Confusion chaos and crushes

Arjun Patel could still feel the echo of Elias Matthews’ arms around him. It wasn’t a memory he could shake easily, no matter how much he told himself it didn’t matter.

It had been over three months since he started working at St. Jude’s, and by now, he was accustomed to the rhythm of the hospital and the quirks of his colleagues. But Elias wasn’t just a colleague—he was an enigma. That hug wasn’t just a hug; it was a moment that left Arjun questioning everything.

Why did he keep replaying it in his head? Why did the thought of Elias’s rare, vulnerable side make his heart race? And why did Elias, of all people, manage to occupy space in his mind when he should’ve been thinking about more practical matters, like medication schedules and discharge forms?

“Focus, Arjun,” he muttered to himself as he adjusted his scrubs. “He’s your boss, not your... whatever you’re thinking.”

---

The hospital was abuzz with the arrival of a new batch of interns. St. Jude’s had a reputation for being a place of opportunity, and every few months, it welcomed a fresh set of faces eager to prove themselves.

Arjun watched from a distance as the group gathered in the main hall. Most of them looked nervous, clutching their folders and glancing around with wide eyes. But one of them stood out, radiating energy like the sun itself.

Rei Nakumura was all bright eyes and endless enthusiasm. His black hair was slightly disheveled from rushing into the hospital, but he didn’t seem to care. His excitement was infectious, and even the senior nurse briefing the group couldn’t help but smile at him.

“This is incredible!” Rei exclaimed, looking around with awe. “We actually get to work here? It’s like... I don’t know, a dream come true!”

“It’s also a hospital,” the senior nurse reminded him dryly.

Rei nodded vigorously, undeterred. “Right. Of course. But still—wow!”

Arjun chuckled quietly from the corner. “This one’s going to be trouble,” he murmured to himself.

His amusement grew when Dr. Adam Carter, the lead attending physician for the intern program, walked in with his usual no-nonsense demeanor.

“Welcome to St. Jude’s,” Adam said, clipboard in hand. “For the next few months, you’ll be learning under the guidance of our attending physicians. Mistakes won’t just reflect poorly on you—they can cost lives. So pay attention, work hard, and, most importantly, don’t get in my way.”

While the rest of the interns exchanged nervous glances, Rei’s eyes lit up like fireworks.

“Wow,” Rei whispered to the intern next to him. “He’s like a superhero.”

Adam glanced in Rei’s direction, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Something to add, Nakumura ?”

Rei snapped to attention, grinning nervously. “No, sir. Just... excited to be here!”

Adam gave him a skeptical look before continuing with his instructions.

---

Later that day, Arjun found Rei in the break room, struggling to figure out the coffee machine.

“This thing’s impossible!” Rei exclaimed, pressing buttons at random.

Arjun stepped in with a grin. “It’s just stubborn. Here, let me help.”

He tapped a few buttons, and the machine sprang to life. Rei watched in amazement.

“Thanks! You must be Arjun Patel, right? Sophia told us about you. She said you’re, like, the unofficial morale officer of the hospital.”

Arjun raised an eyebrow. “Is that what they’re calling me now?”

Rei laughed, his voice warm and genuine. “It’s a compliment. You seem like the kind of person everyone likes.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear,” Arjun replied, handing Rei a cup of coffee. “And you’re Rei Nakumara, the intern with enough energy to power the entire hospital.”

Rei grinned. “Guilty as charged. So, what’s the secret to surviving here? Any tips for a newbie?”

“Don’t piss off Dr. Carter,” Arjun said immediately.

Rei’s grin widened. “He’s amazing, isn’t he? So serious, so confident... so dreamy.”

Arjun nearly choked on his coffee. “Dreamy? Adam Carter? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I’m serious!” Rei said, his eyes sparkling. “He’s like the epitome of competence. Plus, he has that whole brooding, mysterious vibe. It’s irresistible.”

Arjun shook his head, laughing. “You’re hopeless.”

---

Rei’s crush on Adam quickly became the worst-kept secret in the hospital. His golden-retriever energy was impossible to ignore, especially when it was directed at Adam.

During rounds, Rei would hang on Adam’s every word, his enthusiasm bordering on worship.

“Dr. Carter, you make this look so easy,” Rei said one day, after watching Adam perform a complicated procedure.

Adam raised an eyebrow. “It’s not supposed to look easy. It’s supposed to look precise. Focus on learning, Takahashi, not admiring.”

“Of course, Dr. Carter,” Rei said with a grin that could have powered the entire hospital.

Adam sighed, muttering something about “overly cheerful interns,” but there was a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth that could have been the ghost of a smile.

---

Rei and Arjun quickly became friends, their personalities clicking in a way that made even the most stressful days feel a little lighter.

“You’ve got to help me,” Rei said one afternoon, flopping dramatically into a chair in the staff lounge.

“With what?” Arjun asked, amused.

“Dr. Carter,” Rei said, his voice full of exaggerated despair. “How do I get him to notice me? Do you think he likes flowers?”

Arjun burst out laughing. “You’re seriously thinking of giving Adam Carter flowers?”

“Why not?” Rei said with a mischievous grin. “I’ll just say it’s a token of appreciation. Totally professional.”

“Totally insane,” Arjun corrected. “But hey, if anyone can pull it off, it’s you.”

---

Meanwhile, Elias Matthews was quietly keeping tabs on Arjun.

It wasn’t personal, he told himself—it was just his responsibility as the CEO. But the more he heard about Arjun’s warmth, dedication, and occasional clumsiness, the harder it was to convince himself it wasn’t personal.

Every report made Elias’s chest tighten with something he refused to name. Protectiveness? Curiosity? Something else entirely?

He tried to focus on his work, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Arjun—the way his laughter seemed to fill the room, the way he cared for his patients, the way he had hugged him back that day in his office.

Elias shook his head, frustrated. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered. “He’s just a nurse.”

But deep down, he knew it wasn’t that simple.

---

At the end of a long day, Arjun and Rei found themselves sitting in the cafeteria, sharing a plate of fries.

“You know,” Rei said, munching on a fry, “I think this is going to be a good internship. The people here are great, the work is challenging, and I’ve got you to keep me sane.”

Arjun smiled. “Just don’t let Adam drive you too crazy, and you’ll be fine.”

Rei grinned. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ve got a plan. Persistence is key, right?”

Arjun shook his head, laughing. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it,” Rei said with a wink.

As they laughed together, Arjun couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. Between Elias’s lingering presence in his thoughts and the chaos of hospital life, having a friend like Rei was exactly what he needed.

New characters new love story

Rei and Adam

Arjun and elias

Do you think I should add a Straight couple too