Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 22

#22 Triage (7)

Jo Jin-gi.

He was a master at pleasing his seniors.

For him, a graduate of a prestigious high school and Yonsei University, relationships with his seniors were paramount.

Since Yonsei University Hospital was full of alumni, he naturally thought his internship would be a smooth ride.

But, at this moment.

Jo Jin-gi was trembling with anxiety.

The emergency staircase next to the emergency room.

It was because of Yeo Bong-cheol, who had been staring at him without a word after calling him aside a while ago.

The atmosphere felt like he was about to grab him by the collar.

Jo Jin-gi cautiously opened his mouth, watching Yeo Bong-cheol.

“Um, is there something wrong……”

“Jo Jin-gi.”

“Yes?”

“Tell me what you did wrong.”

Yeo Bong-cheol said, exuding an eerie aura.

Was he trying to scold him again for his mistake in the emergency room?

‘Damn it, he’s being so annoying. Just because of one mistake…….’

Inside, he was full of complaints, but Jo Jin-gi put on the most repentant expression he could muster and said,

“I was so overwhelmed when the trauma alert [TA; a system that mobilizes resources for severe trauma cases] patients rushed in that I missed checking the X-rays. I’m sorry.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes?”

“I heard everything.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean……”

Sigh—

Yeo Bong-cheol sighed as if trying to cool down, then said,

“You said you were going to pretend you didn’t see the mistake with the patient, right?”

“Gasp!”

Jo Jin-gi gasped.

Being confronted about something that even he had forgotten made his head go blank for a moment.

“Is it true that you said we should just ignore the patient’s small pneumothorax [collapsed lung]?”

“Well, that’s…….”

“This crazy bastard!”

Thwack!

Yeo Bong-cheol kicked the emergency door next to Jo Jin-gi.

Flinch!

Jo Jin-gi cowered.

Yeo Bong-cheol already had a menacing look, but when he got genuinely angry, he looked like he could beat someone to death.

“Di, did Seon-han say that?”

“Do you think there are secrets in this hospital? The nurses passing by all heard it, you bastard.”

“Nu…… Nurses?”

“It’s already a disgrace to the doctors; how could you say such a thing! Huh?”

Jo Jin-gi racked his brain.

‘Damn it, this is bad. Of all people, the nurses had to hear it……!’

His vision was darkening.

At this point, the only way to get out of this crisis was to somehow make excuses.

His words quickened.

“I…… I was so flustered at the time. People say all sorts of things when they’re flustered, right?”

“You didn’t mean it?”

“Of course! I’m a doctor too, there’s no way I would have just let a patient die! Even if Seon-han hadn’t been there, I would have taken care of it myself!”

He desperately defended himself.

Yeo Bong-cheol sighed deeply at his behavior, which was more focused on making excuses than reflecting on his actions.

“Yeah, I guess so. If you’re human, there’s no way you meant it.”

“Of course!”

“Okay. Anyway, I won’t tell the professor about this.”

“Thank you.”

Jo Jin-gi’s face brightened.

But Yeo Bong-cheol’s words were not over yet.

“Instead, you’re getting the lowest score on this month’s intern evaluation.”

“The lo…… Lowest score?”

Jo Jin-gi’s face turned pale again.

The monthly evaluations for interns are usually divided into A, B, and C.

However, Yonsei University, which is known for its strict evaluations, also has a D.

This is for cases where residents deem an intern completely unqualified.

Of course, even for the most lacking intern, receiving a D is rare.

If you get a D, it will be obvious that the news will spread to other departments, and once a reputation is ruined like that, it cannot be reversed.

“I’m not the only one who made a mistake. Why am I the only one getting the lowest score?! If you look at it, So-dam made way more mistakes than I did!”

Jo Jin-gi shouted, agitated.

As the disadvantage came closer, the true feelings in his heart burst out.

But Yeo Bong-cheol’s answer was cold.

“Of course, doctors are human, so they can make mistakes. The problem is what you do after that.”

His voice lowered.

The atmosphere was completely different from usual, and Jo Jin-gi’s shoulders shrank.

“As soon as So-dam realized her mistake, she contacted other departments and tried to take responsibility for the patient until the end. But you didn’t even try to do that basic thing.”

“…….”

“I heard you had good grades at Yonsei University…… It doesn’t matter how well you studied in school. In my opinion, you’re a zero-point doctor.”

“…….”

“Say something if you have anything to say.”

Jo Jin-gi hung his head.

He had nothing more to say.

It seemed that no matter what excuses he made to Yeo Bong-cheol, who had already made up his mind, it would not work.

“I wanted to punch you in the face, but looking at your expression, I can’t do that.”

“…….”

“It’s still early in your internship, so you’ll have opportunities to get good grades in other departments. Use the rest of the time to reflect on yourself and think carefully.”

Yeo Bong-cheol said that and disappeared, opening the emergency staircase door.

After a while.

Jo Jin-gi was left alone, biting his lip.

Rather than regretting his actions, he was immediately filled with resentment.

‘Damn it…….’

Suddenly, one guy came to his mind.

Shin Seon-han.

He hated that guy.

Of course, it was none other than Seon-han who discovered his mistake this time and helped him.

It was a situation where he should be grateful, but Jo Jin-gi didn’t feel that way.

Somehow, it felt like it was all Seon-han’s fault that things had turned out this way.

His pride was hurt.

Above all, he couldn’t stand getting a lower evaluation than that guy from a mere local university.

“Ah, seriously. This is bullshit!”

Thwack!

Jo Jin-gi punched the emergency door.

Of course, venting his anger only made his hand, which wasn’t fully healed yet, hurt even more, and he groaned.

“Ugh…….”

Jo Jin-gi clutched his fist, making a strange groan.

Wrist fracture, two weeks added.

It was the moment when his next month of internship was ruined as well.

#Gangnam Station (1)

Morning of the last week of April.

A text message arrived from his prickly second older sister.

—Are you even alive?

I was buried in the bed of the dormitory, groggily sending a reply with sleepy eyes.

—Guess I’m not dead?

—Come home sometimes

—Too tired

—Don’t be cocky and show your face. You’re acting all high and mighty just because you became a doctor!

“I’m not acting high and mighty.”

I yawned and muttered.

Life in the emergency room is a cycle of working one day and resting one day.

At first, everyone is diligent.

They make up their minds to exercise and do outdoor activities on their days off.

But that’s just the hopeful plan for the first week!

The reality is different.

In the end, on their off days, they end up holing up in their dorm and doing nothing but sleeping.

Because they worked a 24-hour full-time shift the day before!

To put it a bit exaggeratedly, they experience jet lag as if they’ve traveled to the other side of the world every other day.

—At least come home and have a meal. Dad and your sister miss you.

“Yeah. I should show my face sometimes.”

I got up.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t been home for two months since starting my internship.

Since it’s Saturday, I should go see my family for the first time in a while.

* * *

I roughly washed up and got on the bus.

I left in the morning right after finishing my overnight shift, so I have 24 hours of free time.

Whoosh—

I leaned my head against the window and enjoyed the scenery outside for the first time in a while.

It felt good, like ventilating a stuffy room.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve felt this relaxed.’

The midday scenery passed by outside the window, and soon familiar buildings came into view.

An old apartment complex.

Nothing has changed in 20 years.

My family isn’t very poor or very rich.

Just a typical family living as much as others, I guess?

I’ve never been dissatisfied with our tight financial situation.

I just hope things will be a little more relaxed in the future.

Now that I’ve become a doctor, my grand dream is to earn money and buy my father a car.

And if possible, contribute to my niece’s childcare expenses.

And buy my own house.

And…….

“……I need to earn a lot.”

It’s only been a while since I received my first paycheck, but my mind is already far ahead.

Is this what it feels like to be a young professional?

As I was thinking about this and that, I was already at the front door.

“I’m home.”

“Our little brother is here?”

Bang!

As soon as I opened the door, my older sister approached me with a welcoming smile.

It’s only been two months since I started working at the hospital, but it feels like I’ve been on a long trip.

I smiled, looked around the living room, and asked.

“Where are my brother-in-law and Yoon-ah?”

“They’re at home. I just stopped by for a bit to have lunch together since you’re here.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“It’s nice to see my little brother’s face after a long time. Wow, look at your face, it’s half the size!”

“My face was always small, wasn’t it?”

“Tsk tsk.”

My older sister gently stroked my cheek.

Hehe.

It feels good to be treated like the youngest sibling after a long time.

Then my second older sister approached in her sweatsuit.

“This one hasn’t shown his face for two months. Are you too good for us or what?”

My second older sister pinched my cheek roughly.

Ouch!

Both cheeks are experiencing the extremes of comparison.

My second older sister is what you would call a ‘weekend couple.’

My brother-in-law is working in Changwon [city in South Gyeongsang Province], and my sister lives with my father, working together at a seafood restaurant.

They’ve been married for over a year, but they haven’t moved out yet…… Or rather, they can’t because of the house prices in Seoul.

I rubbed my sore cheek and asked.

“Where’s Dad?”

“In the room.”

I peeked my head in.

He was engrossed in something, wearing headphones and staring intently at the monitor.

“Dad!”

“Oh, son, you’re here!”

When I shouted loudly, my father took off his headphones and looked back with a smile.

Trot music [Korean pop music genre] was flowing from the headphones.

“What are you watching?”

“Ah, it’s nothing much. Just a pop song video…….”

“Oh, don’t even mention it. I’m worried our dad might join Hong Ga-yeon’s fan club at this rate.”

“Hong Ga-yeon?”

Who is Hong Ga-yeon?

Ah, I’ve heard of her.

A trot goddess who became famous through an audition program.

She’s also famous for having a huge fan base of middle-aged and older people that rivals that of any idol.

It seems my father is into a late ‘fangirling’ these days.

Taking this opportunity, my sisters started teasing my father.

“Dad, is Hong Ga-yeon that pretty?”

“Ahem, ahem, pretty? I just listen because I like her songs.”

“I don’t think so. When she appeared on *Gayo Stage* [popular Korean music show] last time, Hong Ga-yeon had a surprisingly good figure…….”

“Ahem, it’s not like that!”

I laughed as I watched my father bickering with my sisters.

Being confined to a battlefield-like hospital, it feels comfortable to be with my family after a long time.

* * *

We sit around the table with our family and have breakfast and lunch together.

It’s a peaceful daily life.

Eating.

Watching TV.

Eating fruit.

I reached out to my older sister, who was about to peel an apple.

“Give it to me, I’ll peel it.”

“It’s okay, what if a doctor hurts their hand?”

“Have you ever seen me hurt my hand while using a knife?”

I said in a boastful tone.

It’s a kind of pride, I guess?

I can’t allow anyone else to peel fruit in our house except me.

“Okay, let’s see your skills after a long time.”

My older sister smiled and handed me the fruit.

Crunch crunch crunch—

I peeled the apple skin thinly in one line at a near-miraculous speed.

Kuh.

I’m impressed with my own perfect skill.

Isn’t this what they call the vibe that comes from experience?

“Wow.”

“Our youngest is still skilled!”

My family admired me as if it was something new, and I felt proud.

The day when I can fully utilize this hand skill in the medical field should come as soon as possible.

There are so many things I can’t do yet as an intern.

‘Just give me a scalpel in the operating room. I’ll be flying around!’

As I was indulging in self-admiration, my second older sister poked my thigh with her foot.

“Hey. Isn’t that your hospital?”

Saying that, she pointed to the TV with her other foot.

Huh? It really is.

A familiar scene was passing by on the screen.

Why is our hospital on the news?