GOLDEN TIME
Chapter 97
"Don't you think Suhyuk is a good person?"
Though Hana did not say it directly, her message was pretty clear.
Binna, in a blush, nodded her head slowly.
"Yes, he seems to be a very kind-hearted person."
Hana could know her feelings clearly from her look, and the way she was now looking at the coffee shyly.
'She likes him a lot…'
Hana's face made a bitter expression. She just thought about one thing.
'It's late. Very, very late for me.'
Then Suhyuk came back in.
"I'm so sorry, but the professor is calling for me."
Hana stood up with a smile.
"I was going to leave anyway."
And she looked at Binna, saying, "See you next time, Ms. Binna."
They all went out of the coffee shop.
Binna, bowing to Hana, went back the patients' wards.
"It's not a sin that one likes someone else."
Saying words of comfort to herself, she too moved.
"You said the professor called for you. Go now."
At her words, Suhyuk walked ahead with a smile.
"Let me take you to the bus stop nearby."
Hana looked at him walking ahead of her.
Was his back always so broad like that?
It was broad enough to hide her if she stood behind him.
"What are you doing? Come on!"
When Suhyuk said that, turning to her, Hana began to move.
The bus stop was not that far as it was located at the main gate of Daehan Hospital.
"Looks like your anger hasn't melted away yet."
Hana shook her head, with a smile.
She was not angry from the beginning. Actually her head was occupied with all sorts of other thoughts.
The bus will arrive in a minute An announcement came.
Hana, sitting on the bench at the bus stop, stood up.
She searched her bag and took out a square box wrapped beautifully.
"I just bought it on the way here. Let me go now."
"What is this?"
"Pen. I see doctors with a pen in their gowns, but you don't seem to have one."
Having said that, she got on the bus. When she stepped onto the bus, she turned her head, saying, "Suhyuk."
Suhyuk looked at her with a gesture, which seemed to ask, 'Yes?'
"Hey, Miss, aren't you going to get on?" asked the driver.
At the bus driver's annoying voice, Hana made a bitter smile.
"Never mind. Take care!"
Then the bus she rode on closed it's doors and left.
Quietly watching the bus go, Suhyuk opened the box.
Inside was a high-quality pen that looked very expensive.
Looking at the bus disappearing until it looked just like a dot in the horizon, Suhyuk said with a smile, "Thanks."
Suhyuk went to see Prof. Han.
It was already approaching 10pm.
Why did he call for him?
There was nothing particular that he said on the phone, because they could not hear each other well.
When he knocked on the door, he heard a voice come from inside.
"Come on in."
Going into the office, he bowed his head.
"I think I have to change my cell phone. I've used it for 5 years."
With a smile, Suhyuk thought of his cell phone. He'd actually been using it for seven years already.
"Sit down instead of standing like that."
When Suhyuk sat down, he was offered a cup of juice.
"Thank you, sir."
Suhyuk, putting down his juice cup, looked at Han drinking coffee.
Though he was smiling peacefully, he could feel fatigue on his face.
"Actually, I called you to ask you something."
It was not about patient Lee Jinhan.
Han opened his mouth again,
"Did you know that I also split my time between seeing thoracic surgery patients and those with heavy injuries?"
Taking a sip of coffee, Han continued,
"I have never told anyone about this."
Suhyuk quietly waited for his next words.
"Won't you work together with me?"
Suhyuk's eyes became wider at that.
It meant Han was helping him grow professionally at his side.
Other residents would have thought it was just that, and welcomed the opportunity with open arms.
But Suhyuk took it differently.
Together.
That was the only word that he thought of.
Genuine doctor.
A genuine doctor like Prof. Han reached out to him.
"Why? You don't like it? Well…"
With a bitter smile, Prof. Han lifted his coffee cup.
He could fully understand why he was hesitant.
Who would want to work with him with only three to four hours of sleep a day?
As he had been working like that, anyone working with him would have to follow suit.
"Thank you, sir."
At his voice, Han cast his eyes at him who was smiling.
Han said calmly, as if he heard what he wanted to hear,
"You'll find it tough."
"I'm young, sir."
Shaking his head, Han replied, "Oh, I hadn't thought of it."
Seated in his chair, Han reached out his hand.
"Let's do great work together!"
Standing from the seat, Suhyuk grabbed his hands cordially, and bowed his head.
A new day was breaking gradually.
Getting up from the bed Suhyuk wore a gown, with the pen, Hana's gift, in it.
The tip of the pen was shining from the ray of sun coming through the window.
Looking in the mirror briefly, Suhyuk soon went out of the lodging.
After having bread and milk for breakfast, as usual, he headed for the surgery building.
"You know we have to make the rounds today, right? Don't make any mistakes."
"Yes, sir."
Then Kang Mingyu asked him, "Are you ready?"
Nodding his head, Im handed him a chart.
Kang checked his patients' records carefully.
All of the five patients on the chart underwent surgeries performed by him.
When Kang nodded his head, looking over the chart, Prof. Han came.
"Let's go."
Kang said, heading for the hospital wards.
"37-year-old patient with lung abscess. An X-ray was taken at the time of the patient's arrival, and a shade in the joint was found."
Nodding, Han turned his head to Suhyuk following behind, asking him,
"What is the cause of the lung abscess?"
"There are various causes, but the biggest factor is aspiration of infectious material."
This time Han asked Im, "What is the most common cause of a lung abscess?"
Stunned, Im suddenly opened his mouth, "Alcoholism and epilepsy, or…"
Han, with a pleasant smile, shook his head. Im knew how to deal with the disease, but was kept in the dark about its cause. For he mechanically learned about medical science without fully understanding the human body.
Han looked at Suhyuk, as if he wanted to hear his answer.
Suhyuk spoke in no time,
"Dysphagia, cerebral trauma, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and other symptoms occur in a dim state. Also, it is not always good to look at the oral status of the patients."
Most of the time, when the patient's consciousness is absent, bacteria is breathed into the respiratory tract. The lung abscess is a disease that often occurs in patients hospitalized by pathogens.
Hearing Suhyuk's reply, he walked onwards again.
Kang, following Prof. Han, recited the prescriptions he administered to the patients.
"As there was no response to hemoptysis and medical treatment, I proceeded with lobectomy."
Soon Han went into the room of the patient who had lobectomy, checking his condition carefully.
And he said, "You can get up soon."
There was no better news than this.
Han checked four more patients, and on such occasions Prof. Han praised Kang.
After making a diagnosis, Kang coped with the disease very well.
At Han's praise, Kang felt as if all his fatigue was blown away.
"This patient had caustic stricture…"
While he was explaining about it, Han slightly turned back and gestured toward Suhyuk.
With a smile, Suhyuk was nodding his head.
"I'm going to insert a tube into the patient's thoracic chest. Do you know how to do it?"
Suhyuk opened his mouth, nodding his head, "Yes, I know about the sequence of the surgery..'
Suhyuk barely could suppress the urge to answer, because Im looked bad.
If he had replied, it would certainly have made Im's expression turn much more pale.
Was he still upset about him?
No, Suhyuk thought that such a reason like that was wrong..
Some sort of envy was growing in Im's mind.
He felt as if he became the subject of comparison between himself and Suhyuk.
He could not be more miserable in the presence of Kang and Prof. Han.
But it was only momentary, as Suhyuk was not a guy with nasty temper, he was polite.
"I hope you can teach me a lot, sir, as I'm still learning."
With a feigned cough, Im patted him on the shoulder, saying,
"If you learn hard, you will be taking my place before you know it. Follow me."
Having said that, Im turned back, and made a hearty smile before he knew it.
Suhyuk followed him, when his cell phone buzzed.
It was a call from Han.
"Yes, it's me, sir."
"Go down to the emergency room. A traffic accident patient is on the way to our hospital. Let me join you soon."
After the call, Suhyuk caught Im, saying "Sir."
"Uh? Yes?"
"I think I have to go to the emergency room now."
"Why do you have to go there?"
"Prof. Han asked me to take care of a patient."
Im scratched his head and said, "Okay, then…"
Suhyuk, who just came into the emergency room, asked for Oh Byunchul.
"Long time, no see. How about the surgery department? Is there time for you to be here?"
Suhyuk nodded and said,
"I heard a traffic accident patient was being transported here."
Oh shook his head from side to side.
How can a resident in his first year see an emergency patient?
Because he is an alien resident?
"It's about time the patient got here."
As soon as Oh said that, the door of the emergency room flung open.
There was a patient carried on a stretcher.
His clothes were soaked with blood. There was more than one patient taken into the room. Another patient on a stretcher was also bleeding severely.
Suhyuk ran, shouting, "Blood type!"
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Chapter 98
A series of pads connected with the monitor were patched onto the patient's body.
The patient was a man in his late 30s.
Suhyuk checked his heart first.
'It's beating.'
And then he looked at the vital signs.
His blood pressure was dropping markedly. It was natural because he shed a lot of blood.
The patient did not move at all. Even if he lifted his eyelid, there was no reaction from the pupil.
Suhyuk immediately checked the patient's injured area.
Head, shoulder, thigh, there were wounds all over his body.
"Please give me some dressings!"
A nurse handed him dressings, and then Suhyuk pressed the dressings against patient's head first.
"Suhyuk, let other doctors take care of him…"
Suhyuk's fellow residents of his year, who applied for the emergency medical department, said cautiously.
But n.o.body stopped him, who was only in his first year of residency.
Oh Byungchul did not stop him either.
Oh was taking care of another patient who had been involved in a traffic accident like Suhyuk's patient.
She was in her 60s, with bleeding from her head, and she was mentally stable, but she was screaming at the patient next to her,
"Hey, Jinsu. Open your eyes!"
"Please calm down."
A nurse and Oh forcibly held her down.
"Doctor! Please save my sons' life, my son. Jinsu, why can't you open your eyes? Mom is here right beside you. So, open your eyes, my baby!"
She did not stay calm, throwing a tantrum and crying as if she was a baby.
On such occasions her face was covered with blood.
"Hey, save my son! My son!" shouted the woman.
With her head wrapped with dressing, she was pounding a man, with a haggard mustache's heart.
"Boohoo… Save my son, man!"
Whenever she moved her hands, the man's body shook.
The accident took place when he felt he was dozing off a bit.
His truck allegedly drove over the centerline, cras.h.i.ng the pa.s.senger car driving toward him.
The man thought of his wife's nagging in the morning when he went out for work.
He felt it was a bad luck.
"I want to check the black box," said the man.
At his words, the policemen who took him to the emergency room made a feigned smile.
Witnesses told the truck drove over the centerline first.
Even if they open the black box, it would show the same outcome.
That was not the point, though.
The patient never showed any sign of repentance.
Granted it was not his intention, he did not care at all about the patients who were taken into the resuscitation unit. He was thinking hard how to avoid his own responsibility in the accident.
"Patient Choi Changoh, please come here."
At the nurse's calling, the man moved toward her.
Suhyuk was pus.h.i.ng the stretcher carrying a patient fast.
On the other side Prof. Han was running along.
Soon they arrived at the resuscitation unit, with IV and blood packs hung over the patient's body.
The examination was done quickly.
X-ray viewer was installed, and the CT appeared on the monitor.
Han Myungjin let out a long breath.
The patient's belly was overflowing with blood.
Han saw such a heavily injured patient for the first time in a long time.
Not only his organs, but also his nerves must have been damaged.
Fortunately his skull was not damaged at all.
"Looks like it's going to be tough."
Han murmured before he knew it. Then came a voice out of the blue.
It was Suhyuk who had been looking down at the patient quietly.
He said, "We never know sir, until we try."
Han, looking at the monitor, nodded his head slowly. How can a novice doctor dare speak like that?
Han could have felt offended, but he was different from other doctors.
"You're right."
They had no choice but to pint their hope on the fact that the patient was a young man.
Under the direction of Han, the medical staff moved the patient to the operating room.
Like them Suhyuk moved to disinfect himself.
He rubbed his fingers and forearms with a disinfection brush. He rubbed so hard that those next to him were even worried. Closing his eyes, Suhyuk recalled the guy's mother.
"The patient, no, your son was severely injured. Surgery can be dangerous, but do you want us to go ahead with it?"
Tears kept coming down from the patient's guardian's face at Suhyuk's cautious suggestion.
Obviously he needed to have surgery, but the doctor's tone was unusual.
Suddenly she broke into tears. Falling on her knees, she held Suhyuk's gown.
At her tight holding, he could feel how desperate she was.
"Please save my son! Please…If you could save my son, I would never forget your help even if I die. I would give you all the money I have got. Please save my son, Jinsu. Boohoo…"
Suhyuk also went down on one knee.
"Please sign this form. We can do surgery only with the guardian's consent."
Suhyuk pulled out the pen from his gown, and gave it to her. The pen was Hana's gift.
She held it with a trembling hand.
"Please help my son live a little longer, doctor! Please…"
After he got her consent, Suhyuk lifted her up, and said in a clear voice,
"My name is Lee Suhyuk. I'll do my best."
No, just doing one's best was not enough.
He had to make the patient open his eyes after surgery.
So, the mother and son could meet look each other in the eyes again
"What are you thinking?" asked Han.
Suhyuk's eyes opened at Han's asking.
And he said like before, "I was thinking about how to save the patient."
"Did you have a good sleep?"
Suhyuk knew what Prof. Han was talking about.
It meant the surgery would take many many hours.
"I don't sleep much usually, sir."
When he opened his both hands, a nurse immediately helped him into his gown.
Prof. Han, wearing a gown just like him, was looking at him quietly.
He made Suhyuk fill in the surgery consent form by himself, so he could feel a lot while watching the patient and his guardian.
"Let's go!"
When Han approached the door, the automatic door opened.
The medical staff in green gowns moved busily, and a white light from the ceiling was beaming onto the patient who lay in the middle.
"Huuuuuuuh…." Suhyuk let out a long breath as if he just took a deep breath, and he approached the patient with an oxygen mask in his hand.
'I would allow you to sleep only in this operating room. You have to open your eyes outside after.'
At that moment he heard Han's voice.
"This patient is bleeding in his belly, so we need to finish the operation as soon as possible. Now we're opening up his belly. Scalpel."
A scalpel was handed to Prof. Han's hand, and when it touched the patient's belly, blood was gus.h.i.ng up like a water gun.
"Suction, suction!"
The a.s.sistants suctioned blood calmly, and the patient's belly was opened up.
"What are you doing?"
Han shouted at one a.s.sistant because he did not set up a retractor inside the belly.
Another a.s.sistant was looking for it, but could not find it.
"Obviously I put it here…"
Han suddenly made a frown.
"d.a.m.n it…" When he was venting his anger, Suhyuk came to his side, and he opened the patient's belly with both hands without blocking Han's view at all.
Turning his head, he looked at Han.
"We have to finish the surgery quickly."
Han scrutinized each of the medical staff alarmed by Suhyuk's action, and he said in a scary tone, "Let me see you guys after surgery. Irrigation."
Soon wash fluid was poured into the belly, and the suction device was running with a big noise.
It was necessary to find the damaged organ, but the continued bleeding blocked Han's view.
Han checked the blood packs.
"How many were used so far?"
"Seven packs, sir."
"Just keep supplying it. Squeeze out the current pack, and then replace it with a new one."
Han shook his head.
"Here is the retractor."
A nurse who came into the operating room brought a retractor.
Only then could Suhyuk step back.
He looked at the patient's opened belly carefully.
Obviously the spleen was damaged, along with other organs. Even the nerve vessels.
Now bleeding was simply too much.
Then one thing came to Suhyuk's mind suddenly.
Main artery.
"Is his main artery okay?"
At his asking, Han, putting his hand into the belly, looked at him.
"Why did you say it only now?"
Han did not think of it at all. Patients with heavy injuries usually had organ damages, and it was very rare they had their main arteries damaged too.
Han's hand moved cautiously and quickly.
And he lifted his head quickly, shouting,
"Contact Prof. Kim right now!"
His main artery was ruptured. Though it was very minor, most of the bleeding came out of it.
It was only natural. Called the highway of a human body, main arteries carry blood throughout the whole body, and there was a leak in it.
"Quickly!"
Han could perform the surgery of th main artery himself, but could not do better than Prof. Kim who was performing such surgeries dozens of times per week.
It was the beginning of the situation. Suddenly there was heard something from the side, a blot out of the blue. It was the voice of the nurse who had contacted Prof.Kim.
"I hear he just began emergency surgery. It would take at least one hour for him to come here."
A long sigh came out of Han's mouth.
It would be too late if he came one hour later. The patient could not continue to survive by that time.
'What should I do…'
The operating room was quiet.
The residents monitoring the patient's vital signs, and the a.s.sistants squeezing out the blood pack to force blood into the patient.
Everybody's attention was on the patient, as if they were saying in unison, "It's not possible."
Then Han turned his head to the side.
Suhyuk was looking at the patient quietly. What was he thinking?
Turning around, Suhyuk opened his mouth, "Please stop his heart."
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Chapter 99
Han Myungjin looked Suhyuk in the face, saying something with glittering eyes:
'Yes, just go ahead without hesitation. You need to stop the excessive bleeding first…'
Though Han thought of the same thing, he was so glad when Suhyuk mentioned it first.
Suhyuk was quick in judgement and without hesitation.
"Get ready for aortic arches replacement."
At the professor's direction, the medical staff moved in unison.
An extracorporeal cardiopulmonary valve was pulled in place of the heart to make blood circulate throughout the body, and other fluids were hung up.
Suhyuk said to Han,
"As for aortic arch replacement, I have done anastomosis before."
Han's eyes became wider.
A resident in the first year has done such an emergency surgery?
"I've done it under the guidance of Prof. Kim Jinwook."
Still Han did not understand it a bit, but felt it was possible.
He knew Prof. Kim was very much anxious to have Suhyuk as his disciple.
Han now turned to Kang Mingyu who was looking into the slippery organs here and there.
Kang was searching for other sources of bleeding other than the main artery.
Though Kang was a.s.signed to the cardiothoracic surgery, Han had to force him to come over here for the surgery. Other medical staff that he wanted were all too busy. They were either taking care of emergency patients or already in the operating rooms.
"This kind of main artery surgery is the first time for you, right?"
"Yes, but I've observed it several times."
Han opened his mouth, looking at Suhyuk.
"Well, I've done aortic arch replacement surgery only 20 or so times. That's why I need some more knowledgeable a.s.sistants."
Kang nodded his head, looking at Suhyuk.
He did not feel envious or jealous just because Suhyuk was younger or lower in t.i.tle than he.
Suhyuk had partic.i.p.ated in the surgery before, but he had not.
That was enough for him to step aside.
"You might need this," Kang handed a loupe to Suhyuk, stepping back.
"Thank you, sir."
Now Suhyuk was set to perform the surgery as the next important surgeon after Han.
"I'm ready, sir."
At the perfusionists' words, Han looked at Suhyuk on the other side.
He alternately looked at the patient's face and his opened belly.
"We're going to start now. I can't tolerate any mistakes."
Suhyuk nodded his head, saying, "Absolutely, sir."
"Huuuuuuuh… Let's start then. Heparin!"
At the professor's direction, the nurse repeated after him and injected coagulant into the IV line.
"I'm injecting heparin now."
"Lower the body temperature so as not to damage the organs, and heart arrest procedure starts now."
Beep…
The machine signaled a scary warning sound that the heart stopped, and at the same time a cardiopulmonary device started running.
At that moment Suhyuk put his hand into the belly without using the surgery tools.
Whenever he moved his hands, the organs were oozing. It did not last long.
"This is the source of bleeding. Please cut it."
Suhyuk lifted up the main artery with a damaged membrane gently with his fingers.
The main artery hung over his index finger was dark red, and blood came from out of the damaged membrane.
Shaking his head, Han moved the scissors.
Is there another doctor who dared hold the main artery recklessly like that? Han could not do anything about it, though. Now the surgery was urgent.
The incisized main artery dropped onto the metal tray. Blood spread around it slowly.
"Let me sew it," said Han.
"Don't you think it's better we share the task, sir?"
Han agonized a bit, because it would take a lot of time to anastomose a main artery because it was very complicated to do.
"Are you confident?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do it well then."
When Han held out his hand, one a.s.sistant handed a needle holder and threads.
It was the same for Suhyuk.
Handed over an artificial blood vessel, he put it into the cut main artery.
Han went ahead with the anastomosis first.
When the artificial blood vessel was fixed at the stem of the cut main artery, Suhyuk fixed a thread to a needle holder as small as a pincette.
And both of them started doing anastomosis.
Prof. Han was doing it from the lower part while Suhyuk was sewing the upper part.
They were controlling the four needle holders inside the belly.
How long did it last?
It was already more than two hours since they opened up the patient's belly.
After he was done with the anastomosis, Suhyuk waited for Han to finish as well.
Then Han raised his head, and the nurse wiped off the sweat from his forehead.
"Done!"
Breathing out a long breath, Han looked at Suhyuk as if he was a wonder boy.
He neatly connected the artificial blood vessel, and besides that, he did it faster than him.
Precise and quick.
"Looks like we need to revive his heart."
At his words, Han nodded his head.
Although the heart-lung machine was running, the function of the heart would be weakened if it was forced to stop any longer.
Han immediately applied electric shock to the patient's heart.
But it did not beat.
He did it once more, but the heart did not beat.
It was all quiet.
Breathing out a long breath, Han reapplied the electric shock.
At the same time, Suhyuk's rigid eyes went back to normal.
The heart was beating again.
"Nice job. Keep listening to us well."
Suhyuk was murmuring to the patient.
Now he opened his mouth, turning to Han,
"Looks like we need to remove the spleen first."
The spleen was crushed completely. To secure a wider view, it was necessary to take it out.
Catching his breath, Han was shaking his head.
Suhyuk did not give him any chance to take a break.
So, they began removing the spleen. Besides, it was necessary to incise the liver partially.
The more they moved, the more their gowns were stained with blood.
Three hours, four hours…
They cut the damaged organs and reconnected the cut blood vessels and nerves.
Then Suhyuk, who was connecting the blood vessels, said,
"Please take a break, sir."
He saw Han's hands trembling subtly, which was natural as he was a human being.
The surgery was already continuing for over five hours.
"Let me take over, sir."
Kang, who was watching nearby, came to Han.
Stopping for a moment, Han agonized for a moment.
"Okay, let me pause a bit then. Thanks."
Han stepped back and took a seat in the back.
Kang, who took his place, was confident of doing anastomosis.
He did it several times, but he was not sure how long it would take.
"You're doing great, man!" Kang said to Suhyuk.
Then he grabbed a surgical thread.
—–
A black and white picture uploaded on SNS was generating a huge response on the internet.
It was a picture of the operating room, with the floor covered with blood.
Was it to prevent any slipping on the floor? Here and there were placed mats stained with blood.
On the operating bed was a patient whose face was covered, and a doctor sitting next to him.
The doctor was drooping his shoulders, but his eyes looking at the patient seemed to form a smile. The netizens' comments on the picture were as follows:
Thousands of replies were posted on this comment.
—–
Suhyuk slowly opened his eyes. It was still dark. There was no light coming through the window.
'How long did I sleep for?'
He checked the time on his cell phone. It was 9:40pm.
Getting up from the bed suddenly, he wore a gown and went out.
He headed straight for the intensive care unit.
"Is patient Kim Jinsu okay?"
At Suhyuk's asking, the nurse smiled, nodding her head.
"Yes, his vital signs are good, and he is mentally stable. You did really nice work, doctor."
Suhyuk let out a long breath.
After the surgery, he confirmed that the patient opened his eyes.
He could breathe a sigh of relief after checking his face grimacing with pain.
He could save his life, after all. He fell into sleep next to the patient.
He woke up to find himself at the lodging.
Did someone carry him on the stretcher to his lodging?
When Suhyuk was thinking about it, the nurse was touching her cell phone.
Actually it was the nurse who took the picture of him in the operating room as well as his posture in the recovery room, and uploaded it on her SNS. Back then she did not expect the picture would generate such an overwhelming response.
Suhyuk moved quickly to look for the patient. He could easily find him.
"Oh my G.o.d! Doctor Lee Suhyuk!"
A woman, who was touching his face, stood up. She was his mother.
She held Suhyuk's both hands, saying,
"Thanks a million, sir. How can I repay you…"
Suhyuk said, with a smile, "Well it's just my duty."
Then, he checked the patient's condition. All vital signs were normal.
But he would feel a lot of pain.
Suhyuk asked the patient who had half-opened eyes,
"How do you feel?"
The patient said, making a smile with the utmost effort,
"Thanks for saving my life, sir…"
He heard many times from those doctors and nurses who came and checked on him:
A doctor by the name of Lee Suhyuk saved him.
Smiling without saying anything, Suhyuk grabbed his hands.
"Please hold my hands with your utmost strength."
With a frown he held his hands with strength.
"That's fine."
Someone was looking at him from the back.
Han Myungjin and Kang Mingyu.
"He woke up early, sir," said Kang to Prof. Han.
Han murmured to Kang who was shaking his head,
"He's THE true doctor…"
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Chapter 100
Suhyuk was looking at Kim Jinsu who had been transferred to a general patients' ward.
"How do you feel?"
Kim smiled, saying, "I think I feel much better. Thanks, doctor."
Then his mother offered banana milk to him.
"Did you have breakfast, doctor?"
Suhyuk replied, with a smile, "Yes. Did you? Not only the patient but also the guardian should eat well."
"If you feel uncomfortable, please let us know immediately."
"Well, I feel fine except for some sort of pain on the surgery area. Very good for the rest."
Suhyuk, smiling at him, nodded his head, and turned back.
Those nurses watching him in the back began to whisper,
"What a great doctor! How could he do surgery for that long?"
He did not go to the restroom. They heard he just had energy drinks instead of rice or water.
It was difficult to believe.
"According to the nurse who went into the operating room, Dr. Lee was doing the surgery alone when the other medical staff were dozing off."
"Are you serious? Isn't it bragging? How can a resident in his first year do anastomosis alone?"
The other nurses nodded their heads at one nurse's questioning.
At that moment they could hear some voice coming into their ears.
"Well, Dr. Lee could manage it very well. He is such a great doctor."
It was Binna who said that, pa.s.sing by them at that moment.
Suhyuk visited Prof. Han's office.
"I hear you wanted to talk to me."
Suhyuk nodded, and opened his mouth,
"I want to have a day off today."
Han made a feigned smile.
Actually he wanted to give Suhyuk two days of leave when he finished the long surgery, but Suhyuk refused it. And now he want to take a day off?
"I told you to have days off, but you said you didn't want it. Don't you feel good now?"
Suhyuk shook his head, saying,
"Actually my parents are supposed to come for a medical check-up today."
Han smiled.
"Oh, sure. Go ahead. By the way, you know that your immediate family can have a discount. Don't fail to apply for it."
"Thank you, sir."
Rising from the seat, Suhyuk bowed his head, and then went out.
Han shook his head.
Suhyuk just looked icy when he said only the main point before leaving, especially compared with his att.i.tude when he was taking care of patients.
Suhyuk was obviously different from doctors who wanted to hear a little more advice from him.
Coming back to the lodging, Suhyuk took a shower first. He wore neat clothes and trimmed his hair calmly. He even applied skin lotion which he did not usually. And he looked in the mirror.
Suddenly he looked at the hanger in the room. A long doctor's gown. 'Do I have to wear it?'
Then his cell phone buzzed.
"Suhyuk, I've got only two bus stops before arriving there. Can I just go inside the hospital?"
"Yes, mom. Just come inside."
After the call, he went out of the lodging and waited at the bus stop.
Was it because he was dressed up or did his appearance, in a doctor's gown, look unusual?
Some women waiting for a bus took a glance at him.
came out a recorded announcement.
At the announcement Suhyuk's smile thickened.
In no time a bus arrived. When he got on the bus, his mother greeted him, saying,
"Oh, my doctor son coming out to meet me!"
She touched his gown as if she was stroking his shoulder. How happy she was …
Suhyuk put on the gown on purpose.
"Honey, stop stroking it like that. I'm afraid you're going to crease it."
At her husband's words, she took away her hands right away.
"It's alright. I don't iron it anyway. Let's go."
Suhyuk's face, who was escorting them into the hospital, became brighter.
Inside the hospital lobby she looked around with wide eyes. She felt so proud that her son was working in a place like this.
"Do we have to wait long? Your father will feel dizzy if he skips even one meal."
They were fasting because of the medical check-up.
Escorting them to the elevator, Suhyuk opened his mouth,
"No, you don't have to, as I'm your son. I've already asked the medical staff to check up on you first."
As he was a doctor of Daehan Hospital, he was determined to enjoy all the benefits it offered.
For it was something related to his parents.
The elevator's door opened in no time.
"Good morning, doctor!"
"Good morning!"
The nurses inside the elevator all said greetings to him.
Suhyuk said shortly, "Good morning!"
Suhyuk's parents smiled at them, because they could realize that their son was a doctor because they could see the nurses greeting him politely.
Then a doctor who came out the elevator last opened his mouth,
"Oh, your parents are here."
He was Prof. Han Myungjin who happened to come out to smoke a cigarette.
Suhyuk's parents looked at him as if they were asking who he was.
"This is the cardiothoracic surgery professor."
As soon as he said that, his mother bowed her head and said,
"How are you, professor? I'm Suhyuk's mother. Please take good care of my son!"
His father said the same thing, "I'm his father. Though he has a long way to go, I hope you can take good care of him, sir."
Prof. Han held his hands politely, saying, "You have a very good son."
"Oh, he has a long way to go. Please take good care of him, sir!"
"Ooops, I wish I brought some soft drinks here…"
Han shook his head at her remarks, adding,
"Don't say that. You're not here to visit a patient. I just wanted to say this, just thank you. I'm helped a lot thanks to your son. Thanks again for sending your son to Daehan Hospital. I just feel proud of him."
Gently surprised by the professor's remarks, their facial expression's became soft.
"Then let me go now as I'm busy."
Han disappeared, and they looked at him, feeling how commendable he was.
Soon Suhyuk's family got on the elevator.
The medical staff started with checking their height, weight, urine and eyesight tests.
As a rule, they are supposed to fill out questionnaire form and see the doctor before the test, but Suhyuk already filled out the form over the phone.
When they were having their bloodwork and X-ray test, Suhyuk was with them.
Their endoscopy was done by himself.
While they were sedated, Suhyuk focused on the screen illuminating their inside bodies.
Soon, two hours of tests was all done.
Coming down to the lobby with them, Suhyuk smiled.
He could find nothing abnormal from head to toe. Rather, they looked much healthier than their age suggested. It was fortunate for them.
"You must be hungry, right? There is a famous ginseng chicken soup restaurant across the street. Let's go there."
"Thanks to our doctor son, we had a free medical check-up, plus free meal!"
Of course, it was not free. Suhyuk got a discount, and paid for the remaining balance.
He just mentioned it was 'free' to his parents.
"Suhyuk!"
They turned their heads to the side when they heard some voice calling their son.
He was Prof. Kim Jinwook.
"Uh? Are you…"
It was Suhyuk's father who said first, "How are you, sir? I'm Suhyuk's father."
"Uh?"
Kim was surprised a bit, but instantly said gladly, "Don't you remember me?"
The couple looked perplexed at Kim's remarks, because they have never seen him before.
Kim bowed his head and said,
"How are you? Was it when Suhyuk was 16 years old? When he was hospitalized because of the traffic accident, I saw you several times…"
Only then did Suhyuk's mom make an expression as if she now remembered his face.
When was it that Suhyuk was diagnosed as a vegetative patient?
More than 10 years has pa.s.sed already.
Frankly, the couple could not remember him. But he is still a doctor just like he was back then.
He must be in such a high position now.
"Ah, yes, we really appreciated it back then, sir. Thanks to your help, Suhyuk has become such a good man like this. Thanks again, sir."
At a loss for words, Kim bowed his head, because he did nothing at that time.
He was only an intern back then.
"Please take good care of my son, doctor!"
At her remarks, Kim shook his head.
"Well, I'm in a position to learn from him. You may not know it, but Suhyuk is very famous at Daehan Hospital."
The couple made a satisfactory expression.
Not only Han but also Kim just praised their son.
"Did you come here to see your son?"
At Kim's asking, Suhyuk replied, "They were here for medical check-ups. We're going out for a meal."
"Ah… Actually I haven't had a meal. Can I join?"
At his words, Suhyuk agonize a bit because it was a family get-together after such a long time. He did not want anybody else to join it at all. So, he had to ask for Kim's understanding.
"Sorry, but…"
"Why don't you join? Do you like ginseng chicken soup by any chance?"
Suhyuk's father cut off his words. How come his son dare refuse the professor's suggestion.
Though Suhyuk was recognized for his work, his social life was a train wreck.
"Yes, I like it so much!"
"Let's go together, then."
His mother also urged Kim to join, when Suhyuk tried to open his mouth.
She gently patted his back with a silent word that he should not talk.
Shaking his head, he just had to follow his parents' directions.
Then someone called, "Dr. Lee Suhyuk!"
All of them turned their heads to the side.
Prof. Lee Mansuk was walking toward them.
Kim was shaking his head slowly. What the heck was he doing…
Whenever he met Suhyuk, Lee would appear without fail like this.
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Chapter 101
The ginseng chicken soup restaurant was crowded with customers.
Such a big crowd made them realize why it was a famous place to eat.
Although crowded, seeing as it was past lunchtime, they were able to find an empty table.
"Welcome. How many are you?"
Lee Mansuk replied to the employee's asking,
"Five."
"Right now we've only got an empty room. Is it okay?"
Lee asked, looking at Suhyuk's parents.
Waving her hands, Suhyuk's mother said,
"Professor, it doesn't matter to us."
Nodding his head, Lee said to the employee,
"Escort us to the best room, please."
"It's all the same, sir."
The employee escorted them to the room.
It was quite s.p.a.cious, but narrow at the same time.
Out of the five tabes, there was only one table left.
Suhyuk's parents were seated at one side of the table, while Kim and Lee on the other.
Suhyuk took a seat between them at the head of the table.
After placing an order, Kim, who was holding a water cup, looked at Lee.
Was it a coincidence?
He could not help but shake his head.
He felt as if he was being watched.
When he was thinking about it, Lee said with a pleasant smile,
"You have a very good son. Other doctors feel jealous about Dr. Lee Suhyuk because he works so wonderfully."
Satisfactory smiles were plastered all over Suhyuk's parents' faces.
His father opened his mouth, "Looks like he has become what he is now thanks to your great guidance, though he still has a long way to go. Thank you."
Kim shook his head, replying, "No, we didn't do anything for him at all, so we even feel sorry."
The couple smiled at Suhyuk. They felt so proud of him.
Lee Mansuk kept praising him, and so did Kim.
Soon ginseng chicken soup was served, and they began to eat.
Suhyuk's mother took out a rear chicken leg and gave it to Suhyuk.
"Try this, Suhyuk."
"Oh, I've got one here. Please try it yourself, mom."
"I can't have all this. You have to eat a lot and get more strength since you work until very late every day."
Lee Mansuk agreed and nodded his head.
She asked, "Can you change the department where you work if you wanted to?"
With a perplexed look, Suhyuk was about to open his mouth, but at that moment, Lee Mansuk spoke first, "Of course he could. I can guarantee that he leaves the office on time if he comes to the neurosurgery department."
Kim Jinwook intervened then, "I can guarantee that at my department too."
The two professors kept saying sweet words to Suhyuk's parents.
Because Suhyuk let what they said go in one ear and out the other, they decided to turn to other methods to persuade him. They could not miss the opportunity in front of them.
While they were competing to curry favor with his parents, Suhyuk began eating, shaking his head.
At the counter Lee Mansuk took out his wallet. When he was about to take it out, Kim came up and said, "Let me pay this time."
Lee Mansuk quickly presented his credit card to the owner at the counter.
"I just want to pay, Prof. Kim."
"Actually I am indebted to Suhyuk's parents for what they did to me before. Let me pay," said Kim.
Kim had nothing like that, of course, but he wanted to get credit from them anyway.
"Don't you think it's a bit weird to repay your indebtedness by serving ginseng chicken soup. Let me pay this time, so you can buy them nice food at a decent place."
"No, let me just pay this time," said Kim.
The owner showed a bewildered expression, looking at the two credit cards.
"Who wants to pay then?"
The two replied at the same time. "Use my card, please." "No, use mine!"
Then Suhyuk's father came out of the room and said, "It's on me."
When he gave cash, the owner took it without hesitation.
Lee and Kim made a bitter expression, blaming each other.
After paying, they came out of the restaurant.
With a pleasant smile Lee Mansuk said, "This is my business card. If you don't feel well in the future, please contact me immediately. I'll take care of you. See you next time then."
Kim said the same thing, and looked at Suhyuk.
"You're going back to the hospital, right?"
Suhyuk shook his head, saying, "I'm going to go home."
He got a text message from Prof. Han Myungjin that he could take a break until tomorrow.
Han thought Suhyuk needed some rest.
No matter how much he told Suhyuk not to, Suhyuk worked until the daybreak.
And this time he spent as many as 25 hours partic.i.p.ating in the surgery.
Suhyuk did not refuse Han's instruction.
He would reject such an instruction on his usual days, but this time he wanted to go home with his parents.
"Goodbye then!"
Soon Lee Mansuk and Kim Jinwook moved towards their destination.
The two did not say anything to each other, and headed for the hospital.
"Are they on such bad terms?" asked Suhyuk's mother tilting her head.
Suhyuk could not help but smile bitterly.
—–
When he entered the door, there was a smile spreading on Suhyuk's face naturally.
How long had it been since he last visited here?
He felt so good about being at home.
"Son, give me the gown and go wash quickly."
Handing her the gown, he took a shower right away.
He cleaned his body carefully to wipe off any possible pathogens.
He could not leave behind any pathogens at his parents' house.
"Are you not hungry?"
Suhyuk shook his head with a smile. It's only been two hours since he ate ginseng chicken soup.
"Can I cut some fruits for you?"
At his father's asking, Suhyuk went into his room, replying with a no.
It was clean, as if they cleaned the room every day.
While touching his own stuff, he lay on the bed.
His eyes automatically closed when he felt the softness of the bed.
The voice of his father calling someone in the living room came into his ears.
"Yeah, the university hospital is really good. How much was the bill? Of course, it's free! You know my son is a doctor there. And do you how much the professors there praise Suhyuk…"
Suhyuk formed a slight smile on his face, and the sunlight coming through the window was warm. Suhyuk fell asleep before he knew it. How long did he sleep for?
Suhyuk's mother came into his room to find her son sound asleep.
"Son, it's time for dinner."
He showed no sign of waking up as if he was in a deep sleep, and just hugged the blankets tight.
"Suhyuk, dinner time…"
"Just let him sleep. If he gets hungry, he will get up on his own accord."
At her husband's words, she closed the door silently after looking at him.
His father, watching TV, stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"For a walk outside. Do you want to join me?"
"Are you sure?"
So, the couple moved to the door.
"What did Suhyuk like?"
"Honey, don't you know what he likes?"
"Give me some tips now."
"Are you going out buy Suhyuk's food, not for a walk now?"
"No more talk, honey."
—–
Suhyuk, who slept like a log, opened his eyes slowly.
He confirmed the time by checking his cell phone.
It was just past nine in the morning.
Rising from the bed, Suhyuk scratched his head.
It was a long sleep. He felt that he went to sleep before evening, and he woke up only now.
He surely must have been very tired. Thanks to a sound sleep, he felt great now.
He went to the living room, and n.o.body was there.
Instead there was a set of foods on the dining table covered by a piece of paper.
They went out for work.
Suhyuk read over the note left there.
With a smile Suhyuk removed the paper covering the table.
Spicy soup, vegetable noodles and rolled omelet, his favorite.
'I wish she just went out without preparing all this.'
Suhyuk moved to the kitchen sink to heat the soup.
At that moment he heard the strange voice of a man. Did he hear wrong?
"Don't approach me!"
He did not hear wrong. He heard a series of foul words from the man.
He went into his room, and found the origin of the noise was outside the window.
Was there a fight outside?
He opened the window to look outside.
Suhyuk's eyes became wider.
A middle-age man holding a knife was taking a woman in her early 20s as hostage.
Those men confronting face to face with him were shouting,
"Let go of the knife, b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"
"If she gets hurt while you're holding her like that, don't you know it will only add your jail terms?"
Looks like the men confronting him were detectives.
"I told you to get out of my sight quickly before she gets hurt!!"
A crowd began gathering at the place.
The situation really looked dangerous.
Suhyuk recognized it was even more dangerous than people might have thought. The middle-aged man's forearm was pressing the woman's neck very hard.
Her darkening face, who was trembling with fear, indicated a danger sign of going unconscious.
Then, the woman, squeezed hard against his chest, let out a feigned cough.
And soon she fell like a limp noodle.
"d.a.m.n it!"
Dragging her limp body, the man began to step back and then ran away.
"Catch him!"
The detectives began to chase him quickly, and one detective that was left behind called 911 urgently.
Bang!
Closing the door, Suhyuk went out of the house immediately.
Already there was a large crowd in the alley, and Suhyuk elbowed his way into the throng.
Approaching her quickly, Suhyuk asked the detective putting his ear to her lips.
"How is her condition?"
The detective answered without realising, "she doesn't seem to be breathing."
"Please step aside."
Suhyuk pushed the detective to the side.
Squatting down, the detective looked at him blankly. A man going around with just his bare feet.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a doctor."
Replying shortly, he lifted up her eyelids. As expected, there was no reaction.
He quickly checked to see if she was breathing. As the detective said, she was not breathing.
Suhyuk applied CPR without any hesitation.
One, two, three…
Locking his arms together, he applied CPR. Whenever he did that, her chest went up and down repeatedly. He then blew air into her mouth. Still no reaction.
Nonetheless, Suhyuk did not give up. He was applying CPR without saying anything.
Soon his forehead formed beads of sweat. One, two…
Then he felt something strange on her chest while he was applying CPR. He knitted his brows.
Her ribs were broken as a result of the CPR. Still, he had no intention of stopping.
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Chapter 102
"Huuuuh… Huuuuuh…"
Taking a couple of deep breaths, Suhyuk pressed the woman's chest hard, and then he blew air into her mouth.
"Open your eyes!"
Not even a slight reaction.
The crowd gathered there around her began uttering, "Is she dead?"
Hearing them, Suhyuk acted more urgently.
Her face was becoming more and more pale.
"Don't you think it's just so unfair if you die like this?"
Saying that, Suhyuk once again blew air into her mouth and took his locked arms to her chest.
At that moment, "Cough! cough!"
Some coughing came out of her mouth.
"Wow! She came back to life! She's survived!"
"It's true, he is a doctor!"
Suhyuk, breathing a relief of sigh, squatted on the ground as if he let go of all his strength.
It lasted for only a moment, though.
Straightening himself, Suhyuk checked her condition, who was breathing hard.
"Can you see me?'
Frowning at his asking, she moaned, saying, "I feel so much pain coming from my chest."
As her ribs were broken, it's only natural she felt like that.
"I called 911, so bear with the pain for a moment."
Her breathing became weaker and weaker.
She was feeling pain from here fractured ribs as her chest became bigger and then smaller with each breath she took, and she was trying to breathe instinctively even with the pain.
"Even if you feel the pain, you have to breathe properly."
She might have a problem if her breathing became weak.
For if the lungs that always have to be inflated with air become shrunken, complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia may arise.
At that moment they heard an ambulance's siren.
The rescue crew checked her condition.
"She has rib fractures."
One of the crew asked, blinking his eyes, "What did you say?"
Only then did they understand Suhyuk's words, and hardened their look.
Multiple fractures could lead to serious organ damage.
"How did she get hurt?"
"It happened while I was applying CPR. That's not the point. Please transport her as soon as possible."
The crew moved her to the stretcher cautiously, and Suhyuk got on the ambulance.
Whenever the ambulance trembled a bit, she moaned.
"I find it hard to breathe…"
Suhyuk held her hand tightly, saying, "You'll be alright. So, please bear it a moment. Please put an oxygen respirator on her."
A crew member, seated face to face with her, put the respirator into her mouth, and looked at Suhyuk pitifully.
Rib fracture could happen anytime when CPR was applied properly, but that could also pose a problem.
Even though one saves a victim's life by applying CPR, in many cases one is accused of causing injury because of the rib fracture. The injurer has to bear not only the treatment bill but also the legal cost.
Actually there were a lot of such cases in the past.
The rescue member was more worried about Suhyuk than the woman.
However, Suhyuk was only focused on the moaning woman.
"Please try to breathe a bit more. Yes, like that. You're doing great."
The ambulance drove to the hospital in no time. It was not Daehan Hospital.
They took her to a nearby hospital.
Suhyuk, who came to the emergency room along with the patient carried on a stretcher, shouted, "Rib fracture patient."
A doctor on duty came, asking, "How did she get injured?"
"Ribs were fractured while I was applying CPR."
"Did you do it by yourself?"
"Yes, I don't think it's multiple fracture. I think she needs a bone scan quickly to confirm it."
The doctor's eyes became wider at his words.
He looked like a college student. Not only had he applied CPR, but his way of speaking was professional.
Checking the patient's condition, the doctor caught a beginning resident pa.s.sing by.
"Take a bone scan of this patient first!"
The resident came and pushed the stretcher with the patient.
Suhyuk went with him, when the doctor stopped Suhyuk and asked, "You must be her guardian, right?"
"No, I met her on the street."
At his reply, the doctor shook his head, wearing an unpleasant look.
It was certain he, who applied CPR, would run into trouble if he met the patient's guardian.
The doctor witnessed it several times.
"Uh? Where are you…"
The doctor could not stop him running to the emergency room.
Suhyuk could confirm the condition of the patient, who was taking bone scan, through a gla.s.s screen
"Not that serious. I don't think there is any damage to the organs…"
Suhyuk fixed his eyes on the monitor when the doctor said that.
As he expected, it was not multiple rib fracture, but just a simple fracture.
Suhyuk looked at her who was lying in bed, with her head lifted up.
Only then could he make a smile.
She had no particular problem when she went through all the examinations.
Though she had to stay at the hospital for several days, she could get discharged after that, and it would take about four weeks for her to fully recover.
"I feel that it's hard to breathe."
At her words, a nurse said, "Can I put the oxygen respirator on you?"
"Yes…"
After the nurse disappeared, Suhyuk approached her.
Looking at the name label on the bed, he opened his mouth,
"Ms. Hemi, do you still feel a lot pain?"
She nodded, with a frown, complaining in her heart, 'It's because of you…'
"Don't worry too much. You'll be able to get up soon. Excuse me for a minute."
Getting out of the room, he went to the restroom, and took off the hospital sleeves to wash his bare feet. As he ran with bare feet, they were studded with tiny little stones.
But Suhyuk did not make any frown because he saved her life.
When he came back to the hospital, a middle-aged woman was stroking her face. She was her mother.
"She was fortunate enough."
At Suhyuk's words, the middle-aged woman turned her head to him, shouting "You!"
She came to him with big strides, and complained, "How could you make her injured like this? So, what would you do now?"
Suhyuk said in a calm voice, "If I had not applied CPR, her life might have been in danger."
"Who told you to do that? Why did you break her normal ribs?"
"Rib fracture could happen frequently with CPR."
"What are you talking about? You think you're a doctor?"
"Yes, I am a doctor."
The woman bullying Suhyuk now closed her mouth for a moment, but continued again,
"You are a doctor. So what? What if something went wrong with my daughter? Are you going to take responsibility for it? Yes, you should be responsible for it. How should you compensate?"
Suhyuk made a frown, but soon he was back to normal.
He could understand her who must have been surprised a lot at her daughter's condition.
"So, what would you do with her?"
"Please calm down. Without his help, her life would have been in danger…"
The nurse standing behind her cut in.
"What? Don't you see my daughter with an oxygen respirator right now? You're in the same boat, right? Get ready. I'll take action," she threatened.
At that moment they heard a male voice outside the patient's room.
"This is not a market. Shut your mouth!"
A man in his early 50s shouted to her.
In a suit, he seemed to have come, stopping his work at the office.
"Honey! This man broke our daughter's ribs!"
The middle-aged man went up to his wife, and then raised his hand as if he was about to hit her.
But he did not hit her. Instead he threatened,
"What the heck are you making a fuss about here? Watching TV soap operas at home all the time, you must have gone crazy by now."
Actually she brought in her friends everyday for a drinking party.
To make matters worse, she started gambling, losing the rent deposit.
"Honey…"
"Don't call me honey. How should I deal with you…"
This time, too, he did not have the heart to hit her.
Briefly looking at his daughter in bed, the man turned to Suhyuk and bowed his head politely.
"Thank you, sir. I heard from the doctor that you save my daugther's life…"
Suhyuk said with a smile, "I'm a doctor. I just did what I should have done."
"Honey, why are you talking to him like that?"
The man, who was bowing his head, turned back and said, with a frown,
"Be quiet!"
At her husband's rebuking, she became dumb as an oyster.
"Let me apologize on behalf of my wife. I'm sorry, sir."
"It's alright. Looks like she did that because she was surprised. I fully understand."
Suhyuk left the place without hesitation after speaking to them, and the man was looking at him with blank eyes.
He turned around and looked at his wife. Then he said, "Why did you come out and make an exhibition of yourself like this? You should have stayed home watching TV soap operas. Come with me now."
The patient's room was clamorous for while.
—–
"The criminal suspect took her as hostage here. He ran away after he strangled her neck while he had been taking her as hostage. And the woman who stopped breathing…"
The alley was crowded with many people. Some of them were taking pictures, and some holding a microphone in front of the camera. They were all reporters.
And then one man shouted, "He's that very person!"
It was the voice of a man who had seen Suhyuk applying CPR to the woman all along.
Reporters turned their heads to him suddenly.
Suhyuk was approaching, dragging his slippers.
At the slippers were large and stretched, Suhyuk found them very uncomfortable.
They scrambled to see him. Stunned, Suhyuk stepped back.
"It was a very urgent situation. Did you already know how to give CPR?"
"What is your occupation?"
They took dozens of microphones and cell phones to Suhyuk for comment.
Click! Click!
Camera flashes clicked ceaselessly.
"Please just one comment!"
"What is your occupation?"
With an embarra.s.sed look, Suhyuk opened his mouth before he knew it,
"I'm a doctor."
Then he suddenly came to his senses, and elbowed his way out of the crowd.
Getting the media attention was the last thing he wanted.
They chased him to his villa.
"Are you Mr. Lee Suhyuk by any chance?"
Walking up the stairs quickly, Suhyuk stopped for a moment.
Click! Click!
He began walking up quickly again.
Bang!
Suhyuk closed the door quickly as soon as he arrived at the villa.
Nonetheless, they kept knocking on the door.
Shaking his head, he moved to the living room.
Then his cell phone buzzed.
Suhyuk went into the room to pick up the phone.
"This is Lee Suhyuk…"
"Suhyuk, it's me, your sister. I just feel regretful…"
It was reporter Han Jihye.
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Chapter 103
Getting up early in the morning, Suhyuk could not help but stand blankly in the lobby.
There was a news report about him on the TV.
Though it did not mention his name, the report introduced the series of things he had done before, ranging from his cutting the cricothyroid membrane at middle school to identifying the cause of death of a cadaver. And then there was additional piece about his having caught a thief who broke into empty houses and this time saving a woman's life with CPR.
Those who had been gradually forgetting about him recalled the stories about Suhyuk once more, and those who did not know of him began to find out who he was.
Obviously it was not Han Jihye who wrote the report because he had earnestly requested her not to do so.
Probably those reporters who recognized him might have weaved the story like that.
"Isn't he doctor Lee Suhyuk?"
Suhyuk quickly got on the elevator, hearing someone's abrupt voice like that.
"Huuuuuh…" He let out a sigh without realising it
He just wanted to focus on the patients, but instead found himself the subject of attention and focus.
The elevator door opened, and Suhyuk moved with a bitter smile.
"Good morning!"
At Suhyuk's greeting, Im Gyungsu nodded his head. Beside him was a man who he did not know.
He was standing still like a tree, and bowed his waist as soon as he saw Suhyuk.
And then he opened his mouth hesitantly, "How are you, sir? I'm intern Park Sungjae who has just been a.s.signed to the cardiothoracic surgery!"
Im knitted his brows, saying, "Hey, lower your voice! Some patients pa.s.sing by might have a heart attack at your loud voice."
"Yes, sir!"
With a smile, Suhyuk asked to shake his hands.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lee Suhyuk."
Park's eyes became wide. He was about reminded what they said when he was a.s.signed here.
'Just work as hard as Lee Suhyuk, no more or no less.'
"My service to you, sir!"
Im shook his head at that. Who is saying it to whom?
It was Im himself who would be in charge of Park.
"I don't see the chief doctor. Something wrong with him?"
Yes, Suhyuk was right. Chief Kang was not seen there.
Im said in bitterness, "I heard his grandfather pa.s.sed away. I should visit him, but I can't find time.."
Suhyuk nodded his head.
Though lots of patients were coming in, there were not a sufficient amount of doctors.
The situation was more serious because cardiothoracic surgery was unpopular as a specialism choice.
"We're going to collect some comfort money later. You know nurse Han Binna, right? She is supposed to collect the money, so hand the money to her today."
Then, Prof. Han Myungjin came up. They were supposed to make the rounds in the morning.
"I told you to take a day off today…"
Han just made a perplexed smile at Suhyuk, looking at him.
The figure in question on the TV news channel… Though his name was not mentioned, Han could infer from the report that he was Suhyuk.
Even on a day off, he went around to save a person's life.
Suhyuk slurred, scratching his head, "It happened to be that the alley was right beside my house…"
Han, shaking his head, walked ahead.
—–
Checking the patient's conditon, Han asked intern Park,
"This is chylothorax. What is the cause?"
"Well…."
Park became dumb as an oyster at that question. The moment he was asked, he just could not think of anything. However, Han made a smile, saying it's understandable.
Now he looked at Suhyuk, who opened his mouth reflexively,
"It is the state where the chest tube which is the largest lymphatic organ is damaged and the chyle in the chest tube is acc.u.mulated into the chest cavity."
Suhyuk explained it in a calm and orderly manner as if he wanted someone to listen to it.
"Generally speaking, there may be many causes, but it is caused by lymphoma or wounds."
Saying that, he took a glance at Park.
Park was taking notes quickly about what he said.
"Yes, that's right. What's the remedy?"
Han looked at Im Gyunsu, but instantly cast his eyes to Suhyuk.
Just in case Im could not answer in front of the intern, Han was considerate enough to have Suhyuk reply instead.
Suhyuk opened his mouth, and this time his reply was not easy to deliver.
Suhyuk explained as easily as possible so Park could understand.
"There is conservative therapy first. There is a method of inserting a chest tube into the target and draining it. At the same time, the patient needs fasting, so intravenous infusion should be provided. Oral ingestion at this time is absolutely taboo. This is because it increases the amount of chyle in the chest."
Han shook his head. Suhyuk's explanation was easy enough that even ordinary people could understand it.
Suhyuk continued, but Han raised his hand to stop him.
He could go on and on like this. What's important was that the patient was recovering.
Han went out of the room, and the three followed him.
Im, walking next to Han, explained about the disease of the next patient.
Then Park cautiously opened his mouth, asking Suhyuk,
"Sir, you mentioned a secondary method to treat…"
Suhyuk said with a smile, "Well, it is universal to check any damaged caused by surgery, and then sew it."
Taking notes quickly in his notebook, he nodded.
Suhyuk made a pleasant smile as if he was proud of Park.
Then Park stopped walking, and thought to himself while looking at Suhyuk walking on.
Was there any doctor who explained to him so easily while he was leading a tough interns.h.i.p?
Suhyuk's posture, walking with his gown fluttering in the air.
He looked like a real doctor.
When he made the rounds with the professor, Park asked Suhyuk question after question. There were so many things he wanted to learn.
When he asked other doctors, he would be told off, but Suhyuk was completely different from them.
His soft voice made Park relaxed, and whatever he mentioned, Park could easily digest.
He wished there were other doctors like Suhyuk at other departments.
Park thought he would just follow Suhyuk while he was having his interns.h.i.p at the cardiothoracic surgery department.
As soon as they were done with the rounds, it was lunch time. Suhyuk moved to the cafeteria.
Park quickly came toward him. With a doubtful look, Suhyuk asked, "Did you finish your work?"
Im was not the type of person who let the interns or residents take a break on time, especially interns. Im really gave them a hard time.
"Oh, Im told me that I should follow you for more learning."
That was possible.
Im already recognized Suhyuk's capabilities, but he had other motivations too, namely getting the troublesome intern to be taken care of by someone else.
Unaware of this, Park was all smiles.
Suhyuk made a bitter smile at that because he could detect Im's such intentions.
He did not care, though. For teaching was not hard anyway, and it was neither clinical treatment nor surgery that Suhyuk ordered Park to do.
"Sir, I hope you can give me lots of teaching and scolding."
Like he did the first time, he bent his waist to show respect.
"If you work with me, you may be tired quite a bit."
At Suhyuk's words, he showed some anxious look. Was he intent to give me enormous a.s.signments? Suddenly that kind of thought came to his mind.
Then Suhyuk continued,
"Well, I often make the rounds to check the patient's condition."
Park welcomed it more because that was a good opportunity for him to learn while following Suhyuk.
"Let's go."
When Suhyuk moved to the cafeteria, Park followed him briskly.
The two went out right after lunch.
Even though it was for a moment, Park could size up Suhyuk to some degree.
He would not open his mouth unless Park talked about patients.
Park felt very awkward while eating with him.
They still had 30 more minutes of lunch time left.
"Sir, I'd like to treat you to a cup of coffee because I was so thankful to you a short while ago."
With a smile, Suhyuk opened his mouth,
"Next time, Mr. Park. I have to see a patient now."
Park then followed him, with a crisp reply, "Yes, sir."
Though it was still lunchtime, Park did not have anything to complain about.
All this would be of immense help to him anyway.
He certainly could not miss the golden opportunity to learn from someone like Suhyuk.
Until then Park would not know it yet, namely that he would be destined to face many h.e.l.lish days.
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Chapter 104
It was 3am.
Coming out of the patient's room, Park sat on the hallway bench feebly.
His shoulders drooped, he tried hard not to close his drooping eyelids.
Suddenly, what he had experienced at emergency medical department came to his mind.
Dressing, blood collection, CT, MRI, endoscopy tests, and getting consent forms, etc.
Besides, he had to keep a watchful eye on the patients under anesthesia to check if they were falling from the bed.
Yet it was worse at the cardiothoracic surgery department.
'I feel like dying.'
Park thought like that. How many hours did he sleep for during the past few days?
Nine hours? Ten hours?
Though he was only an intern, he felt he was being mistreated.
He had no work to do except for following Suhyuk.
That was the problem, though.
Suhyuk kept seeing the patients as if he had an indefinite physical strength like a robot.
Also, his explanation of the diseases.
He felt he was going crazy because of Suhyuk's outpouring explanation whenever he met patients. His explanation was easy, but it was enormous enough to have him retch.
He felt like he was being tormented.
'I want to sleep… Just 10 minutes…'
At that moment, Suhyuk came out of the patient room that he had entered into a while ago.
He just finished checking the patient's condition one more time.
Park sprang to his feet.
"You look tired. Go home and take a rest."
Park, with his bloodshot eyes, shook his head.
"I'm alright, sir."
'Please tell me once more to take a rest.'
How can he accept big senior Suhyuk's request right away? If Suhyuk insisted once more, then Park would be ready to go to the lodging with reluctant acceptance.
'Please, sir…'
But his wishes did not come true, as he expected.
Suhyuk was looking at him proudly, and Park could not betray his expectation.
Turning back, Suhyuk headed back to the patient's room.
"This is a patient with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. This disease is less than 1% of congenital malformation…"
Park, following him with faltering steps, wanted to shut his ears to Suhyuk's words.
The next morning.
Im, who just came back after having been dispatched to the heavy injuries center, was stunned to see Park. His skin was rough and dry, and he looked pale as a ghost as if he did not sleep for three days straight. Im looked at Suhyuk.
"Don't you think you're giving Park too much of a hard time?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Suhyuk looked at Park.
"I'm in good hands, sir. He doesn't give me any hard work…"
"Then, how come your face looks so haggard? Were you doing something else instead of sleeping at night?"
Park just felt tight in heart.
He did not work, but… He just felt crying.
"Well…"
"Tell me. What is it? What did you do yesterday?'
"I just followed Dr. Lee Suhyuk."
"Just following him? Was that all? You didn't collect blood, either?"
"Yes… but in the morning…"
Without hearing him out, Im looked at Suhyuk with a frown.
"Hey, Lee Suhyuk. Are you here to take care of a picnic boy? From now one, let Park do the ch.o.r.es of dressing, getting the consent forms for the patient's examinations, etc. Don't you think Park was just fooling around after leaving the office as you're so nice to him?"
"Yes, sir."
Hearing Suhyuk's reply, Im then looked at Park and said scoldingly, "Do it right, okay?"
Park bowed his head and said, "Yes, sir. I'll work hard."
At the same time, Park said to himself from the bottom of his heart,
"Thank you Dr. Im. You saved me!"
He felt as if he could regain his strength because he could work independently from Suhyuk for a while.
"By the way, Lee. The professor wants to see you. Park, come and follow me."
Park quickly followed Im.
Suhyuk felt pitiful about him because he would have to take on lots of work from now on.
Suhyuk headed for the professor's office.
"Did you look for me, sir?"
With a soft smile, Han asked him to sit and offered him a cup of coffee.
"Is your new intern working well?"
Suhyuk nodded his head.
"Yes. He seems to have a strong determination to learn."
"That's good to hear. Recently I haven't found any interns interested in cardiothoracic surgery."
Except for Lee Suhyuk who wa right before his eyes.
"Why did you call me, sir?"
Han shook his head from side to side.'
"Well, I heard that a TV network is sending their crew here to cover our hospital in the form of a doc.u.mentary."
Suhyuk was surprised suddenly. He reacted reflexively at the word 'broadcast.'
'Hopefully not the cardiothoracic surgery department.'
When he sometimes watches a TV doc.u.mentary, it often showed the emergency room.
"Are they coming to cover the cardiothoracic surgery department by any chance?"
Han, nodding his head, took coffee to his lips.
"Why are they covering us rather than other departments?"
"How should I know, seeing as the higher-ups made the decision?"
"Please make sure they don't shoot me, sir."
Other doctors are trying hard to have their faces shot on the TV screen more, and some of them pa.s.s by the shooting scene on purpose.
"I think they are coming to film me intensively."
Suhyuk made a blank expression because he had to follow Han wherever he moved.
Whether he was moving for the patient's examination or surgery, it did not matter.
Reading Suhyuk's expression, Han made a feigned laugh because he had a miserable scowl on his face.
"Don't you like it?"
"To be honest, I don't like it, sir."
"Any reason?"
He had only one reason. He did not want to draw any attention.
What kind of situation would develop if his face appeared on TV even for a moment?
He was not an entertainer in any way.
Firming up his mind, he said, "Well, I'm afraid it will disturb me when I see patients or when I partic.i.p.ate in surgery."
While having coffee, Han cleared his throat as if he got something caught in his windpipe.
How could any doctor say such a thing to the TV crew?
Clearing his throat, Han opened his mouth,
"That makes sense, but the audience watching the doc.u.mentary could change their thinking a bit."
Suhyuk made a perplexed expression.
"Do you know what they think about doctors usually? They think doctors are infected with their social status behaving high and mighty or that they treat patients roughly. Of course not all people think like that but…"
Moistening his throat with coffee, Han said again,
"That's why doctors like you should appear on TV. There are doctors like you who don't look at the patients as money and don't perform difficult surgeries. We should be on TV to say that. It's like a dagger we're darting to those doctors without conscience, so they can feel the pang of conscience sharply."
Suhyuk nodded at Han's smile.
There was nothing wrong with Han's remarks.
Though he did not want to be seen on TV, at the same time he wanted to inform the audience that there are doctors working hard, like Han said.
Of course, that type of doctor would be Prof. Han.
In his opinion, Han was the best doctor who put the patient before anything else.
All he had to do was just help the TV crew film him.
If that's the case…
At that moment Suhyuk thought of an interesting idea.
"When do they start filming?"
Han smiled at Suhyuk's asking.
"We're going to have a meeting in three hours."
Suhyuk laughed awkwardly.
While turning over a chart, Suhyuk received a call.
"What are you doing? Come here now!"
"Yes, I'm coming now."
After he hung up the phone, he walked to the conference room reluctantly, and he opened the door.
Some strangers were talking with the professors of the cardiothoracic surgery.
"By the way, why are you wearing a mask?"
Han, talking with the TV crew, looked at him.
"I have a cough, sir."
"You were perfectly normal a short time ago, right?"
"Looks like I have had a latent cough then."
"That's why you should have taken care of your body as a rule."
After having said that, Han made a serious joke to the director of photography next to him,
"See. Doctors don't take care of their own sickness. This is Dr. Lee Suhyuk, a very capable doctor."
Suhyuk was surprised at his name being mentioned suddenly, and read the director's countenance.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Han Woontaek."
When he reached out his hand, Suhyuk could breathe a sigh of relief.
Director Han was not aware of him.
"Nice to meet you, too. My name is Lee Suhyuk."
So, they talked with the TV crew about the doc.u.mentary project.
Their discussion could be summed up like this.
Namely, just work as usual while the TV crew are filming it in a way that they would not disturb them as much as possible.
Their discussion ended soon, and Suhyuk went out of the room.
Then he heard the director directing his crew members.
"Number 2 camera, Woojin, you shoot a film of Dr. Lee Suhyuk."
A young guy approached Suhyuk right after the director's order.
He looked to be in his late 20s, with a round physique.
Holding his camera, he opened his mouth,
"My name is Kim Woojin. I look forward to your help for one week, sir."
"I thought you would focus on Prof. Han. Isn't it true?"
"You're right. Prof. Han is our main focus, but we need to take a shot of other doctors. Our director already explained about it at the meeting."
Suhyuk's sigh came out his mask quietly, and he opened his mouth,
"Okay, got it. Hope I'm in good hands, too."
Outside the conference room Suhyuk and the director were walking on the hallway.
Patients and nurses looked at them curiously because it was unusual.
"May I ask about your job t.i.tle here?"
Mr. Kim Woojin, a.s.signed to taking a shot of Suhyuk asked.
"I'm in my first year of residency. Why are you asking that?"
"Well, we have to put in the captions when we edit the filmed material. When we air the doc.u.mentary, your name and job t.i.tle comes in."
Suhyuk stopped walking and slowly turned back, saying,
"Can you just take out my name and describe me as a resident?"
As he was wearing a mask, only his glittering eyes were seen.
At least it was what the cameraman could see.
"Let me ask the director then…"
He took out his cell phone and called the director,
"Sir, it looks like Dr. Lee Suhyuk doesn't want his name and t.i.tle identified."
Kim handed his phone to Suhyuk then.
"He wanted to talk to you, sir."
Suhyuk was handed the phone, and said, "Please respect my wish."
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Chapter 105
"Will do."
Confirming the director's reply, Suhyuk returned the phone to Kim and turned back.
He felt as if he were a victor.
"Where are you heading for now?" asked Kim.
Stepping backwards, Kim started taking a shot of him.
Suhyuk consciously felt that he was being filmed at the moment.
"I'm seeing a patient who has undergone umbilical hernia surgery."
Suhyuk would see patients after he's done with all his jobs of the day.
That's why nurses could not help but like him.
Suhyuk was listening to almost 80% of the complaints of the patients.
"What kind of disease is it?"
"In plain words, the organ is not located where it's supposed to be, but pushed to the wrong place."
Filming him, Kim nodded his head.
He soon arrived at the patient's room. The patient was an old woman in her 70s.
When Suhyuk was approaching, a middle-aged woman watching the TV made a smile.
She was her daughter and guardian.
"You're here, doctor!"
"Has she eaten?"
She nodded her head, looking at her mother.
"Oh, she just wants more and more food every day."
With a smile, Suhyuk came closer to the woman in bed. She was sound asleep.
The surgery went well, and she could be discharged now.
Suhyuk moved his hand to the IV line to check whether the fluid was dropping properly.
Then, the patient, who seemed to be in sound sleep, opened her eyes suddenly.
"Oh, you are here, young man!"
Though she spoke in a childish tone, Suhyuk did not care at all, and made a smile.
She has been suffering from dementia.
Suhyuk opened his mouth, "You recognize me very well even if I wear a mask?"
"What is this?"
As she moved her hand to his mask, he flinched and stepped back, but she was faster and pulled away his mask.
'Ooops..I'm just helpless now.'
Thinking so, he moved his eyes to one side. It looked as if the big camera was scoffing at him.
Suhyuk suddenly hugged the old woman.
Though he was now without a mask, Kim was filming him from behind.
"How fortunate you are as you had a good surgery like this!"
She widened her eyes, clearly surprised by his unexpected act.
However, she also hugged him and stroked his back.
"How wonderful!"
The guardian could not help but smile naturally at that.
Is there another doctor like him? He is really a warm-hearted doctor who is just like a family member to them.
"Where are you heading for this time?"
"I'm seeing a patient who is being discharged today."
"What kind of patient are they?"
"She is one who had acute appendicitis."
Then Suhyuk stopped walking and opened his mouth again,
"Often they say they have had appendix, but the correct term is acute appendicitis."
The cameraman nodded his head.
The two arrived at the patient's room, where the woman patient who seemed to be in her early 20s was packing her stuff.
Opening her round eyes, she alternately looked at Suhyuk and the cameraman.
Suhyuk approached her and smiled.
Of course, as he was wearing a mask, only his eyes were seen to her.
"The TV network is making a doc.u.mentary here. If you don't want your face to be seen, please tell me."
Stunned, she began combing her hair.
Kim took a shot of her.
"You must feel good as you're being discharged today. What are you going to do first thing when you go out?"
She stroked her face as if she felt rather awkward.
"Well, I think I have to finish up my backlogged homework… I also want to have some delicious food… May I, doctor?"
Suhyuk nodded his head.
"Of course. Congrats on your discharge today! Don't come back to the hospital!"
That's the typical greeting Suhyuk says to a discharged patient.
"Do you have anything to say about Dr. Lee?"
At the cameraman's asking, she made a smile and said,
"He's been so nice and kind to me while I'm here. Even at a late hour he would come and check my condition…"
One day she was about to sleep after tossing and turning, when Suhyuk stopped by and pulled the blanket over her quietly.
'I wish I had a boyfriend like him.'
She would think like that several times whenever she looked at him walking out of the room quietly.
"Ah! And my friends say he saved a person's life by applying CPR…"
"Hahahaha!"
Suddenly Suhyuk made a big laugh, and opened his mouth,
"Congrats on your discharge today from the bottom of my heart!"
Astonished by his big laughing, Kim fixed his camera again at her.
"What did you say a moment ago?"
"CPR…"
"Hahaha! Come with me. Let me help you get discharged."
"Oh, yes…"
With a blush on her face, she pushed back her long hair to her ears.
'Dr. Lee is helping me with my discharge directly? Does he like me by any chance? Will he ask for my contact details'
She could have a little hope like that is what she thought, however, it never happened like that. All he did was help her with the discharge process.
"Thank you."
After saying such and bowing her head, she left the lobby.
Though she wanted to see his face, he did not remove his mask even to the end.
"Huuuh…"
Suhyuk let out a sigh of relief. He could not lower his guard for even a moment.
"Oh, are you seeing a patient off like this?"
At Kim's asking, Suhyuk said shortly, "Yes."
He usually accompanied the discharged patient to the lobby.
Of course, when he was busy, he could not.
Kim was thinking the opposite, though.
"By the way, if you don't remove the mask, your face might not appear on TV."
"I don't care at all. I can't pa.s.s on my cold to the patients."
Kim nodded at Suhyuk's reply.
He was supposed to follow him for the whole week.
He would certainly take off his mask during that period.
Thinking so, Kim followed Suhyuk.
Making the rounds of the patients, Suhyuk checked and recorded their condition one by one.
Dressing after disinfection was basic practice to him.
There was nothing particular and no emergency patients.
Kim's shooting continued into the afternoon.
While Suhyuk was turning over the chart, Kim paid attention to his stiff neck.
Even though he was not busy, Suhyuk never had a break time.
Was it because he was in front of the camera? Kim thought so.
Approaching Suhyuk, Kim said, putting his camera down on the chair,
"Dr. Lee, would you like coffee? Let me treat you."
"It's still business hour."
Kim scratched his cheek, and felt embarra.s.sed at Suhyuk's stern tone.
"Ok, sir. I won't shoot the film. So, take it easy. I'm afraid you'll be out of sorts if you keep working everyday."
Suhyuk smiled at his expression of concern.
"I'm fine. If you're tired, please take a break and come back later."
Shaking his head, Kim grabbed the camera again.
Then a phone placed before the PC buzzed. A nurse sitting nearby picked it up.
And she looked at Suhyuk.
"Sir, an emergency patient is being transported here."
"What kind of patient are they?"
"I hear that they fell down the stairs…"
"Got it."
Suhyuk raced toward the elevator and pressed all the b.u.t.tons.
Still, the elevator was very slow.
Looking at the floor that the elevator stopped on, he called somewhere.
It was Prof. Han he called.
"Prof. Han, we're having a heavy injury patient come in. Let me see him."
Han quickly said, "Ok, let me come down in a minute. First, have him get the necessary tests."
Suhyuk hung up the phone and moved.
Instead of waiting for the slow elevator, he was walking down the emergency exit stairs.
"Sir! Go with me!"
Walking down the stairs, Suhyuk moved more quickly.
He paid no attention to the cameraman, which was only natural.
For he did not feel it necessary to move with the cameraman.
The patient, who already arrived, was lying with pads on his chest.
A resident in his second year was checking the vital signs of the patient, when Suhyuk approached.
"I hurried here because of the call."
"Good."
Making a frown, the resident stepped back, and Suhyuk took his place.
The patient, moaning now, was bleeding.
His front teeth were broken. Besides, there were small and large bruises all over his body.
It was certain that he fell down the stairs.
Now he began to scream, "It hurts!"
His mouth smelled strongly of alcohol.
"Where do you feel hurt the most?"
"My chest hurts! My chest!"
Suhyuk cast his eyes at his chest. It was reddish as if his chest was. .h.i.t by some object while he was falling down the stairs. Fortunately he was normal mentally.
Then Kim Woojin came up to him.
"What kind of patient is he?"
Did he not hear Kim?
Suhyuk was pus.h.i.ng the stretcher carrying the patient to the heavy injury unit.
"This really drives me crazy.."
Steaming with sweat, Kim followed him quickly.
Suhyuk's response was swift, as usual.
Still, it took him as much as 30 minutes to perform tests on the patient, even though he acted very quickly.
First he collected blood from the patient, and then other tests were done.
From head to toe the patient was scanned.
Looking at the monitor, Suhyuk murmured.
"Liver laceration."
Kim Woojin, who was taking a shot of the patient's CT of his chest, asked what that meant.
Someone replied from behind.
"It means his liver was ruptured."
He was Prof. Han. When he approached, Suhyuk opened his mouth,
"His vital sign isn't improving, even with blood profusions. I think we need to start surgery."
Han was looking at the CT carefully.
The black shade that should not be between the diaphragm and liver was caught in his eye.
It was a sign that there was internal bleeding.
"When did he begin receiving blood profusions?"
"More than 30 minutes ago."
"Get ready for surgery."
At Han's order, the medical staff began moving the patient.
"I don't want surgery! No."
The patient, smelling strongly of alcohol, shouted suddenly.
The cameraman shooting Han asked, "Looks like he is an emergency patient."
Han, nodding his head, opened his mouth,
"As for a patient with liver laceration, if their blood pressure and pulse can be maintained by appropriate conservative therapy, then you do not have to perform surgery. But I think he needs surgery."
The blood was pooling in the diaphragm, and the pulse and blood pressure were dropping without improving for over 30 minutes.
Blood transfusion and medication would be enough.
There was no other choice but to open his belly and give a direct hemostasis.
Han headed for the operating room directly.
Han opened his mouth, was.h.i.ng his forearm with a disinfection brush,
"Looks like the patient has plenty of go in him."
Suhyuk nodded his head. Intoxication made him dumb.
"Let's go."
Nodding, Suhyuk changed into an operating gown.
He also wore a new mask, and he turned back quickly with an eerie feeling.
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Chapter 106
The cameraman, who covered his camera with a disinfected germ-free sheet, also followed.
Though Suhyuk covered his face with a surgery cap and mask, he still could be identified.
For Kim was taking a shot of him.
Was it possible for his face to have been shot?
Perhaps not. Suhyuk changed his mask with his back to Kim.
Zeeeeing….
The automatic door opened and Suhyuk went in along with three cameramen.
Fortunately they did not get close to the operating bed. Perhaps they were instructed not to.
They just took a shot of various stuff in the room.
Kim, who was taking a shot of Suhyuk, walked to the side, and filmed the doctor looking squarely into the patient's eyes. He was standing there as still as a stone statue.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm keeping an eye on this patient who is under anesthesia, as he might fall from the bed if we aren't careful."
'Is he an intern?'
An icy voice came into Kim's ear, who had been thinking like that.
"Don't move carelessly."
It was Suhyuk's voice.
Kim took wavering steps back before he knew it.
Though only one day pa.s.sed since he started to follow Lee, it was the first time Kim saw such an icy look.
'Is it because of this?'
He heard that doctors tended to be very sensitive when they went into the operating room.
Kim Woojin took a little more distance from the operating table to take a shot of Suhyuk.
So, the three cameramen were intensively taking a shot of the doctors a.s.signed to them.
And as they installed a camera on the ceiling, they did not have to move to take a speedy shot from a different angle.
The filmed material would be edited and then processed in black and white for broadcast purposes.
The medical staff, busy preparing the surgery, now went back to their place, and the patient closed his eyes under the influence of the anesthesia.
"Bobby."
At Han's words, the surgery began.
The patient's belly was opened with the smell of burning flesh.
"Pull it!"
The two interns pulled the patient's abdominal wall on both sides using a retractor, and the heart stained with blood was seen pounding. And a reddish blood was coming out of the liver next to the heart.
"Irrigation!"
At the professor's order, the surgical nurse handed the saline solution to him.
On such occasions, the organs surfaced as they were.
"Unexpectedly, the damage is not that severe. So, we can finish the surgery quickly. Suction!"
The intern, who was monitoring the anesthetized patient, inserted a suction device inside the belly. It sucked in the blood mixed with saline solution.
At that moment, the suction device made a fluttering noise as it it was pulling away something strange.
"Hey!"
Han shouted at him.
Stunned, the intern pulled out the suction device as if he was burnt by something.
Not knowing what he did wrong, he opened his mouth, "Sorry, sir."
Gus.h.i.ng blood spattered over Han's loupe suddenly.
The suction device directly touched the liver, which caused more bleeding to come from it.
Han stepped back without saying anything. The nurse wiped the blood off his loupe right away.
Suhyuk on the opposite side opened his mouth,
"Irrigation."
When Suhyuk held out his hand, the a.s.sistant gave him wash fluid.
He poured it into the belly, and held out his hand to Park Sungjae to signal that Park should hand over the suction device to him.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Watch carefully."
As an experienced hand, Suhyuk sucked in the blood, saying to him,
"Next time, try to think you're alone with the patient in the room."
Suhyuk did not say anything after that.
Park was at a loss on how to understand what he said.
But Han was smiling as if he said that as the answer himself.
Instead of scolding and punis.h.i.ng him, that kind of talk was the best advice.
Of course, it would take some time for Park to fully understand it.
In no time the damaged organ began to reveal itself after Suhyuk repeatedly sucked in blood.
The liver was not crushed like a tofu, but ruptured, which meant it did not need any partial removal.
Suhyuk opened his mouth, "Let me do it, sir."
Han nodded his head. At his approval, the medical staff remained silent.
For they clearly knew his capabilities that they had witnessed several times.
Nothing new or strange to them, because it was Lee Suhyuk.
In sewing the ruptured liver as soft as a tofu with his blood-stained hands, Suhyuk did not show any hesitation.
Han, nodding his head, watched him quietly.
Then a cameraman spoke to him,
"Looks like the doctor has performed surgery many times before."
The professor said, shaking his head,
"Maybe five times?"
The cameraman was surprised a bit.
"Is this an easy surgery?"
"Not at all."
"How come he…"
"Well, he is a doctor who thinks the world of his patients, and that's why he is so capable."
The cameraman who has been taking a shot of Han gestured toward Kim.
That was a signal to him that he should take a good shot of Suhyuk.
After surgery the patient could open his eyes in the recovery room.
As the surgery did go well, just as planned, the medical staff laughed.
But the patient developed a dizzy symptom.
He grabbed Suhyuk's hair and made much ado of nothing, but the medical staff calmed him down quickly. After he took a good rest alone in the recovery room, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit.
Confirming the patient was asleep, Suhyuk came out of the room, and he made a bitter smile, stroking his hair.
Fortunately he had thick hair.
"You must be stressed when you see a patient like him."
Suhyuk shook his head when the cameraman asked that question.
"It's just dizzy symptom. As he had sudden surgery, he must have been very surprised and scared."
Kim took a close-up shot of his eyes. That glittering eyes of his.
"Don't you feel stuffy if you wear a mask?"
"I'm alright. Let's go."
Suhyuk's gown was fluttering.
While he was taking a shot of Suhyuk's appearance from behind, Kim thought of what the director said a moment ago, "Don't fail to take a shot of Dr. Lee Suhyuk's face."
"Looks like he wouldn't take it off, giving the excuse that he has a cold."
"You've got be ready to remove it if needed."
—–
Three days pa.s.sed since they started shooting.
Kim Woojin felt he was going nuts because he could not see this masked doctor taking a break at all. Patient, patient, patient. Whenever he arrived at the hospital, he would make the rounds of patients. Did he sleep for only four hours a day?
Due to Suhyuk's short sleep, Kim had to reduce his sleeping time.
Of course he could understand that, because doctors were normally busy, but of all doctors, only Suhyuk seemed so busy in his eyes.
That's not the point, of course.
However he tried, Kim could not take a shot of his face.
Even when he had a meal, he put seaweed rolls into his mouth, with milk.
So Kim spent several days trying to shoot him in vain.
"Huuuuuuh…."
Kim, sweeping up his hair, headed for the conference room.
He was not going there for a break, but he had a call from the director.
"Is everybody here?"
All the staff of the camera team gathered in the conference room.
Kim Woojin was one of them.
"Mansuk, did you finish the interviews with the nurses?"
"Yes, sir!"
The director called each one of the staff to double check if there was anything missing.
"Ok, nice job! Now we have one more day to go, so let's cheer up! Don't make any mistakes. Dismissed!"
The camera staff began to go out one by one, and so did Kim.
Then the director approached him and said, "Did you get a shot of his face?"
"Well…"
The director suddenly made a frown.
"Whenever he eats or drinks, he never removes his mask."
"Did I ask you to report about it? Did you take the shot or not?"
"No, sir…"
He came up close to Kim with big strides, demanding,
"Shoot it. Today is the last shooting day."
"Looks like he doesn't want to be seen on TV… what if he takes an issue of portraits right?"
"Didn't you see the doctors sign the contract before we began the shooting? It's all included there. So, just take a shot of him. And did you ever see anyone who didn't want to appear on TV?"
The current doc.u.mentary is to be aired as 'Dr. Han Myungjin's story.'
Such a famous doctor has extolled another doctor by the name of Lee Suhyuk.
Even in the operating room, Han quietly watched him performing the surgery with a proud look.
A doctor recognized by the famous doctor, Dr. Han Myungjin.
The figure of Lee Suhyuk was a very important character in the current doc.u.mentary.
"I'll get you if I don't find Dr. Lee's face in your shots."
"……."
"Answer me!"
"Yes, sir. Got it!"
Tick. Tick.
The second hand pointed to 4am.
Exhausted with fatigue, Kim was sitting on the lobby bench.
At that moment Suhyuk came out of the patient's room.
"You look very tired, so please go home and take a rest."
"Were you done with checking the patients for the day?"
"I've got one more patient."
Nodding his head slowly, Kim asked to shake hands with him.
"Ok, let me go home then. Thanks a lot for your work for the past seven days."
Suhyuk held his hands.
"You, too, had lots of hard times, Mr. Kim."
Suhyuk really felt relieved now. He would not do it never again.
"Though I feel it regrettable that I can't see your face, there might be chance for me to see you on TV, or next time."
At his words, Suhyuk nodded his head gently.
"Take care, then!"
Parting with him, Kim got on the elevator to go down, and Suhyuk was able to confirm it.
Only then could Suhyuk breathe a sigh of relief.
Still he did not remove his mask. Though he felt very stuffy because of the mask he was wearing for one week, he just put up with it with perseverance.
So, he saw the last patient of the day, and headed home.
An emergency staircase right beside the lodging that Suhyuk went into…
A door closed tightly opened slightly. And a guy came out from there quietly.
He checked the time on his cell phone.
4:20am.
When 30 minutes more pa.s.sed, he turned off the power of his cell phone.
He grabbed the door latch cautiously, and turned it.
Jolt!
The door opened.
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Chapter 107
The doc.u.mentary 'Noted Doctor Han Myungjin' was broadcast nationwide.
And one day pa.s.sed.
"You must be upset, sir."
The nurses came up to Suhyuk with a blank face for words of comfort.
Other doctors appeared on the doc.u.mentary, but Suhyuk was only seen sleeping.
"I'm alright…"
Letting out a long breath, Suhyuk moved to make the rounds.
Then Park Sungjae grabbed him and said, "Did you have a good sleep, sir?"
Suhyuk made a bitter smile. Did he sleep well enough?
"Let's go, sir."
When Suhyuk moved, Park followed him.
Per Im Gyongsu's direction, he had Park take care of simple stuff such as blood collection, disinfection of a surgery area, dressing, etc.
Of course, Suhyuk watched Park carry out his duty quietly.
On such occasions, patients made some pitiful look at Suhyuk.
"What a pity he was seen only sleeping in the doc.u.mentary!"
"Among other doctors Dr. Lee should have been seen most."
Hearing such gossip, Suhyuk just came in and went out of the patient's rooms.
But that was it. Nothing more happened.
All he could notice was another appreciation of his face by those acquaintances of his at the hospital. Suhyuk felt his uneasiness was going away for some reason.
Was it a useless worry on his end?
Making the rounds of the patient's rooms, he gave Park the a.s.signments of the day.
"Please get the consent for the CT from the patient with liver laceration, and let me know as soon as his CT is taken."
Nodding his head, Park opened his mouth,
"Sir, when you want to apply a needle in the belly…"
Park suddenly took his question back, when Suhyuk was turning around to see him.
"I didn't hear you well. Can you tell me again?"
"No, never mind it. Let me go and take the CT."
Then Park turned back quickly to head to the imaging room.
"Huuuuuuh…"
He let out a sigh of relief before he knew it.
If he had asked him his question, he would not have breathed well, digesting his vast knowledge of that specific question.
It would be much better for him to ask Im Gyungsu, even if he got scolded.
Park's gait was much faster now because he was afraid he might be called back by Suhyuk.
It was the best policy for him not to be caught by Suhyuk as much as possible.
Suhyuk smiled at Park's appearance from behind.
Park had the right att.i.tude to learn, and once given an order, he moved fast to handle it.
He felt Park would be a good doctor.
Of course, Suhyuk never knew what Park was really thinking.
Besides, he did not know either what was going on in the internet since the doc.u.mentary was aired.
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Suhyuk was watching the monitor quietly.
He was the patient with liver laceration.
On the monitor there was no blood pool, no inflammation.
Depending on his condition over the next few days, he could get discharged if he regained energy.
Suhyuk talked to Park looking at it next to him,
"What do you think about his condition?"
Park was looking into the monitor closely.
If he could not answer, he would get a good scolding.
"Looks like it's normal, sir."
Suhyuk smiled at his hesitant reply, saying,
"You're right. But it's important to keep an eye on it because…"
At that moment his cell phone buzzed.
Looking at it, he made a curious expression.
The call was from the hospital director.
"Yes, this is Lee Suhyuk, sir."
"Long time no see. Are you busy now?"
"Not really, sir. What is it?"
"Can I see you for a moment? I've got a favor to ask of you."
What could it be?
He could not figure out the reason however hard he thought of it.
"I'll be right there, sir."
He instantly moved, saying to Park, "Have a break here."
Park did not respond. He waited until Suhyuk was gone, and then went to see Im.
Suhyuk headed straight to the hospital director's office.
His secretary welcomed him, saying, "Hi, Dr. Lee. I saw you on TV."
With a bitter smile he opened his mouth, "Is the director in?"
"Yes, wait a moment."
She let him know Suhyuk was here.
A middle-aged man sitting against the background of the outside landscape through a wide window. Director Jang Kitaek offered him a seat.
"Have a seat. You want coffee or juice?"
Putting his cell phone down, Jang sat across him, saying,
"How is your life here? Can you manage it?"
"It's fine, sir."
Jang smiled, shaking his head as if he could not believe him.
"You must be very busy. Doctors are short-handed all the time. They should take care of their health under that kind of situation, and they should know how to take a break sometimes…"
Suhyuk nodded his head lightly, asking him, "Any reason you brought me here?"
"Oh, you must be hot-tempered… Do you know how to treat patients?"
Suhyuk made a blank expression at Jang's question out of nowhere.
"There are so many patients in the lobby waiting for your treatment."
Actually the hospital lobby was crowded with patients who wanted to be treated by Suhyuk.
There was no way of knowing how many more would come.
The patients would not go back even if they heard that they could not see him.
Even a certain patient shouted back when he was rejected.
Almost 30 patients had to be turned back in the morning.
Jang was afraid that the hospital's image would get damaged because of that.
"Yes, I think I could treat them…"
Jang asked some doctors about him a moment ago, who all said Suhyuk was a competent doctor even though he was only a first-year resident.
Besides, there were lots of praises about him everywhere.
He could believe it because reliable doctors testified to it.
"After lunch, please take care of those patients."
There took place a very unusual thing.
Daehan University Hospital belonged to the third category of places for treatment.
Without referrals from the first or second category places, it was difficult for patients to be treated at the third category place, because they did not do general practice.
Of course the patients could get the treatment there, but their paperwork is usually handled by the emergency team with no coverage of insurance.
But a special arrangement was made today so that Daehan Hospital could provide an ad hoc office for general practice. The office in the corner of the 2nd floor was emptied, with a nameplate hung in front of the door.
Inside Suhyuk looked around, scratching his head.
When he came there right after lunch, such an office for general practice was installed immediately.
The door opened, and a nurse put down lots of paper with simple personal information about the patients.
The paperwork of patients seeing him in order was piled up one by one on the table.
Looking at them blankly, Suhyuk asked, "What's all this?"
"They're all here to see Dr. Lee."
With a smile, the nurse opened her mouth, looking at him,
"You must feel good as you have so many patients."
She meant it. It seems all those patients waiting came here to see him.
"As this is a makes.h.i.ft office, we still can't work electronically. As soon as you're done treating patients, you can give it to the patient after filling out the prescription."
"Got it."
When she went out, Suhyuk let out a long breath, but soon brightened his expression.
Accepting new patients was always the same for him.
Then the first patient came in. Her name was Oh Jina, 20 years old.
Suhyuk said first, "How are you?"
"Wow! You look much better than on TV. You're really handsome!"
'Isn't it strange that she began with talking about my appearance? Isn't it normal she mentions her symptom first?'
"Thanks. What brought you here?"
"Oh, I have stomach ache. I had a diarrhea. Yesterday I was 'admitted into the restroom' all day long."
Smiling at her witty remarks, Suhyuk opened his mouth,
"Can I touch your belly?"
"Of course."
Suhyuk took his stethoscope to her stomach. He heard something growling inside.
Then he pressed around her navel to check if she felt any pain there.
"Do you feel any pain here?"
She shook her head. Then he put his hand on her forehead, saying, "You've got a fever."
"Right, doctor?"
With a smile he nodded his head, asking, "Do you see any b.l.o.o.d.y excrement or have any dizziness?"
"No, just diarrhea."
Suhyuk smiled as she was fortunate.
"Looks like it's simple enteritis."
"If it's simple, that means I can get treated quickly, right?"
Suhyuk nodded and said, "You don't have to get a shot. Instead let me give you a prescription."
Writing down a prescription, he handed it to her.
"Thank you, doctor."
"Just give it to the nurse."
After stealing another glance at him, she was about to turn back when Suhyuk said,
"I'm not done yet…"
She sat back on the chair.
Suhyuk explained to her about her disease, so she could understand easily.
"Most enteritis is caused by harmful bacteria from foods. It is in the same category as food poisoning. You said you've been 'admitted into the bathroom' because of enteritis, so you'll be careful next time, right?"
She nodded.
"For the time being, it is good to eat a meal that is good for digestion. Of course, you can have food with lactic acid bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria keeps down the growth of bad cells in the body. Please stay away from fatty foods, salty foods, milk, fruit and cold foods."
Hearing his explanation, she made a big smile without realising it
She could understand exactly why he was so famous.
Even though she did not ask first or even if she was not curious enough, he initiated an explanation like this.
It was the first time she met a doctor like this.
"Thank you. Doctor."
Rising from the seat, she cautiously opened her mouth,
"Sir, can I take a picture with you?"
Suhyuk, scratching his head, posed with her for a picture.
Oh Jina went out and in came the next patient.
"Uh?"
Suhyuk's eyes opened wider.
An old woman holding a black bag.
She was that very woman who, living in the shanty town, had drunk milk mixed the seeds of Angel's morning glory flowers at the Hannul Park.
"Who is this? Our dear Dr. Lee, your cheeks are sunken in!"
That was just the beginning.
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Chapter 108
The old woman rubbed his shoulders with her hands.
Her wrinkled eyes were as warm as ever as if she was greeting her own grandchild.
Offering her a seat, Suhyuk opened his mouth,
"How have you been?"
"I'm always doing well. Are you working without eating meals on time?"
"Oh, I'm eating well. Do you have any pain?"
"No, I don't. I just came here to see you. I just wanted to come to see you someday, but completely forgot. Then you were suddenly on TV!"
Having said that, she offered a black bag.
"What is this?"
Looking inside it, he made a gentle smile. It was potatoes.
"If you boil it, it tastes so good. So, put it somewhere and eat it when you're hungry."
Suhyuk smiled brightly after accepting them without hesitation.
"You don't grind the seeds to mix with milk, right?"
"No. As soon as I went home, I threw them all away. I was stupid enough to have made many people worried about me for that," answered she, as if she was sick and tired of it.
Suhyuk wore a bitter expression. Even though she was good-hearted and generous, she had no family. Her children, who contacted her on and off, lost track of her at the end of the day.
Surely they would get punishment as they left behind such a good mother.
Suhyuk chuckled more brightly, saying, "Dont' you feel any pain on your shoulders or pins and needles on your legs?"
"No, I'm really fine."
Then she held his hands and stroked them cautiously, saying,
"Your hands are so cute."
Looking down at his hands quietly, she raised her head and said, "Thanks, thanks."
"Is everyone doing fine there?"
He was inquiring after those old men and women in the shanty town.
"Of course, they're doing well. Oh, dear. I think I'm holding a busy doctor for too long…"
Standing up, she said again, "Don't skip your meals, and you have to take care of your health first and foremost. If you are sick, everything will crumble. I'll see you later, then."
When she turned around, he stood up quickly and opened the door.
"Please take care. And I'll stop by someday."
Yes, he will do so surely.
"You don't have to, seeing as you're busy. It would be a waste of time! Get back to work now!"
'I'll come and see you.'
She went back, and in came the next patient.
His name was Choi Gilsup, a 42-year-old man, and strangely enough, his name was familiar to him.
Choi, his wife, and a daughter, all came into the office.
"h.e.l.lo, sir?"
"Hi!"
With a smile, he cast his eyes toward the woman.
When he looked at Choi, he recalled who he was.
He was the very patient whose leg had been stuck when a newly built house collapsed.
"How have you been, doctor?"
At Choi's asking, Suhyuk made a gentle smile, "Good, of course."
Suhyuk looked at his wife and child, with Choi standing next to them.
Without succ.u.mbing to the accident, Choi stood up on his own to support his family.
He looked to be in good condition.
"We were not sure what you liked… but this is a gift we've prepared."
It was an import alcohol that seemed very expensive.
"I thought you were here because you're sick…"
"I'm very healthy thanks to you, sir."
6pm.
The official consultation hours were over.
Though Suhyuk said he could see more patients, his supervisors stopped him.
The makes.h.i.ft office was against the regulation, and this was supposed to make those involved run into trouble. Not only protests from other hospitals but a big fuss could come out of it.
So, the hospital set up a policy to run the makes.h.i.ft office for general practice for three days only.
Though he was done with treating patients, Suhyuk was still staying in the office.
With his eyes fixed at one corner, he scratched his head.
A lot of gifts were piled up there.
Healthy foods ranging from potatoes and import alcohol, to ginseng and green vegetable juice.
What should I do with all these…
His parents naturally came to his mind, and he made a smile.
It was the third day that Daehan Hospital opened a general practice office. Time pa.s.sed fast, and Suhyuk was hectically busy treating the patients.
Sometimes he would pose with patients, and he felt much relieved to think of it as an extra service to them.
"Thank you."
When the patient stood up, Suhyuk opened his mouth, "For the time being, stay away from drinking alcohol."
Another patient quickly came in. Park Chanhee, a 37-year-old man.
He was in a neat suit, and sat on the chair with a smile.
Suhyuk asked softly, "Are you here due to any pain?"
"h.e.l.lo, Dr. Lee. I'm not here due to being sick. I'm from Cheil Hospital."
Suhyuk's eyes became wider at his reply. Cheil Hospital was called a top hospital along with Daehan Hospital in Korea.
"Why are you here, by the way?"
"I just wanted to see you. Unless I come to see you like this, I was afraid I couldn't meet you, as you're quite busy."
"Is that all you're here for?"
Suhyuk's tone changed. As he was not a patient, it's better to get him out of the office quickly.
For the next patient was waiting.
"Here's my business card."
Suhyuk looked at the card. He was a general surgeon.
When he looked at him again, Park opened his mouth.
"Frankly speaking, our hospital would like to scout you. Of course, we'll pay you more than Daehan Hospital."
Having said that, Park read his countenance.
Generally speaking, a hospital needs famous doctors.
For they bring in lots of patients, and the prestige of the hospital is supposed to go up.
So, Cheil Hospital staff conducted a secret investigation into Dr. Lee Suhyuk.
Thought he just became a resident, there was universal praise of him at Daehan Hospital.
In short, he was a doctor with immense potential.
That was enough.
Taking his eyes off the card, Lee said,
"Thanks for giving me such high praise."
Park rose from his seat, saying, "You don't have to reply right now. Please give it some thought and let us know."
Park headed to the door, and when he grabbed the door latch, he turned back,
"I want you to know this, though. If you come over to our hospital, we'll offer you the best compensation in terms of benefits and pay. Goodbye, then."
He soon went out of the hospital.
'Cheil Hospital…'
When he was looking at the card, another patient came in.
Suhyuk smiled at the patient, "Come in!"
One more day pa.s.sed and the temporary general practice was now over.
The hospital director let him take a day off, with words of appreciation.
As Suhyuk thought of taking a day off too, he felt good about it.
Getting up early in the morning, Suhyuk was moving some packages to a truck.
A one-ton truck was parked in front of Daehan Hospital.
All the packages were already loaded, which were the gifts he had received from the patients.
"This is the last package. Let's go."
Suhyuk got in the truck, along with the driver.
"What are all those packages?"
At his asking, Suhyuk just smiled, saying, "I just want to give them to my parents."
"Wow! I've never seen such a huge number of gifts like this."
The driver, feeling envious about his parents, thought of his son who went to college.
He did not have any expectations of him. The one thing he wished for, was for him to be a good doctor like Suhyuk sitting next to him.
He wanted to brag about his son proudly to others. Yes, bragging about his son.
The truck drove for about one hour, and arrived at his house.
His mother, who had a day off only one day of the week, came out to greet Suhyuk.
"Come on in, my son!"
When she reached out her hands, he hugged her with a smile.
She said, while hugging him, "What are all those things?"
"They're gifts I received."
The driver, who was watching the mother and son with a satisfactory look, smiled greatly.
"He is a devoted son. I envy you."
Her warm smile brightened more. She said, stroking his shoulder, "You're such a cute boy!"
"Let's go in, mom."
Suhyuk began moving the packages with the driver.
She also helped them, although Suhyuk asked her to stay away.
Soon all the packages were moved inside the house.
She began to lift the gift boxes one by one that were piled up high in the living room.
All sorts of gifts, ranging from ginseng and black onions, to wine, etc, which all were reputed to be good for the health.
"Who gave you all these gifts?"
"I received them from the patients."
"All of them?"
He nodded his head.
"How thankful they are! This import alcohol seems to be very expensive. Let me give it to your daddy."
Suhyuk smiled at that.
"Oh, do you want lunch? Did you have breakfast?"
He shook his head and said, "I'm hungry."
Rising from the floor, he dusted off his hands.
"Wait a moment. Let me prepare lunch for you."
Then his cell phone buzzed.
"Hey, Dongsu."
"Oh, you take my call right away. Are you not busy now?"
"Looks like you're not either."
"Are you busy? I finish work a bit early today for the first time in a long time."
"Well, I'm at home now as I have a day off today."
"Great. How about soju with grilled pork belly at a nearby restaurant?"
"Ok, give me a call when you're done."
Hanging up the phone, he dined with his mother, and ate the delicious fruits that she peeled for him.
His happy time with his mom pa.s.sed quickly, and it was already the evening.
His father was pop-eyed at the many gift boxes.
"What are all those boxes?"
Going out, Suhyuk moved to the place he was supposed to meet Dongsu.
The weather was good, and the occasional wind made him feel cool.
Soon, Suhyuk arrived at the restaurant and went inside.
As it was the weekend, it was crowded with customers.
He took a seat, when Dongsu opened the door.
"Hey, Lee Suhyuk!"
Suhyuk smiled at him. Though he saw Dongsu after such a long time, he felt just congenial to him as if he was a friend he met only yesterday.
"Didn't you order yet? Auntie!"
Soon, side dishes and grilled pork belly were served.
When the meat was getting cooked well, Dongsu raised his soju cup.
"Today, soju feels sweet."
"Hey, slow down, man. You might completely black out."
"You're supposed to drink soju quick from the beginning, man."
Their drinking time was not short. They consumed as many as six bottles of soju.
Dongsu rested his chin on his hands, which suggested he was drunk, given his drinking pattern.
He was murmuring incomprehensible words.
Suhyuk drank up some more soju.
"Huuuuuh…"
When he let out a little breath, Suhyuk thought of one thing on his mind.
"We'll give you better compensation than Daehan Hospital."
At the same time he thought of his mother preparing food in the kitchen and the dust on his father's clothes after he returned home from work.
While Dongsu was murmuring alone, he refilled his own cup and drank it up.
Suhyuk took out the business card from his wallet and looked at it quietly.
How much time pa.s.sed?
"Yes, this is Park Heechan."
"Hi, this is Lee Suhyuk."
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Chapter 109
"Thanks for calling me. I've been waiting for your call."
Suhyuk smiled at his bright voice.
"h.e.l.lo? I can't hear you well because it's noisy around you there."
"Wait a moment."
Suhyuk went out of the restaurant.
Left alone, Dongsu was dozing off at the table and murmuring.
"Yes, it's you, man… I've got this evidence against you. If you keep making excuses, I'll get you…"
Though the grilled pork belly restaurant was crowded, Dongsu's closed eyes would not open.
How long pa.s.sed?
Suhyuk, coming back from outside, paid the bill and came back to the table.
And he filled his cup with soju. Looking at it quietly, he then drank it all up. He did so several times.
Wiping off his lips wet with soju, Suhyuk smiled at his friend, saying
"Dongsu, let's go home."
But he would not move, with his face down on the table.
Then Suhyuk rose from the seat, but he tottered, as he was very drunk.
Putting his hand on the table, he barely regained his balance.
At the same time a bottle of soju fell onto the floor and broke.
The owner came up and said, "Are you okay?"
"Sorry, sir."
Suhyuk lifted up Dongsu and said, "Dongsu, let's go home. Stand up."
No response, just like before. After some effort, Suhyuk lifted him, holding his arm.
Only then did he half open his eyes.
"Okay, let me treat you at another place. Let's go!"
Suhyuk took him out, feeling the cool air blowing toward him occasionally.
"Come to your senses, man!"
Still, he was tottering, leaning against Suhyuk. Suhyuk did, too.
He was just a bit less intoxicated than Dongsu.
Dongsu was closing his eyes, with his head down.
"Are you sleeping?"
Shaking his head, Suhyuk said again, "Dongsu, I'm not sure if what I said was good."
Then, some sort of slurred words were coming out of his mouth,
"Yes, you're my friend, man. Good job, good job."
Having said that, he became silent.
Suhyuk chuckled.
"Do you know Cheil Hospital?"
Of course, it's impossible he could not know such a big hospital. But no answer came from him.
Suhyuk continued, "They say they would pay me a lot if I moved there. But I rejected their offer."
For a moment silence prevailed.
Under the streetlights there were some people pa.s.sing by occasionally.
"Was it a good decision?"
Still no reply came from Dongsu.
Letting out a long breath, he looked up at the night sky.
When was the last time he looked up at the stars?
As he gazed at them for quite a long time, the stars seemed to twinkle more brightly.
It was now almost 2am.
When Dongsu became sober, Suhyuk sent him home by taxi and silently opened the door of his house. He moved quietly so as not to wake his sleeping parents.
Then he heard noise from TV in the lobby.
His mother was asleep on the sofa, holding a remote control.
Obviously she fell asleep waiting for him. He cautiously took the remote control from her hand and turned off the TV, and he brought a blanket and covered it over her gently.
He sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa. He turned his head toward her and looked at her, saying to himself, "Mom. I'm sorry. Wait a little more… just a little more."
He still had a lot of things to do at Daehan Hospital.
Patients looking for him.
The old woman who had milk mixed with Angel's morning glory seeds, the little girl who he thought had been abused… He might not be able to see them again.
And when the day came when he had to leave Daehan Hospital, he would not go to Cheil Hospital. He wanted to go to a larger hospital, one which was his own decision to go to and not by someone else's will.
Suhyuk, who was murmuring as if he was whispering to his mother, rose up.
Then she showed a smile, tossing and turning.
Suhyuk, too, smiled.
It looked as if his mother was saying something with a smile, "Cheer up, my son!"
Ding dong!
Suhyuk opened his eyes at the sound of the doorbell.
Getting up from the bed slowly, he checked his cell phone.
Did Dongsu return home safely?
Then the doorbell rang again.
He went to the living room, with his buzzing cell phone left behind.
He could call Dongsu later.
"Who is it?"
Suhyuk opened the door to find that it was Dongsu.
Scrutinizing Suhyuk from head to toe, he shook his head, asking,
"Were you sleeping until now, not knowing what time it was?"
"It's 8am."
"Is it okay for a doctor to be so lazy?"
Having said that, he came into the living room as if it was his own house.
"Mom, dad, it's me Dongsu."
"They're out for work already."
"I see…"
Dongsu put down a bag he was carrying on his shoulder, and sat on the sofa.
"What's that?"
At his asking, Dongsu made an unbelievable look,
"Don't you remember we agreed to go fis.h.i.ng today?"
No, he did not make that promise to him.
"Did you have a weird dream?"
Dongsu shook his head from side to side.
"You don't remember anything as you were completely drunk yesterday."
Suhyuk made a blank face because he never said anything about fis.h.i.ng.
"What's this, anyway?"
Rising from the seat, he went to the kitchen, and took off a paper covering something.
"Wow…"
Dongsu swallowed his saliva from seeing lots of delicious side dishes there.
"Can I eat this?"
Shaking his head, Suhyuk brought spoons and chopsticks to the dining table.
"What the h.e.l.l are you talking about fis.h.i.ng all of a sudden?"
Eating hurriedly, Dongsu said absent-mindedly, "Any particular thing to do today?"
Suhyuk had nothing particular because he had a day off during the weekend.
"Which fis.h.i.ng place are you going to?"
"Just follow me. Wow! Your mother really cooks delicious food!"
Shaking his head, Suhyuk began eating.
Going out, casually dressed, Suhyuk got in Dongsu's car.
They left in no time, and the music from the car radio made him feel drowsy.
Looking out the car window quietly, Suhyuk closed his eyes before he knew it.
Dongsu, holding the steering wheel, glanced at him.
How long did they drive for?
"Wake up, man!"
Suhyuk woke up at his voice.
Before their eyes there was a cool reservoir surrounded by swinging reeds.
When they got out the car, the smell from the reservoir tickled their noses.
Stretching himself, Dongsu glanced at Suhyuk, saying, "How about it? It's cool, right?"
Suhyuk smiled, saying, "Yeah, so cool."
"Okay, take it."
Dongsu gave him a fis.h.i.ng case, and he opened it. He took out some spring water, some ramen, a burner, etc.
"Let's go, man."
Dongsu walked ahead, followed by Suhyuk.
As they walked near the lake, Dongsu looked around here and there because he could not find a good place for fis.h.i.ng.
"How about the opposite side?" said Suhyuk.
Like he said, there were some people enjoying fis.h.i.ng on the other side.
n.o.body was seen on their side.
"What a bother, man! Let's fish here," said Dongsu.
Dongsu began treading on the rough reeds.
Seeing him, Suhyuk shook his head.
Suhyuk also began moving like Dongsu, and they soon made a fis.h.i.ng spot.
They opened the trunk and took out a fis.h.i.ng rod.
"Can you do it for me?" said Dongsu, offering a styrofoam box to Suhyuk.
"What?"
Having said that, Suhyuk opened the box, and inside were lugworms wiggling in some dust.
Chuckling, Suhyuk asked, "Can't you touch a lugworm?"
Dongsu made a frown, replying, "I hate it the most in this world."
"Then you should have bought paste bait, man."
"I heard that they catch a lot of fish using lugworms in this place though."
"Give it to me."
Dongsu moved his fis.h.i.ng rod to Suhyuk's place. Suhyuk held a fish hook and put a lugwork on it carefully. Then, Dongsu threw it into the water, and so did Suhyuk.
Sitting on the chair, Suhyuk was looking at the float on the water. He has never done any fis.h.i.ng except for times when he followed Dongsu's fis.h.i.ng trips.
Dongsu took a glance at Suhyuk. He could not find any trace of agony from Suhyuk's face.
He thought he had done the right thing when he brought Suhyuk here.
Then Dongsu's cell phone buzzed.
"Let me come back quickly after the phone call."
Dongsu answered the phone at a distance from Suhyuk.
"Yes, this is prosecutor Kim Dongsu."
"Hey, didn't I tell you to report to work today?"
"Oh, I took a vacation leave today."
"Do you think it's just enough if you've submitted a vacation request? You should get the approval before taking leave. Don't you know we're busy today? Where are you now? Come back now!"
"h.e.l.lo, h.e.l.lo, I can't hear you. I'm now in a remote place where the cellphone reception doesn't work well. I'll call you back later."
Dongsu cut off the phone, and even turned it off.
Poking it deep into his pocket, Dongsu went back to Suhyuk.
When he got back, Suhyuk was watching the bobber quietly.
Dongsu smiled at him, and thought to himself,
'What would I be doing now if I had not met Suhyuk back then? Most likely I would have been doing manual labor or wielding my fists as a gangster. Maybe both. Lee Suhyuk, you're really a man of blessing to me.'
Sitting on the chair, he asked like before.
"Isn't it cool?"
Looking at the landscape slowly, he opened his mouth,
"Yeah, it's cool."
Then Suhyuk's eyes glittered because the bobber, which had no sign of moving up to now, began bouncing up and down, and then went inside the water.
Suhyuk rolled up the fis.h.i.ng reel quickly.
The fis.h.i.ng line became tense, and the hooked fish seemed to be pulling the fis.h.i.ng line, moving from left to right. It must be a big fish, given the heavy feel he had on his hands.
Suhyuk slowly wound the reel, when Dongsu grumbled, "d.a.m.n it…"
Turning to him, Suhyuk cast his eyes down.
He saw some bleeding on his calf, who rolled up his pants.
Suhyuk held the reel back, then looked back at him quickly.
A long, limp object was in his hand. It was a snake whose color paired with a magpie, called a Short-tailed Viper Snake.
Suhyuk threw away his fis.h.i.ng rod, took off his s.h.i.rt and tightened his thigh with it.
"What are you doing, man?"
Dongsu opened his mouth, looking at the snake he was holding.
"Stay quiet!"
Suhyuk turned back his head quickly, and saw a black bag containing spring water and ramen.
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Chapter 110
"Tighten it like that! Call 911 now."
Suhyuk shouted.
Dongsu gripped his thigh tightly and pressed his cell phone b.u.t.ton.
"What bad luck.."
Suhyuk quickly grabbed the bag, and splattered the spring water over his calf.
He put the vinyl bag on his calf, and sucked the blood.
As he had his tooth cavity treated as a child, he could not do it with his bare mouth now.
If his friend poisoned, there was no way he could not do anything.
"Am I dying?"
"What the h.e.l.l are you talking about? I'm here to help you out."
Suhyuk did not stop sucking the blood. When he did blow hard, blood came out through the vinyl bag on his calf. That was about all he could do in this situation.
"h.e.l.lo, I was bitten by a viper snake. My location is…"
It seemed that about five minutes pa.s.sed since Dongsu was bitten, but he showed no symptoms.
It was fortunate for him.
"I feel dizzy…" said Dongsu.
Suhyuk's face hardened at Dongsu's calm voice.
"Don't make a joke," said Suhyuk.
Looking at Suhyuk, he smiled. Then Dongsu opened his mouth, "Let's wait up there as the ambulance is arriving here soon."
"You had better stay here," replied Suhyuk.
If he was moving, it would quicken the flow of blood containing the poison, which was not good for him.
Squatting on the ground, Dongsu said,
"What the heck are we doing here as we're on an outing here after such a long time."
Chuckling a bit, Dongsu looked up at the sky.
White clouds were drifting away peacefully.
He felt the pain, caused by the snake bite, was disappearing slowly.
Suhyuk put his hand on Dongsu's chest to check his heartbeat.
Typically, a normal heart pulse for normal people is 66~85 beats per minute.
Dongsu's pulse was must faster than that.
Though he made a comfortable look, it was the opposite in his mind.
Suhyuk put him at ease as best he could.
A cool wind was blowing through the reeds.
Dongsu said, "I feel much better now."
Then they heard the sound of an ambulance in the distance.
Arriving at their place, the rescue crew got off.
"Here. We're here!"
They rushed toward them.
"You said you were bitten by a snake?" "Yes, please transport him to the nearest hospital."
One of the crew checked his calf, and the other member asked Suhyuk.
"Did the snake flee?"
"Here it is."
When Suhyuk moved, the crew member followed him.
There they found a limp snake on the gra.s.sy ground. Checking it, the crew member turned to Suhyuk, asking, "Didn't you say he was bit by a short-tailed viper snake?"
"Yes, that's what I said…"
The crew member wearing gloves tapped the snake lightly.
"Looks like you were confused because ashes were on it."
The black and white ashes on the snake were dusted off.
"It's possible that you were confused in an emergency situation. This is not a short-tailed viper snake, but a water snake which has no poison.
Suhyuk scratched his head, relieved.
When he looked at Dongsu, he was walking with difficulty, helped by a crew member.
Approaching Dongsu, he said, "I'm sorry, I was wrong."
Dongsu made a curious look at his remarks.
"They say it's not a viper snake."
Dongsu blinked his eyes at his remarks, then turning to the crew member.
"Well, this is a water snake with no poison, called Mujachi."
Dongsu said, "Well, I still feel dizzy."
"Maybe it's your own feeling."
Then Suhyuk said, "Just disinfection, please!"
As Dongsu had a shot of teta.n.u.s about one year ago at Daehan Hospital, disinfection alone was more than enough.
So after, they resumed fis.h.i.ng again.
—–
After a troublesome break at the fis.h.i.ng place, Suhyuk was now back home.
It was 5pm when he arrived home.
He had to come back quickly because Dongsu was busy.
As soon as he gave him a ride, Dongsu went back to the prosecutor's office right away.
After taking a shower, he went out. Then he met his mother who just got back from work.
"Son, did you eat?"
"Yes, I just came in after dining with Dongsu."
"Good! Why did you wash the dishes?I told you not to."
"Well, because I felt bored."
With a smile, she gestured toward him to sit beside her.
"I want to donate some of the gifts you brought to an orphanage. What do you think?"
Suhyuk tilted his head because the gifts were all health foods.
They were not for children.
Reading his mind, she opened her mouth,
"I hear the orphanage is opening a flea market. I hear many people are donating the kind of gifts you brought here, so they can sell them to help the orphanage…"
With a pleasant smile, he nodded his head.
"Did you put away some gifts for you and dad?"
"Sure, the very best of them."
"Okay, mom, Just go ahead."
Then, she called somewhere, saying, "Is this Hanmaum Orphanage? My son says he wants to donate some gifts. Yes, yes. By the way, the gifts we have are quite a few…"
Talking over the phone for a while, she hung up the phone, and patted him on the shoulder.
"How good-hearted you are, boy!"
Suhyuk felt once again how good-hearted she was.
"Son, let me come back in a minute. Take a break here."
"Let me go with you, mom."
In about 20 minutes, there arrived a small truck in front of the house.
There were lots of stuff on the truck, an indication that it was sent by the orphanage.
Suhyuk and his mother moved all the gifts for donation to the truck.
The driver also helped them, saying, "looks like you're selling health foods."
At his remarks, Suhyuk and his mother just smiled.
Soon the gifts were loaded onto the truck, and it took about 30 minutes to the orphanage.
Getting off the truck, Suhyuk looked at the open playing field of the orphanage.
Some of the children were playing soccer.
Dingdong, dingdong…
A bell resonated at the orphanage.
Holding a package, the driver asked, with a smile, "Did you have dinner?"
It was a bell ringing for dinner time.
"Son, shall we go for dinner?"
Guided by the driver, they headed for the dining room, walking along the winding hallway.
The hallway was clamorous with the voices of children playing and running to eat first.
Suhyuk found it lively, but at the same time he felt bitter.
These children had no families.
Then, a child fell down, and got up, rubbing his knee.
"Are you okay?" said Suhyuk, checking his knee.
"I'm alright, sir."
The child got up suddenly, and ran again.
They soon arrived at the dining room.
"Don't cut in line!"
"Oh, we have sausage on the menu today!"
Holding a metal tray, the children were lining up.
Suhyuk also took a tray and stood in the line.
His mother was at the office of the orphanage director.
The director wanted to treat her to coffee at her office.
Suhyuk looked around slowly.
The children varied in their ages, ranging from elementary school kids to high school students.
The whole dining room was full of children.
Soon, it was Suhyuk's turn to get the food.
Getting rice, side dishes and soup, he took a seat.
"Who are you?" asked a boy on the opposite side.
Suhyuk said with a smile, "Oh, I'm here because I'm hungry."
"Do you have no mommy and daddy, uncle?"
Suhyuk smiled bitterly. How can this boy with charming eyes utter such words calmly like that?
Was it because the child's emotion was dried up? No, he might have buried his pent-up yearning for his family deep in his heart.
Looking at the boy quietly, Suhyuk smiled at him.
The boy was looking squarely into his metal tray.
Suhyuk pushed it toward him gently.
"You can eat it, too."
"Really?" Suhyuk nodded his head.
The boy moved his fork, picking up the sausage only.
"What's wrong with your face?"
At his asking, the boy answered, rubbing his face with a scab on it.
"I fell over."
"Don't you feel any pain?"
"No, sir. Thanks."
Eating up sausage, the boy bowed his head and then disappeared.
With a gentle smile, Suhyuk began eating.
When he stood up after eating, a girl looking like a high school student pa.s.sed by him, with a frown.
'Is she sick?'
The girl was rubbing her stomach.
Looking at her quietly, he looked around like before.
Then he moved to someone who distributed food to the children.
"Where is the director's office?"
"Go to the 3rd floor and turn left…"
He headed straight to the 3rd floor, and easily found it.
With a knock, he went into the office.
His mother was meeting face to face with a middle-aged woman.
"Oh, he's my son."
At her words, the director stood up with a bright smile.
Thanks so much for the many gifts youve donated.
Suhyuk opened his mouth,
Im a doctor. Can I go see them?
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Chapter 111
"What do you mean?"
"Like I said, I'd like to see and check your children's health conditions."
His mother's eyes became wide, but she made a smile in no time.
'My son's kind-heartedness never goes away!'
"Oh, you're a doctor! You must be proud of your son, who's tall and handsome," The director said, smiling brightly, but her face soon became dark.
"What should I do? We don't have a facility for you to do that. Though I appreciate the offer very much. How good-hearted you are!"
Suhyuk smiled, saying, " It's okay. I can go to their rooms. Do you have first-aid kits?"
"Oh, you don't have to… I really mean it."
Suhyuk made a smile again.
"I noticed wounds on some of your children here and there. Even small wounds can cause teta.n.u.s by inflammation."
Pondering over his suggestion, the director soon showed a smile, saying, "Hold on a minute."
When the director went out of the office, Suhyuk's mother asked, "Are you not tired?"
"I'm okay, mom. It'll take some time, so you can go home first."
"How can I go home alone when my son is taking great pains here."
Suhyuk smiled gently. Knowing she would not go home despite his strong urge, he did not ask her anymore.
"Okay, you can take a break here then."
At that moment the director came back, with a large first-aid kit.
"This is all I have right now."
Handed over the kit, he opened it to find all kinds of ointments, dressings and disinfection medicines. That was enough.
What was lacking was only a first-aid room.
As the orphanage was small, they did not install such a room.
"How many children are there?"
"Thirty three in total."
"Got it."
Looking at his mother, Suhyuk smiled at her.
"Ok, work hard, son!"
Suhyuk headed to the second floor, and moved to the nearest room.
The room was not large, with three double-beds.
Six children who seemed to be elementary school students sat at their desks, moving their pencils. They seemed to be doing their homework.
"h.e.l.lo!"
At his voice, they turned their heads to him.
One boy opened his eyes wide. He was the very boy who picked up Suhyuk's sausage at the dining hall.
"You must have been doing homework."
"Yes," said the boy, and then he fixed his eyes on the workbook, with a frown.
Suhyuk came closer to him, and saw that it was a math workbook.
"What year are you in?" asked Suhyuk.
"1st year, sir."
With a smile, he stroke his head, "You must be smart."
'"I have to be smart because I want to be a doctor."
"Why do you want to be a doctor?"
"My mother and father were in a traffic accident, but died because the doctors could not treat them. When I grow up and become a doctor, I'd like to treat such people."
Suhyuk let out a silent sigh.
"Where did you fall?"
At his soft voice, the boy touched his chin with a scab on its wound.
"Oh, while I was going down the slide, sir."
"Doesn't it hurt?"
Suhyuk looked at his chin here and there.
"No, it doesn't hurt at all."
As the boy said, the wound was not deep, just some light bruises.
Suhyuk took out an ointment from the first-aid kit and applied it on his chin.
Then someone coughed from behind.
Suhyuk turned back, and said to him, "Do you have a cold?"
"No, sir. I just coughed."
"Ok, let me see."
Suhyuk opened his mouth, checking inside. His throat was not swollen, and there was no sign of dryness inside his mouth. Then he put his hand on the boy's forehead.
No fever. He had only a light cold, and he needed no medicine in that case.
It was better for him not to do anything, so the boy can cure his cold naturally.
Then Suhyuk began moving around the rooms to check their health conditions.
Those in their late teens showed some annoyance, but Suhyuk did not care.
Fortunately, their condition was good enough overall.
Almost two hours pa.s.sed since he started seeing the children.
Only one room was left, but it was closed firmly.
When he knocked on the door, someone opened, saying, "Who are you?"
A girl with short hair, who looked like a middle school girl, came out.
With a smile, Suhyuk said, "I'm here at the request of the director to check your health condition."
Then the girl's eyes became wider.
"Uh? Are you the doctor who appeared on TV?"
Suhyuk nodded his head.
"Is this a kind of volunteer activity?"
At her question, he nodded.
The room was not that different from other rooms, but as it was for girls only, there was a smell of shampoo and cosmetics in the air.
There were five in total in the room, two girls who seemed to be elementary school students, two who were middle school students, and one high-school girl wearing earphones.
She was the girl he saw at the dining room.
Then, they all turned their eyes to Suhyuk.
"Uh? Dr. Lee Suhyuk?"
All, except for one girl, recognized his face.
"Hi, everyone?"
"Hi, sir."
At their shy reply, Suhyuk waved his hands. Then a girl lying on top of the double-bed opened her eyes. After looking down at him, she closed her eyes again, as if she was not interested.
"The reason I am here is to check your health conditions."
Suhyuk gave them an easy explanation, and the children nodded their heads.
Everyone was all healthy, and their expression was bright, and they were very positive, too.
"Okay. if you don't eat for reasons of dieting, it might do damage to your health in the long run. It could lead to voracity. And as I told you, you have to do exercises regularly. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
Then, Suhyuk cast his eyes at the girl on the double-bed, who seemed not to move as if she were sleeping. No, she was stroking her stomach.
"What's her name over there?"
"Oh, sister Heyjin. Lee Heyjin."
Suhyuk turned around and came to her.
She was wearing a long sleeves top and long pants.
"Your name is pretty."
No response from her. Suhyuk looked at her stomach.
When he saw her at the dining room, she was holding her stomach with her hand, making a frown. And even now…
"Heyjin?"
She knitted her brows, and opened her eyes.
"Why?"
"You seem to have pain in your stomach. Are you okay?"
"None of your business!"
She then put her earphones back into ear and closed her eyes.
"What a scary sister!"
The other girls were shaking their heads.
"She is a very good-hearted sister. She washes clothes for us sometimes, and buys delicious food with her own pocket money…"
Suhyuk looked at her again. She now turned her back, lying on the bed.
"Heyjin!"
"I'm fine, so would you just go away?"
Suhyuk made a bitter smile.
Then a girl said something from behind,
"She looks upset like this because she was scolded by the director."
When he made a puzzling expression, the girl whispered to him,
"She's getting scolded by the director every day these days."
Nodding his head, he turned her head a bit to his side.
"Heyjin, just a moment…"
"Oh my G.o.d…"
Lifting her upper body, she let out a long sigh. She then came down the bed and went out.
He shrugged his shoulder, and followed her.
He grabbed her hand, "Wait a moment, Heyjin!"
"Why are you doing this?"
She raised her hand to shake off his hand.
Then her long sleeves were rolled up to show some bruises.
Besides, there was a clear mark of a bruise on her neck.
Knitting his brows, he opened his mouth,
"What is all this?"
"Please let go of me! It's none of your business."
"Yes, it is. I'm a doctor."
"I have these bruises because I fell over, so never mind!"
Shaking off his hand, she went to the restroom in the hallway.
Then, it came to his mind what the girl before had told him.
"She is getting scolded by the director everyday these days"
When he was leaning against the wall, he heard her suppressed sobbing inside the restroom.
His face was hardening gradually.
Suhyuk headed directly to the director's office.
The director rose from her seat and grabbed his two hands.
"Thanks so much. Are our children all healthy?"
Looking at the director, he opened his mouth,
"There is one patient student, who's thoroughly hurt in body and soul."
Aside from her body, Heyjin's heart was wrecked deeply.
Her quiet sobbing from the restroom was telling him so.
With her eyes open wider, she asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Well, I see marks of violence all over her body."
The director showed an embarra.s.sed look, either that or she was astonished.
"Really, Heyjin?"
"Yes, she needs to be taken to a hospital right now for examination and necessary treatment. Do you agree?"
Suhyuk looked into her eyes squarely.
"I don't get it… Is she in the cla.s.sroom now?"
The director moved quickly, but Suhyuk grabbed her hand.
"I asked you whether you agreed?"
Suhyuk moved by taxi, and Heyjin was sitting next to him.
Though she did not listen to him, shutting her ears with earphones, she agreed to go to the hospital at the director's simple direction.
They arrived at Daehan Hospital.
Suhyuk talked to her while they were entering the hospital,
"We're going to do some simple tests, including blood collection and X-rays. So, don't be scared."
She nodded her head without saying anything.
Then, intern Park bowed his waist as he was pa.s.sing by.
"Did you have a good break, sir?"
Suhyuk pa.s.sed him by with no words of response, just waving at him.
Suhyuk was looking through the whole window of the X-ray room.
On the spot Suhyuk fixed his eyes on, was a student lying there who was undergoing a bone scan. It was none other than Heyjin. Something glittering on her eyelids were running down.
That night was far from short.
Keeping silent until then, she broke down and let loose, telling her story with tears in streaming down her face.
Her story was a very long one.
The morning was breaking gradually, and Suhyuk was looking at the main gate of a school.
Heyjin and the director were seen beside him.
Suhyuk opened his mouth, "Let's go."
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Chapter 112
Pa.s.sing through the gate, Suhyuk suddenly turned back.
The director was soothing Heyjin who was hesitant.
He felt some sort of hesitance from her att.i.tude, as she seemingly did not want to move.
What kind of hara.s.sment did she go through?
There were marks of bruises all over her body. Even her belly, which doesn't normally get bruised, showed sign of ecchymosis.
"Heyjin."
At his voice, she slowly lifted her face.
"If you don't change now, nothing will change."
Suhyuk waited for her quietly.
Then his cell phone buzzed. It was a call from Im Gyungsu.
Suhyuk took the phone at a distance from Heyjin.
"Yes, this is Lee Suhyuk."
"Where are you now?"
"I'm off today."
"What the heck are you doing now? Are you seeing patients even when you're off? Why don't you bring the patient here?"
Im could hear from Prof. Han Myungjin that Suhyuk took vacation leave, telling him something.
"We can't treat her at the hospital…"
"Hey, Park Sungjae! Collect blood from patient Jung Bogyong…"
Heyjin looked at him, hearing the scolding voice from his cell phone.
She was a patient that they could not treat at the hospital. Her condition was urgent enough that if she did not get treatment right now, her life could be put at danger.
A girl with a broken heart.
Like those hara.s.sed by violence at school, she might make an extreme decision.
'Before she did so, I have to hold her hand, who's now standing alone in the darkness.'
"Anyway, come back quickly. Do you think I shouldhave to take care of this intern as a senior resident?"
"Yes, sir."
Hanging up the phone, Suhyuk came to Heyjin, "Let's go."
She held her school bag tight and nodded her head slowy.
The hallway was crowded with students coming to school.
Some were staggering their way to the cla.s.srooms, rubbing their sleepy eyes, while others were greeting their friends, waving their hands.
Heyjin was walking among them with her head held down.
Then, three girls in the front were walking toward her.
They were pretty, with an air of being rich girls.
Seeing them, her pupils trembled.
They scrutinized Suhyuk and the director, as if they were asking who are these strangers.
Then, they said to Heyjin, "See you later."
They left, but Heyjin's shoulders were still trembling.
The director pressed on Hejin to move, while soothing her.
"Let's go, Heyjin."
She moved again, and glanced at Suhyuk next to her.
'Right…Unless I change, nothing will change.'
Sensing that she was looking at him, Suhyuk showed a smile at her.
It was a very rea.s.suring smile.
They soon arrived at the staffroom of the school.
Looking inside, Suhyuk asked Heyjin, "Who is your homeroom teacher?"
"That man over there…"
He cast his eyes at the man pointed in the direction of her fingers.
A man in his late 40s was sitting on a chair.
Was his name Choi Jaechul?
Suhyuk came up to him and said, "How are you?"
Choi, working on something, turned his head, responding with, "Who are you…?
Confirming his face, Suhyuk slowly nodded his head.
This was her homeroom teacher.
When Heyjin's hair had milk poured over it, she plucked up the courage to visit the staffroom.
This Choi called those students responsible for that act, and got them together for reconciliation.
She said it was not the first time. Repeatedly they had done so.
Suhyuk opened his mouth, "I'd like to see the princ.i.p.al."
"What do you want to see him for?"
Then Heyjin and the director came to him.
Choi said, rising from the seat, "How are you? Why did you come here suddenly without contacting me?"
"Because Heyjin was allegedly being hara.s.sed."
Choi's eyes became wide, and he looked at Heyjin.
"I didn't hear that from her. Is it true? Why didn't you tell me about it?"
Suhyuk said again, "I want to see the princ.i.p.al."
Heyjin's teacher did not care enough about her. Of course, he might not have got a scent of it or felt her a confounded nuisance. Thinking the teacher is closer to the latter, Suhyuk could not let him take care of her matter.
"Can you talk first with me?"
"Do you want me to call the police?"
"You don't have to call the police on this kind of play among the students. Let's talk between us. Heyjin, come here and sit down."
"Did you say it was prank among the students? Looks they are playing even to the point of getting bruises all over their bodies these days. Do you want me to search for the princ.i.p.al by myself or do you want me to call the police?"
At Suhyuk's rising voice, other teachers cast their eyes at him.
Choi knitted his brows, because if the police came, it would make the school embroiled in trouble and the princ.i.p.al would blame him for it.
It would be better for him to escort him to see the princ.i.p.al.
"Please follow me."
The princ.i.p.al's office was not far. When they opened the door, a woman in her early 50s rose from her seat. Her expression was not good as she had been tipped off by Choi.
"Have a seat."
Suhyuk, the director and Heyjin san on the sofa.
The princ.i.p.al said first, "I'm sorry. I'm just ashamed. Heyjin, you have gone through a lot of hards.h.i.p, haven't you? I wish I had found out about it sooner. I'm really sorry."
She could know her name because Choi tipped her off on it in advance.
Then, Suhyuk put down a piece of paper on the table.
"What is this?"
"It's a medical certificate for Heyjin. Bring the students here. I want them punished."
The reason he did not go to the police station first was to get their sincere apologies from them.
"Sure, absolutely. Heyjin, name those who hara.s.sed you."
She looked at Suhyuk, who then nodded to her.
"Lee Subin, Oh Yerim, Kim Mina."
The princ.i.p.al's eyes became a bit wider.
Subin's mother was the president of the school's Mothers' a.s.sociation.
That meant she contributed a lot to the school. She had replaced the air conditioners in the staffroom, princ.i.p.al's office and the break room. And she gave the princ.i.p.al kickback money every month.
"Yes, it's natural you get apologies from them if they did you wrong."
When the princ.i.p.al picked up the phone, Suhyuk's calm voice came into her ears,
"It's only natural that they should apologize. It's also natural for them to be punished."
What was she thinking? Showing a bit of hesitance, the princ.i.p.al called somewhere.
"Mr. Choi, please bring Lee Subin, Oh Yerim and Kim Mina to my office."
Sitting back on her chair, she made a regrettable expression.
"I'm sorry. As the princ.i.p.al, I should have…"
She continued to talk, but mostly focusing on her own responsibility.
Then the door opened, and in came the three students.
They were the very students who greeted Heyjin with a frown, in the hallway.
"Did you guys hara.s.s her?"
At the princ.i.p.al's asking, the three made a puzzled expression.
Then Subin with her long straight hair opened her mouth,
"We've never hara.s.sed her."
The princ.i.p.al turned to Heyjin who was looking down at her feet.
"Heyjin."
The reply came from Suhyuk who had been looking at them.
"Apologize to her."
"What the heck is he talking about?"
"He sucks!"
The three students took a glance at him, murmuring among themselves. Though their voice was tiny, it still could be heard.
"Did you hear them? They have no manners at all."
"Please call my mother."
At Subin's words, the princ.i.p.al took the phone.
After a short conversation with her mother, the princ.i.p.al opened her mouth,
"I think you can understand that from the perspective of teachers, children can sometimes fight, and they get too close in the process. And it's like growing pains."
Then the princ.i.p.al looked at the students with a soft smile.
"Why don't you apologize?"
Suhyuk stared at Heyjin, but made a smile soon after.
"I'm sorry, Heyjin."
"Me, too."
"Let's be friends again."
Suhyuk just made a contemptuous smile at them.
And he said to the princ.i.p.al, "Punishment. What are you going to do? I think expelling them is the right punishment."
Actually that kind of punishment is rather light, compared to the hara.s.sment Heyjin had undergone, who thought the world of those at the orphanage.
"Please don't focus on that kind of bad thing…"
The princ.i.p.al continued on and on.
And then a woman decorated with a famous handbag and other accessories appeared.
Looking around sharply, she opened her mouth,
"Who is it? Who slandered my daughter Subin?"
The orphanage director sprang to her feet, demanding,
"Slander? Our Heyjin is such a good girl. Your daughter created an atmosphere to outcast Heyjin!"
"Are you this girl's mother?"
Scrutinizing the director from head to toe, she opened her mouth again,
"Tut, tut, tut. That's why those with no proper education at home are making trouble!"
"What the heck are you talking about?"
They were raising their voices higher and higher.
Tears were dropping from Heyjin's eyes, who sat with her head down.
"Calm down. Just take a seat first."
Rising from the seat, the princ.i.p.al tried to mediate between them.
"Subin, come here. Looks like she was very surprised by this sudden situation. Let her take early leave, or whatever."
The three students moved closer to her now.
Then Suhyuk opened his mouth, "If you leave like this, you'll regret a lot."
Subin's mother smiled contemptuously, and so did the three students.
"So, you're going to report us to the police?"
Suhyuk said curtly, "Yes, I will."
"Do whatever you want! I won't sit idle, either. I'd sue you on charges of defamation. Do you know who my daughter is? She is the only daughter of the president of Mirae Electronics Co. Let's go!"
Suhyuk looked at them quietly. Mirae Electronics, Mirae Electronics.
He heard it many times before. Was it a promising company?
It was not. Suddenly Suhyuk thought of one thing.
'It's called Mirae Electronics, which I'm putting a lot of investment into…'
A long time ago Mr. Kim Hyunwoo mentioned it to him.
Suhyuk approached Heyjin sitting on the sofa without moving at all.
Bending his knees, Suhyuk made his eyes meet hers, and wiped her tears with his thumb softly.
She was suppressing her crying, wiping tears with her both hands.
"Okay, you're doing fine," said Suhyuk.
It was not Heyjin who would shed tears, though.
Suhyuk rose from the sofa, and went to the window side.
The playing field and the school building came into his view.
Suhyuk took out his cell phone from his back pocket.
Can this school or the people here manage the upcoming misfortune?
He called somewhere. "It's me."
And then Suhyuk talked with three others over the phone.
And then they began to move.
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Chapter 113
In the office of Mr. Kim Hyunwoo, the president.
Kim in a black suit took hold of a keyphone and called somewhere.
"Wow, it's a great honor for you to give me a call first like this. Did you have lunch, sir?"
"Oh, yes. I ate until I'm full."
"I think I have to treat you, but I've been in Philippines for one month."
"As you say you're busy, I feel good. Now all you have to do is to rake in the money."
"Hahaha… I owe all this to president Kim Hyunwoo. I'm always thankful to you."
Suddenly his glittering eyes full of greed came to Kim's mind.
Lee Dongman, who a.s.sumed the power of president only one year ago. As the previous president pa.s.sed away because of cardiac infarction, Lee took his place.
There flared some controversy over his taking over the position such as a behind-the-scene conspiracy or mobilization of gangsters, but Kim did not care.
Unlike the previous president, Lee Dongman's way of doing business made him frown.
As he had found out, the kind of business he had been doing so far was wine and dine for his business partners, with boxes containing cash for them.
When Kim first met him, Lee's flattering and walking on eggsh.e.l.ls around him was an eyesore to him.
Kim had forgotten Lee for a long time, but Suhyuk's call suddenly reminded him of Lee.
Kim could make a judgment, namely, if such a figure is the president of Mirae Electronics, this company would not be able to grow under his leaders.h.i.p.
More than that, he would sue his nephew-like Suhyuk for defamation?
Lee's wife and daughter exactly resembled him in terms of their behavior.
While Lee continued to flatter Kim, he just smiled, saying,
"You seem very busy, but I'm afraid I have to make you busier."
"Wow! Are you thinking of helping me more? I am just so, so thankful to you…"
"I think the company bonds' maturity comes to an end this month, right? "
"Oh, yes. Actually I was going to see you about that…"
"I'm going to collect on the debt without extending it. And the investment I mentioned to you separately is off!"
An urgent voice came out of the phone.
"President Kim, why are you saying that suddenly? Did I do anything wrong?"
"Well, because I feel bored."
Talking with him shortly like that, Kim Hyunwoo hung up the phone.
Twisting his long legs, Kim stroked his chin, when the phone rang.
It was a call from Lee Dongman.
Rejecting it, Kim contacted his driver Kim for some direction,
"Mr. Kim, as for our 10% equity in Mirae Electronics, just sell them at the lowest price. And tip the press on it, okay?"
"Yes, sir."
Rising from the seat, Kim stretched himself fully.
He was overlooking high-rise buildings outside the window.
"What a nice weather today!"
Dongsu, who was at the interrogation room of the detectives department, rose from his seat, and he patted Heyjin on the shoulder lightly, seated on the opposite side.
"Don't worry about anything."
Heyjin nodded her head.
"Detective Choi."
At his voice, a detective came to him.
"Please escort her to her house safely."
"Yes, sir."
The detective opened the door, when she turned back suddenly to look at Dongsu.
"Why? Do you have anything else to say?"
Heyjin shook her head from left to right, and she bowed her head,'"Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me at all. You can say thank you to that meddlesome doctor."
Soon Heyjin went out with the detective, and Dongsu sat before the laptop, and he read carefully an affidavit that he wrote by himself.
Not only extorting money but also torture using water.
They took off her clothes and attempted to film her. Fortunately she could escape from them.
Dongsu knitted his brows.
School violence was turning nastier by the day and being developed sophisticatedly.
Beating, extortion, threatening, murder and even suicide.
It was much like an organized gang.
What would have happened to Heyjin if Suhyuk had not found her?
The detectives department was in clamours with a woman's voice.
"You guys are making a mistake. Don't you know who I am? The moment you recognize me, you'll have regrets."
Picking his ears, Dongsu approached her.
"Are you Subin's mother?"
She opened her mouth, scrutinizing him from head to toe,
"Yes, who are you?"
"I'm the prosecutor in charge of this Lee Heyjin's case."
She made a frown suddenly, arguing,
"What did my daughter do wrong? Did you see her? Any evidence?"
Dongsu smiled slightly, and turned his eyes toward the other girls.
"You guys did hara.s.s her, right?"
Hearing no reply from them, Dongsu nodded his head.
"Yes, you're doing fine. You know how to exercise the right of silence, too. Most of the people here are doing it just like that. But they say the same thing at the end of the day, namely, 'I'm sorry."
Subin's mother had bloodshot in her eyes now,
"You! Who's your supervisor?"
Then a man came up to them. He was a lawyer she hired.
Soon the girls' hardened faces became relaxed, and they took a glance at Suhyuk.
Dongsu could not help but giggle at that.
The lawyer opened his mouth right away,
"How could you detain them without any warrant…"
Dongsu presented to him a piece of paper.
"It is still hot, isn't it? It's just been issued…"
The lawyer could not respond. Instead he let out a long sigh.
Dongsu was the very prosecutor who had two prosecutors involved in wrongdoing put in jail.
He was very famous even among lawyers. He would catch anyone who commits crimes.
When her lawyer became dumb as an oyster, she made a frown suddenly.
"Lawyer Kang! My daughter Subin…"
"Now I'm going to start interrogating her. If you make any further noise, I would a.s.sume it's an obstruction of justice. Do you understand?"
Dongsu's smile was gone already.
Sweeping up her long brown hair, a lady was sneaking into the school gate.
She went into the school along with a man holding a camera.
With a little whisper, reporter Han Jihye opened her mouth,
"Looks like this is our own scoop, as there are no other reporters."
"You're right. Daughter of Lee Dongman, president of Mirae Electronics, under investigation for hara.s.sment. What a big news story!"
"Shh! Your voice is too big, as the students are taking cla.s.ses right now. Let's sit here for a moment."
She squatted on the stairs of the hallway, and the cameraman opened his eyes wider.
"Won't you go and cover the princ.i.p.al and the homeroom teacher?"
Shaking her head, she opened her mouth, "How many years have you worked with me?"
"Two years."
"You have a long way to go."
"What do you mean?"
"Just come to think of it. If you go and tell the princ.i.p.al and the teacher that we're here to cover school violence, do you think they would welcome you and grant an interview? If you were in their shoes, would you want to do that?"
He scratched his head, adding, "Maybe they're going to expel us."
"Yeah, as the image of the school is damaged, they would make a big fuss by threatening to call the police."
"What would you do then?"
When she gestured with her chin, he turned his head.
2nd Year 3rd Cla.s.sroom.
"Let's interview the students first."
She beamed brightly, thinking to herself, 'What a lucky charm he is.'
What would the good luck charm Suhyuk be doing right now?
9pm that day.
News was coming out from the radio on the bus.
The bus came to a stop with a shrieking noise.
Listening to the radio,Suhyuk got off the stop.
The white vinyl bag he was holding contained various medicines such as ointments to apply to wounds,etc.
Arriving at the orphanage, he went to the director's office.
The noise of children resonated within the hallway.
Then a boy who just came out of the rest room noticed Suhyuk.
"Uh? Are you here again because you're hungry? The meal time is already past."
Suhyuk bent his knee and checked his face.
A scab on the wound fell off and new flesh was coming out in its place.
When Suhyuk smiled, the boy waved his hands, "Now I have to go to sleep. Come earlier next time."
The boy said he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up.
If his dream does not change, one day he could see the boy again.
The director's door was open.
Rising from the seat, she held Suhyuk's hands with a bright smile.
"Thanks so much. I don't know how to repay your help…"
Suhyuk handed her the medicine bag, saying,
"These are the essential medicines for daily life. And the ointments with the names on are for Hayon, Jongwook, and…"
Tears fell down from the director's eyes.
"How can I repay this… Thanks a million…"
Suhyuk made a bitter smile. When he saw the director at first, Suhyuk doubted her for a moment, though she was also such a good-hearted woman.
The children would grow up well because they had a good director like her.
"Goodbye then."
When he was about to go out, Heyjin was standing there.
"Hi!"
"Are you leaving now, sir?"
Suhyuk nodded his head, saying, "I've got many patients waiting for me…"
"You'll come back, won't you?"
"Sure, if you call me."
When Suhyuk was going out the door, the director followed him.
"Don't come out."
The director, somewhat hesitant, told Heyjin, "Go and see him off."
So, both of them walked through the hallway and went out into the playfield.
Suhyuk took a glance at her walking by his side.
There was no mention of her name on the internet or in the press.
She appeared only as a 'victim', because he arranged it as such.
"I hear that you're being transferred to another school?"
"Yes…"
"You can study well there, right?"
"Yes, I'm determined to change."
They arrived at the main gate of the school.
"Take care, then."
"Goodbye, sir."
Nodding his head, he turned back.
Heyjin was looking at him disappearing into the distance quietly, taking her two hands to her mouth, she shouted, "Uncle Dr. Lee!"
Suhyuk turned back.
"If our children get sick, can I take them to see you?"
He made a smile, but he was seen nodding his head only.
"How can I find you at the hospital?"
"Look for Lee Suhyuk, Lee Suhyuk."
Suhyuk was walking back, with his back against her, and Heyjin was repeating his name,
"Uncle Lee Suhyuk, Lee Suhyuk…"
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Chapter 114
Im Gyungsu wore a bright look on his face.
For Suhyuk came back from the vacation he took from the previous weekend to the Monday.
His eyes turned to Park Sungjae from Suhyuk.
Park was sullen as if he was a puppy with its tail down.
"Lee Suhyuk."
"Yes, sir."
Im shook his head from side to side, complaining,
"Teach him how to collect blood properly. He made as many as nine holes on a patient's arm."
"I'm sorry, sir."
Im disappeared, with Park lowering his head.
With a smile, Suhyuk said, "Looks like the blood vessel was not visible."
"Yes…"
"Let's go."
Park followed him to an empty patient's room where Suhyuk offered him cotton for disinfection and a syringe. Suhyuk perched on the bed, saying, "I think I saw you collecting blood several times."
Park nodded his head, adding, "So far I have collected blood from patients whose blood vessels were clearly visible."
That was true. Not only at the clinical practice but also at the emergency room, Park saw patients with visible blood vessels, and even at the neurosurgery department.
In that respect he was just lucky.
But this time he was not, making a big mistake of piercing the same spot several times as he could not locate the patients' delicate blood vessels.
The patient got irritated as much as he could, and Park got a good scolding from Im.
"Now I'm a patient. Please do it…"
When Suhyuk showed his arm, Park's eyes became wide.
"How can I …."
"I'm a patient."
Suhyuk's blood vessels were thick and bulging as if he was an athletic man.
Park could collect blood from him seeing his blood vessels, but felt burdensome about it.
When he was hesitating, Suhyuk opened his mouth,
"Because you are hesitating like that, you will make a mistake. When a doctor acts like that, the patient gets tired, and you too."
Suhyuk, who was clenching his fist for blood collection, now opened his hand.
Now Park held out his hand and rolled up his white sleeves.
Suhyuk made a bitter smile because he saw several needle marks on Park's forearm that he left while practicing on his own.
Changing his mind, Suhyuk fastened an engorgement bandage around his arm.
When he doubled his fist several times, the blood vessels became more visible than before.
He pierced a syringe into his arm without any hesitation.
The blood was flowing back into the chamber of the syringe, with the red blood slightly visible.
That meant blood was being collected correctly.
When he was done, Suhyuk released the engorgement bandage.
It is more difficult to find the blood vessels on the back of one's hand than that of one's arm.
"Just close your eyes, and try to find the blood vessels by the feel."
Park nodded his head, and began touching Suhyuk's forearm.
"You have to feel it by only the fingertip."
"Looks like it's here."
Suhyuk smiled bitterly, saying, "No, that's a bone."
Park once again tried to locate the blood vessels by feel.
"Now open your eyes."
He was correctly locating the delicate blood vessels this time.
"Was the patient you failed to collect blood from plump?"
Park said, scratching his head, "Yes, very fatty…"
Suhyuk smiled, nodding his head.
Unless experienced, any intern would find it difficult to collect blood from such patients.
Unlike an experienced doctor or nurse, Park was only an intern who could make such a mistake.
"You had better find a spot located one third of the way up on the back of a child's hand or plump hands where the blood vessels are not visible, while a.s.suming the blood vessels are there.
Suhyuk stopped talking for a moment, and then continued,
"Sometimes the blood vessels are just not visible at all."
"What should I do in such a case?"
"Experience is important, above all. Plus your own imagination. Trying to visualize the blood vessels in your head and find it…"
Suhyuk gave him a lot of additional advice.
Park was all eyes and ears when he explained.
The point was do it without any hesitation.
Standing up from the bed, Suhyuk patted him on the shoulder and went out.
Left alone in the patient's room, Park came to look at the syringe containing Suhyuk's blood.
And he thought of Suhyuk, while holding it tighter gradually.
There has never been any other doctor who went to the trouble of explaining something to him so kindly like Suhyuk. Even to the point of collecting his own blood.
"Thanks, Dr. Lee."
Then Park headed directly to the pathology laboratory.
It was now lunch time.
Finis.h.i.ng his work early, Suhyuk was standing before the elevator.
Then he heard a voice.
"Uh? He's the man who appeared on TV."
Suhyuk turned his head to the side.
He wondered if she was 6 years old.
A little girl in a patient's gown was pointing to him with her fingers.
Suhyuk smiled at her, "Hi!"
The child joined her two hands by her navel and greeted him by giving a bow.
Suhyuk approached her, asking, "What is your name?"
"Han Arum. Han, A, Rum."
"Oh, what a beautiful name it is."
'By the way, where is her guardian?' Suddenly he thought of that, as this was not the pediatrics department.
"Where are your parents?"
"They're out for work."
"Work?"
"Yes, my mom will visit me in the evening."
Maybe there might be some reason for that.
Suhyuk held out his hand to her, and the girl held it without any hesitation as he was familiar to her thanks to his appearance on TV.
She was a girl with clear pupil and pretty dimples.
"You came here from that building, right?"
She nodded her head, smiling innocently.
Suhyuk shook his head, surprised at the fact that she came as far as here.
"Let's go."
Suhyuk walked in step with the girl's strides, and soon got on the elevator.
Growling.
Suhyuk looked down at her stomach. Arum was rubbing it.
"You haven't eaten, right?"
"Well, I was not hungry a moment ago…"
"You have to eat a lot, so you can become strong and tall."
"If I eat a lot and become strong, I don't have to come to the hospital, right?"
The child looked up at Suhyuk with s.h.i.ning eyes.
"Of course."
Then the elevator door opened, and they went out of it.
There was a bridge connecting the hospital buildings.
As the weather was fine, there were some people on the bridge chatting and enjoying the landscape out there.
Around about the middle of the bridge, Arum stopped and turned her head to the side.
A boy holding his mother's hand was pa.s.sing by, while enjoying a hamburger.
"You said your mother was coming in the evening. Is n.o.body in your room?"
"No…"
She could not take her eyes off the hamburger.
Rumbling…
Suhyuk, smiling, said, "Shall we go out for a hamburger?"
She opened her eyes wide, asking, "Really?"
"Of course."
Suhyuk led her outside, and Arum followed him, overjoyed.
They arrived at a hamburger store in the lobby.
A hamburger set for children was placed on the table she sat at.
Arum tried to eat the burger in one gulp, stamping her feet in joy.
"Drink some c.o.ke, too."
She drank it with through a straw, and was humming now.
Suhyuk began eating his own hamburger.
Soon she was done with her hamburger and french fries.
"Let's go now."
Suhyuk checked the time on the large clock on the wall in the lobby.
It was 12:40pm.
Though he was getting back to work a bit later than usual, he still had free time.
Then came out an announcement.
"6-year-old girl. We're looking for Han Arum. 6-year-old girl, Han Arum…"
Suhyuk turned his head to her.
"Oh, it's my name."
When she was making a curious look, Suhyuk murmured,
"Ooops, I'm afraid I'll get scolded."
Suhyuk lifted her up and walked fast.
Some old men talked to each other, looking at his appearance from behind,
"Looks like her father is a doctor."
"Maybe her bill is free."
Certainly, Suhyuk's appearance gave the impression that he was her father.
"h.e.l.lo!"
"Long time no see, Dr. Lee."
The nurses of the pediatrics department recognized him and said h.e.l.lo.
On such occasions Suhyuk bowed his head slightly.
Then a nurse came up to him.
"Han Arum!"
When she came up, Arum hid behind Suhyuk's back, and showed only her face.
Letting out a sigh of relief, the nurse opened her mouth, with her hand on her forehead,
"I was looking for you so hard…"
After she greeted her, she held out her hand.
But Arum would not move a bit, hiding behind his back.
"You make me worried all the time."
Suhyuk smiled a bit.
"Let's go now."
Only then did she move.
"Looks like she is a naughty girl."
At Suhyuk's words, the nurse answered in a miserable tone,
"Yes, she is. Even today and yesterday, she pulled out her IV line and played hide-and-seek with me."
Arum was touching the back of her hand at that moment.
"It hurts, sir."
Soon they arrived in her room, and she got on the bed.
He noticed the name of her identified illness that was labelled on the bed.
Encephaloma, or brain tumor.
He suddenly turned his head to the girl.
Her pupils were so clear.
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Chapter 115
The nurse was opening an intravenous catheter needle to connect an IV, and held Arum's arm.
"Please do it without causing any pain."
Arum closed her eyes, and then Suhyuk's voice came into her ears.
"Let me do it."
He held her hand gently. Her blood vessels were subtle, typical of children, but it was not a problem to him.
Making a frown, Arum, who was very much scared, let out a moaning sound even before he injected the needle.
With a smile, Suhyuk said, "You can draw pictures very well, right?"
At that moment she cast her eyes in the back, where there was a sketchbook on the bed.
"Yes, can I show you?"
When he nodded, she reached for the sketchbook in a cheerful mood.
At the moment, she cried, "Ouch!"
At the sharp p.r.i.c.king on her hand, she turned back her head instantly.
Already the needle was put in her hand before she knew it.
With a sulky look, she looked at him and said, "I dropped my guard…"
At her cute reply, he smiled before he knew it.
"Now, let me look at your sketchbook."
Stamping her feet, she opened the sketchbook.
There was a square-shaped house, with flowers in the garden, plus a pretty puppy.
"Good drawing. Whose house is it?"
"If I make a lot of money someday, I'm going to live with my mom here."
Suhyuk stroked her hair gently, and observed her look.
If she had a brain tumor, she would feel headaches and pain, but she looked normal to him.
"Let me go to the restroom," said Suhyuk.
There was no smile on his face when he was going out of the room.
Then a woman doctor greeted him, "What brought you here?"
She was Dr. Oh Jinhee, who was in charge of him when he was doing his interns.h.i.p at the pediatrics department.
"h.e.l.lo, do you happen to know patient Han Arum?"
With a bitter smile, she looked at Arum's nameplate placed next to her door.
"Yes, I know her."
"Then, do you know why they are injecting tonic only?"
Oh knitted her brows at that because she felt his way of speaking was kind of reproaching.
"Hey, your way of speaking…"
"Please show me patient Han's medical record, CT and MRI."
Oh took off her horn-rimmed gla.s.ses hysterically and said,
"Hey, do you think I don't want to treat her?"
Scrutinizing him up and down, she opened up her mouth again,
"Don't be arrogant like that when you don't know the reasons!"
She stared at him as if she was going to get at him, and so did he.
"Then, what is the reason that I don't know?"
Then a nurse rushed to her, saying, "Dr. Oh, patient Migyung's guardian is making a big fuss again…"
Oh, staring at him, let out a sigh and said, "You, see me later!"
When she disappeared, he went to the desk of the pediatrics department.
"I'd like to check patient Han Arum's medical record."
The nurse working on something, with her head lowered, recognized him and said,
"Oh, I saw you on TV. By the way, what did you say a moment ago?"
"Well, I said I wanted to check patient Han Arum's medical record."
She wore an embarra.s.sed look.
"Only the primary physician or the professor in charge has access to that…"
Suhyuk said with a gentle smile, "Please…"
A flush mounted her face. Stroking her face, she soon opened her mouth,
"This way…"
She thought to herself she would not be in trouble because she showed it to him for a moment.
Guided by the nurse, Suhyuk moved.
He was looking at the monitor quietly.
In the image shots of the CT and MRI, there was a small tumor in her brain.
"It's not malignant."
Malignant tumors are complex junctions within the brain, which gradually divide the normal brain cells and spread malignant cells. This makes it difficult to remove through drugs, radiation therapy, or surgery. However, benign tumors are different. Tumors that are isolated by themselves can be separated anatomically and cured if removed completely. However, if it can not be removed by surgery, it can not be cured, just like a malignant tumor.
Suhyuk checked Arum's medical record, filled with medical terms.
However, there was no mention of treatment of the brain tumor, just as he expected.
Left untreated, she would lose the chance for treatment at the right time.
n.o.body could expect what would happen later.
"Sir."
The nursed whispered to him, looking around cautiously, for fear of being caught.
Rising from the seat, he opened his mouth, "What about her family?"
"Looks like she has a mother only."
"Her treatment was stopped for reasons of money, I think," said Suhyuk.
Wearing a regrettable look, she nodded.
At the same time a sigh came out of his mouth.
'What the heck is this money, money, money…'
"Any insurance?"
"No…"
Suhyuk momentarily thought of the pediatrician doctor.
Then he moved instantly.
"Sir, Dr. Lee Suhyuk wants to see you."
Putting down the phone, a secretary smiled at him.
"You can just go in."
He went into the office right away.
"Come on in. Can you have a seat and wait for a minute?"
Suhyuk waited for him for about 10 minutes.
"So, why do you want to see me out of the blue?"
"One patient is hospitalized at the pediatrics department now. Though she has a brain tumor, she was getting only tonic injections."
The director nodded his head.
"Because of money?"
"Yes, I came here to ask if there is anything we could do for her."
The director made a bitter smile.
"I'm afraid we can't, regrettably."
"Do you remember that we went to the shanty town to give free treatment? I think the image of our hospital could be improved if we treat her for free…"
"You know one thing, but not two."
With a little sigh, he opened his mouth again,
"How many such patients do you think we have here? Very, very many. They are all paying for their bills by borrowing money. If we treat her for free, then other patients will ask for the same thing…"
In short, the point was that it was against the principle of equal treatment, and he said Daehan Hospital was not a charity hospital.
Listening to him quietly, he rose up and said, "Got it, sir. Goodbye."
When he opened the door to leave, the director's voice stopped him,
"Don't be too disappointed. Hope you can think of those who are working here for a living…"
He was referring to the medical staff.
Suhyuk went out of the office, and went to see Prof. Han Myungjin to seek his advice.
"What should I do, sir?"
"You should just go ahead and treat her. Why are you asking me?"
"Because I belong to the cardiothoracic surgery department, while the patient is hospitalized at the pediatrics department…"
"That's what I mean. Why are you asking about it? If you have a will, you can treat her."
Suhyuk let out a long sigh at his answer. Han was just making a smile that was generous and warm. Though he did not say anything, it looked like he was giving some kind of reply.
Then, Han said, "Go away, now!"
Rising from the seat, Suhyuk said with a smile, "Okay, then."
"Hey! Leave your phone and pager here."
"Why…"
"Don't you know that there are many staff here looking for you. Just leave them here until you treat the patient. Let me take care of other things."
Suhyuk put down his cell phone and pager on the table, and looked at Han.
'Thanks, professor.'
"Let me come back later then."
"Don't be too late."
Walking on the bridge leading to the pediatrics department, Suhyuk stopped.
Lots of people could be seen pa.s.sing outside the hospital, chatting and smiling, showing bright looks.
Not a single person among them was aware of Han Arum's pain.
How can I be of any help to her? Paying out of my own pocket?
Even though he wants to do it, he cannot because he already gave his bank deposit to his parents, and the money was not enough, either.
"Huuuuuuuh…."
Looking down from the bridge quietly, Suhyuk moved again, and soon arrived at the pediatrics department. When he was about to enter Han's room, he ran into a woman.
He stopped her who was about to enter her daughter's room.
"Are you her guardian?"
She turned back. She was in her late 30s.
Given her carelessly tied hair, it seemed she just got back from work.
He could feel some sort of fatigue from her look.
"Did you ask me a question?"
"h.e.l.lo, I'm Lee Suhyuk, a surgeon here."
"Oh, h.e.l.lo, Doctor."
"Can I talk with you a little bit?"
She nodded after looking at him for a moment.
He took her to a break area at the end of the hallway.
Taking out a canned coffee from a vending machine, he handed it to her.
Suhyuk opened his mouth then,
"Arum needs an immediate surgery."
Grabbing her coffee cup, she nodded and said,
"Actually I am going around here and there. Looks like I need three million won for the surgery… Can you go ahead and perform surgery first? I'll pay as soon as I get the money. Please…"
Putting down the canned coffee, Suhyuk held her hands.
She had tears welled in her eyes, but she still did not shed those tears.
She should not cry, because she was a mother.
Suhyuk nodded, holding her hands.
He now clearly knew her situation.
He opened his mouth, "Don't worry."
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Chapter 116
Arum was drawing pictures in crayon in her sketchbook.
With the sleeves of a patient gown reaching the back of hand, she looked uncomfortable, but she moved her little hands very well.
Then, she turned her head to the door, sensing someone's presence.
"Mom!"
At her screaming, she made a hearty laugh.
The tears welled in her eyes a moment ago were gone.
Hugging her closely, she patted her on the back.
"You wanted to see me very much?"
"Yeah, very, very much."
Now she looked at her face to face, stroking her face.
Arum was all smiles, even without opening her eyes.
It looked as she was enjoying the sunlight, the warm sunlight of a mother.
Suhyuk, standing at the door, was just looking at them quietly.
Then, Arum, noticing him, said, "Oh, uncle doctor!"
With a smile, he approached them.
"Mom, this doctor put a needle here, but it didn't hurt at all."
"Really?"
"Yes, and he praised me for my pictures too…"
She was more excited now as her mother was with her.
"I drew some pictures today. I want to show you…"
Arum did not stop explaining about her pictures as if she wanted to boast.
Whenever she turned over the sketchbook with her little white hand, her mother took a picture of it with her cell phone.
Then, she turned it over again to show Suhyuk some pictures.
"Uncle, this is about…"
Then Arum stopped moving her hand suddenly, and turned her head to her mother.
It looked like she was about to cry at anytime.
"Mom, I have pain in my head again…"
"Come on, baby. Come on…"
She hugged Arum tightly, and patted her on the back and sung a lullaby.
There was nothing more she could do except hug and pat her like that.
'My daughter Arum, I'm going to have you cured by all means.'
Then Arum, cuddled up in her arms, raised her head and said,
"Mom, I don't feel pain anymore now…"
Going out of the patient's room, he headed toward Han Myungjin's office.
And he was handed back his cell phone.
He turned it on, and found the notification sound ringing continuously.
Most of the messages were from Im Gyungsu, which mainly was about the need for him to take care of Park Sungjae's mistakes.
Im belatedly found out he was at the pediatrics department, but he sent him a final message saying, "Take care!", and then nothing more.
Obviously Prof. Han took some action on his behalf.
Suhyuk kept on touching the cell phone display, and soon found a picture.
It was sent by Arum's mother.
Looking at it quietly, he quickly moved to his lodging.
As soon as he arrived, he turned on the PC and sat down.
In the heart of darkness only the light of the monitor was illuminating Suhyuk's face.
How long pa.s.sed…
After sitting before the PC for about two hours, Suhyuk lay on the soft bed.
And he confirmed the time. It was 8:22pm.
Putting his cell phone on his bedside, he closed eyes.
He would have to put up with this kind miserable situation until tomorrow.
If things did not work out as he wished, he would have to have her get the surgery by all means.
Suhyuk again opened his eyes at the notification sounds on his cell phone.
And using his cellphone, he had access to the internet:
The notification sound kept ringing.
4am.
Going out of the lodging, Suhyuk headed to the hospital lobby, and he stood before the ATM machine.
He put in the card, and pressed the withdrawal b.u.t.ton.
He had a deposit of 200,000 won in his bank account, but he pressed the number 300,000 won.
Inside the machine there was the sound of money counting.
Though he had only 200,000 won, he was withdrawing 300,000 won.
But he was not surprised because he expected this much.
At the same time he suddenly felt so moved as to almost shed tears when he noticed the balance on his account. It was 20,154,035 won in total.
Suppressing his emotion, Suhyuk murmured, "Thanks a million, from the bottom of my heart."
Turning back, he went to Arum's room, and cautiously opened it so as not to wake her up.
She was in sound sleep, and her mother was also asleep, crouching beside her.
"Arum's mom…"
At his whispering voice, she stood up.
"Can I talk with you for a moment?"
Nodding her head, she followed him after tying up her hair.
Coming out of the room, Suhyuk told her, "Tomorrow she will get surgery."
Her eyes opened wider.
—–
A piece about a picture was introduced on the morning TV program.
There was a close-up image of the message by Suhyuk.
The responses to this were in just one word, explosive.
And those who knew Suhyuk on the the internet or news media would ask about her disease and symptoms through Facebook. Whenever he had free time, Suhyuk posted his replies.
That kind of caring att.i.tude shown by Suhyuk moved the hearts of lots of people.
—–
10am.
Suhyuk was heading for Arum's room.
When he went in, he heard a child's weeping sound.
She had her hair shaven for the surgery.
"You look pretty even without any hair."
She wept more with emotion at his words.
Though her mother was soothing her, she kept crying.
"Can I see you outside for a moment?"
Outside the room he said, "She will be put into sedation in the room because she might be very surprised inside the operating room."
She nodded, and asked with trembling eyes, "Isn't it dangerous?"
Suhyuk said, with a smile, "Don't worry. The best doctor in this field will perform the surgery."
The doctor was Prof. Lee Mansuk.
"Thanks so much."
Though she never heard of that name, she felt Dr. Lee before her eyes was more dependable.
"Shall we begin?"
A nurse asked Suhyuk.
When he nodded, the nurse went into Arum's room, holding sedation medicine.
"Hi, Arum? You look more cute with your hair shaven like that."
"Don't lie to me!"
"Really!"
The nurse hung the syringe onto the IV line, which lasted about for 10 minutes.
Cuddled in her mother's arms, she soon fell into sleep with murmuring sounds,
"Mom, I feel sleepy…"
Beep. Beep.
Arum was now lying on the operating bed.
Inside the room Prof. Lee continued to talk with other doctors, looking at her CT and MRI shots.
Even a little mistake would cost this little girl her life, who had yet to blossom her life.
And even a mere wrong touch of her brain would also cause not only speech defects but also countless other unpredictable defects.
Lee Mansuk tightened his gloves once more, and glanced at Suhyuk watching the patient.
This time he was determined to show him his skills, so that he would change his mind and switch to the neurosurgery department.
"Let's start. Scalpel."
He held her little head with one hand, holding a scalpel with the other hand.
"Drill."
As originally planned, he would drill four holes into the skull in order to remove a rectangular piece of bone with a saw .
Weeeing, weeeing….
A ferocious sound of the machine was filling the otherwise quiet operating room.
Then Suhyuk opened his mouth, "Let me do it."
Arum's mother was anxiously waiting outside the operating room.
It had been already 6 hours since they started performing the surgery.
The red sign, 'Surgery in Progress' made her feel bad.
Then, the red light suddenly turned off, and then a blue sign, 'Recovery Room' was lit.
The automatic door opened, and a doctor in a surgical gown came out.
When he removed his mask, his face was revealed. It was Suhyuk.
"Dr. Lee! How did the surgery go? Is she okay?"
"In a little while she will wake up. Do you want to come with me?," suggested Suhyuk.
She was still a little child. When she would open her eyes, she would see strange people, machines and the IV hung on her arms. That's why she needed her mother beside her.
Of course, her mother would have to wear a disinfected cap and mask.
He headed to the recovery room with her nodding to his suggestion gladly.
Entering the operating room, she just became speechless at the sight of her daughter.
"Why won't she open her eyes?"
Confirming the IV, the nurse said, "As she was injected with a medicine to recover from anesthesia, she should wake up soon."
Then, she could see Arum's pupils moving under her eyelids.
And her eyes were slowly opening as if to confirm it.
"Arum, Arum, can you recognize me. Mom is here."
Suhyuk opened his mouth, "You can remove your mask now."
As soon as he said that, she showed her face.
"Mom…"
"Yes, yes, your Mom is here. Can you see me?"
Then, Suhyuk waved his hand, saying, "Hi Arum."
Arum slowly moved her pupils to the side, and saw him.
"Arum, did you have a good sleep? Do you know my name?"
"Yes, Uncle Lee Suhyuk."
"She is okay, right? Right, doctor?"
Arum's mother asked, alternately looking at Suhyuk and her daughter.
Suhyuk smiled, answering,
"Yes, the surgery did go well as planned. It's perfect!"
Only then did she shed the tears she had been holding back up to now.
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Chapter 117
Regrettably, Arum's drawing was not sold. Instead, donations for her kept coming in.
Suhyuk immediately closed the bank account.
For he did not need it anymore as his original purpose was already fulfilled.
Several days pa.s.sed, and on the wall of the pediatrics building was hung a drawing.
It was the one drawn by Arum, which featured a big tree and a house.
Looking at it with Arum, he asked her, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Arum's eyes were glittering before her drawing.
"I want to be a painter."
Nodding his head, Suhyuk looked at the drawing. Though he did not how to appreciate a painting, he could feel some sort of warmth from it.
"Arum!"
"Mom!"
Arum hugged her mother who just got back from work.
"What did you do today? Did you listen to the doctor well?"
"Yeah, mom. I got two shots, but didn't cry."
"Good job!"
Both of them stroked each other's faces while they were sticking together.
Then, Suhyuk said, "Can I talk with you?"
At his words, she nodded and looked at Arum,
"Arum, I've got something to talk about with the doctor. Come inside first."
Looking at her entering the patient's room, Suhyuk said in no time,
"She looks healthy, right?"
She bended herself with sincerity, saying, "Thanks. I just don't know how I can repay my debt to you… I won't forget. Later I'll…"
"Well, I just did my duty."
With a smile, he turned over her chart and said,
"Even though her vital signs are normal, we have to check her condition for one week."
She took out a white envelope from the bag that she was carrying, and gave it to him,
"This is not much, but please take this money…"
Suhyuk waved his hands, refusing to take it. The whole bill for her surgery and hospitalization was already paid for through the donations collected for Arum. Suhyuk was thinking of returning it to her when she was discharged.
"Please take this, such as it is…"
She continued to hand the envelop to him, but he refused it.
"You don't have to give it to me. Please use it to buy her sketchbooks and crayons…"
Then Suhyuk's eyes became wide, for she was suddenly moaning while offering the envelope.
Beads of sweat were formed on her forehead when she was looking down.
"Are you okay?"
At his voice, she raised her head, and tried to smile.
"I'm okay."
But she was not, in his eyes.
She was holding her stomach with one hand.
"Looks like it's menstrual pain. Have a seat here."
He had her sit on the bench in the hallway, saying, "Do you usually have severe cramps like this?"
"Not as severe as this…"
Once a month when that very day came, she normally walked and ate well, and she did not feel her cramps that much, but today she felt different.
She could put up with it until the morning, but not now.
"Excuse me!"
Suhyuk grabbed a nurse pa.s.sing by at the moment.
"Looks like she needs blood collection."
The nurse quickly disappeared, looking at her soaked with sweat.
"Are you okay now?"
At his words, she just nodded her head, but could not say anything.
The nurse reappeared with a syringe.
"Let me collect a bit of blood from you."
Suhyuk put the needle right into her arm and drew some blood.
Then he gave it to the nurse.
"Please process it right away."
"Yes, doctor."
The nurse disappeared again with the syringe.
"Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
"On the lower part of my belly…"
She was grasping the lower right part of her belly.
"Let me touch it then."
He put aside her hand and pressed it.
Knitting her brows, she was moaning.
Besides, when he took off his hand, her face was contorted with pain.
'Appendicitis?'
"Doctor, her leukocyte value is above average!"
The nurse, who completed a simple test of the blood, appeared.
"Can you stand up?"
She stood up, helped by Suhyuk.
"It looks like appendicitis. But you need a CT for accurate diagnosis."
"Mom?"
Arum who came into the patient's room showed up.
"I'm okay, Arum. Stay inside."
Did she feel her mother was lying?
Her eyes were welled up with tears.
"Are you sick, mom? "
She smiled as if she was relieving her anxiety, but could not disguise the pain.
"Uncle doctor! Please give my mom medicine. Medicine, quickly!"
Taking a short look at Arum, Suhyuk opened his mouth,
"Looks like we have to go together."
It seemed impossible to separate Arum from her mother.
The CT scan showed that she had acute appendicitis.
It was swollen to the point that it needed urgent surgery.
The procedure for surgery was done quickly.
Suhyuk contacted the staff of the surgery department and the anesthesia department.
Of course, the operating room was arranged.
Lying on the stretcher, with an IV hung on the back of her hand, she was soothing her daughter.
"I'll be back soon. Okay?"
"Boohoo… Don't go, Mom!"
Tears were running down her face, and her crying became louder as she came near the operating room.
Then Suhyuk held the stretcher to push it to the operating room and said to the nurse next to him, "Please take care of this child."
"Mom!"
Arum was sitting on the bench, her face covered with tears.
She cried so much as to develop a hiccup, and now fixed her eyes on the red light sign: "In Operation."
"Will my mom come out if the red sign is turned off? Boohoo…"
The nurse, who was rubbing her back gently, said with a smile,
"Sure, the light will be turned off soon."
As soon as she said that, Arum's eyes became wide because the light was turned off.
"Is my mom coming out soon?"
The nurse nodded her head. Her mother would come out once she regains consciousness in the recovery room. The surgery was most likely easy too.
About 10 minutes pa.s.sed.
Arum, expecting to see her mother, looked up at the nurse and asked, "Why is my mom not coming out?"
She gestured with her eyes toward the door.
The automatic door opened, and her mother lying on the stretcher was coming out.
"Mom!"
She got close to her who lay with her eyes half-closed.
"Did you wait for me long, Arum?"
"Yes! Did it hurt a lot?"
She made a smile, "I'm okay now."
Then Arum, holding her hand tightly, turned back sharply and looked at Suhyuk.
"You're a bad uncle. Don't let her have any more surgery!"
Arum tapped his thigh lightly with her little hand.
Suhyuk thought her act was so cute, and laughed heartily, "Hahaha…"
The woman and her daughter are both now very healthy.
After checking the post-surgery condition of Arum's mother, Suhyuk was back to the cardiothoracic surgery department.
While he was walking through the hallway, he ran into Park Sungjae.
"How are you, sir?"
Park greeted, bending himself.
He looked down and out, and Suhyuk could figure out why.
A series of mistakes by Park and the text messages sent by Im Gyongsu testified to it.
"I hear you administered the anaesthetic incorrectly."
It was not a typical anesthesia.
It was the spinal cord subarachnoid anesthesia performed before the extraction of cerebrospinal fluid. How much pain was the patient in when Park administered the anesthetic in the wrong place and pierced a long needle into the waist?
Besides, Park wrongly touched the wound while he disinfected it, causing inflammation.
"I'm afraid I have to look for some other profession than a doctor…"
Park could realize why there were so few who applied for the cardiothoracic surgery department.
It was tough and exhaustive.
"You're leaving tomorrow, right?"
At Suhyuk's asking, Park's eyes became wide.
"How did you know…"
Park was supposed to move from the cardiothoracic surgery department to the ob/gyn department tomorrow.
n.o.body knew about it until Park said it by himself.
With a smile, Suhyuk checked the time. It was 9pm.
Coincidently, the cardiothoracic surgery department was peaceful at the moment.
"Do you like meat?"
"Yes, sir…"
"Ok, let's go. I know a restaurant behind the hospital known for delicious meat."
Park followed Suhyuk.
When they arrived, the restaurant was crowded with customers.
They were clattering their gla.s.ses with happy looks after a day's work.
Taking his seat, Suhyuk asked, "What would you like?"
"Any meat is okay with me, sir."
"Please can we have pork neck for two, and a bottle of soju. Rolled omelet is sold separately, right?"
"Oh, are you talking about the omelet that's 5000 won?"
"Yes, one omelet please."
When the waiter disappeared, Park asked him with wide eyes, "How come pork neck for one person is 20,000 won? And the rolled omelet, too…"
Suhyuk smiled, saying, "Because it's delicious…"
Soon thick pork neck was sizzling in front of them with a delicious smell permeating the air.
The waiter cut it into pieces so they could eat easily.
"Please help yourself!"
"Thanks for the meat, sir!"
Park began eating the meat hurriedly.
"Didn't you have any lunch?"
"No, sir…"
"Hey, add another pork neck for two!"
How much time pa.s.sed…
They drank four bottles of soju, and Park put into his mouth lettuce with the pork neck.
"You have had lots of hard times, right?"
Park nodded slowly, and then began crying, "Boohoo…"
Tears were coming down his cheeks, and soon he began weeping.
Suhyuk patted him on the back quietly.
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Chapter 118
The morning broke.
Suhyuk left his lodging early in the morning and headed for the convenience store in the bas.e.m.e.nt.
He opened a seaweed roll pack and milk for breakfast.
Suddenly he thought of what happened last night.
Park Sungjae, weeping at the restaurant.
He could understand why Park wept so sadly like a child: Too much difficult work.
The kind of work that deals with one's life carries hards.h.i.p, and over time one becomes a doctor by helping patients one by one.
What kind of doctor would he be later?
Suhyuk smiled bitterly after throwing the wrap into a trash can.
Now the remaining balance on his bank account was 70,000 won.
That was for his own living expenses, separate from the bank account for Arum's donation.
If Arum's drawing had not been sold or the donation had not been enough, he would have donated it for her treatment. But he did not have to because things worked out well in the end.
"By the way, how can I manage my life with this money for the next three weeks…"
That's all he had left after he paid for the dinner he had with Park Sungjae the previous evening.
But he had no regrets.
Park vented out all the stress he had, for which the money was well spent.
And he still could get by because he could have free meals at the hospital as well as free purified water. What more did he want?
In front of the desk of the cardiothoracic surgery department were standing three people.
One was Dr. Im Gyungsu, and the other two were women in white gowns.
After Park left, the two female interns filled the vacuum.
A female intern with long straight hair bent herself when Suhyuk approached them.
"h.e.l.lo! My name is Kim Hanul, newly a.s.signed to the cardiothoracic surgery department!"
And then the other female with short hair said, "h.e.l.lo, sir, my name is Lee Heejung."
'This time there are two interns?'
When Suhyuk looked at Im, he directed him saying, "Lee Suhyuk, let them train under you just as before. Got it?"
With a bitter smile, Suhyuk nodded. He just wanted to focus on the patients.
"h.e.l.lo!"
When Suhyuk greeted them, they lowered their heads and responded, "h.e.l.lo, sir!"
The two interns could not take their eyes off Suhyuk.
They knew about him already when they were freshmen. If anybody did not know about him, he or she could be regarded as a spy among medical students.
"Which department did you undertake your interns.h.i.p with last month?"
"Pediatrics Department!"
"Did you learn a lot there?"
The two interns suddenly wore sullen faces.
"Well… we did collect blood, a.s.sist in lumbar puncture…"
Looking back, they felt they did not do much. If they made a mere mistake, they were rarely given a.s.signments by Dr. Oh Jinhee. They thought about the nickname of Dr. Oh, or her image as a witch.
"I think I have to show you around the cardiothoracic surgery department first."
When Suhyuk turned back and walked, Kim Hanul quickly followed him, murmuring,
"Does his shoulder look broader to me because his face is small? Looks like I'm now looking at an entertainer…"
"You're right…"
Suhyuk first made the rounds of the department, and introduced them to the nurses and the other doctors. He also had them meet all the hospitalized patients.
In fact, it was very unusual to introduce interns to the patients, but Suhyuk took them to the patient's rooms. Anyway they were interns destined to be doctors some day.
It was good for them to learn how to save a patient's life, but he wanted to teach them how to interact with the patients first. So, he spent almost three hours with them.
On such occasions, he did not forget to check the condition of the patient when he made the rounds. Going out of the last patient's room, he made a smile at them.
"So, what is your feeling after making the rounds today?"
Lee Jeejung opened her mouth, but Kim Hanul came forward first, sightly blocking Lee's body.
"At the pediatrics department we heard only the sound of crying babies, but I feel good that it's quiet here."
"That's because the patients are all adults here. They're accustomed to patience. They just trust doctors and wait with patience. Then, what should we do?"
The two interns could not answer. Instead they just nodded their heads slowly.
Suhyuk checked the time. It was lunch time already.
"Come back after lunch then."
Their eyes were twinkling. It was the first time they were given their lunch break on time during their interns.h.i.p all the way up to now. When the two interns hesitated, Suhyuk approved with smile.
"Just go ahead!"
"We'll be back soon, sir."
"Take your time."
Bending themselves, they walked along.
Then his cell phone buzzed, signalling a text message.
"Have you had lunch yet, sir?"
It was Binna.
"No, not yet."
The reply message came back fast.
"I've brought a lunch box for you. Can you have it with me?"
Looking at the phone, he smiled.
"Where shall we meet?"
"How about the Sky Park?"
"I'll see you there."
Suhyuk got on the elevator immediately to go to the Sky Park.
A cool wind blowing from the sky tossed Suhyuk's hair.
As it happened to be lunch time, there were not many people at the park.
Suhyuk was moving around to find a good spot for lunch, with his white gown fluttering in the air.
Seated on the bench, he raised his face to look at the sky.
When was the last time he looked up at the sky?
The sky was blue, and the clouds that looked like cotton candy were floating away.
Suhyuk closed his eyes calmly.
The sunlight pouring over him was warm, and the wind blowing over him on and off made him excited.
"Doctor…"
Binna, who came to him before he knew it, slurred her words.
Then Suhyuk opened his eyes, rising from the seat with greeting, "Hi!"
It seemed he last saw her more than two weeks ago.
During that period he was hectically busy outside the hospital.
When she lowered her head in a blush, Suhyuk said, "Have a seat!"
She sat beside him and began opening the lunch box.
There were many side dishes as well as desert.
"Please try this…" said she, giving him the chopsticks.
"Thanks for the food."
Suhyuk enjoyed the food as usual, and Binna pecked at her food like a bird.
"I'm served food like this every time."
Binna shook her head at Suhyuk who was eating baby tomatoes.
"Well, I just add a little more rice while I'm preparing lunch."
"I'm going to treat you to a nice restaurant sooner or later."
Suhyuk gulped down the spring water handed to him by Binna.
When he swallowed the water, his uvula moved up and down in her eyes.
Her face became red in a blush instantly, and she shook her head, casting down her eyes.
'Han Binna, you're being weird right now.'
"What's the matter with you?"
"Oh, never mind! Look at your cell phone…"
Just then his phone buzzed. It was a call from Im Gyungsu.
"Where are you now?"
"I'm having lunch."
"Good for you! Lunch at the right time… Come back quickly!"
The phone was hung up like that.
Binna smiled at Suhyuk now looking at his cell phone.
"Go back quickly, doctor."
With a bitter smile, Suhyuk began cleaning up.
"Let me do it. Looks like you have to go back now. Please go."
"I'm sorry."
Binna nodded, with a smile, fixing her eyes on him now heading for the elevator.
She murmured, "I hear there is a really interesting movie that just came out. Would you go with me?"
When he disappeared, she was fiddling with two movie tickets in her hands.
"Is he an emergency patient?"
Im shook his head at his asking.
"Bacterial pleurisy, suspected empyema. Go check it out."
Im, who handed a chart to Suhyuk as if he was throwing it, disappeared quickly.
Checking the test outcome on the chart, he murmured,
"Black shade…"
It was most likely empyema if the shade looked like an inverted D, though only an accurate diagnosis could determine it.
"We're back, sir!" said intern Kim Hanul and Lee Heejung.
"Let's go."
It would serve as a good learning opportunity for the two interns.
Suhyuk headed to the test room. Strangely enough, the nurse, who was supposed to be with the patient, was outside the test room.
When he approached, the nurse opened her mouth, in a crying tone,
"Doctor, the patient seems to be a gangster…"
At the moment he could hear the rough voice of a man.
"Are you going to look away when in front of a sick person?"
When the man took off the patient's gown, there was a tattoo on his upper body; a picture tattooed large enough to be seen all the way to the back of his hand.
Fixing his eyes on the test room, Suhyuk asked,
"Did any other doctor come and see him?"
"I hear Im said he would come here, but…"
With a bitter smile, Suhyuk went inside the test room.
"I'm sorry to have you kept waiting for so long."
There inside was a man in his early 30s with a rough beard reaching to his cheek.
"Now you know it. Get it done quickly, quickly!"
"Take off your upper s.h.i.rt, and raise your hands."
Suhyuk directed him now sitting on the bed.
Several tattooed carps were swimming around his body. Besides that, there were some big scars from wounds apparently caused by scratches from somewhere.
"Like this?"
When the man raised his hands, and his rib bones were shown.
Holding cotton with a tweezer, Suhyuk opened his mouth, while disinfecting his side broadly,
"You'll be given anesthesia first."
"You're talking too much. Just get it done quickly."
Then the man's head turned to the side slightly, where Kim Hanul was standing.
"Wait a minute, doctor. Is she a doctor, too?"
"Yes, she is."
"Then let me get the service from her."
"They are interns. You had better get the service from me…"
"What do you mean by interns. Are they not the same as doctors? You guys with smart brains are always talking much."
The man stared at Suhyuk as if he was about to get him, and said again,
"Is there anything wrong when I pay my own money and request treatment by a doctor that I want?"
Suhyuk smiled, saying, "Of course, not. You can do so."
Suhyuk handed the syringe to Kim Hanul quietly and asked, "Have you ever given anesthesia before?"
"Yes, but…"
"Please do anesthesia only."
Handed a syringe with anesthetic, she walked to the patient reluctantly.
She had no choice but to do as directed.
She knew how to, because she had seen it several times while doing her interns.h.i.p at other departments. And it seemed easy, too.
"Oh, this stuff makes me uncomfortable."
Murmuring like that, he took out from his pocket a wallet, cigarettes and a car key on the table.
The man chuckled and looked up at Kim Hanul who came to him.
"What is your name?"
"Kim Hanul. Let me start the anesthesia."
He nodded lightly, saying, "Okay. Good. You can take your time."
The needle Kim was holding moved to his ribs, and Suhyuk was watching it calmly.
Soon the needle was piercing his skin.
"Ouch!"
Suhyuk smiled at that.
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Chapter 119
After screaming, the guy cast his eyes towards Kim Hanul and even raised his hand.
Stunned by his act, Kim closed her eyes.
But nothing worrisome happened and she opened her eyes slightly.
The man was scratching his head with the hand he raised, saying,
"Your hands look pretty. Does it cause stinging like this?"
Actually, it was more than stinging. He felt as if she rammed the needle into his skin roughly enough to recall his memory of his having been stabbed in the past.
But he could not show his pain to her because it would be shameful for him to do so as a male.
Kim opened her mouth, but at the moment Suhyuk said first,
"You've been administered anesthesia, so you will feel a bit of stinging."
The man nodded, asking, "Am I done now?"
Suhyuk said, shaking his head, "No, you need two more shots."
He looked at the syringe the intern was holding.
It looked like the needle could be broken easily with a bit of force, but it sent chills down his spine instead.
The man, posturing firmly like before, said, "Do it quickly."
Kim Hanul looked at Suhyuk slightly, who was nodding without saying anything.
Suhyuk now tipped her the wink to begin administering the anesthesia quickly.
"Let me begin the anesthesia again now."
She held his shoulder to pierce the needle, saying, "Just relax."
"Uh…?"
He put strength into his muscles before he knew it.
The needle she was holding now moved to his ribs.
He clenched his teeth.
"Uhhh………."
A strange voice was coming out of his mouth. A stinging pain.
Suhyuk smiled, looking at the needle pierced into the guy's skin.
Kim Hanul seemed to have learned local anesthesia in the correct way.
The needle was neither too deep nor too short to break into parietal pleura.
But the needle did not go into the skin at the right angle.
Her hand was trembling subtly as if she was not sure of her skill or scared of the guy.
It was clear that the trembling needle was piercing into a wrong organ.
He might be agonizing over the pain, but over time it will go away soon enough.
For it would not cause inflammation or any other collateral disease even if the disinfected needle touches other organs.
Soon the needle was pulled away from his skin.
Beads of sweat ran down his face.
"One more shot, right?" said he.
"Oh, yes…"
Kim moved again, and finally she could finish administering the anesthesia.
Looking at her fellow intern, she made an expression as if she was asking for her opinion.
Lee Heejung gave a thumbs up, praising her skill.
The guy turned his hand on the side of his anesthetized ribs.
He felt it was becoming more and more numb.
"Now it's time for surgery?" asked the man.
Suhyuk shook his head, saying,
"We need to collect the pleural fluid for examination. Because we have to collect it from the thoracic cavity where the lungs are, the lungs might be pierced by the needle."
The man's pupils trembled a bit, and then he looked at Kim. Can she do it well?
He had to endure the pain when she rammed the needle into his side.
"Do you have enough experience with this, miss?"
It was Suhyuk who replied to his question, "I'll do it."
Then the guy asked again, "You must have had many experiences, right?"
Suhyuk, nodding slightly, pierced the needle into his ribs without any hesitation.
"Now I'm collecting it."
As soon as he said that, Suhyuk pulled the piston of the syringe.
Pleural fluid was absorbed into the syringe.
"It's done now."
The guy blinked his eyes. Was it because of the anesthesia? He just felt numb.
"Now, can I just wait for the test result?"
Suhyuk nodded, adding, "Yes, from now on, let me check if it is pleurisy or empyema by examining the blood sample. Depending on the test outcome, I'll duly treat you."
"I don't need any surgery, right?"
"It depends on the test results. If it is not serious, you'll be prescribed medication. If you need other treatment, though, I may have to get more pleural fluid from your ribs."
The guy's eyes became wider. Another anesthesia?
He cast his eyes at Kim Hanul automatically, who was smiling a bit.
Putting on his upper clothes, he asked Suhyuk,
"You will do it for me, right?"
Suhyuk turned his head to Kim, saying, "If you want, I can have her do it instead of me."
The guy grabbed his hand suddenly, "Please, you do it…"
The guy returned to the patient's room, and Suhyuk handed the two interns blood samples taken from him.
"You know where the test room is, right?"
Suhyuk made the two interns move together, so they could understand by themselves how the cardiothoracic surgery department was running.
The interns disappeared, and Suhyuk began moving, when he heard some voice from behind.
"Dr. Lee!"
It was Park Sungjae.
Racing toward him while short of breath, he stopped right before Suhyuk, touching his knees with both hands
"What brought you here when're a.s.signed to the ob/gyn department?"
Though his voice was icy, he smiled warmly.
"Well…"
He then took out a folded paper from his pocket.
"What is this?"
Handed the paper, Suhyuk opened it, where the test outcomes of his blood showed his health was normal.
'When did I do the test?'
Suhyuk's curiosity was satisfied when Park replied, "When you showed me how to collect blood last time, I took your blood collection to the pathology laboratory."
Only then could Suhyuk recalled that he had his blood taken in the empty patient's room.
"Thanks."
Park scratched his head at his sincere appreciation.
When Park did so, he found a handful of hair was lost from his head.
"Ooops… my hair…"
Looking at the hair in his hand, Park smiled bitterly, saying,
"Well I was a.s.signed to a pregnant woman…"
It was a mistake that he had his hair caught by a pregnant woman, nearing her time.
"Looks like you're working very hard. Aren't you busy, by the way?"
Stroking his head, he suddenly came to his senses.
"Yes, sir. I'll see you again then."
Bowing his head, he ran to the elevator.
Looking at him, Suhyuk felt weird. More and more people are coming to see him.
Not only patients but also those who make his heart warm.
Park bowed his head again inside the elevator, and so did Suhyuk.
Children's laughter as well as babies' whining were heard in Suhyuk's ears.
He was now at the pediatrics department building to see Arum.
Now he was going everywhere in order to see patients.
Moving with a steady stride, Suhyuk stopped for a moment
Arum was standing in the hallway, looking at her drawing on the wall with a smile.
And beside her was standing her mother who had acute appendicitis surgery.
"Hi, Arum's mother."
Turning her head to him, she was beaming.
The savior who saved her and her daughter.
Dressed in white gown, he was coming toward them.
"How are you doctor?" said she, bending her head.
"How are you feeling?"
"I feel so great thanks to you, sir. Thank you."
Bending his knee, Suhyuk's eyes met Arum's.
Arum opened her mouth, "Doctor, no more surgery for my mom and me, please."
Suhyuk pinkie-sweared, with a smile, "Sure, I'll promise."
"You're serious, right?"
With a suspicious look, she pinkie-sweared at him, too.
Standing up now, he handed her mother a white envelope.
It contained donations from those who chipped in for her surgery.
"What's this?"
"Is this for Arum?"
Getting the scent of it, she handed back the envelope.
"I can't accept it. You know how much help I received. I really can't accept this…"
Expecting she would do so, Suhyuk opened his mouth,
"Then, do I take it?"
Feeling sorry, she made a bright expression, saying, "Of course you should."
"If I take this money, those who donated would not be happy, with a rumor going around that the doctor pocketed the money for Arum's treatment. And they might report it, dubbing it as a fraud in the name of donation…"
Watching Arum quietly, Suhyuk offered the envelope again to her.
"Even if she's discharged, she needs to be on constant watch for her condition."
That meant she had to come to the hospital for treatment even after she was discharged.
Suhyuk said, "I guess she might need to buy a lot of sketchbooks, crayons, paints, etc."
He continued, "Please take care of your daughter, so she can grow up to be a painter who can show great paintings later."
"Thanks a lot," said she, accepting the envelope. She shed tears before she knew it.
Looking at her drawing, Arum asked her mother, "Why are you crying, Mom?"
Wiping her tears immediately, she talked to her daughter,
"Arum, say, 'Thank you' to the doctor."
Then Suhyuk's cell phone buzzed.
'What's the matter?'
It was a call from his mother, who would not call him at this time usually, because she did not want to disturb her son.
"Hi, mom."
"Son, your father was injured…"
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Chapter 120
Suhyuk's eyes immediately became wide.
"Are you listening to me, Suhyuk?"
"Was he injured?"
"Yes, we're now going to your hospital. Almost there."
Coming to his senses suddenly, Suhyuk asked, "How was he injured?"
"I heard he was buried under bricks while working…"
"Come to the emergency room, mom!"
Suhyuk then moved. He ran now.
Looking at him with surprised look, Arum's mother murmured, "Thank you so much."
Suhyuk raced to the emergency room like a mad man.
He pressed on all the b.u.t.tons of the four elevators in the lobby.
None of the elevators were going go up or down.
Suhyuk then turned back suddenly.
As the emergency room was located on the ground floor of the cardiothoracic surgery building, it was much faster for him to cross the bridge to get there.
While crossing the bridge, he thought of all the names of medical predicaments that his father could get with his injury. And he kept murmuring, "Please, no damage to his brain…"
'Even if he has brain damage, I would treat it by all means.'
Suhyuk was crossed the bridge before he knew it, and arrived at the cardiothoracic surgery building.
There was a patient walking with a limp in the hallway, and another patient was carried on a stretcher.
Usually he would speak to them, but they were not in his eyes at this time.
Then the two interns and Im Gyungsu noticed Suhyuk running toward them.
"Hey, the patient you collected blood from a while ago was diagnosed with empyema. Go and…"
Blinking his eyes, Im turned his head to the side.
Without even looking at him Suhyuk pa.s.sed by.
Arriving at the emergency room, Suhyuk flung the door open and quickly looked around.
Had he arrived yet? Nowhere in the room was his father found .
"Suhyuk."
A voice was heard from the side.
Suhyuk turned his head instantly at the voice.
Seated on the bed, his father was stroking his leg, and his mother was standing beside him.
Suhyuk, who almost ran into the room, failed to notice them right beside him.
Recognizing his father, Suhyuk found his legs tottering.
His father was looking at him with an embarra.s.sed look.
He did not look injured, except for small bruises on his legs.
It was fortunate for him. Yes, it was.
Then he felt something warm around his eyelids all of a sudden.
'Why?'
He confirmed his father was healthy first…
"Are you okay…" asked Suhyuk, clearing his throat.
When Suhyuk approached, he smiled bitterly.
"Yes, I'm okay. I just fell over."
"Honey, don't talk nonsense! You said you couldn't move a while ago!"
Talking to him in scolding tone, she then looked at Suhyuk.
"Suhyuk, your father is talking nonsense now."
"Honey, why did you bring me here to disturb Suhyuk?"
Suhyuk bent one of his knees without saying anything.
Then Oh Byungchul, resident at the emergency room, approached them.
"Are they your family members?"
"Yes, sir."
Oh said h.e.l.lo to them.
"h.e.l.lo. How were you injured…"
"Let me take care of him, sir," said Suhyuk.
Oh nodded at his words, and left the scene after saying goodbye to his parents.
Suhyuk checked his s.h.i.n carefully. There were some bruises caused by the blood being trapped under the skin from ruptured capillaries, and also some swelling.
"Were you buried under bricks, dad?"
"It's alright. It'll be okay after I apply a muscle relaxant patch. Just go and do your work."
At his curt reply, Suhyuk grabbed his s.h.i.n with some strength.
"Ooohh…"
Though he made a low moan, he did not change his facial expression at all as if he did not want to show it to his son.
Suhyuk knitted his brows a bit. It seemed like his s.h.i.n had a fracture.
He began disinfecting it without saying anything. If he did say anything, he felt he would shed tears all of a sudden.
When he was done, he barely opened his mouth, "You seem to have a fracture in your s.h.i.n."
"Fracture in my s.h.i.n? Never mind…"
"Wait a minute," said Suhyuk, who then brought a stretcher.
"Please get on it, dad."
"Aren't you busy?"
"Honey, listen to him!"
He then reluctantly got on the stretcher.
Suhyuk pushed it out of the emergency room.
"How did you get injured, by the way?"
"Nothing serious, son."
Instead of his short reply, his mother now opened her mouth,
"He was working near this place when he was buried under some piled-up bricks. He just insisted on going to another hospital instead of Daehan Hospital for treatment. You know how stubborn he is, right?"
He looked at his father lying on the stretcher. He could figure out why.
His father did not want to disturb his son.
Suhyuk was pus.h.i.ng the stretcher without any word, and soon arrived at the scanning room.
He moved to the opposite room overlooking the scanning room.
"Careful scanning, please."
At Suhyuk's words, the radiologist nodded his head,
"Don't worry, sir. As I know whose father he is…"
Weeeing…
At the sound of the scanning machine, Suhyuk fixed his eyes on his father.
What was he thinking?
Looking at his father quietly, Suhyuk wiped his eyelids with his sleeve.
Then he found his shoulder being patted by his mother gently.
Her soft voice came into his ears, "It's alright, it's alright."
Then the radiologist said, "Looks like he is normal, except for one crack in his s.h.i.n."
Suhyuk looked at the monitor. He was right.
Checking the monitor carefully, he raised his head suddenly.
Suhyuk's father had his s.h.i.n plastered in a cast, which was done by his son.
He used synthetic cast, which had more advantages compared to ordinary plaster bandages.
First of all, it was light and tight. Also its embedded ventilation made the patient feel less stuffy around the plastered area.
"Just listen to Suhyuk," said Suhyuk's mother.
At her angry scolding, he would have no choice but to be hospitalized for one day according to Suhyuk's wishes.
It was a room for two patients.
Suhyuk administered expensive tonic to him and went out for a moment.
And he went to the break room at the end of the hallway.
Looking at the sky, Suhyuk let out a long sigh.
He did not know his father was working right near Daehan Hospital.
'How stupid I am.'
Though he paid lots of lip service to his parents with words, there was nothing he translated into action. All he did was to give them two thirds of his monthly salary.
Maybe they would deposit the money for him as the seed money for his marriage later.
Suhyuk's deep sigh lasted a long time.
He had to look for some way to make them enjoy a happy life during their remaining years.
Returning to the patient's room, Suhyuk was stunned.
n.o.body was there.
The toilet as well as the water purifier were inside the room.
Suhyuk waited for a moment, seated on the bed.
Still, he did not sense that his father and mother were coming back. For as long as one hour he waited.
After that, he went out to look for them but it was in vain.
Did they go home?
There was little possibility of their returning home because they could not get discharged without paying the bill.
Suddenly he took out his cell phone, but it did not turn on because it ran out of battery.
Returning back to his lodging, he charged the phone, and when it was turned on, he called his mother.
"Suyuk, did your phone run out of battery?"
"Yes, mom. I've just charged it. Where are you now?"
"Oh, we've been transferred to another room. It's so cool here. Honey, what did they call this room? Now I remember it. VIP?"
Suhyuk's eyes became wide.
VIP rooms of Daehan Hospital were extraordinary rooms reserved usually for company presidents or National a.s.semblymen.
Its interior was designed like hotel rooms.
"I'll be there now."
Suhyuk went up to the top floor of Daehan Hospital.
Getting off the elevator, he ran into Profs. Lee Mansuk and Kim Jinwook unexpectedly.
Both of them were talking with each other in front of the room.
"Let me pay the bill," said Prof. Lee.
At his words, Kim replied with a smile,
"I think I told you at the ginseng chicken soup restaurant last time that I owe them a nice treatment someday…"
It was a lie, of course.
"Yeah, I know, but treat them next time!"
"Why should I do?"
"Let me pay today, Prof. Kim."
They did not yet give up on Suhyuk.
Unaware of it, Suhyuk approached them, saying,
"Hi, sirs. Are my parents staying here?"
"Oh, Suhyuk. Yes, they've move here."
"Suhyuk! This brother called you many, many times. Did your phone run out of battery?"
Did he not hear them well?
Suhyuk went into the room.
The first things that came into his eyes were a large TV set and luxurious sofa.
Even the refrigerator was expensive, and the room had a veranda.
It was the first time ever that Suhyuk had entered a VIP room.
It was only natural that Suhyuk had no chance to visit it because those admitted to VIP rooms were taken care by the professors alone.
"Suhyuk!"
At his mother's voice he turned his head to her.
Seated on a soft bed, his father was enjoying fruits peeled by her.
"When did you move here…"
"Prof. Lee Mansuk and Prof. Kim Jinwook insisted we move here, saying only one room is available here."
The VIP room charge would be very expensive.
"They told us it was because they were treated to delicious ginseng chicken soup last time. Hohoho…"
Then the two professors' conversation was heard slightly outside the room.
"Hey, why are you stopping me like this?"
"Well, I'm just heading for the elevator…"
Their sense of presence soon faded away.
"These apples here taste very delicious. Try one, Suhyuk."
Suhyuk was handed one piece of apple that she offered.
It was very delicious.
He then took a glance at his father.
Slightly leaning on the bed, he was watching the TV news.
"How do you feel, dad?"
"I'm fine," said he.
They talked with each other cheerfully. Of course his father was reticent, while his mother talked most. She asked him how he was work was going at the hospital.
"Well, it's time for a soap opera for your father, 'Great King Kw.a.n.gge' is on TV."
The three cast their eyes at the TV.
How long pa.s.sed? When the history drama was at an end, his mother made a regrettable look, because Suhyuk was asleep with his face down.
"His work must be very hard…"
His father then said, "That's why I told you to go to another hospital."
With a short sigh, she went to the restroom.
Then, his father stroked Suhyuk's head with his hands with many small scars.
Has he ever stroked his son's head like this before?
"I come to live high off the hog thanks to my son…"
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Chapter 121
10:30pm.
After confirm his father was asleep, Suhyuk went out of the room. So did his mother.
He closed at the door of the room quietly.
"Have a good sleep."
Having said that, he turned back.
Im Gyungsu called him when he came back to the cardiothoracic surgery department.
He looked at Suhyuk with half-closed eyes as if he had something against him.
"Where have you been…?"
"Sorry, my father has been hospitalized."
"What?"
"He's been hospitalized with injuries."
Im was about to say some harsh words, but stopped, and then he was handed a patient's chart from a nurse. It was the record about the patient who had surgery for pleural fluid.
"I took care of it."
At his voice, Suhyuk just looked at him, who was stroking his chin with a bitter expression.
It was natural that Im showed such an expression.
After Suhyuk disappeared suddenly, he had to take care of the patient.
It was really uncomfortable for Im to deal with the patient looking like a gangster.
Besides, the patient really hated anesthesia.
"Where are you going?"
Im opened his mouth when Suhyuk began moving.
"To check the condition of the patient, sir."
Im nodded his head.
It was part of Suhyuk's daily work that he checked the patient's condition before leaving the office. He never failed to do so. Sometimes he visited the patient's room until the wee hours of the night.
"Take care of your father today instead of seeing the patients."
Suhyuk smiled bitterly at Im's remarks.
Though he wanted to, his father was sleeping.
Bowing his head slightly, Suhyuk soon began making the rounds.
He checked the patients' vital signs and IVs, and sometimes covered them with blankets.
Almost two hours pa.s.sed by the time he was done.
Going out of the last patient's room, Suhyuk's gait looked feeble.
He headed to the elevator to go to the Sky Park on the rooftop.
As it was late, there were not many people there.
Sometimes some medical staff holding coffee pa.s.sed by.
Holding on to the railing, he looked up at the sky.
His father's image glimmered in his eyes when he made the rounds. And that of his mother sleeping on the bed next to him too.
He just thought himself so pathetic because he did not thank his parents enough for raising him.
He felt that he had been taking care of only patients, and only doing what he wanted.
"Huuuuuuh…"
Then someone's voice was heard in the back.
He turned his head at the abrupt voice.
It was Han Binna, who saw him getting on the elevator.
She bought a canned c.o.ke from a vending machine for him.
And she was convinced that Suhyuk looked unusually down today.
He received the c.o.ke, saying, "Thanks."
He drank it down in a single gulp.
"You look like you're on call today," asked Suhyuk.
She nodded at his asking, and sat next to him.
"You look kind of tired…"
"Yes, a bit…"
Suhyuk nodded his head slowly.
"Why don't you take vacation leave if you're stressed out? You had better take care of your own health first…"
Turning to her, he smiled at her.
She misunderstood him because that was not the point.
Binna went red in the face suddenly. It was not so easy for her to see face to face with someone she liked.
"Thanks," said Suhyuk with sincerity. She was always there to cheer him up.
"My father was hospitalized today, so I'm kind of down."
Her eyes became wide.
"Did he feel unwell?"
Suhyuk shook his head, replying, "Oh, he has a fracture in his s.h.i.n."
"Oh my G.o.d… I hope he gets well soon."
Suhyuk beamed at her. Her words seemed to comfort him.
For a while they looked up at the sky without talking to each other.
7am.
Suhyuk visited his father's room.
"Son, did you eat breakfast?" asked his mother.
His father then said bluntly, "Why did you come when you're busy?"
"I'm not really busy. Why did you change clothes?"
Taking off the patient's gown, he was already dressed in the clothes he had on when he was taken into the emergency room.
"Looks like I don't fit well with this place. I feel like I might get sick if I stay longer here."
His mother shook her head, saying, "Who is going to stop him?"
"Still, please have breakfast before you go."
His father shook his head and said, "Well, I don't have any appet.i.te."
After all, his father, who insisted on going back home, was ready to go out.
Suhyuk helped him walk, and watched him using crutches quietly.
Fortunately he was good at using crutches.
"You have to take a rest for the time being, dad."
"How long does it take to remove this cast?"
"At least 5 weeks…"
He made a bitter smile at Suhyuk's words. He seemed to be thinking about his job.
As the bill was already paid by Prof. Lee Mansuk, his parents wanted to offer thanks to him, but could not because he was out on a trip to attend an academic seminar.
"Get in, please!"
Suhyuk called a taxi, and opened the rear door.
If he had not done so, his father would obviously have used public transportation like the bus to get home.
"Okay, don't skip meals before going to work."
His father got in the taxi first.
"If anything happens, give me a call, son. Thanks for what you've done for your father."
She tidied up his gown, saying, "I'm leaving now."
When they got in, Suhyuk opened the front door and gave the driver a fee.
"Suhyuk, I've got money."
Suhyuk smiled gently, saying, "I've got the money too. Good driving, please."
When he closed the door, the taxi drove immediately.
Then his phone buzzed. It was a call from the hospital director.
"Yes, this is Lee Suhyuk, sir."
"Can I see you for a moment?"
When the taxi disappeared out out of his sight, Suhyuk began moving.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
Suhyuk bowed his head, and the director, sitting before a PC, offered him a seat.
When he sat on the sofa, his secretary put down coffee and left.
Taking a sip of coffee, the director said, "Is there anything you find uncomfortable about working here?"
"No, it's very good here."
The director nodded his head at that.
"Why did you want to see me, sir?"
Savouring the coffee, he put down his cup and said,
"Okay, let me say it briefly. Won't you go on TV? It's a TV program about medical common sense…"
The director continued on and on. According to him, it's a program hosted by an entertainer, with a doctor examining and explaining about diseases. And the director thought he was the right candidate for such a TV program. For Suhyuk was tall and handsome, with his vast knowledge of medical science that even the professors praised. Besides, Suhyuk could promote Daehan Hospital indirectly by partic.i.p.ating in the program.
As soon as he said that however, Suhyuk opened his mouth, "I'm sorry I don't want to."
Appearance on TV was the last thing he wanted.
"You don't like it? If you appear on TV, your recognition among the people will go up, too."
"Sorry, sir."
The director could not help but give a hollow smile at his unhesitant reply.
"Got it."
"Goodbye, then."
"Why are you in such a hurry? Just drink the coffee before going."
"Actually I've got to see a patient."
It was a lie. To him, talking with a patient was better than staying here in the director's office.
The director nodded his head, "Okay, then."
Is there anybody who does not want to be on TV? If Lee Suhyuk starts his own clinic, his appearance as a TV guest would be an advantage to him.
Scratching his head with one of his fingers, he asked himself, "Does he hate me?"
Coming out of the office, Suhyuk picked up the phone.
This time it was a call from Prof. Han Myungjin.
"Yes, professor."
"Are you available now?"
"What's up, sir?"
"Come to my office. I've got something to say…"
"Yes, sir."
Suhyuk headed to Han's office directly.
Was he going to bring up the topic of the TV program?
If he did, Suhyuk thought he would reject it like before.
Arriving at the office, he knocked on the door and went in.
"Oh, you're here already."
Combing through a medical book, Han smiled at him.
"If you're going to talk about the TV program…"
"What are you talking about? TV?"
"No, sir. Never mind."
"Alright. You want me to cut to the point, right?"
With an embarra.s.sed look, Suhyuk nodded.
"Do you know how to speak English?"
"Just a little bit…"
"That is not enough. You should have enough of a command of English to be able to speak with Americans."
Suhyuk made a curious look.
"Actually I'm going to the US on a working trip. For about one year."
Strictly speaking, he was invited by a hospital in the US.
Han opened his mouth again, "Don't you want to go with me?"
Suhyuk's eyes became wide.
"It would do you good if you go. Your value as a doctor will go up too."
The images of his parents came to his mind.
"Can I make money there while taking care of the patients?"
Han was surprised a bit because he thought Suhyuk would go anywhere for money.
"Of course. Just think that you're working in the US for one year."
"When are you leaving, sir?"
"One week later."
Suhyuk nodded his head slowly.
There was silence between them, while Han waited for him to reply.
About 10 minutes pa.s.sed.
Suhyuk opened his mouth, "If I go with you, I'm afraid the cardiothoracic surgery department will be short staffed."
Actually there were not many interns at the department, let alone the persistent lack of doctors.
"You don't have to worry about it. Doctors are everywhere, and somebody else will take our place soon."
Suhyuk nodded his head. There were many doctors who wanted to work at Daehan Hospital.
"I think I need some time to think it over."
"Sure. I understand as I've brought it up suddenly. But don't keep me waiting too long. I've been thinking of someone else if you say no."
"Yes, sir."
He went out of the office, thinking of the patients who he had taken care of up to now, including his parents.
'What is the right choice?'
He could not stay away from that thought.
Suhyuk arrived at the cardiothoracic surgery department.
Im approached and asked, "Why did the hospital director call you?"
Shrouded in thoughts, Suhyuk suddenly came to his senses, and said,
"I think I'm going to the United States."
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Chapter 122
That night.
Suhyuk made the rounds for each patient's room, checking their conditions as usual.
Inside one room was a 32-year-old man.
With an IV on the back of his hand, he was snoring heavily on the bed.
Smiling gently, Suhyuk looked down at him.
He was a patient who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
"You'll get better soon."
Then he moved to another patient's room.
She was suffering from a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia due to an accident caused by falling.
She was also fast asleep, with her eyes closed.
She could have had a chest wall incision caused by the fall, but she was very lucky.
If she had arrived at the hospital a bit later, she might have been in a dangerous condition.
"Stay healthy."
Adjusting the IV fluid hung on her arm, he soon went out of the room.
Suhyuk kept taking care of patients like that, and soon he was done with the day's work.
Walking through the hallway, he took out his cell phone.
He leaned against the wall. The cool feeling of the wall he had on his spine seemed to cool off his head.
Suhyuk then called someone.
"Looks like you've made your decision."
"Yes, professor."
"Ok, then. What do you want to do? I'm not forcing you to do this."
"I'd love to go to the United States."
There are many patients over there who are in need of a doctors' care.
In his mind he thought of his father getting into a taxi, moving with a limp, and his mother who tidied up his gown.
"I thought you would say that. You had better get a pa.s.sport first. You have to go directly to the Immigration Office. You have to prepare many things. Therefore, you don't have to come to the hospital starting tomorrow. Let me tell the hospital director in advance."
"Thank you."
After calling him, he went back to the lodging.
Arriving there, he touched the door k.n.o.b all of a sudden.
It was a resting place for him where he could take a nap.
When he entered, he saw the double bed first.
His room mate was not there. Most likely he would still be taking care of the patients.
Suhyuk perched on the bed, and touched the mattress as if he was caressing it.
It was soft. Once he lay on the bed, he fell into sound sleep just like a log.
Everything in the room seemed afresh to him.
One single gown hung on the hanger, and the stethoscope before the bookshelf, and a pen next to that.
With these accessories, he met a lot of patients.
Suhyuk smiled at that. He would not be leaving for forever.
He would come back in one year, which in of itself, was not that long a time.
Suhyuk began putting his stuff into a box.
As for his things, he had only a few.
One box was enough for his stuff.
The next morning he left his lodging.
Holding a box, he went to the cardiothoracic surgery department.
"I already heard about it. One year?"
"Yes, sir. Thanks so much for your help."
Im patted him on the shoulder.
"It was me who felt thankful to you. Don't hate me too much."
Actually Im found it troublesome to deal with difficult patients. So, he let Suhyuk take care of them instead.
Though he was worried about Suhyuk, since he was in his first year of residence, he did his job so well.
"As you know, I'm not leaving this place forever…"
"Well, I will miss you from time to time."
During his absence, Im would have to do all the unpleasant work.
And the two interns said, "Goodbye, doctor. Please come back when you're done over there."
They bent their heads, and so did the nurses.
Suhyuk was going around the buildings to say goodbye to the medical staff.
And then he headed to the elevator to move to other buildings.
At that moment, someone called him, "Sir!"
Suhyuk turned his head at that voice.
It was Park Sungjae, who ran up to him, short of breath.
"I heard that you're going to the United States."
With a smile, he nodded.
"When are you coming back?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll stay there for about one year."
"Ah…"
"By the time I come back, I guess you will have become a good doctor."
The elevator arrived, and Suhyuk got on it.
"Goodbye then!"
"I'm going to apply for the cardiothoracic surgery department, sir."
Suhyuk's smile was no more seen when the elevator door closed.
"Hah…Hah…"
Binna, gasping for breath, was pacing around in the lobby.
He was seen nowhere.
Her eyelids were red.
She kept moving her head to look for him.
"I might not see him…"
Binna now moved out of the lobby further and further away.
She could not find him there, either.
Was he on the bus now that just departed from the bus stop? Or was he inside the taxi disappearing in the distance?
She took out her cell phone to find a text message.
Today is Monday, so it's the day after tomorrow.
Looking at the phone, she nodded her head.
Her tears dropped onto the LCD of the phone.
When Suhyuk opened the door of his house, his father's eyes became wide.
He should be very busy at this time of the day.
And what about the box in his hands?
It seemed as if he was fired.
Suhyuk crossed over the porch, saying, "I'm going to take a rest for several days."
His father, who was lying slantly on the bed with one of his legs plastered with cast, lifted his upper body and said, "Why? Did you make any trouble?"
Suhyuk smiled, saying, "No, daddy…"
Suhyuk explained to him about his plan.
His father made a quiet smile.
He could not help but be happy when his son was going to a large hospital in the US.
Though he was usually brusque, he did not hid his joy this time.
"Yes, how nice! Come on in, and take a rest."
Suhyuk looked at his cast.
"How do you feel now?"
"Well, I wonder if the bone fracture has been healed already. I feel like I can already walk…"
"You have to stay like that for four weeks without moving," said Suhyuk.
"Ok, got it. Did you eat?"
Shaking his head, he looked at the wall clock. It was already 2pm.
He did not eat breakfast, either.
"How about you, dad?"
"Oh, I have to eat, too. Let me check if there are any side dishes…"
When he was trying to move, Suhyuk quickly rose from the seat.
"Let me do it, dad."
"Suhyuk, let's boil ramen."
"You don't like it…"
"Well, I'd like to eat for once after such a long time."
Suhyuk nodded his head.
He poured water into a kettle, and took out two ramen packets from the kitchen cabinet, and kimchi cabbage from the refrigerator, too.
When the water was boiling, he put in some chopped kimchi cabbage for better tasting soup.
Then he put in ramen, along with some hot peppers for a spicy taste.
When he put the boiled ramen on the dining table, his father sat uncomfortably and said,
"Just sit and let's have it together. You don't have to take out any side dish except for Kimchi."
Suhyuk put on the table roasted potatoes, along with some kimchi.
The mysterious mix of the aroma of the ramen soup and kimchi stimulated their appet.i.te.
"Let's eat then."
Though his father did not enjoy ramen usually, he enjoyed it this time.
Was it because his son made it?
8pm.
Suhyuk was heading for somewhere after he went out of the house.
He got out of a taxi in a main street. It was crowded with people.
Suhyuk moved to a restaurant where a yellow light was coming out.
The restaurant specialized in stir-fried beef tripe.
When he came in, Dongsu smiled at him.
"h.e.l.lo?"
Kim Hana was there too, and said, "Long time, no see!"
The three met like this after such a long time.
Suhyuk had contacted them in advance for this get-together as he was leaving soon.
As he sat at the table, Dongsu offered him a soju cup and said,
"Are you now going to get some experience in a foreign country?"
"When are you coming back?"
At Hana's asking, he smiled.
She was really beautiful whenever he saw her. Even other customers drinking alcohol at other tables took a glance at her from time to time.
"I think I have to stay there for about one year."
Nodding her head, Hana drank a cup of soju in one gulp.
"Hey, slow down."
Suhyuk turned to the side at Dongsu's words.
There were already two empty bottles of soju next to him.
They drank that much even while the stir-fried beef tripe was tenderising.
Suhyuk asked, looking at Hana, "When did you get here?"
"About 30 minutes ago."
And she refilled some soju into her own cup.
"Hey, you're going to be blackout drunk if you drink like that. Anything bad happened to you at the company?"
"Don't you know that I'm a good drinker to being with?"
"I know your drinking capacity is one bottle of soju. I'm going to take you two to other places for drinks. So stay sober."
"You had better not fall asleep at the table"
While Dongsu and Hana were squabbling like that, the beef tripe was becoming nice and tender.
And the atmosphere was getting more and more ripe for drinking.
Emptying his cup, Dongsu knitted his brows.
"Yeah, soju is the perfect match with stir-fried beef tripe. By the way, introduce me to a nice girl at your company. I'm lonely these days."
With her face in a blush from drinking, Hana shook her head, saying,
"As you're a prosecutor, there must be lots of girls following you, right?"
"Nope. Such girls are not pure in their motivations…"
Hana nodded as if she agreed with him.
"Yeah, it might be hard to find a girl like me who is pretty and pure."
"What the heck… hey, you're already drunk, Suhyuk?"
Suhyuk shook his head at their conversation.
Then Dongsu cast his eyes at Suhyuk, asking, "If you leave, who should I play with?"
Suhyuk offered a cup without saying anything.
They touched their cups in the air.
They soon could hear the sound of it raining outside.
"Was there any weather forecast saying it would rain today?"
Dongsu's voice scattered into the air, when Suhyuk suddenly came to think of what his mother had said to him, namely that on rainy days she wants to have mung bean pancakes.
Suhyuk checked the time. It was 10:52pm.
As his mother usually went to sleep after 12 am, it was not too late.
"Let me go home early."
With wide eyes Hana looked at him, and so did Dongsu.
"Hey, it's still too early for you to leave like that. Where are you going?"
"Sorry, sorry. Suddenly I've got something to do."
He was going to buy some mung bean pancakes as he never bought it before for his mother.
"Let me contact you once more before I leave for the United States."
After paying the bill, he went out of the restaurant, nd he bought an umbrella at the convenience store nearby.
When he was about to pa.s.s by the stir-fried beef tripe place again, someone dashed toward him.
He dropped the umbrella. It was Hana who was hugging him.
"Hana…"
She did not answer when Suhyuk called her name.
She just buried her face into his chest like that.
Raindrops soaked both of them.
While others were running around to avoid the rain, it seemed like the time was stopped for Suhyuk and Hana. A soft light coming out of the restaurant was illuminating them.
"You won't stay there long, right?"
He stroked her small shoulder, saying, "Only a short time…"
Nothing was heard in his ears except for the sound of falling rain… No, he could not hear nor see her weeping and tears at that moment, though she did cry.
Dongsu, looking at them from inside the restaurant, downed his cup of soju and murmured,
"You guys look great together."
He smiled at them.
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Chapter 123
Times pa.s.sed by fast.
Suhyuk finished all the preparations in one week for his trip to the United States.
As he promised, he met Binna. She wept until her eyes were swollen, which made him very much embarra.s.sed. She did not say anything other than to express her wishes for his health and well-being. She said that while crying.
"Suhyuk," called his mother.
Suhyuk, who was packing his suitcase, turned back his head at her voice.
With an ap.r.o.n, she was helping him with his packing after taking a day off.
He would leave for the United States tomorrow.
"Pack this too."
She was holding daily necessities such as ointments and headache pills. All sorts of things besides insect spray.
It seemed she took out all the stuff from the first-aid kit.
Though he did not need them since he worked at the hospital, Suhyuk did not refuse.
That would make his mother feel at ease.
"Don't you need anything else?"
"Well, I can buy other stuff there."
"Don't you think you need more money?"
Suhyuk shook his head, and showed her his bankbook.
There was deposit of exactly 1,000,000 won in it, which was actually the remainder his parents deposited after deducting some of his monthly salary that he used to give them.
She wanted to withdraw all the money from the savings account to give to Suhyuk, but he was opposed to the end.
She looked at him packing his suitcase quietly.
Though she was worried, she was proud of him at the same time.
That evening Suhyuk's family had dinner together after such a long time.
His mother often wiped off tears, but his father cheered him up with encouragement.
The next day.
Suhyuk was leaving home with his carrier bag. He was alone now, as he discouraged his parents from seeing him off.
They were waving their hands at him from in front of the door.
"I'll be back soon," said Suhyuk with a smile.
He was determined that when he would return, he would serve them really well as a devoted son.
He then moved to the taxi stop because he felt his large carrier bag would cause inconvenience to customers on the bus.
About 10 people were forming a line to wait for taxis.
Waiting in the back, Suhyuk checked the time.
7:37 am.
It would be okay for him to arrive at Daehan Hospital by 9am, so he had plenty of time.
It would take only 20 minutes to get there.
Whenever a taxi arrived, those in the line dwindled.
Was it 10 minutes he waited for?
Finally Suhyuk could get in a taxi.
"Hi, please take me to Daehan Hospital."
"Daehan Hospital… Okay."
A weather forecast was sounding out from the car radio,
'Can the plane take off safely in this weather?'
As Suhyuk would take the plane for the first time ever, he was a bit worried even though he knew a plane was safer than a car.
"Are you going there because you're sick?"
"No, I'm a doctor."
"Wow, you've got a good profession. You must have lots of girls following you seeing as you're handsome and tall."
"Thanks."
Suhyuk looked out the car window slightly.
Cars were moving so slowly because of a traffic jam.
He wanted to arrive well in advance, but it seemed he could barely arrive there by 9am.
"Oh, this is the rush hour as you know. There is traffic congestion around this time in the morning. Are you busy?"
"Well, not necessarily, but I have to be there by 9am."
The taxi driver nodded his head, saying,
"I think that as you're a doctor who saves people's lives, you should not be late."
Having said that, the driver changed lane after checking the side mirror.
Now his taxi moved a bit faster than other cars.
"You don't have to go to the trouble of doing this…"
Whenever the driver changed lane, he heard noisy cruxions in the back.
"I think I have to drive like this because you're a doctor. I guess lots of sick people would come to the hospital even at this hour. So you had better get there quickly to save them."
Suhyuk smiled bitterly.
Though the driver was right, Suhyuk would not see patients today.
When Suhyuk was about to say that, the driver moaned, "Oops…"
He could not drive to onto the hard shoulder because of a large bus in front of his taxi.
To make matters worse, a one-ton truck was also blocking them.
The truck was loaded with bundles of long steel poles as if it was heading to a construction site.
"You can drive slowly."
Given the pace of the taxi moving, he felt he could arrive there around 20 minutes to 9am.
The driver wore a regrettable expression.
The taxi slowly moved, and the driver was murmuring, "I could drive faster if it wasn't for the driver ahead of me…"
The truck driver was driving slowly for fear that the steel poles piled up high might fall down.
Then, the tail lights of the truck came on suddenly, which meant that the driver put on the brake pedal. At that moment, the steel poles shaking dangerously came falling down.
Some of them directly fell down on the front body of the taxi.
Thump!
One of the steel poles. .h.i.t against the front window of the taxi, causing cracks in it like a web and it pierced through the window into the driver's seat.
"Ow!!!"
When the driver screamed like that, Suhyuk glared at the scene.
A sharp steel pole was clearly flying toward him. The black hole of the pole could be seen clearly.
The pole pa.s.sed beyond his hair narrowly, sticking into his seat directly.
Then he heard the driver's moaning, who was holding his right shoulder with his arm.
His long white sleeve was becoming stained with blood.
"Are you okay?"
The driver, pushed on the side brake, and made a frown.
Suhyuk checked his condition. Though he could not see the wounds, the driver was bleeding a lot.
"Let me have a look at the wounds."
Suhyuk bit his clothes to tear it apart.
The wounds were laid bare when he removed the clothes.
Fortunately the bone was not seen yet, but a lot of bleeding was coming out.
Suhyuk fastened his shoulder with the torn clothes.
"Don't worry. Your injury is not that serious."
Once he rea.s.sured the driver, he checked the situation outside.
All the cars stopped because of the traffic accident.
And the people began getting out of their cars one by one.
The driver opened his mouth, looking at his granddaughter's picture hung inside the car,
"Am I all right?"
"Don't worry."
Suhyuk called 911 quickly.
An ambulance arrived at Daehan Hospital urgently.
It stopped and Suhyuk got out first, followed by the taxi driver carried on a stretcher.
When he was about to head directly to the emergency room, someone called him, "Lee Suhyuk."
He was Prof. Han Myungjin. He happened to be waiting outside as Suhyuk did not contact him.
"Where are you going?"
Han was just dumbfounded when he looked at Suhyuk, as he just got off the ambulance.
"There was an accident in a taxi I was in…"
"In the taxi you were in?"
"Yes, I'm all right, but it looks like the driver's bleeding needs to be stopped now."
Suhyuk turned back, when Han said, "We have to leave now."
They could get on board the plane only if they were leaving now.
It was already 9am.
Suhyuk could not take his eyes off the patient on the stretcher.
Han approached him and said, "Do you think the patient would die without you?"
Suhyuk shook his head slowly.
If his bleeding were stopped, he would get better.
"I told you this before, but there are many doctors, and not to underestimate their capabilities."
Suhyuk nodded his head while looking at the door of the emergency room.
Actually he did not underestimate them. He just wanted to take care of the patient by himself.
"We have to leave right now."
They soon got in a taxi on standby.
The taxi left in no time, and Han opened his mouth,
"Hey, you don't have any baggage?"
"Ooops, I left it in the taxi…"
Actually his baggage was in the taxi trunk. He searched in his back pocket.
Fortunately he could find the wallet and the pa.s.sport.
Han nodded, with a smile.
"You'll have to buy several clothes there. As for your baggage, you can call the s.h.i.pping company to have it s.h.i.pped to you later."
Suhyuk had to smile bitterly.
Incheon International Airport was crowded with pa.s.sengers and other people alike.
The boarding time was fast approaching.
Suhyuk turned back momentarily while he was showing his ticket and pa.s.sport.
"…"
It was only for a brief moment.
"What are you doing now?"
At Han's calling, Suhyuk instantly followed him, and got on board the plane.
He looked around after taking his seat, at which Han smiled and said,
"Is this the first time you're on a plane?"
"Yes, sir."
"You don't have to feel strained. Just take a nap, and you'll be there by the time you wake up."
Nodding his head, he fastened his seat belt and turned off his cellphone according to the in-flight announcement.
As the air pressure goes up with the plane flying high in the sky, he felt his ears becoming deafened.
Suhyuk looked out the window, seeing a tiny land below.
'Can I find my house somewhere down there?'
For a while Suhyuk could not take his eyes off the window.
After going through the immigration checkpoint, Suhyuk came out.
White and black people came into his eyes.
He now fully realized that he had arrived in the United States.
Many people were holding placards at the picket line in front of the exit gate.
One of them, a white man, drew his attention because he was holding a placard with awkward Korean characters written on.
Han Myungjin written in Korean. It was none other than the name Han Myungjin.
"Hey! Michael! How are you?"
Speaking alternately in English and Korean, Prof. Han approached him gladly.
Dragging his carrier bag, Suhyuk followed Han quietly.
"Welcome to USA."
Han grabbed his hands. Prof. Han's English was fluent.
Then a lady with blonde hair pointed her finger at Suhyuk and approached him,
"Are you Lee Suhyuk??"
Suhyuk's eyes became wider slightly.
When he nodded, she was more surprised.
"Oh my G.o.d! I'm a big fan of yours!"
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Chapter 124
The white woman, covering her mouth a moment ago, spoke a barrage of words,
"I came to know about you through the internet. I was moved by the stories about you depicted as a white-robed angel over there."
She was very interested in Korea.
Naturally she began googling for information about Korea on the internet and came to know about him.
Suhyuk scratched his head, and said, "Well I did what I was supposed to to."
She held out a notebook for his autograph.
"Can I ask you for your signature here?"
"I'm not an entertainer…"
"Please sign here, I'm truly your fan."
Suhyuk wrote his name on it, appreciating her genuine personality.
"Be happy!" she said.
Having said that, she gave him a light hug and left.
Han wore a surprised look at that.
"You're even popular over here."
With a smile Han then introduced Michael to him.
"This is the surgeon Michael."
He was a tall guy with a rough beard reaching down his cheek.
"My name is Suhyuk Lee."
"Welcome to New York. You're in good hands."
Then they got in a taxi, and Michael and Han started talking about various topics.
Suhyuk was gazing at the pa.s.sing landscape outside.
It was clearly different from that of Korea.
He felt some sort of more liberal atmosphere here, and the people looked more relaxed.
How long did the taxi drive for?
Soon they arrived at an apartment building.
Getting out of the taxi, Suhyuk looked up at the apartment building.
"This is the place where we're going to stay while we're in the United States…"
"Dr. Han, see you tomorrow then."
Waving his hands, Michael was driven away in the taxi.
They were already handed the room keys.
"Let's go."
Their room was on the 5th floor.
Stepping inside the porch, Han looked around, whistling.
"The people here don't take off their shoes even inside the house."
Suhyuk, taking off his shoes at that moment, went into the living room with a perplexed look.
Most of the furniture, including the sofa and TV set, were covered with white linen.
There were two rooms.
"Which one do you want to use?"
Suhyuk move to the room on the left.
"I want to take this one, sir."
His room was smaller than the other one.
"I think we have to clean first."
So both of them briskly moved here and there, cleaning up the rooms and the white linens.
They were able to finish all the cleaning in about two hours.
As the two bedroom apartment was well taken care of from the beginning, there was not much they needed to do.
"Shall we eat?"
Suhyuk nodded at his words. Actually it was almost dinner time.
In Korea they could order food over the phone, but not here.
They had to go out for dinner.
After taking a shower, both of them went out of the apartment.
As the apartment was near the main street, it was easy for them to move out and go find a restaurant.
"What kind of food should we order?"
"Any food is fine with me, sir."
"Well, I already miss the spicy kimchi stew soup."
They certainly will miss the Korean food as they're going to stay here for one year.
Of course, they could find a Korean restaurant if they really wanted, but they would not feel the same taste of food that they are used to back in Korea.
"How about that restaurant over there?"
Han looked over at one place. It was a fast food restaurant serving all kinds of hot dogs.
A long line showed that it was quite a popular place.
Just like the customers waiting in the line, Han and Suhyuk stood behind them.
"When do we start reporting to work, sir?"
"Starting tomorrow."
Suhyuk could have made a frown as he had wanted to report to work as soon as he arrived here, but Suhyuk did not. Actually working right away was what he wanted.
He wondered how the working atmosphere or the medical staff would be different from that of Korea.
Looking at the menu, Han ordered a hog dog mixed with lettuce and tomato.
Unlike Han, Suhyuk chose a spicy hot dog studded with slices of bacon and pork.
They sat on a bench nearby.
"Well, I think this is the first time I am eating with you like this."
Suhyuk agreed. Though he dined with other professors at Daehan Hospital, he never ate with Han before. For both of them were very busy.
"Thanks for the food, sir."
He took a bite out of the hot dog. Though he felt it a bit greasy, he could enjoy it anyway with its salty flavor. There were many other people eating hot dogs just like them here and there.
They were eating in a relaxed mood on benches, enjoying conversation with each other, and some of them were openly kissing. It all looked so natural.
Suhyuk made a little smile at them.
At that moment, Han said, "I feel that this sort of food is too greasy. We need to go shopping to buy some food. Can you cook?"
Suhyuk shook his head, "Not really sir…"
Han said, with a smile, "Well, you can learn how to cook during this time. I can cook spicy soup very well. Just learn how to cook. Girls will like you for it. I seduced my wife with cooking."
Suhyuk smiled at his remarks. It was the first time he saw Han cracking a light joke like that.
Back ar their apartment, Suhyuk put down several paper bags on the floor.
Han bought several clothes for him.
Tidying up the new clothes in the closet, he opened the window to look out.
Various neon signs from the street lights and cars left long tails, which created some sort of fantastic atmosphere in the evening.
Then Suhyuk's cell phone buzzed. It was a call from Dongsu.
"Hey, did you arrive there safely?"
"Of course, I did."
"Do you see many pretty girls there?"
Suhyuk shook his head as he was talking about girls day and night.
"Stay alert man! I hear that they are shooting at people at their own sweet will."
The problem with Dongsu was that he watched American movies way too much.
"Don't worry…"
After he had a short call with Dongsu, he called his parents to tell them that he safely arrived, and then he lay on the bed. His heart was throbbing.
He wished tomorrow would come quickly.
Getting up early in the morning, Suhyuk and Han had a light breakfast with cereal and milk, and finally they went out of the apartment.
They did not ride a taxi or use the public transportation.
For Michael was already waiting for them.
"Good morning! Get in!"
They got into Michael's car.
The traffic jam here during the morning rush hour was the same as Korea.
As they left early, taking into consideration the traffic congestion, they could arrive at the hospital earlier than the regular time.
Suhyuk, now standing before the main gate of the hospital, looked up at the building.
It was a huge building, which looked much, much larger than Daehan Hospital.
Han glanced at him, saying, "You might be very busy moving around the building."
Like Han, he smiled. No matter how large it was, it did not matter to him because he could go anywhere with his two feet.
"Let's go," said Michael, who escorted them into the hospital lobby.
Suhyuk's eyes became wide once he stepped into the lobby.
There were so many people in white gowns moving around.
"Lots of doctors, right?"
Suhyuk nodded his head at Han's words.
"This is what they at Daehan Hospital should learn."
The three of them got on the elevator to go to the 3rd floor.
It was a general surgery building.
They soon arrived at the conference room along the hallway, and several doctors sitting there stood up to greet them.
It was a white man in his late 40s who came to greet Han first.
"Long time, no see! Welcome!"
He was Dr. Daman, a surgeon.
Han held his hands with a smile. Actually both of them were very close friends.
Three years ago, when Han was here as a guest professor, he saved Daman's life.
Han found his affliction and performed surgery, saving him.
"Welcome, welcome!"
While he was welcoming Han, Daman turned to Suhyuk, asking,
"Who is this…?"
Han replied immediately, "Well, he's a very promising doctor, a rising star at my hospital in Korea. I've brought him here because he's going to get good experience here. He's better than me too, you know."
With a smile Daman looked at him, and he cast an incredulous look at him.
In his eyes, Suhyuk looked young and inexperienced.
"How are you, sir? I am Suhyuk Lee."
Nodding his head, Daman held out his hands for shaking.
"Welcome, Mr. Lee!"
Han smiled at his speaking like that.
In time, he will change the t.i.tle 'Mr. Lee' before Suhyuk to Dr. Lee.
Han could be sure of that…
Soon, all the surgeons gathered in the conference room.
Suhyuk was a bit surprised.
Except for some newly hired doctors, the other doctors all knew Han, but their surprise was instantly subdued because Prof. Han was such a capable doctor recognized by them all.
Suhyuk said h.e.l.lo to them one by one.
Then Daman brought one young man, who was a white man in his late 20s.
Daman said, introducing him, "He's a promising guy at our surgery department. He is a genius who understands one thousand things when he learns just one."
He was a very handsome guy, whose blue eyes were crystal clear and deep like a lake.
"How are you, sir? My name is Phillip. Nice to meet you."
Nodding his head, Han grabbed his hands and introduced Suhyuk.
"This is Suhyuk Lee. Looks like you're about the same age. Hope you two can get along well."
Suhyuk held out his hands, and Phillip grabbed them lightly.
Phillip's eyes looking at him were kind of strange at that moment.
Only Suhyuk could catch it as he was looking squarely at him.
'Is it because I'm an Asian?'
"I hope I'm in good hands," said Suhyuk.
With that greeting, Phillip cast a mysterious gaze at him.
And Suhyuk smiled back at him.
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Chapter 125
Daman escorted Suhyuk and Han around the building and introduced them to the medical staff there. Some of them already knew Han, and some did not because of change in the medical faculty.
Suhyuk said h.e.l.lo to them, with the greeting, "I hope I'll be in good hands."
He did not know how many times he exchanged greetings like that with the staff, because there were so many medical staff, especially compared with Daehan Hospital.
Surely this was a good hospital.
While escorting them around the building, Daman suddenly stopped before a patient's room, casting a mystical eye at Han.
"What's the matter?"
At Han's asking Daman smiled, and looked at the patient's nameplate on the door.
"He was taken here one week ago. I accepted him."
Then a nurse came over to hand him the chart.
Daman glanced at Suhyuk, thinking to himself,
"Did Han say he was very good? Better than my disciple Philip?"
Daman went into the patient's room after he cast a curious look at Suhyuk, and Philip also followed him automatically.
Han turned his head to Suhyuk, standing outside, "What are you doing there? Come on in!"
Nodding his head, Suhyuk moved.
It was a one-bed patients room, where there lay a 42-year-old man on the bed.
Daman went to him, saying, "You'll be okay. Your condition has gotten much better. Your lung is also getting better naturally…"
Phillip and Suhyuk were looking at the patient quietly.
"When you feel unwell, please give me a call immediately."
"Thanks, Daman. Cough, cough."
Checking the patient's condition lightly, he went out of the room.
He asked Phillip who also came out, "He is a patient who had one of his ribs broken."
And he handed Phillip a chart.
"Why do you think he had it broken?"
Phillip kept silent a moment at his asking.
On the chart, there was information that the ribs punctured the lungs, and that the patient had taken medication.
Phillip did not think for too long.
"It looks like the rupture has been caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation or bruising."
Nodding his head, Daman was handed back the chart, and then gave it to Suhyuk.
"How about your opinion, Mr. Lee?"
Suhyuk examined the chart at a glance, saying,
"Looks like it's been caused by his coughing."
Looking at Daman, he wore an expression as if to ask him why he's throwing him such a question.
Han made an awkward smile at that.
Han expected Suhyuk would easily answer it, but his reply was far from what he thought he would give.
Suddenly it came to his mind that the patient was coughing several times while he was talking with Daman. It was possible the rib could be ruptured even by coughing.
Actually there was a case where that happened before.
"Great answer!"
Daman indicated that Suhyuk was right, and Han opened his mouth, with a smile,
"I told you, man. He's better than me. I think he's quick in visual learning, too."
Suhyuk, Han Myungjin, Daman and Philip were heading for the food court of the hospital.
They were supposed to have lunch on time.
Suhyuk could understand Daman's behavior in no time.
There were many other doctors besides him, who could see the patients.
When the primary physician is away, another doctor subs for him or her. As there were so many patients at St. Hopkins Hospital, the doctors could not take their eyes off them.
This kind of work in rotation could free the doctors from their physical toil.
It looked as if they were like ordinary men going to work.
On the contrary doctors were forced to work and work and work in Korea.
It was inevitable in some respect because there were a limited number of doctors who could treat those patients taken into the emergency room.
Suhyuk had no choice but to laugh bitterly.
"Do they serve good food at the cafeteria at your place?" asked Daman.
At his asking, Han nodded. Daman liked Korean food very much, in particular bibimbap (rice mixed with beef, vegetable and red pepper paste).
When he was staying in Korea, he used to enjoy bibimbap as one of his meals every day.
Soon they arrived at the food court in the bas.e.m.e.nt.
Suhyuk's eyes became wider. He was expecting them to wait in a line with a tray.
He was wrong because it was buffet style, full of different kinds of food.
And there was the sound of cla.s.sical music playing out from somewhere.
Just like how the patients were cared for highly, it seemed the doctors here were given the best possible compensation too.
"Very good, right?"
At Han's words, Suhyuk nodded his head naturally.
"When you make a lot of money, why don't you start a hospital like this one?"
Cracking a joke like that, Han and Daman began putting food on their trays.
Then Phillip slurred while pa.s.sing by, "Looks like the foods you might like are over there."
Suhyuk cast his eyes toward where Phillip pointed out, and over there were various salads.
Suhyuk moved to the salad bar, with a grin at Phillip.
He put tomato and spaghetti first on his tray, and some nicely chopped barquette.
There were also some sus.h.i. rolls, but he did not feel like it.
Suhyuk sat next to Han, while Philip sat beside Daman.
While eating, Suhyuk thought of the doctors at Daehan Hospital.
A man in his mid 30s was taking his seat at that moment.
When was about to eat again, Suhyuk turned to him.
He was holding a Korean book.
Suhyuk murmured before he knew it, "Dongui Medical Encyclopedia…"
The man looked at Suhyuk as if he heard his soft voice.
He spoke in clumsy Korean, "Are you Korean?"
"Yes, I am."
"Oh, my name is William," said the guy in English now.
When he did not show any reaction, the guy smiled bitterly, guessing Suhyuk could not speak English.
However, Suhyuk replied at that moment, "My name is Suhyuk Lee."
"Are you the doctor who just arrived here?"
"Well, I came here at the invitation of …."
"Oh, you came here on invitation? Nice to meet you. Welcome to our hospital!"
"Well, what I mean is…"
"I'm very much interested in Korea. I hope to see you more in the future."
Suhyuk looked at the book, scratching his head.
Han spoke to him in Korean, with a smile, "You had better get along with him."
"Looks like you speak Korean well since you're reading the Dongui Medical Encyclopedia."
William shook his head, adding,
"Well, I am learning Korean, but I am very much limited in my Korean. May I ask which department you're a.s.sociated with?"
"I think we're working at the general surgery department."
William made a regrettable expression.
Then Han, who was eating, asked Daman about who William was.
"Well, he's someone who's come to the neurosurgery department this time. He is quite capable, but he actually has a speciality in some other area."
"What area is that?"
"Stem cells. He's auth.o.r.ed many papers and received several awards, too."
Nodding his head, Han began eating again.
Though he was not old, William was a great doctor.
"Can I call you Dr. Lee?"
"You can call me whatever you feel comfortable."
With a smile, William nodded and then opened up the book again, as if he had just thought of something.
"If you don't mind, can you tell me what this means? I can't understand with my limited Korean."
Suhyuk gladly took the book.
"It is about the curc.u.ma herb. Curc.u.ma powder is good for arthritis…"
When Suhyuk continued to explain, William shook his head, surprised at the contents of the book.
"Huh, Jun? How come he, who lived several hundred years ago, was able to find out that curc.u.ma had this Tumeric ingredient? I am just amazed and deeply respect him," said William.
The tumeric component extracted from curc.u.ma are used to treat arthritis. Plus the selenium component that protects cells from harmful oxygen.
William, staring at the Dongui Medical Encyclopedia, continued to express surprise,
"Dr. Lee, then this word means…"
William suddenly shut up his mouth, because Suhyuk's tray was full of salads.
"I'm so sorry. You couldn't eat because of me…"
"Oh, never mind! Please feel free to ask me anything anytime when you're in doubt."
William nodded his head,and began eating.
While he was chewing with his mouth closed, he could not take his eyes off the Dongui book.
After lunch, Suhyuk was walking up the stairs to the lobby.
"Looks like I can digest food better if I press here," said William, pressing his palm with his thumb hard.
Suhyuk said, with a smile, "Do you really feel that way?"
"I think the medical methods of the Orient are really great."
"I agree."
"Dr. Lee, are you available this evening?"
"I don't think I'm busy…"
"How about a gla.s.s of beer then? I know a good beer bar near the hospital. I'd like to repay you for your teaching today."
When he was about to reply, Han spoke in Korean,
"You're not busy this evening, right? Go and get along with him over a drink."
Suhyuk nodded his head.
"Okay, sir."
William's face became bright.
"7pm. Let's meet in the lobby."
"Sure."
Both of them exchanged their contact numbers. Looking at them, Phillip chuckled.
Their first day at St. Hopkins Hospital pa.s.sed quickly.
They stopped by the surgery building and other nearby buildings, meeting the hospital director too.
It was approaching 7pm.
Han, who came down to the lobby to return to the apartment, waved his hands at Suhyuk.
"Don't drink too much. Have a good time!"
Suhyuk checked the time. It was 6:30pm.
He still had 30 minutes to go until the appointed time.
Sitting on the waiting benches, Suhyuk looked around the lobby.
Though he felt awkward in every way, it seemed to him that there were many patients regardless of whether it was the US or Korea.
While he was checking his surroundings, his cellphone buzzed.
It was a call from William.
"Yes, this is Suhyuk Lee."
"Dr. Lee, I'm afraid I'll be late a bit. Can you wait… or come to my office, if you don't mind?"
"Sure. Where is your office?"
"Okay."
Suhyuk headed to the elevator to go to his office, which he could easily find.
Knock, knock, knock.
When he knocked on the door, William in a white gown opened the door.
"Sorry. Please come in."
Once he stepped into the office, Suhyuk's eyes became larger gradually.
And he murmured before he knew it, "Wow…"
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Chapter 126
The walls of William's office were papered with stuck up pieces of A4 paper, and Suhyuk was murmuring while looking at one of them.
"Embryonic stem cells have the ability to differentiate, but the differentiation is not done on their own, so they are cla.s.sified as undifferentiated cells. So I'm going to be able to resolve the ethical issues…"
"Dr. Lee."
Suhyuk turned his head back at William's voice.
He was looking at the computer closely, and said,
"Sorry. Please wait a little more, I'll be done soon."
"I'm okay. Just take your time."
Suhyuk slowly looked around the table.
Among the piled-up A4 papers could seen an award carelessly placed down, which William received for his contributions to the field of stem cell research.
Suhyuk once again began reading carefully what was written on the paper.
As time pa.s.sed, his eyes were becoming larger and larger.
It seemed as if what he had missed in the past was striking his head with a hammer.
"I'm done. Shall we go?"
Suhyuk, who had been thinking about something deeply, came to his senses, saying,
"You're great, William."
At his remarks, he examined various papers and other stuff in his office with a smile.
They were the results of his continuing research since he became a doctor. Moreover, it was still going on. Beaming widely, William escorted him out of the office.
"Let's go."
Leaving the office, Suhyuk was fixing his eyes at something in his office until the end.
As William said, the bar was not far from the hospital.
It took about 10 minutes of walking to get to from the hospital.
When they opened the door, a little bell rang crisply.
Inside the bar there was coming out the sound of smooth jazz, but there were not many customers, which made the atmosphere even more moody.
Sitting on the barstool, William asked Suhyuk, "Any favorite drink?"
Shaking his head, Suhyuk sat.
"Can I recommend one for you then?"
"Please, thank you."
William asked the bartender for two bottles of Red Dog.
With a pleasant smile, the lady bartender brought the beer right away.
On the surface of the bottle was a drawing of a red-faced bulldog.
It looked like it was a very strong drink, given the bulldog picture on the label.
Though he wanted to ask how strong it was, he did not, because it might be discourteous to William.
"Cheers!"
Clinking the gla.s.ses together, Suhyuk drank some.
The beer was cool and had a fantastic taste.
"How do you like it?"
"I love it."
"I'm glad to hear that. By the way, Dr. Lee."
"You can just casually call me Suhyuk."
With a smile, William opened up his mouth again,
"If you look at the Dongui Medical Encyclopedia…"
He began asking Suhyuk about the effects of herbs and some words he could not understand.
Suhyuk tried to explain to him as easily as possible.
William instantly understood them as he was smart.
"I'd like to learn about apuncture next time."
He felt William was unique because he had never seen anyone studying modern medicine showing such an interest in Oriental medicine like William.
Suddenly he recalled what Daman had said to Han over lunch,
"He's a freak! Freak!"
Well, he also looked like that to Suhyuk.
"Cheers!"
At William's raising the gla.s.s, Suhyuk also raised his and smiled.
The two drank the beer in one a gulp.
"William."
"Go ahead!"
'Will he accept my proposal?'
Suhyuk had been agonizing over it since the moment he visited his office.
Finally he opened his mouth cautiously,
"I happened to look at your research work in the office."
William just drank beer, asking him not to bother being cautious.
"You have suggested various conditions for the differentiation of undifferentiated cells, but in my opinion…"
Listening to Suhyuk's explanation, William's expression began to change every minute.
Sometimes he opened his eyes larger, with a strange look.
When Suhyuk was done, William cast an incredulous eye at him.
"Have you always been a researcher on stem cells?"
Suhyuk shook his head, saying, "Actually I found a hint in your office."
William was spreading the puzzle pieces about stem cells, which were the A4 papers covering the walls of his office.
Though the papers were strange to him, Suhyuk pondered over the contents of the papers deeply and finally could complete the puzzles.
If he had not seen them in William's office, he could not have seen them for the rest of his life.
Or he might have spent a considerable amount of time and research in understanding stem cells himself.
William made a bitter smile, saying,
"My mother once received a limp. When I was a child, I was almost run over by a car, but she was injured heavily in order to save me. Multiple fractures as well as nerve damage. She still has a limp. From that time I was determined to be a doctor, and have been studying stem cells up to now."
Suhyuk nodded his head.
William wet his lips again with beer, and said, looking at Suhyuk,
"Suhyuk, would you like to conduct research on stem cells with me?"
It was around 1am when Suhyuk returned to the apartment.
He spent quite a lot of time talking with William, and they mostly talked about stem cells.
Suhyuk cautiously opened the door so as not to wake up the professor.
Then he heard Prof. Han's voice, "You're back!"
The lights inside the living room were on.
Han, who was watching TV, drinking beer, smiled at him.
"Why didn't you spend more time with him?"
Suhyuk said with a smile, "Well, that was more than enough. Let me buy some snacks."
He felt sorry for Han because he had been drinking beer without any snacks.
"You don't have to. I'm done now."
Like Han said, he was putting several empty beer cans into a bag.
"Won't you take a shower?"
"Oh, I will."
Suhyuk headed to go shower immediately.
While he was closing his eyes in the bathroom, he felt as if he was hearing William's voice.
"Won't you conduct research on stem cells with me?"
Suhyuk smiled at that. He thought his decision to come to the United States was right.
He found a hint on stem cells after running into a person unexpectedly.
After taking a shower, he went out to the living room, but Han was already asleep in his room.
Turning off the lights, he closed the door quietly, and went back to his room.
He lay on the bed, which was soft. Looking out the window, he fell into sleep in no time.
'Yea, it's really fortunate I came here.'
Suhyuk's smile did not disappear until he fell asleep.
The sun rose the next morning without fail again.
Taking a shower, Suhyuk ate cereal with milk for his breakfast.
Han and Suhyuk went out, but Suhyuk looked at Han with a curious look.
Han was going somewhere else instead of walking to the main gate of the apartment.
"Where are you going, sir…?"
Han turned to Suhyuk, and waved a car key he took out from his pocket.
"Rental car."
He was offered a rental car by the hospital to use on a long term basis.
Of course, it was for free.
"What are you doing? Get in!"
Suhyuk got into the pa.s.senger's seat.
As it was a semi-large sedan, it was s.p.a.cious inside.
Suhyuk felt clearly how the hospital was treating Prof. Han.
Not only his annual salary but also the apartment and a car.
"Let's go."
Han was driving the car skillfully along the roads.
Though there was some traffic along the way, it looked like they would arrive at the hospital in time.
Getting out of the car in the parking garage in the bas.e.m.e.nt, they got on the elevator.
"What should I do, sir?"
Han said with a smile, "Just do what I instruct you to."
Suhyuk did not know what kind of instruction he would give.
Arriving at the general surgery building, Han was welcomed by the medical staff.
Greeting them by waving his hand, Han went to the conference room.
There were four doctors sitting there.
Given their age, it seemed their years of practice as doctors were not long.
Han stood before the podium, and Suhyuk took his seat among them.
Some more doctors joined later, who began talking amongst themselves about Han.
"I hear Han saved more than one hundred patients here."
"The number of surgeries he has performed so far is countless…"
Suhyuk felt greatly satisfied, hearing them whispering like that.
Then Han checked his wrist watch. 10am sharp.
The beam projector was turned on, and the screen became bright.
"I'm going to start lecturing on severe trauma."
Han slowly looked at the doctors, walking slowly on the platform.
"Do you know what causes heavy trauma?"
Phillip, seated in the back, giggled.
Here and there they came up with answers of their own.
"Usually there are many patients involved in heavy falls, have gunshot wounds, etc."
Han nodded his head lightly.
"We have to first stabilize the breathing and blood pressure of such patients, right?"
"Yes."
"The main cause of death in severe trauma patients is head injury, lung collapse, hemorrhagic shock…"
The doctors began taking notes in their notebooks so as not to miss any single word Han spoke.
Fixing his eyes on Han, Suhyuk slowly and continuously nodded his head.
Everything he said was right.
Explaining through a projector screen, Han suddenly turned his head to a doctor, asking,
"One question. A person whose belly was full of ascites due to other illnesses was involved in a traffic accident. When I checked the shot images, I became suspicious of spleen and liver damage. What should I do first?"
n.o.body answered. They were murmuring to themselves because they were not confident in what to answer.
Then Han looked at Phillip, who Daman praised a lot, saying he's a promising doctor.
"Phillip, what would you do in such a situation?"
He opened his mouth without any hesitation.
"Well, I would remove the ascites first and reduce the pressure in the abdominal cavity before surgery."
Han nodded his head at his reply. It was not wrong, but a standard reply as written in the textbook.
"Any other answers?"
Han was trying to draw a reply from the doctors by meeting his eye at theirs one by one, but they would not answer.
Then Han's eyes moved toward Suhyuk.
"How about you, Dr. Lee?"
He then opened his mouth.
And Phillip too looked at him. Other doctors also focused their attention on him simultaneously.
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Chapter 127
"I would start surgery with the incision of the patient's stomach."
What Suhyuk meant was that he would not care about the patient's ascites.
Han nodded his head.
"If the liver and spleen of a patient are damaged, they are an emergency patient. As the time lags, bleeding becomes worse and a heart arrest is accompanied. Before that happens, doctors should cope flexibly with the situation by starting with the incision…"
Phillip knitted his brows. Does Han take sides with Suhyuk because they're both Asians?
He instantly turned his head to the window.
Han's lecture was extended by one more hour.
The medical faculty gathered there said goodbye to Han before leaving the room.
Suhyuk approached Han who was sorting out his lecture material.
"How was it?" asked Han.
"It was great, sir," said Suhyuk with a smile.
"That's good to hear. Let's go out to eat."
The two went to the cafeteria in the hospital, where Suhyuk was surprised once more.
Almost half of the foods there were different from those served yesterday.
He felt that the hospital management was taking care of the doctors very well.
After eating for about 30 minutes, Han asked Suhyuk, rising from the seat,
"Do you want coffee?"
Though Suhyuk did not have coffee usually, it was okay for him to have it anytime if he could have coffee with Han during a break.
Prof. Han looked tired everyday back in Korea, but he was much more relaxed here, which Suhyuk liked.
They bought coffee at the cafe in the lobby and went out of the building.
They sat on a bench.
Taking a sip of coffee, Han suddenly said, "You want to see the patients soon, right?"
At his remarks, Suhyuk made an awkward smile and nodded his head.
However, there were many other doctors who could see the patients even if he were not available.
When Suhyuk was thinking of that, Han rose from the seat.
"Shall we go back?"
Arriving at the general surgery department, Han met Daman.
"Can I make the rounds of your patients?"
Daman nodded his head, thinking Han's suggestion was more than welcome.
Han did not come here just to teach the doctors at Hopkins'.
During his one year of stay here, he was also supposed to work as a doctor.
"Thanks."
Han and Suhyuk began visiting the patient's rooms.
Whenever Suhyuk looked at patients, his eyes were glittering.
Suhyuk actively checked their condition, while Han was looking on in the back.
They cast strange eyes at Suhyuk because he was an Asian.
But Suhyuk did not show any emotional reaction despite that.
'I'm a doctor, nothing more, nothing less.'
Even though they made the rounds for three hours, they could only see half of the patients here.
When Han was walking through the hallway in a leisurely way, he heard a bell ringing in his middle pocket. It was a call from Daman.
"It's me, Dr. Han."
"Can I ask you a favor? I was going to see a patient just taken into the emergency room, but I'm afraid I have to take care of a patient I've been treating, who got worse just now. Can you see the emergency patient instead of me? Let me contact them about this."
"What kind of patient is he?"
"He's complaining about vomiting and abdominal pain."
"Got it."
"Let me send over Phillip too, so teach him something, please."
After the call, Han and Suhyuk visited the surgery desk, where Phillip was waiting for them.
"Let's go."
Nodding his head, Phillip followed him. Walking ahead, he pressed the b.u.t.tons on the elevator.
Phillip held the elevator until Han and Suhyuk got on.
"Thanks."
When they stepped out of the elevator while Phillip was pressing the open b.u.t.ton, he looked at their appearance from behind with a frown.
They soon arrived at the emergency room in no time at all.
Some sort of moaning was heard from the room. Phillip, pa.s.sing by the patients in beds, stopped before one patient. The white patient, who looked to be in his 50s, was lying in bed with a frown.
Then an intern approached Phillip.
"The patient's pulse and blood pressure are normal."
Nodding his head, Phillip asked the patient, "My name is Phillip. May I have your name?"
"Jason. I have so much pain in my stomach…"
Phillip said, checking his stomach, "What did you have for dinner yesterday?"
"Spaghetti only…"
Jason knitted his brows all the more, and he felt a pressure and ache at Phillip's touching.
"It may be food poisoning or appendicitis…"
Then Han said suddenly, "I don't think so. Wait a moment…"
Han, looking at Phillip quietly from behind, approached the patient and touched his forehead.
"It seems you don't have fever. Are you feeling very much uncomfortable?"
The patient nodded, with a frown, and looked at Phillip.
It seemed as if the patient was asking if this Asian man was a doctor.
At that moment Phillip told Han, "Can I treat this patient, sir?"
With a smile, Han nodded and stepped back.
Then Suhyuk approached the patient first. He already put on surgical gloves from the cart nearby.
"These are disinfected and sterilized gloves. Can I touch your stomach for a moment?"
When Suhyuk gently pressed the right side of his stomach, the patient made a moan.
At the same time Suhyuk could think of one disease, because he felt something like a lump at his fingertip.
"This one…"
Phillip cut in his own remarks, with a frown,
"I'm sorry, Jason. I think you need a blood test first for an accurate diagnosis."
"Rather than that I think he needs a CT shot first."
Left untreated like this, the patient's pain will grow more.
Phillip made a curious look when Suhyuk said that.
"Looks like he's got intussusceptions."
"How could you prove it?"
"Well, from his lower stomach…"
"Why don't you have the patient go through a blood test and CT simultaneously?" said Han.
Han looked at both Phillip and Suhyuk. Who could be right?
The shot was done immediately, and the three were monitoring the screen.
They noticed some sort of dark area under the right side of the patient's stomach.
It looked like a target with multi-layered circles.
Phillip made a frown, which disappeared instantly.
"You're right, intussusceptions."
Suhyuk cautiously opened his mouth so as not to offend Phillip's feelings.
"Fortunately I could recall the name of the illness."
Phillip said, while looking at the monitor, "I think the patient does not have to be admitted."
That kind of symptom could go away while the patient fasted for a couple of days.
But Suhyuk thought differently.
Looking at Phillip, he hesitated a bit at first, but then opened his mouth,
"I think he needs to have this intussusceptions cured right away. As you see, it won't naturally go back to normal as there are many layers of intussusceptions."
Phillip nodded his head slowly, saying, "Let me reserve an operating room for him."
He left the imaging room, and murmured, "What a terrific guy…"
In the operating room the medical staff were moving busily.
Phillip, who was monitoring the patient under anesthesia, turned his head to Suhyuk and said,
"Looks like we have to incise his belly."
"Don't you think it's going to be a big burden on the patient? What do you think about laparoscopic surgery?"
Suhyuk completely ignored Phillip's opinion. Han agreed with Suhyuk.
Phillip could not refute because he was a guest doctor here.
When the patient went into deep sleep, the medial staff gathered at the operating bed.
And they alternately looked at Han and the monitor installed on the side.
It was a good opportunity for them to learn from the guest doctor's surgical skill.
"Let's wait for ten minutes like this."
Suhyuk nodded his head at Han's words.
When the patient falls asleep under anesthesia, the body loosens. The same is true for the large and small intestine.
It could be possible that the intussusceptions could go back to normal naturally.
When Suhyuk was making a bitter smile, 10 minutes pa.s.sed already.
They took another CT of the patient's belly right away and looked at the images.
"We need to incize it."
As Han said, the intussusceptions were still there.
Approaching the patient, Han said, putting on the surgical gloves,
"Scalpel."
A black nurse handed him a sharp scalpel.
"I'm going to incise the side of the belly only, so that the laparoscope can enter."
As soon as the scalpel touched it, there was a line of blood on it.
"I'm putting in gas."
At Han's words, the nurse gave him a thin and long hose.
He was going to blow in some carbon dioxide gas through the hose to protect the organs and secure some s.p.a.ce for surgery.
As soon as the carbon dioxide gas was put in the belly, the visceral peritoneum widened.
Even with the naked eye, the patient's belly bulging up was clearly seen.
Taking out the hose, Han said, "Give me the laparoscope now."
An intern gave it to him.
Han turned his head, while putting in the laparoscope.
He could see the images of the red large and small intestines.
The large intestine, which should have been stretched in a straight line, was swollen as if it had eaten up the small intestine.
Han looked at Phillip, saying "Can you make some room to allow for the use of forceps?"
Han wanted to teach him how to do that, at Daman's request.
Han did not know how many times Phillip had done this before, but the more experience he had, the more it would help him later.
Nodding his head, Phillip took the scalpel to the patient's belly.
Red blood spilled down the bulging belly, and Phillip moved the scalpel twice.
"Thanks," said Han.
Phillip made the incision exactly as big as was needed for forceps to enter.
Then he hesitated a moment.
As he was in his first year of residency, he had never done it before.
Though he entered the operating room with Daman many times, had touched the heart of a patient, and even done the incision of the liver, he had never done any laparoscopic surgery before.
If he made any mistakes, he would have to take all the responsibility, and his present label as a promising doctor would disappear in a moment.
Though it would hurt his pride, he felt it would be better to reject Han's suggestion.
Though he would not not completely feel that way, because he was a resident while Han a professor.
And the medical staff here would not blame him for that.
When Phillip shook his head, Han looked at Suhyuk.
"Do you want to try?"
Handed a forceps, Suhyuk put it in the patient's belly slowly, carefully watching the monitor.
When it was put in deeply, Suhyuk took it out again.
It was less than 20 seconds that Suhyuk did that for.
"All done. Thanks for the work, everybody.
The medical staff watching him blinked their eyes.
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Chapter 128
The medical staff's eyes, initially fixed on Suhyuk, now s.h.i.fted to the monitor showing the images projected by the laparoscope.
The organs were seen straightened out on the monitor.
Suhyuk could finish the surgery in such a short time.
He first put in the forceps in the patient's belly, grabbing the large and small intestines, and then he pulled the organs as if he were unravelling twisted ribbons.
That was it.
Even though his motion looked simple, it was a skill that required him to maintain a delicate control of force in order to avoid any possible damage to the surrounding organs.
In addition, not only the colon and small intestine caught by the forceps could be destroyed by mistake, but complications could be caused by touching the surrounding organs.
The medical staff murmured when they saw Suhyuk already starting to suture the place that they had put in the laparoscope.
"Would it be okay for him to finish it like this?"
"Looks like his surgery procedure took less than 1 minute."
They were just watching Suhyuk pulling the surgical thread.
The patient soon opened his eyes in the recovery room.
The first person that came into his view was Suhyuk.
"Have you come to your senses now?"
The patient nodded with a frown, because he felt a slight pain in the belly.
It was only natural he felt pain, as his skin was cut and then sultured.
There was a method of injecting contrast material or air into the a.n.u.s and releasing the overlapped bowel with the pressure, but after all, he had to do a laparoscopic surgery. Intestinal obstruction was progressing and it was in a state of weakening. In such a situation, it was possible that puncture could occur in the intestines due to pressure during the attempt of duplication.
Suhyuk opened his mouth again, looking at him,
"How do you feel now?"
"Much better now."
The extreme pain he felt disappeared unbelievably, but he felt a bit of stinging in the area where the surgery was completed.
Still the pain now was nothing compared with the pain he felt when he was taken into the emergency room.
"I'm glad to hear that."
While the medical staff were checking the patient's condition, Suhyuk turned back and began moving.
The doctor with black hair was reflected in the patient's eyes.
He suddenly asked the nurse beside him,
"Who is the doctor who performed the surgery on me?"
Turning her head, the nurse looked over at Suhyuk, "Dr. Lee."
He could see the appearance of Suhyuk when the door of the recovery room was closed.
Was the doctor looking at him?
The patient murmured to himself before he knew it.
"Thank you."
The stereotypical image of an Asian that was fixed in his head disappeared in a moment.
Only Phillip was wrinkling his brows.
Suhyuk and Han made the rounds of the patients steadily.
And the medical staff whispered amongst themselves, looking at Suhyuk's appearance from behind.
"I heard that that doctor finished a laparoscopic surgery in less than 10 minutes."
"No, he did it in a second."
"Wow! He's great. As a guest doctor, he must be different from others."
Suhyuk's name began to be pa.s.sed on slowly to others by those medical staff present during the operation, slowly gaining recognition.
Another day was closing peacefully without any emergency or serious patients coming.
When it was time to leave the office, Suhyuk and Han got on the elevator.
Then Suhyuk said to Han,
"Professor, I'm afraid that I'll go back to the apartment a bit late today as I have an appointment."
"For drinks? You've made many friends already."
Suhyuk shook his head, saying, "Well, I'm seeing William who I just saw yesterday."
With a smile, Han waved at him, getting on the elevator.
"Don't be too late."
"Yes, sir."
Soon Suhyuk headed to William's office.
He accepted his suggestion to work together on stem cell research.
Rather, Suhyuk expressed thanks to him because he found in it some research puzzles he had to solve by all means.
When he knocked on the door, William greeted him gladly.
"Suhyuk, let's work together well!"
"Sure, my service to you."
"Hahaha, It's me who has to say that."
Then the door was closed, and n.o.body knew what was going on inside.
n.o.body except Suhyuk and William.
It was the 4th day since Suhyuk arrived at St. Hopkins Hospital.
They visited the hospital even on a Sunday, but their schedule was monotonous.
In the morning Han gave a lecture, and then had QA sessions after.
After lunch he made the rounds, and in between rounds, some primary physicians came to see him to get advice.
When one primary physician showed him a chart, there was an image shot along with it as if it was just printed.
"In my eyes, it looks like stomach cancer…"
Han looked at the chart quietly.
"In my opinion it looks like a GIST( gastrointestinal stromal tumor)."
Han opened his mouth again.
"Stomach cancer is seen within the mucosal layer, whereas gastrointestinal stromal tumors appear in the submucosal layer and muscle layer."
Han pointed his finger to the chart.
"This is the border line of the inside and outside of the liver."
The doctor with yellow hair nodded his head.
"Where do you think the lump is attached?"
The doctor, who was looking at the chart seriously amid Han's kind explanation, now brightened his face.
"Oh, it's attached to the outside. Yeah, it's GIST."
Nodding lightly, Han opened his mouth,
"Fortunately it's not stomach cancer."
GIST could be removed with surgery, and that was all that was needed.
"Thanks, Dr. Han."
"You're welcome."
The white doctor disappeared in just a moment as if he wanted to reserve an operating room immediately.
Suhyuk felt very much satisfied with Han's act like that.
Even here in the USA he was recognized for his skill.
Then Han asked Suhyuk,
"What kind of surgery is wise for a GIST?"
"I think we could do it with laparoscopic surgery."
Nodding his head, Han walked ahead.
It was already 5pm.
Ding dong.
Han got off the elevator first, followed by Suhyuk.
"Run!"
At Han's words, Suhyuk moved faster.
A victim on a stretcher was taken into the emergency room.
She was a woman with grey hairs, even though she was in her late 50s.
Bruises all over her body, she could not open her closed eyes.
She was laid on a bed by the 911 crew.
"She was injured after falling down."
"She did not notice the missing cover of a manhole and fell into it as if she took a nosedive."
Suhyuk approached her fast.
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Han a.s.signed Suhyuk to give treatment to any patients with serious injuries, because he was the best in the field at it.
Suhyuk opened her eyelids.
"No reaction."
Then Suhyuk moved fast, checking the patient's vital signs.
He said to the nurse beside him, "Please check her blood type quickly!"
Within a few minutes, the patient arrived at a serious trauma center, with blood packs and an IV drip on her body.
There were many more medical devices here than at Daehan Hospital.
Thanks to that, they could save the time it took to have the patient scanned.
Instantly, the picture was displayed on the view screen right above the patient.
Han and Suhyuk got close to the viewer, and so did the medical staff.
"The tibia was broken and the liver seems to have been damaged."
The bleeding was so severe that it was necessary to transfuse the blood.
"We are going into operation room right away. Be ready."
At Han's voice, the other doctors began preparing in unison.
Then Daman came to observe Han's surgery.
At that moment the patient's eyes opened with a tremble.
Moaning with pain, she barely said, "Where am I now?"
"In the hospital."
Suhyuk made a bitter smile because the patient, who opened her eyes with difficulty, had to go to sleep again under anesthesia.
A gentleman stood in a nice suit.
This blond-haired man was standing before a nice restaurant.
He took to his nose the bundle of flowers that he was holding.
The sweet fragrance of flowers made him smile.
Then he checked his wrist watch suddenly and looked around.
Though the appointed time already pa.s.sed by 30 minutes, the other party did not yet arrive.
He called with his cell phone, but there was no response.
He then looked at his phone again quietly.
At that moment, his phone buzzed. It was from St. Hopkins Hospital.
"Hey, it's the weekend. Why did they call me?"
With a frown, he took the phone.
"Yes, this is Phillip."
"Sir, there's big trouble! Phillip, your mother is now…"
"What are you talking about?"
"You mother is now undergoing surgery!"
Phillip made a blank expression.
He could not understand what the nurse was talking about.
He was going to have dinner with his mother for the first time in a long time.
'How could this happen…'
"Come quickly!"
Phillip, moving slowly, now began to run.
Despite the medical staff's detaining him by the sleeve, he was rus.h.i.ng into the operating room.
As he was going nearer to the room, the red sign came into his eyes: In Operation.
'I should save her life, wait a minute!'
Then the red light was turned off.
With wide open eyes, he now headed to the recovery room.
Beep… Beep…
The machine sounded out a quiet alarm.
All sorts of pads and an IV drip were pasted on the body of the patient, who also had a respirator put on.
The surrounding medical staff monitored the condition of the patient closely.
Her eyes began to open slowly.
"How are you?"
The first person that came into her eyes was an Asian man with a black pupil.
"Where am I…"
"In the hospital. Your surgery went well."
Fortunately, her liver was not severely damaged, so a bit of incision was all she needed.
And just a cast for her broken leg.
"Am I in the hospital?"
"St. Hopkins Hospital."
When she opened her mouth, her respirator got fogged up inside.
"My son, where is my son Phillip…"
Then someone called from the outside,
"Mom!"
The medical staff turned their heads instantly, where Phillip was rus.h.i.ng toward them absentmindedly.
"Are you okay, mom?"
She nodded her head with difficulty, and Phillip scrutinized the devices connected to her body.
And Daman opened his mouth, "Phillip, the surgery went well."
"Phillip, I'm okay now."
Her wrinkled hands touched her son's face.
"Boohoo…"
Tears streaked down Phillips's face, who now felt relaxed.
Then the medical staff's murmuring came into his ears,
"He's really great. I've never seen anybody doing such a nice and skillful surgery before."
"I hear that the doctor was actually still just a resident…"
Feeling his mother's warmth, Phillip turned his head to the side slowly.
He could know instantly who they were referring to.
The Asian guy, Lee Suhyuk.
He was looking at him calmly.
"She will be alright," said Suhyuk.
At that moment Phillip dropped to his knees, and tears spilled down his cheeks quietly.
The medical staff were stunned.
Phillip, a man of great self-respect, kneeled down? Why?
And even tears…
"Sorry, sorry. And I'm really thankful to you, Dr. Lee."
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Chapter 129
Suhyuk raised Phillip up and whispered,
"Your mother is right here, so try to show her that you're a reliable and great son."
Phillip, who was lowering his head, looked at him.
There was something different about him.
Suhyuk was far from being arrogant.
Maybe he was a man like that from the beginning.
"Thanks so much…"
Then Suhyuk turned back with a smile.
Suhyuk thought that seeing as her son was here, he was not needed here anymore.
When Phillip grabbed his mother's hands again, Daman fixed his eyes on Suhyuk who was leaving the room. He felt that Suhyuk was just like Han when he first saw him.
"Let me go now, Phillip," said Daman, tapping him on the shoulder as he left.
Daman said to Han, walking side by side with him,
"What a terrific guy!"
Actually he was stunned when he heard from Han that he would put Suhyuk in charge of the surgery.
How could he let a junior doctor take care of severe trauma patients?
Daman could not believe his ears everytime he had hear Han say,
"He is at least as good, or better than me."
As soon as Han gave the go-ahead, Suhyuk moved briskly like a fish in water.
His fast handling of the surgery along with the incision of the belly, partial incision of the liver and the ensuing smooth anastomosis.
It was as if he had been thinking of all that in his head prior to the surgery.
Han smiled at Daman's praise of Suhyuk,
"Actually I'm surprised myself from time to time about him."
"You're great, Dr. Han."
Obviously Han must have taught Suhyuk.
Han just smiled. Of course he had never taught him before.
The one thing he taught him was about caring about the patient's feelings.
That made Suhyuk what he was today.
The next day, Suhyuk was in the room of the patient who underwent intussusceptions.
As he performed the surgery, he was just like the head surgeon.
Of course, other medical staff thought so too.
"Hi, Dr. Lee," said the patient, welcoming him.
Though he had the surgery only 3 days ago, he was already up and running.
"How do you feel?"
"I'm feel quite normal now. I owe it to you, Dr. Lee! Thanks a million."
Suhyuk showed the chart to him, adding,
"This is your blood pressure, pulse, and this…"
He heard Suhyuk's step-by-step explanation, and glanced at him.
He was such a queer doctor in his eyes.
'Why is he showing me a chart with such a kind explanation?'
It was the first time he'd seen a doctor like this.
However, the patient was beaming brightly, with his questions like that left behind in his thoughts.
He was moved by the doctor's behavior.
"Then you can just go ahead and get discharged, if that's what you want."
Nodding his head, the patient memorised the name on his gown.
That day pa.s.sed quickly.
Suhyuk was heading for the elevator to go to William's office just like he did the day before.
Then his cell phone buzzed.
It was a call from intern Park Sungjae.
When he touched the display of his phone, Park's face appeared on it.
"How are you, sir?" asked Park, bending his head.
"How are you?" asked Suhyuk back.
Given his rugged and tangled hair, it was obvious that he worked day and night.
"I sent you the package you mentioned. Looks like it will be delivered tomorrow."
Before he left for the USA, he had asked Park to find the package he left behind in the taxi and s.h.i.p it to his address in the USA.
As soon as he heard Suhyuk's request, he instantly put it into action.
"Thanks, Mr. Park."
"I miss you, sir"
At Park's flattering words, Suhyuk just smiled.
"Other doctors also miss you, and there are many patients looking for you."
That was true.
Since Suhyuk moved to the USA, the cardiothoracic surgery department was simply just too busy.
The vacuum he left behind was too big.
"Are you on call tonight, sir?" asked Suhyuk.
"I think so. Oops, my primary doctor wants me now. Let me give you a call again later."
And Park added, "By the way I applied for the cardiothoracic surgery department, sir!
By the time you come back, I'll have turned into a resident."
If there was any department that the interns hated the most, it was the cardiothoracic surgery department.
Suhyuk was just proud of him, though he did not sense that Park had been affected by him so much.
Soon Suhyuk hung up the phone, and pressed the elevator b.u.t.ton.
Ding dong.
The door opened, and Suhyuk went in.
Then he heard some calling from behind suddenly, "Dr. Lee!"
It was none other than Phillip.
"Are you available this evening?"
"I have an appointment. What's up?"
"Well, I wanted to dine with you. It's regrettable…"
Strangely enough, their conversation seemed rigid, but their look toward each other was different from before.
"Though it's regrettable we cannot, then…"
Phillip walked with his back to him.
"How is your mother, Phillip?"
Though he performed the surgery, he was not the main surgeon.
At his words, Phillip nodded his head indicating that she was doing well.
"I'm glad to hear that."
Soon Suhyuk disappeared into the elevator, and Phillip looked at the door quietly.
And he made a smile of thankfulness.
Day by day there happened to be some dramatic event.
And those events were mainly happening around Suhyuk.
Suhyuk looked at the picture on the viewer, and the medical staff gathered around him.
They were interns and first-year residents.
Suhyuk, looking at the CT, opened his mouth,
"Usually gas is not formed in the small intestine, but this patient is different. It's full of gas. Do you see an increase in the size of intestine on CT? It is a case of typical intestinal obstruction."
The medical staff nodded.
This time another picture was shown on the viewer.
"At this angle, a part of the abdominal wall is widened, and the bowel is pushed into it. So movement in the intestine was blocked, and it had to be stopped."
The small intestine was swollen and at the same time the abdomen was swollen with it.
"Spigelian Hernia. In this case, the patient may go into a state of shock without urinating. Immediate surgery is required."
Suhyuk only gave a brief explanation about the CT, because the patient was an emergency case.
Surgery was scheduled immediately, and the medical staff gathered around Suhyuk.
Suhyuk took a scalpel to the patient's belly.
As small as possible, he made an incision of about 8cm.
Then the red intestine came out.
As seen on the CT, the bowel was stuck between the muscle defects.
The medical staff stood on tiptoes to take a look at it.
"Pull it!"
At Suhyuk's instruction, an intern pulled it with a retractor.
A snake-like organ was clearly visible before their eyes.
Suhyuk examined the small intestine carefully, and opened his mouth,
"I think we had better put it back in its original position as it's not as damaged as we thought."
In this situation a doctor might ask them about the next step, but Suhyuk did not.
The sooner the surgery was done, the pain the patient would feel would be much less.
"Before we closed the belly, the part where the intestine was stuck was st.i.tched. A patient with a hernia should undergo surgery at the moment of its confirmation. Otherwise, as you saw in this patient, intestinal obstruction may occur and the patient may go into shock. Despite having a hernia, the patient put up with it as the best he could. After all, when he could not bear the pain any longer, he was brought to the emergency room."
Suhyuk looked at the medical staff slowly.
"I don't know how well the hospital operates here, but I hope I could be of help to the patients."
The patient was worried about the bill even when he was brought into the emergency room.
And the surgery lasted about 30 minutes.
Suhyuk was very busy everywhere like a fish that had met water.
How frustrated had he been back in Daehan Hospital where he could not see the patients as much as he wanted? Han thought such questions to himself like that.
Daman had the same thought.
"Dr. Han, I think you created a monster!"
It was so spectacular to see resident Suhyuk teaching the residents here.
Regardless of position or t.i.tle, any doctor was given the best treatment and compensation at St. Hopkins Hospital as long as he or she was capable enough.
Going out of William's office, Suhyuk walked through the hallway, sweeping back his hair.
It was already past 10pm.
He let out a little breath.
"Huuuuh…"
He felt that he had quite a busy day, performing surgery after surgery.
He was hectically busy, but felt good about it because the patients could laugh thanks to his service.
Suhyuk smiled, thinking like that.
Ding dong.
Going out of the elevator, Suhyuk went out past the lobby.
Then his cell phone buzzed.
It was a call from Han who arrived back at the apartment first.
"Can you buy some beer when you come back?"
"Of course."
Suhyuk took the bus to the apartment.
It took about 30 minutes for him to get to the bus stop near the apartment.
Wasn't there any convenience store nearby from the beginning?
He could not find one no matter where he looked around.
He then saw a black guy coming out of an alley with a convenience store bag, and left for that direction
A bell rang when he went into the store, signaling the entrance of a customer.
Suhyuk looked around. It was quiet inside.
He could not see the owner, either.
Then he head some sort of moaning from a man from somewhere inside.
Suhyuk turned his head to the counter, where he saw some sticky blood coming out of the white tiles on the floor.
Suhyuk rushed toward the counter.
"Please report to the police! I was shot by a gun…"
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