Chapter 1

Chapter 1 — An Unwanted Reunion

At a quarter to seven in the morning, Adikara Hospital was already bustling with medical staff beginning their daily routines. The sound of stretcher wheels echoed through the corridors, mingling with calls from the nurses' station as several doctors hurried past while reviewing their patients' test results. Amid the commotion, Alya made her way toward the third floor, carrying a folder of medical records she had been reviewing repeatedly.

Her hair was neatly tied back, and her white coat was worn over a dark blue set of scrubs, with a stethoscope hanging around her neck. Ever since beginning her residency, Alya had grown accustomed to starting her days before sunrise and spending most of her time at the hospital. The demanding schedule could be exhausting, but she loved her work and always tried to ensure that every patient received the best possible care.

Just as she was about to enter the nurses' station, someone called out to her from behind.

"Alya, wait!"

She turned and saw Naya approaching her in a hurry. The woman's hair was slightly disheveled, as though she had just run from the other end of the corridor.

"What is it?" Alya asked.

"Dr. Bagas wants to see us. All the residents have been asked to gather in the conference room in fifteen minutes."

Alya glanced at her watch before looking down at the folder in her hands. "I haven't finished reviewing the patient records on the third floor."

"You can continue after the meeting. Apparently, there are going to be some changes to the team assignments."

"Why so suddenly?"

"I have no idea. I was only asked to pass along the message." Naya then grabbed Alya's arm and urged her forward. "Come on. If we're late, we'll be the ones getting scolded."

Alya eventually followed her friend toward the conference room. Along the way, Naya busied herself guessing the reason behind the changes, suggesting everything from the arrival of a new resident to the possibility that several doctors would be transferred to other units. Alya responded only when necessary, as her thoughts remained fixed on the list of patients she needed to examine that morning.

By the time they arrived at the conference room, almost every seat was occupied. Dr. Bagas, one of the senior physicians responsible for the residents' training, stood at the front of the room, checking a list of names in his hand.

Alya and Naya chose seats in the middle. They had barely put down their belongings when the door opened again and a man stepped inside, breathing slightly heavily.

"Sorry, Doctor. I just finished helping with a patient in the emergency department."

Alya, who had been opening her folder, immediately froze.

The voice sounded so familiar that for a moment, she thought she must have misheard it. However, when the man raised his head to speak to Dr. Bagas again, Alya could no longer deny who had just entered the room.

Raka.

For several seconds, Alya could only stare at him from her seat. So much had changed about him since they had last met. His hair was now cut shorter, his jawline appeared more defined, and his build seemed broader than it had been when they were still wearing their high school uniforms. Yet his face remained unmistakable, as did the gaze that had once made Alya feel like the most special person in the world.

Raka noticed Alya as well. Their eyes met, and the man's expression shifted for a brief moment before settling into composure.

"What's the matter, Raka?" Dr. Bagas asked when he noticed him still standing near the door. "Have a seat. We're about to begin."

"Yes, Doctor."

Raka walked toward an empty chair across from Alya. As he passed her, he glanced in her direction, but Alya had already lowered her head and pretended to be reading the notes in her hands. She hoped the gesture would be enough to show that she had no interest in speaking to him, much less welcoming her ex-boyfriend with a smile.

Unfortunately, Naya, who was sitting beside her, noticed the sudden change in Alya's behavior.

"Alya," she whispered.

"What?"

"That's Raka, isn't it?"

Alya kept her eyes on the folder. "You have eyes, too. Why ask?"

Naya frowned before glancing at the man sitting across from them again. "I just wanted to make sure. So he's really the Raka you've told me about?"

Alya closed her folder a little harder than necessary.

"Yes."

Naya, who had initially looked eager to ask more questions, eventually decided to remain silent. She knew that Alya's relationship with Raka was not a pleasant subject to discuss. Years earlier, when they were still in high school, Alya had been in a relationship with a man she loved deeply. They had been close for years, knew each other's habits, and had even discussed plans to stay together after graduation.

But everything came to an end when Alya saw Raka with another woman at a café.

Alya could still remember how she had felt that day. She had arrived at the café unexpectedly, intending to meet Raka after finishing a school activity. Through the window, she saw him sitting across from a woman she had never met. They were talking comfortably, and the woman touched Raka's hand several times as though their closeness were perfectly ordinary.

Alya waited until they came outside before demanding an explanation. An argument followed, and although Raka repeatedly asked her to trust him, he failed to provide an explanation that could dispel the suspicions that had already taken root in her mind.

In the end, Alya chose to walk away.

From that day onward, they never truly managed to repair their relationship. Raka tried contacting her several times, but Alya refused every opportunity to talk. Time passed, they pursued their respective educations, and Alya tried to convince herself that their story was over.

Now, the man was sitting just a few feet away from her, as though the past she had worked so hard to leave behind had suddenly returned without asking permission.

"All right, everyone, let's begin," Dr. Bagas announced.

Alya immediately redirected her attention to the front of the room.

Dr. Bagas explained that the residents' team assignments would be changing starting that week. Each team would be responsible for a number of patients under the supervision of different senior physicians, allowing the residents to improve their clinical skills while learning to coordinate with a wider range of colleagues.

After a brief explanation, he began reading out the names.

"The first team will consist of Sinta, Dimas, and several residents from the internal medicine unit. As for the second team, Alya, Raka, Naya, and Rafi."

Alya immediately raised her head.

"Excuse me, Doctor."

Dr. Bagas stopped reading and looked at her. "Yes, Alya?"

"Would it be possible to change the team assignments?"

Several residents turned toward her. Alya could feel Raka's gaze from across the table, but she tried to keep her attention focused on the senior physician at the front of the room.

"Why would you like to change them?" Dr. Bagas asked.

"I think I'd be more effective working with my previous team, Doctor. I'm already familiar with their working methods."

Dr. Bagas checked the list of names once more before shaking his head. "These assignments have already been carefully considered based on the needs of each unit. I can't change them simply because you're more comfortable working with certain people."

Alya suppressed the urge to argue. She was searching for another reason when Raka suddenly spoke up.

"If possible, I'd also like to request a change of team, Doctor."

This time, Alya turned toward him with an expression of disbelief. She had not expected Raka to make the same request, although his reasons might not have been very different from hers.

Dr. Bagas sighed, apparently beginning to lose his patience.

"If the two of you have personal issues, settle them outside the hospital. I don't care what happened between you in the past, but while you're working here, the patients' interests must come first. You're both adults and should know how to separate personal matters from your professional responsibilities."

Alya pressed her lips together, while Raka finally nodded.

"Understood, Doctor," they answered almost simultaneously.

"Good. Let's continue."

The meeting lasted about twenty minutes before the residents were allowed to return to their respective units. Alya immediately gathered her belongings and stood up, hoping to leave before she had to speak to Raka. However, just as she reached the door, Naya stopped her by the arm.

"Are you leaving already?"

"Is there any reason I should stay?"

Naya glanced toward Raka, who was still speaking with Dr. Bagas. "I just wanted to ask if you're okay."

Alya exhaled before softening her voice. "I'm fine, Nay. I just didn't expect to see him again."

"After all this time, it must feel strange."

"Strange isn't the right word." Alya adjusted the folder in her hands. "I have nothing to do with him anymore."

Naya did not argue, although her expression suggested that she was not entirely convinced. They eventually left the conference room and headed toward their respective units to begin work.

---

The morning rounds were hectic. Alya examined several patients under her team's care, including an elderly woman recovering from surgery and a patient experiencing abdominal pain who required additional tests. In between examinations, she occasionally discussed laboratory results and follow-up plans with Rafi.

Raka handled patients in different rooms, allowing them to work for almost an hour without interacting directly.

That changed when a nurse approached Alya in the corridor.

"Doctor, the patient in room 318 is complaining of worsening chest pain. His blood pressure has also increased."

Alya immediately closed the folder she had been reading.

"When did the symptoms get worse?"

"About half an hour ago, Doctor. The patient says the pain radiates to his left arm."

Alya followed the nurse to the patient's room without delay. Inside, she found a man in his fifties lying in bed with a tense expression, pressing a hand against his chest. Alya immediately assessed his condition and instructed the nurse to prepare an ECG and collect blood samples for further testing.

While she was checking his vital signs, Raka entered after receiving a report from another nurse.

"What are his symptoms?" he asked.

"Worsening chest pain for about thirty minutes, radiating to his left arm. Blood pressure is 155 over 90," Alya replied, continuing her assessment. "I've already requested an ECG and blood tests."

Raka approached the patient to conduct an additional examination, then instructed the nurse to establish intravenous access and prepare the necessary medication according to the appropriate medical orders. They worked quickly, ensuring that the patient's condition was continuously monitored and that the test results would be available as soon as possible.

"Sir, we're checking what might be causing your chest pain. Please try to remain calm. If the pain gets worse or you experience any other symptoms, let us know immediately," Alya said in a calm voice.

The patient nodded weakly.

Once the initial assessment was complete, Alya and Raka discussed the ECG findings and the next steps. They agreed to request an immediate evaluation from the attending physician and ensure that the patient received treatment appropriate to his clinical condition.

Throughout the assessment, they worked together without significant difficulty because their attention was entirely focused on the person who needed their help. When they disagreed about the order of certain tests, they resolved the issue through a brief discussion, as doctors routinely did when determining the best course of action for a patient.

When the patient's condition had stabilized and the attending physician arrived to evaluate him, Alya left the room carrying her examination notes. She had taken only a few steps when she heard Raka call her name.

"Alya, wait a moment."

She stopped but did not turn around immediately.

"What is it?"

Raka caught up with her, stopping a few steps away. "You handled that patient well earlier."

Alya turned, looking slightly surprised by the compliment. "I was just doing my job."

"I know. I was only saying that you handled it well."

"If that's all, I need to continue my rounds."

Alya resumed walking before Raka could respond. She did not want a simple conversation to turn into a discussion about the past, especially when they still had plenty of work to finish.

---

By midday, Alya finally had time to eat. She sat in the cafeteria with Naya, who had been telling her about a patient who kept asking for more food despite repeated explanations about his prescribed diet.

Alya chuckled at the story as she opened the lunch box she had brought from home.

"So, what did you give him?" she asked.

"Fruit. But he said fruit doesn't count as food."

"Then tell him to explain that to his dietitian himself."

"I did! And somehow, I was the one who got scolded for supposedly lacking empathy."

Alya shook her head with a smile. "Be patient, Nay. That's what working in a hospital is like."

They were still talking when a senior physician approached their table carrying a tray of food. Alya recognized him as Dr. Adrian, a doctor who had supervised her during several clinical sessions and was known for being quite approachable with the residents.

"May I sit here?" he asked.

"Of course, Doctor," Naya replied, moving her bag away from the empty chair.

Adrian sat across from them and began unwrapping his cutlery. After briefly asking about their morning activities, he turned to Alya.

"How was your first round with the new team?"

"So far, everything has gone smoothly, Doctor."

"Good. I heard you treated a patient with chest pain in room 318 earlier."

Alya nodded. "Yes, Doctor. The patient has already been evaluated by the attending physician."

"I also had a look at your examination notes. They're quite thorough." Adrian smiled. "Keep that habit up. Clear documentation helps the next team understand the patient's condition more effectively."

"I will, Doctor. Thank you."

Adrian continued eating, but a few moments later, he noticed Alya growing unusually quiet when Naya mentioned Raka's name.

"Did you know Raka before you started working here?" he asked.

Alya looked up. "We went to the same school."

"Oh, I see. No wonder the two of you seem to know each other quite well."

Naya glanced at Alya before answering on her friend's behalf.

"They actually used to date, Doctor."

"Naya!" Alya shot her a sharp look.

Naya raised both hands with a small laugh. "What? It's true."

Adrian looked slightly surprised, but he did not ask any further questions.

"Then you've known each other for a long time," he said, turning his attention back to Alya.

"An incredibly long time, Doctor," Alya answered briefly. "But that's all in the past."

Adrian nodded, seemingly understanding that Alya did not want to discuss the matter any further. He then changed the subject to the clinical training schedule for the following week, and Alya felt relieved that she did not have to explain something she had never wanted to tell anyone in the first place.

At another table, Raka had just finished getting a drink when his gaze fell on them. He saw Adrian sitting across from Alya, speaking to her in a friendly manner, while Naya occasionally made Alya laugh.

Raka had no idea what they were talking about, but he noticed that Alya seemed much more relaxed around Adrian than she did around him.

He quickly looked away and carried his drink toward an empty table.

The discomfort rising inside him seemed so unreasonable that even Raka was irritated by it. He no longer had any relationship with Alya, and after everything that had happened between them, he should have been the last person to feel bothered by seeing her getting along with another man.

Raka took out his phone and began reading messages in the team group chat, trying to redirect his attention toward the work that was still piling up.

---

Later that afternoon, after completing his patient assessments and reporting their progress to the attending physician, Alya returned to the doctors' lounge to collect several documents she needed to prepare before going home. The room was relatively quiet, as most of the residents were still working in their respective units.

She was reviewing laboratory results when she noticed Raka standing near the door.

"You're still here?" Alya asked without looking up from the documents.

"I came to get the patient records for room 318."

"They're on the desk over there."

Raka collected the records but did not leave immediately. He stood there for a moment, watching Alya organize the documents before finally gathering the courage to speak.

"Are you still angry with me?"

Alya's hands stopped moving. She closed the folder in front of her and looked at Raka with an expression that was difficult to read.

"What do you think?"

"I just wanted to know."

"After all these years, you still need to ask?"

Raka drew a quiet breath. "I know you're still angry, but I was hoping we could talk things through."

Alya let out a small laugh, although there was not the slightest hint of amusement in her voice.

"Talk about what, Raka? What happened when we were in high school? Or how you let me walk away without giving me a reasonable explanation?"

"I tried to explain it back then."

"But you never really answered my questions."

Raka fell silent for a moment while Alya placed several sheets of paper back into her folder.

"I don't want to discuss this at the hospital," she continued. "We work in the same place now, so I'll continue doing my job as a member of the team. I expect you to do the same without bringing personal matters into our work."

"I never intended to interfere with your work."

"Good, then."

Alya picked up her folder and walked toward the door. As she passed Raka, she paused briefly to look at him one last time.

"I've worked hard to forget what happened back then. So please don't make me relive it every time we see each other."

With that, Alya left the room.

Raka remained where he was, gripping the patient records he had just collected. He stared at the closed door, lowered his head, and eventually turned back toward his desk to finish the medical notes he had yet to complete.

At the end of the corridor, Alya ran into Naya, who was waiting for her with two cups of coffee.

"Here's yours," Naya said, handing one over. "I bought it earlier, but I got called to the nurses' station before I could give it to you."

Alya accepted the cup and took a sip before grimacing.

"It's cold."

"Well, that's what happens when you leave coffee sitting around for almost an hour."

Alya let out a small snort but continued carrying the cup as they walked toward the changing room.

Naya glanced at her several times before finally asking, "Did you talk to Raka earlier?"

"Yes."

"And?"

Alya fell silent for a moment, considering whether she should tell her friend about their conversation. In the end, she simply shook her head and replied, "There's nothing worth talking about."

Naya understood that Alya was not ready to discuss it. She did not press the issue, choosing instead to talk about dinner plans with some of their friends after their weekend shifts were over.

Alya listened, occasionally responding to her friend's comments. When they reached the changing room, she handed Naya her empty coffee cup so that Naya could throw it away along with her own trash.

"I'm heading home first," Alya said.

Naya nodded. "Take care. Don't forget to eat dinner."

"Yes, Mother Naya."

"Don't make fun of me. I'm serious."

Alya laughed softly before waving goodbye and walking toward the elevator. When the doors opened, she stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor. As the elevator began descending, Alya leaned against the wall and closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying a few seconds of quiet after an exhausting day.

When the doors opened, she straightened the bag on her shoulder and stepped out into the hospital lobby.

Her first day working alongside Raka was finally over, but the unresolved past between them had made one thing clear: sharing a workplace would be far more complicated than either of them had anticipated.