A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 126

Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts – Episode 126

Chapter 23: Conman (1)

Kyung-soo frowned at Jun-hoo’s bothersome interference.

He turned his gaze from Eun-ha to Jun-hoo.

The look in his eyes was not pleasant.

“Why are you butting in? Stay out of it; you’re a third party.”

“I don’t know why I’m a third party when it comes to matters related to the department,” Jun-hoo retorted, glaring back at Kyung-soo.

“Don’t speak carelessly to Eun-ha just because she’s an intern. You have the authority to give work orders, but not to hurl abuse.”

“She messed up the wrist of a patient you cherish so much, didn’t she? Choi Eun-ha?”

Kyung-soo crossed his arms, expressing his displeasure.

He was displeased with Eun-ha’s sloppy work, and he was also annoyed by Jun-hoo, who was defending Eun-ha without knowing the full story.

Did he think he was some kind of righteous hero?

That was the height of arrogance.

“She’s been an intern for less than a week. You need to consider that. Were you good at ABGA [Arterial Blood Gas Analysis – a blood test] from the start?”

“I was good from the start.”

“Not everyone is like you. And you’re missing the point.”

“…….”

“The biggest problem is your rude tone and way of speaking. Try looking down on or ignoring Eun-ha one more time, and I’ll destroy you.”

There was a fierce anger in Jun-hoo’s voice.

Perhaps that was why.

A warning alarm went off in Kyung-soo’s head.

If he provoked Jun-hoo any further.

A real catastrophe might occur. So, Kyung-soo took a step back.

“Then she should do her job properly. If she had succeeded with the ABGA in the first place, I wouldn’t have needed to make such a fuss, would I?”

“Eun-ha will adapt quickly. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Sure. You medical school seniors and juniors, have a good time.”

“Eun-ha, can I see you for a moment?”

“…Yes, senior.”

As Jun-hoo and Eun-ha left.

The on-call room regained its silence.

Crunch!

Kyung-soo chewed on the almond candy that was on the desk.

He was chewing it in place of Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo was too soft.

Interns originally needed to be pushed hard to improve quickly.

If you coddle them like Jun-hoo, they’ll relax and develop a lax attitude.

But, he thought he was a pushover.

Unexpectedly, he knew how to get angry like fire?

Chewing the candy, Kyung-soo calmed his surprised heart.

Jun-hoo always treated patients and guardians with a smile and was always affable to his seniors.

So, he had underestimated him.

He thought he was a pushover who couldn’t say no.

However, after clashing with him just now, his thoughts changed 180 degrees.

Jun-hoo unexpectedly had a bulldozer-like temper.

Well, that’s all it is.

I’ve experienced many types like you.

The type who tries to be kind and do good things, only to end up cutting their own flesh.

And the end is usually a bad ending.

Kyung-soo inwardly belittled Jun-hoo’s way of thinking.

Life is about living alone.

And if you live kindly, you can’t avoid losses.

This was Kyung-soo’s motto and the essence of the enlightenment he had gained while living.

Drrr.

Just then, Min-kyung, a second-year resident, entered the on-call room.

“Did something happen with Jun-hoo? I just ran into him, and he looked serious.”

“I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“Is that so? That’s good then. How’s work? Is it manageable?”

“Yes. No problem.”

After that, Min-kyung asked Kyung-soo in detail about his work.

It seemed like she was paying attention to him because he was from another university.

Kyung-soo found Min-kyung’s attention bothersome.

To be more precise, he distrusted her.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world.

Who knows if she’ll try to pass off her work after getting close to him.

Kindness and goodwill always come with a price.

So, Kyung-soo kept a moderate distance from Min-kyung and answered vaguely.

“Are you always so curt? Or are you still shy?”

Min-kyung asked, pouting her lips.

She seemed frustrated with Kyung-soo’s lukewarm attitude.

“Unfortunately, this is just my personality.”

“Sigh. If that’s your personality, there’s nothing I can do. Anyway, if you have any difficulties or problems, tell me.”

“Yes.”

Tap tap tap.

After Min-kyung left, Kyung-soo resumed his chart work.

He tapped busily on the keyboard.

-The biggest problem is your rude tone and way of speaking. Try looking down on or ignoring Eun-ha one more time, and I’ll destroy you.

While working.

Kyung-soo strangely kept getting annoyed by Jun-hoo’s words.

Jun-hoo was definitely similar to ‘that person’.

* * *

Department of Neurosurgery Conference Room.

Jun-hoo was sitting at the round table, listening to Eun-ha’s story.

He was listening to the detailed circumstances of how Eun-ha had been verbally abused by Kyung-soo.

“It’s all my fault. I failed the ABGA four times in a row. I should have asked a classmate or senior for help in the middle.”

“…….”

“The patient and guardian were complaining and making a fuss at the station.”

Eun-ha’s shoulders were slumped as she confided her story.

It was a rare sight to see in Eun-ha, who was usually as energetic as a human vitamin.

“I understand the patient and guardian’s position, but I also understand you.”

“You…do?”

“You wanted to make up for your mistake with your own hands, didn’t you? Right?”

Jun-hoo offered Eun-ha warm comfort.

Although the process and result were not good, he fully sympathized with Eun-ha’s feelings.

Who hasn’t had this kind of experience?

A frustrating experience where you struggle to undo your mistake.

But the result leads to another mistake.

Jun-hoo had that kind of experience in the Murim [Martial Arts World].

“Yes. That’s right. Exactly. How do you know my heart so well?”

Eun-ha nodded vigorously and continued.

“Earlier, I felt like I had a sense of duty to finish the job with my own hands.”

“It’s okay. Everyone’s like that.”

“Even you, senior?”

“Of course. Am I not human, but a monster?”

Eun-ha chuckled at Jun-hoo’s joke.

It was a relief that Eun-ha’s heart seemed to be easing little by little.

Self-blame and guilt.

What other emotions eat away at a person as much as these two?

“Now is the stage where you learn one by one, so there’s no need to push yourself too hard. Mistakes are also experiences.”

“Yes, senior.”

Eun-ha hesitated before continuing.

“I was really grateful earlier. I was less hurt because you took my side.”

“I can’t just stand by and watch when a junior is being treated unfairly.”

“You’re so cool, senior.”

“Good to know. Then, shall we take revenge on Kyung-soo from now on?”

“Revenge? What revenge?”

Eun-ha’s eyes widened at the unexpected word.

“First, go to the station and bring me a syringe, alcohol swab, and tourniquet (rubber band to tie around the wrist).”

“Yes.”

A moment later, Eun-ha gathered the necessary tools and sat facing Jun-hoo.

Eun-ha still didn’t seem to understand Jun-hoo’s intentions.

“From now on, I’ll give you special ABGA training. Let’s master ABGA perfectly and flatten Kyung-soo’s nose.”

“…….”

“The best revenge is success.”

Jun-hoo ambitiously announced his plan, but Eun-ha’s face was dark.

“I’m not confident, senior. I already ruined the patient’s blood vessels earlier…”

“Just trust me and follow me. That’s why I’m going to teach you.”

“…….”

“First, try doing ABGA on me like you did on the patient.”

“It’ll hurt…”

“It’s okay. I can handle that much.”

“Then…”

Eun-ha, who had been hesitating, tied a rubber band around Jun-hoo’s right wrist and inserted the syringe.

Stab!

The result was a failure.

The needle was far off the blood vessel.

Instantly, dark clouds gathered on Eun-ha’s face.

“I’m sorry, senior. I shouldn’t have done it after all…”

“Don’t be afraid of failure. Then you can’t do anything.”

Jun-hoo identified Eun-ha’s problem and immediately began to explain.

ABGA blood collection was called the interns’ graveyard, but it was no problem with Jun-hoo’s know-how.

During his internship, Jun-hoo had simplified ABGA blood collection.

To put it simply, it was like making a cooking recipe.

Just like it’s difficult to fail at cooking if you follow the recipe well.

It was difficult to fail ABGA if you followed Jun-hoo’s teachings.

Jun-hoo used to be a martial arts instructor for the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance].

Thanks to that, he realized that he was as talented at teaching as he was at learning.

Therefore.

Eun-ha will master ABGA within 30 minutes.

And Kyung-soo will never be able to harass Eun-ha with ABGA again.

* * *

One hour later.

Department of Neurosurgery Ward Lounge.

Eun-ha was talking with Tae-joon, a fellow intern.

They were taking a breather after handling the storm of orders.

“What was that in the conference room earlier? You were alone with Senior Jun-hoo. It must have been so sweet?”

Tae-joon asked teasingly.

Tae-joon knew that Eun-ha was a Jun-hoo 바라기 [Jun-hoo 바라기 (baragi) is a Korean term for someone who only looks at/admires Jun-hoo].

“It was good, but good in a slightly different way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Senior taught me ABGA. It wasn’t all lovey-dovey.”

“Ah…it was because of what happened earlier. Is Senior Jun-hoo good at teaching?”

“He taught me very meticulously?”

Recalling the time she received the education, Eun-ha shook her head.

It was like learning a math formula.

The position of the patient and her body.

The angle of the arm.

The angle of the needle.

How to control the force, etc.

Eun-ha had never seen anyone teach ABGA like Jun-hoo.

“So, was it helpful?”

“I think I can do well if I just follow what Senior taught me. By the way, I envy you, Tae-joon. You’re good at ABGA.”

Eun-ha said, envying Tae-joon.

Tae-joon was quite good at ABGA. He usually succeeded within two tries.

“I think it was just luck.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Sigh. I failed all evening and asked Yoon-seok to cover for me.”

A bitter smile appeared on Tae-joon’s lips.

“Easy come, easy go. That saying is perfect. Really.”

“I hope I get used to ABGA quickly. That way, I won’t get cursed at by patients or resident seniors.”

Beep beep beep.

The pager rang just in time.

Checking the number, it was the ward station.

“Yes, doctor.”

-…….

“Yes. I’ll go now.”

“What is it?”

“Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. An ABGA order came in. And it’s for Senior Kyung-soo’s patient.”

Eun-ha swallowed hard.

The trauma she had forgotten began to come back to life vividly.

The guardian who was raging and pointing at her.

Kyung-soo, who was spewing abusive language.

The ward patients who were watching the scene.

Just thinking about it made her want to hide in a rat hole.

“Oh my god. Rest in peace, comrade.”

“Yeah.”

Eun-ha nodded weakly.

She gathered the treatment tools from the station and moved to the patient’s room.

But what’s this?

There was one more unexpected ambush in the hospital room.

It was Kyung-soo.

Eun-ha felt a chill down her spine the moment she faced Kyung-soo.

“Why are you here, senior…”

“I have to check if you’ve come to your senses after being scolded. I’m quite persistent, you see.”

Kyung-soo smiled like a viper.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Feeling her heart pounding.

Eun-ha approached the bed where the patient was lying.

She performed an Allen test to check the condition of the radial artery.

And tied a rubber band around the patient’s wrist.

Swish. Swish.

She disinfected the patient’s wrist with an alcohol swab.

Stay calm.

Senior Jun-hoo even gave me a special lecture, so I can’t let that go to waste.

Taking a deep breath, Eun-ha calmed her mind. She recalled Jun-hoo’s ABGA tips.

-First, make the patient’s arm and your body perpendicular. If you’re standing diagonally to the patient, the needle will also go in diagonally.

Thwack!

Eun-ha made the patient’s arm and her body perpendicular.

-Promote the pulse with your fingers. Find the place where the pulse is strongest and mark an imaginary point there.

Eun-ha followed Jun-hoo’s teachings exactly.

Maybe that’s why.

She even had the illusion that Jun-hoo was watching her from the side.

-Press and fix the lower part of the area where the injection will be inserted with your index finger.

-Hold the syringe like you’re holding a pencil and insert the needle tip at a 45-degree angle. The way to match the 45-degree angle is simple.

-Put your hand on the uppermost part of the doctor’s name tag. In that state, pull your wrist back as much as possible.

All preparations were complete.

Now, all that was left was to insert the needle into the blood vessel.

“What? You’re quite good at posing? Did you study a bit?”

Kyung-soo said a word, but it was hard to hear.

Eun-ha was that focused on blood collection.

-When you’re ready, stab. Until you feel the blood vessel pop.

Here I go! Senior Jun-hoo.

Eun-ha drove away her fear and advanced the needle.

The needle passed through the skin and blood vessels in turn.

Soon, as Jun-hoo said.

She felt something pop.

When she pulled the plunger in that state, blood rushed into the syringe body.

From practice until now.

She had finally succeeded in ABGA, which she had never succeeded in even once.

Eun-ha secured enough blood and collected the syringe.

She gently pressed the patient’s wrist where the needle had been inserted with an alcohol swab.

She also released the rubber band wrapped around the patient’s arm.

Only then did the tension ease.

A thrilling pleasure and emotion of succeeding in ABGA washed over her.

“Press down for about 5 minutes without rubbing.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work, doctor.”

After successfully finishing the blood collection, Eun-ha left the hospital room with Kyung-soo.

Kyung-soo stared intently at Eun-ha.

“You do well when you’re pushed. You should have done this from the start.”

Kyung-soo continued, staring intently at Eun-ha.

“Choi Eun-ha.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Are you still bothered by what I said earlier?”

“Yes. A little.”

“Thinking about it, I might have been a bit too harsh. I apologize if you felt bad.”

Kyung-soo, who was known for being blunt and cold, was apologizing first…

Eun-ha was even slightly shocked.

“I’ll go first.”

Kyung-soo turned his back and headed to the on-call room first.

Eun-ha watched Kyung-soo’s back and clenched her fists.

Senior Jun-hoo.

I succeeded in ABGA at once after listening to your tips!

You must be a top ABGA instructor!