Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 184

Fifth Vital Sign – Episode 184 (184/502)

Episode 184. Bruise

The Next Day-

After a sleepless night following her meeting with Go Gye-deuk, Lee Su-jeong handed out flyers and then went to visit her husband.

“Honey…”

As usual, she wiped her husband’s face with a warm towel, gently massaged his arms and legs, and then held his hands tightly in hers.

“You know, I’m not sure if the choice I made is the right one. If you knew about this, you, who always lived by the book, would probably scold me terribly, right?”

Lee Su-jeong whispered, bringing her husband’s hands, clasped in hers, to her lips.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry that your wife is this kind of person. But honey, I was really overwhelmed. There’s nothing I can do alone…”

As if seeking comfort for her frustration and complicated feelings, Lee Su-jeong whispered to her husband without stopping.

“And I believe you will definitely wake up. I didn’t want to say this, but I won’t nag you about turning your socks inside out. I won’t nag you about leaving towels everywhere either. So please wake up soon. I and the kids need you so much. Honey! Please wake up soon… I love you.”

Lee Su-jeong, who had been quietly conveying her feelings with her husband’s hand against her cheek, got up. The visiting hours were already over.

“Ms. Lee Su-jeong, you’re so devoted.”

After Lee Su-jeong left, Cha Dae-han’s 담당 [in charge] nurse said to a colleague.

“I know, right? She’s still young, but she’s so amazing. It’s not easy to come every day like that.”

“Of course. 병간호 [nursing care] itself is not easy.”

Even the nurses, who had seen many patients and 보호자 [caregivers] while working at the hospital, acknowledged Lee Su-jeong’s devotion. It might seem like 병간호 [caring for] a sick husband is not a big deal, but the reality was different.

Visiting a long-term patient every day without fail was not as easy as one might think.

When a patient’s hospitalization becomes long-term, the 보호자 [caregivers] also become exhausted. As a result, they become physically and mentally drained, and it’s not easy to be as 적극적으로 [actively involved] in 병간호 [nursing] as they were at first.

“Why does this always happen to people who live 열심히 [diligently]?”

“Tell me about it. I hope they catch the damn hit-and-run driver soon.”

The 담당 [in charge] nurse straightened Cha Dae-han’s blanket and left the bed to check on another patient.

Beep- Beep-

The monitor, which manages patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, emitted a constant mechanical sound today as well.

Amidst those mechanical sounds, Cha Dae-han lay peacefully, as if nothing had happened.

Among the many lines passing over his bed, one near his hand showed a small movement.

The 담당 [in charge] nurse was not nearby, nor were there any other medical staff.

The one who moved the line was Cha Dae-han’s right hand. It was a very subtle movement in an instant, but Cha Dae-han’s hand definitely moved.

In the 넓은 외상 중환자실 [large trauma intensive care unit], no one had yet noticed this surprising news.

At that time-

Lee Su-jeong, who had returned from visiting her husband, finished preparing dinner and was getting ready to go to Woori Hospital.

“Hyun-joon, did you finish your snack?”

“Yes. I finished it.”

“Then brush your teeth and change your clothes.”

“Mom? Are we going to play today?”

The youngest son was excited about going out with his mom after a long time. However, unlike the child’s wish, they were not going to play, so Lee Su-jeong felt sorry.

“Hyun-joon, I’m sorry, but we’re not going to play today. Let’s go play with your 형 [older brother] and 누나 [older sister] later.”

“With Dad too?”

“Of course. Dad will go with us too.”

Today was the day the youngest finished school early, and the second child also had 학원 [after-school academy]. So, since she couldn’t leave the youngest alone at home, she decided to go to the hospital together.

“Then where are we going today?”

“We’re going to the hospital.”

“If it’s the hospital, are we going to see Dad?”

Since not all family members could visit the 외상 중환자실 [trauma intensive care unit], the children hadn’t seen their dad in a while. They usually saw their dad’s 모습 [appearance] through photos or videos taken by Lee Su-jeong.

“No. Not Dad’s hospital, another hospital. Mom has something to do at the hospital.”

“Mom, are you sick somewhere?”

“No. I’m not sick. I’m just going to take care of something.”

“But Mom?”

“Yes?”

“Still, I’m happy to go out with Mom.”

Unlike Lee Su-jeong’s dry expression, the young son’s expression was lovely. After quickly finishing preparations, Lee Su-jeong left the house with her son and boarded a bus to go to Woori Hospital.

“Haa!”

As if her 불안한 마음 [uneasy heart] was 드러나듯 [revealed], Lee Su-jeong kept sighing without realizing it.

“Shoo!”

Hyun-joon, the youngest son sitting next to her, was just excited, playing with a small airplane toy he had brought from home.

“The airplane is flying. Shoo!”

He also played by moving the airplane he was moving with his hand to his mom’s hand and leg.

“Mom, look at this. Isn’t the airplane cool?”

“Hyun-joon, I’m sorry, but can we be quiet for a little bit? It’s good to be quiet on the bus, okay?”

“Okay…”

Hyun-joon didn’t make a lot of noise enough to be cautioned. Rather, he was careful not to bother others even when moving his hands with a small voice. But Lee Su-jeong couldn’t stay still.

Normally, she would have 맞춰 줬다 [played along] to her child’s play, but today she was so 예민해져 [sensitive] that even small sounds felt loud.

‘Just get the 진료 [medical examination]. Just get the 진료 [medical examination] and the interview, and it’s over.’

Anxious, Lee Su-jeong kept repeating the same words to herself as if 달래듯 [soothing] herself.

‘It’s okay. Just get the 진료 [medical examination].’

One stop, two stops, the closer the bus got to Woori Hospital, the more her 가슴 점점 두근거렸다 [heart pounded].

Lee Su-jeong took out her cell phone and checked the way again, counted how many stops were left, then held her son’s hand tightly and looked out the window.

* * *

Woori Hospital-

“Hello.”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

“You’re working hard. Take this and have one. Haha!”

Lee Dong-hoon, taking out a vitamin drink from a bag, handed it to Jang Deuk-chil and laughed very 호탕하게 [heartily].

“I’m Lee Dong-hoon. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes. I’m Jang Deuk-chil.”

“I’m Lee Dong-hoon, who will be working at our hospital from now on.”

“Yes, I heard from the 원장님 [hospital director].”

“Oh, really? Hahaha!”

As Tae-kyung expected, Lee Dong-hoon came to the hospital. There were still three more weeks until he started working, so he was told to rest during that time, but he was too 활동적인 [active] to stay at home.

“Deuk-chil, you’re 참 좋으시네요 [in great shape]. Do you work out?”

“I just go to the 헬스 [gym].”

“Ah, I see… I look forward to working with you.”

“I look forward to working with you too. Haha!”

Tae-kyung, who came down from the 병동 [ward], smiled at the 모습 [scene] and approached Lee Dong-hoon.

“선배님 [Senior]?”

“Oh! 원장님 [Director]. Our 원장님 [Director] too… Oh!”

Tae-kyung took Lee Dong-hoon, who was naturally taking out a vitamin drink, to the 진료실 [examination room].

Clang-

“Are you really going to do this?”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

Tae-kyung shook his head, looking at the face that he didn’t know with a childlike innocent expression.

“I told you to rest at home, but why are you coming to the hospital? I thought you might come to the hospital, 선배님 [senior], but I was glad you didn’t come.”

“I rested well during that time. Look at the face of someone who had surgery, how good the complexion is.”

That wasn’t wrong. Perhaps because he was comfortable, Lee Dong-hoon’s complexion looked as good as his mood.

“Actually, I was going to eat well and rest well at home as our Kim 원장 [Director] said? But I can do well with eating, but it’s hard to rest well.”

“It’s strange because you’re not doing anything, right?”

“That’s right. I’m restless.”

Literally, Lee Dong-hoon seemed to have 좀이 쑤시는 [ants in his pants] on his whole body. His body had recovered after the surgery, so his condition was very good. But staying at home was not easy.

“A person who has been 보고 환자 [seeing patients] and working at the hospital all his life is 고욕 [torture] to stay at home. Even if I eat, rest, and exercise, there’s still time left over.”

“Time goes by faster when you rest, right?”

“Not for me. People who have 해 본 놀지 [experience in playing] well. If it’s too much, I even miss the 특유의 냄새 [unique smell] of the hospital.”

In the end, Lee Dong-hoon came to the hospital after 참다 참다 [holding back for a long time].

“So, do you feel better since you came to the hospital?”

“Good! It feels like I’m about to 출근 [go to work] to a new place, so I’m excited and I feel like 엔도르핀 [endorphins] is 돌는 [circulating] in my body. It’s all because I have a lot of 애착 [affection] to our hospital.”

“Okay.”

Tae-kyung decided not to stop Lee Dong-hoon anymore because he liked it so much.

“Instead, don’t try to work, just think of it as getting used to the 분위기 [atmosphere].”

“Of course. I’ll just come like today and say hello to the staff and leave 적당히 [appropriately] until I 출근 [start work]. Well! Then our 원장님 [Director] 힘내시고 [good luck], I’m leaving…”

Drrr-

Lee Dong-hoon put a vitamin drink on the desk and got up from his seat in a hurry.

“Are you going home?”

“No, I have to go to the 식당 [cafeteria] now.”

“If it’s the 식당 [cafeteria]… The hospital 식당 [cafeteria]?”

“Yeah. The 여사님 [lady] said she was 다듬는 콩나물 [trimming bean sprouts], so I decided to help her. I’m good at that because I like 요리 [cooking] too.”

Lee Dong-hoon, who has 끝내주는 사교성 [amazing sociability], seemed to have 친해진 [become close] already with Oh Gye-soon.

“원장님 [Director] 수고해요 [take care].”

Clang-

“선생님 [Doctor]?”

As soon as Lee Dong-hoon left, 임정숙 간호사 [Nurse Im Jeong-sook] came in.

“You should go to the 응급실 [emergency room].”

“Okay.”

Looking at 임정숙 간호사 [Nurse Im Jeong-sook]’s expression, I could immediately tell that it was a 환자 [patient]. Tae-kyung quickly headed to the 응급실 [emergency room].

Lee Chan-hee hadn’t 출근 [come to work] yet, and Choi Mo-na, who was on 당직 [duty], was 진료 중 [examining] another 환자 [patient].

“A 24-year-old woman and 119 came with the 구급대원 [paramedics]. She’s in bed 12. Currently…”

Im Jeong-sook conveyed 환자 [patient] information while heading to the 응급실 [emergency room].

Charyuk-

As soon as he opened the 커튼 [curtain], the 3-단계 분뇨 냄새 [level 3 fecal odor] came familiarly and greeted Tae-kyung faster than the 환자 [patient].

“Hello. 환자분 [Patient].”

“Yes, hello.”

The young woman stood up from the bed as soon as she saw Tae-kyung.

“You came because of the 멍 [bruise]?”

“Yes, that’s right. I had a 시술 [procedure] two days ago. But…”

Before the woman could finish speaking, she turned around and took off the 상의 [top] she was wearing.

It happened so quickly that Tae-kyung and 임정숙 간호사 [Nurse Im Jeong-sook] didn’t have time to say anything. And soon after, when the woman was about to take off her 바지 [pants], Tae-kyung and 임정숙 간호사 [Nurse Im Jeong-sook] said 급히 [hastily].

“환자분 [Patient]! Just a moment.”

“Please explain the situation first.”

“Ah! Look at my 정신 [mind]. I was in a hurry. I’m sorry. 선생님 [Doctor], look at this.”

The woman pointed to her body with her finger, but Tae-kyung had been 주시하고 여자의 몸 [watching the woman’s body] since earlier. 임정숙 간호사 [Nurse Im Jeong-sook] was the same.

Of course, neither of them was 쳐다본 [looking] with strange intentions at all.

In fact, the most surprising thing when the woman took off her 상의 [top] was not because of her 행동 [action] of taking off her clothes.

‘피멍이 가득하다 [It’s full of bruises].’

It was because of the 멍 [bruises] that was 퍼져 있는 [spread] on her body.

On the woman’s upper body, 눈에 띄는 피멍 [noticeable bruises] was 말도 못 하게 자리하고 [unbelievably located] in various places. And the 피멍 [bruises] was naturally 연결돼 [connected] not only to the upper body but also to the lower body.

“You see this! 선생님 [Doctor], I’m really 미치겠어요 [going crazy]?”