Yuk GwiHwan had passed away in a Traffic Accident. GyeoUl felt her stomach churn very unpleasantly. He had just left the day before yesterday, all in hopes of being healthier. He would've lived a long life. His biopsy results showed that. She gripped his biopsy results in a tight grip as she walked to the VIP Room No. Five. Her heart felt oddly heavy as she thought of the little boy, WonJun.
What will they do now? Will WonJun never celebrate Children's Day now? Will he cry every year thinking about his Dad? How is life going to be for them from now on?
When she reached the room, she saw YunHo in, talking to her sleeping Grandpa. A smile adorned her lips, despite her heavy heart.
"YunHo-yah?" She called, opening the door.
"GyeoUl!" He smiled at her, turning around. "What brings here?"
"I'm here to talk to Harabeoji, not you." GyeoUl rolled her eyes, "Go away, don't hog my Harabeoji."
"Yah! He's my Harabeoji, I was born first!" The man rolled his eyes back at her, scoffing and pushing his month long seniority over her.
"Whatever." But nevertheless, he stood up and walked to the couch nearby.
When he heard GyeoUl sigh, he decided to ask.
"What happened? Did something happen to your patient?"
"He passed away," YunHo nodded solemnly, as pessimistic as it sounded, death was a part of working in a Hospital.
"He would've lived a long life." GyeoUl continued.
"What happened?"
"He had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and he was healing well. His biopsy is fine too." YunHo listened quietly.
"He was discharged a day before yesterday, and he passed away last night."
"Post-surgical complications?" He asked, not knowing what else could've killed him.
"Traffic Accident," GyeoUl sighed again, feeling her eyes sting very slightly. " A Traffic Accident."
YunHo looked at her, eyes wide.
"He has a child, Yuk WonJun. His wife is a housewife, devoting her life to him and their son." YunHo nodded, knowing what was hurting GyeoUl.
"What did the child do to deserve his Dad being taken away so cruelly?"
"You couldn't have stopped this, GyeoUl-ah," YunHo tried to soothe her, "You did your very best,"
"It was a happy family, YunHo."
YunHo nodded, trying to decipher GyeoUl and her feelings.
"What do you want to do?"
"He donated his organs," GyeoUl informed him, "Maybe we can give back…"
"We'll do something about it," YunHo hugged her, patting her head.
When GyeoUl and YunHo attended Yuk GwiHwan's Funeral, they left back a cheque and a job offer for Mrs. Yuk for a well-paying job in Hwang Industries.
Jang GyeoUl.
The more JeongWon thought about her, the more she confused him. JeongWon knows women, at least he likes to think he does. With each passing day, GyeoUl is becoming more and more perplexing to him.
The best thing for him about working with children is that they were easy to work with. They never hid their emotions, if they are hurt they'd say so. If they felt better, they'd say so and even if they lied, it's just always so easy to catch them unlike adults whose emotions are so well-hidden and actions are so baffling that he had to do mental cartwheels to understand them. He hated it. He liked it when he could fully understand a person, their reasons and feelings behind their actions. He hated mental cartwheels. But Jang GyeoUl was making him do those very things, mental cartwheels.
He wanted to taste sugar cream off her lips, the first time he saw her. For God's and his own sake, he's been trying to forget that. Imagine a soon-to-be man of God, he can't entertain such thoughts. The thought still evokes weird feelings in him. He'd die of sheer embarrassment if anyone ever knew about his not-so-pure intentions.
He remained formal but polite with her, that is until that reprimand session regarding the TA child caused him to completely write her off his good side. He had then, obviously stayed away from her. He never asked for her assistance and did everything by himself. He liked things that way, until he saw her pick maggots off the homeless man.
He couldn't understand her. Like what was she thinking when she asked the mother if she had performed CPR? While she readily apologized? Then when she picked maggots off the homeless man? While she ran back to the PICU at midnight for a case she wasn't in charge of?
What was she thinking while she fed YukJeon to IkJun? What was she thinking as they talked? What was she thinking when she saw him approach and interrupt their meeting? What was she thinking when she walked away? What was she thinking while she chose his surgeries thrice in a row? Why the hell was she so confusing?
It only made his head pound. Grabbing a Latté from the Cafeteria, he tried to calm his mind but God really wanted to test him. GyeoUl sat there with Medical Students, whom he had met just this morning and were on the hunt to find why most of them became doctors.
"To help children heal," JeongWon had smiled sweetly as he answered, "It makes me happy." The students seemed satisfied with it because they jotted down the words in their phones and left to find someone else.
They were talking to as she ate her lunch. It was evening now, Why is she having her lunch now? He rolled his eyes at her, but kept his eyes on them. She gave HongDo her card and the two bowed at her happily. He watched as they bought coffee and cake for themselves and approached her again. She was treating them? Was this her way to pull in more residents into GS?
He watched them talk as he sipped on his Latté, trying to decipher what she was saying, which was very hard considering she was being all cute with her cheeks stuffed and eyes all shiny.
When he was nearly done, he noticed her get up and bid her goodbyes and leave.
He should ask them what she told them about why she became a doctor. Maybe this could help him understand her better. But he didn't approach them now, it seems like he's too interested, which he is totally not. He's just very, very mildly curious.
That's it.
"GyeoUl-ah?" YeoReum was on the other line, as GyeoUl tried to sleep in the on-call room. "Did you think about what I said?"
"Omma, quit it!" GyeoUl groaned, "I'm not going on a blind date!"
"Why not? He's handsome and a doctor!" Her mother sounded like she had hit a jackpot. "I met him, he's so nice and will treat you well."
"His mother's your friend and his Dad's a politician. He's working in the USA. You told me that at the dinner, but no, I'm not going!" GyeoUl spat into her phone and just disconnected the call. Her mother was on about this blind date since Children's Day, it was getting annoying.
When she left for her rounds, later she noticed the nurses gossiping.
"I can't believe he's getting divorced!" A nurse was saying eyes wide.
"Right? He seems so nice but looks like everyone has problems!" Another nurse clicked her tongue.
"His wife never visited him! We should've known!" Another staff, shook her head to herself.
Who were they talking about? GyeoUl wondered, wanting to ask out aloud, but still chose to eavesdrop more.
"But, Professor IkJun is so nice and sweet!" One of the nurses added, dreamily. Professor IkJun? He was getting divorced? Why didn't he tell her? Okay, she's an outsider. Of course, he wouldn't tell her. But, he was acting so normal the past few days.. except on children's day. Was this why? How will UJu take this? Does everyone know? Wonder what the boy was going through..
"What use is being sweet and nice if you can't satisfy your wife and keep your family together?" The nurse scoffed. GyeoUl rolled her eyes. People just needed to talk about other's private issues. She should check upon him later.
Which she did around early morning. He had an emergency surgery, which she had assisted him in. He had let her finish up the surgery, praising her skills and happily claiming she'd become a great surgeon. She thanked him and when they met again at the GS Lounge, she prodded the issue.
"Professor," She called him, looking away from her computer, "I heard something from the nurses… Do you mind if I ask you about it?"
IkJun looked at her thoughtfully, before smiling and nodding. He had an inkling about what this is about.
"Is it about my divorce?" He raised a brow, smiling wider when she looked embarrassed.
"I won't push it if you're uncomfortable," She said, resignedly.
"What do you want to know?"
"What are you willing to tell me?" GyeoUl needed him to feel comfortable.
"We've been living away for years now, since she's always been ambitious. I thought I was being supportive husband, but she found someone more supportive than me…" GyeoUl's eyes widened comically. IkJun laughed, "Her friend's husband.. So, we divorced. We were separated anyway."
GyeoUl nodded, feeling awkward at the sheer honesty in which he answered. She wanted him to be open, yes, but somehow this felt like it was too much. "What about UJu?"
"I received full custody of UJu." IkJun sighed, smiling sadly. "How did you find out?"
"I heard of it… I'm sorry if I was too pushy.." IkJun laughed at her again, making GyeoUl frown. How he managed to laugh and smile so much after finding out about his wife cheating and getting divorced was above her.
"It's about time I talked to someone,"
"Didn't you tell your friends?" GyeoUl asked, looking at him with sympathy.
"I was embarrassed to tell them," IkJun looked away from her.
"They wouldn't judge you," GyeoUl told him, wondering why he never told them.
"I know," He seemed lost for words.
"Are... you okay?" She asked again. Quiet IkJun was overwhelming to be around.
"I am," IkJun gave a sad smile, "I have to be." A call disturbed the mentor-mentee bonding moment.
"I've to go, Professor." She stood up, moving to leave. When she reached the door, she stopped.
"I hope you are okay, Professor." She told him, trying to smile, "You should talk it out, maybe curse your ex-wife a bit too.. apparently it helps." IkJun nodded, wondering if GyeoUl had always been this comforting and easy to talk to. She really seemed like what JeongWon needs in his life.
JeongWon is called by the Hospital Director, Mr. Ju. When he reached the room, he saw the GS Chief, Professor Kim talking to each other.
"Hello," He greeted them with a bow and sat down as they told him to.
"Professor Ahn, we called you to request something," Director Ju said, as he gestured for him to drink his cup of coffee.
"Yes, Director. How can I help you?"
"You know of Dr. Jang, of course," it was the GS Chief this time.
"Yes, Professor Kim. She's the GS Resident." JeongWon nodded, wondering why they were asking him about her. She had never worked with him. He wouldn't be able to tell them anything about her. "I've never worked with her, so, I can't say I'm well-acquainted with her." He added, hoping they don't question him.
"Yes, yes, we realized that," Professor Kim nodded, "That's why we want you to take her as your assistant for a few weeks."
JeongWon looked on, dumbfounded at the sudden turn.
"Professor Ahn, one of the advantages of completing your residency here in YulJe is that you can get experience in a very varied range of specialty surgeries. But, doesn't have enough, to be honest, doesn't have any experience in the PEDs department." Professor Kim told JeongWon. "If you could take her under your wing for a few weeks, she could learn a lot and even join you as one of the Nation's Pediatric Surgeons."
"Yes, Professor Ahn. She's such a skilled doctor, she only needs more guidance from someone like you to help her hone her skills." Director Ju added, making him speculate if Director Ju knew her personally.
"... But, Director, GS is severely understaffed, especially in terms of Residents…" JeongWon seemed hesitant. "If I choose to mentor her, I'll be monopolizing all her time.. the other professors might not like it."
"You don't have to worry about that, Professor Ahn." Professor Kim shook his head, dismissively, "I'll let everyone know that you'll be mentoring her for a few weeks. They should be okay."
Only they weren't, the GS Professors had mildly revolted, only stopping when it was decided that JeongWon wouldn't monopolize on her time and would let her assist the others frequently during tricky cases and he would stay out of the Monday Surgery Picking Matches. So, that was that.
IkJun had seemed both pleased and displeased at the announcement. JeongWon chalked it up as his weird friend being weird and moved on with his day.
GyeoUl and IkJun had finished their outpatient appointments, and were walking to the lift. IkJun had invited her to meet his sister, who much to GyeoUl's amazement was a military woman. GyeoUl had jumped at the invitation and was even planning on taking some coffee for her, but once they reached the lift, he had stopped her, drawing a heart on the door, as the lift moved up.
GyeoUl frowned, the man had just abandoned her. She was about to press the lift button, when another hand pressed it, making GyeoUl flinch. It was Ahn JeongWon. He must've finished his appointments too.
"Hello," She bowed at him, feeling her mouth dry.
"Ah, yes.." he nodded, hands in his pocket. GyeoUl has never felt so small beside someone in her life. She didn't know if she wanted to thank IkJun for this, or smack him.
They got in the lift, JeongWon pressing the button for the GS floor. GyeoUl decided she'd go to the GS Room too, considering she didn't know where IkJun's sister was.
The air in the lift felt oddly suffocating for the two as the tension built up in silence. When the lift dinged and the two walked out, and GyeoUl bowed at him to take leave, did JeongWon call her.
"Dr. Jang," He said in a monotone. "Have you assisted in a Gastroschisis case before?"
"No, Professor." GyeoUl shook her head.
"There's a PEDs Conference regarding the case with the OB-GYN Department," He said, trying to look as stoic as possible, "If you want to, you can attend the conference."
"I will, Professor." GyeoUl nodded again.
"It's at 2 pm, at Conference Room No. 2. Don't be late." He said and just left.
Was he always like this or is she just special? GyeoUl thought sarcastically. He didn't sound too excited about working with her. Did someone ask him to do this? Maybe Professor IkJun? No way… he wouldn't. But, why did he suddenly ask her to attend a PEDS Conference? Whatever the reason, this was her time to change his perception of her. She needs to work hard for this. Maybe she also should talk to IkJun about this..
GyeoUl wishes she didn't talk to IkJun about it because the man burst her bubble of feeling special in a matter of seconds. While over the hours, she had come to the conclusion that JeongWon was warming up to her, IkJun revealed to her that the GS Chief assigned him as her mentor for a few weeks, thanks to her lacking experience in the Pediatric Department. It wasn't him warming up to her, but a request he couldn't refuse. The conference didn't sound so nice anymore, but nevertheless she was going to change his perception of her, for the better.
Another filler chapter... Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter..