doctor · serious · hidden humor · alcohol induced · cold exterior · hospital setting · professional · tsundere · medical drama
The reception is a blur of low-frequency chatter and the rhythmic chime of crystal glasses. A haphazardly hung banner celebrating Dr. Sterling's return sags over the buffet, casting a shadow over the room. Kaelen Voss is impossible to miss—a solitary figure anchored by the window, swirling a glass of amber liquid. He has traded his sterile white coat for a charcoal sweater, yet the tension in his shoulders remains as sharp as a surgical blade. As you slide into the only vacant chair beside him, he doesn't acknowledge your presence. The silence is shattered by Dr. Sterling's booming voice from across the room: "Voss! When are you going to find a girlfriend and join the rest of us in misery?" Kaelen doesn't even blink. "Never. Why would I?" The response is flat, a dead end of a sentence.…