brilliant, beautiful, absolutely dense patient—and finally snapped.
"KIM DOKJA, I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, YOU BEAUTIFUL IDIOT!"
The clinic went dead silent. Then:
"FINALLY!" (Jihye)
"THANK GOD!" (Sooyoung)
"GET IT, OPPA!" (Mia)
Kim Dokja blinked those gorgeous eyes that had started this whole thing. Then, slowly, a mischievous smile spread across his face.
"Doctor Yoo... are you saying the heart-shaped lunches weren't actually anatomical studies?"
"...What."
"And the 'pulse monitoring' hand-holding wasn't medical?"
"You... you KNEW?"
"Maybe I'm not as dense as you think?" Kim Dokja grinned.
"Lee Jihye might have helped me figure it out last week. I just... liked watching you try so hard."
"JIHYE!"
"You're welcome, Boss! Also, not fired – I expect a raise for exceptional matchmaking services!"
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at Kim Dokja, who was trying not to laugh.
"You let me make up all those ridiculous excuses?"
"They were very creative! I particularly enjoyed 'synchronized breathing exercises for optimal ocular pressure.'"
"I hate you," Yoo Joonghyuk groaned, but he was pulling Kim Dokja closer.
"No, you don't. You just said you love me. No take-backs, Doctor."
"...Shut up and let me kiss you before I diagnose you with selective hearing."
"FINALLY!!!"
When they finally broke apart, Kim Dokja looked dazed. "I might need an eye exam. I'm seeing stars."
"That's love, you idiot," Yoo Joonghyuk grumbled, but he was smiling.
---
Epilogue:
Lee Jihye got a promotion, and proudly displays her new title: "Chief of Romance Operations."
Han Sooyoung wrote a bestselling book: "How to Diagnose Love: A Guide to Dating Dense Patients and Tsundere Doctors."
And Yoo Mia? She framed their first couple photo next to her brother's medical degree, labeled: "Doctor of Love, Specialized in Hopeless Romance."
As for Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk, they lived happily ever after... after completing a thoroughly medical honeymoon, of course.
For health purposes. Obviously.
The clinic's board now reads: "Days Since Dr. Yoo and Kim Dokja Started Dating (Without Medical Excuses)"
Though sometimes Yoo Joonghyuk still can't help himself:
"Your lips need immediate attention."
"I should monitor your heartbeat overnight."
"This kiss is purely for medical research."
But now when he says "I need to examine you thoroughly"
They both know exactly what kind of examination he means.
The wedding invitation read:
"After extensive research and multiple treatment sessions,
Dr. Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja
Have diagnosed each other with a permanent case of love
Please join us for the administration of lifelong treatment..."
P.S. Yoo Joonghyuk still insisted on dimming the lights at their wedding. For medical reasons, of course.
The End.