Chapter 45 - The First Time

The next time Zeng went to the Emergency Ward, he had tried his best to clear his mind of his previous failures. Not everything would be in his favour, he came to know that. However, he would always try his best to save every patient that seeked his help.

It was his job as a doctor and his passion as a person. He would do everything in his power to help his patients. So when he was performing another surgery, he had a clear conscience. Dr Jiang and an ophthalmologist assisted him in the later stages when the primary surgeries had put the patient out of danger. This case, being a vehicular accident case, was equally tough as his previous one but this patient was brought much sooner and suffered a much lesser amount of irreversible damage.

"I did it!" Zeng was still in his surgical scrub when he texted Yul. He had taken his previous failure as a lesson to be better and succeeded in his following surgery. To say he was overjoyed would be an understatement.

"Yes!" Yul cheered with extra excitement as he stopped mid work in his police precinct and thereby earned a sharp glare from his senior. "Sorry Sir," he bowed his head in apology, face back to being stoic. Then he looked around to check that no one was keeping an eye on him. Upon assurance, he typed back,

"Congrats, Zeng ge!

I am so happy for you."

Zeng replied back with a smiling emoji. "Even Dr Jiang praised me.

He said I handled everything well."

"That's cool.

You did great.

I am proud of you."

Yul texted again, a single word this time, "So…"

Zeng replied with a confused emoji. A monkey scratching his head. Perhaps, he had forgotten the promise.

Yul hesitated to type. His fingers randomly moved in circles over the keypad but not touching the screen. He looked up again and saw his co-workers busy in their duties. He screwed his eyes shut and opened them to text back,

"So tonight, are we gonna . . ."

It took a few moments for Zeng to register what the police officer was talking about. Upon realising what he meant, he blushed hard. He had to turn around to hide his tomato red face from his colleagues.

He replied with a monkey hiding its face.

"I will be waiting."

Yul couldn't help the smile that crept up his lips and he had to try real hard to suppress the emerging scream from his throat. He couldn't wait to hurry back home. Even just thinking about it I want to grab his helmet and keys and ride back home, to Zeng. However, workplace ethics reprimanded him. So he set his phone away and returned back to working like a diligent police officer.

Since his beloved was working so hard to be a good doctor, he too couldn't fall short. He must give his best too.

…..

Zeng went to Yul's place after his shift. Like most times, Yul was working overtime.

He made himself home, putting away his things and grabbing something to eat. He picked up a bag of special necessity that he had grabbed along on his way from the hospital. After that, as he made way to the bed, he covered his face before falling flat on the mattress.

Today was hectic as always. There were a lot of cases and while most didn't need surgeries, the workload was still there. Zeng was content to have been able to perform his duties well. His surgeries were successful and his patients were well. That made his heart swell with satisfaction. It felt like his life had a meaning.

However, at this given moment, he had something else to ponder over.

His first night with Yul, a physically intimate one. At least, that's how he worded it.

While he wasn't shy on discussing the topic, he definitely was when thinking about his own experiences.

'It was happening!' His mind seemed to scream.

It would happen, just within a few hours. Zeng was so conflicted with it. He wanted it. Of course, he did. But at the same time, there was this fear within him trying to dampen his desire.

What if Yul didn't like him? What if he grossed out? As far as Zeng knew, his body certainly wasn't desirable. Freakishly tall, thin, lanky, bony and over all rough. Seriously, who would even want him?

Yul could have any other person, much more better than him. He deserved better. The minute that thought crossed Zeng's mind he slapped his forehead to make it go away. Yul would certainly not appreciate Zeng comparing him for the people or degrading himself. But what could he do? He had always been like this.

As he was having an episode of self-loathing, he inhaled the light scent on the sheets; a mixture of musk and dark, bitter chocolate. His eyes became hazy as he pressed the sheets to himself. This scent had driven him crazy; an essence of masculinity and valour. Not that he could tell Yul. The boy was cocky enough without his encouragement. Zeng smiled thinking of Yul with the proud smirk.

It had been a long time since he had last done it. He needed to prepare himself or the other way around. He was fine with either of them. However, over the period of several months, Zeng knew the dynamics he had with Yul and so decided to go with the former choice.

It was late in evening when Yul came back. He entered the empty hallway and his eyes mediately searched for Zeng who he knew was in their bedroom because of the faint light that came from the door that was purposefully kept ajar. He caught a glimpse of Zeng inside.

On the way to his destination, Yul removed his outer navy blue blazer, putting it on the couch. He walked upto the room to open the door.

The room was lit but not with the artificial lights. Several candles were placed all over and from the sweet fragrance in the air, he could tell that they were scented candles. Xiao Zeng was desperately trying to light up a candle, his eyes focused on the object of wax and eyebrows creasing in annoyance because the candle wasn't ready to catch fire. He seemed so busy with the task that he didn't even notice Yul had arrived.

And here Yul thought, he was the only one eager about their first night together.