Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 114

Fifth Vital Sign – Episode 114 (114/502)

114. The Scariest Yet Warmest

“What are you doing here?”

As Jang Deuk-chil slowly turned around, Chief Choi frowned slightly, startled.

“Oh, my! What are you doing during work hours?”

A large, tall, scary-looking man with intimidating scars was struggling with a bunch of large dolls in his arms.

Colorful dolls and Jang Deuk-chil. It was truly an odd combination.

“Don’t tell me you went to a claw machine during work hours?”

“No, Team Leader. More importantly, could you hold one of these dolls for me?”

“I’ll hold it, but… why the sudden dolls?”

“They were delivered by quick service [a Korean delivery service] a little while ago.”

“Delivered by quick service?”

“Yes. The delivery guy said to tell you it’s for Sera.”

“Looks like citizens sent them. But why dolls all of a sudden?”

“Isn’t it because kids like dolls?”

“Agent Jang? I have kids too. Who doesn’t know that? It’s just that these dolls are a bit unique.”

Chief Choi was right. They weren’t the kind of dolls that kids would usually like. They weren’t cute animal dolls or popular cartoon character dolls.

“Isn’t this a worm-shaped doll? Why on earth would they send this…?”

“I have no idea. But there are some really strange dolls out there.”

“Let’s move the dolls for now.”

As they were walking towards the hospital’s front yard, both wondering about the worm dolls, a young man wearing a hat approached them.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“Are you hospital staff?”

“Yes, we are. Are you here for treatment?”

“I was just about to go in, so this is perfect.”

“Oh, yes. Go inside and register. You can also see the emergency room for urgent care.”

“No, that’s not it. I was wondering how to deliver this. You two can move it quickly.”

Unlike the two bewildered men, the young man looked relieved. He led Chief Choi and Jang Deuk-chil to a truck parked on the roadside in front of the main gate.

“Hey, young man, if you’re not here for treatment, where are you from?”

“I’m from Ssock Market’s early morning delivery team. Is this the hospital where Sera is admitted?”

“Ah, yes, it is, but why do you ask?”

Because the news was all over the country, there were few who didn’t know the hospital where Seyoung was admitted.

“This was delivered to Sera.”

Clunk-

“Wow…”

“Oh my goodness.”

“Surprised, right? I was quite surprised at first too.”

When the delivery driver opened the back of the truck, it was filled with dolls, snacks, and stationery. And more than half of them were the peculiar worm dolls that Jang Deuk-chil was holding.

“Is, is this all of it?”

“Yes, these are all the items specifically for Sera. There were so many that I was assigned to deliver them to the hospital separately. I expect there might be more coming.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s really amazing. This is the first time in my life I’ve seen so many packages.”

“Then, where should we unload the items?”

“Just leave them here in front, and we’ll take care of it.”

“Okay.”

Soon after, Chief Choi and Jang Deuk-chil unloaded all the items with the delivery driver.

“Thank you. You’ve worked hard, driver.”

“Goodbye.”

“Team Leader? But why are there so many of these worm dolls?”

“I don’t know. I’m curious about that too. They’re strangely shaped.”

“By the way, where should we move all this stuff?”

“Let’s move it to my office for now.”

“Understood.”

Chief Choi and Jang Deuk-chil quickly moved the items for Seyoung, bathed in the morning dew.

* * *

The reason there were so many worm dolls was because of the one Choi Mona had given.

After the surgery, Seyoung returned to her hospital room and held the doll Choi Mona gave her tightly.

She hardly let go of it, whether she was going to the bathroom or resting in bed.

She even fell asleep with the worm doll in her arms. And that sight was photographed by a guardian on the same 3rd floor ward and posted on an online community, which started it all.

-Everyone, have you seen the news? The police interview said Sera’s dad has left, so they’ll be meeting soon.

-I know, right? But is Sera doing well in the hospital?

-The doctor seems so nice, and the community in that neighborhood says he’s a good doctor. I think the medical staff will take good care of her.

-That’s true, but I’m still curious if she’s doing well.

-Me too. Her appendix was melting, so it must have been hard, but I’m so proud and grateful that she endured the surgery well.

-I’m in the same hospital right now, so don’t worry too much because Sera is doing well.

-Really the same hospital? No joke?

-If you post something like that carelessly in this situation, you’ll get hate. If you need attention, go somewhere else.

-It’s not a lie? I’m a family guardian admitted to the 3rd floor. Can you see the picture? She’s doing well after the surgery, going to the bathroom well, and being taken care of by the medical staff.

-Wow! It’s real. But Sera’s complexion has improved. She was pale, but it feels like she has some color now.

-Hey, commenter who posted the picture! I know you’re doing it with good intentions, but still, it’s not right to post pictures. Please take down the picture.

-I was short-sighted. I’ll take down the picture. Don’t spread it. I’m sorry.

The person who posted the picture took it down in less than 2 minutes, but in that short time, the picture spread rapidly and even appeared in the news.

-Did you see Sera’s picture? The one with the worm doll?

-Of course, I saw it. It seems like it’s Sera’s favorite doll.

-I think so. So, I sent it to the hospital where Sera is admitted by 택배 [Taekbae, Korean word for delivery service].

-Oh! I sent it too. I gathered money with the moms around me and sent dolls and school supplies together.

As a result, people who saw the picture bought similar dolls and other items and sent them to the hospital.

“Team Leader, where should we move all this stuff?”

“Let’s move it to my office for now.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Chief Choi and Jang Deuk-chil quickly moved the items for Seyoung, bathed in the morning dew.

* * *

Tae-kyung did his morning rounds and headed to Seyoung’s hospital room with Nurse Lim Jeong-sook.

“It’s a relief that the inflammation levels are decreasing.”

“Yes. Every time the levels drop, I feel so good.”

“Me too. And I just got a call from Detective Kim. He said Seyoung’s father is expected to arrive earlier than expected.”

“That’s great. That’s the best news. He must have been quite shocked. I hope he arrives safely.”

“He will. Now! Shall we go see Seyoung?”

Clunk-

“Seyoung-ah?”

“Doctor!!”

As soon as the door opened, Seyoung greeted Tae-kyung with a smiling face and a pleasant scent. So much had changed in just one day.

The face stained with a look of resignation, as if she had given up on everything, was no longer to be found.

A smile was gradually spreading on her large eyes and firmly closed lips.

“Did you sleep well, Seyoung-ah?”

“Yes, I slept well without any scary dreams.”

Seyoung, who had been suffering from nightmares, was able to sleep comfortably for the first time in the hospital. The hospital, which is usually uncomfortable for ordinary people, was now the most comfortable haven for Seyoung.

“Does your stomach hurt or feel tight where you had surgery?”

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt. Doctor, when do I get to eat?”

“Oh, you’re hungry?”

Seyoung nodded her head vigorously.

“Seyoung said she’s been hungry since she woke up.”

“I see. What should we do about her being hungry?”

Even if you’re getting IV fluids while fasting, you can still be hungry. Sometimes, elderly patients secretly eat food even though they’re not supposed to. Seyoung was still malnourished, so even if she was getting IV fluids, she would definitely be hungry.

“That’s right! Doctor, I also passed gas just now…”

Seyoung was genuinely happy when she passed gas because she heard that she could eat when she did.

“You passed gas? That’s great. But the doctor needs to monitor Seyoung’s condition carefully and keep her fasting until tomorrow. So, you have to wait until tomorrow to eat. Can you wait a little longer?”

“Then can I eat after tomorrow?”

“Of course, you can.”

“After two nights?”

Seyoung asked, making a V with her small fingers.

“Yes, you can eat after two nights.”

“Okay. I’ll wait. Waiting two nights is easy. I can do it.”

“Okay, let’s eat porridge and rice after two nights.”

“Yes. Doctor, but I have something to say.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Thank you.”

Seyoung suddenly bowed her head and expressed her gratitude to Tae-kyung.

“You saved my life. The dot I drew on my hand. No one knew, but you recognized it and I was able to get out of that house.”

To Seyoung, Tae-kyung was the most grateful person who had saved her life.

“No, you shouldn’t thank me, Seyoung. You should be thanked for having the courage to let me see that black dot.”

“But Seyoung-ah. Nurse has a question for you, can I ask?”

Nurse Lim Jeong-sook, who was next to her, asked.

“Yes, ask me.”

“Did our Seyoung know that the black dot meant ‘help me’?”

It was a question that everyone had been wondering about.

Tae-kyung, Detective Kim, and the hospital staff were all curious about how that young child knew about the Black Dot Campaign rescue signal, which even ordinary people didn’t know well.

But the answer that made the two of them shiver soon followed.

“Mom. My mom told me.”

“Your mom told you?”

“Yes. My mom told me a long time ago.”

Seyoung’s biological mother, Kim Go-yoon, was an MD [Medical Doctor] at an online bookstore that distributed books when she was alive.

Kim Go-yoon, who often looked at books due to the nature of her job, came across the Black Dot Campaign in a book by chance. And she taught her daughter, Seyoung, a simple and effective rescue signal that children could remember.

‘Seyoung-ah, give me your hand.’

‘Hand?’

‘Yes. How can our daughter’s hands be so pretty? Seyoung, whose daughter are you?’

‘Mom, Kim Go-yoon’s, Dad, Go Young-cheol’s daughter.’

‘Correct. Seyoung-ah, can you see what Mom is drawing on your hand now?’

‘Yes. It’s a dot. Why did you draw it?’

‘This black dot is a rescue signal called the Black Dot Campaign.’

‘Rescue signal?’

‘Yes. If Seyoung needs help, she can draw a dot on her hand and show it to people, and they will help her.’

‘But Dad and Mom are always with me.’

‘Of course. But just in case. It’s good to know. So, don’t forget and remember it. Okay?’

‘Yes. I’ll remember it.’

That’s how Seyoung remembered the rescue signal her mother had taught her.

In the meantime, she couldn’t even draw a dot because Do Han-yeon was always with her wherever she went. Then, during the documentary filming, she didn’t miss the opportunity to draw a dot while Do Han-yeon and Seri went to the hospital.

In the end, her mother’s rescue signal, which she thought she would never use, saved Seyoung.

“Seyoung kept remembering that?”

“Yes, my mom told me to remember it.”

“You’re really smart.”

“Oh! Seyoung-ah. I have good news for you.”

“Good news?”

“You’ll be able to see your dad soon.”

“Dad! My dad?”

Seyoung opened her eyes wide and asked in surprise when the word ‘dad’ came out.

“Dad is coming to see Seyoung on a plane.”

“Really? I’m so happy to see Dad.”

Seyoung smiled the biggest she had ever smiled and was as happy as any other child at the fact that she could see her dad. Tae-kyung and Nurse Lim Jeong-sook watched the scene and left the hospital room.

“Are you okay, Doctor?”

Lim Jeong-sook asked, looking at Tae-kyung’s expression.

“About what?”

“You look serious.”

“Ah. It’s just that Seyoung’s mother seems so amazing. I think her mother protected her daughter even from heaven.”

“There’s a saying that God couldn’t take care of everyone, so he sent mothers instead. Ah! Of course, except for bad people like Do Han-yeon. She should be struck by lightning.”

“I also think that people are the scariest, but there’s nothing as warm as people.”

“That’s right. I think I feel that more when I work at the hospital.”

“Anyway, I’m so grateful that Seyoung is feeling better. Please maintain her fasting today and check and guide the Sunflower Center staff when they come later.”

“Yes, I will.”

“And Yoo Ji-cheon patient…”

“Director!”

The moment Tae-kyung was about to talk about another patient, Chief Choi came running up the stairs in a hurry and shouted urgently.

“Director! Something terrible has happened.”

“What’s wrong that our team leader is so surprised from the morning?”

Lim Jeong-sook asked nonchalantly, looking at Chief Choi, whose actions were exaggerated.

“Nurse Lim, this is no time to be so calm. More importantly, Director, did you wash your hair?”