Chapter 12 - THE MAGICAL DRINK

: Korean International Medical College::

That week there was a festival at the college where Jieun studied. Every year in college there will be a festival consists of many performances, exhibitions and stalls that have all kinds of goods sold there. From ordinary items, medical books, to a very unique items that she had never seen in her life she could see there. All of that makes curious people like Jieun feel very excited.

"Fuh..." Sarah sighed as she patiently walked next to Jieun.

"What's wrong?" Jieun is asking while her eyes busily looking here and there interested by the festival.

"Well… Our college festival definitely doesn't feel like a festival its more like Halloween. If only you know what I mean. " Sarah feels a little bit frustrated. "Which is obvious you don't."

"Why? It's different from last year and very impressive to me." Jieun said with a genuine smile.

"Look at that, candy that looks like a skull looks delicious. There, they have many medical masks and gloves with different styles. Also, you see there, I would like to try their blood noodles produced by the stall. The soup was really red as blood. " Jieun definitely sound excited.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You sound like a vampire just now. I know I can't talk to you about this when you, yourself are not even normal." Sarah relented and just followed Jieun around.

"Hey, just enjoy ourselves now. Who knows if we got to experience this kind of things next time? Surely we going to miss all this when we are graduated."

"Sometime the way you talking just like someone that already experience everything in life. Like an old person I would say. Ah... Whatever. As long as you're happy my friend."

"What do you think about our lecture with our role model?" Suddenly Sarah asking about other topic.

"Professor Melanie?" Jieun thinking before answering.

"She's very pretty. With her short shoulder-length golden hair and green eyes. I could consider her as a model if I didn't know she was a doctor. I wonder why she's still single."

Sarah slapped Jieun's arm gently. "You know that's not what I mean. It's about the way she teaches and all. As for your information this is the first time in my life that I don't feel like falling asleep during a lecture. I'm so fascinated by the way she teaches. Why on earth are all our professors are not like her? "Sarah said seriously with eyes full of admiration.

Jieun laugh a little and say, "I feel the same way. She was a very assertive person and her way of teaching was easy to understand. The scope of her teaching also looks huge and isn't just focused on textbooks alone if you know what I mean. Somehow I could feel that she liked what's she's doing and knew what she was doing. I could also feel that she was proud to be a lecturer in this college and as a doctor. Maybe that's why we can feel her spirit through her teachings. "

Sarah nodded in agreement. "For once, I know I'm not wrong to make her my role model. I just hope her teaching subject is there every day so I can be excited to go to college. Unfortunately, not everything we want in life we will get. Wow! What's that?" Suddenly Sarah makes a high noise.

Jieun also look in the direction of the place indicated by her good friend. Definitely something a little surprising when suddenly there was something that caught the attention of her friend at that time who has been feeling bored the entire time while being in the festival.

"Well, I actually feel thirsty and suddenly water stall flash into my eyes. Now, let's go to the stall." Sarah asks Jieun to go there with her.

There, they saw a variety of colourful drinks sold in various forms of laboratory glass test tubes. 'The Magical Drink Stall' well, hearing its name not exactly as they expected at the medical college festival. It suppose to be 'The Medicine Drink' if they wanted to keep the festival theme.

"Do you want any Jieun? I was so thirsty all of a sudden. I pay for you if you want. " Sarah offered.

Jieun is thinking first but her thought is suddenly disturbed when she hears the question of one of their seniors who is there.

"Do you guys happen to have a class with Professor Melanie today?

"We don't have a class with her today senior Alvin. Why?" Jieun asked full with interest.

Hearing the name of her favorite Professor certainly made Jieun wonder. In addition, the senior is known as one of the successful members of the special scientific research department run by Professor Melanie.

"I only had something to give to Professor Melanie today, but I didn't have time because I had to watch this stall, so I asked the students who came here if they had a class with her to help me deliver the thing."

"What thing?" Jieun still curious.

Knowing Jieun temperament, Sarah looked at her friend with a sharp look.

"Just a book that I borrowed from Professor Melanie before. I have already finished studying it so I wanted to give it back long ago, but I always forgot to bring it to college. So I bring it today to give back so that other student can borrow it if they want. And it surely not for both of you as the book is for senior level."

Alvin says so that Jieun doesn't bother to try borrow the book next. He also knows that Jieun is very interested in joining the special science department as he been interviewed by her before on how to get in.

"It's also happening that Professor Melanie wanted it today to check on something."

"Well, if you give it to us, we can pass it to Professor Melanie. We also don't have any classes after this so we sure have a lot of time." Sarah wanted to help.

Jieun suddenly smiles so wide. She just realizes that this is probably one of the opportunity to get close to her role model and probably make Professor Melanie to finally notice her.

"Yeah! We can do that." Jieun said a bit excited.

Sarah just smiles, knowing what's inside her friend's mind at the time.

"Are you sure you guys can do it? I don't want to bother you."

"It's fine senior. We also doesn't have anything to do today anyway." Sarah reassures.

"But her office is inside that special lab. Is it okay if we come in there?" Jieun hoping it will be fine. She wanted to see for herself the lab even just a second. "Or we need to meet her at other place?"

"I already message Professor Melanie but she said it's okay because the lab is vacant for today because of the festival. So, its fine if the normal student walk there."

"If that's the case you can give it to us. We will go now." Said Jieun impatiently. "Um… But first. Let me buy the pink and blue drink first. I'm curious about how it tastes like." Jieun finally choosing while Sarah wanted the purple one.

"Alright, which glass shape would you guys like?"

"Give me the one that look like a cylinder test tube with screw cap." Said Jieun.

"I wanted the measuring cylinder. In hopes that I will never screw up measuring anything in the lab after this." Sarah nags herself.

"Okay, here ladies. I just give it to you as a thank you gift helping me sending back the book."

Alvin just gift the drinks for free. Later, he grabs the paper bag that has a book that he wanted to return to Jieun and Sarah.

"Thank you for your help" Said Alvin sincerely before Jieun and Sarah went to send the book.

___________________

:: Professor Melanie office::

At the times, Melanie is taking the blue liquid from her locked office closet and placing it on her desk. Sometimes she examines the liquid for inspiration when thinking of new formulas. She held the tube test carefully while thinking of something.

"What more can I do with this?" Melanie expressed her concern alone.

Byung-Hun had just called her. For the past week, Byung-Hun and his wife have been thinking about the blue liquid to help Eun-Woo, so today he called Melanie to inform her of their decision.

Flashback:

"Mel. I just call you to talk about what we discussed the other day. " Said Byung-Hun on the phone.

"Yes. Did you guys already have an answer for that? It's just one week. You can think longer. " Melanie replied.

"No, we already have our answer."

Melanie heard Byung-Hun voice intently and nervously as she wanted to know about their decision.

"We think we wanted the research to go on first. Well you see… "

Melanie let out her long sigh that even she didn't know she was holding.

"Actually, I do hope you guys make that decision." Melanie said honestly. "Because somehow I got the feeling that I need to continue the research. Maybe if we wait a bit more we can find the answer. Just… Let's not ever losing hope. "

"I know… We all know. I and Ji-Na talking deeply after our last conversation. It's already 10 years, but Eun-Woo is still healthy and well like that. Of course we are also afraid if the same history arise again just like what happen to Aaron. So we decide that we can wait. No matter how long it takes. As long as Eun-Woo is coming back to us safe and sound. "

"I understand… I really do. We all wanted the best for him. And I will never give up. You know it right? " Melanie sound determined.

"We do Melanie."

"Professor Melanie?"

Suddenly Melanie's memory of her conversation with Byung-Hun earlier this morning continued to fade upon hearing knocking and someone calling her name behind her office door.

Then she remembered his student Alvin's message that there will be a student who would come to send her book that she had lent to him. Slowly she placed the test tube on her desk before inviting her students inside.

"Just come inside." Melanie spoke kindly. There was no need for her to be firm, then since she was not teaching.

"Ah. Jieun and Sarah from my class right. "

The two student sequel in the inside when hearing their high respected professor said their name.

"Wow, professor you remember our name?" Sarah tries to break the ice between them while Jieun just pause there.

"Of course I remember. I always remember all my students no matter how many of them. Probably its gifted. "

During the chat Jieun eyes fixed on the test tube that is on Professor Melanie's desk.

'That same drink that I just get from senior Alvin right? Oh my God, Professor Melanie's taste is just like mine.' She's thinking to herself when seeing the blue liquid inside the test cylinder tube with screw cap. Jieun then look into the bag belonging to her to see the similarity of their 'drinks'.

"We come here to give this book back to you. Senior Alvin asks us for help because he is busy working for his class stall at the festival. " Jieun finally said something shyly.

"Yes. I did ask him to give it to me actually. " Melanie gets up from her seat to retrieve the book from her student.

"Well. I also got a lot of books that can be used for second year. Would you like to take a look? If you interested. " Melanie kindly offer.

"Of course, Professor. We will love to. " Sarah said happily. "Right Jieun?"

Jieun eyes also look glowing as, if not believing Professor Melanie will offer that to them. Melanie then opened a small room behind her office desk, which was a room where she placed various types of her medical books. There are also her own writings.

"This is my mini library." Said Melanie to her student.

Jieun and Sarah also approached her from behind. Jieun at the time suddenly felt enchanted to approach Melanie's blue drink. She took out her own blue drink and placed it next to Melanie's for comparison.

"Wow, it's the same blue." Jieun doesn't know why she will be mesmerized by something like this at the time.

"Jieun, what are you doing? Professor Melanie asks us to come in here to choose the book. " Sarah said whispering.

"I'm coming." Jieun finally free from whatever she's thinking by Sarah calling.

Then, she grabs back her blue drink and joins her best friend Sarah and her professor inside the mini library. Little that she knows, the drink that she grabs right then is not the one that's belong to her…