Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 413

Fifth Vital-414

414. The Feeling of Blood Drying Up

The Next Day-

“Hi, Dr. Lee.”

“Yes, hello. But what’s that scent?”

“I know, right? You smell especially nice today, Dr. Lee.”

“It’s the savory smell of freshly roasted coffee beans.”

Lee Chan-hee, who had arrived at work, said while shaking the shopping bag he was holding.

“No wonder. The coffee scent is strong. But what’s with the coffee beans?”

“There’s a cafe I frequent near my house, and they got some good beans, so I bought some to share.”

“Good coffee beans cost a bit these days.”

“They are a little pricey. But hey, aren’t I the guy who won the lottery?”

“That’s right. You treated the staff, and what did you do with the rest?”

“Sent meat to my parents, replaced the microwave, and I’m spending the rest like this.”

“Sounds like you’re using it wisely.”

“I think so too.”

“Is Dr. Choi here?”

“Yes. She’s probably in the doctors’ office.”

“I’ll go see.”

“I’ll enjoy the coffee.”

“Me too.”

After talking with the reception staff, Lee Chan-hee stopped by the cafeteria to leave the coffee beans and headed to the doctors’ office.

Clang-

“Gae Mona, hi.”

“You’re here? Just stopping by?”

“Of course.”

“How’s Jin doing?”

Choi Mona immediately asked about the child who had surgery at home as soon as she saw Lee Chan-hee.

This was because Lee Chan-hee was on his way from visiting Lee Jae-san’s house before work to check on the child’s condition.

“Vitals are good, blood pressure is good, the surgical site is good, and most of all, the child is cheerful, which is great.”

“Wasn’t she shy? Is she taking her medicine well?”

“She said she’s taking her medicine well. I was worried she might be shy since I wasn’t there on the day of the surgery, but she’s talkative and friendly, isn’t she?”

“Really? She seemed a bit cautious on the day of the surgery, but I guess she’s become brighter now that the pain is gone. That’s a relief.”

“Is the biopsy result out yet?”

“It’ll probably be out in a few days. Oh, right! I heard patients fought after we left work?”

“It wasn’t a serious fight, but there was a bit of an argument between that patient, Lee Ye-rim, and another patient in the same room.”

“Argument? Why?”

“It was just a verbal argument, so the nurses stopped them.”

“If they had to be stopped, wasn’t it a big fight?”

“No one got hurt.”

“It wouldn’t be good if they fought and got hurt.”

The whole story was like this.

The day before, Tae-kyung had visited Lee Ye-rim and Gu Dong-gon’s room to give them a warning, which another patient passing by happened to witness, and all the patients on other floors of the ward found out about it.

Unaware of this, Lee Ye-rim, who was bored staying in her room, was walking down the hallway when she overheard a middle-aged woman talking about her and started an argument.

‘Is that the woman who got a warning from the director?’

‘That’s right. Our director is such a kind person, so it must have been serious for him to raise his voice like that.’

‘And is this a hospital or a fashion show?’

‘Tell me about it. She’s just causing trouble for other patients… Doing strange things in the hospital at her age? She should behave properly.’

‘Hey! Lady!’

‘What, lady?’

‘Yes, are you talking to me right now?’

‘Oh my! You have good ears. Yes. I was talking to you. Why? You got a problem?’

‘Do you know me? Did you see me doing anything strange?’

‘Do I have to taste soybean paste or red pepper paste to know [Korean culinary staples]? I can tell just by looking at you.’

‘What, what did you say? What’s wrong with how I look?’

‘Why are you asking me that? You know better than I do.’

‘Ha! I’m speechless.’

‘I have a stuffy nose [implying she doesn’t want to waste her breath arguing].’

‘Well, I still look better than an old lady with a saggy belly, don’t I?’

‘What! Saggy belly?’

‘Yes. Saggy belly? Exercise and take care of your health.’

‘Did you give me money for my belly fat? You look like you’re going to have an affair.’

‘What did you say! Is this lady really trying to start something?’

‘Yeah! Let’s do it. I’m not afraid of anyone who wants to fight.’

‘Both of you, stop it right now.’

‘What are you doing here? This is a hospital.’

It was said that one of the most interesting things to watch in the world was a fight.

The patients in the ward flocked to the sudden fight, but thanks to the quick response of Nurse Im Jeong-suk and Team Leader Choi, the two women fortunately returned to their rooms without a physical fight.

“Dr. Soo said they would have grabbed each other’s hair if they hadn’t been stopped.”

“Really? Affair and saggy belly, the choice of words is scary.”

Lee Chan-hee, who heard about the patients’ fight from Choi Mona, was slightly disappointed with surprise.

“Aunties are scary when they’re angry. If you think about when your mom gets angry, you’ll understand right away.”

“Oh! I understood right away when I thought about when my mother gets angry. Patients fighting, really! All sorts of things happen.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I’m going to report to the director about Jin.”

“Dr. Lee?”

“Yeah?”

“Wait a minute, this.”

Choi Mona approached Lee Chan-hee, who was about to leave the doctor’s office, and put something she was holding in his gown pocket.

“Oh! This?”

“You’re collecting travel magnets, right? A friend gave me a few as a gift after traveling, so I’m giving one to Dr. Lee.”

“This is really cool. I’m so grateful, how about a kiss… Ugh!”

“No way! Don’t mess around and go quickly.”

Choi Mona poked him in the side when Lee Chan-hee tried to joke.

“Okay. See you later.”

Lee Chan-hee, who came out of the doctor’s office, headed to the endoscopy room to find Tae-kyung.

“Director? Isn’t the director finished yet?”

“Yes, there’s one person left.”

“Thank you.”

“Excuse me, Nurse.”

Patient Gu Dong-gon approached Lee Chan-hee, who was about to go back to the doctor’s office after asking the nurse.

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

“I’m sorry, but is that person finished with the endoscopy?”

“Patient Lee Ye-rim?”

“Yes. I couldn’t see her going in because of my physical therapy appointment, and I just came down. I’m worried.”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll check.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Chan-hee talked with Gu Dong-gon, went inside, and came out again right away.

“Patient Lee Ye-rim has finished her endoscopy and just went into the recovery room, so I think you can go inside.”

“Really? Thank you, Doctor.”

Gu Dong-gon greeted Lee Chan-hee and went into the recovery room.

‘I should have asked where she was lying down.’

It was hard to see where Lee Ye-rim was lying because of the curtains between the beds.

“Do I have hemorrhoids?”

But soon, he heard a familiar voice and went straight there.

“Excuse me, I have hemorrhoids, is my anus okay?”

“When are you going to break up with your oppa [older brother/boyfriend, term of endearment]!”

“What’s not enough!”

“How long am I going to be the second…”

Clatter-

Gu Dong-gon, who found Lee Ye-rim, who was rambling after being sedated, opened the curtain and came inside.

“Ye-rim? Honey?”

“Oh! My honey is here? My oppa is here?” Lee Ye-rim, who had been rambling, opened her eyes blearily, recognized Gu Dong-gon, and slurred as if she was acting drunk.

“Honey, this is a hospital. The endoscopy went well.”

“Ah, that’s right! I had an endoscopy, didn’t I? Oppa, should we have a drink?”

“What do you mean a drink.”

“Excuse me. I’m sorry, but could you please be a little quieter?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

When a guardian in another bed politely asked them to be quiet because of the loud rambling, Gu Dong-gon apologized and tried to stop Lee Ye-rim’s rambling.

“I told you this is a hospital.”

“Okay. I’ll have one last drink and go. Oppa, you’re going to break up, right?”

“Please be quiet.”

* * *

At that time, a car entered our hospital parking lot.

Kim Mal-ja and Gu Ji-yeon were in the car.

The car quietly turned off, but no one got out.

“We have arrived at the hospital.”

Park Hyun-joon, Gu Ji-yeon’s boyfriend, who couldn’t stand it any longer, broke the heavy silence and said cheerfully.

“I know. We came earlier than I thought. We’re 30 minutes early.”

Kim Mal-ja, who had barely slept the night before, didn’t respond to her daughter’s words and only looked out the car window.

“Mom, we’re at the hospital.”

“I know. I know.”

“We’re a little early, should we go to a coffee shop nearby?”

“They had delicious bread there, and they also had healthy bread that would be good for you, Mom.”

“Right? Mom, should we go get some bread and coffee?”

“What coffee. Mom will stay here, so go with Hyun-joon and have some.”

“How can we go alone if Mom doesn’t go? Then should we just go in and register?”

“Yes. That would be better.”

“I’ll go alone…”

Thud-

“Get out.”

Before Gu Ji-yeon could finish speaking, Kim Mal-ja, who had been looking out the car window, quickly opened the car door, got out, and said to her daughter.

“Are you going too, Mom?”

“I wouldn’t have come this far if I was going to send you alone.”

“Okay, Ji-yeon. I’ll stay here, so go with your mother. That will make her feel more comfortable.”

“Okay.”

The mother and daughter got out of the car and went into the hospital to register.

“Gu Ji-yeon, you’re registered. We’ll call your name when it’s your turn.”

“Am I a little early?”

“Yes, you came a little earlier than your appointment time. We have a lot of outpatients today, but it’s almost over, so we’ll let you see the doctor a little earlier than your appointment time.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The mother and daughter sat side by side on the chairs in the waiting room.

Kim Mal-ja silently held her daughter’s hand tightly and stroked it. She knew how much her daughter’s heart was burning inside.

The week from getting the biopsy to receiving the results felt like her blood was drying up.

It had only been a day from yesterday until now, but Kim Mal-ja also felt like her blood was drying up all night.

To be honest, she was more nervous now than when she was waiting for her own biopsy results a few years ago.

As a mother, it was only natural to feel that way about her child’s situation.

Now that she was about to get the test results, all sorts of thoughts began to surge like waves, starting with the thought of what would happen if the results were bad, even if it was just a slight chance.

“……!”

Kim Mal-ja, who was holding her daughter’s hand tightly and applying saliva to her parched lips, suddenly flinched and slowly got up from her seat.

“Mom?”

“……”

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Oh! It’s nothing.”

Kim Mal-ja, who had gotten up from her seat, sat down again with an indifferent expression.

“I must have been too nervous.”

“It seems like Mom is more nervous than I am.”

“It’s natural when it comes to your child.”

“Should I get you some water?”

“No. I’m okay.”

“Gu Ji-yeon?”

After waiting for about 15 minutes in tension, Nurse Im Jeong-suk called Gu Ji-yeon’s name.

“How have you been?”

“Yes, hello.”

“The examination finished early, so you’ll be able to see the doctor earlier than your appointment time.”

“Then can I see the doctor now?”

“Yes, you can go right in.”

“Can I go in with my mom?”

“Of course. Go in together.”

Knock- Knock-

“Director, it’s Gu Ji-yeon.”

“Yes, come in.”

“Hello, Director.”

“Welcome.”

“It’s been a while, Doctor.”

“Oh!”

Tae-kyung, who saw Kim Mal-ja entering behind Gu Ji-yeon, recognized her at once and got up from his seat.

“Aren’t you Kim Mal-ja?”

“You’ve become the director now. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Tae-kyung remembered the faces of all the patients he had operated on if possible, but in Kim Mal-ja’s case, there was a reason why he couldn’t help but remember her more.