CHAPTER TWO

GABRIELLA'S POV

I glanced at the dashboard clock 7:35 a.m. Not ideal, but still within my safety margin. Thankfully, the hospital was only a ten-minute drive from our apartment. Isabella and I had moved to this city years ago when we both gained admission into our respective universities. We found a moderately-sized apartment that had just enough space for two ambitious young women chasing their dreams. Since then, we've been living together, growing side by side.

I started the car and gently pressed the accelerator, careful not to speed but eager enough to make up for lost time. The last thing I wanted was to receive a warning or worse, a terrible first impression on my very first day. I wanted to arrive early, composed, and professional.

The reason I overslept in the first place? Simple. Excitement. Pure, unfiltered, wide-eyed excitement. Last night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept imagining everything, the hospital hallways, meeting other doctors, wearing my white coat, and slowly carving my path toward becoming one of the best cardiothoracic surgeons in the country. My mind had been buzzing with possibilities until the last time I checked the time: 3:32 a.m.

Now, as I pulled into the hospital parking lot, I felt a flutter in my stomach. The clock read 7:43 a.m. I smiled. I’d shaved off two whole minutes. That gave me seventeen minutes to make a good first impression plenty of time, right?

I quickly reached for the mini bag Isabella had handed me earlier, pulling out my coffee and toasted bread. Using the spare two minutes, I rushed through my modest breakfast, finishing the last bite just as I wiped my mouth with a tissue. I wore my bag, gripped my coffee in my left hand, locked the car, and practically jogged into the hospital building.

The lobby was bright and spacious, buzzing with quiet professionalism. I made my way to the front desk where a nurse sat, tapping at her keyboard with a slightly impatient expression.

“Hi, good morning,” I said politely.

She raised her head slowly, looking at me with a scanning gaze that felt more like judgment than curiosity. Her eyes traveled from my head to my waist thanks to the desk hiding the rest of me before she finally responded, “Who are you?”

Ouch. Rude much? I thought.

Keeping my expression polite, I replied, “I’m Gabriella Moore, a new resident doctor. I’ve been assigned to the cardiology department. I just need directions.”

Suddenly, her posture changed. She straightened up and adjusted her tone. “Ah, I see,” she said, almost too politely now. She handed me a hospital map and gave me clear directions to the department.

I thanked her with a slight nod, all the while wondering what caused her sudden shift in attitude. Was it my title? My department? Either way, I didn't let it bother me.

With coffee in hand, I moved quickly toward the elevator. Just as the doors were about to close, I slipped my right foot between them. They reopened, and I stepped inside, bent slightly forward with my hand braced just above my knee, trying to catch my breath.

Thank God I didn’t listen to Isabella last night when she tried to convince me to wear stilettos and full makeup. If I had, I wouldn’t have made it this far. I smiled at my white sneakers, my stylish yet practical lifesavers.

The elevator was quiet except for the soft hum of movement and the few frowning faces thrown in my direction, likely annoyed that I delayed the elevator. I bowed my head slightly, muttering a quick “Sorry,” and pressed the button for the third floor.

Ding! The elevator stopped, and I stepped out along with a small group of people. I held the hospital map in one hand, scanning it quickly while speed-walking in search of the cardiology wing.

And then SLAM!

I collided with someone. My coffee cup flew from my hand, spilling all over the polished floor. I stumbled backward, heart sinking as I realized all my efforts to be on time might’ve just been wasted.

“Oh no…” I muttered.

Before I could process it fully, a hand reached out toward me. I grabbed it, allowing myself to be pulled back to my feet.

“Are you okay?” a deep voice asked.

I looked up and nearly forgot how to breathe.

Standing in front of me was a ridiculously handsome guy, smiling kindly, concern written across his face. His features were sharp but soft around the edges, and his eyes were the kind that made you forget where you were. I blinked rapidly.

“Y-Yes, thank you,” I said quickly, brushing myself off. “Sorry, I wasn’t looking.”

“No, it was my fault,” he said, chuckling. “I wasn’t paying attention either.”

As he leaned down to help retrieve the now-empty cup, I snapped back to reality. Checking the time on my watch, I realized I had just a few minutes left.

“Sorry to rush, but do you know where the cardiology department is?” I asked, cutting him off mid-sentence.

He didn’t seem to mind. “Of course. It’s just down that hall, third door on the right. Look for the blue sign.”

“Thank you!” I said, already jogging away.

“Good luck!” he called after me.

I waved without turning back, heart racing not just from the coffee spill or the time, but from that brief encounter. Whoever he was, he had just saved me twice, one from a delayed entrance, and from a mini embarrassment spiral.

As I reached the door marked Cardiology, I straightened my blouse, smoothed my hair, and took a deep breath.

This is it. The first step into the real world of medicine. A new chapter.

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