SCRUBS AND SECRETS

1.Ketchup, Elevator and Introduction

I was waiting for my favorite pie in the hospital café-flaky, warm, and filled with the perfect mix of apple and cinnamon.

Honestly, if there's anything I could wish for in life, in every city I go, every job I take.

.. it's food.

And this pie? Oh God, this pie could bring someone back from a coma.

I could eat it every day. Probably will.

It was my first day as an intern at Harmony Care Hospitals, and somehow, miracle of miracles-I had arrived early.

I sat by the window, swinging my legs under the chair like an overexcited five-year-old, waiting for my "homies" (aka my two best friends and fellow interns: Lexi and trent) to show up. I took another happy bite.

And then-disaster.

"Ugh, no!" I yelped as a blob of ketchup from the side of my plate launched itself like a guided missile right onto my scrub top. Right in the center. Of course.

My phone buzzed.

Lexi: WHERE the hell ARE you?

Me: In the café, obviously? Waiting for y'all? Where are YOU?

Lexi: Session starts in FIVE minutes. FIFTH FLOOR.

I froze, mid-wipe.

"Ohh my sugar pie."

I snatched up my bag, shoved the rest of the pie in my mouth, and bolted like someone had yelled code blue for my life.

Running through the sleek hospital corridors, dodging nurses, slipping past stretchers, and half-apologizing to a confused janitor, I reached the elevator just as the doors were about to close.

"Please-wait!" I screamed, flailing like a lunatic.

A hand reached out and pressed the button. The door slid open again.

Inside stood a tall man. Impossibly tall. With caramel-blonde hair neatly brushed back, sharp cheekbones, and piercing hazel eyes that scanned me like I was a scheduling error. His navy blue suit clung to him like it was tailored by the gods of fashion.

I stepped in, panting, probably looking like I ran a marathon won a ketchup badge of honor on my chest. But I smiled anyway.

"Thank you."

Silence.

He didn't respond. Not even a nod. Just stared ahead as if I was an unimportant air particle. Huh.

I glanced down. The ketchup. I was still dabbing it with the last crumpled tissue I had.

"Ugh, this is embarrassing," I mumbled. "Um... if you don't mind-do you happen to have a napkin?"

No answer. The silence was louder than a heart monitor flatline. The man stood, stoic as a marble statue. The elevator pinged.

Fifth floor.

Without a word, he walked out. Didn't look back. Didn't blink. Just... vanished into the hallway like some beautifully rude ghost.

I blinked. "Oh. Rude. But never mind," I muttered.

Then realization dawned. "Fifth floor. Crap-crap, crap!"

I darted out just as the elevator doors began to close again.

---

The corridor on the fifth floor was buzzing. Interns huddled in groups. A nurse directed us toward the orientation room. I spotted Lexi and Trent at the end of the hallway, waving at me like maniacs.

"You missed the roll call," Lexi whispered as I reached them, out of breath.

"They called you next. You're assigned to..." She trailed off, eyes widening.

"To who?" I asked, straightening my stained shirt as if that would somehow help.

Lexi exchanged a dramatic glance with Trent.

"Dr. Neil Morris."

I blinked. "Wait. Who's that?"

"You mean Dr. Machine?" Trent said with wide eyes. "He's the top cardio-thoracic surgeon in the country. Operates with the precision of a robot. Zero emotions. Zero tolerance. Zero mercy."

Lexi added, "And gorgeous. Like, annoyingly. But cold. Like... surgical steel."

I laughed nervously. "Well, can't be worse than Mr. Elevator Rude Guy."

They both stared at me.

Lexi whispered slowly, "Tall, hazel eyes, navy blue suit?"

My mouth fell open.

No. Freaking. Way.

I'm assigned to the man who watched me with ketchup on my scrub like a toddler with a hotdog.

"Oh, relax," Trent said, grinning. "He's not around today. He's in some high-profile board meeting upstairs. You start under him officially tomorrow."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank god."

Lexi smirked. "Don't thank Him yet. Because guess what?"

"What now?"

"Since you were late," she whispered with a wicked grin, "they assigned you to Dr. Kapoor for the day. Punishment round. And he's doing post-op rounds in the geriatric ward."

I blinked. "That doesn't sound too bad."

Trent laughed. "Wait till you get peed on."

Lexi patted my shoulder like I'd just been deployed to war. "Good luck, soldier."

As I turned to leave, dragging my stained shirt and my broken dignity behind me, I muttered to myself:

"Scrubs, secrets, and now diapers. Great start, Eva. Just great."

The smell hit me first. A confusing mix of antiseptic, talcum powder, and... mashed peas?

"Eva Walter?" a nurse called. "You're with Dr. Kapoor today."

I smiled politely and adjusted my coat.

Dr. Kapoor was a small, balding man with round glasses and the energy of a frustrated school principal.

"Late on your first day, hmm?" he said, flipping through a clipboard. "Let's see if we can burn that habit out of you."

Yes, sir. Roast me gently, sir.

We moved from bed to bed, checking charts, adjusting pillows, listening to complaints that ranged from "my bedmate snores too loud" to "the pudding isn't as good as last week."

By bed six, I had learned how to dodge flying coughs, sweet-talk a grumpy grandpa, and accept that I would forever smell faintly like a hospital ward.

Then came Mr. Willson. Eighty-two. Toothless. And deeply in love with my left hand.

"Will you marry me?" he asked with a wink as I tried to check his blood pressure.

"Only if you promise to share your pudding, sir."

He grinned. I think my heart melted a little.

---

1:00 PM - Lunch Break

I flopped into the intern lounge like a half-dead potato. My bun had come undone. My shirt had new stains I didn't want to identify. And there was probably talc in my lungs.

Lexi handed me a juice box like I was a toddler who survived daycare.

"You smell... seasoned," she said, grimacing.

"I have been through war."

"Don't worry," Trent said, already smudging food into his mouth. "Post-lunch is better. We're being formally introduced to the hospital staff-doctors, nurses, residents. You just have to stand, smile, and pretend you haven't been proposed to by a man older than your grandpa."

---

2:00 PM - Orientation Hall

The conference room was packed. Rows of chairs, a small podium, and an intimidating slideshow that read:

WELCOME TO HARMONY CARE HOSPITALS

"Healing with Heart, Serving with Skill"

"Good afternoon," she began. "I'm Dr. Rachel Adams, Head of Neurosurgery. Brains are delicate, complicated, and occasionally more dramatic than reality TV-so if you're working with me, be sharp and be ready."

Next up was a confident, fit man with an easy grin and sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms.

"I'm Dr. Lucas Reed, Orthopedic Surgeon. I deal with bones, breaks, and the occasional flying elbow. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty-this department is hands-on."

Lexi whispered, "Is it just me or does he look like he played college football before picking up a scalpel?"

Then came a tall redhead in cheerful coral scrubs. Her voice was as kind as her smile.

"Hi everyone. I'm Dr. Amelia Dawson, Pediatrics. I work on the third floor with the little legends-kids with big dreams and bigger questions. If you're assigned to my department, bring stickers... and snacks. For both of us."

The doors creaked open at the back.

In walked a man whose presence pulled the attention of the entire room like gravity.

One by one, doctors and nurses came up to introduce themselves. The Chief of Surgery, the Head Nurse, a super bubbly pediatrics doctor who made us clap to a rhythm (why?), and-

Lexi nudged me. "Look."

The doors at the back of the room opened. A tall figure in a crisp white coat entered.

Even from the distance, I recognized him.

Dr. Neil Morris.

He walked in, calm and sharp like a knife through silence, murmurs trailing behind him like perfume. Our eyes didn't meet-but my lungs forgot how to function.

"This is Dr. Morris," the coordinator announced. "He'll be supervising our top interns. Please give him a warm welcome."

He didn't smile. Just nodded curtly and stood in a corner.

Just as the coordinator was about to wrap up, a melodic voice called from the hallway, "Hold the mic-I'm not late, am I?"

A woman in her late 30s stepped up to the front, swishing in floral scrubs and a white coat with a "Dr. J. Bennett" embroidery in lilac thread.

"Hi, everyone," she said, flashing a confident, warm smile.

"I'm Dr. Juliette Bennett, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

I'm here for all things women's health, childbirth, and occasional therapy when patients panic-Google their symptoms. You'll find me surrounded by moms, ultrasounds, and a never-ending supply of peppermint tea. "

She looked around at the interns. "If you're assigned to OB-GYN, wear comfortable shoes, pack snacks, and be prepared to witness literal miracles... and hormonal meltdowns-sometimes mine."

Laughter rippled across the room. Even Neil Morris's expression almost twitched.

Lexi whispered, "I want to be her when I grow up."

Trent a side eye "Grow up? You are 23."

Lexi ignoring him. "Tomorrow's gonna be fun."

I gulped.

Tomorrow, I work under the guy who ignored me in an elevator...

...And tomorrow, he'll know my name.

Eva muttered.

A few more introductions followed-department heads from radiology, pathology, and emergency medicine gave short, clinical welcomes. Most sounded like they hadn't slept in 36 hours, which only made the rest of us internally panic more.

Finally, the coordinator returned to the podium, clapped twice, and smiled.

"That concludes orientation for today. Interns, your departmental schedules will be emailed tonight. Be sharp, be respectful, and remember-your patients are your priority. Welcome to Harmony Care. You may now go."

Everyone stood, stretching out the nerves and stiff legs. Some interns began chatting, exchanging numbers, while others quietly filed out.

Lexi leaned into me. "We survived."

Maya sighed dramatically. "Barely."

I glanced toward the side of the room where Dr. Neil Morris stood. But he was already gone.

Just like he arrived-silent, sharp, and swift.

I exhaled, finally able to relax my shoulders.

Day one: done.