Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 49

#49 The ICU Marine (9)

“He’s dying?”

“Yes.”

“Well, not that I care… Wasn’t his lung cancer surgery successful? I got a call yesterday saying he was just going to be in the ICU for a bit.”

The man speaks curtly.

But he can’t hide the agitation rising deep within him.

It’s definitely there. A sliver of concern for his father’s condition still remains.

I wanted to delve further into that small opening the son had shown.

“He’s experiencing delirium, which is significantly hindering his recovery.”

“Delirium? What’s that?”

The man asks, looking bewildered.

It’s something you don’t really understand unless you’ve experienced it firsthand.

I briefly explained delirium [a state of acute confusion] and then said,

“Psychological stability is necessary to alleviate delirium. And the best way to provide that stability is to be with family.”

“So… you’re saying I need to be there?”

“Yes. Only you can improve the patient’s condition.”

I nodded.

Of course, I’m not entirely certain about this.

I can’t know all future possibilities.

But right now, it’s important to give the man in front of me confidence.

Though it certainly won’t be easy.

“You said you’re an intern?”

“Yes.”

“Look here. I’m not completely clueless about the world. An intern is basically a rookie doctor, right? How can I trust what someone like you says…?”

The man’s voice is full of distrust.

It seems my position as an intern and my young age aren’t helping at all in this situation.

“And aren’t doctors supposed to perform surgery or treat with medication? Family as medicine sounds like some kind of shamanistic nonsense…”

The man didn’t believe me.

How am I supposed to explain this?

I pondered for a moment before taking a stack of papers out of my backpack.

“These are research papers on delirium.”

English papers I had diligently read several times to study the treatment methods for patients with delirium.

Some of them were already tattered.

I pointed to the words I had highlighted.

Family involvement>

Familiar items from home>

“Even overseas research shows that involving family in the treatment process and bringing familiar items from home has a significant positive effect.”

“…….”

“If you can’t go yourself, please at least deliver some familiar items.”

The man’s eyes waver.

He didn’t expect me to go this far, it seems.

The look in his eyes, which had been constantly suspicious and wary of me, seems to be changing slightly.

“You studied research papers and came all the way here because of my father? Why would you go to such lengths…?”

The man trailed off and sighed deeply.

He tapped the table with the lighter in his hand.

He seemed to be deep in thought.

He hesitated for a long time before squeezing out the words.

“You seem like a young doctor… but there’s always a reason why parents and children have a bad relationship.”

“I understand.”

“Ten years ago… when my mother, who had suffered her whole life, passed away, I cursed at my father and cut ties with him.”

The man continued slowly.

Painful memories seemed to be surfacing on his otherwise indifferent face.

“I’ve lived for over 10 years without contact… how can you ask me to look at my father’s face now?”

The man covered his face with his hands.

I could feel various unspoken emotions from his hunched shoulders.

“…Of course, I don’t know the full extent of your situation. As you said, I’m still young.”

I carefully opened my mouth.

“But I know better than anyone the regretful feelings of family left behind after death.”

The man flinched at my words.

The look in his eyes, as he raised his head, trembled slightly.

“I’ll say it again, you are the only one who can help the patient right now.”

Bowing—

I took out my wallet, paid for the meal, and bowed politely.

Until I left the restaurant…

The man sat at the table, staring despondently into the corner.

“Hoo.”

I came outside and sighed.

My mind is complicated.

The sun had already completely set in the west.

I looked at the sky, where the sunlight still lingered faintly.

‘Why am I suddenly thinking about the past…’

Rubbing—

I wiped my eyes.

Then, I went down the alley stairs and headed towards the main road.

“Wait a minute!”

Just then, the man called out to me from behind.

He was hurrying after me with an awkward gait.

Stumbling—

He was following so hastily that he almost fell on the slope.

I quickly went back up the stairs and supported him.

“Are you okay?”

“Um… can it be anything? As long as it’s something familiar.”

“Yes. Anything that the patient is familiar with and can feel comfortable with is fine.”

I replied calmly.

Then, the man nodded, panting.

“I’ll try to find something tonight… but don’t get your hopes up too high. I don’t even know if there’s anything like that.”

* * *

“Keueuk.”

That night.

The man staggered.

It was the first time in 10 years that he was going to his father’s house.

He drank soju [a Korean distilled spirit] because he couldn’t bring himself to take the first step sober.

Even so, he had hesitated for a long time before coming this far.

Step, step.

The man climbed the stairs of the old row house.

Flicker, flicker.

The yellow light flickered on and off each time he took a step.

Soon, he arrived at the door.

The door, with half the paint peeled off, was tightly locked.

A piece of paper was attached to the center of the door.

“Tsk.”

The man clicked his tongue.

What if a thief breaks in with something like this posted?

He reached out to tear off the paper, then chuckled.

Well, there’s probably nothing to steal even if a thief breaks in.

If someone were to break into this shabby house to steal something, they would probably be the dumbest thief in the world.

Swish—

The man bent down and put his hand between the flowerpots.

It was where his father always kept the spare key.

Soon, he felt a key in his hand.

Indeed, even after 10 years, the unchanging habits seemed to remain.

Click, creak—

The man carefully opened the door and looked around.

Nothing had changed.

As if time had stopped for a long time.

Even during the short walk from the front door to the living room, he could feel the strong, unique scent of an old man.

‘Something familiar…’

He passed through the dusty living room and headed to the main room.

What should he take?

Clothes or blankets wouldn’t work. He couldn’t just tear off the wall clock and take it.

He soon realized.

That he knew nothing about his father.

‘I need to find something…’

His father wasn’t a materialistic person.

The only things he cherished would be inside the wooden display case.

Soon, he opened the display case and looked around, and something caught his eye.

‘A photo?’

The people in the black and white photo are three.

A young father and mother, and himself at the age of seven.

His father’s body was healthy, and his physical disability hadn’t worsened yet.

‘Come to think of it, we used to go to baseball games as a family when I was young.’

The man’s eyes were filled with memories.

Even though professional baseball hadn’t been established in Korea yet, high school baseball was popular at the time.

The family in the photo is smiling brightly in front of the baseball stadium.

‘Were we happy at this time?’

Honestly, he doesn’t remember well.

How can he remember everything from over 40 years ago?

He can only trace it through records.

Looking at the old photos, pleasant and painful memories mixed together and surfaced.

But since he’s someone who’s been lying in the ICU all day, rather than a photo…

“Okay. This will do.”

He soon picked up one of the items in the display case.

* * *

“So, you actually went to find the guardian that day?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, you actually went! You were a really weird guy.”

Sitting in the cafe, Doctor Byun shook his head at me.

“So, what did the guardian say? Is he coming to see the patient?”

“It seems like he has a worse relationship with his father than I thought.”

I feigned a gloomy expression.

Then Doctor Byun chuckled.

“See? I told you? It’s a waste of time to go anyway. Why would a son who hasn’t shown his face for 10 years come to see his father now?”

He seemed to be in a good mood, sipping his iced tea.

I wonder what’s so enjoyable…

Maybe he’s happy that his words were proven true in front of his junior.

He couldn’t stop smiling until he went up to the ICU.

He even grabbed a nurse at the station and asked.

“Are there any visitors for the patient today?”

“Well, there haven’t been any so far.”

“Puh.”

Doctor Byun held back his laughter.

Then he came to my side and put his hand on my shoulder with a triumphant expression.

“Looks like I won the bet.”

“Oh, I guess so.”

I looked at Grandpa Attack, who was lying silently, with a disappointed expression.

“So, when are you going to shave your head, junior? Huh? I’ll even allow a buzz cut. I think it would suit you surprisingly well?”

Doctor Byun said with a smug expression.

Then, click!

He took a picture of my face with his phone camera and even showed me a bald-headed composite using an app.

“Look. It suits you well, doesn’t it? A handsome guy looks good even with a bald head. Keuhaha!”

Doctor Byun continued to tease me.

His expression was so annoying that I wanted to flick him on the forehead.

At that time, visiting hours began, and guardians entered the ICU.

Among them, I saw a familiar face, and I greeted him with a smile.

“Welcome.”

It’s Grandpa Attack’s son.

He’s dressed much more neatly today than when I saw him last time.

He hesitated with an awkward expression and asked.

“Um… where is my father?”

“This way.”

I guided the guardian to the bed.

Then I glanced to the side.

Doctor Byun was looking at us with a shocked expression.

All sorts of question marks were floating on his face.

I approached him, smiled, and whispered.

“I’m looking forward to the shaved head, senior.”

“…….”

Doctor Byun’s face hardened like stone.

That’s so much fun.

I suppressed my laughter and moved with the guardian.

Next to the bed, Doctor Cha Yuri was smiling and looking at us.

“Um, is my father sleeping?”

“Yes. He’s sedated with various medications.”

“Ah…….”

“Should I wake him up now? Even if we wake him up now, there’s a high possibility that normal communication will be impossible due to delirium…”

“No. No.”

The man hurriedly stopped us.

And said in a small voice.

“I’ll just… look at his face today.”

“Is that what you’d like to do?”

“Yes.”

The man nodded.

Nurse Cha Yuri and I took a step back to provide space for the guardian.

“…….”

The guardian stood there and looked at his father for a long time.

His cheeks were gaunt from the long hospital stay, and his face was covered with gray stubble from not shaving for several days.

The guardian’s expression became complicated.

What does it feel like to see his father after 10 years?

“You’ve gotten so old, Father.”

The man spoke.

The grandfather, of course, didn’t say anything.

But it was as if a silent conversation was taking place between the two.

Swish—

The man bent down and brought his face close to the patient’s ear.

And began to speak in a small voice to the grandfather who was closing his eyes.

Whisper, whisper.

His voice is barely audible.

What kind of story is he telling his father, whom he met after 10 years?

That’s probably his own secret.

Perhaps he can talk more comfortably because the patient is asleep.

I sat at the station and waited quietly until the father and son reunion was over.

After 20 minutes.

When visiting hours ended, he approached me.

His eyes, which I thought were only stern, were bloodshot.

“Doctor, I’m really sorry about last time. And thank you for taking care of my father.”

“It’s nothing. Thank you for coming.”

“And this…”

The man hesitated, then rummaged through something in his inside jacket pocket.

.

It was what I had asked the guardian to bring.

“I thought about what would be familiar to my father… and when I looked at home, this was in the display case.”