"Doctor Kang Jaeho, Han Sooah, Lee Minji, Park Sungho, Prof Min, Prof Shin…"
"Wow!" The doctor chuckled. "You're a medical student?"
Naima instantly clapped both hands over her mouth. "Oops! I slipped again…"
Her brain spun fast. Oh no, stupid! Those names are from the CBS drama! If he finds out, he'll think I'm delusional!
She scrambled for an excuse. "I–I mean… I know them from the hospital's SNS account. They're quite popular, right?"
"Hmm." The doctor eyed her, as if judging whether she was telling the truth or not. Then he smiled again. "Yeah, they are. Especially Kang Jaeho. Everyone here kinda looks up to him."
They arrived at the hospital café. The aroma of fresh coffee and toasted bread greeted them right away. Naima tried to calm herself, pretending to study the digital menu.
"Americano for me," the doctor said. "You?"
"Green tea latte, please."
"Got it." He placed their order, then turned back to her. "By the way… I'm Sooah's little brother."
Naima whipped her head around, eyes widening. "Wait… what?"
The doctor smiled faintly. "Han Sooah. She's my sister."
Naima's head spun. "Sooah? Kang Jaeho? Seoul High Hospital?"
"You're doing some grocery shopping? Nice young lady," Han Jungwoo commented with a polite smile.
"Oh, yes. I ran out of a few seasonings," Naima replied, lifting her bag of onions, snacks, and vegetables.
"I just realized—I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Han Jungwoo," he said, pointing to himself casually.
"Naima Treublut," she replied with a smile.
"True blood?"
Naima glared. "You know my name?"
"No, but I understand a bit of German. Uh… are you German?"
Naima shrugged. "Hubby."
"Huh? Pardon?"
"My husband's name," Naima said calmly, looking straight at him.
For a moment, Jungwoo's face turned oddly gloomy. His brows dropped, and his gaze fell to the floor as if he'd just heard bad news.
"Are you sure you're married?" Jungwoo asked sharply, eyes narrowing as if trying to read her soul. "You look like a high schooler… You should call me Oppa."
Naima almost choked holding back her laughter. "I'm almost twenty-five 😅."
"Huh? Then I should call you Noona?"
Naima giggled, setting down her grocery bag. "Yes, Oppa. If you want to be polite, call me Noona."
Jungwoo looked flustered; a faint red crept across his cheeks. He exhaled deeply. "Uh… I have to see my professor now. Here's my card. Call me anytime you need help."
"Sure. Thank you," Naima said, eyes sparkling as she took the card.
As Jungwoo walked away, Naima scratched her head, still holding her groceries. "Sooah's brother? Wow. I literally have the male lead's brother's number now…" She paused, sighing. "Right, I was supposed to make fried rice. But… what bus goes to my apartment again?"
"Wait!" Naima called out. "What bus should I take to Cherry Blossom Apartment?"
Jungwoo turned, raising an eyebrow. "You live in Cherry Blossom?"
"Yeah… Jaeho's neighbor," Naima blurted, then instantly froze.
"Aish, I did it again…" she muttered under her breath. "Seriously, Naima? First the groceries, then the ambulance, and now the drama lead's apartment address?!"
She glanced at Jungwoo, praying he didn't catch that, but his gaze was warm and curious—making her want to disappear behind her grocery bag.
"Uh… I mean, I just… um… live nearby," she added quickly, trying to sound casual.
Her phone suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up with Johann.
"Where are you? I'm huuungry," Johann's voice crackled through the speaker.
"OMG. I'm still at the hospital," Naima answered, holding her breath as she eyed the heavy grocery bags.
"Hospital?!" Johann's tone shot up in panic. "What happened?! Which hospital? Are you okay?!"
Naima shook her head, calming him down. "Seoul High Hospital. I'm totally fine. Don't worry. I… uh… helped a fainted old man."
Johann went quiet for a few seconds, then sighed audibly. "You… helped an old man? Alone?!"
"Yes, alone. And survived," Naima said, stifling a laugh. "He's fine. I'm fine. Everyone's fine."
Still at the café, Naima started texting, her face slightly scrunched after the hospital chaos.
Naima: "Mar, why on earth did I marry a foreigner? You know German guys were never my type."
Moments later, a notification popped up.
Martha: "Don't ask me! I'm still shocked too. Your crush list used to be Aa Kasep from Bandung and Andri from Manado—both only saw you as their sister in faith and laughter. Not to mention Deson from Medan, who's married but you still called him 'patriotically handsome.' All very Indonesian white, not European cold white."
Naima snorted and started typing again.
Naima: "You know me, Mar. I melt faster when a guy says 'eung… punten, Teteh' than 'Hallo, Schatz.'"
Another message came instantly.
Martha: "That's why I'm suspicious. Maybe you were hexed with 'pelet', Nai. Or he made you drink bratwurst rinse water during courtship."
Naima almost choked laughing.
Naima: "Hah?! He's German, not Brazilian! Or a South African who still believes in shaman!"
Martha: "Exactly! It's hi-tech witchcraft! Sent through Wi-Fi or Google Translate!"
Naima laughed so hard she almost dropped her phone.
Naima: "Then I'd better change my Wi-Fi password before he charms me into cooking dinner every night."
Martha: "Too late. If you already think fried rice for a foreigner is romantic, the spell's at pro level."
Naima scratched her head. Well, she wasn't entirely wrong.
---
Naima sipped her green tea latte, gazing out the window. Hmm… nice, though a bit too matcha. Tastes like expensive green leaves that know they're fancy.
Then Jungwoo returned—this time with a stunning, elegant woman.
"Naima," he said brightly, "my sister wants to meet you."
Naima turned—and nearly spit out her drink.
Standing before her was a woman with regal grace, perfectly tied hair, flawless skin, and a smile straight out of a drama scene.
"Oh. My. God. Song Jihye! She's gorgeous!" Naima blurted, leaping to her feet. Song Jihye—the actress who played Han Sooah in CBS!
Jungwoo and the woman exchanged confused looks.
"Excuse me," Jungwoo said, half amused. "This is my sister, Han Sooah. You said you knew her from the hospital's SNS."
Naima slapped her own mouth. "Oh no, I said the actress's name again…" she muttered weakly.
Han Sooah smiled graciously. "Jungwoo said you saved my uncle. I'd like to express my gratitude."
"Oh, no, no! It's fine!" Naima stammered. "I was just… passing by! You know, destiny, gravity—maybe both. Anyone near him would've done the same!"
Sooah blinked. "Ehm… may I ask who Song Jihye is?"
Naima nearly slid off her chair. "Ugh… oh… um…"
Her brain scrambled for an answer. Say anything—just not 'the actress who plays you in my world!'